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

God Assures Moses: "You’ve Got This"

God Assures Moses: "You’ve Got This"

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair

urjadmin March 30, 2023

As the director of a religious school, I recently gave a pep talk to one of my young teachers. I said, “I know this is scary, but you can do this. You are capable of great things, and I believe...

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.

On the Other Hand

Reform Jewish Leaders Respond to Netanyahu’s Conciliation to Delay Judicial Overhaul

We are relieved PM Netanyahu has finally responded to months of protests by nearly every sector of Israeli society that vigorously opposed the government’s judicial revolution. However, this temporary pause has come at an exorbitant price. To keep his fragile coalition intact, Netanyahu struck a deal with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to create a “national guard” that would fall under his authority. The formation of a civilian militia, which falls outside the scope of the Israeli police and under the stewardship of a far-right extremist leader like Ben-Gvir, is a threat to Israel’s democracy and civil security. 

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. 

RJ Blog Social Justice

How an Instagram Meme Account is Spreading Jewish Joy

How an Instagram Meme Account is Spreading Jewish Joy jemerman March 31, 2023

Arts and Culture
Aly Silverberg, creator of @JewishGirlProbs, looking at her phone
When Aly Silverberg (she/her) started a Jewish meme account on Instagram, she never expected it to go viral - or for it to have such a big impact on her life and career. She certainly never expected it to reach tens of thousands of other Jews!

Thriving Like Isaac

Thriving Like Isaac sdolgov March 29, 2023

Living with Disabilities
A pink t-shirt that reads
Living most of my life in a hearing world – as a not-fully hearing person – has been my “normal” living experience. I don’t know any other way of being. I suspect there is a different way of living because everyone around me tells me so – they imagine that my life must be so hard, how I must cope (what are my choices??). At one point, I tried to connect to the Deaf community. Between not being fluent in American Sign Language and being able to live in the hearing world, I didn’t feel welcome – although I learned a lot about myself as a less-than-fully-hearing person in a hearing world. A few years ago, when I went from hard of hearing to deaf, I decided that I would be just that, “deaf” without the capital “D”. I am now a deaf person living in a hearing world (as opposed to a Deaf person with connections to the Deaf community).

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

Gender-based Violence
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

Jewish Learning
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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