For one joyful weekend, we’re gathering to celebrate our community, our values, our purpose, and you. This monumental occasion gives us the opportunity to RECONNECT with one another, REJOICE in the sacred community we build together, and RECOMMIT to our shared values and the next 150 years of our remarkable Movement.  Among the highlights of the weekend will be a soul stirring Kabbalat Shabbat, uplifting music from our past and present, and opportunities to learn from and network with leaders like you from across our Movement. You’ll leave Washington, D.C., reinvigorated and ready to lead the change that our faith, our communities, and our world so desperately need. 

The URJ 150th Gathering will be held in downtown Washington, DC. Exact location details will be shared with registrants in their registration confirmation email. Discounted sleeping rooms are available, and a booking link will be included in the registration confirmation email.

We have secured a hotel room block for the nights of Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16, at the rate of $169/night + taxes. Hotel information, including a link to book rooms at our discounted rate, will be emailed to all attendees immediately after completing registration. Guests who seek to share a hotel room should seek other attendees on our event page in The Tent. For security reasons, the Union for Reform Judaism does not publish the location of events or hotels publicly.

The URJ 150th Gathering is for everyone who cares about the future of the Reform Movement and the URJ. Whether you’re a congregational leader, social activist, camp family, or committed Reform Jew, our program will inspire you to help build a more whole, just, and compassionate world by leading change in your communities. We hope this is an opportunity for folks who are new to Reform Judaism, who have been energized by their local Reform communities, and want to broaden their view on what Reform Judaism in North America looks like.

There is no affiliation requirement to attend. While the program is designed for Reform Movement program participants and leaders, many people fit this definition without belonging to a synagogue.

A limited number of grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn more about grant opportunities, please visit our Pricing & Fees page.

You can change your registration details by following the instructions in your confirmation email. For additional questions, and registration assistance, please email events@urj.org.

All registrants 18 and over must complete their own registration. Parents or guardians must register those under the age of 18.

A lot of the focus for this gathering is experiencing Shabbat together: Kabbalat Shabbat services, a relationally organized Shabbat dinner, pre-Shabbat activities in small groups, song session, a Shabbat morning experience, a communal Kiddush and lunch, a Shabbat afternoon focused on learning, study, and small group conversations, and finally a celebratory evening dinner with sacred ritual, story-telling, and music. Sunday will be focused on big-picture thinking, with learning and small group conversations, ending with a call to action.

Our event website will be updated regularly as we confirm our program. Major programmatic updates will first be shared via email, in The Tent (the URJ's online community for congregational leaders), and via social media. Program registrants may also receive periodic emails with schedule updates, confirmed speakers, and logistical information.

All participants will experience a joyful Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening. Saturday morning will feature multiple Shabbat experiences that allow participants to pick the option that is best for them. More information and a sign-up process will be available in the weeks leading up to the event.

URJ's 150th celebration is a new event, and we’re excited to offer innovative programming that redefines how we gather as the Reform Movement. At this time we are not accepting program proposals for the event.

Shabbat dinner, Saturday lunch & dinner, and Sunday lunch are all included in your registration fee. Breakfasts will not be provided but will be available for purchase in the hotel.

No. Food served at the event will be kosher style. Meats will not be prepared in a kosher kitchen, and dairy and meat products will not be served together. No pork or shellfish will ever be served.

We are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. All participants will be asked to list their dietary restrictions and allergy information during registration. The kitchen and wait staff will be informed of guest allergies and are able to answer any questions you might have. Due to the size of the event, we are unable to order individually customized meals for participants. If you have questions or concerns about meals, please contact events@urj.org.

Yes! The hotel has several restaurants for seated and take-away dining that will be open during program hours. For participants wishing to get outside, there are restaurants, coffee shops, and convenience stores within walking distance of the hotel.

We strive to make all URJ programming accessible and inclusive for all attendees. If you would like to speak with a member of the URJ staff about accessibility or accommodations, please email events@urj.org.

Yes. Wheelchair and scooter seating will be available throughout all program spaces.

Hotel reservations can only be made after you have completed registration. Your confirmation email will contain hotel booking instructions.     The event hotel has several ADA-compliant rooms available to attendees at our guaranteed lowest rate. Requests for ADA-compliant rooms should be made when booking your hotel room. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Discounted scooter rentals are available through third-party vendors and can be delivered directly to the hotel. For a list of recommended vendors, please contact events@urj.org.

We will be offering Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and LOOP systems in our ballroom (used for General Sessions and Kabbalat Shabbat). In all other program spaces, all presenters will be required to use microphones.  Attendees who require ASL interpretation or who have questions about CART or LOOP technology should contact events@urj.org.  

Program materials will be available via the event app as electronic resources that can be enlarged by the user. Large print prayer books will be available for pick up immediately prior to all Shabbat worship services.

Participants who require braille program materials or prayer books should contact events@urj.org.

Yes. Gender neutral/family friendly bathrooms are located throughout the hotel meeting space.

Yes. Attendees who require an attendant or assistant to facilitate their participation in the program can register one attendant/assistant at no charge. For more information, or to register your attendant/assistant, please contact events@urj.org.

Trained service animals are welcome in the hotel meeting space and all programs.

We suggest “business casual” attire. It is also a good idea to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and have a sweater or light jacket on hand.

The safety of our participants is our foremost concern. All participants will be required to always wear name badges. This policy is strictly enforced by onsite security. Attendees may be asked to submit to additional screening at any time, including bag searches and passing through metal detectors. Additionally, the URJ periodically works with local and federal law enforcement agencies and security contractors to ensure the safety of all our guests. While the requests of security personnel may, at times, be time consuming, we appreciate your cooperation.

Instructions for downloading the event app will be emailed to all confirmed registrants.

We anticipate having the event app available for download in the weeks prior to the start of the program. Registered participants will receive an email notification when the app is available.

For additional questions about our program, email events@urj.org.

Friends of Bill W will meet daily in the late evening. The room’s location will be published in the app.