WUPJ News
Roswell Klal Yisrael 2016-17 Fellows Hold Seminar in Berlin
The program kicked off in December 2016, with the 2016-17 fellows, comprised of a diverse group of 22 enthusiastic young adults from eight countries, beginning the year with their first seminar in Jerusalem in December. Between March 19-26 the group converged on Berlin for a week of training, touring, education, exploration and communal growth. Rebecca […]
Beit Shmuel-Mercaz Shimshon Welcomes Over 300 Guests to Memorial Concert in Memory of Debbie Friedman, z”l
A member of the HUC-JIR faculty from 2007 until her passing in 2011, Debbie Friedman inspired students through her creativity and musical talents, helped guide their spiritual and leadership development, and provided them with innovative strategies to transform congregations into communities of learning and meaning. In 2011, the School of Sacred Music was renamed the […]
Progressive Israeli Leaders Visit Australia
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 […]
Helping You Celebrate Passover: Ideas and Inspiration from the World Union
As the Passover holiday nears – April 10-17 (in Israel), we’ve been gathering articles, recipes and printables to help enhance your celebration of this experiential holiday. Follow our Passover Pinterest board for ideas and inspiration for everything from your Seder, to the Haggadah, to the last days of matzah-eating – or click through for additional […]
A Prague Renaissance – Or Tamid
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 […]
Leadership in Footsteps Across Jerusalem: Reflections on the 2017 Beutel Leadership Seminar
The 2017 Beutel Leadership Seminar in Jerusalem, Israel was a unique opportunity for me to dive into a world that, living in the diaspora, was distant from my everyday reality. This was my first time in Israel, and the Old City was as enchanting and symbolic as I had imagined. As I sat at Beit […]
[ISRAEL] First-time Bnot Mitzvah at the Kotel
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 […]
“We are women – hear us pray”
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. […]
Bringing Netzer, Israel and Global Youth Engagement to North American Youth at the NFTY Convention in Chicago
On February 17-20, 2017, I left the Netzer Shnatties to fend for themselves while I headed to the biennial for North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) Convention in Chicago, with more than 1,000 youth, young adults and movement professionals from North America in attendance. The three-day convention was a celebration of youth, activism and […]
First Seminar of the Eastern [RUSSIA] European Council of Reform Rabbis Launches in Moscow
“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 […]