Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

We join with millions around the world, including the tens of thousands of Israelis currently pouring into the streets, who are expressing their grief and anger over the murders of six hostages at the hands of Hamas – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American citizen, and Carmel G*t, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, and Alexander Lobanov.

Reform Jewish Leaders Mourn Six Hostages Killed by Hamas in Gaza We join with millions around the world, including the tens of thousands of Israelis currently pouring into the streets, who are expressing their grief and anger over the murders of six hostages at the hands of Hamas.

The General Election is quickly approaching and YOU can make a difference in the movement to protect democracy. On September 12, we will gather on Zoom to chart our path to November. We will hear from inspiring speakers, including Ms. Lynda Lowery, the youngest marcher in the 1965 Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery. We will learn about critical opportunities to contact voters between now and November, including postcarding, phonebanking, and texting. Whether you’re dipping your toes into get-out-the-vote efforts or deeply immersed in democracy protection, now is the time to show our strength and commitment to a strong democracy where all have an equal say in decisions that impact our lives. Register today! https://brnw.ch/21wM7gb

Every Voice, Every Vote: Every Week RegistrationReady, Set, VOTE!

🌟 Help Your Teen Make a Difference! 🌟

Do you know a high school student eager to make a positive impact on their community? Whether they're passionate about Israel, mental health advocacy, or building connections as a Jew of Color, there's a fellowship opportunity perfect for them! These fellowships not only provide valuable leadership experience but also stand out on college applications and resumes. Encourage your teen to apply and be part of a truly meaningful Jewish experience. Deadlines are approaching, so don’t wait—learn more today! 🚀 NFTY.org/YearRound

On Thursday, August 29, at 8 PM ET, we will be partnering with The Civics Center for a training for high school students on how to run a voter registration drive. In this one-hour training, teens will learn about what it takes to be eligible to register/preregister/and vote, as well as best practices for how to run a drive at their school, build their team, and start outreach to educators, administrators and community members. Participants will also learn how to receive a Democracy in a Box toolkit along with online resources to promote their drive. Register today: https://urj.tfaforms.net/901?id=701UG00000Bp1v1

If postcarding was an Olympic sport, we’d be gold medalists!

As part of the Reform Movement's Every Voice, Every Vote campaign, we are sending postcards to voters across the United States to protect democracy and reproductive freedom. This election might have us feeling like we're spinning in midair, but together we'll stick the landing. Order your postcards today at www.RAC.org/Postcard.

Passionate about justice? Want to make a difference about mental health in your community? Applications are open for the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship! We’ll meet virtually once a week for six weeks to explore ways you can combat the stigma, hone your leadership skills, and learn organizing and advocacy. Head to RAC.org/Fellowship to learn more and apply by October 15th!

Join us next Tuesday for our first Every Voice, Every Vote, Every Week phonebank! We will be calling Nevada voters to encourage them to vote yes to protect and expand reproductive freedom. All are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. Register today! https://urj.tfaforms.net/1550

Group registration is now open for our first ever L’Taken Canada Seminar! Our L’Taken Social Justice Seminar brings together high school students from across the country to Ottawa to learn about Jewish perspectives on social justice issues, develop life-long advocacy skills, and address their members of Parliament. Learn more and register your group today! https://rac.org/leadership-development/empowering-young-leaders/ltaken-canada-social-justice-seminars

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Please Move Forward with a Hostage Deal and New Negotiated Ceasefire This form is for use by United States residents. If you are a Canadian resident, please use this form instead.  On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress. The speech – his first to Congress...

Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress. His speech comes as over 100 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th remain captive in Gaza. Urge Congress to heed the voices of hostage family members and help secure the release of all those held captive in Gaza by supporting a new, negotiated ceasefire. RAC.org/HostageDeal

Israeli prime minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is addressing Congress on Wednesday. We hope his speech helps bring the hostages home and bring an end to the war, while ensuring Israel remains a vibrant, pluralistic democracy. What do YOU want him to say? Share your thoughts and they may be shared on a mobile billboard driving around the Capitol around the time of his speech: https://brnw.ch/21wLrR1

Are you ready to make a difference this week? Check out these four ways to take action this week!
- Tell Congress to Protect Reproductive Freedom: RAC.org/BanAssaultWeapons
- Send Postcards to Voters Across the U.S.: RAC.org/Postcard
- Nominate a Teen for the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship: https://urj.tfaforms.net/f/rtjfnominations24
- Join RAC-FL's Reproductive Freedom Phone Bank on July 25: https://urj.tfaforms.net/901?id=701UG000009xqwg&j

If only Netanyahu would say this to Congress How the PM could use his speech to commit to a hostage deal and repair the damage he’s caused to the US-Israel relationship

Yesterday, RAC Florida and Congregation of Reform Judaism - CRJ were featured on WESH 2 News for their work on abortion access and Yes on 4 Florida. Watch now:

Religious leaders weigh in on Florida abortion amendment Religious leaders weigh in on Florida abortion amendmentSubscribe to WESH on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1dqr14jGet more Orlando news: http://www.wes...

While we have made significant progress for a healthier earth, we must continue to advocate and ensure our momentum continues! This is why the URJ/RAC is proud to co-sponsor Jewish Earth Alliance's Virtual Lobby Day for Climate Solutions on August 8th and invite you to register! Join Rabbi David Saperstein and Representative Jamie Raskin tonight for a lobby day preparation session.

Lobby Day Session Prep (tonight): bit.ly/prepfortb
Virtual Lobby Day Registration (August 8th): http://bit.ly/9AV5784

Jewish Earth Alliance - Tisha B'av Virtual Lobby Day - August 8, 2024 - Registration Join the Jewish Earth Alliance for Tisha B'av Virtual Lobby Day on August 8, 2024. Please note that the Virtual Lobby Day takes place on August 8, which is BEFORE Tisha B'av. Register here to participate in Lobby Day.

Are you ready to make a difference this week? Check out these three ways to take action this week!
- Tell Congress to Protect Reproductive Freedom: RAC.org/ProtectRepro

- Send Postcards to Voters Across the U.S.: RAC.org/Postcard
- Nominate a Teen for the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship: https://urj.tfaforms.net/f/rtjfnominations24
- Join RAC-FL's Reproductive Freedom Phone Bank on July 25: https://urj.tfaforms.net/901?id=701UG000009xqwg&j

Are you ready to make a difference this week? Check out these three ways to take action this week!
- Urge Congress to Pass the Freedom to Vote Act: https://www.votervoice.net/URJ/campaigns/106743/respond
- Send Postcards to Voters Across the Country: Rac.org/Postcard
- Hear from our L'Taken Teens from Congregation Emanu El: https://rac.org/blog/teens-urge-congress-protect-voting-rights

Daily Briefing July 6: Day 274 – Rabbi Rick Jacobs on reaching out to anti-Zionist Jews The president of the Union for Reform Judaism says the future of Diaspora Jewish life is not in question, but it is up to Jewish leadership and educators to shape its contours

"Borrowing from the High Holidays model, we could conceptualize this season from Juneteenth to the Fourth of July as the 'days of freedom and equality.'" Read more from Robert P. Jones, President & Founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), on creating a season of critical patriotism between Juneteenth and Independence Day:

Creating the New “Days of Awe”: Looking Toward a Season of Critical Patriotism between Juneteenth and Independence Day To our whites-only Southern Baptist congregation, the Fourth of July was our holiday, proudly celebrating our rightful inheritance of the American promised land. But what, to the white American, is the 19th of June?

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the , our Director Jonah Pesner is proud to join Rev. Dr. William Barber II, Maya Wiley, Marc H. Morial, Sarah Kate Ellis, Derrick Johnson, John Echohawk, Domingo Garcia, John C. Yang, Melanie Campbell, & Kelley Robinson to reflect on all we’ve accomplished and the work ahead.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/06/30/1964-civil-rights-act-turns-60/73892426007/

Are you ready to make a difference this week? Check out these three ways to take action this week!
- Urge Congress to Codify Abortion Rights: https://www.votervoice.net/URJ/Campaigns/97779/Respond?j=9154778&sfmc_sub=234326966&l=105680_HTML&u=242796273&mid=1489142&jb=10005&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2024_6_28
- Send Postcards to Florida Voters: Rac.org/Postcard
- Nominate a Teen for the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship: https://urj.tfaforms.net/f/rtjfnominations24

As comes to a close, our memory, prayer, and advocacy must not end. Below, read from Jewish teens Aiden S., Hannah H., and Harper C. from Temple Emanuel Denver, who share why "we can't wait" to take action against gun violence: https://rac.org/blog/teens-urge-congress-ban-assault-weapons-speech-3

You can join these teens and the larger Reform Movement by urging Congress to ban assault weapons: RAC.org/BanAssaultWeapons

Teens Urge Congress to Ban Assault Weapons - Speech 3 Leading up to Wear Orange (June 7-9), we are sharing a few of the many powerful speeches that were delivered by our L'Taken participants during our 2023-2024 season centered around the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S.

We are relieved that the Supreme Court temporarily reinstated a pause on Idaho’s near-total abortion ban but remain deeply concerned by the decision to return the case to lower courts. In the first case concerning a state abortion ban since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court had an opportunity to affirm that federal law protects emergency abortion care. Instead, by returning the case to lower courts, the Supreme Court left the door open for future challenges to emergency abortion care, placing lives and abortion rights in jeopardy. Read our statement with Women of Reform Judaism: https://rac.org/press-room/reform-jewish-leaders-respond-supreme-court-decision-regarding-emergency-abortion-care

Abortion care saves lives, and we will continue to fight for full abortion access. Urge Congress to pass the Women's Health Protection Act to codify a federal right to abortion: www.RAC.org/WHPA

In The Forward, the URJ’s Yolanda Savage-Narva and the RAC’s Rabbi Jonah Pesner address the increasing prevalence of antisemitism and argue against attributing its rise to DEI initiatives, while advocating for a unified effort to combat hate while supporting diverse communities. Read more:

Antisemitism is on the Rise. Blaming DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Only Perpetuates It The Israel-Hamas war, like so many wars before it, has upended society’s harmony. In the United States, incidents of antisemitism have skyrocketed. Students on college campuses and in our K-12 educational institutions continue to report threats, intimidation, and bullying, and many question their ...

As we continue to honor , join us in uplifting the voices of Jewish teens advocating for change. Below, read the speech from Avi R., Colby H., and Elle R. from Temple Isaiah - Your Jewish Neighborhood in Lafayette, CA, who "refuse to stand idly by": https://rac.org/blog/teens-urge-congress-ban-assault-weapons-speech-2

You can join these teens and the larger Reform Movement by urging Congress to ban assault weapons: RAC.org/BanAssaultWeapons

Teens Urge Congress to Ban Assault Weapons - Speech 2 Leading up to Wear Orange (June 7-9), we are sharing a few of the many powerful speeches that were delivered by our L'Taken participants during our 2023-2024 season centered around the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S.

Today marks two years since the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to restrict or ban access to abortion. As we mark this somber anniversary, we continue to advocate for reproductive rights. Check out the links below to learn more and take action.

👉Each year, thousands of high school students attended our L'Taken social justice seminars, where they lobby Congress about issues that matter to them. Read this blog post by students who advocated for federal abortion protections in the wake of Dobbs: https://rac.org/blog/teens-urge-congress-protect-abortion-access

👉RAC-Florida is mobilizing in support of a November ballot measure that would codify abortion rights into the state constitution and overturn a six-week abortion ban that took effect in May. Get involved with the fight for abortion access and join a virtual phonebank this Thursday, June 27 at 6pm ET: https://rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-fl

👉Read The Path Forward on Abortion (our comprehensive reproductive rights resource guide) and learn how you can take action to protect and expand abortion access: https://rac.org/blog/path-forward-abortion-resource-guide

Take action with us this week in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month as we celebrate the courage and contributions of immigrants across America.
- Tell President Biden to Protect Asylum: https://www.votervoice.net/URJ/campaigns/97992/respond
- Learn more about World Refugee Day: https://rac.org/blog/creating-community-world-refugee-day
- Tell Congress to Protect Dreamers: https://www.votervoice.net/URJ/campaigns/98064/respond
- Hear from our L'Taken Teens: https://rac.org/blog/teens-california-speak-about-immigration-policy

We applaud today’s Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Rahimi preventing people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing fi****ms. Read our full statement with Women of Reform Judaism at https://rac.org/press-room/reform-jewish-movement-commends-supreme-court-decision-restricting-guns-domestic-abusers

Even as we welcome today’s decision, there is still work to be done. Gun violence and domestic violence are lethally connected, and dangerous gaps persist in protections for survivors and future victims. Due to loopholes in federal law, stalkers and some dating partners with a history of domestic violence are still permitted to possess fi****ms. Urge Congress to protect survivors and future victims at https://www.votervoice.net/URJ/campaigns/97801/respond