Related Blog Posts on WRJ YES Fund, Advocacy, Israel Religious Action Center, and Reform Movement in Israel

My Experience as an American Jew in Israel

Camila Slatopolsky

As an American Reform Jew, my understanding of Jewish practice and gender equality was shaped by the values of my community. Growing up, I was accustomed to seeing women and men equally engaged in Jewish life. It has never been a radical concept for me to see

Connecting Internationally with WRJ

Morgan Helfman
Lauren Wilson

There’s something uniquely powerful about international travel—the way it invites you to step outside your comfort zone, discover new perspectives, and find connections in unexpected places. And as is such in the small interconnected Jewish world, those

"You Have a Voice!"

Ellen Miller

“I’m not a cantor.”

Surrounded by more than 200 cantors at the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) Convention 2025 in Washington DC earlier this month, this was my mantra as I introduced myself throughout the gathering.

Thank you, thank you, thank you WRJ for

Maintaining a Learner's Mindset

Rabbi Rachael Houser

Lately, I’ve been playing a game of comparisons. My old place in Cincinnati had lilac bushes by the front door. Now my new block in Astoria smells of roses, owing to the talented gardeners who grow all varieties of colors and scents in their tiny patches of

The U.S. Supreme Court 2025: A Recap

Jessica Cadmus

The U.S. Supreme Court just wrapped up its 2024-2025 term. In decisions related to health care, LGBTQ+ rights, and more, the Court continues to significantly impact policies affecting individuals nationwide. Keep reading to learn more about a few key decisions

Faith, Justice, and Israel: Being Proud

Galia Amram
I was shocked when Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, named me one of 2025’s 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know. I don’t feel I deserve this honor.

With Every Breath, Spread Joy

Joy Villarreal-Belford

In 1996, I came out to my parents at the age of 16, and I was terrified. Afraid that they would kick me out of the house, I made plans with the parents of my best friend to live with them if I needed to. She had an older sibling who was queer and already out

The Past Few Months as a WRJ Legislative Assistant

Jessica Cadmus

Growing up in Los Angeles, I was privileged to never worry about accessing reproductive health care or an abortion. However, while attending college in Arizona, that all changed. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which led to the state of

The Power of Jewish Women's Diversity

Judith Rosenbaum, PhD

There is no better evidence for history’s power than the attempt to erase it. At a time when current initiatives attempt to erase women, trans people, and people of color from sites that celebrate their contributions to American history and society, Jewish

Taking Solace in Our Partners: Women's Rabbinic Network

Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman

Sometimes it feels as if everything has changed since October 7. The brutality of the attacks and the devastation of the war have stunned us. The silence of those we once called friends and the abandonment by those we considered allies have left us reeling.

Eve