#urj

[unsolicited-opinions]

Pride Story: Rabbi Stacy Offner

Ironically, I never worried that being female would keep me from being a rabbi. But being gay? That was another story. I worried. A lot. I confided in my friends. I wrote a letter (remember those?) to my high school confidante when we were each at our respective summer camps. I shared my anxiety. Her response—and this is a direct quote because I saved the letter: “What good does it do the Jewish faith for sincerely dedicated and concerned people like yourself to be alienated because of a Neanderthal attitude towards Lesbianism?” ...

I had a blessed four-year tenure at Mt. Zion Temple. I loved the temple and the people who comprised it. We flourished together. Though it was not yet an official federal policy, I think we lived happily together under the rubric of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  Falling in love with Nancy Abramson changed all that. While Nancy and I still jointly adhered to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy, our decision to live together pushed Mt. Zion members over the brink. Rumors started to fly and complaints started to be registered with the senior rabbi at the time. He and I had such a good relationship that I had shared my sexual orientation with him back in my first year, and he was okay with that, as long as it remained a secret. It wasn’t a secret anymore and there were an awful lot of complaints, he told me, and so, he told me, I would have to go. ... Our family’s world was imploding and exploding around us. But I truly felt the fierce power of the biblical words: those who sow in tears will reap in joy (Psalm 126:5). And at the end of the day, that is exactly what happened: those congregants at Mt. Zion Temple who felt they’d lost their spiritual home created a new one. They called it Shir Tikvah, Song of Hope. In June of 1988, Shir Tikvah became the first mainstream congregation to hire an openly gay rabbi. Together, over twenty years, we grew the congregation from 40 households to 400 households. 

Rabbi Stacy Offner's Trailblazing Journey to the Rabbinate - RavBlog: Central Conference of American Rabbis

Rabbi Stacy Offner shares her groundbreaking story of becoming the first lesbian rabbi of a mainstream Jewish congregation, opening the door

I met Rabbi Offner several times when I was a teen and she was at Mt. Zion.

She was amazing.

[progressivejudaism]

Union for Reform Judaism: Jews of Color Affinity Space

Please join Deitra Reiser, Yolanda Savage-Narva and Evan Traylor, as they host a series of Affinity Space gatherings for Jews of Color and Jewish Adjacent People of Color (those of us who do not identify as Jewish, but are partnered with a Jewish person or part of a Jewish family).

This looks incredible!  Please reblog this to spread the word!

[jewish-education]

Connect With Your Jewish “Cousins” Across the World

How does one locate and contact a Progressive/Reform/Liberal congregation when travelling outside of North America?

Rabbi Milder was absolutely correct. In over 50 countries around the world, there are people, like you, who strive to create warm, welcoming, egalitarian, pluralistic Jewish communities. In North America we call ourselves Reform, but in other parts of the world, we are known as Progressive or Liberal. (If one were to ask for a Reform congregation is most of Europe, directions would be given to a local Protestant church.)

So how does one locate and contact a Progressive/Reform/Liberal congregation when travelling outside of North America? That is what the World Union for Progressive Judaism can do for you. Unlike synagogues and Jewish institutions in North America that have  “open-door” policies and regularly welcome visitors; outside of North America, there is a pervasive sense of security consciousness. Synagogues do not publish their street addresses, return phone calls or emails, or openly declare their presence.  A random visitor, even one claiming affiliation with a Reform synagogue in the United States or Canada, will be turned away if visiting unannounced. On the other hand, with a simple email to the New York office of the WUPJ, several weeks in advance of your visit, we can arrange for you to be welcomed and treated as honored guests.

[disneynut]

Rabbi David Saperstein Joins URJ and RAC as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) President Rabbi Rick Jacobs announced today that Rabbi David Saperstein will return to the URJ senior staff as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. He will assume this new position as of April 1, 2017.

Yay!  Welcome back Rabbi Saperstein!

[progressivejudaism]

What is Juneteenth to a Black Jew?

While Juneteenth marks an incredibly important step in Black American rights, it was just that – one step. Juneteenth celebrated slavery becoming illegal, but it did not do away with racism; not even close. And yet, the history and spirit of Juneteenth make me hopeful.

"But like the Black heroes who fought and died for my right to live out their wildest dreams, I will not stop fighting for what’s right. I will not stop pursuing justice and smashing oppression in any form it takes. I will continue to lock hands with my Black siblings, both Jewish and of other backgrounds, in this righteous, sacred fight."

[progressivejudaism]

Urge the Israeli Government Not to Carry Out Unilateral West Bank Annexation

This moment requires a strong moral voice.

This moment requires a strong moral voice.

The Union for Reform Judaism and Central Conference of American Rabbis have undergone a process with our respective leadership, listened to experts, worked closely with our beloved Israeli Movement, our partners at the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) and the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), and consulted with leaders across North America.

As a Movement that puts Ahavat Yisrael as one of its highest values and with our deep commitment to Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state, we must strongly oppose the potential annexation after July 1st. We must do so out of a concern for Israel’s safety and security, for the preservation of Israel’s democratic character, and for the place of Israel among the nations of the world.

Write to Congress. Use our easy action alert tool to urge your elected officials to oppose annexation of West Bank territory.

Read and share our policy resolution. In June 2020, the URJ and CCAR adopted this "Resolution Urging the Israeli Government Not to Carry Out Unilateral West Bank Annexation."

Learn more. See the following resources for background purposes that can be helpful in understanding the complexity of the annexation issue.

URJ/Israel Policy Forum (IPF) Webinar on Annexation: Watch a recording of this webinar with Dr. Shira Efron, Dr. Michael Koplow, and Rabbi Josh Weinberg:

"Annexation of the West Bank: Where Does it Lead? | Insights from a conference held at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)": The INSS is one of the most respected institutions for a wide spectrum of scholars. In this analysis, they make the arguments both for and against annexation.

Fact Sheet on West Bank Annexation: This fact sheet comes from the Israel Policy Forum as part of their more in depth analysis of annexation. Also see their April 2020 Unilaterial Annexation document.

"A plea to Gantz, Ashkenazi: Israel and its friends need you to block annexation": This op-ed was written by Yossi Klein Halevi for The Times of Israel.

We thank you for your support and for taking action at this critical moment. We look forward to continuing our work as a Movement in support of Israel and in championing the values we hold dear.

[progressivejudaism]

Hi y’all!

Have you ever taken the URJ’s “Taste of Judaism” or “Introduction to Judaism” classes?  If so, please message me!  I have a few quick questions!

[progressivejudaism]

URJ Response To President Trump’s Call To Immediately Open Houses of Worship

Contact: Lauren Theodore at 212-650-4154

May 22, 2020; New York, NY – Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:

Mr. President, we have known for millennia that houses of worship are essential institutions. While we long to gather in person, we believe that there is no higher value than pikuach nefesh, saving a life. We are entrusted with the holy responsibility of being God’s partners in that work. The Reform Jewish Movement will continue to look to the wisdom of medical professionals to guide us on when reopening our synagogues can be done safely in keeping with our values.