Dear Webmasters:
For those of you excited about the new RJ Web Builder 3.0, our new platform built on WordPress, we now have available mock ups of the different theme designs. We are currently offering 16 unique, custom themes (or templates) that are well known and well supported. You can also find on that page a list of supported plugins and default modules. Live demo sites will be available soon before registration opens. If you’re not sure which theme works for you, here are some tips.
If you’re looking to get a jump-start on learning WordPress, check out these available resources. Be sure to review this documentation on how to use the Themify Builder, a powerful drag and drop page designer and builder. Themify is included in the framework of all the themes and offers both backend and frontend editing, as well as default modules giving you all the functionality you need.
As we build out the new platform including the demo sites, we want to gain a better understanding of the current needs of congregations and their websites. To make this possible, we need some more feedback from you. If you have yet to do so, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. We will analyze the results and apply any information gained to the final product.
Please also continue to review the FAQs as more questions become answered. Any major announcements will be posted on both the help site and in the RJ Web Builder group in The Tent.
Hope you all have a very Happy New Year!
Joel Emerman
Congregational Websites Manager
212-452-6579 (Central Time)
Did You Know?
There's Still Time to Update Your High Holiday Content
If you’re looking for some last minute holiday ideas or content, be sure to check out these resources. Holiday resource kits are available for both Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. This kit allows you to share relevant and engaging High Holiday content from ReformJudaism.org with your members. Request your kit now.
The New Year is a Biennial Year
Make sure you're represented in Boston December 6-10 – together with more than 300 other Reform congregations already registered – at the URJ Biennial!
Don’t miss these special pricing opportunities. Earn the lowest rate possible with delegation discounts, which enable more members of your community to attend together. Take advantage of early-bird rates – they expire on October 10. Reduced rates are also available for young adults, active duty armed forces, high school students, retired rabbis and cantors, and others. Small congregations (those with 250 members or fewer) can apply for a Small Congregation Biennial Grant to offset the cost of registration.
To stay up-to-date on all things Biennial, join the group in The Tent, follow the URJ on Twitter and Facebook, subscribe to Biennial 2017 update emails, and look around the Biennial website. And of course, register yourself!
Don't miss your opportunity to see your congregation on the big screen at Biennial! Submit photos of your congregation's holiday celebrations, social action programs, or anything that demonstrates your community's vibrancy and diversity to the Biennial 2017 photo contest. The grand prize is a digital camera!
You Can Help With the URJ’s Hurricane Recovery Effort
The Reform Jewish community is working hard to provide resources to families affected by both Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Support the URJ’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and go to The Tent’s Hurricane Irma group page for up to date relief effects in and around Florida.
Staying in Touch
We are challenged in reaching current webmasters due to high turnover and changes in email addresses. If you are receiving this email, you are the person who was reported to the URJ to be handling your congregation's website. If there are additional people who need to be on this list or if you need to get off this list, please send corrected information to datamgmt@urj.org.