Dear Friends,   

Last week, Cantor Lipton and I, as well as TYGRS President Emma Freeman and TYGRS Vice President Daniella Sklarz were amongst 6,000 committed Reform Jews, lay leaders, professionals, clergy, and congregants alike who gathered in our nation's capital for the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) Biennial. While every two years clergy and members of Reform congregations join for up to a week of stimulating workshops and important discussions relating to trends in congregational life, this was undoubtedly a most amazing conference.    

Washington D.C. was certainly a most appropriate place for the Biennial as we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the RAC (Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement) - the political, legislative, and social action arm of our movement. How exhilarating it was to spend a day with the RAC viewing footage of a Torah scroll presented to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as well as leading rabbis marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indeed, the RAC serves as the prophetic voice of our movement, working to correct injustices both within our nation and across the globe. As we know, the RAC champions so many important causes, including combating world hunger, disease, and societal ills.  

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the conference was when President Obama came to speak. Touching on pressing concerns and ideals both central to Progressive Judaism and our nation, the President applauded our 250 young people representing NFTY (National Federation of Temple Youth of North America) for their dedication to "tikun olam," the healing of our world.  This fit in quite nicely, as both outgoing URJ President Rabbi Eric Yoffie and incoming URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs discussed how youth engagement must be a primary concern within congregational life.   

Surely there is much more to share, and much to be implemented into GRS. I look forward to working with you, my congregational family, as we integrate the creativity of the Biennial into GRS. And, of course, I thank all of you for enabling me to experience this most enlightening week.