URJ Event Participant Code of Conduct

Every individual who participates in events within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) community – including participants, presenters, staff, vendors, guests, facilities staff, and all others – will be valued and treated with respect.

 

Jewish tradition teaches that every person is created b'tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image. In the spirit of this core Jewish value, every individual who participates in events within the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) community – including participants, presenters, staff, vendors, guests, facilities staff, and all others – will be valued and treated with respect. Every participant, whatever their role, has a right to a safe and inclusive experience, including treatment that is fair, honest, dignified, and nonjudgmental.

Code of Conduct

The URJ does not tolerate, in any form or at any time, discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct, threats, intimidation, menacing, or any other offensive behavior or acts against anyone in our community or participating in our events. This includes but is not limited to actions taken against others based on their race, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, size, ethnicity, origin, religion, class, or any other identity.

Critical areas of concern include but are not limited to bullying, sexual harassment or misconduct, and inclusion.

1. Bullying

Bullying is unwanted, hostile behavior, either as a single act or repeated over time, committed with the intent to degrade, humiliate, or oppress another person. It may include:

  • Verbal behavior such as making threats, inappropriate sexual comments, and taunting;
  • Social misbehavior such as spreading rumors and purposeful exclusion;
  • Physical behavior that involves hurting another individual’s body or damaging possessions;
  • Cyberbullying, such as persistent, unwanted texts, phone calls, or social media messages, or posting private, personal information of others online (known as “doxing”)

Bullying typically involves a real or perceived power imbalance such as using popularity, position, physical strength, or access to embarrassing information in order to control or harm others. Thus, it is important to note that while bullying will not be tolerated, respectful disagreement and good-faith critiques of one’s work and activities, even if sometimes harsh, are not bullying. Individuals’ ability to disagree and/or share ideas and concerns openly and without reprisal must not be compromised and will be respected and protected.

2. Sexual Harassment or Misconduct

Sexual harassment includes, for example, unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a sexual nature when:

  • Such conduct has the purpose or effect, intentionally or unintentionally, of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s participation, work, or volunteer performance, or otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
  • Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s standing as a participant, volunteer, or employee.
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for participation in a URJ event, employment decisions, or decisions concerning volunteer assignments, whether or not such decisions have direct economic consequences.

Conduct of this nature diminishes us all and compromises our ability – individually and collectively – to demonstrate our commitment to living lives that reflect our Jewish values.

3. REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)

Participants, staff, and volunteers of URJ programs will meet and work with people from backgrounds (i.e., races, cultures, genders, socioeconomics, etc.) different from their own. people from historically marginalized backgrounds – including People of Color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or people with disabilities – who are frequently asked questions about their backgrounds or identities that serve to further marginalize them and separate them from others. For example, in Jewish spaces, Jews of Color are often subject to questions and comments about their authenticity.

All participants, staff, and volunteers in URJ programs are asked to recognize the diversity of the Jewish people and to continually challenge dominant ideas of who “looks Jewish.”

4. Reporting Concerns or Violations

To report a concern or violation of this Code of Conduct regarding yourself or another person:

  • In person: To a senior URJ staff member onsite. If the complaint concerns that person(s), reporting should be done by email or phone as below.
  • By email: URJ Vice President, People & Culture - Missy Johnson or URJ Ombuds - Caroline Cuneo.
  • By phone: URJ Vice President, People & Culture - Missy Johnson (212-650-4120)

Please note that the conduct of URJ employees is governed by the URJ Employee Handbook, and the conduct of URJ volunteers, staff and independent contractors is governed by the URJ Ethics Code. The URJ Ethics Code can be accessed online.

 

Participant Authorizations, Release, and Indemnification

Authorizations

  • I authorize the use of Participant name and program registration information including but not limited to: Name(s), contact information, and programs in attendance for the purposes of sharing/verifying affiliation with reported URJ Congregation(s).
  • I authorize future communications via mail, email, text and phone for the purposes of transactional communications as well as marketing communications for this and other URJ programs. Please know that we do not sell or market email addresses. If you do not wish to receive further communications from the URJ and URJ affiliates you will be able to opt out at the time of receipt.
  • I authorize the use of Participant name, social media user information, and contact information for purposes of URJ and URJ partners/affiliates marketing now known or hereafter devised, worldwide in perpetuity until such time that I choose to unsubscribe.

Recording Release

I hereby consent to the unlimited recording use and reuse by the URJ and its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates (“Releasees”) of Participant’s Voice, actions, likeness, first name, appearance and biographical material (i.e. collectively “likeness”) in an appropriate manner as determined by the URJ in its reasonable discretion in any and all media now known or hereafter devised including but not limited to live video, live audio, marketing materials and social media posts. I agree that Releasees may use all or any part of Participant Likeness, and may alter or modify it regardless of whether or not the Participant is recognizable. I further agree that URJ exclusively owns the registration materials that I have provided in connection with the program registration and any photos and video that URJ will make of the Participant in connection with the program (the "Materials") and all rights therein and thereto including, without limitation, the right to use the Materials and the Participant Likeness in any and all media now known or hereafter devised worldwide, in perpetuity. I further agree that URJ may use the Participant’s Likeness and the Materials in connection with any promotion, publicity, marketing or advertisement for the Releasees including live video and audio broadcasts. I release the URJ from any and all liability arising out of the reasonable use of the Participant’s Likeness and/or the Materials. I agree not to make any claim against URJ as a result of the recording or use of the Participant’s Likeness and/or the Materials (including, without limitation, any claim that such use invades any right of privacy and/or publicity).

Indemnification

Except with the respect to the sole negligence of the URJ and its employees, I hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the URJ and its employees, agents and representatives from any and all claims, lawsuits, or other legal causes of action, which relate to my participation in URJ events and programs, travel to and from such events and programs, and related activities.

 

Parent/Guardian Authorizations, Release, and Indemnification

Authorizations

  • I authorize the use of Participant and parent/guardian name and program registration information including but not limited to Name(s), contact information, and programs in attendance for the purposes of sharing/verifying affiliation with reported URJ Congregation as well as in NFTY Rosters.
  • I authorize future communications via mail, email, text and phone for the purposes of transactional communications as well as marketing communications for this and other URJ programs. Please know that we do not sell or market email addresses. If I do not wish to receive further communications from the URJ and URJ partners/affiliates, I will be able to opt out at that time.
  • I authorize the use of Participant and parent/guardian name, social media user information, and contact information for purposes of URJ and URJ partners/affiliates marketing now known or hereafter devised, worldwide in perpetuity until such time that I choose to unsubscribe.

Recording Release

Except as set forth in the Parent/Guardian Authorizations above, Parent/guardian also hereby consents to the unlimited recording use and reuse by the URJ, including its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates (“Releasees”) of Participant’s Voice, actions, likeness, first name, appearance and biographical material (i.e. collectively “likeness”) in an appropriate manner as determined by the URJ in its reasonable discretion in any and all media now known or hereafter devised including but not limited to live video, live audio, marketing materials and social media posts. The parent/guardian agrees that Releasees may use all or any part of Participant Likeness, and may alter or modify it regardless of whether or not the Participant is recognizable. The parent/guardian further agrees that URJ exclusively owns the registration materials that parent/guardian has provided in connection with the program registration and any photos and video that URJ will make of the Participant in connection with the URJ program (the "Materials") and all rights therein and thereto including, without limitation, the right to use the Materials and the Participant Likeness in any and all media now known or hereafter devised worldwide, in perpetuity. The parent/guardian further agrees that URJ may use the Participant’s Likeness and the Materials in connection with any promotion, publicity, marketing or advertisement for the Releasees including live video and audio broadcasts. The parent/guardian releases from any and all liability arising out of the reasonable use of the Participant’s Likeness and/or the Materials. The parent/guardian agrees not to make any claim against URJ as a result of the recording or use of the Participant’s Likeness and/or the Materials (including, without limitation, any claim that such use invades any right of privacy and/or publicity).

Indemnification

Except with the respect to the sole negligence of the URJ Releasees, the undersigned Participant and his/her parent/guardian (whomever is responsible for Participant) hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the URJ Releasees and its employees from any and all claims, lawsuits, or other legal causes of action, which relate to the undersigned Participant’s participation in URJ events and programs, the Participant’s travel to and from such events and programs, and related activities.