Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Press Release
Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Donald Trump Adviser's Response To Rabbi Rick Jacobs' Questions On Middle East Policy Raises New Concerns

New York, NY; July 7, 2016 -- Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ), wrote an open letter yesterday to the campaign of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in response to comments made to CNN by campaign adviser David Friedman about a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Mr. Friedman's comments about the campaign's views on Israel mark a significant departure from the policies of the governments of both the United States and Israel, as well as the traditional positions of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Mr. Friedman's detailed reply to Rabbi Jacobs' letter raises additional questions and concerns. The URJ has posted Mr. Friedman's letter in its entirety below. Rabbi Jacobs has written annotations to the letter which are shown attributed to Union for Reform Judaism.

Press Release
Rabbi Rick Jacobs

URJ Responds To UUA Rejection of Divestment From Israel

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), issued the following statement today reacting to a vote taken on June 25th at the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association defeating a resolution to support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel:

“I am pleased that the UUA did not adopt the resolution supporting BDS. Our two communities must continue to work toward creating justice and security for both Israel and a future Palestinian state. I look forward to working with the leadership of the UUA to strengthen those who are constructively building support for a just and secure resolution to this tragic conflict."
Press Release
Rabbi Rick Jacobs

URJ's Rabbi Rick Jacobs On Today's Prayer Service At The Western Wall's National Plaza

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President, issued the following statement:

“Today’s prayer service, 500 strong, at the National Plaza adjacent to the Kotel represents simply the legitimate right of the Jewish people to gather in prayer as we have done in that holy place for millennia. The National Plaza, especially, must be a place where all Jews are treated equally and no stream of Judaism has a monopoly."