Blog Submission Guidelines

You're invited to write for ReformJudaism.org. Here's how.

 

The ReformJudaism.org blog accepts unsolicited submissions for consideration. Pieces that adhere to the guidelines described below are most likely to be published on the site, so please take time to read through them in their entirety.

Blog posts represent the opinions and views of their authors, not of ReformJudaism.org or the Union for Reform Judaism.

Send submissions as Word documents (no PDFs, please), along with biographical information (three to five sentences, including any affiliation with a congregation or Jewish organization/institution) to rjblog@urj.org.

Please note that due to the high volume of submissions received, ReformJudaism.org’s editors are only able to respond to submissions that have been accepted for publication. We ask that you allow up to two weeks for an initial response from our editorial team. If, at the end of that time, you’ve not heard back from a member of our staff, please assume that we’ve taken a pass on your piece at this time. (But please don’t let that deter you from submitting again!)

Audience

Readers of the ReformJudaism.org blog are a diverse mix of people, including synagogue members, synagogue leaders, affiliated or unaffiliated Jews, or those who are simply curious and want to learn more about Judaism.  

When writing for this site, please bear in mind that the readers of ReformJudaism.org blog are as diverse as the Jewish people. ReformJudaism.org welcomes a variety of viewpoints on Jewish life and living, but guest bloggers are encouraged to be cognizant and respectful of the fact that many readers will have differing viewpoints based on their own experiences and worldviews.

Please note that posts that do not contain Jewish themes, messaging, or language will not be considered for publication on ReformJudaism.org.

Length

At this time, we cannot accept any submission that is more than 800 words long. Submissions exceeding this word count will not be considered for publication.

Posts are optimally 500-800 words in length. Telling a story in fewer words that pack a compelling and powerful punch is always more successful in the online space than lengthy, wordy efforts.

Post Styles

Several types of posts are generally acceptable for the blog:

  • First-person perspectives or personal essays on matters of Reform Jewish interest
  • How-to pieces (e.g. what to expect the first time you attend a bet mitzvah)
  • Blessings, prayers, or poems
  • Commentary on Jewish topics
  • Commentary on articles, videos, or podcasts of Reform Jewish interest
  • Remembrances, whether personal memoirs or memorial tributes to those who have recently passed, or of long-gone figures of interest

A good blog post often includes a call to action, e.g. the end of a post lists ideas, poses a question, or asks users to post their own thoughts.

Style

Please adhere to the following stylistic guidelines:

  • Do not use underlines or all caps.
  • Rather than using footnotes, please link to appropriate materials or, where links are unavailable, reference them through explanation or in parentheses.
  • Avoid use of the words “click here” or “here” when linking to a referenced item. Instead, link to a relevant part of the sentence.
  • Wherever possible, link to cited sources and any material that is referred to.
  • Italicize transliterated Hebrew or words in other languages. Include a translation of such words and phrases upon first mention.
  • Indent paragraphs of quoted material.

Editing

All posts that appear on ReformJudaism.org and its affiliate blogs (including URJ.org and its sub-blogs) are edited for grammar, punctuation, style, and editorial flow. The blog’s editors occasionally will return a submission to its author to suggest changes, omissions, and/or additions that the editing team deems necessary to strengthen the post such that it may become appropriate for publishing on the blog(s).

Title and Bio

All submissions must include a suggested title, subject to modification by blog editors. A compelling title that is descriptive of the content of the post will garner more readers. Additionally, all posts should be signed using the author’s real name. A one- or two-line bio should be supplied with the author’s pronouns, title, position, and, if pertinent, Jewish affiliation.

Images

All posts on ReformJudaism.org must include an appropriate and applicable image. Photos may only be used if you have rights to use them or have received written permission from the copyright owner. Photos on Flickr that use the Creative Commons licensing agreement may be used with a credit, as per the Creative Commons rules. Reproducing copyrighted material is not permitted.

Photos that meet these criteria may be submitted for consideration to accompany a post, though blog editors may add appropriate photos or other graphics at their discretion. If you do not have a photo to accompany your piece, please submit ideas for appropriate stock imagery to give our editors a starting point.

Video

Videos that have been posted on YouTube or Vimeo may be embedded in a blog post without permission from the original poster.

Terms and Conditions

Posts must comply with the Union for Reform Judaism’s Terms and Conditions, which generally state that any material that is defamatory or violates the rights or privacy of others in any way is not permitted, and that blog editors have the right to remove material that is deemed as such.

Advertising

Posts should not read as advertisements, brochures, marketing pieces, or donor solicitations for any event, program or offering, as such posts will discredit the integrity of the blog as a place for discussion of Reform Jewish issues.

Promotion

Posts may be promoted via social media channels affiliated with ReformJudaism.org, including but not limited to:

  • Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin)
  • Email newsletters and listservs
  • Cross-posting on affiliates websites or blogs
  • Encouraging staff, board members, affiliates, and others to read, comment and share posts

Blog authors are strongly encouraged to promote their posts using their personal social networks and to share their posts with their congregations for further promotion.

Rights

Writers retain all rights to their pieces published on ReformJudaism.org. If you would like to cross-post or reprint your blog post elsewhere, please include the line "This piece originally appeared at ReformJudaism.org," with a link back to the original on this site.

Payment

At this time, ReformJudaism.org does not offer payment to its bloggers.