The World Union for Progressive Judaism Honors Long-Serving Leaders at Gala Houston Event

On April 22, 2017 in Houston, Texas, more than 200 people attended the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ)’s gala event honoring long-time WUPJ leaders, Dolores Wilkenfeld, of Congregation Emanu-El, and Stephen Breslauer, of Congregation Beth Israel, for their vision and support as the “Pillars of International Reform Judaism.”

Both Dolores and Steve are WUPJ Life Trustees who have dedicated years toward growing Reform Judaism in North America and the Former Soviet Union, and toward local civic causes.

Dolores has been instrumental in strengthening the Shaarei Shalom in St. Petersburg; and Steve and his wife Sandy z”l helped build the Reform community in Minsk. Dolores is also a Past President of the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ); and Steve of Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ). The celebratory and dignified event was chaired by Linda and Richard Zoll of Houston.

So now it’s my job to do what the World Union urges and inspires us to do every day – to pivot from the local to the global – from a Jewish community I know to one I can yet discover – from one side of the Rio Grande to another, from one side of the Atlantic to another, from one side of the world to another.

To expand our vision beyond the legitimately pressing concerns of our own local communities and to take into our awareness and into our hearts Progressive Jewish communities on almost every continent in the world.

For me to peek in on a youth group meeting at my synagogue in Dallas and realize that through Netzer Olami, the World Union has created summer and winter camps, Progressive Jewish youth groups and youth activities reaching 16,000 kids around the world.

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