Reform Jewish communities in North America and Progressive communities in the Southern Hemisphere to be united via Prayer Book
November 30, 2009 by Steve
The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) partners with the Union for Progressive Judaism in Australia, New Zealand, Asia to Create a siddur for Progressive congregations in the Southern Hemisphere.
New York City and Toronto (November 6, 2009) – The Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) has formally contracted with the CCAR Press to publish a new version of Mishkan T’filah, the official and newly developed prayer book of the United States’ Reform movement, to meet the needs of the Progressive Jewish communities in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa. CCAR Press is the publishing arm of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the professional organisation of Reform rabbis in North American and throughout the world, the largest group of Jewish clergy.
UPJ executive director Steve Denenberg signed the Purchase Agreement between the UPJ and the CCAR at the Union for Reform Judaism conference held in Toronto, Canada, on November 6.
Mishkan T’filah was first published in 2007 and is now used in most Reform congregations throughout North America. The differences between the original and the upcoming version of the siddur (prayer book) include respective national anthems, poetry by local poets and references to the cycle of seasons. In addition, the World Union version will reflect the desire of communities there to have the option to use more traditional rituals and references in certain places, while still maintaining the style and spirit of Mishkan T’filah.
Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus, President of the CCAR, said, “Mishkan T’filah is setting a new standard for liturgy not only in North America but around the world. How wonderful that this prayer book will unite Jewish communities in different countries. We are very excited to be part of this historic endeavour.”
The World Union version is being created by CCAR Press in collaboration with rabbis and lay people from the communities adopting it. “This project is a wonderful collaboration,” says the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) President David Robinson. “The launch of the new siddur will be a central feature of our forthcoming celebrations of 80 years of Progressive Judaism in this region.” The official publishing agreement was signed in Toronto on Friday, November 6th, at the Union of Reform Judaism Biennial. Books are expected to be available early in 2010.
“We are thrilled to be able to work with our friends in the Southern Hemisphere to create a siddur for them that meets their desires and needs. We are very proud that they have chosen Mishkan T’filah as the siddur that most closely fits their outlook and values,” said Rabbi Hara Person, publisher and director of CCAR Press.
UPJ Gathering focuses on continuation
November 27, 2009 by Steve
Hemshechiut, ‘Continuity’ was the theme of the Regional Gathering for the Presidents, Rabbis and members of the Executive Committee of the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) held in Sydney last week. “As well as addressing matters of Jewish continuity, we continued the work of the previous Gathering in looking at leadership and governance within a Jewish context” said the UPJ Executive Director, Steve Denenberg.
L to R: Social Action Coordinator, Nicky Maor; special guest Nothing but Nets Coordinator,
Naomi Abelson; incoming Adelaide President, Alison Dwyer; Rabbi Gersh Lazarow & Victoria Community Slicha, Dana Bar-Zuri
“We complement our biennial conferences with 6-monthly meetings of our Presidents, Rabbis, Shlichim and Executive Committee members from across the Australia, New Zealand and Asia region, allowing us to focus on specific problems as well as praying, learning and planning as a group.”
The program this time included outstanding guest speakers, including local speakers Executive Director of the ECAJ, Peter Wertheim; Head of Shalom Institute, Dr. Hilton Immerman OAM; and the new head of technology for the ZFA, Andre Obeler. “We also had a special guest speaker in Naomi Abelson who is the Coordinator of the Nothing but Nets program sponsored by the United Nations Foundation via the Union for Reform Judaism.” The UPJ is the first non-American organisation to receive funding for this program to eradicate malaria in Africa.
“Such Gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity for the leaders of our vibrant movement to meet in person, as well as through the regular teleconferences that we hold.” Denenberg said, “It was also a timely opportunity for us to plan for the introduction of more sophisticated technology throughout our movement and throughout our region. As our movement and the individual congregations continue to grow it is vital for us to embrace technology and combine it with personal communication.”
L to R: NSTE President, Stephen Freeman, Gold Coast Treasurer, Herb Lesser;
ACT Coordinator, Bill Arnold; UPJ Treasurer Philip Levy and wife, Lorraine
The Union for Progressive Judaism is the umbrella body for 25 congregations and affiliated organisations across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, including ARZA, Netzer, Tamar and Emanuel and the King David schools.
·
For more information contact:
Steve Denenberg
02 9328 7644
0420 973 909
World Union and UPJ feature at URJ Biennial
November 27, 2009 by Steve
Friday, November 27, 2009 | 10 Kislev 5770
The World Union for Progressive Judaism was well represented at the Union of Reform Judaism Biennial Assembly in Toronto, November 4-8. Many of the biennial’s 3,000 participants dropped by the World Union’s booth in the resource area, which was staffed by Ron Wegsman of the New York office and hosted by many professional staff and lay leaders from there and Israel, who gave out information about programs around the world.
It was especially meaningful that over 40 people from World Union-affiliated regions and congregations from outside North America took part in the biennial. Kathryn Michaels represented the European Region and made a great impact on many participants. Steve Denenberg, executive director of the Union for Progressive Judaism of Australia, New Zealand and Asia (UPJ), was also a high-profile presence.
One of the highlights of the conference was the signing of a contract between the World Union and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. It involved the publication of a “World Union edition” of Mishkan T’filah, the new siddur of the North American Reform movement. Denenberg signed on behalf of the UPJ, which edited the siddur for use especially in the Southern Hemisphere.
On Wednesday evening, the World Union’s North American Council held a dinner meeting. Led by chairwoman Helene Waranch, the business agenda included reports on World Union and regional activities around the world by Denenberg; Michaels; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism; Anne Molloy, chairwoman of the World Union’s FSU Committee; Rabbi Joel Oseran, the World Union’s vice president for international development, who provided an update on Latin America and South Africa; and Shai Pinto, the World Union’s chief operating officer, who reviewed recent successes at Mercaz Shimshon-Beit Shmuel, the World Union’s headquarters and education/culture center in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, the World Union’s vice president for philanthropy, led an installation ceremony for the NAC’s new board. He also was a featured speaker at a workshop on Christian–Jewish relations held later during the biennial.
On Thursday, the World Union hosted its Celebratory Luncheon, attended by over 320 biennial-goers. Rabbi Dow Marmur, a former World Union executive director and rabbi emeritus of Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple, offered a remarkable and incisive portrait on the importance of the World Union (see below). David Makovsky, who, along with Dennis Ross, a special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, just published a book on the Middle East peace process, offered participants an insider’s look at peace-making in the troubled region. Entertainment was provided by Mattan Klein and his band, Seeds of Sun. (Klein played at Connections 2009, the World Union’s 34th international convention, held last March in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.)
On Friday morning, Oseran, Waranch and Cherie Half, a member of Congregation Beth Am of Los Altos Hills, California, and a leader of its successful twinning program with Congregation Beth Am in Poltava, Ukraine, led a workshop on opportunities for twinning with congregations in the FSU and elsewhere.
Steven M. Bauman, chairman and the World Union, and Helene Waranch, chairwoman of its North American Council, are seen at the NAC dinner held during the URJ biennial.
Helene Waranch, chair of the NAC, discusses the program with Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the URJ, at the World Union luncheon.
Diane Marcus (left) and Joan Cohen, co-chairs of Connections 2011, use the biennial luncheon to officially announce that the World Union’s next international convention will take place in San Francisco, February 7-13, 2011.
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MARMUR DEFINES WORLD UNION’S VERY ESSENCE AT BIENNIAL
In a speech at the recent Union of Reform Judaism biennial in Toronto, Rabbi Dow Marmur, a former World Union executive director and rabbi emeritus of the city’s Holy Blossom Temple, called the World Union and its work “a vindication of faith and an endorsement of our way of expressing it.”
“It’s reasonable to assume that Reform Jews in North America don’t need the World Union,” he said in insightful and inspiring remarks delivered at the organization’s Celebratory Luncheon on Thursday at the biennial. “Nevertheless, their involvement in it, and support for it, are crucial. Thanks to that support, Jews in remote places in the world can identify as Jews.”
“Without the World Union, with the exception of Britain and perhaps France, there would be no Progressive, Liberal, Reform… Judaism in Europe today,” he continued, adding that in the former Soviet Union, “much of the revival of Jewish life is due to the spectacular achievements of our movement.” Turning to Israel, he said that Reform Judaism had become” something of a model of how to be Jewish in the Jewish state…. We must not let them down and thus let ourselves down by jeopardizing the Jewishness of Israel. The World Union, through its affiliate, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, is our vehicle.”
To read the full text of Marmur’s speech, click here.
Rabbi Dow Marmur.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 28-31, 2010 – Union of Jewish Communities in Latin America Biennial, Panama
January 28-February 7, 2010 – Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leaders, in conjunction with the Anita Saltz International Education Center, Jerusalem
March 4-7, 2010 – European Region Biennial Conference, Paris, France
March 14-18, 2010 – Riding4Reform – Seventh annual IMPJ countrywide bicycle fund-raising tour in Israel
March 18-23, 2010 – TaMaR international conference, Israel
April 16-18, 2010 – Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend, England
April 29 – May 9, 2010 – URJ Study Kallah, in conjunction with the Anita Saltz International Education Center, Jerusalem
May 14-16, 2010 – Biennial of the South African Union for Progressive Judaism, Durban
May 14-16, 2010 – Movement for Reform Judaism Biennial Conference, Manchester, UK
May 28-29, 2010 – Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism Biennial, Israel
November 25-28, 2010 – Biennial conference of the Union for Progressive Judaism in Australia, Asia and New Zealand, Canberra, Australia
February 7-13, 2011 – Connections 2011, San Francisco
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Auckland launch of the ‘Charter for Compassion’
November 23, 2009 by Steve
From: Dave Moskovitz <dave@thinktank.co.nz>
A group of about 40 people gathered at the Ponsonby Mosque to celebrate
the launch of the Charter for Compassion on 15 November. The meeting was
organised by Aarif Rasheed representing the Rasheed Memorial Trust and
Dave Moskovitz representing the New Zealand Jewish Council and the Union
for Progressive Judaism. The meeting began with a brief text study from
the Gospels, the Torah, and the Koran on the role of central role of
compassion in our three religions. The group then worked together
brainstorming ideas for projects to raise the profile of the Charter
and compassion in our own communities.
The Charter for Compassion is a short document reinforcing the
importance of the golden rule: treat all others as we wish to be treated
ourselves. The Charter calls upon all men and women to restore
compassion to the centre of morality and religion; to return to the
ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds
violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate; to ensure that youth are
given accurate and respectful information about other traditions,
religions and cultures; to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural
and religious diversity; and to cultivate an informed empathy with the
suffering of all human beings ‘ even those regarded as enemies.
The Charter is the brainchild of Dr Karen Armstrong, a former British
nun who won the $100,000 TED Prize in 2008 to grant ‘one wish to change
the world’ with her wish to bring together a group of leading
inspirational thinkers from Judaism, Christianity and Islam to craft a
Charter for Compassion based on the principles of universal justice and
respect. Over 1,000 people collaborated online to write the Charter,
which is now being launched worldwide through a series of events and
religious services.
The Auckland meeting generated a number of potential projects, including
creating friendships between people and religious communities through
meetings in homes, bringing our religious youth groups together to work
on civic projects, promoting compassion in our own families, educating
ourselves to dispel our historical ignorance of others, and using
electronic media such as Facebook and web sites to promote our message.
Dave Moskovitz said that he’d never seen such energetic positive
interaction in an interfaith event in New Zealand before. ‘In our own
lives, our religions are a power of good, and our basic religious
teachings tell us to be compassionate, love our neighbours, be kind to
others, and be good citizens. This is common to all our religions, and
provides a wonderful shared kaupapa or basis from which we can work
together to make the world a better place. And there was plenty of
energy and resolve at this meeting to do just that.’
The Rasheed Memorial Trust was established in the memory of Auckland
lawyer and pioneering interfaith worker Abdul Rahim Rasheed, and aims to
engage peoples of all faith through collaborative action.
The Rasheed Memorial Trust is a partner to the Charter, which is
appropriate given Abdul’s history of compassion and tolerance to all
peoples throughout his life, says Aarif Rasheed. ‘I still hear new
stories of compassion rendered by my late father more than 3 years after
his death which inspires the work the Trust now does. And by connecting
good acts to the Charter, we hope this growing movement of compassionate
action will inspire changes in our world. The Rasheed Trust is honoured
to be joined by organisations such as the NZ Jewish Council and we
invite other faith groups to join a growing coalition of groups
promoting the Charter in NZ. Abrahamic faiths in particular attract
criticism for not doing enough for peace, and we have a corresponding
responsibility to act and inspire good.’
We are responsible for each other
November 17, 2009 by Steve
Address by Rabbi Dow Marmur at the WUPJ Luncheon at the URJ Biennial
Toronto, November 5, 2009
====================================================================
I’ve served large congregations in Britain and in Canada. In both countries, some congregants who studied synagogue budgets carefully would want to know what benefits they derived from paying dues to the national organization - in Britain, the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain (as it was known in my time there), and in Canada to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (as it was known at the time that I was a congregational rabbi). The implication of each question was invariably that for large Temples such an expense wasn’t warranted, since any services it needed it could buy for much less. It’s a variant of people all over the world resenting paying taxes, especially if they’re able to afford it.
My reaction was always the same. Instead of listing the many services that the national organization does indeed render, I suggested that it would make more sense to assume that the congregations I served derived no benefit from these dues whatsoever – other than (1) the knowledge that their contribution made it possible for Jews in small communities with insufficient resources to practice Judaism and so testify to its truth; (2) that, thanks to the resourceful large congregations, the voice of Reform Judaism would be heard in places where it was needed; and (3) that Jews less fortunate than ourselves would have properly trained teachers and leaders to articulate what we stand for and transmit it to future generations.
In the, of course, very unlikely event that a member of the Union for Reform Judaism should ever doubt the imperative to be affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism and support it, I offer a similar response. It’s reasonable to assume that Reform Jews in North America don’t need the World Union. Nevertheless their involvement in it, and support for it, are crucial. Thanks to that support, Jews in remote places in the world can identify as Jews. They who not long ago could only testify to devastation they witnessed in Europe and, as a result, could now only share their despair have been imbued with hope and, despite all the suffering and privation, can now confidently and enthusiastically affirm Judaism. The work of the World Union is a vindication of faith and an endorsement of our way of expressing it. To support it should, therefore, be deemed a privilege, not a yoke; a necessity and an imperative.
The late Emil Fackenheim, who played such an important part in this city, urged his contemporaries to survive as Jews and thus deny Hitler a posthumous victory. The World Union for Progressive Judaism is one of the most successful organizations in the world that has heeded Fackenheim’s so-called 614th, or 11th, commandment in the wake of the Holocaust. We’ve made it possible for countless Jews to reconnect with their Judaism and thus carry the torch to the next generation. To be a partner in this sacred endeavour is a blessing and a privilege.
Without the World Union, with the exception of Britain and perhaps France, there would be no Progressive, Liberal, Reform – names vary but the essence is the same – Judaism in Europe today. As a result many more of those who survived the Holocaust and their descendants would also be lost to Judaism. Without the World Union today only enclaves of Orthodoxy would exist in Holland, Germany, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, the Ukraine, Russia and several other countries.
*
This brings me, of course, to the former Soviet Union where much of the revival of Jewish life is due to the spectacular achievements of our movement. Nothing of that would have been possible without the World Union. The fact that there are today young rabbis in all the countries I’ve mentioned, and others that I’ve not, is due to the stimulus and the resources that the World Union has provided and the framework within which these women and men have been able to work.
I’ve just come back from a meeting of a fund that supports the revival of Judaism in Eastern Europe. The fact that World Union affiliates receive positive attention isn’t due to politicking, but because our colleagues in these countries, lay and rabbinic, carry out work that deserves support. Much of that support, incidentally, is conditioned on matching funds made available by other organizations. Once again, the World Union often steps in. This means that what you and I do here is, at least in this case, matched by contributions from others.
The World Union has brought new hope to a generation of Jews many of whom - if the choice were between Orthodoxy and assimilation – would have chosen assimilation. If anybody asks you why you support the World Union and why the national organization to which you belong should do likewise, please don’t hesitate to give them the answer, not in terms of cost benefit but in terms of doing God’s work, of fulfilling our highest ideals as Jews.
*
By helping our congregations to grow not only in number – for the scope is limited in small communities – but, above all, in passion and self-confidence as witnesses against those who try to annihilate us, they will, in turn, become active partners in helping others. Australia comes to mind. Many, perhaps the majority, of its Jewish population consists of Holocaust survivors and their offspring. Our outstanding leader there, Rabbi John Levi, is also a historian of his country’s Jewry. He is about to publish a biography of his predecessor and pioneer of Reform Judaism, the late Rabbi Herman Sanger. Rabbi Sanger, a refugee from Hitler’s Germany, was encouraged by Lily Montagu, who carried the torch for Progressive Judaism in the early years of the World Union, to go to Melbourne and bring the heritage of Liberal Judaism in Germany with him.
Lily Montagu knew that it behoves the World Union to reach those parts of the Jewish world others can’t or won’t. Look what has been achieved thanks to this pioneering effort! Today, Australia contributes more than its fair share – whatever that term may mean – to the promotion of Reform Judaism in other parts of the world.
*
And I haven’t yet said anything about Israel. Despite Israel’s spectacular achievements in the more than six decades of its existence –as, in Fackenheim’s own understanding, the supreme manifestation of our survival – its Jewishness is by no means assured. Not only are the threats from without; there’re also dangers from within. The prospect of Orthodox domination would turn Israel into a Jewish version of Taliban. The danger of secularization would make the Jewishness of Israel very problematic.
It’s the effort of the World Union in creating its own institutions and the encouragement it has given to others to do likewise, that’s changing the face of Israel – for the better, much better. The question to be asked isn’t how many signed-up members of Reform congregations there are in Israel, or how much money their members raise. I don’t have to remind you that the nature and structure of Israeli society is different. Therefore, the question to be asked is what impact Progressive Judaism is having on Israeli society. The answer to that question is bound to overwhelm us all. If Reform Zionism is to have meaning, a crucial way of expressing it is through our commitment to the work of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, its Religious Action Centre and many, many other institutions because the very nature of the Jewishness of Israel is at stake.
Though I don’t wish to minimize the danger that Israel is facing because of its enemies from without, let me venture to suggest that the physical security of Israel isn’t its main problem. The Jewish state is strong and resourceful. The real danger is whether the state will stay Jewish. It seems that many Arab hostile politicians and military leaders have given up the idea of defeating Israel on the battlefield. They may have even reconciled themselves to the fact that they can’t defeat it in the so-called court of public opinion, for many important countries in the world are on Israel’s side. The real issue is now, I believe, whether Israel will stay Jewish.
That’s where Progressive Judaism comes in. In addition to its own institutions it is in growing measure appealing to Jews whom we once may have called secular or indifferent, perhaps even hostile. The way of our Reform Judaism is becoming something of a model of how to be Jewish in the Jewish state, whether or not you’re affiliated to a religious organization. We must not let them down and thus let ourselves down by jeopardizing the Jewishness of Israel. The World Union through its affiliate, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, is our vehicle. The rabbis and lay leaders involved in this historic challenge today deserve our total support.
Now nothing of what I’ve said here this afternoon is new or original. And I know that I’m speaking to the converted. Nevertheless, I believe that what I’m saying has to be repeated again and again, because the message is easily lost amidst our own institutional woes, so very much in evidence in the wake of the recent financial meltdown in the world. Not that home should be less important than elsewhere, but we need to remember that what for others may be elsewhere, for us Jews is home, because as Jews we’re arevim zeh bazeh, responsible for one another. The World Union is our own special vehicle that enables us to discharge that responsibility by challenging and channelling the enthusiasms, initiatives and resources of all its constituents.
One of the many legitimate criticisms of so-called organized religion is that it creates narrow worlds for the converted and closes windows to the outside. The potential insularity masquerading as piety threatens to make even the most ardent adherent irrelevant. The World Union shields us from this charge. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say so.
Moetzah
May 6, 2009 by Steve
| November 17, 2009 | to | November 20, 2009 |
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