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Oldest Jewish Women's Religious Organization Marks Centennial at Convention; Open to Public for First-Time in 100-Year History

August 19, 2013
The following press release was sent by WRJ today regarding the WRJ 49th Assembly & Centennial Celebration. New York, NY, August 19, 2013 … Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)’s 49th Assembly & Centennial Celebration will be a time to celebrate the organization’s distinguished and renowned history as a leader and advocate in the Reform movement. The WRJ Assembly, a biennial tradition since WRJ’s founding in 1913, will take place Dec. 11-15, 2013 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. The main WRJ Centennial celebration will be Saturday night when WRJ receives the URJ Eisendrath Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Reform Movement, and presents the WRJ Dr. Jane Evans: Pursuit of Justice Award (given to a woman of strength and action) to Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center and Chairwoman of Women of the Wall.
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Reform Movement Welcomes Ruling in Marriage Equality Cases

June 26, 2013
Rabbis Jacobs, Fox, Feldman and Saperstein: "There is no more central tenet to our faith than the notion that all human beings are created in the image of the Divine, and, as such, entitled to equal treatment and equal opportunity. Many faith traditions, including Reform Judaism, celebrate and sanctify same-sex marriages. Thanks to the Court's decision, the federal government will now recognize these marriages as well, while still respecting the rights and views of those faith traditions that choose not to sanctify such marriages." WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2013 -- In response to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on marriage equality in the cases Windsor v. United States and Hollingsworth v. Perry, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Steve Fox, Chief Executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Marla Feldman, Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
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Emergency Contraception Access

June 11, 2013
Yesterday, the Obama Administration issued an announcement that Plan B will now be made available over-the-counter without age restriction. Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
"We applaud the Obama Administration’s decision to allow women of all ages to access Plan B emergency contraception over-the-counter. This is an historic step toward ensuring that all women have access to the medical care that they need and deserve. Emergency contraception is safe and effective, restores a woman’s control over her reproductive health, and reduces the many physical and emotional risks of unintended pregnancies.
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Reform Movement Decries Vandalism Aimed at Women of the Wall

May 21, 2013
Rabbi Saperstein and Rabbi Feldman: “The overt threats implied by the vandalism inside the hallway of the apartment building of a leader of Women of the Wall serves to remind us of the utmost importance of the Women of the Wall’s efforts to advance religious pluralism, democracy, and gender equality in Israel. We call on the Israeli judicial system to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
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Reform Movement Applauds Jerusalem District Court's Ruling Regarding Women of the Wall

April 25, 2013
WRJ and the Reform Movement released the following statement today:

April 25, 2013, New York, NY -- The Reform Movement is encouraged by the Jerusalem District Court's ruling today that determined that recent detention of Women of the Wall members for their activities at the Western Wall was unjustified and for denying local police requests for restraining orders against the group.

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