Rabbi Rick Jacobs

URJ’s Rabbi Rick Jacobs: Statement on Polish Government’s Proposed Holocaust Law

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below in response to the Polish government's approval of a new law barring discussion of Polish responsibility during the Holocaust:

We were deeply disheartened by the Polish government’s approval of a new law that not only bars reference to “Polish death camps” but to discussion of the responsibility of Polish citizens during the Holocaust.

Children with their arms around one another facing an outdoor bimah as at summer camp

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Celebrating the Past Year and Looking Toward the Future

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

January 24, 2018

As we continue this journey together in 2018, we look forward to your steadfast engagement, your activism, and your support.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

A River Flows from Eden: Rabbi Rick Jacobs' Address to the URJ Biennial

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

December 7, 2017

This movement’s task, in this moment, is to nurture the natural waterways that connect us. To keep our congregations the strong sources of life they have always been and will always be.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs to Prime Minister Netanyahu: Dismiss Deputy Foreign Minister

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement in response to denigrating comments about North American Jews by Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister: The Deputy Foreign Minister has a right to her ill-informed and insulting views. But such views disqualify her holding such an important role in Israel’s diplomatic corps. Her comments serve to underscore how the Israeli government disdains the majority of North American Jews.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

URJ’s Rabbi Rick Jacobs on Birthright Israel Halting Outreach to Arab Citizens of Israel

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below in response to Birthright Israel's decision to halt their outreach to Arab citizens of Israel:

The fact that Birthright Israel has decided to halt their outreach to Arab citizens of Israel shows just how out of touch Birthright is becoming. Arabs make up 21% of the Israeli population, and tens of millions of dollars of Jewish philanthropy from North America, the UK, Israel, and elsewhere is being well spent by supporting and integrating Arab citizens of Israel into education, the workforce, and Israeli civil society.