Podcasts about rabbi rick jacobs

April 25, 2025 ~ Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, joins Kevin to share the impact Pope Francis had on the Jewish community.

Remember the 10th commandment? "Thou shalt not covet"? This past week, many preachers violated that commandment. They were coveting the sermon Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered at the National Cathedral during a service the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, in which she pleaded with Trump to show mercy to the most vulnerable among us. (Speaking Jewish right now: If I had been blessed with the opportunity to address the president, I would not have used the word "mercy." I would have asked him to show compassion and to do justice. But that's me). Many of my colleagues and friends have been debating: Was the bishop appropriate? Was her sermon in good taste? Did she publicly shame and humiliate the president? I have been struggling with all that as well, and now I think she was totally spot on. And not only because I agreed with her. Sure, she made President Trump a little uncomfortable.  Deal with it, Mr. President. That's often what sermons are about. As my colleague and friend Rabbi Rick Jacobs notes: "The job of a religious leader is not to tell those in the pews — whether the usual parishioners or their country's leaders — what they want to hear. Rather, the job requires clergy to speak the truth of their tradition as they understand it." Or, put differently, sometimes it is the goal of a sermon to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. To "shake and stir" them. You want to feel all good and comfortable? Go to a spa.

Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, to discuss the challenges of leading progressive American Jews during Israel's Gaza war and ahead of a second Trump presidency. Rabbi Jacobs opens up about generational divides, love for Israel despite government policies, and the urgency of Jewish unity in the face of rising antisemitism. From engaging young members of the community to addressing political polarization, this candid conversation explores how Jewish values endure in complex times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. In a special episode, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Rick Jacobs joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan in The Times of Israel's Jerusalem offices. Life for most Jews around the world shifted after the October 7 Hamas massacre. Jacobs speaks about the sharply rising antisemitism versus the rise of Jews who are reaching out and strengthening their affiliations and connections to organized Judaism. We hear about what Jacobs has witnessed on college campuses in the past nine months and his thoughts on how progressive Judaism may need a rebalancing between the values of universalism and particularism. He sees the young anti-Zionist Jews taking part in the anti-Israel protests and an opportunity for engagement, but worries about the safety of their visibly Jewish colleagues who are increasingly uncomfortable on campuses. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: President of the Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Rick Jacobs at The Times of Israel's Jerusalem office, July 4, 2024. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/ToI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploration into one key issue shaping Israel and the Jewish World — right now. The ripple effects of Hamas's massacre of 1,400 people in Israel on October 7 are still being felt. The dead were mostly civilians — many entire families — whom Israel continues to identify and bury. Israelis were the primary target of the barbaric attack, but their pain is shared by Jewish brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, just as, five years ago this week, Israelis shared the shock and pain of the deadly shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. Here this week from New York to show his love and solidarity with Israelis is Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism which represents some two million Jews in North America. He sat with The Times of Israel after touring the country and getting briefed on the situation here on the ground. We speak about how Jews -- even some from the most progressive edges -- are pulling together today, with some humanitarian caveats. “This is a moment when we have to be leaning into the kind of response that the world doesn't like to see from us — when we have a strong military response to protect our community, our families, our country. And at the same time, can we hold, in whatever portion of our moral stance in the world, that we do not look at the suffering of innocents, not the suffering of those who are bringing this assault? That's part of us retaining our Jewish religious sensibilities, which we can't lose ever,” said Jacobs. So this week, we ask Rabbi Rick Jacobs, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, in Jerusalem on June 27, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political ideas are often steeped in religious values. In some communities, political action may even be seen as a religious responsibility. In this episode, adapted from a conversation recorded before a live audience during our annual Community Leadership Program at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, guest host Elana Stein Hain (Rosh Beit Midrash at Hartman) spoke with Orly Erez-Likhovski (Director of the Israel Religious Action Center) and Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President of the Union for Reform Judaism) about how liberal values translate into political action, both for Jews in Israel and in North America. As representatives of the Reform movement in Israel and North America, Orly and Rick share their experiences working across denominations and continents to shape Israeli policy and unify Jewish communities.  

Join C4 and Bryan as they discuss Nashville Poice stating that they may release the manifesto of the killer from Monday's mass shooting. A report says that from 2021 to 2022 the Baltimore/ D.C. region lost population. where is everyone going? Also, rabbi Rick Jacobs joins the show to discuss the ongoing protests in Israel. Listen to C4 and Bryan Nehman live, weekdays from 5:30-10:00am ET on WBAL Newsradio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

We're beginning a new book—hooray! Well, kind of? It seems to us that there's a crazy amount of re-storying here—but maybe we're just imagining things? Or are we? To help us summarize and begin a new chapter, we are thrilled to have Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Jacobs helps us understand how to not get too comfortable in the moment, understand where we might fit in among improvers, transformers, and disruptors, and reminds us that it's always up to us to change and to question. We are also pleased and privileged to welcome our friend Rabbi Zach Plesent, Assistant Rabbi of Temple Israel of Westport, as our Q&A guest. To continue the conversation: URJ: www.URJ.org Rabbi Jacobs' Twitter: @URJPresident Rabbi Jacobs' Instagram: @URJPresident Rabbi Plesent's congregation: www.TIWestport.org Interested in coming onto the podcast? Email us at drinkinganddrashing@gmail.com! Find us on social media: Facebook: @DrinkingandDrashing Instagram: @DrinkingandDrashing Don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating on Apple Podcasts—it's a great way to help our show grow! Edited by Mie Hirschfield

This week's episode features a conversation with Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism. We talk about all of the ways Reform Judaism is growing, how the URJ helps to strengthen liberal Judaism in Israel, what “audacious hospitality” really means, and what is ahead amidst this pandemic.

This week's episode includes recordings of two panels from Israel Policy Forum's virtual annual event, with Abner Goldstine, Yossi Klein Halevi, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Tamara Cofman Wittes, Susie Gelman, and Rep. Ted Deutch, including never-before-released material not featured during the event premiere.Support the show (http://support.israelpolicyforum.org/donate)

Mark’s delight is palpable as he welcomes Rabbi Rick Jacobs to the podcast today. As President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Jacobs currently leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America. He is a longtime and devoted creative change agent who has served as Rabbi of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, where he created the first homeless shelter in a New York City synagogue, before spending 20 years as a visionary spiritual leader at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Isaiah 58:1-8. Rabbi Jacobs begins the conversation by summarizing the passage and sharing its significance for him, particularly in its commentary upon moving beyond the foundation of ritual and study toward acting for social justice. He and Mark engage in an extensive exploration of other related Torah passages, the call to be righteously indignant for justice, and experiencing empathy for others. They also discuss the examples set by social justice activists throughout history, the story behind this passage’s placement within Yom Kippur, as well as the Rabbi’s perspective on important Jewish holidays and the global Jewish people. He draws the episode to a close with a particularly powerful example of one of the lessons he has learned about humankind. Rest assured, you will not only be educated by Rabbi Jacobs today, but you will be inspired and moved to action through his wisdom, his passion, and, above all, his integrity, in today’s utterly fascinating discussion. Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Jacobs’ summary of the passage and its significance for him · The powerful grounding in ritual and study · The requirement of living ethically rigorous, disciplined, impactful lives · Other passages in the Torah that echo the message of today’s passage · Being righteously indignant for the sake of justice · Experiencing empathy for others · What it means to be a person of faith · Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath · The story behind the placement of this passage as part of Yom Kippur · The Rabbi’s perspective on the two most important Jewish holidays · Rabbi David Hartman and how he inspired Rabbi Jacobs · Rabbi Jacob’s vision of a global Jewish people · The lessons that he has learned about humankind  Quotes: “The section is very agitational.” “It literally is a counterbalance to the most intense ritual moment in the Jewish calendar.” “It’s a corrective to a Judaism that would be only obsessed with ritual details.” “I’m literally in love with this passage.” “At our most intense ritual, we read a passage that challenges the conventional notion of ritual.” “Commitment to social justice, to righting the wrongs of society, are fundamental to what it means to be a person of Jewish commitment and faith.” “Religious life is built on the details.” “This is not about checking the box.” “This is a time when everybody’s stomachs are growling.” “Use the experience of this Holy Day to fuel a greater sensitivity and awareness…the experience is supposed to get inside not only our heads, but our hearts.” “It was as if my feet were praying.” “The Torah isn’t just for our sanctuary, for our ritual moment. It’s a beacon of light in the world.” “I want them to take on something and really do it.” “For the Jewish tradition, social justice isn’t ‘community service’.” “We’ve got to stretch ourselves.” “There is within each of us a common bond to the people who are the most different.” “We find a bedrock upon which we can build a world of hope and possibility.” Isaiah 58;1-8- https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.58.1-8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en  Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson) The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: daniel@therabbishusband.com

Parashat Naso, the longest of all the Torah portions, features a famous blessing – but what does it mean for us to bless one another? Is it a power reserved for clergy, or is it something any of us can do? In this episode, which first aired in May 2017, Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about what kind of actions constitute a blessing and who, exactly, we have the ability to bless.

Jewish institutions have not been immune from the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Summer camps and other revenue generators have been canceled, and donations are predictably down. What does this mean for Jewish life America—especially for the denominational infrastructure that has loomed so large for so long? When the crisis is over, will congregants return to synagogues with renewed enthusiasm or will they continue to enjoy livestreamed services from the comfort of their homes? Will the liberal denominations—already plagued by declining memberships and tenuous commitment—be able to recover? Could the Reform and Conservative denominations merge some of their institutional infrastructure under the pressure of Coronavirus-induced changes, as the Union for Reform Judaism’s president Rabbi Rick Jacobs recently suggested? In this episode, one of America’s leading Conservative rabbis, David Wolpe, joins Jonathan Silver to think through these challenging questions about the future of Judaism in America. Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.  

Chag Sameach and welcome to a special Shavuot edition of On the Other Hand! On this week’s holiday episode, Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about Ruth, her connection to this unique Jewish festival, and what her story of unity and bridge-building means for us as we celebrate Shavuot today.

Parashat Naso includes a passage about the sotah, the "errant woman" who is accused of adultery. It's a complex and problematic part of ancient Judaism, says Rabbi Rick Jacobs, so sometimes it's deliberately avoided. In this episode, though, which originally aired in June 2019, we deliberatly dive into figuring out what it means to us today.

The Torah commands us to take a census of the “whole Israelite community” – but who does the counting, and who, exactly, is counted? In this episode, which first aired in June 2019, Rabbi Rick Jacobs reflects on the Jewish community's chronic undercounting Jews of Color, as reported by a recent study. What does it mean to make equitable choices, and what will it take to truly count the entirety of our community?

How much do you care about the environment? Yourself? Other people? Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about our fundamental responsibility to care for God’s earth and attend to the neediest among us. It’s not a newfangled, 21st-century idea; it’s literally what our age-old biblical text calls for. So how do we do it? (This episode originally aired in May 2017.)

In ancient times, crimes of blasphemy were punished by stoning - but what does it really mean today to blaspheme? Rabbi Rick Jacobs explains the biblical prohibition against Chilul HaShem, desecrating God's name, and talks about what we are called to do to combat it. (This episode originally aired in May 2019.)

Let's talk about love: Torah talks about three kinds of love - and in fact, the phrase “love the stranger” appears in the Torah 36 times. Why is it written so often? Who is "the stranger," anyway? And who might be the strangers in our own lives? In this episode, which originally aired in April 2017, Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about what it means to move from strangeness to equality to, finally, closeness and love.

For many Jews, Parashiyot Tazria and M’tzora are perhaps the most nerve-inducing of all the Torah portions. After all, none of us is exactly eager to discuss leprosy - or the fact that, in our ancient Jewish texts, illness is often seen as a metaphor for punishment for sin. In this episode, which originally aired in April 2017, Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about the very real, important lessons to come out of these two portions, including the reminder to us all to be careful with our speech - especially gossip.

Parashat Sh'mini tells of the deaths of two men who are though to have been punished for the sin was innovation - but today, don't we look at innovation as a positive thing? In this episode, originally released in March 2019, Rabbi Rick Jacobs says, "Innovators in Jewish life have always had serious pushback." Why? And what can we do about it? He encourages us to think about how we can continue to reboot and rekindle Jewish life.

Why is this Passover not like all other Passovers? How can we observe this festival meaningfully and connected to one another during this COVID-19 pandemic? How can we use Passover’s plagues to inspire us to combat the literal and figurative plagues that infect humanity today? This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs shares his insight and advice for making this year’s Passover one that is unique yet equally fulfilling and hopeful. To learn more about how to plan creatively for this year’s festivities, visit ReformJudaism.org/homeseder and URJ.org/covidresources.

Jewish wisdom says a child’s Torah education should start with the Book of Leviticus. As we read its second portion, Parashat Tzav, we share an episode that first ran in 2018, just after a school shooting in Parkland, FL, killed 17 people and injured 17 more. Rabbi Rick Jacobs stresses the importance of fighting for and with our young people, raising up the Jewish teens who, amid tragedy, mobilized for gun violence prevention.

How can we find modern meaning in ancient rituals? From our "greatest hits" collection comes this episode from March 2019, featuring Rabbi Rick Jacobs in conversation with acclaimed author A.J. Jacobs, perhaps best known for his book The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally As Possible. Together, they talk Parashat Vayikra, the evolution of Jewish tradition, and adopting an attitude of gratitude.

Season 2, Episode 3 of What Gives?, the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network.Guest: Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform JudaismMusic credits:• "Believer" by Silent Partner • "Wishful Thinking" by Dan Lebowitz• "Station 22" by The 126ers• "Heartland" by Silent Partner• "Jeremiah's Song" by Dan Lebowitz• "Land of My Fathers" by The 126ers

In Vayak’heil-P’kudei, we see that God was so pleased with the Israelites’ sacred space (the Tabernacle) that God’s own presence descended upon them as they wandered through the desert. This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs is joined by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of the Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, NE who discusses how the Initiative came to be, how he co-created this “sacred space” with local Muslim and Christian leaders, and how our Reform congregations can do the same with other local faith communities.

What is the Jewish approach to anger? How do we deal with it in a way that’s healthy? This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs explores Parashah Ki Tisa and explores God’s anger toward the Israelites for their idolatry as well as the impact that our own anger can have on ourselves.

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs takes a look at parashat T’tzaveh, in which the Israelites are commanded to create the ner tamid (eternal light) in the Tabernacle. He wonders: How is light symbolic in the Jewish tradition, and how can we best shine our own light toward others?

What does it mean to be "mindful," to truly slow down and pay attention to what's happening in our daily lives? This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs explores this question through Parashat Misphatim when God beckons Moses to not only come up to a mountain, but to also "be" there.

In Parashat Yitro, we are instructed to honor our parents, in part so that we may live longer lives. Rabbi Rick Jacobs takes a look at this commandment and wonders: What does honoring our parents mean, especially as our parents grow older, or if our relationships with them are complicated?

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses Parashat B'shalach and the powerful image of Aaron and Hur lifting Moses' hands as he grew weary. How can this story inspire us to lift our own hands in prayer and in strengthening one another, and how can we share leadership equitably the way our patriarchs did in this story?

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs takes a look at Parashat Bo and the behaviors of the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt. He asks how we can use this story's moral framework, and our Jewish texts to understand and contextualize the idea of reparations owed to the descendants of kidnapped and enslaved Africans in the United States today.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, national president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the governing organization of one of the largest liberal Jewish organizations in the world, is this week's guest on the Seekers of Meaning Podcast. The post Reform Judaism President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Discusses Trends in Liberal Judaism on Seekers of Meaning Podcast appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, national president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the governing organization of one of the largest liberal Jewish organizations in the world, is this week's guest on the Seekers of Meaning Podcast. The post Reform Judaism President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Discusses Trends in Liberal Judaism on Seekers of Meaning Podcast appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses Parashat Va'eira and reflects on the commonalities between revolutionary leaders like Moses and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how important it is that we fight tirelessly against injustice.

This week, as we move into the book of Exodus, we transition from learning about Joseph to learning about another Jewish leader: Moses. Rabbi Rick Jacobs wonders what it means to be a Jewish leader, and how leaders like Joseph, Moses, and others can inspire us to lead and serve in our communities today.

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs sits with Jeremy Fingerman, CEO of The Foundation for Jewish Camp, to discuss the impact and benefit that Jewish summer camp has on so many young people. They make a connection between Joseph’s relationship with his brother Judah, from this week's Torah portion, and how that connects to the sense of growth that summer camp fosters.

As this week’s Torah portion focuses on Joseph and his brothers, Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses another band of “brothers,” the Maccabees, and how their victory and the miracle of the oil can inspire us to shine our light on the rest of the world.

In Parashah Vayishlach, we find Jacob transforming a site into a holy and special place. Rabbi Rick Jacobs wonders what it means to make a place special and how we ascribe meaning to places near and dear to us.

This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs recounts his experience studying dance while in Rabbinical School, how partaking in an interpretive dance about Abraham, Sarah and Hagar challenged him theologically and artistically. He challenges us to think how we, too, can appreciate the art of dance to tell the Jewish story.

In Judaism, it's common to perform ritual and celebrate festivals with a glass of wine, but how do we do so while honoring those in recovery and their loved ones? This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about Parashat Noach and how Noah's troubled relationship with alcohol can shed light on how we partner ritual and wine Jewishly and responsibly.  Find us on social media to share your thoughts: ReformJudaism.org: @ReformJudaism Rabbi Rick Jacobs: @URJPresident Union for Reform Judaism: @URJorg

What’s your creative process? How do you begin? This week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses Parashat B'reishit, which is all about Creation and the very beginning of everything. In his conversation with special guest, musician, artist and activist David Broza, David shares how to navigate chaos and focus on what is good and what can ultimately become good, if we are willing to step up and create it. Our episode ends with David serenading us with just that message.  Want to hear more from David Broza? Visit the  for our exclusive interview with him. Be sure to and follow him on Twitter .

This week is Chol HaMo-eid Sukkot, the six days between the festival of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Join us as Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses the importance of recognizing how the vulnerability of the temporary structure we create each year connects with our greater obligations to the world around us.

This week with Yom Kippur we are continuing the theme of forgiveness. Rabbi Rick Jacobs revisits the story of Jonah and talks about how we must do what we can to create and support compassion.

When a scholar boards a ship with a group of merchants, the merchants are confused. What does a scholar have to sell that could compete with their radiant perfume and beautiful scarves? When pirates storm the ship, they find out in this story retold by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. You can find a written version of this story, titled “The Sefer Torah,” in the book Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories by Laney Katz Becker.

It’s that time of year, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, where we are celebrating the New Year and contemplating our previous actions, while thinking about what comes next. Is there someone or something from this past year that just seems impossible to forgive? This week Rabbi Rick Jacobs talks about forgiveness and the burden of keeping our grievances alive.

This week we read Parashat Nitzavim, and we ring in the year 5780. Join us as Rabbi Rick Jacobs shares memories of Rosh HaShanah and enjoying the unique holiday customs and rituals within our Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities, and discusses the sweetness of sharing them with each other. Shanah Tovah!

In this week’s Parashah, Ki Tavo, we are told to follow the commandments and uphold our covenants, as there will be blessings if we do, but curses if we do not. Rabbi Rick Jacobs reflects on the various types of covenants that we experience and agree to throughout our lives, and the responsibilities, and indeed blessings, that come with keeping our word to each other, to God and to ourselves.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses Ki Teitzei, his Bar Mitzvah portion, which mentions the ethical constraints and restrictions that a person must consider, when going into war. Joining the conversation is this week’s guest, Rear Admiral Rabbi Harold L. Robinson, the highest ranking Jewish Chaplain in the history of the United States military, as they reflect on, among other things, how one’s values are tested, when faced with possibly endangering yourself, at the risk of doing what’s right.

In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shof’tim, Moses tells the people of Israel to select judges for every city. Rabbi Rick Jacobs discusses the standards that Moses set for those judges, how they are still relevant today, and what we must we do when those standards aren't met.