Publications

Judea Reform and COVID-19 Preparedness

• Update to COVID-19 Protocol May 15, 2022
• IMPORTANT UPDATE: High Holy Days & Shabbat Services: August 16, 2021
• Reopening Recommendation Statement, August 2021
• Update on Reopening: April 22, 2021
• COVID-19 Update: July 2, 2020
• COVID-19 Update: May 1, 2020
• Message from our President, Ziva Raney (April 3)
• COVID-19 Update: March 12
• COVID-19 Update: March 10
• COVID-19 Update: March 2

To Receive our Weekly eNotices

Due to the pandemic this page is not being updated. Please email Emily at eyoung@judeareform.org to be added to our weekly eNotices.

Circle of Honor Donor List

October 31, 2022 - PDF

Staffing Announcements

• Rabbi Soffer Announces Michelle Crosbie, Dir of YEFE, May 17, 2022
• Rabbi Soffer Announces Rabbi Robin Damsky, June 30, 2022

High Holy Days 5783 Texts and Recordings

• 5783 Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon, Rabbi Soffer: PDF and Video
• 5783 Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon, Rabbi Soffer: PDF and Video
• A Rosh Hashanah Prayer from Rabbi Friedman PDF and Video
• President's Message from Heidi Tyson PDF and Video
• President's Engagement Document PDF
• 5783 Kol Nidre Sermon, Rabbi Soffer: PDF
• 5783 Yom Kippur Morning Sermon, Rabbi Damsky: PDF

Important Sermons from Rabbi Matthew V. Soffer

• Reflections on Antisemitism, October 5783 (2022) PDF and Video
• 5782 Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5782 Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5782 Kol Kidre Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5781 Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5871 Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5781 Kol Nidre Sermon: PDF and Video
• 5781Yom Kippur Morning Sermon: PDF and Video
• Sermon in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day: PDF and Video
• Sermon: Voting in WZO Israeli Elections: PDF and Video

Special Remarks from our Community to our Community

• Rabbinic Reflections on Overturning Roe v. Wade 
• From Rabbi Soffer: In the Wake of the Massacre in Uvalde, TX
• From Rabbi Soffer: Facing the Ukraine, We Bind Prayer to Action, March 10, 2022
• From Rabbi Soffer: We Thank God, January 16th, 2022
• Grief Leave: A Time of Mourning, November 4, 2021
• Transcription and video of Heidi Tyson's President's Message (Erev Rosh Hashanah - Monday, September 6, 2021) [view video]
• Transcription and video of Ziva Raney's President's Message (Erev Rosh Hashanah - Sunday, September 29, 2019) [view video]
• Transcription and video of Ziva Raney's President's Message (Erev Rosh Hashanah - Sunday, September 9, 2018) [view video]
• Fifteen Voices: Reflections on an Anshei Mitzvah Journey, a commentary by our 2019 Anshei Mitzvah Class.
• Shabbat Blessings, Lily Posner-Hess, December 2020
• Transcription and video of Ziva Raney's  Mid-Year President's Message, February 2021.

Important Documents

Learn more about Judea Reform by reading our mission statement, strategic plan, history, and constitution:

• Strategic Plan (2017 to 2022)
• Mission Statement
• A Brief History of Judea Reform
• Our Constitution

Gratitude Report and Annual Reports

These reports highlight our accomplishments and acknowledge the generous support from individuals who helped make it happen! 

• 2020 Tzedakah Times (Gratitude Report)
• 2018-2019 Gratitude Report (published December 2019)
• 2016-2017 Annual Report - Interactive Flipbook
• 2016-2017 Annual Report - PDF

Where We Stand . . . 

Social justice position statements, letters to officials, and other communications on the following:

• NC Klei Kodesh Rabbinic Letter to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (October 19, 2021)
• A Letter from Local Synagogue Rabbis to UNC Leadership: August 13, 2021
• North Carolina Rabbis' & Cantors' Statement on George Floyd and Systemic Racism
• On North Carolina's Public Facility Privacy and Security Act (House Bill 2, March 2016)
• Public Policy Position Against NC Constitutional Amendment to Require Voter Identification (August 14, 2018)
• Letter to Durham's Human Relations Commission December 2018
• Letter to the Durham Human Relations Commission from Area Rabbis December 2018
• Call on Elected Officials to Condemn ICE Activity in North Carolina (Petition Signed by JRC, February 2019)
• An Open Letter on Antisemitism from Triangle Jewish Community Leaders
• Our position on the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act (HB 437)
  • Letter to the General Assembly about House Bill 437, signed by Rabbi Franken and Board President Ziva Raney
  • Text of House Bill 437
• A Yom Hashoah Prayer Before Lighting the Memorial Candle

Our Pillars, Our Promise

On Three Things

Rabbi Soffer's message about Shabbat as worship services are canceled across the nation because of COVID-19,
broadcast on Channel 11 ABC, before Shabbat, March 20, 2020.