On August 10, 2017 representatives from the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), and ARZENU, the International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists, met in person and virtually to discuss the global progressive movement’s efficacy at the United Nations in New York.
“Let this land be given to your servants as a heritage; do not take us across the Jordan.”(Bamidbar 32,5b). This is what two and a half tribes ask of Moses as the people of Israel are getting ready to cross over the Jordan River and conquer the promised land. Why would they ask to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan valley? They have the explanation in the first phrases of the portion Matot:
The Shaarei Shalom community in St. Petersburg, Russia has begun a new project, the idea of which is to touch upon Jewish history and gain a better understanding of the life of today’s Jews in Europe, specifically the life of the Reform communities in Prague and Berlin. The founding member of this project is Ilya […]
26 June 2017 Jerusalem, Israel We are profoundly disappointed in the decision of the Government of Israel to deny the Jewishness of Israeli citizens not converted under the authority of the chief rabbinate, and its refusal to honor its commitment to uphold the right of Jews to pray at the Kotel as they do in their […]
The idea came to us last year during a discussion with Ruth Bohm, a representative of Women for Reform Judaism (WRJ) in Latin America. We were talking about ways to connect Jewish women from our region, with diverse backgrounds, in a new and exciting way. That’s when it dawned on us: the most special rite […]
Professor Tsvia Walden, renowned educator and linguist, and daughter of the late Shimon Peres, along with her husband Professor Raphael Walden, a high-profile medico and activist, visited Australia as part of a United Israel Appeal’s Progressive Trust campaign. From their arrival on March 3 until their departure on March 12, leadership of the Union […]
I was very fortunate this past week to join leaders of the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ), David Pollak and Gordon Smith, for a remarkable visit to the Prague Progressive Jewish community at the invitation of Jonathan Wootliff, a long-term British resident of Prague. Jonathan is a passionate believer in the potential of Progressive […]
A Shnat Netzer participant from RSY Netzer in the UK, Emma recently wrote this blog post for the Times of Israel following her experiences attending prayers at the Kotel with Women of the Wall on February 27, 2017, which was Rosh Chodesh Adar. “Today one of the holiest sites in Jerusalem was engulfed in protest. […]
“Everyone knows that it is the rabbis who are called upon by their congregations, communities and individuals to not only teach, but also lead. I have no doubt that the most important component of our position as rabbis is our role as teachers – and with that our ongoing educational, academic and spiritual growth. Understanding […]
