The URJ is governed by a 253-member North American board of trustees that works in close partnership with the URJ Chair, the URJ President, the Senior Leadership Team and other members of the professional staff. The board is comprised of lay leaders who belong to URJ congregations across the U.S. and Canada as well as representatives of the HUC-JIR, CCAR, and several affiliate organizations. Both the board of trustees and the smaller Oversight Committee, whose members are elected by the board of trustees, meet twice a year. The Oversight Committee convenes for additional meetings during the year.
The General Assembly, the URJ’s largest governing body, consists of delegates from URJ congregations and meets once every two years at the Biennial Convention to guide the future direction of the Reform Movement.
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
Julie Lerner
Ruben Arquilevich
Amy Asin
Seth Cohen
Melissa S. Johnson
Yonatan Meir
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Riva Silverman
Rabbi Josh Weinberg
Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces
Lay and professional leaders of the Reform Movement lend their talent and expertise to joint commissions, on which the Union is joined by the CCAR, HUC-JIR, and other Reform organizations. Through their deliberations, the commissions help determine the Movement's position on critical issues affecting every Reform Jew, such as social justice and political concerns and the role of the non-Jew in synagogue life. There are also several standing committees of the board (i.e. Budget, Investment, Operations). In addition, task forces are formed as needed to work during a given period of time around a specific charge. Their work results in recommendations to the board.
Board of Trustees
The board is comprised of lay leaders who belong to URJ congregations across the U.S. and Canada as well as representatives of the HUC-JIR, CCAR, and several affiliate organizations.
Oversight Committee
The members of the Oversight Committee are elected by the Board of Trustees.