Welcome to the URJ’s first interactive online annual report! Come with us on a journey showcasing the exciting growth and innovation of the Reform Movement, the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America, representing 1.5 million people and nearly 900 congregations. This annual report is a testament to our creative, evolving, impactful, and dynamic organization.

 

Through compelling images and videos, this site will take you through our work advancing the 2020 Vision – from building innovative, inclusive, and welcoming communities, to living our Reform values, to cultivating our youth, congregational, and clergy leaders.

 

We had unprecedented attendance at our 2017 events: 6,000 people at Biennial – learning, worshipping, singing, networking, and mapping out movement-wide initiatives; a doubling of attendance at the Consultation on Conscience; and a record number of youth in Chicago for NFTY Convention, where our teens launched their significant Racial Justice Campaign. Even at unanticipated events such as the Women’s March on Washington, 1,200 Reform Jews urgently came together for a standing-room only Shabbat service before we marched. If you couldn’t be with us at one of these gatherings, we hope this report will inspire you to join us in 2019.

 

But it’s not only the “big moments” we herald here. We also celebrate the growing network of resources to support our movement’s lay and professional leaders. With more than 10,000 congregational leaders connected to The Tent, our collaborative communications platform, we are, together, redefining excellence in congregational life. And ReformJudaism.org, our online resource for Jewish living, logged its 9 millionth visitor, connecting a record number of people to our Reform values. It’s these networks and others, both virtual and in-person, that enable the URJ to support more leaders and to provide seekers with exciting and useful resources.

 

Our strength as a community was tested in 2017. From the fire that engulfed URJ Camp Newman’s home in Santa Rosa, CA, to the hurricanes in Florida, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, we mobilized to offer financial assistance and support urgent needs. URJ Greene Family Camp and Texas-area NFTY teens organized with local partners to launch Hurricane Harvey Day Camp, offering a safe, fun respite for hundreds of affected Houston-area children. And when hate came to the streets of the United States, we provided support and counsel in Charlottesville, VA, and Oakland, CA.

The URJ worked in partnership with our movement in Israel as we continued to advocate for a democratic, egalitarian, and pluralistic Jewish state. The URJ’s North American Board traveled to Israel on a Leadership Mission to meet with political and movement leaders and to celebrate the milestone ordination of our seminary’s 100th Israeli rabbi. During an egalitarian service at the Western Wall, we were accosted for praying in our Reform style, reminding us of the importance of our pursuit of a safe, egalitarian prayer space at the Wall and, the urgent need for change in Israel to embrace all forms of Judaism.

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2017 was truly a landmark year for the URJ. We are grateful to our generous donors, 900 member congregations, and thousands of program participants who make our successes possible – but our work isn’t done. We are mindful of the challenges we face in 2018 and beyond, and we welcome your partnership. Join us as we build our new millennial network, expand our college engagement, deepen our social justice impact, and cultivate a more welcoming and inclusive Jewish community.

 

As always, we are available to address your concerns or questions. Thank you for your support and we look forward to another amazing year together

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