RAC Timeline

The RAC is saluted in a special tribute at the White House Rose Garden. President John F. Kennedy is presented with historic Torah by the Isaac Mayer Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio, symbolizing the lasting contribution of Jews to the moral fabric of American society. President Kennedy notes at the ceremony, "I think this symbolizes the happy relations which exist between all religious groups and must continue to exist in this country if we are to be worthy of our heritage."

The landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act are drafted in the RAC's conference room by Jewish, African-American, and other civil rights leaders.

The UAHC and CCAR become the first national Jewish organizations to oppose the war in Vietnam. The RAC becomes a hub for Vietnam War protesters and the RAC staff leads strategy sessions to strengthen Jewish involvement in the anti-war efforts, discussions on the war and Jewish tradition, and even serves as an emergency first-aid station when protesters are tear-gassed.

The Kivie Kaplan Seminar (now called Machon Kaplan) is created as a summer work/study program in social action for college students. 

The first Consultation on Conscience takes place. The Consultation on Conscience has become the flagship public policy conference for the Reform Jewish Movement; it is held every two years in Washington shortly after the new Congress takes office and presents high-level briefings on current issues and critical legislation. Speakers at the Consultation have included President Bill Clinton, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, the Dalai Lama, future Vice-President Al Gore, and scores of Senators and Representatives.

For the two months prior to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s first trip to Washington, the RAC, led by its tenant the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, becomes the operational headquarters for the national March on Washington for Soviet Jewry, which – with more than 200,000 supporters – becomes one of the largest demonstrations in American history. The RAC’s conference room is packed with desks, computers, phone lines, and scores of volunteers as the RAC’s staff helps mobilize congregations throughout the country and helps coordinate the efforts of other Jewish organizations to make the march a huge success.

The RAC expands beyond its building – entering the cyber-world with the launch of its Internet site, now found at www.rac.org

In honor of Rabbi David Saperstein's 25th anniversary with the RAC, President Bill Clinton gives the keynote address at a tribute to Saperstein during the RAC's Consultation on Conscience.

The Rabbi Balfour Brickner Clergy Seminar and Fellowship is established to help rabbis with their social action and social justice work. This seminar offers intensive opportunities for text study and exposure to both the range of substantive issues that require our attention and to the skills that are required for dealing effectively with those issues.

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner becomes the director of the Religious Action Center, succeeding Rabbi David Saperstein upon his conformation as U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Upon concluding his public service in 2017, Rabbi Saperstein returns to the RAC as director emeritus.

The inaugural Reform Movement non-partisan Civic Engagement Campaign spearheaded by the RAC supports congregations as they register and turn out voters, engage with candidates for office, and support or oppose local ballot initiatives to ensure that Jewish voices and values are present in the public square. Nearly 160,000 Americans participate.