The RAC sent a letter to U.S. House members imploring them to vote against the measure to strip Israel of aid even as it acknowledged “genuine concerns about Israel’s conduct.” Read more about it and what @jonahpesner.bsky.social has to say: religionnews.com/2026/07/16/a...

American Jews face a Democratic Party rethinking unconditional Israel support

(RNS) — A growing number of Democrats, and a growing number of American Jews, no longer want the U.S. to issue Israel a blank check.

religionnews.com

In response to the Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. Barbara upholding birthright citizenship, @jonahpesner.bsky.social, Director of the RAC, released the following statement on behalf of the URJ, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and wider Reform Movement: rac.org/press-room/r...

Reform Jewish Leader Celebrates Supreme Court Decision Upholding Birthright Citizenship

In response to the Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. Barbara upholding birthright citizenship, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central...

rac.org

"One can oppose AIPAC in good faith, but to demonize AIPAC as monsters crosses the line into antisemitic tropes about sinister Jewish political influence.

In this episode of podcast "Word on the Street Live," Rabbi @jonahpesner.bsky.social joined host Jeremy Ben-Ami as well as Orly Erez Likhovski from the Israel Religious Action Center, to discuss the Reform Movement’s advocacy work in the US and Israel, and how democracy is inseparable from Judaism.

WATCH: Why Democracy Matters to Jews

How Reform Jews in the US and Israel are linked in a shared fight

jstreetdotorg.substack.com

"The Jewish tradition did not survive for millennia by abandoning its values when the world became hostile. It survived by embodying them more fiercely." Check out this blog post from the RAC's Rabbi @jonahpesner.bsky.social and ARZA's Rabbi Joshua Weinberg: urj.org/blog/stop-as...

Stop Asking Us to Choose

We do this sacred work because we are both proudly patriotic American Jews and proud Zionists.

urj.org

This morning, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, joined Interfaith Alliance for a press briefing ahead of the Rededicate 250 event on the National Mall this Sunday.

From RAC Director, Rabbi @jonahpesner.bsky.social Dov via The Forward: "Reform Judaism helped craft the Voting Rights Act. Its evisceration gives Jews a new mission." Read in full: forward.com/.../voting-r...

The RAC has proudly joined as one of 35+ cosponsors of an upcoming Jewish community Day of Action for immigration justice: 'Jews Demand: ICE OUT' on April 30. Full list of actions: truah.org/events/jews-...

Jews Demand: ICE OUT! – National Day of Action | T'ruah

truah.org

From @jonahpesner.bsky.social: "One of Matan’s unique gifts was his unending smile and constant offer to hug; which helped everyone he encountered fall in love with him but also overcome any stigma they might of felt - which in turn created a culture of love even beyond inclusion."

Matan Koch, disability advocate who urged Jewish communities to 'let everyone in,' dies at 44 - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Koch died after a short battle with stomach cancer.

jta.org

This Passover, we affirm our support for immigrants and refugees. But we don't stop there, we pledge to act. Download a printable Passover Seder supplement to bring this conversation to your table: reformjudaism.org/.../i-am-des...

Registration for the 2027 L'Taken Seminars is open! Our L'Taken Social Justice Seminars bring together students from across the country to D.C. to learn about Jewish perspectives on social justice issues, develops life-long advocacy skills, and lobby their members of Congress: RAC.org/LTaken

Thanks to Zoe Bell of Washington Jewish Week for this great conversation.

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism@the-rac.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Washington Jewish Week spoke to RAC Director, @jonahpesner.bsky.social about his role overseeing the Reform movement’s justice work in 850 congregations across North America, keeping social justice and Jewish community top of mind: www.washingtonjewishweek.com/bethesdas-ra...

Public Statement by The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and the Council of Reform Rabbis in Israel: www.facebook.com/story.php?st...

In the wake of the tragic events at a Michigan synagogue, RAC Director, Rabbi @jonahpesner.bsky.social, tells ABC News that synagogues spend millions of dollars on security:

Video Jewish community reacts to Michigan synagogue attack

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, senior vice president at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, tells ABC News that synagogues spend millions of dollars on security.

abcnews.com

"When anger at the Israeli government becomes violence directed at Jews in suburban Detroit, the world is not witnessing political protest—it is witnessing antisemitism. And the Jewish community is tired of having to explain this over and over again." arza.org/stop-shootin...

Statement from the Union for Reform Judaism:

Last week, Rabbi Jonah Pesner and Tamara Upfal joined hundreds of clergy in Minnesota to bring solidarity and strength to the community. We wanted to share some images from their trip. Be sure to visit rac.org/2026immigration to find out how to take action. WATCH: www.facebook.com/reel/8659169...

Last week, Rabbi Jonah Pesner and Tamara Upfal joined hundreds of clergy in Minnesota to bring solidarity and strength to the community. We wanted to share some images from their trip. Be sure to visi...

Last week, Rabbi Jonah Pesner and Tamara Upfal joined hundreds of clergy in Minnesota to bring solidarity and strength to the community. We wanted to share some images from their trip. Be sure to...

facebook.com

Thankful that @repilhan.bsky.social is safe after being assaulted last night at a town hall. Public service is a noble calling and anyone attacking an elected official should be held fully accountable.

In Minnesota last Friday, RAC Director @jonahpesner.bsky.social stopped to pay his respects at the memorial for Renee Good. WATCH: www.facebook.com/reel/1611248...

In Minnesota last Friday, RAC Director Rabbi Jonah Pesner stopped to pay his respects at the memorial for Renee Good: “I want to pause and allow all of you to be here with me and honor her memory, an...

In Minnesota last Friday, RAC Director Rabbi Jonah Pesner stopped to pay his respects at the memorial for Renee Good: “I want to pause and allow all of you to be here with me and honor her memory,...

facebook.com

RAC Director Rabbi @jonahpesner.bsky.social was in Minneapolis this week, bringing solidarity and strength to the community. Full statement and video: fb.watch/ER1ya7Mvv6/

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Dir. of the RAC and Sr. VP of the URJ, shares reflections this Shabbat on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and how Dr. King's teachings are just as timely now as they ever were: fb.watch/EGlCmfIKJG/ Support Beth Israel Congregation's Rebuilding Efforts urj.org/supporting-b...

It was wonderful to join congregations from New Jersey and Austin, Texas to meet @kim.senate.gov and @doggett.house.gov during our #LTaken teen social justice seminar earlier this week. I am grateful for these members’ moral leadership in Congress and inspired by our teens’ powerful advocacy!

Our hearts remain with Beth Israel Congregation and with the entire Jewish community as they continue to recover from the arson attack at their synagogue early Saturday morning. If you are able, please consider supporting the congregation’s rebuilding efforts: checkout.square.site/merchant/P9T...

Beth Israel Rebuilding Fund - Beth Israel Congregation

checkout.square.site

Statement:

Mississippi Free Press@mississippifreepress.org · 7mo ago

Fire ripped through Jackson's only synagogue on Saturday, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson. Beth Israel synagogue, the largest in Mississippi, has long been a target of antisemites. It was the site of a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1967.

We are heartbroken by the shooting death of a civilian, Renee Nicole Good, by an ICE agent in Minnesota. While the facts continue to come out, video suggests the victim did not pose a mortal threat to law enforcement and was simply documenting immigration arrests in her community. 1/4

Letter to Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard: rac.org/press-room/l...

Reform Jewish Leaders’ Statement on the Anti-Zionist Protest at New York’s Park East Synagogue: urj.org/press-room/r...

Rabbi Laurence Milder offers us this prayer for Veterans Day, honoring all who served. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice.

College students are navigating a tense and often isolating environment. In this powerful online panel, students, rabbis, and a professor will share what campus life has been like, how it’s impacting young Jews, and what’s helping them stay grounded. Register to join us on 11/17: bit.ly/RJ_OnCampus

Being Jewish on Campus: Realities, Challenges, and How We Can Help

Jewish college students are navigating a tense and often isolating environment. In this powerful online panel, students, Reform rabbis, and a professor share what campus life has been like, how it’s i...

bit.ly

Yesterday, we welcomed California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism building. Thank you to our Commission on Social Action Chair Heidi Segal for connecting us to this wonderful Jewish leader!