URJ Biennial 2017

December 6 - 10, Hynes Auditorium

The URJ Biennial is coming to Boston this December. Having the Biennial in Boston is a unique opportunity for us. But what is a Biennial and why should you care?

The Biennial is a gathering of thousands of Jews from North America and around the world. It is five days of learning, prayer, singing, dancing, storytelling, schmoozing, shopping, and catching up with old and new friends. While many of the sessions and programs are focused on issues of leadership and synagogue life, you don’t have to be a current member of the Board to have an amazing experience.

You can spend your days attending sessions from one or more Biennial “tracks” (Strengthening Congregations, Tikkun Olam, Audacious Hospitality, Youth Engagement, and Transforming Texts) led by rabbis, scholars, and thought leaders, or lay leaders sharing stories of things that worked in their communities
(including some from Isaiah). And you can attend the plenary sessions, where you can hear from leaders from the Reform Movement and public life (the keynote speaker in 2015 was Joe Biden).

There are daily worship services in a variety of styles and with different kinds of music. You can attend a Friday Night Shabbat Service for 5000 led by amazing worship leaders, musicians and a choir of cantors, followed by a song session where you can sing along with the top musicians from the world of Jewish music.
Or you can spend your whole Biennial listening to music and stories from performers who are scheduled throughout the day and into the evening, or browsing the exhibit hall and doing some pre-Hanukkah shopping from the many vendors who will be there.

If you are a leader at Isaiah, active in Brotherhood or Sisterhood, or just interested in immersing yourself for a few days in the issues of contemporary Jewish life, attending the Biennial in our home town is an opportunity not to be missed. You can see the various ways you can participate elsewhere on this page, and if you are interested but the cost is a barrier, there are a couple of free and low cost programs, and subsidies may also be available from Sisterhood and from Isaiah.

For full details, visit urj.org/biennial. To register for special opportunities available to Boston residents, visit here. For questions, to reserve a seat on the bus, or to coordinate with other attendees from Isaiah, please contact biennial@templeisaiah.net.