Related Blog Posts on Ethics Accountability

URJ February 2025 Ethics Communication

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Shelley Niceley Groff
The URJ Ethics Committee, chaired by URJ North American Board members Blair Marks and Dr. Steve Weitz, continues to work with URJ staff to ensure that our environments are safe, equitable, and inclusive for all.

URJ Ethics Accountability: Sharing Our Progress - March 2024

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
The URJ is deeply committed to living our values – values that were renewed and affirmed in 2022 as part of our strategic direction work. These values guide us as we seek to create a world in which Judaism enables all people to experience peace and wholeness (shalom), justice and equity (tzedek), and belonging and joy (shayachut and simcha).

Making Amends: A Message for Yom Kippur 5784

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
As Yom Kippur 5784 approaches, our commitment to making amends and pursuing restorative justice remains resolute. Even as the final shofar blast sounds at the end of Neilah, we will continue to hold ourselves accountable and atone for the harm suffered by victims and survivors. We will never shirk this challenging, morally demanding work.  

URJ Ethics Accountability: Sharing Our Progress - August 2023

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman

The URJ recognizes that transparency must include effective communication with victims/survivors and the greater community, and we want to share our progress as we continue to implement and uphold our commitment to ethics accountability. On the URJ Ethics

Join the URJ Congregational Ethics Code Campaign

Amy Asin
The URJ is committed to ensuring that our environments are safe, equitable, and inclusive. As part of our ongoing work to create a culture that prioritizes safety and accountability, we encourage every congregation to craft and adopt a congregational ethics code.

A Roadmap Forward: Striving for Accountability and Repair

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
The URJ’s ethics accountability efforts over the past year have included a key commitment to accountability and restorative justice for all victims-survivors of abuse and misconduct in URJ spaces.

Join the Campaign to Adopt an Ethics Code for your Congregation

Dr. Steve Weitz
Amy Asin
As part of the continuing effort by the URJ and our Movement partners to ensure safe, respectful, and equitable workplaces, the URJ is urging all congregations to adopt an ethics code that addresses the behavior of lay leaders, volunteers, congregants, and staff.

URJ Ethics Accountability Update: August 5, 2022

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
As part of the URJ’s ongoing ethics work, we are writing to let you know of new and expanded reporting channels and protocols, including the hiring of a new Ombuds.  These steps have been informed by our field experts and the courageous voices of victims and survivors who have publicly and privately shared their experiences and feedback.