Dear Friends,
Every 2 years, the Reform Movement convenes its Biennial Convention. This year, just outside Washington, DC, the Reform Movement has gathered together for its largest-ever Biennial (over 6,000 registrants!)
President Obama will be addressing the convention momentarily (as I write this at 2:35 PM on Friday). Throughout the weekend, the Biennial will sponsor inspiring worship, tributes to outgoing President of the URJ Eric Yoffie and incoming President Richard Jacobs (of Westchester Reform Temple).
Be part of the excitement this weekend by following the live webstream of the Biennial of the URJ by clicking here:
http://urj.org/biennial11/webcast/
President Obama's "Hineini Speech" was inspirational, regardless of political affiliation. We wish you shabbat shalom.
ReplyDeleteDS
Agreed! President Obama's presence and words certainly said hineni. From the greeting, to the Bat/Bar Mitzvah wardrobe angst, to the NFTY cheers, to the take away on the week's parasha, to the reminder of what "I had a dream...." can do for change, for Tikun Olam.
ReplyDelete-jaira
It is with some hesitation that I send you 2 video links to speeches which will occupy an hour and a quarter of your time. In this day and age, we are all busy people. We have competing priorities. And, that is a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteBut, I will tell you that Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s talk will penetrate every American Jew to the core. And, Rabbi Richard Jacobs’ speech will educate and mobilize every Jew who assumes or aspires to assume Jewish leadership responsibilities, big and small, Reform and non-Reform.
This is the speech of our outgoing president of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Eric Yoffie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7abhzQxwWN4
I think this is about the best Dvar Torah/sermon I can remember hearing. Rabbi Yoffie, with whom I have not always agreed, has won my heart. I highly commend you to spend the half hour listening to how he teaches through the eyes of our next generation.
This is incoming president, Rabbi Richard Jacobs’ 45-min speech, where he spells out the priorities for our Reform Movement.
1. Catalyzing congregational change
2. Engaging the next generation, esp our 20- and 30-somethings
3. Extending the circles of our responsibility.
He is speaking to Reform Jews. But, what he says applies heavily to us People-wide. Rabbi Jacobs is a doer and a man who walks his talk. He uses teachings from Talmud and other rabbinic sources to stimulate creative thinking and to mobilize the Movement for change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3is0lwHMYQ&feature=player_embedded
Be well,
DS