Rabbanit Sharona Margolin Halickman was the first Congregational intern and Madricha Ruchanit at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (1997-2004) where she provided religious education and spiritual direction for the community. She is a graduate of Yeshiva University (BA and MS) as well as Matan’s Eshkolot (Tanach) and Hilkheta programs. Sharona is the founder and director of Torat Reva Yerushalayim and she writes a weekly blog on the parsha for the Times of Israel. Sharona is the author of two books: Parsha Points: Torah from the Land of Israel and Parsha Points: More Torah from the Land of Israel.

Uri L’Tzedek’s College Social Justice Fellowship is now accepting applications for Fall 2025! This virtual fellowship brings together observant Jewish college students for four Sunday sessions focused on social justice through a Jewish lens, featuring dynamic speakers, peer learning, and community building.
🕒 Priority Application Deadline: Oct 5
Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_gTYZnrVY7YJXy2zhF3PvalA6Mlx1E3BQowETA38KGZ4oow/viewform

DC Launch Event
We're so excited to invite you to the launch event of Uri L'Tzedek's new DC branch! Come celebrate with us on Tuesday, September 9th at 6pm for some light refreshments, local community connection, and Torah learning. 
RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrhA9rWTiD-1DPrQ3EPjkCG2cahkkdG1T212UQNcLwHt1ONA/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawMmh8hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJcFhoN3piMWhVckhHT0pzAR5OuPsYvwhnjcmJGN1_zGKitkSHBLbbLpfxW09j-lZsY9kONfkoSNdkF87uZA_aem_6dAB6X_StazUXJJHP8RU4Q
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Rabbi David Polsky is an Orthodox rabbi, educator, and Kashrut professional living in Southfield, Michigan with his wife and two children. His main research interest is the interaction between Halakhah and social justice. He published two articles in The Lehrhaus making a Halachic case for police accountability, and his article on water access and Halakhah will be published in a book on Jews and progressivism.  He is in the process of writing an article making a Halachic case against the starvation of Gaza. He received his ordination from Yeshiva University.

Jewish College Student? Apply for our Fall Fellowship: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_gTYZnrVY7YJXy2zhF3PvalA6Mlx1E3BQowETA38KGZ4oow/viewform?usp=preview

Register for our next class on Orthodox Social Justice: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iES2nLoyS2GwX5dBi9RbPg#/registration

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Join Mark MacCarthy, adjunct faculty in the Communication, Culture & Technology Program at Georgetown University, for an engaging conversation on the future of artificial intelligence.

While concerns about the existential risks of advanced AI—ranging from loss of control to human extinction—have been circulating for years, recent developments suggest a different picture. Despite bold claims from some industry leaders that AI is on the verge of surpassing human intelligence, the pace of technological advancement has slowed, and we remain far from creating truly superintelligent systems.

Though such capabilities may one day emerge, likely through approaches beyond today’s machine learning models, the immediate priority lies in addressing the real and present harms AI is already causing. With limited resources, researchers and policymakers must focus on the urgent issues at hand before looking too far into the distant future.

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While tikkun olam and tzedek tzedek tirdof have become the rallying cries of the Jewish social justice movement, there are many rich texts that provide nuance and depth to the Jewish imperative for social justice. Come explore these texts and, perhaps, even be inspired to find your own personal rallying cry for the work. 

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Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez is a values-driven Jewish educator, community builder, and visionary leader. Rabba Melissa currently serves the community as a consultant focused on bringing her vibrant energy and varied expertise to organizations nationwide. She is a recent graduate of M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s Senior Educators Cohort and an active volunteer leader. Rabba Melissa is known for her uniquely joyful Judaism and Torah-based social justice work.

Rabba Melissa received rabbinic ordination from Maharat and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Illinois. She has also learned intensively at Nishmat and Pardes in Jerusalem. In her “free time,” Rabba Melissa enjoys writing (she has been published in several print and digital forums), reading novels, and spending time with her family in beautiful Denver, CO.

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In this class we will explore two opposing answers to the most fundamental question raised by the Jewish return to political power,the surprising shift by the Religious Zionist movement, and the practical implications for the burning questions of our day

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Avidan Freedman is a rabbi and activist working to return the prophetic voice of ethics to its rightful place in religious zionist discourse and in Israeli society as a whole. He received rabbinic ordination at YCT Rabbinical School in New York and from the Israeli chief rabbinate. He is an educator at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and is the co-founder and director of Yanshoof, an organization dedicated to ending Israel's arms sales to human rights vioaltors, and establishing moral red lines for Israel's arms sales industry. He and his wife Devorah have 5 children and live in Efrat.

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Join Randy Parraz, Co-Founder and President of the Organizing Institute for Democracy. He will share how he was the main organizer behind the takedown of an extremist politician in 2011 and provide a behind the scenes perspective of how ordinary citizens can organize and win when others thought it impossible.
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STAY CONNECTED:
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Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uri-ltzedek/id1603706369 
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Donate: utzedek.org/donate

Check out this cross-Atlantic conversation with leaders from Kehillat Harlem (NYC) and Ayeka (Paris) on the vision, challenges, and impact of creating meaningful Jewish communities. This video is helpful to all- whether you're part of one, building one, or just curious. 

Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/sZJhMejBRmk

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STAY CONNECTED:

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Check out this dynamic Zoom panel with Rabbi Hart Levine and Rabbanit Tanya Farber where they discuss how radical hospitality at the Seder transforms lives and builds community. Discover how opening our homes and hearts can create spaces of belonging, deepen Jewish meaning, and ensure everyone has a seat at the table.

Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel:

youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw 

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STAY CONNECTED:

Website: utzedek.org 

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YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw 

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uri-ltzedek/id1603706369 

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4sqRoloAYDiI84oFlBd7q4?si=f414b018ae334706

Donate: utzedek.org/donate 

Listen to this book talk on Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery, as author Richard Kreitner explores how six American Jews navigated the moral crisis of slavery during the Civil War—and what their stories teach us about conscience, courage, and identity.

Purchase the book on Amazon!

Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel:

youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw 

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STAY CONNECTED:

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Donate: utzedek.org/donate 

Carletta Tilousi, a lifelong advocate and former Havasupai Tribal Council member, will share her story of protecting the Grand Canyon and advancing environmental justice for Indigenous communities. Drawing from over 25 years of leadership, Carletta will explore the sacred significance of Red Butte, the threats to the region’s aquifer, and the powerful legacy of Havasupai resistance and resilience.

Watch the video recording of this class on Uri L’Tzedek’s YouTube channel:

youtube.com/channel/UC_htFNr9duz-KJiXdtW8pIw 

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STAY CONNECTED:

Website: utzedek.org 

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Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uri-ltzedek/id1603706369 

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4sqRoloAYDiI84oFlBd7q4?si=f414b018ae334706

Donate: utzedek.org/donate