Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her)

All of Israel is responsible for one another Now is not a time for blame or hesitation. It is a moment for action and accountability.

Read @lizpghirsch.bsky.social‘s reflection about the current situation in Gaza and our continued calls for an end to this war featured in eJewish Philanthropy: ejewishphilanthropy.com/all-of-israe...

“One of the most penetrating questions of the Bible is expressed in the cry, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ Judaism answers to all men and women with an unequivocal affirmative. Yes, we are responsible for others, for men, women, and children.”

Time and again, Women of Reform Judaism has spoken out against starvation, famine, and war. Our Jewish values are clear:

New report by Israeli NGO finds systematic use of sexual violence by Hamas in Oct. 7 attacks The Dinah Project seeks to ‘set the record straight,’ calls on international bodies to hold perpetrators accountable

Echoing our stance since the earliest days following October 7, WRJ unequivocally states that sexual and gender-based violence must never be a tactic of war. Just like the Torah’s Dinah, many victims and survivors cannot or can no longer speak out following their abuse: tinyurl.com/98n7e7k6

Reform Jewish women condemn Supreme Court decision regarding access to reproductive healthcare

WRJ and @the-rac.bsky.social strongly condemn the decision to block Medicaid recipients from accessing Planned Parenthood. Denying over one million people access to necessary medical services strips them of their fundamental right to bodily autonomy and human dignity. wrj.org/press-room/r...

As we enter Shabbat, we stand firmly with our friends, family, congregations, and communities in Israel. We also pray for the soldiers, civilians, hostages, and all people, around the world, who wish only to live in wholeness, safety, shelter, and peace.

Israel strikes Iran: Three critical questions that will determine what comes next ***

Helpful analysis for those looking to understand this moment and what comes next for Israel, Iran, the Middle East & the hostages from Amir Tibon of @haaretzcom.bsky.social

A West Virginia prosecutor is warning women that a miscarriage could lead to criminal charges | CNN Amid a constantly changing reproductive landscape, one West Virginia prosecutor is warning people who have miscarriages in his state that they could get in trouble with the law.

Miscarriages affect 1 in 5 women. Since the overturn of Roe, we have seen more cases of miscarriage becoming criminal offenses. No patient deserves to be criminalized for having a pregnancy complication. WRJ continues to fight for bodily autonomy for all. www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/h...

Israeli flag behind the text: A historic victory for the Reform Movement!

Vote Reform received the most votes in the 2025 US #WorldZionistCongress elections--the most EVER received by a slate in WZC history. Especially in this vulnerable time, we'll use this to keep pushing for releasing the hostages and maintaining the security of Israel as a Jewish & democratic State.

Trump administration ends emergency abortion requirement for hospitals The Trump administration rescinded a Biden-era policy requiring hospitals to perform emergency abortions regardless of state abortion laws.

Unclear definitions of “life-threatening,” versus “potentially life-threatening,” or simply “harmful to health” only causes further risk to pregnant patients. This decision to revoke guidance clarifying federal law is a direct affront to reproductive health & bodily autonomy for all.

FBI probing Colorado ‘terror attack’ that reportedly targeted pro-Israel gathering * * *

Hearing about an attack in #Boulder #Colorado at a weekly gathering in support of hostage families, for those who demand, for over 600 days, to bring them all home! As we begin the festival of Shavuot, a holy day when we imagine everyone standing together, we stand with the hostages and the victims.

600 Days.

100 days ago, I was in Israel for the 500th day since October 7, 2023.

We demand that the hostages come home - all of them, now!

We demand an end to violence and war and suffering for all Israelis and Palestinians.

We demand justice, equity, pluralism, security, and peace.

We've created a form to gather messages of condolence for the families of Sarah & Yaron. You can add your note here: urj.tfaforms.net/1768

If peace is needed in heaven, where neither hatred nor strife is found - how great the need for peace on earth, where hatred and strife abound.
—Sifre BaMidbar 42:2

We learn from our tradition:

Great is peace, for even in times of war, the hope of peace is undiminished.

Great is peace, for peace is the inheritance of the righteous.

Great is peace, for even heaven needs peace.

We are grateful to the law enforcement official investigating this act of hatred.

May the One Who Makes Peace grant peace and comfort for the families of Sarah and Yaron, and grant us the peace we need here on earth.

Women of Reform Judaism mourns the lives of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, two young Israeli Embassy diplomats fatally shot last night at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

They were attending an event focused on Israeli Palestinian cooperation to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

״אף אחד לא מלמד אותנו מה היא ציונות״
“No one will teach us what Zionism is and what Zionism is not.”
—MK Gilad Kariv

This is our Zionism: a Jewish democracy that speaks up for justice & security, for pluralism & feminism, for the return of our hostages, for the future of the State of Israel.

Fatal explosion outside fertility clinic was 'intentional,' police say At least one person was killed in the explosion that damaged the fertility clinic, authorities said. The FBI said the explosion was "intentional act of terrorism."

Waking up to yet another attack on reproductive freedom. This bomb was a direct affront to IVF and other reproductive services. I am grateful that the clinic in the area was not damaged, and it only reinforces our fight for bodily autonomy for all.
@wrj1913.bsky.social @the-rac.bsky.social

women holding WRJ-branded signs with "Reform Jews fight for Abortion Access"

It’s simple: National legislation is the best way to ensure abortion access for all. We urge Congress to introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act today.

"Now more than ever, we must spread tolerance and understanding, not division and hatred."

"I had the honor of joining Rabbi Chen Ben-Or Tsfoni at her congregation in Ra'anana earlier this year. My heart goes out to those injured in the attacks, including our close partners at the Israeli Religious Action Center as well."

"Instead of peace, participants were attacked with rocks, fireworks, and racially charged slurs. These physical attacks and statements such as “Too bad Hamas didn’t take you,” are not only reprehensible, they also belittle the reality of the 59 hostages still in captivity."

"The event that the protestors bombarded was organized by two groups seeking to bring together Israelis and Palestinians who reject violence and advocate for peace, including a group of bereaved family members from both societies."

WRJ CEO @lizpghirsch.bsky.social shares, "Yesterday evening, as Israel concluded its commemoration of honoring its fallen, Beit Samueli synagogue, which houses a Reform congregation in the city of Ra'anana, was attacked by far-right extremists."

We were honored to spend Monday on Capitol Hill with Reform Movement leaders as part of @wrj1913.bsky.social's Rabbi Marla J. Feldman Social Justice Conference. We enjoyed meeting with @slotkin.senate.gov, @friedman.house.gov, and Rep. Don Bacon.
@lizpghirsch.bsky.social
@jonahpesner.bsky.social

@the-rac.bsky.social @wrj1913.bsky.social

This is a weaponization of antisemitism. This does not make us safer. Let it be known: Reform Jews speak up for democracy, immigrants, & due process.

Women make only 84 cents for every dollar a man makes with the wage gap being even greater for Women of Color, LGBTQ+ women, and disabled women. Eliminating the gender pay gap is essential for promoting economic and social mobility and advancing equity and inclusion. #EqualPayDay

Education is a central Jewish value. As we approach Passover, we prepare to sit around our seder tables and fulfill the mission of the haggadah: “and you shall tell your child (Exodus 13:8)” - we continue to teach and educate the next generation.