URJ February 2025 Ethics Communication
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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. Subcommittees are overseeing the ongoing training in ethical standards of behavior of lay leaders including North American Board members, camp committee members, and others; encouraging and supporting congregational adoption of ethics codes including through the engagement of rabbis and new synagogue presidents attending our flagship Scheidt Seminar; and strengthening URJ communications.
New Healing Opportunities
As part of the URJ's commitment to ethics accountability, we aim to support victims and survivors of abuse and misconduct that occurred in our spaces. We are very happy to share news of our new relationship with Susan Willson, a trained restorative practices facilitator, who will be leading the next phase of our healing opportunities. Susan will be joined by Rabbi Mary Zamore, Executive Director of the Women's Rabbinic Network, who will also support these healing opportunities. With their guidance, our new monthly programs will build on those led throughout 2024 by restorative justice experts Dr. Guila Benchimol and Dr. Alyssa Ackerman. Each healing opportunity session will allow participants to be together in community and strengthen one another.
We invite any victims and survivors to join us on March 18, 2025 at 6pm ET to meet Susan Willson and Rabbi Zamore and contribute to the planning of this new phase of healing opportunities. If you are interested in attending this initial planning meeting or would like to discuss your ideas, needs, or concerns, please reach out to Susan or join the meeting via Zoom on March 18 using this link.
Congregational Ethics Codes
We encourage every URJ congregation to craft and adopt a congregational ethics code. To support congregational leaders in this effort, the URJ provides an ethics code template as well as sample codes and suggested processes. We will also assign a coach to congregations upon request.
If you have completed a code but haven't submitted it to the URJ yet, or if you are working on a code and need resources, coaching, or have questions about how to get started, please contact Corinne Krepel.
Ethics Accountability Webpage
The URJ's Ethics Accountability webpage includes resources to learn more about our ethics-related commitments and work, links to report an incident, Jewish textual resources, and more. Check back regularly for updates, or let us know to email you with the latest information.
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