World Union hosts post-Congress organizational leadership seminar
Following the World Zionist Congress, the World Union hosted two-days of closed meetings for the top professionals of some of its regions and affiliates. Present for this “think tank” were Rabbi Dan Freelander, senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism; Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, executive director of the Movement for Reform Judaism in the UK; Steve Denenberg, executive director of the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) in Australia, New Zealand and Asia; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism; and Shai Pinto, vice president and chief operating officer of the World Union. The group was joined for part of the time by Michael Grabiner, the World Union’s senior vice chairman.
This marked the first time these professionals were able to gather together for meetings of this type. The discussions focused on world issues, local agendas, Israel, education, youth and young adult activities, strategic planning, and the need to strengthen relationships, cooperation and the sharing of resources in the global Progressive, Reform and Liberal Jewish world. The event marked the beginning of a long-term process of planning and cooperation that will be widened to include both lay and rabbinic leaders.
“We have so much accumulated experience, resources and knowledge among us, and this opportunity to share, think, learn and plan together was simply one that could not be missed,” says Pinto. “We are a global family, and the World Union aims to bring all its regions and affiliates together to enable such meetings and discussions, which we see as the key to growth for our worldwide movement.”
At World Union’s post-congress leadership seminar. Left to right: Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, Steve Denenberg, executive director of the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, executive director of the Movement for Reform Judaism in the UK, Rabbi Dan Freelander, senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Shai Pinto, vice president and chief operating officer of the World Union.
