Shanah Tovah from UTJ (5787)

Dear UTJ Members and Supporters:

In the post-script of the Jewish exodus from Egypt, every adult male Jew is instructed to contribute a half-shekel.

The wealthy shall not give more, nor shall the poor give less. Everyone is equal in the eyes of God. One People through shared contribution.

The Union for Traditional Judaism was born more than 40 years ago. Each word of its name is essential.

Union. A mission for a united Jewish People.

Traditional. Unity can only come through a shared history and a forward-directed purpose guided by the Torah.

Judaism. Our faith, while welcoming distinct expressions and approaches, is like no other,  moored by a Torah that navigates our actions.

Since the mid 1980s, the UTJ – an open-minded halakhic organization – has always kicked above its weight. Relatively small, our organization and its members continue to produce incredible scholarship, webinars, publications and services (see below for details).

With much of the self-described halakhic world moving increasingly toward the right and other religious denominations drifting further towards secularization, the UTJ plays a critical role of being anchored in the tradition of our sages (Chazal) while also recognizing that our mesora (tradition) embraces a synthesis of ritual observance and intellectual openness and integrity.

It’s in this spirit – and like the Jews of the desert who all contributed to a cause greater than themselves –  we ask you to join us  and be a partner. If you have been a member of UTJ, we thank you for your support and ask you to consider increasing your donation to fund our growing number of projects and to see how you can become a more active volunteer.

If you are a first-time supporter, we welcome you and invite you to attend any of our free webinars as well as consider becoming a volunteer on one of our committees. In the meantime, we encourage you to check out our website, YouTube channel, Facebook Page, and Facebook discussion group.

And as you check these resources, we will continue producing new programs and services. Here are some highlights of what we have produced in recent years:

• Weekly parsha videos from more than 40 scholars and lay people, inspired by R Ronald Price’s collection of remarkable insights from our beloved late Rav, David Weiss Halivni.  These videos are collected here.
• Responsa (teshuvot) on pressing questions, including whether it is permissible to eat at a non-supervised vegan restaurant, carrying tefillin on Shabbat, and  The jewish status of those whose lineage is indeterminate.  Teshuvot approved by the UTJ Panel of Halakhic Inquiry are collected here.
• Special Webinars from a line of top scholars, including Hakham Isaac Sassoon, Rabbi Reuven Kimelman, Rabbi David Novak, Rabbi Wayne Allen and many others.  Video from past UTJ events are collected here.
• Ongoing online learning opportunities: Weekly programming from both Israel and North America, featuring Rabbi Alan Yuter’s series on Human Dignity (Kabod haBriyot), Rabbi Anderw Schultz (Halakha Hashkafa), and a Talmud class by Rabbi David Novak.  Information on upcoming and ongoing UTJ programming can be found here.
• Publications. 
  • Our UTJ Viewpoints website features articles, Divrei Torah, and videos on a wide range of topics including video from past UTJ events.
  • The UTJ Bookstore supporting books from many of the UTJ’s leading rabbis and scholars. Purchases made on Amazon after following a link from the UTJ Bookstore earns UTJ a commission.  Among the recent publications featured in the UTJ Bookstore are: 
    • God Talk by Rabbi David Novak
    • Divrei HaLev by Rabbi Ron Price based on four years of conversations with Rav David Weiss Halivni, tz’l
    • The Philosophers’ Torah by Rabbi Wayne Allen
    • An Adventure in Torah: A Fresh Look Through a Traditional Lens, by Hakham Sassoon
    • Siddur Yismah Libeinu by Hakham Isaac Sassoon with a comprehensive English translation by Rabbi Hayyim Solomon
• Conversions (Giyur). Although UTJ does not sponsor a “formal” program for prospective converts, we continue to convene batei din for relevant and qualified candidates.

Please go to https://utj.org/join-utj-donate/ to join UTJ for 5787 and make your generous donation.  Members of MORASHAH, the rabbinic fellowship of UTJ can submit dues for both UTJ and MORASHA through the MORASHAH membership renewal form at https://utj.org/morashah/renewal/.  If you would like to volunteer your time to help UTJ maximize its impact, please click here.

We are excited to embrace the New Year, 5787, and wish you and your loved ones a year of blessing, joy and health.

L’Shanah Tovah,

Rabbi David Novak
President

Rabbi Gerald Sussman
Executive Vice President

Rabbi Andrew Schultz
Executive Coordinator

And the UTJ Board of Directors