Related Blog Posts on 20s and 30s, Jews of Color, and WRJ YES Fund

From the RAC to Rabbinical School: A WRJ YES Fund Story

Ally Karpel
My relationship with WRJ began with a business card. It was June 2018, and the URJ Board of Trustees was convening in Austin, TX, for their annual Board meeting. As a recent graduate and former student leader at the University of Texas Hillel, I was asked to lead Shabbat morning services for the URJ Board before joining Board members for lunch and a discussion on how to best engage college students in the Reform Movement.

Wee Jam for Justice: It's Never too Early to Start

Carla Friend
In 2014, I founded Tkiya to create participatory music experiences that meet families where they are - physically, psychologically, and spiritually – and find their unique connection to Jewish culture and community. One thing I’ve always been proud of is Tkiya’s reputation for making Judaism welcoming, accessible, and inclusive. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that we started to learn how to articulate and incorporate JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in a more intentional way. This year, we received a grant from WRJ to deepen this work through our Wee Jam for Justice program. The learnings that we’ve had through this experience have had an incredible impact on Tkiya and the communities that we serve in such a short time.

Paying it Forward: A YES Fund Story

Rabbi Igor Zinkov
I became a YES Fund scholarship recipient during my studies at Leo Baeck College (LBC) in London from 2014 to 2019. I am deeply appreciative and endlessly grateful for your ongoing support of young rabbis like me. Your partnership goes far beyond providing financial help – your sacred work puts fundamental Jewish principles into action – the principles of community, learning, and mutual responsibility.

Becoming a Reform Rabbi in the language of the Quixote

Yael Cobano

The first time I personally connected with Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) was in 2015 at the URJ Biennial in Orlando where I was invited as their guest. I already knew about their spirit and how the organization was driven by its mission. It was there that I

NFTY Leadership – Rising to the Challenge

Lynne Butner
From the inception of NFTY: The Reform Jewish Youth Movement, Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) has been helping to support Jewish life for teens in the Reform Movement. From local synagogue youth programs to regional and North American NFTY programming, WRJ’s YES Fund has helped NFTY sustain its efforts and continue to grow.

Engaging Young Women with WRJ

Rachelle Weiss Crane

A tapestry of generations—that’s one of the taglines our Temple Emanu-El WRJ Sisterhood has used to reflect the importance of including women* at every age and stage in our sisterhood. Our members range from recent college graduates to mothers with school-aged

A Life-Changing Bat Mitzvah

Noga Pnina Hevron-Pereh grew up in a traditional, non-religious home. Today, thanks to WRJ’s support for IMPJ’s Bat Mitzvah program, she has become deeply involved in her local Reform Jewish community and aspires to become a rabbi. This is her story.