- NEWS & COMMENTARY
Kerry says Israelis, Palestinians must make tough decisions
Israeli and Palestinian leaders must decide soon on whether to revive long-dormant peace negotiations to end their decades-old conflict, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Industry is best bet for peace, Israeli billionaire says
On a new industrial park in Israel's largest Arab town, a software plant belonging to a multibillion-dollar U.S.-listed firm sits cheek-by-jowl with two small Arab-owned businesses: a metal factory and one producing tools for brain surgery.
Adelsons donate $40 million to Birthright
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated $40 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation.
- HOLLYWOOD
Billy Crystal to star in Larry Charles’ FX series
Looks like FX is going to be injecting some humor into their lineup. Not a bad idea, we think, after many seasons of the awesome yet dark series “Justified” or…
Civility replaces violence in ‘Last White Night’
In June 1965, during the most violent days of the civil rights movement, 21-year-old Paul Saltzman drove from Toronto to Mississippi to become a freedom fighter with the Student Nonviolent…
Spielberg to produce ‘Halo’ television series, plus other news from the Xbox One announcement
Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and…
- LIFE & CULTURE
A talent agent turns yogurt maven
Amy Salko Robertson — producer of such films as “The Oh in Ohio,” “Lab Rats” and “When Do We Eat?” a comedy set at a Passover seder —realized that she…
Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain
Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.
Angelina’s breast cancer victory isn’t for celebrities only
Actress Angelina Jolie just announced that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning that she was genetically predisposed to cancer. Her disclosure was a powerful show of solidarity with…
- BLOGS
Propaganda lies in a disguise
Muhammad al-Durrah, the little boy who became the symbol of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, is returning to the headlines after a decade. A photo of him, crying, leaning against a wall…
Male Eating Disorders: A Real Thing
Recently, People Magazine came out with an article about Ashley Hamilton talking openly about his struggles with an eating disorder. I applaud Ashley for coming out about having an eating…
Religion at the End of The Big C
Last night, Showtime’s The Big C aired its final episode. After three seasons of half-hour installments, this comedy returned for a shortened final season consisting of four hour-long episodes. Subtitled…
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Israel’s mikvahs open to non-Orthodox conversions, official clarifies
Clarifying existing policy, the office of Israel’s deputy religious services minister said Israel’s state-sponsored mikvahs are open for use for Conservative and Reform conversions.
Rabbis to Boy Scouts: Lift ban on gay members
More than 500 rabbis and cantors urged the Boy Scouts of America to drop its ban on homosexual members when the youth group’s National Council convenes in Dallas this week.
Eating with an eco-conscience
A small group gathered in the sanctuary of Temple Isaiah on April 11 to do what Jews do best: talk about food and then eat some.
Jewish atheism and Jewish theism in America
Western wall compromise raises hopes, but still faces obstacles
Natan Sharansky
Nine months after Israeli court ruling, non-Orthodox rabbis still fighting for equal pay
In a precedent-setting decision, Israel's Supreme Court ruled last May that a Reform rabbi, Miri Gold, should be paid a state salary, just like her Orthodox colleagues.
Rabbi David Hartman’s learned students remember their rebbe
The Jewish community reflects on the life of late Rabbi David Hartman.
Reform corrals broad array of groups into gun call-in
The Reform movement corralled a broad array of religious denominations to call into Congress on Monday and demand action on gun violence.
The curious consensus of Jews on abortion
Donors struggling to defray the rising costs of Jewish camp
Spending the summer at Jewish overnight camp once was a spartan affair, often little more than a collection of ramshackle buildings scattered in the woods by a placid lake.
Long Beach synagogue vandalized
Long Beach police are searching for a male suspect who threw a brick at the window of Temple Israel of Long Beach on Jan. 7. This was the second incident of vandalism at the Reform congregation, located at 269 Loma Ave., since the building reopened in October following a major renovation project.
Broad Jewish support for Obama’s gun proposals
President Obama's new gun control proposals drew broad Jewish communal support.
Jewish groups stake out opposing positions on penalizing Palestinians
Two major Jewish groups are at odds over the prospect of penalties for the Palestinians in the wake of their enhanced U.N. status.
Reform, Conservative, Orthodox leaders join gun control call
Top figures from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements joined an interfaith call for greater gun controls in the wake of last week's school massacre in Connecticut.
Western Wall not Orthodox or Reform, rabbi says
The Western Wall is not Orthodox just as it is not Reform, the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, said.
Pro-Obama video by Sarah Silverman’s sister to begin airing in Florida
A video in support of President Obama produced by the sister of comedian Sarah Silverman will begin airing in Florida.
Reform leaders call for probe into Israeli colleague’s arrest, police treatment
Reform Jewish leaders are calling for an investigation following reports that an Israeli colleague was roughed up by police after leading a women’s prayer group at the Western Wall.
Editorial Cartoon: Cutting the cake
Amar: Better to pray alone than with Reform
Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, said in a Rosh Hashanah message that it is better for a Jew to pray by himself than with Reform Jews.
Obama campaign launches rabbis list
More than 600 rabbis joined a campaign initiative called Rabbis for Obama. Obama for America announced Tuesday that Rabbis for Obama is designed to "engage and mobilize grassroots supporters."
Shame at the Holiest Site in Judaism
Reform, Conservative rabbis: step up gun control
Reform and Conservative rabbinical leaders called for increased gun controls in the wake of a spate of shootings.
New Reform wedding edition confronts same-sex ceremonies
A new edition of a user-friendly guide to making a modern Jewish wedding has changed its approach to same-sex weddings.
Israeli summer camps venture into Jewish identity building
Raised in a small and intimate Jewish community, Gal Herman, 14, has always been active in his local Reform youth group, attending services and participating in events.
Jack Lew meets with Reform, Reconstructionist leaders
President Obama's chief of staff, Jack Lew, met with leaders of the Reform and Reconstructionist movements.
Passionate Judaism
In case you haven’t heard, Orthodox Judaism has pretty much taken over Jewish life on U.S. college campuses. I say this not because I’m smug and happy about it, but as a wake-up call to the Conservative and Reform branches to get their acts together.
More Reform rabbis performing interfaith weddings
Danny Richter and his fiancée, Lauren Perkins, have never been to a Jewish wedding, yet this fall, the interfaith couple is planning to be married in a Jewish wedding ceremony.
Amid the ravages of wildfires, Colorado Jews band together
The Sidmans are among the lucky ones: Their Colorado Springs home is still standing, nearly untouched by the flames that left many of their neighbors' houses in ashes.
Reform, Orthodox campers to join for Fourth of July celebration
Orthodox and Reform Jewish campers will hold a joint Fourth of July celebration.
Reform congregations in Hungary turn to court for recognition
The European Union for Progressive Judaism and Hungary’s two Reform congregations took their case against Hungary’s new law on religion to the European Court of Human Rights in The Hague.
Reform Judaism has obligation to change
Today’s Reform movement is built on the shoulders of our 19th-century Reform forbearers who took Jewish tradition in an entirely new direction, re-envisioning our sacred texts and practices in the light of scientific inquiry and the new frontiers of human thought. Today we embrace the best of tradition and modernity, science and spirituality. Ours is the Judaism of autonomy, inclusiveness, creativity, passion, relevance and depth.
The modern Jewish law
Israel allows government councils to pay non-Orthodox rabbis
The Israeli government will begin paying non-Orthodox rabbis and recognizing them as community leaders.
Female Reform rabbi seated on Jerusalem suburb’s religious council
A female Reform rabbi took her place on the religious council of Mevasseret Zion, a suburb of Jerusalem.
Reform movement spearheads faith letter to Obama on discrimination
Nearly two dozen faith groups joined an initiative led by the Reform Jewish movement calling on President Obama to reconsider his decision not to issue an anti-discrimination executive order.
Jewish movements renew Pollard clemency appeal
Representatives of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements renewed their appeals to President Obama to grant clemency to Jonathan Pollard.
Reform, Conservative leaders complain about Israeli hotel discrimination
Leaders of the Israeli Reform and Conservative movements sent a letter of complaint to the Israeli government charging that Israeli hotels discriminate against non-Orthodox Jews.
New Haggadahs: Reform version, novelists’ take and Ethiopian flavor
Leading a seder for the first time this year? There’s an app for that.
iPad app for Reform prayer book is launched
The iPad app for the Mishkan T'filah, the Reform movement's daily prayer book, was launched.
Israel: More Reform, Conservative than Charedi Jews
Eight percent of Israeli Jews define themselves as Conservative or Reform Jews, compared to just 7 percent of Israelis who define themselves as “Charedi” (ultra-Orthodox). Amazing?
Two reform clergy to take their liberal spirit to Israel
Rabbi Don Goor of Temple Judea and Cantor Evan Kent of Temple Isaiah announced to their congregations on Jan. 11 that they will be moving to Israel next summer. Both will leave behind successful careers in Los Angeles as they jump into the rich but contentious world of liberal Judaism in Israel.
ADL, Reform group rip Lowe’s for pulling ads from show on Muslims
The Anti-Defamation League and a Reform movement group have expressed concern with a decision by Lowe’s to pull its ads from a show that depicted Muslims in a positive light.
Rabbi Meir Azari: It’s troubling that so few US Reform Jews visited Israel
Letters to the Editor: Reform Judaism, job searches, high-speed rail
In a recent broadside, David Mamet accuses Reform Judaism of surrendering “Hebrew, the Talmud, kashrut, ritual, the Eastern European Jews and currently [toying] with condemnation of its co-religionaries in Israel” (“Conflict, Choice and Surrender,” Nov. 18). Unfortunately, he ignores the facts.
Dear David Mamet: Reform Judaism doesn’t surrender
David Mamet’s recent, meandering tirade demands a response, even if cogency permits only a partial rejoinder. So, I will limit myself to where he begins and I where I “live,” with the Reform Movement.
Reform, Conservative St. Louis day schools to merge
Two St. Louis Jewish day schools, a Reform and a Conservative, have voted to merge.
Wave of new holiday prayer books changing the ways to worship
New Jewish prayer books typically come in waves, the rarest of which bring new High Holidays prayer books, or machzors.
With the over-abundance of Synagogues in O.C., I had to pick this one!
Reform defends Richard Jacobs as critics attack his Israel positions
An angry exchange over the Zionist credentials of the incoming president of the Reform movement has intensified and exploded onto the public stage. The conflict pits the movement’s leadership against a group of dissidents who say they represent a growing number of Reform Jews upset by the movement’s “leftward shift.”
Reform cites Giffords shooting in urging clip ban
The Reform movement cited the attack that seriously wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others in urging Congress to ban high-capacity ammunition clips. "The clips can hold 30, 50 or even 100 rounds, enabling shooters to cause serious casualties before needing to reload," read the letter that Rabbi David Saperstein, the director of the movement's Religious Action Center, sent to all members of Congress.
Reform opposes, OU backs voucher bill
The Reform movement said it was "alarmed" by the passage of a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives reviving a program that funds scholarships at religious schools, while the Orthodox Union supported it. The Republican-majority House passed the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program on Wednesday by a vote of 225 to 195. The $100 million program, ostensibly enabling parents in Washington, D.C., to steer their children to schools of choice, effectively favors religious schools because its scholarships, typically around $12,000, are too low for secular private schools.
Rabbi Richard Jacobs tapped to lead Reform movement
Rabbi Richard Jacobs, the spiritual leader of the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, N.Y., is the choice to become the new leader of the Union for Reform Judaism. The selection of Jacobs to succeed Rabbi Eric Yoffie, who announced last year that he would be retiring in 2012 after 16 years at the helm of American Jewry’s largest religious movement, still requires formal approval by the union’s board of directors, which meets in June.
Beck apologizes to Reform Jews
Fox News host Glenn Beck apologized for comparing Reform Judaism to radical Islam. In an apology on his radio program Thursday, Beck said he had made "one of the worst analogies of all time" in saying on a radio show on Tuesday that, like Islamic extremists, Reform rabbis place politics ahead of religion. He delivered a special apology to Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman, who was among the Jewish leaders who slammed Beck for his comments and demanded he apologize.
OneLA tackles local health care reform
OneLA, a community-organizing group, launched an effort to implement changes locally in access to health care during a public event at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills on Jan. 30.
Post-Mubarak, Obama embraces Middle East reform
A combination of calculation, luck and principles are steering the Obama administration to emphasize democracy and human rights in the Middle East in the post-Mubarak era. On Tuesday, President Obama laid out a revamped strategy that takes into account U.S. strategic interests in the region while also emphasizing the need to accommodate uprisings that have swept away governments in Egypt and Tunisia, as well as protests nipping at U.S. allies in Barhain, Jordan and Yemen.
Why is patrilineal descent not catching on in Reform worldwide?
For three decades now, the American Jewish Reform movement has considered as Jewish the child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother who is raised as a Jew. But most Reform Jews in the rest of the world still do not accept “patrilineal descent.”
Charedis’ Political Clout a Threat to Israel, Regev Says
The most serious internal problem facing Israel is the political clout exerted by the Charedim (ultra-Orthodox), which threatens the future unity, economic development and military readiness of the state. This is the firm conviction of Rabbi Uri Regev, who recently spent a week in Los Angeles to garner support for Hiddush, a year-old organization whose motto calls for “religious freedom and equality in Israel.” Regev, a native-born Israeli, Reform leader and president/CEO of Hiddush (Hebrew for innovation or renewal), co-founded the movement with Los Angeles business executive Stanley Gold, who serves as chairman. In an interview with The Jewish Journal, Regev, 59, argued with characteristic intensity and passion that “the Israeli public will no longer tolerate selling Israel’s future to the Charedi parties ... and a Charedi-dominated Chief Rabbinate which controls its life from birth to death and almost everything in between.”
Reform launches special-needs summer programs
The Union for Reform Judaism has launched two new summer programs for children with special needs. Camp Chazak in Massachusetts, opening this summer, is for middle-school children with communication and social delays. It has recreational and therapeutic programming. Like the Reform movement’s existing programs for autistic teens -- the Mitzvah Corps program at Camp Kutz in Warwick, N.Y., and the Camp Nefesh program at Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. -- the new camp aims to provide a Jewish experience to youngsters often left out of mainstream opportunities.
Reform looking at ways to reinvent the movement
After the Reform movement broadcast online its first session devoted to reassessing itself, in mid-November, the comments poured in.
Conservative, Reform oppose Israeli conversion bill
The U.S. Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements are warning that a proposed Israeli conversion bill is “disastrous to the unity of the Jewish people.”
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