Women's Rights
By Ally Karpel, 10/25/2018
Over a decade before #MeToo took over the internet, activist Tarana Burke was working to empower and heal young survivors of sexual violence. In October 2017, Burke’s lifework was thrust into the national spotlight, as the phrase "Me Too" became a viral social media hashtag to shed light on the abhorrent prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault in society. The #MeToo movement has sparked a long-overdue public conversation about the pervasiveness of sexual misconduct and has provided a platform for survivors to share their stories and find resources for healing, while also... Read More
By Rabbi Sally J. Priesand , 10/04/2018
At the last URJ Biennial, I was privileged to participate in a Shabbat luncheon program sponsored by the Women of Reform Judaism, reflecting on the forty-fifth anniversary of my ordination and celebrating the publication of "The Sacred Calling: Foud Decades of Women in the Rabbinate" (CCAR Press), a winner of the National Jewish Book Award. I appreciated the opportunity to sit on this panel with colleagues and friends. Together, we touched on many different topics including the history of women in the rabbinate, the story of Rabbi Regina Jonas, and the challenges faced by female rabbis, many... Read More
By Susannah Cohen & Jacob Greenblatt , 9/20/2018
From September 4-7, the Senate Judiciary Committee held its confirmation hearing on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. As explained in the Reform Jewish Movement’s statement of opposition, Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation would threaten to roll back critical social justice advances for which, inspired by our Jewish values, we have fought so hard to achieve. The stakes are high; Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation has the potential to impact the United States for generations to come. In advance of the hearing, we ... Read More
By Rabbi Allison Berry, 7/25/2018
When I was in second grade, I won an essay contest. The Jewish Agency asked young people across the country to respond to one question – what does Israel mean to you? In retrospect, my family should have understood this as a sign that I was destined to be a rabbi. But back in 1986, all I remember was my elation at winning the $200 prize. Last year, while cleaning out the basement I stumbled across my essay. The handwriting was something that only an eight-year-old girl could replicate, with hearts drawn in place of dots over the “I’s,” I wrote, “what Israel means to me is hope. Hope that... Read More
By Sylvia Levy, 5/17/2018
Just as each of us must work to end gender-based violence in our country and world, we are also responsible for challenging our own community – namely the Reform Jewish community – to address its own issues of sexual assault and harassment. I take inspiration from the brave Jewish women who are taking these problems in the Jewish community into their own hands, translating #MeToo into #GamAni, and bringing needed attention to the experiences of our community's survivors of assault and harassment. We must create ... Read More
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