WUPJ News

The World Union mourns the passing of Rabbi Peter Knobel Z”L, former president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), on August 20th, at the age of 76.

During the Women’s Day Shabbat services at the Temple of Israel four female rabbis joined a bimah together for the first time in South Africa.

On July 31, Netzer Olami hosted its annual celebration of all Progressive and Reform youth and young adults visiting Israel on summer programs, called Netzfest. This summer’s megaevent welcomed over 650 participants from around the world.

Rebeca Orantes from Guatemala was part of the 2018-2019 Brotherhood of Roswell Klal Yisrael for the URJ and visited France to understand the efforts of the Jewish liberal movement and its challenges. Learn more about her unforgettable experience with MahaNetzer this summer.

Netzer Australia, Netzer South Africa, Colônia da CIP and Avanhandava (Brazil) recently wrapped up a successful year of annual winter youth camps.

Netzer camp Ivriya, run by the World Union’s reform youth movement branch in Ukraine, concluded their tenth year annual summer camp in the city of Odessa. The day camp in Odessa’s Progressive community of Shirat a Yam brought together 25 youth, ages 7-13, to explore the history of Zionism, the State of Israel, the Hebrew […]

On July 25-28, 130 RSY-Netzer Madrichim gathered in Kettering, England for what would become an incredibly special and memorable event. Taking place just before our Summer Machanot began, Mega-Fest is a time for all of the madrichim of the movement to come together, learn from top-quality educators from the UK and Israel, and workshop their peulot (activities), together with these educators.

As we move into the 21st century, and continue to examine our institutions and foci, the leadership and members of the Council of Australian, New Zealand and Asian Progressive Rabbis believe that it is particularly important to reassert that the modern Jewish concern for social justice and the environment (in which Progressive Jews across the globe have played a central and formative role) is not only essential, but also is an authentic reading of our ancient sources. 

During the last Assembly of the UJR AmLat, the affiliation of the Congregação Israelita Capixaba (CICAPI) to the regional reform movement was approved. Welcome to our global family!

Temple Israel Heritage Centre in Hillbrow, South Africa, celebrated Mandela Day by handing out blankets, food parcels, and clothing to over 30 homeless residents, including adults and children.