Rosh Hashanah message from the WUPJ chairman
September 18, 2009 by Steve
Dear friends of the World Union for Progressive Judaism:
For me, this past year evokes memories of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
How these words resonate after living through (baruch Hashem) one of the tumultuous years of recent memory. We entered 5769 with a growing understanding of the instability of the world’s economies, and a pervasive fear of the potential damage being done to democratic intuitions by both the threat and defence against terrorism. We nevertheless brought our hopes for t’shuva and a good year to our heartfelt prayers and recommitment to “Choose life — if you and your offspring would live.”
Why the best of times? Despite our worst fears, the Progressive Jewish communities linked together by the World Union around the world have continued to thrive and prosper. Even though we made and implemented very painful decisions to reduce staff and to curtail or eliminate programs, we were able to provide camp experiences for hundreds of kids – 500 in Israel and 750 in the FSU, as two examples. We gathered in Israel in March 2009 and celebrated, learned, schmoozed, ate, drank and danced – about 500 strong. I was uplifted then, and many times since, by the remarkable resilience and accomplishments of our worldwide movement. We have much for which to give thanks and to look forward to a 5770 filled with connections, opportunities to exchange best practices – and celebrate our achievements and the friendships we establish throughout the world – in the East, West, South and North.
Here are some of things I’m looking forward to:
Dedicating and celebrating the new synagogue buildings in Moscow (October 8-10, 2009) and St. Petersburg (October 16-17, 2009)
Gathering in Toronto November 4-8, 2009, for the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial conference
Joining the Union of Jewish Communities of Latin America and the Caribbean at its annual conference in Panama on January 27-30, 2010
The European Region Biennial Conference in Paris March 3-7, 2010
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism’s biennial Ve’eda, May 2010
CONNECTIONS 2011, the World Union’s international convention, in San Francisco February 8-13, 2011.
Wishing you, your family and humankind a good and sweet year – one where we find more ways to celebrate life, love in a way that is fully informed by the rich teachings of our sages, our traditions, while we commit ourselves to tikkun olam – perfecting a broken world one person at a time.
May you be inscribed for a good and sweet year.
Steve Bauman
New — IRAC offers Study Tour in Israel!
September 18, 2009 by Steve
The Israel Religious Action Centre is now launching its first ever social action study tour. This tour option, specially designed for each group, is a fantastic collaboration between the expert Jewish educators and Israel tour providers of the Saltz Education Centre and the social justice activists at IRAC. Scroll down to see more information. To see a sample itinerary or discuss creating a tour for your group up, please contact us directly.
If you want to include IRAC in your regular tour, IRAC staff are happy to give presentations on our legal and public policy work to visiting groups.
IRAC also has a half-day long "hands on" program with Keren B’Kavod, the humanitarian aid project of the Reform Movement in Israel. Groups learn about poverty in Israel and nutritional insecurity. After shopping in an Israeli market, participants pack boxes with the food they have purchased. These food packages are then distributed to families-in-need by Keren B’Kavod staff.
A ten-day social action seminar in Jerusalem. This seminar delves into the basis of the Jewish concern for a just society, then goes out into the streets of Jerusalem and other locations to turn that vision into a reality. Participants will meet and work together with the Anita Saltz Centre and the dedicated staff of the Israel Religious Action Centre as well as other caring individuals.
To book an IRAC presentation or hands-on program for your group, please contact us directly or through our website. Please be sure to contact us at least a month in advance of your trip to ensure availability.
Please scroll down for more details.
Please
visit our website for more information.
ISRAEL RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER
ANITA SALTZ INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER
A Reform Jewish Social Action Seminar in Israel
This seminar delves into the basis of the Jewish concern for a just society, then goes out into the streets of Jerusalem and Israel to turn that vision into a reality. Participants will meet and work together with the dedicated staff of the Israel Religious Action Centre as well as other caring individuals. We will address the needs of the neglected and disenfranchised and participate in hands-on projects to make life better for the residents of this remarkable country. Learn about the often hidden plight of the poor, hungry and homeless and go beyond the statistics to encounter the real people involved; discover creative ways in which you can make a lasting difference while in Israel and back at home. Participants will learn and volunteer in a variety of on-site social action programs.
For more information, please contact us directly or through our website.
Survey: Israelis support religious pluralism
September 17, 2009 by Steve
www.hiddush.org September 16, 2009
In conjunction with their launch, Hiddush commissioned a large-scale public opinion survey by well-known Israeli pollster Rafi Smith where time and again, a majority of Israelis were found to be against the status quo. This marks the beginning of an ongoing Religion and State Index that Hiddush will conduct. Among the key findings:
- 84% of secular Jewish Israelis think the state should grant equal status to all 3 major streams of Judaism (Orthodox; Reform; Conservative);
- 84% object to the current system of mass exemption from army service for men who study in yeshivas;
- 64% of all Israeli Jews support introducing civil marriage and/or Reform/Conservative;
- 72% of Jewish Israelis object to the current policy of making conversion to Judaism contingent on observing the Sabbath and Kashrut (ritual dietary laws) and retroactively revoking conversions for not fully observing Sabbath/kashrut;
- 66% of Jewish Israelis believe that Israel should take into consideration the opinions of world Jewry on matters of law of return, conversion, marriage and matters of religion & state;
- 80% of Jewish Israelis object to the gender-segregated Mehadrin bus lines, public bus lines that segregate women and requiring that they sit in the back;
92% of secular Israelis support ending the ultra-orthodox monopoly on marriage; 95% of new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union;
Tension between secular and ultra-orthodox is second in importance, after Arab-Jewish tensions, and double that of the tension between left and right or between poor and rich;
- 71% support reducing financial support given to yeshivas and large families (5+ children) in order to increase participation in the workforce;
- 60% of Jewish Israelis support the separation of religion and state in Israel.
[Printed from JTA website]
Temple Sinai, Wellington, celebrates 50th anniversary
September 17, 2009 by Steve
A wonderful series of celebrations took place at the end of August in honour of the 50th anniversary of the congregation.
Led by Rabbi Johanna Hershensohn and ‘hosted’ by President Susan Gordon the celebrations commenced with a beautiful Erev Shabbat Service followed by lovely ‘pot luck’ dinner.
Next morning saw one of the most inclusive Shabbat Services ever with virtually every member of the congregation called to the Torah in honour of the Torah and in acknowledgement of their contribution to the congregation. Not surprisingly, this included a Shehechiyanu prayer offering thanks to God for allowing us to come to this time and place of celebration. In addition to many members of the congregation, special guests included local politicians and representatives of other religious groups, as well as the UPJ President, David Robinson and Executive Director, Steve Denenberg.
As part of the proceedings, David Robinson presented a special award to congregation President, Susan Gordon from the Union for Progressive Judaism.
UPJ President, David Robinson with
Synagogue President, Susan Gordon, and Steve Denenberg
Another highlight of the morning was the presentation of the Ner Tamid to Synagogue stalwart on long-time volunteer and supporter, David Esterman. He joins a list of dedicated people who serve their congregations without seeking any thanks or acknowledgement. This occasion presented a perfect opportunity for the congregation and the UPJ to pay tribute to David. 
UPJ President makes Ner Tamid presentation to David Esterman
with his wife, Sue, a previous recipient of the award
The celebrations continued the following day with a wonderful Afternoon Tea at the nearby Racecourse. Entertainment was provided ‘The Klezmer Reds’ an outstanding group including many members who are members of Temple Sinai. In addition to the wonderful playing the group created an excellent atmosphere for Israeli dancing and singing along. Combined with a delicious Tea this was a wonderful culmination of a weekend of prayer and play. Yosher Koach Temple Sinai.
Rosh Hashanah greeting and update from the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
September 17, 2009 by Steve
Dear friends and partners,
The past year has presented the IMPJ along with the rest of the world with great challenges. With a new year just around the corner, I will take the risk of sounding corny as I wish to all of us:
“There ends a year and its curses and a new one begins with its blessings”
With the beginning of a new year we can already point out a few blessings:
New Minyanim for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:
- For the first time in several years the IMPJ will offer the Israeli public new Minyanim for the High Holidays, in new locations where there is no presence of a local Reform congregation. Such Minyanim will take place in Even Yehuda (near Netanya), Sha’ar Hanegev (near Gaza Strip), Gedera (near Rishon Letzion) and more.
- In addition, six IMPJ congregations will hold a second (additional) Minyan to serve different parts of each congregation’s city. Moreover, an exciting new phenomenon is the establishment of study groups in over 10 Kibbutzim across the country.
We are hopeful and excited about the possibility of all the above to grow and develop into new Reform congregations, providing more parts of Israeli society with better accessibility to the Reform movement.
New buds of educational outreach:
The spirit of new beginnings lies upon our educational programs as well.
- After long negotiations and a lot of hard work, the Israeli Ministry of Education is to officially recognize the Reform elementary school of Kehilat Yozma in Modi’in as an official public school in the spirit of Reform Judaism.
- A new Reform preschool has opened in the city of Jaffa. This preschool serves the local population of Jaffa and offers Jewish as well as Arab children education in the liberal, open spirit of Reform Judaism. This preschool is to be one out of a chain of 15 preschools led by the Reform congregation of Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv.
- A new preschool in the spirit of Reform Judaism has opened in Even Yehuda. This preschool is to be the pioneer Reform presence in this growing suburb and its environs, hopefully developing into another new Reform congregation in Israel.
New publicity campaign around the High Holidays:
- This year the IMPJ is renewing its special High Holidays publicity campaign, addressing thousands of Israelis through the various media channels and presenting to them the wide array of cultural and religious activities for the High Holidays in our 24 congregations. As part of this effort the IMPJ has launched a special High Holiday website, offering Israelis a one stop shop for liberal content for the holiday celebrations.
Following Rosh Hashanah blessings, the Jewish tradition guides us to place on the table traditional foods symbolizing new beginnings. We hope the new beginnings mentioned above are to be a symbol of a new and fruitful year to come.
All of this could not have happened without your partnership
and friendship and for that we are thankful!
On behalf of the Reform community in Israel, I wish you, your family and friends a good, healthy and prosperous year.
Le’Shana Tova
Rabbi Gilad Kariv
Executive Director, IMPJ
Group pushing religious freedom in Israel launched
September 17, 2009 by Steve
September 15, 2009
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — An organization calling for full religious freedom and diversity in Israel was launched in Tel Aviv.
Hiddush, a Hebrew word for innovation and renewal, was launched Monday and is headed by President and CEO Rabbi Uri Regev, a native Israeli and until recently president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and Chairman Stanley Gold , a Los Angeles businessman and philanthropist .
A statement released by the organization blames the lack of freedom of religion in Israel on “a chief rabbinate and an ultra-Orthodox ideology” that controls the lives of Israeli Jews “from birth to death and almost everything in between.”
A survey of 1,200 Israelis conducted on behalf of the organization showed that 92 percent of Israel’s secular Jews favored abolishing the Orthodox monopoly on marriage. Among all respondents, 84 percent opposed the exemption of military duty for yeshiva students, and 83 percent supported freedom of religion and conscience.
In addition, 80 percent were dissatisfied with gender-segregated seating on certain bus lines, 63 percent backed equal state funding for all Jewish denominations and 62 percent wanted public transportation to run on Saturdays.
The survey had a margin of error of 2.8 percent.
Temple Sinai, Wellington celebrates 50th Anniversay
September 16, 2009 by Steve
A wonderful series of celebrations took place at the end of August in honour of the 50th anniversary of the congregation.
Led by Rabbi Johanna Herschenson and ‘hosted’ by President Susan Gordon the celebrations commenced with a beautiful Erev Shabbat Service followed by lovely ‘pot luck’ dinner.
Next morning saw one of the most inclusive Shabbat Services ever with virtually every member of the congregation called to the Torah in honour of the Torah and in acknowledgement of their contribution to the congregation. Not surprisingly, this included a Shehechiyanu prayer offering thanks to God for allowing us to come to this time and place of celebration. In addition to many members of the congregation, special guests included local politicians and representatives of other religious groups, as well as the UPJ President, David Robinson and Executive Director, Steve Denenberg.
As part of the proceedings, David Robinson presented a special award to congregation President, Susan Gordon from the Union for Progressive Judaism.
Another highlight of the morning was the presentation of the Ner Tamid to Synagogue stalwart on long-time volunteer and supporter, David Esterman. He joins a list of dedicated people who serve their congregations without seeking any thanks or acknowledgement. This occasion presented a perfect opportunity for the congregation and the UPJ to pay tribute to David.
The celebrations continued the following day with a wonderful Afternoon Tea at the nearby Racecourse. Entertainment was provided ‘The Klezmer Reds’ an outstanding group including many members who are members of Temple Sinai. In addition to the wonderful playing the group created an excellent atmosphere for Israeli dancing and singing along. Combined with a delicious Tea this was a wonderful culmination of a weekend of prayer and play. Yosher Koach Temple Sinai.
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