reform judaism - UAHC

NEWS&VIEWS1 2 3 4 5 6 7OF REFORM JEWSStephen M. Sacks: Photograph by Marshall H. CohenCHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE Pursuing JusticeA central tenet of Reform Judaism is our commitment to socialjustice. One of the ways the URJ helps congregations and individualsfulfill that commitment is through our Just Congregations program.Founded six years ago by Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Just Congregations engagescongregations in identifying areas of injustice and then bringing the collectivepower of the congregation and its members together with a broad-basedcoalition to transform their communities. Now co-led with great energy andsavvy by Lila Foldes and Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, Just Congregations partnerswith more than 150 congregations engaged in a myriad of civic actionprojects in 26 states. We help synagogues set goals; train interested membersin community organizing techniques, including the critical task of buildingrelationships to mobilize collective power; and then work closely withcongregations as they move forward with specific actions. Instead of justsaying, “What can we do to help?” congregations learn to ask, “Who hasthe power to change the situation?” and then develop a plan to build localrelationships within and outside the congregation to effectuate such change.Temple Sinai in Washington, DC exemplifies how Just Congregationsworks. A year ago, after deciding to revitalize its longstanding commitmentto social action, the congregational leadership chose not to followthe usual trajectory of first determining what projects it wanted to undertakeand then finding people to take them on. Instead, it started from the“bottom up,” adopting the Just Congregations approach: Temple membersjoined together for intensive discussions to ascertain what issues weremost important to them—in their case, education, jobs, housing, disabilityrights, and marriage equality. As a result, Temple Sinai now has acadre of members—many of whom were not previously engaged intemple life—actively pursuing these issues in partnership with morethan 50 churches, mosques, and other area organizations.Just Congregations is not a substitute for other social action endeavors.Nor does it work for every synagogue—there are limiting factors based ongeography, available local partners, and a congregation’sinterests. But I encourage you to explore the rich resourceswe offer, and consider investigating the role communityorganizing might play in advancing your temple’s commitmentto social action. To learn more, visit the URJ’s website at urj.org or email justcongregations@urj.org.STEPHEN M. SACKSStephen M. Sacks, ChairmanUnion for Reform Judaism Board of Trusteesreform judaism 49 winter 2012QUOTABLE In PrintGermany Bans Circumcision“For 4,000 years Jews haveconsidered male circumcisionan essential part of ourCovenant with the Almighty.We urge the courts and thegovernment of Germany toreverse this decision and thefundamental threat it representsto the foundation of ourreligious beliefs.”—Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs,WUPJ President, the first offive signatories to the WorldUnion for Progressive Judaismstatement in response toa German court decisionoutlawing the practice ofritual circumcision, June 2012Grieving Women Get Justice“This ruling sends a messagethat is loud and clear: anyrabbi who abuses his positionto exclude women fromthe process of mourning aloved one has another judgmentwaiting for him in theIsraeli courts.”—Anat Hoffman, ExecutiveDirector, Israel Religious ActionCenter, commenting on theIsraeli court’s June 2012 rulingthat condemns women’s segregationfrom men within traditionalburial societies. IRAC’sclaimant, Rosie, who had beenthwarted from delivering aeulogy at her father’s funeral,was awarded the maximumcompensation (about $8,000).PHOTOS: 1 Lisa Messinger2 Michelle Black 3 Margie Zeskind4 Rabbi Scott Weiner 5 NancyBossov 6 Marsha Newstat7 Cathy Rolland.... For moreabout these leaders read on….