While much of the world turned a blind eye to the sexual violence against women committed in Israel on October 7th, we took action to raise awareness about the devastating effects of gender-based violence. Partnering with Women of Reform Judaism, the National Council of Jewish Women, and filmmaker Sheryl Sandberg, we brought the powerful documentary Screams Before Silence to communities across North America. By providing a comprehensive community screening toolkit and discussion guide, we empowered leaders to facilitate critical conversations and bear witness to the atrocities committed. This initiative helped raise awareness about the gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas, demanding justice and accountability for the crimes against humanity.
On the first anniversary of October 7th, North American Reform Jews stood in solidarity with our Israeli siblings, offering support and comfort as we bore witness to victims of the past year and advocated for the release of those still in captivity. On Simchat Torah, the Hebrew anniversary of October 7th, Rabbi Rick Jacobs shared a message with Reform Jews about finding strength in resilience while honoring the memories of those who had been massacred, emphasizing the importance of community, solidarity, and the pursuit of peace.
In the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks and amid the ongoing war, the URJ continued to raise its moral voice. Throughout 2024, we mobilized our Movement to advocate for the return of hostages, the protection of innocent lives, and a just resolution to the conflict — grounded in our Jewish values of dignity, justice, and peace.
Our work continues. We will not rest until every hostage is home, every community is safe, and Israel’s future reflects the values of peace, democracy, and equality that define our Reform Movement.
