RJ Magazine - Latest Comments in Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Ruth Engman — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 21:44:53 -0000

Wow! What an amazing background you have! Best Wishes as you lead the Reform Jewish Movement towards these changes you propose. This will invigorate Judaism with heightened spirituality based on caring about and lifting up the lives of people around us.

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

telavivah — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:23:09 -0000

THANK YOU to the new president for attempting to be upbeat about coping with all the wrongs, and, of course, ALL THE RIGHTS!
THANK YOU, RABBI JACOBS!

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Jewish from USA — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:41:53 -0000

BRAVO!!!! PERFECT WORDS...

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Rav David — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:52:03 -0000

Bobbloggerstein-You hit it spot on. The old "let's join a Temple" paradigm doesn't work.

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Bobbloggerstein — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:02:28 -0000

One of the good things about this recession is perhaps synagogues can take stock as to how they do things. The post war model of Jewish life does not exist anymore and Jewish institutions need to realize this

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Rav David — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 23:33:40 -0000

I'm a member of the John Birch Society. I don't see myself as radical at all. Just American.

Re: Reform Judaism Magazine - Catalyst for Change

Netsach — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:59 -0000

Hi,I’m just tired of reading and reading articles like this one, and listening sermons related to outreach, inclusion, civil rights defense, etc. etc. etc. within the Reform Movement. Everything sounds so nice, so beautiful, but in reality it just do NOT exist.I grew up Reform, I have a Reform heart, I do agree with almost 90% of what Reform Judaism “preach”, believe, promote, etc. But several years ago I drifted apart… Decided to become an unaffiliated.Guys, one thing is what URJ Press & CCAR Press publish, and other VERY different thing is what most Reform Congregations actually practice.Here where I live, for instance, there’s a temple calling itself “benevolent”, but in reality it is more cruel and dry than anything else. A snobby rabbi dealing with conversion, always paying more attention to his iPad than to the people in from of him, telling people upfront “we’re paying for your conversion, but you have to agree in advance to pay your membership dues right alter; this is how much you have to pay”.Another female rabbi looking at how and what you’re wearing or how you look like, and… of course she will do that right after Shabbat service (very “spiritual” and “inclusive”, heheheh).I’ve been coming and going through the years hoping to finally see a change, an improvement, just to find out that it gets worse and worse every year. Oh well…Most Reform temples are currently suffering economical crisis, but clergy and board members don’t realize they (THEMSELVES) are the problem. Who wants to become a member and pay dues to get or witness this kind of behavior? Temples are NOT social clubs anymore. Whoever wants to belong to a social club or alike, there’s a vast universe of options out here…We don’t need to pay high dues to belong to a dry and NO-benevolent club or congregation. We do NOT need or want to pay dues to benefit a clergy that doesn’t deserve to be called such. I will never pay to feed snobby “sacred cows”, who believe that being a rabbi or cantor is merely a business.These days Jews (and people in general) are looking for spiritual and meaningful oasis, but unfortunately that’s not present in most Reform synagogues. So please, try to solve that situation first before you guys can even think about a renewal of Reform Jewish Outreach.Blessings, from Atlanta! :)