WUPJ News

The Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism celebrated its 70th anniversary at a festive dinner on 23 November. Special guest Rabbi Dr John Levi and Howard Nathan gave addresses, and Union for Progressive Judaism immediate past president Roger Mendelson presented certificates of appreciation to Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black and Dr Linda Stern for their editorial work on our region’s new machzor, Mishkan T’shuvah.

Organized by the Embassy of United Arab Emirates in South Africa and the Centre of Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, the summit  “Year of Tolerance: Prospects for Peace and Stability in Africa” focused on how education and knowledge-sharing can be a powerful tool to raise awareness on tolerance in diversity.

2019 markes the 40th year of Netzer, the Reform Zionist Youth movement. Celebrations first took place during the Netzer Veida of January 2019. On November 23, two additional events were held by Netzer Australia graduates: the first, in Tel Aviv, a Shabbat retreat for Netzer graduates (bogrim) who have moved to Israel and Israeli emissaries (shlichim) who served the Jewish communities in Australia; and the second, in Melbourne, a large-scale celebration organized by Netzer bogrim and current participants.

It is with sadness that World Union shares the news of the passing of Rabbi Henry Sobel Z”L in Miami on November 22. The death of Henry Sobel, Brazil’s iconic rabbi and human rights activist, was mourned by Jewish and non-Jewish groups across Latin America’s largest nation.

More than 60 young adults from the global Progressive movement from 14 countries came together for a weekend of learning, networking, sharing and growing together in Marseilles, France. The seminar was sponsored by both the WZO and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, Arzenu and Tamar Olami. We were generously hosted by Union Liberale Israelite de France (ULIF), Communite de Marseille for our opening event on Thursday evening, where we enjoyed a meal, and some TED Talks about innovation, political homelessness and veganism in Israel.

The Jewish Community in Tokyo (JCJ) was excited to host the November teen shabbaton of Asian Progressive Judaism (The Asian Congregations of the UPJ of Australia, New Zealand and Asia). Eighteen young people (plus their young feeling chaperones) from Beijing, Hong Kong, Hiroshima, Shanghai and Tokyo came together to celebrate and experience both Tokyo and […]

On October 31 to November 2, close to 60 youth and young adults came together in Belarus for a Netzer, Reform Zionist youth movement, conference. With students of the University of Moscow in attendance, participants explored ways to advance Netzer in the coming years, including strengthening current projects in communities in the region, and developing new ones to meet growing needs among the next generation.

Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein, President of the World Union, met with the board of the Union of  Progressive Jews in Germany, spoke at a reception of the Union in his honor on Saturday and was the guest of honor of the gala dinner on the occasion of the annual general meeting of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, addressing its delegates (orthodox and reform) as the only speaker.

On November 1-3 a delegation of the board of Beth Hillel Roma, along with its Rabbi, Joel Oseran, visited Gil Geneva. The aim of the visit was for Beth Hillel to learn from Gil’s strategies and operations and for Gil to learn about Beth Hillel’s progress and future steps. This was the third occasion for the respective communities to share updates and deepen their relationship as part of the World Union’s congregational twinning program. 

K’lal Yisrael – one Jewish people. It is not surprising that WRJ offers us an opportunity to connect and partner with the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). You may think of Argentina or Australia as places where Jews live, but do you also think of China or the Czech Republic? Would you guess that the Progressive Jewish community is experiencing resurgence in Germany, Spain, and Russia? It is WUPJ’s goal to ensure that all Jews have access to a vibrant and personally meaningful Jewish life.