Communities of Belonging

The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) recognizes that our communities cannot be truly whole until every individual has the opportunity to feel a deep sense of belonging within Jewish life. We acknowledge the painful impact of systemic oppression-including racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, sizeism, classism, and others-that continues to marginalize members of our community. As a movement rooted in sacred values, we are committed to building a Judaism that embraces the fullness of human diversity and honors the dignity of all people. With humility and resolve, we accept the responsibility to actively dismantle barriers to inclusion both within our Jewish spaces and in the broader world.

An equitable community of belonging is one in which people from all backgrounds and identities experience deep connection through both individual and collective encounters, are embraced and encouraged to be their true authentic selves, are in a space where they can fulfill a human emotional need, where distributed power is embraced, and everyone can contribute to the design of the ecosystem.

The Reform Movement is strongest when it reflects the full diversity of Jewish life today. We believe there is no single way to be authentically Jewish, and that embracing our differences is essential to building whole, inclusive communities. Learn how the URJ's inclusion work continues to grow and evolve.

We are continually refining our resources, strategies, and accountability practices to ensure meaningful progress. At the same time, we are developing innovative, forward-thinking initiatives to deepen our impact and broaden our reach.