Recent Developments in the URJ’s Ethics Accountability Commitments

We want to take this opportunity to share with you updates on recent developments related to our ethics accountability commitments.
 

New URJ Ethics Committee

Chaired by URJ North American Board members Blair Marks and Dr. Steve Weitz, the newly constituted Ethics Accountability Committee will work with URJ staff to shape and implement our work to ensure that our environments are safe, equitable, and inclusive for all. Subcommittees will focus on training lay leaders in ethical standards of behavior, encouraging and supporting congregational adoption of ethics codes, and strengthening URJ communications.

Affirming Our Ethics Accountability Commitments

At a recent camp retreat for the new URJ Executive Board, the cohort of lay leaders reaffirmed the URJ’s commitment to ethics accountability. As members of the Ethics Leadership Group joined together to recite the Mi she’bayrach during Shabbat morning services, similar to that which was offered at the URJ’s 150^th gathering, the new Executive Board collectively acknowledged the harm caused in some of our most sacred spaces.
 

URJ Camping

As we look ahead to summer 2025 at our URJ camps, we’re celebrating the successes of 2024 and focusing on areas to strengthen. Using online platforms and in-person training done by expert facilitators, nearly 3,100 adults who spent all or part of the summer at one or more of our camps as staff, faculty, and in other roles were trained in our ethics standards and policies. Among other impacts, we are seeing widespread adoption and internalization of the values of safety and respect to which we are committed.

SRE Network

The URJ is proud to be part of the SRE (Safety, Respect, Equity) Network, which promotes Jewish workplaces and communal spaces becoming safe, respectful, and equitable through network building, resource sharing, and community investments. Alongside more than 175 other organizations, the network is strengthening our capacity and learnings around ethics accountability.

The URJ has been part of a SRE Restorative Justice cohort created in early 2024. During sessions facilitated by Dr. Alissa Ackerman and Dr. Guila Benchimol, lay and professional leaders shared about their restorative justice journeys and learned from one another. The URJ was represented by URJ General Counsel and Vice President of People & Culture Missy Johnson, Director of Jewish Engagement and Learning Rabbi Julie Zupan, and URJ North American Board member Dr. Steve Weitz.

At the June SRE convening, URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs joined Reform Rabbi Marina Yergin, Women’s Rabbinic Network Executive Director Rabbi Mary Zamore, and moderators Dr. Alissa Ackerman & Dr. Guila Benchimol, for a session called "The Restorative Justice Triad." The program spotlighted the deeply transformative work of restorative justice to address harm within Jewish institutional life. Watch the session

Upcoming Opportunities

December 9^th, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET - Join the SRE Network for a conversation with Dr. Guila Benchimol & Dr. Alissa Ackerman, delving into their new report, “The Messy Magic: Reflections on Restorative Justice.” This session will highlight the complexities of restorative justice in action, shedding light on its transformative possibilities, as well as challenges in Jewish institutions. Explore how restorative justice can promote healing across the Jewish communal landscape and discover behind-the-scenes processes of this work in action. 

When? Monday, December 9 at 2 pm ET/11 am PT (60 minutes)

Where? Zoom. Register now