RJ Blog

L’hitraot, for Now...

After four years of bringing you a new episode nearly every week, this podcast is taking a little break. Listen to this episode to learn more about our hiatus and where to find us in the meantime.

The Antidote to Kvetching

Most of us today aren’t tasked with wandering through the desert, like the ancient Israelites were... but we still find plenty to kvetch about! What if, instead of focusing on small annoyances, we turned to community-building and togetherness? This episode first aired in May 2018.

URJ Youth

The Kohanim as Sacred Chefs

The Kohanim as Sacred Chefs

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair

jemerman March 21, 2023
Reading through Tzav is like peeking into a world-class chef's bustling kitchen. The kohanim were like master chefs, following a biblical recipe.

Developing a Modern Prayer Practice Around Korbanot

Developing a Modern Prayer Practice Around Korbanot

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair

jemerman March 16, 2023
I've always loved animals. Even when I was a child, every single animal struck me as intelligent. They all had distinct personalities. I started feeling from an early age that it was my duty to take care of all the animals, and indeed, I did just that! As a child, I had two guinea pigs, one rabbit, one dog, three cats, and many fish.

On the Other Hand

URJ Leaders Respond to West Bank Violence

We share the anger and pain felt across Israel and the diaspora following the fatal attack on Israeli brothers, Hallel and Yagel Yaniv. The perpetrators must be found and held responsible for this heinous attack. 

Reform Jewish Leader Addresses Protest Against Proposed Judicial Reforms in Tel Aviv

On Saturday evening, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, addressed a crowd of over 160,000 people demonstrating against the proposed judicial overhauls in Tel Aviv. Delivering his remarks in Hebrew, Rabbi Jacobs told protestors that Jews across the diaspora shared their concerns about proposed changes to Israel’s democracy and would continue to stand with them in solidarity.

RJ Blog Social Justice

Dayenu: The Power of Enough-ness

Dayenu: The Power of Enough-ness jemerman March 27, 2023

Passover
an image of two kids at a passover seder; one of them is pouring grape juice into a cup
Last year was my first time celebrating Passover and one of the first times I sang with the congregational choir. One of the songs we performed for the seder was "Dayenu." The choir director explained during practice that in Hebrew, "dayenu" means "enough." I loved the melody of the song and found myself humming the tune as I prepared for Passover.

Building Deep Relationships with Israel: URJ Heller High and the People of Israel

Building Deep Relationships with Israel: URJ Heller High and the People of Israel jemerman March 16, 2023

Israel Programs
A view of Jerusalem and the Western Wall
Heller High aims to build deep, lasting relationships between North American Jewish teens and Israel, developing the next generation of Reform Jewish Zionists. The Heller High program gives students the opportunity to learn from and get to know different groups of Israelis.

RJ Blog Jewish Life

D.C. Day of Action

D.C. Day of Action

The D.C. Day of Action is a peak moment in the Reform Movement’s 2023 Justice Campaign. This campaign aims to build power in solidarity while creating a world of peace and wholeness (shalom), justice and equity (tzedek), and belonging and joy (shayachut and simcha).
sdolgov January 5, 2023

Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community

Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community jemerman October 28, 2022

Women's Rights
White flag with purple ribbon on it representing domestic violence awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in the U.S. This year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) chose the theme of #Every1KnowsSome1 to highlight how common domestic violence is. Each of us may (or likely) knows someone, either in our Jewish community or our secular communities, who has been impacted by or is a survivor of domestic violence.

RJ Blog Practice

Take a Tour of the Torah!

Take a Tour of the Torah! jemerman October 4, 2022

Torah usually refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Running through these stories is the unique lens through which the Jewish people would come to view their world and their God.

Weaving Together Formal and Lived Jewish Education

Weaving Together Formal and Lived Jewish Education jemerman August 16, 2022

Education
Closeup of a Torah unscrolled on blue fabric
I'm a self-proclaimed book worm. Since I could read, my default setting has been to research anything new at the library before implementing it. However, adulthood has taught me that some of the best lessons are learned after acting and truly living, which is why Rabbi Yanklowitz's perspective so resonates with me. Even so, I always start new adventures by studying.

RJ Blog Learning

Dayenu: The Power of Enough-ness

Dayenu: The Power of Enough-ness jemerman March 27, 2023

Passover
an image of two kids at a passover seder; one of them is pouring grape juice into a cup
Last year was my first time celebrating Passover and one of the first times I sang with the congregational choir. One of the songs we performed for the seder was "Dayenu." The choir director explained during practice that in Hebrew, "dayenu" means "enough." I loved the melody of the song and found myself humming the tune as I prepared for Passover.

Making the Written Word More Accessible: Large-Print, Braille, and Audio Haggadot

Making the Written Word More Accessible: Large-Print, Braille, and Audio Haggadot jemerman March 14, 2023

Passover
an image of a passover seder with a glass of wine and Haggadah
The Passover seder is about telling our story, which is often done by communally reading the Haggadah, a written collection of stories, rituals, and commentary. Without accessible options, people with various disabilities are prevented from fully participating in the seder.

RJ Blog Jewish Holidays

Building Deep Relationships with Israel: URJ Heller High and the People of Israel

Building Deep Relationships with Israel: URJ Heller High and the People of Israel jemerman March 16, 2023

Israel
A view of Jerusalem and the Western Wall
Heller High aims to build deep, lasting relationships between North American Jewish teens and Israel, developing the next generation of Reform Jewish Zionists. The Heller High program gives students the opportunity to learn from and get to know different groups of Israelis.

Seeking Jewish Values Amidst Broken Glass

Seeking Jewish Values Amidst Broken Glass jemerman January 18, 2023

Experiencing Israel
an image of a broken sheet of glass
Nearly two months ago, our Just Zionism group landed in Israel as the election to cement a far-right government in the Knesset was taking effect. When we landed, I had a surface-level understanding of Israeli politics but was about to get a crash course on the election's implications for the activists who were heartbroken by the results.

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RJ Blog Israel

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Torah commentaries

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URJ Press Releases

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Torah

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Sukkot

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Hannukkah

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Parenting

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