
Democracy Resources
for Rabbis
The Jewish community has been an essential part of the American fabric since before our nation’s founding. Thanks to American democracy, we have had the privilege of voting, holding elected office, serving on juries, participating in public debate, and enjoying the freedoms and civil liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. This cannot be said of most Jews in most places at most times, and so American Jews have been – and must continue to be – staunch advocates and defenders of a robust American democracy.
As Jewish leaders, rabbis have a powerful voice and moral weight that has outsized impact in their communities. A More Perfect Union has compiled this list of sources and resources to assist rabbis who wish to lead their communities in protecting and strengthening democracy.
This resource is meant to be a living document that can be updated regularly with new links. If you have any sources or resources that you think should be on this list, please email [email protected] and let us know!
Resources
Drashing Democracy 2025 - Reflecting on America During the High Holy Days, originally recorded on August 6, 2025, and provides sources, perspectives, and practical approaches for addressing challenges to American democracy from the pulpit.
Drashing Democracy 2024 - Talking About the Elections and Beyond During the High Holidays: This July 11, 2024 webinar from A More Perfect Union provides tangible ideas and information to clergy interested in speaking about American democracy and the 2024 election during their High Holiday observances.
This collection of sermons shared with A More Perfect Union explores topics in democracy.
Our sacred tradition encourages diverse (and divergent) opinions; the Talmud records dissenting arguments before stating the law. This resource from the RAC provides some questions for election season to foster respectful, open-hearted conversations.
This guide from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism discusses how to talk to your kids about democracy.
The Grow a Good Citizen Series from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is crafted with content from Highlights Magazine that reflects key Jewish values, like creating communities where every voice matters.
This collection from Reconstructing Judaism contains 27 essays built around Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
This essay from Reconstructing Judaism and written by Rabbi Bill Plevan, PhD, explores Mordecai Kaplan's vision that genuine democracy requires not only Jews adapting to democratic society, but America also fully embracing cultural and religious differences across groups.
This booklet from Reconstructing Judaism frames the 2024 election through a Reconstructionist Jewish lens. It speaks to the American imperative for free and fair elections and integrates Jewish wisdom.
This meditation from Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson, and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights is intended to be used by individuals or in a communal setting during election season or on Election Day, itself.
This project led by Rabbi Michael Holzman of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation brings congregations together to grapple with our country’s poems, speeches, documents, stories, and other past writings.
This abbreviated version of the American Scripture Project is designed to provide clergy with an accessible, structured approach to examining narratives of our national heritage through their relationship to the weekly Torah portion.
This multi-faith initiative of the American Scripture Project aims to leverage America’s 250th birthday to bring communities together around our nation’s most inspiring texts.
This resource from Common Ground USA offers a list of 50 actions big and small to build resilience this election year.
Repair the World provides a menu of options to expand your civic engagement through service and education.
The News Literacy Project’s quick reference guide provides great tips for helping people identify and mitigate misinformation.
This playbook from Interfaith America and Protect Democracy was designed to make it easier for faith and community leaders to join work that was already happening across America to help the 2024 elections run smoothly, so that all eligible voters could access a ballot and every valid vote is counted.
This News Literacy Project infographic offers excellent recommendations for helping people become more critical consumers of information online.
Sources
This source was prepared by Rabbi Mark Hurvitz and Rabbi Ed Stafman and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
Compiled by Rabbi Jill L. Maderer, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia, PA.
Compiled and edited by Danielle Kranjec, Associate Vice President of Jewish Education at Hillel International, as part of the American Jewish Civics Seminar.
This source is part of the Every Voice, Every Vote Series. It was compiled and edited by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
This collection of Jewish Texts on Civic Engagement is part of the Every Voice, Every Vote Series. It was compiled and edited by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
This source on Elections and Selecting Our Leaders is part of the Every Voice, Every Vote Series. It was compiled and edited by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
This source is part of the Every Voice, Every Vote Series. It was compiled and edited by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
This source was prepared by Rabbi Bill Plevan, PhD, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
This source was prepared by Rabbi Bill Plevan, PhD, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Compiled by Rabbi Josh Ratner, Chair of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Strengthening Democracy subcommittee of the Conservative Movement’s Social Justice Commission.
This source was prepared by Rabbi Alex S. Ozar and published in Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought.
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