YourJewish believes in a vibrant, integrated, and fully engaged Jewish community in which every Jew feels a strong sense of connectivity to their Jewish identity. When people feel deeply connected to Judaism:
The more a person feels connected to their Jewish identity, the more likely they are toact on Jewish values, contributing to a better world for all. When people feel a sense of belonging, they feel a greater sense of responsibility to each other and desire to give back to their local community.
Our core values serve as the guiding principles of YourJewish, informing the design of the organization, the programs we develop, and the decisions we make.
Jewish tradition teaches "tzedek tzedek tirdof," that we should pursue justice in every possible realm. We have an obligation as Jews to give back to our communities, to call out injustices, and to do everything we can to right the wrongs of previous generations.
YourJewish seeks to make the world a more just place for all people. Our work is grounded in a vision for a world that embraces equity and equality across gender, racial, religious, and socio-economic lines.
It is common to hear Jewish thought leaders express dire concerns about the future of Judaism and Jewish life, but as Golda Meir reminds us, “Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.” YourJewish believes in the potential for an expanded and increasingly vibrant Jewish world.
We believe that the Jewish people have a rich and thriving future ahead of us, despite the many challenges we face.
Theodore Herzl introduced the idea, "Im tirtzu ein zo agadah (if you will it, it is no dream." It takes courage to turn dreams into reality and to introduce new ways of thinking about being Jewish and building Jewish community.
YourJewish embraces the courage it takes to take risks, try new things, and to cultivate one's Jewish identity and assert oneself as a Jew in America today.
In Psalms 89:3, we learn that the world is built on acts of loving kindness (olam chesed yibaneh). As such, kindness is a foundational principle of Judaism that guides us to treat all people with dignity and respect. YourJewish is committed to building an organization that is founded on acts of kindness.
Many people in Jewish families have yet to feel accepted by Jewish institutions, thereby stifling the development of their Jewish identity and cutting off connection to the Jewish community. YourJewish expresses kindness by being gentle, affirming, and inclusive of those seeking to engage in Jewish life, regardless of where they are on their Jewish journey.