SAVE REFORM OUTREACH

The Effort to Preserve the Regional Outreach Coordinator Positions

On December 17, 2002, the leadership of the Reform Movement (the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, or UAHC) announced a number of cutbacks due to financial constraints. One of the cutbacks was the elimination of the regional outreach coordinator positions, effective March 31, 2003.

The InterfaithFamily.com Network took a leading role in an effort to preserve the Reform Movement's regional outreach coordinator positions, because their loss would be a major setback to the cause of building a Jewish community that is welcoming and inclusive of interfaith families.

We are pleased to report that on April 3, 2003, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the UAHC, announced that of the 13 positions that were due to be dropped March 31, sufficient funding to pay for three positions for two to three years had been raised, and that fund-raising efforts were ongoing in other regions.

We created this section of our website so that everyone who participated or wanted to participate in this effort could be kept as up-to-date as possible on developments. We maintained a current list of temples whose leadership had been asked by at least one member to take action to have the cutback reversed. To see the list of those temples, click here. To contribute information for the list or to share your ideas, please email edc@interfaithfamily.com.

In This Section:

Temples

List of Temples Considering Action

Resolutions

Temple Shalom Resolution
Pacific Area Reform Rabbis Resolution
Congregation B'nai Tzedek Resolution
Temple Chai Resolution
Beth El Temple Center Resolution
Temple Sholom of Broomal Letter

The InterfaithFamily.com Network E-letter

Network E-Letter
From the InterfaithFamily.com Network

News and Editorials

Letter to Congregational Rabbis and Presidents
From Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the UAHC

Still Committed to Outreach
Letter from Rabbi David Wolfman to the Editors of the (Boston) Jewish Advocate

Reform Outreach Threatened
By the Editors of the (Boston) Jewish Advocate

Reform Rabbis Asking Temples to Fund Outreach Jobs
By Forward Staff

Reform Rabbis Launch Campaign to Restore Cut Outreach Positions
By Joe Berkofsky

Don't Cut Outreach
By the Editors of the Forward

Reform Rabbis Protest Cuts to Outreach
By Nacha Cattan

Reform Cuts Outreach Program
By Julie Wiener

UAHC Expects $2 million Budget Shortfall
By Margi Herwald
The language of Judaism. Used in prayer in most synagogues and the official language of the state of Israel. Also refers to Jews, especially before they entered Israel and were given the Torah, as in "the ancient Hebrews." Spiritual leader and teacher. Typically, but not always, leads a congregation.