Israel Trip 2025 Updates

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 7

November 1st | Jerusalem

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

The last official day of programming for our tired but engaged participants.
Shabbat morning we attended Kol Haneshama Synagogue in Baka, Jerusalem. Kol HaNeshama is a synagogue and center for Progressive (Reform) Judaism established in 1984 that serves the southern Jerusalem neighborhoods. The synagogue, which includes approximately 300 members, offers egalitarian services, a preschool, youth and social action programs. A highlight was the entire group being called to the Torah.

After a lovely Kiddush, we met with Ittay Flescher. Ittay is the Education Director of an interfaith youth movement for Israelis and Palestinians and the Jerusalem Correspondent for The Jewish Independent. Ittay took us on a walk along Park HaMesila. Train Track Park is a rail trail urban park in West Jerusalem. Featuring 7 kilometres of walking and biking trails, the park follows the route of the original Jaffa–Jerusalem railway from the Jerusalem Railway Station near the German Colony to Teddy Stadium in Malha. Particularly interesting was the graffiti on a wall that brought Football teams Werder Bremen, Sister club Hapoel Yerushalyim ( Hirsh Goldberg Pollin’s team) and diametrically opposed Beitar Yerushalyim together. It was a plea for unity.

We returned to a panel with leaders of the Progressive Movement in Israel: Yair Lootsteen, Anna Kilanski, Yaron Shavit and ex Sydney Olah, Nicky Maor. It was an interesting discussion around the challenges the IMPJ faces, and how we can help.

The afternoon concluded with a short conversation with Rabbi Stacey Blank from the WUPJ.
The end was nigh. Our group had bonded over an intensive week of programming. We laughed, cried and experienced the spectrum of Israel today. We were challenged in our thinking, and energised by the resilience of Israelis. Our group proved a tolerant and supportive bunch. New friendships were made, and lifelong memories were created.

We ended our trip with a final dinner on the rooftop restaurant at Notre Dame. Overlooking the Old City and Mountain of Olives, we raised a glass and bid each other farewell.

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 6

October 31st | Jerusalem

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

The late night shalom Hanoch concert was testing the resilience of all of us. But we were up early again and on the road back to Jerusalem.
After an intense week, we needed to let our hair down, and a sampling tour of Mahane Yehuda and cooking class with Atelier, Tali Friedman was just what we needed. Tali grew up in the market and as we saw and learnt, everyone knows Tali! Intimate and personalized, the tours are followed by a cooking class and multi-course meal in her atelier using produce and products sourced from the market. All the meals are kosher and meat- and fish-focused.
It was so much fun to spend time with Tali who is an entertaining host. The food we helped make was exquisite, and all left sated, and perhaps a little tipsy from the excellent wines.

That afternoon, the atmosphere once again became more somber as we met with Dr. Danny Brom, founding director of Metiv: The Israel Psychotrauma Center, an internationally renowned expert on trauma and resilience in the face of terror and disaster.

Given the amount of trauma that we encountered, this was an important and crucial piece of the puzzle that is modern day Israel.
The evening descended, and the unique quiet of Shabbat that one can only experience in Jerusalem, enveloped our group. We attended Friday night services at Kamatz, a beautiful Progressive Synagogue in Mevasseret Zion, overlooking Jerusalem. Rabbi Allison delivered a stirring Drash, talking about the challenges of Israel and the Diaspora and the importance of unity in these challenging times.

After Shule, the group split, and attended various Shabbat meals with members of the Kamatz community. A great opportunity to get intimate with Israelis in their homes.

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 5

October 30th | Northern Israel

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

Haifa is known as a multicultural city in Israel due to its diverse population of Jews, Israeli Arabs (Muslim and Christian), and various immigrant groups, including those from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. This diversity is reflected in its religious coexistence, with adherents of all three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity—living together.

We experienced this firsthand when we visited the Hand in Hand school in Haifa. Hand in Hand is building inclusion and equality between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel through a growing network of bilingual, integrated schools and communities. Launched in 1997 with 50 children, there are now over 2,000 students across Hand in Hand campuses in 6 locations from Jerusalem to the Galilee.

The school we visited has 450 children, approximately 60% Jewish and 40% Arab. The children learn in both Hebrew and Arabic. It is a great example of shared society, and so important in today’s difficult climate. Did I mention the kids were soooo cute!

Our journey North continued to Shlomi ( with a quick stop to pick up some croissants from Couronne-one of Israel’s best bakeries). Shlomi is a development town on the border with Lebanon. We met with Shlomi mayor Gabi Naaman, who told us that during the 2023-24 war between Hamas and Israel, northern Israeli border communities, including Shlomi, faced targeted attacks by Hezbollah and Palestinian factions based in Lebanon, and were evacuated. On a positive note, despite rockets causing damage, nearly all 8000 citizens have returned since the ceasefire.

After an enormous lunch in Druze village, Horfeish, we climbed up to Mt Adir. From this vantage point in the Galil, one can see much of Southern Lebanon. Captain (Res) Shadi Khalloul, a Christian-Maronite, provided us with a geopolitical perspective of the war with Hezbollah.

It was a long drive back to Tel Aviv, with most of us taking the opportunity to sleep. With good reason….That night the group attended a Shalom Hanoch concert at the Bronfman Auditorium. This was a special experience for all. The concert marked 40 years since the release of his groundbreaking album, “Waiting for the Messiah “. It was a monumental album from an Israeli music legend. He did not disappoint. Many of us”bopped away” to familiar tunes. A special experience on a special Mission.

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 4

October 29th | Tel Aviv

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

We started the day with a tour of Neve Sha’anan. This neighbourhood has served as the absorption centre for the waves of immigrants to Israel. We explored first hand how diverse groups left their impact on Israel and the neighbourhood. We ended our walking tour at Levinski market. This market in the Florentine area is a culinary paradise. The group explored various different cultures through food. The bareka’s were particularly popular. Next stop Hostage Square. Quieter these days after the return of the living hostages, it retains all of the iconic symbols from the replica tunnel to the freedom piano.

We left Tel Aviv to commence our trip North. We stopped at ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People, to meet Allison Kaplan Sommer. Allison has been a journalist at Haaretz since 2012, hosts the Haaretz Weekend podcast and is a co-host of The Promised Podcast. She is the former Washington DC bureau chief for the Jerusalem Post, and has also written for the New Republic, Politico, and other publications. She won a 2016 B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism for Excellence in Diaspora Reportage and the 2017 Simon Rockower award for excellence in covering Zionism, Aliyah and Israel. Allison provided us with an interesting perspective onthe current state of the war and a look at what the future may hold politically, socially and in security terms. We then had the opportunity to visit the very moving October 7 exhibition at ANU.

After the long drive to Haifa we settled into the beautiful Colony Hotel, replete with old world charm with views to the Bahai Gardens.
Dinner was at Hamam Al-Pasha, an old Turkish bath house converted into one of Israel’s best restaurants. Besides the amazing food offer, we were privileged to hear from Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny, the Chief Reform Rabbi of the Ukraine Progressive Community and Rabbi Miriam Klimova, the Rabbi of a Ukrainian/ Russian community in Haifa. Rabbi Naomi Efrat from Pardes Hannah led the discussions. Since 2022, the WUPJ has unwaveringly supported congregations in Ukraine through different activities and initiatives. The Australian Progressive Community has contributed directly to this. The stories of resilience and hope strengthened our commitment to supporting those in need. Sated both physically and intellectually, we called it a night.

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 3

October 28th | Gaza Envelope

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

Day 3 was never going to be easy. It was the day we headed South. It has become a necessary pilgrimage to see and experience the Gaza War firsthand. Despite the ceasefire, we were witness in realtime to its breaches as the tit for tat exchanges continue.

Our first stop was Kobi Hill, a pre-war memorial to those that fell in a terrorist incursion, but now a strategic vantage point from which to observe the region and understand the geopolitics. Viewing the destruction first hand gives context to the tragedy that has befallen the Palestinian people as a result of Hamas’s miscalculated attack on Israel. It also illustrates the proximity between Palestinians and Israelis.

We then participated in “ Be the Witness”, an audio visual construction of the day of October 7. This was a difficult experience for all of us: the desperate plea for help from victims; visual testimony of the terrorists ruthless and murderous actions; the heroism of individuals. It was emotional stuff, using 3-D technology to bring that infamous day alive. A brief stop at the Sderot police station brought the audio visual presentation out into the glare of the sun as we visited the memorial to those that bravely lost their lives.

We visited the Nova site which is always so moving, walking amongst the personal shrines, created by family and friends for the victims of the Nova massacre.
As part of the attack, 378 people (344 civilians and 34 security personnel) were killed and many more wounded at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re’im. Hamas also took 44 people hostage, and men and women were subject to sexual and gender-based violence. Rabbi Allison Conyer led us in prayer and reflection as the group tried to find sense in an act of senseless violence and destruction. May the memory of all who were murdered be a blessing.

Lunch at Kibbutz Alumim brought some respite, although tragedy was never far away. While the Kibbutz members were saved due to the quick response of the security team,of the 41 foreigners employed as farm workers at Alumim, between 16 and 17 were killed at the start of the attack. Between five and eight others were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

After lunch we went to Tekuma, the memorial filled with the cars of those trying to flee from the terrorists, many from Nova. So many died on the roads of Otef Gaza, as they came across the murderous terroists, who showed no mercy.

The final stop was at Kfar Arza, where we met Kibbutz member, Chen Kotler, who gave us a tour of her devastated home. On 7 October 2023, around 250 Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Kfar Aza, a kibbutz (cooperative community) about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the border with the Gaza Strip, massacring residents and abducting several hostages. It took two days for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to regain full control of the area, by which point at least 62 residents had been killed, while a further 19 were taken hostage.

Chen’s personalised account and her intimate knowledge of the victims added to the emotional journey we endured on our trip to the South. While only 20 residents out of nearly 900+, have returned chen’s positivity and her stubborn determination to stay left room for hope.

That night, the group split. Some returned to Tel Aviv to reflect, while the rest of us went to Jerusalem to participate in the opening of the World Zionist Congress. It was a gala event, with speeches from Yitzhak Herzog, the President of Israel as well as the President of the WZO. The best speech was by a retiring Gusti Braverman, a good friend of the Progressive movement and strong advocate for greater gender equality in the national institutions. It was a long and emotional day. The pace is relentless, but the content demands our attention and engagement….

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 2

October 27th | Central Israel

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

After the intensity of our previous day, we were all hoping today would be easier. Not to be!
An early start brought us to Kibbutz Gezer in the centre of the country. Gezer was founded by American youth movement graduates and has two key features: Israel’s best baseball pitch ( Israel is a minor baseball power); and a Progressive Synagogue! We met Rabbi Steven Bernstein who is responsible not just for the Gezer Synagogue, but for the region. In this capacity, they conduct over 60 Bnei Mitzvot every year. He spoke about the trauma of October 7, and the challenges they faced. Reassuringly, he announced that they found the strength to dance again at this years Simchat Torah.

After experiencing being caught in heavy traffic, we arrived late to the Leket rescue food centre at Gan Haim near Kfar Sava. Leket Israel is the leading food rescue organization in Israel. Its focus is rescuing healthy, surplus food and delivering it to those in need. Our participants joined Israelis on a shift, sorting food for distribution to needy families. I am pleased to report that our shift sorted 7920 kilograms of which will benefit 2,375 families.

Then it was on to the first modern “ Hebrew city”, Tel Aviv. We met Elliott from Bina. Established after Rabin was assassinated , it is a Jewish non-profit organization and educational institution that offers pluralistic programs and forums for adults to study Judaism. We went on a tour of Tel Aviv, exploring the interconnection of religious pluralism, secular Jewish culture, synagogue and state, LGBTQI and broader pockets of diversity. Fascinating stuff! The day ended at Beit Ruth Daniel, the Progressive Synagogue and guesthouse in Jaffa. We enjoyed an amazing dinner on the rooftop overlooking Bloomfield Stadium. Our dinner coincided with a football game between Maccabi TLV and Hapoel Kiryat Shimona. We could to experience two completely different cultural polarities! Our guests at the dinner included Rabbi Meir Azari, the Progressive “chief Rabbi” of Tel Aviv;Rabbi Benny Minitz; Ana Avital- the deputy director and Overseas Relations head of the IMPJ and, keynote speaker Rabbi Josh Wineberg.

Rabbi Josh Weinberg (he/him) serves as the Vice President of the URJ for Israel and Reform Zionism and is the Executive Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He is a fascinating speaker and talked about his own journey as well as some of the challenges of Progressive Jews in America today. It was another big day, which ended late, in no small pat due to the football traffic at the end of the night. By the way, Maccabi Tel Aviv won 3-1.

Israel Solidarity Mission Day 1

October 26th | Jerusalem

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ and Group Leader

Shecheyanu at the egalitarian section of the Kotel marked the official start of the UPJ Israel Solidarity Mission. We were honoured to be led by World Union of Progressive Judaism President Rabbi Sergio Bergman along with our touring Rabbi Allison Conyer. We also heard from the Chairperson of the WUPJ, Phyllis Dorey.

The next stop was a tour of Israel’s Supreme Court with the Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Centre (IRAC), Orly Erez Likhovsky. We had the opportunity to sit in one of the Chambers and see three judges presiding over a case. Orly spoke about the incredible work that IRAC does in defending the rights of minorities, women and LGBTQI, as well as their fight for pluralism in Israel.

We walked from the Supreme Court to the newly built Israel National Library. Built in the shape of a book and located in the shadow of the Knesset, it is a reciprocal for over eight and a half million books. Cutting edge automation brings books to recipients. The library recieved major donations from the Lowy and Magid families which allowed a moment of Australian pride for our participants.

Our days are packed and there was more to come. Our guide to East Jerusalem and the challenges of a Palestinian caught in the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, Ameer, was both challenging and eye opening. Ameer was a great advocate for peaceful coexistence. His narrative challenged us, but allowed us a glimpse of alternative realities and, possibilities.

In the evening we enjoyed a fresh meal at Offaime Cafe, a farm to table establishment. Our guest speaker was my fellow Shnat participant Mark Regev. Mark is an Australian who made Aliyah and prospered in the diplomatic service. Many years as Netanyahu’s spokesperson and a stint as Ambassador in London makes him an insider. We received an insightful analysis of the Gaza war and the many issues surrounding it. We operated on Chatham House rules, so much of what was revealed has to remain at the table. Having said that, there were some revealing antidotes including the revelation of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Qatar and the UAE where the UAE accused Qatar of complicity in October 7 and its repercussions.

As Danny Beran said in offering thanks on behalf of the group, Mark has been beamed in our lounge rooms for nearly a decade, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his advocacy. What a day! Our heads were spinning. I don’t know if any of us, despite our exhaustion, will sleep tonight as we digest the overwhelming amount of information we received today.
No matter, it’s a 6.30 start tomorrow….

WUPJ Connections 2025 – Global Leadership Conference

October 22nd – 25th | Jerusalem

Danny Hochberg – Co-President UPJ

The World Union of Progressive Judaism’s biennial conference-Connections- concluded with a joyous Havdallah Ceremony. It was an inspiring four days of spiritual and intellectual stimulation. Connections was driven by a strong democratic ethos. Participants chose from a plethora of different options, from “Discovering your personal leadership style” to “Israel’s reality post October 7” to “Leading through Progressive value” to “Leveraging technology to enhance your leadership “.

And then there were workshops on communities from Belarus to South Africa. We heard from our youth in Netzer and Tamar, and we heard from our leadership in the WUPJ and the IMPJ. Most workshops were lead by participants, adding to the diversity of thought and continuing the Democratic theme.
The keynote speech by the WUPJ President, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, used the parasha on the story of Noah to exhort us to action, just as God called for Noah to act to save humanity.

We met representatives from so many countries: some struggling such as the brave Ukrainians; all struggling with antisemitism; all committed to Progressive Judaism.

Shabbat allowed participants to transition to the spiritual. Together we prayed and sang. The services were beautiful, and featured wonderful musical arrangements. Sometimes meditative other terms raucous as we burst into dance. Often with the Jaffa Gate and Old City Walls as the backdrop thanks to Beit Shmuel, the Progressive World’s HQ in the heart of Jerusalem.

As we parted company, the mood was mixed. Contentment mixed with renewal at the opportunity to learn, pray and enjoy in the company of so many friends in the Progressive movement from all over the world.

Anxious but determined for the challenges that lay ahead for all Jews, in the Diaspora and Israel. But committed to playing our part in achieving peace for all Klal Yisrael.