1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,520


2
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,970
Thank you for joining us to
learn more about institutional

3
00:00:13,970 --> 00:00:15,980
t'shuvah or repentance.

4
00:00:15,980 --> 00:00:20,000
In this past year, all three
of our Reform organizations

5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,760
have been deeply
focused on ethics.

6
00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,240
Even as our organizations are
each involved in our own work

7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,690
of t'shuvah and repair, which
is still ongoing and will be

8
00:00:29,690 --> 00:00:32,780
uniquely different
for each organization,

9
00:00:32,780 --> 00:00:35,420
we wanted to share an
opportunity for all of us

10
00:00:35,420 --> 00:00:39,750
across the Reform Movement
to learn and grow together.

11
00:00:39,750 --> 00:00:43,080
T'shuvah meaning
"repentence" but also

12
00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:48,690
"return" and "realignment,"
is a powerful Jewish idea.

13
00:00:48,690 --> 00:00:51,750
In this season of
repentance and renewal,

14
00:00:51,750 --> 00:00:55,410
we are so grateful that Rabbi
Danya Ruttenberg has agreed

15
00:00:55,410 --> 00:00:59,190
to be our teacher and guide
as we seek to learn more

16
00:00:59,190 --> 00:01:02,670
and broaden our
understanding of t'shuvah.

17
00:01:02,670 --> 00:01:07,020
This study opportunity is not
itself an act of t'shuvah, per

18
00:01:07,020 --> 00:01:08,220
se.

19
00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:11,520
As the CCAR has heard
from and continues

20
00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,790
to listen to and learn
from the pain of survivors,

21
00:01:15,790 --> 00:01:18,690
we have been shaping
our individual process

22
00:01:18,690 --> 00:01:22,110
of repentance, repair,
and rebuilding.

23
00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:24,300
We are so grateful
for those who have

24
00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:26,490
shared their story with us.

25
00:01:26,490 --> 00:01:29,460
This work of repentance
and realignment

26
00:01:29,460 --> 00:01:33,450
will be unfolding over the
weeks, months, and years

27
00:01:33,450 --> 00:01:38,280
to come as the CCAR acknowledges
the failings of the past,

28
00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,520
recognizes the pain
of those impacted,

29
00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,600
seeks forgiveness, and
continues to revise our ethics

30
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,990
code and system.

31
00:01:47,990 --> 00:01:51,830
As all of this crucial work
goes on in our Reform Movement,

32
00:01:51,830 --> 00:01:53,960
this learning
experience is a chance

33
00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,940
to expand our
collective knowledge

34
00:01:55,940 --> 00:01:59,270
about repentance that is so
central to the Jewish belief

35
00:01:59,270 --> 00:02:00,440
system.

36
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,670
Our High Holiday liturgy teaches
that the gates of t'shuvah are

37
00:02:04,670 --> 00:02:06,480
always open.

38
00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,870
We take this teaching seriously.

39
00:02:08,870 --> 00:02:13,370
Our work of t'shuvah is
ongoing and multifaceted.

40
00:02:13,370 --> 00:02:17,060
As we strive to learn more
about t'shuvah and explore all

41
00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:20,900
the ways to seek forgiveness
and create true and meaningful

42
00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:24,890
repair for the future, may we
be able to engage with a whole

43
00:02:24,890 --> 00:02:27,650
heart in the
process of t'shuvah.

44
00:02:27,650 --> 00:02:30,890
And may we continue to
bring ourselves ever closer

45
00:02:30,890 --> 00:02:36,310
to God, to each other, and
to a more perfect world.

46
00:02:36,310 --> 00:02:39,520
At this season, especially,
our Jewish tradition

47
00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:43,210
instructs us to make time
for cheshbon hanefesh,

48
00:02:43,210 --> 00:02:45,310
to take stock of
our lives, recalling

49
00:02:45,310 --> 00:02:49,840
the times we succeeded, but
especially when we fell short.

50
00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,840
Which leads us to the
deep work of t'shuvah.

51
00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,630
T'shuvah, or
repentance, requires

52
00:02:55,630 --> 00:02:57,970
that we take a number
of steps to address

53
00:02:57,970 --> 00:03:00,040
the harm we have caused.

54
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,110
Not only are individuals
required to do

55
00:03:02,110 --> 00:03:07,290
t'shuvah, institutions
also bear this obligation.

56
00:03:07,290 --> 00:03:11,340
In this past year, the URJ
and our partner institutions

57
00:03:11,340 --> 00:03:13,860
have each conducted
and shared reports

58
00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:17,880
of in-depth, independent
ethics investigations.

59
00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,050
This was a critical first step
on a longer journey towards

60
00:03:22,050 --> 00:03:24,240
institutional t'shuvah.

61
00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,440
T'shuvah also requires
naming and owning the harm.

62
00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,920
To that end, the URJ
takes responsibility

63
00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:35,640
for the sexual misconduct,
harassment, and abuse

64
00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,300
that took place on our watch.

65
00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:42,510
Our work towards t'shuvah
is survivor-centered

66
00:03:42,510 --> 00:03:44,460
and trauma-informed.

67
00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:48,120
It includes saying loudly and
clearly to survivors, victims,

68
00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,290
and to all those affected,
al chet shechatanu.

69
00:03:52,290 --> 00:03:54,960
For the sins that
we have committed

70
00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,600
and for our failure to
protect all those who

71
00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,320
are harmed, on behalf of
myself and URJ leadership,

72
00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,590
we are deeply sorry.

73
00:04:04,590 --> 00:04:07,800
We take responsibility for
the harm that occurred.

74
00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,020
We are committed individually
and institutionally

75
00:04:10,020 --> 00:04:15,560
to repair, when possible, and
to do better in the future.

76
00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,079
Thank you to everyone
who has helped

77
00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:19,390
bring us closer
to the redemption

78
00:04:19,390 --> 00:04:21,790
and repair that
we seek, including

79
00:04:21,790 --> 00:04:25,540
those who shared painful
stories and experiences.

80
00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:29,500
The Days of Awe do not
wipe the slate clean,

81
00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:34,360
but rather, summon us to walk
the path of repair and healing.

82
00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:40,170
In the new year 5783, may
we walk this path together.

83
00:04:40,170 --> 00:04:43,890
Hebrew Union College - Jewish
Institute of Religion is proud

84
00:04:43,890 --> 00:04:48,180
to partner with the URJ and
the CCAR in bringing you this

85
00:04:48,180 --> 00:04:53,760
important discussion with
Rabbi Ruttenberg on t'shuvah.

86
00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,520
The religious ideal of
t'shuvah is limited,

87
00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,680
traditionally to the individual.

88
00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:03,150
Its application to
institutions like HUC

89
00:05:03,150 --> 00:05:06,000
illustrates how a Reform
approach to our tradition

90
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,280
can bring Jewish meaning to
the ethical challenges we face.

91
00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:14,700
All acts of t'shuvah must
begin with a keen sensitivity

92
00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:17,850
to those who have been harmed,
prioritizing their need

93
00:05:17,850 --> 00:05:19,620
for healing.

94
00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:23,430
But a complete returning
of us involves not only

95
00:05:23,430 --> 00:05:26,100
making amends to those
whom we have harmed,

96
00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:30,840
but also a commitment
to changing ourselves.

97
00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:34,860
As Rabbi Ruttenberg explains,
step two of Maimonides' five

98
00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:38,310
steps of t'shuvah is
to make that change.

99
00:05:38,310 --> 00:05:40,900
That process will
involve many actions,

100
00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:43,830
actions that HUC is
actively pursuing

101
00:05:43,830 --> 00:05:48,840
to ensure that abuses of
power will never occur again.

102
00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:52,080
Today's program draws on
HUC's specific mission

103
00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,750
as an institution of
higher education that

104
00:05:54,750 --> 00:05:57,000
emphasizes learning
and understanding,

105
00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,580
the activity of the intellect.

106
00:05:59,580 --> 00:06:01,890
Like much of the
t'shuvah process,

107
00:06:01,890 --> 00:06:06,090
learning requires an openness to
confronting ideas that make us

108
00:06:06,090 --> 00:06:11,070
uncomfortable, unsettled, ideas
that go beyond simply those we

109
00:06:11,070 --> 00:06:13,050
want to hear.

110
00:06:13,050 --> 00:06:16,440
Moral education always
engages the mind, the heart,

111
00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:17,580
and the soul.

112
00:06:17,580 --> 00:06:21,100
We must have good reasons
for the beliefs that we hold.

113
00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:24,150
And we will feel discomfort
when our presumptions

114
00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:26,130
are called into question.

115
00:06:26,130 --> 00:06:28,290
Opening ourselves
to that discomfort

116
00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:31,500
is thus the first step
to full resolution.

117
00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:33,750
And it is the only
way to begin to effect

118
00:06:33,750 --> 00:06:37,470
lasting, eternal change,
whether of the individual

119
00:06:37,470 --> 00:06:40,260
or of an institution.

120
00:06:40,260 --> 00:06:42,750
As Maimonides'
taught, moral behavior

121
00:06:42,750 --> 00:06:45,960
emerges when as
rational, caring beings,

122
00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,960
we conscientiously
adopt habits that

123
00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,490
resonate with us emotionally,
reinforcing ethical action.

124
00:06:53,490 --> 00:06:55,920
The same Jewish wisdom
applies to building

125
00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,480
morally decent institutions,
where sustainable practices are

126
00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:05,010
essential to ensuring
justice within our halls.

127
00:07:05,010 --> 00:07:06,870
Learning is just
one of many actions

128
00:07:06,870 --> 00:07:10,620
we are taking at HUC to
return to our best selves.

129
00:07:10,620 --> 00:07:14,460
The program is one step
among other survivor-centered

130
00:07:14,460 --> 00:07:19,650
approaches on the path to
t'shuvah and systemic change.

131
00:07:19,650 --> 00:07:23,160
I thank you for joining us
as we turn, and turn again,

132
00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,160
as a movement and
a Jewish people.

133
00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,150
May the new year ahead be filled
for you with joy and happiness

134
00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:35,600
for your families and built on a
stronger foundation for us all.

135
00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:48,000