Hebrew Union College to admit and ordain rabbinical students in interfaith relationships, ending longstanding ban, By Philissa Cramer June 20, 2024

"...To replace the intermarriage ban, HUC is adopting a new requirement that students with children pledge to raise them “exclusively as Jews engaged with Jewish religious practice, education, and community.”

The commitment is in line with what Reform rabbis are asked to require of couples they wed and reflects the movement’s stance on determining who is a Jew: While historically Judaism was largely conferred through conversion or matrilineal descent, for four decades, Reform Judaism has considered any child of one Jewish parent to be Jewish as long as they are raised with a “positive and exclusive Jewish identity.”

https://www.jta.org/2024/06/20/religion/hebrew-union-college-to-admit-and-ordain-rabbinical-students-in-interfaith-relationships-ending-longstanding-ban

#Mazeldon #Jewniverse #JFedi #InterMarriage #ReformJudaism

What’s your perception of URJ around trans inclusion?

(Answers split based on if you’re part of Jewish community or not)

@mazeldon

#mazeldon #jewdiverse #jewish #reform #ReformJudaism #URJ #trans #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia

This video is probably the best summarization of the various Jewish denominations/branches, the history of Judaism, including the various geographic changes that lead to changes, belief structures, understanding of Judaism as different from Christianity, differences on observance, and more.

It's such a great explainer video, I highly recommend it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBgluFGz7Y

#Judaism #ReformJudaism #ConservativeJews #OrthodoxJuaism #OrthodoxJews #Masorti #Ashkenazi #Sephardi #Mizrahi #Mazeldon #Jewdiverse #reconstructionistjudaism`

A painful but important read by someone who lives in Israel and who works for the Israel Religious Action Center - IRAC, the advocacy arm for the Reform movement of Judaism in Israel.

https://www.facebook.com/ori.weisberg.1232/posts/pfbid02xCctvxwty2F88vV2QHHtiQbsUDdFyZQjE2FeGUVYmeVyUMDbJG7AwTbV3Y6NH9spl

Here are two excerpts that are especially important:

I’m angry at Hamas for undercutting the struggle for Palestinian rights and lending credence to the caricatures of Palestinians as bloodthirsty savages who just want to kill Jews, which is far from the truth. This will not only cost Palestinian lives in the immediate, but it will also set back their pursuit of justice and dignity by decades. They have alienated hard-won support in the international community. And they have made it harder to stand for their recognition, rights, and justice.

1/thread

#Mazeldon #Israel #Gaza #Peace #ShalomSalaam #Hamas #Palestine #ReformJudaism #Judaism

I’m enjoying this collection of essays on contemporary Reform Judaism.

#Mazeldon #ReformJudaism

This was quite interesting.

I’m too tired to look it all up now but I have two basic questions. Maybe someone can help me?:

1. Who decides/how are the rabbis who make #Halacha decisions in Conservative Judaism selected (elected?). How does this fit with the history of rabbinic #Judaism?

2. Reform Judaism’s Responsa are similarly given by a selected/elected body? What’s the process?

https://reformjudaism.org/rise-reform-rabbinate-rabbinic-road-out-wilderness

#ReformJudaism #ConservativeJudaism #Mazeldon

Reform Jews, is there some online source (or even an app) where I can hear the most commonly used melodies in chanting prayers and blessings?

I realise normally this would be learnt at your local shul but mine is closed to me until after my conversion. Thank you!

#ReformJudaism #Jewdiverse #Mazeldon #Judaism

Official announcement from the combined leadership of #ReformJudaism about the rising antisemitism on college campuses

Let us say explicitly to our students - to all Jewish students: we are with you as you joyously live your Jewish identity, which includes expressing your connection to Israel. You have the right to live and learn on campus proudly and to participate fully in campus life and activities without harassment.

Full text here -

https://urj.org/press-room/reform-jewish-leaders-stand-jewish-students-opposition-campus-antisemitism

#Zionism #Israel

Reform Jewish Leaders Stand with #Jewish Students in Opposition to Campus Antisemitism

Recent years have seen an increase in reports of Jewish college students facing antisemitic comments, vandalism, and efforts at exclusion from university-recognized social or academic groups.

https://urj.org/press-room/reform-jewish-leaders-stand-jewish-students-opposition-campus-antisemitism

@mazeldon
#ReformJudaism #ReformJews #Israel #antisemitism #Israel