Uri L'Tzedek: Orthodox Social Justice

According to halakha, if a woman and a man were married in a traditional Jewish ceremony that included kiddushin, and then the woman was abandoned (e.g., the man went on a business trip, or was drafted into the army, and never returned), the woman is considered still married until he divorces her or his death is proven. A woman in such a situation is termed "Aguna." This is a classic instance of s...

In light of the rising antisemitism and growing divisions in our society, this panel reflects on the enduring values of Hanukkah—resilience, courage, and the triumph of light over darkness—and their relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. This conversation explores themes of combating antisemitism, promoting justice, and fostering unity across communities. The panel features moderator Mar...

In our interconnected world, it is time to reexamine theological perspectives on the relationship between Jews and the rest of humanity with fresh insight. In wake of his recent book, Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen presents the foundations for a renewed understanding of a vital aspect of Jewish-gentile relations: Judaism’s view on the beliefs and religious practices of non-Jews. Particularly in the wake of...

Learn from Rosetta Walker and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz about the state of democracy post-election and explore how Native American and Jewish communities can continue to support the vulnerable and advocate for marginalized groups.  Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

In this shiur, Rabbi Truboff looks at the writings of Rav Moshe Amiel, a leading Religious Zionist in the early 20th century, who embraced Zionism but also critiqued it. Rav Moshe Amiel was particularly concerned that under the right conditions, nationalism's emphasis on power and violence could become a form of idolatry, and the consequences could be devastating. Watch the video recording of this...

Experience a rich dialogue in our interfaith panel with Dr. Mehnaz Afridi and Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz as they delve into the essential roles of democracy and pluralism in their faith traditions. Addressing the complexities of the situation post-October 7th and the implications of the elections, they highlight opportunities for rebuilding bridges between American Jewish and American Muslim comm...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism.  Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is dedicated to building bridges to collective...

In this interview, Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson explore the motivation behind getting involved in global health philanthropy and the decision to support African Mission Healthcare as a platform for this impactful work. They also discuss the future vision for African Mission Healthcare in reducing global health disparities and how Jewish values and principles inspire private philanthropy to play a v...

In this short podcast interview, Rabbi Shmuly sits down with Rabbi Aryeh Ronay to explore his journey and expertise in meditation, his background in Jewish spirituality, and his passion for integrating mindfulness with Torah teachings. We also discuss his organization, MindBodyTorah, which focuses on the intersection of Jewish wisdom, meditation, and environmental consciousness.  - - - - - - - - -...

Listen to hear expert, Adam Obernauer, answer questions like: * How can workers defend themselves today in their workplace? * What protections does joining a union provide? * How do workers gain the opportunity to join unions? Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - S...

Rabbi Greenberg discusses his latest book, "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism." "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism" is Rabbi Greenberg’s magnum opus—a narrative of the relationship between God and humanity as expressed in the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and the birth of Judaism’s next era. - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

In this dynamic discussion-style session Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner and Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz explore the critical importance of civic engagement and the power of using our voices in the democratic process. They delve into how each of us can actively contribute to safeguarding democracy, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to a just and equitable society.  STAY CONNECTED: Webs...

The book of Deuteronomy lays out Moses' vision of the ideal society that should animate the Israelites as they take up residence in their homeland. One of the central parts of that vision is a society driven by concern for social justice. We will examine key elements of the mitzvot that try to achieve those goals on a personal, communal and national level as presented in Moses' last oration. Watch...

How and why do we maintain the status quo which makes it difficult for those struggling with addiction to come forward? In this podcast, we look at the Torah as a guide to remind us of how to help those struggling with addiction and to open the door for those that are struggling in private. Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-...

Beatrice Weber joins Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz for an interview to discuss how the value of כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה (every Jew is responsible for one another), is crucial in advocating for Hasidic children to receive a basic education. Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

Rabbi Jonah Pesner on Pursuing Justice Even When it's Hard: Overcoming Racism and Antisemitism  Rabbi Pesner reflects on the Reform Movement's long-time racial justice commitments and the more recent challenges from rising bigotry and authoritarianism. He also addresses the dynamics that have emerged in the US since the Hamas attacks. Lastly, he discusses how we can engage the community in a conve...

Dr. Tanya White at Uri L’Tzedek on “‘Yirat Elokim’ – Fearing God as the Development of a Moral Conscience” This shiur explored the idea of ‘yirat elokim’ as the development of moral conscience. Using the Akeida narrative as a framing paradigm it journeys through an exploration of the concept of yirat elokim in Torah including Yosef, the Hebrew midwives and Amalek (as the anti-paradigm). Integratin...

From addiction to depression, mental health issues are present at all levels of our community just like every other. Come hear from experts in the field as they discuss mental health care in the Jewish community. Find out what you can do to support loved ones and receive insight into their experiences. Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/U...

Learn Torah with Rabbi Avi Narrow-Tilonski. Originally from Cherry Hill, NJ Avi Tilonsky, enjoys experiencing the exciting and ever-changing Jewish life in Jerusalem. Prior to moving to Israel, Avi worked as a communal rabbi and in adult Jewish education. Today, he is privileged to work for a Jewish organization helping Jewish communities around the world. In his free time, Avi likes to go explori...

Join a Zoom panel with Uri L’Tzedek’s Founder and president Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, Uri L’Tzedek Board member Rosh Kehilah Dina Najman, and Campaign Director Eddie Chavez Calderon. We will be discussing our work in supporting workers for over 15 years with a rich grounding in the Torah. STAY CONNECTED: Website: utzedek.org  Newsletter: utzedek.org/subscribe Facebook: facebook.com/uriltzedek YouTu...

Join a thought-provoking panel discussion on Ethical Consumption featuring esteemed speakers Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, Founder of Uri L’Tzedek, Rabbi Dina Brawer, Executive Director of World Jewish Relief USA, and Dr. Steven Laufer, an economist from the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. Delve into the intersection of ethics and consumerism as our expert panelists explore the complexities of making et...

Join an insightful discussion featuring Uri L'Tzedek's Campaign Director, Eddie Chavez Calderon, and Randy Fried, Director of Philanthropic Engagement & Communication at Tzedek America. Together, they will explore strategies to address Jewish hatred within progressive spaces, particularly from the perspective of Jews of color. With over two decades of experience, Randy has dedicated himself to...

Join Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg as he shares some Torah on liberation and social justice. On this night Rav Yitz & Mrs. Blu will also be awarding our J.J Greenberg Young Leadership awards to a select group of leaders.  STAY CONNECTED: Website: utzedek.org  Newsletter: utzedek.org/subscribe Facebook: facebook.com/uriltzedek YouTube:    / @uriltzedek1140    Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/po...

Even though slavery has long since been outlawed, according to the International Labor Organization tens of millions of people are still slaves. How can this be? In this session, we’ll use Jewish and secular sources to discuss what modern slavery is, what it looks like, and what we can do to stop it. STAY CONNECTED: Website: utzedek.org  Newsletter: utzedek.org/subscribe Facebook: facebook.com/uri...