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Learn more about the work of the Rabbinical Assembly, the global association of Conservative/Masorti rabbis, shaping and strengthening Jewish life worldwide through scholarship, leadership, and service since 1901.
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Explore our RA bookstore, articles on Exploring Judaism, teshuvot of the Committee on Jewish Law & Standards (CJLS), our Tzedek Center, holiday guides, and more.
You Shall Strengthen Them: A Rabbinic Letter on the Poor
You Shall Strengthen Them: A Rabbinic Letter on the Poor, was derived from earlier published essays
Purim Song Sheet
This 1-page song sheet, prepared by Yossi Hoffman, contains the text, transliteration, and translation of popular songs for Purim.
Al Ha-nissim
This ready-to-use text, which includes commentary and kavanot, has been excerpted from Or Hadash: A
Lighting the Hanukkah Candles: Blessings & Songs
Text, translation, and transliteration of the blessings and popular songs to accompany the lighting
Tishah B'Av Resources
Most of these resources have been excerpted from Siddur Tisha B'Av PDF, Copyright 2003, The Rabbinical Assembly.
בדיקת חמץ: The Search for Hameitz
This one-page sheet includes text, instructions, and transliteration for the ritual of searching for hameitz and the destruction of hameitz.
Treasuring a Timeless Message
Gerry Skolnik participated with over a dozen colleagues in the Masorti Solidarity Mission to Israel.
By Gerry Skolnik
As the festival of Hanukkah approaches, hanukkiyot - Hanukkah menorahs - seem to sprout from every public...
What Hanukkah Can Teach Us About Preserving Sacred Space
By Julie Schonfeld
Originally posted in The Washington Post
When my home lost power for a week during Superstorm Sandy, I felt that my most obvious priority was to make this situation tolerable and manageable to my two children...
Inspired by Noam: Day 1 of the Masorti Solidarity Mission to Israel
Julie Schonfeld participated with over a dozen colleagues in the Masorti Solidarity Mission to Israel.
Her experiences on the first day follow below:
By Julie Schonfeld
In the United States, it often seems that our...
Leaders of Conservative Movement Stand with Israel, U.S., Against Enhanced Palestinian Status at U.N.
NEW YORK – Today, the United Nations General Assembly voted to grant the Palestinian Authority’s non-member observer status at the UN. Calling the outcome a diversion to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the leaders of the two...
Miracles in Those Days and in Our Own: A Note on the Hanukkah Blessings
By Alvan Kaunfer
You may have grown up, as I did, singing the two Hanukkah candle blessings thanking God for "performing miracles for us " ... ba-yamim ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh.” Many of you may have noticed a small but...
RA Appalled by Hungarian Lawmaker’s Anti-Semitism
NEW YORK – This week, Hungarian Parliament member Marton Gyongyosi suggested in Parliament that all Jews in his country’s government should be counted and monitored as dangerous. On behalf of the Rabbinical Assembly, the Gerald Skolnik, RA...
Mishnah: 'Public Funds Are Collected by Two and Distributed by Three'
By Julie Schonfeld
Originally posted in The Washington Post
In recent weeks while visiting Latin America, I found myself reading about the “fiscal cliff.” I arrived in a country where people were taking to the streets to demand...
RA Thankful for Ceasefire in Middle East Violence
NEW YORK – Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced a ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and Hamas. On behalf of the Rabbinical Assembly, Gerald Skolnik and Julie Schonfeld issued the...
Judaism Honors Our Children's Questions
By Julie Schonfeld
Originally published in The Jewish Week
Judaism offers much wisdom to help people in our communities cultivate the resilience to recover from the aftereffects of Sandy, a storm that created a unique situation...
RA Expresses Support for Israel
NEW YORK – Over the past week, Hamas has launched more than 350 rockets and mortars into Israel. As Israel takes action to protect its people and its borders, today on behalf of the Rabbinical Assembly, Gerald Skolnik, RA President, and Julie...