WUPJ News

Last week, all of the snifim (branches) voted for the new Netzer Olami Hanhagah and we are super excited to announce that Beatriz Rubinsztain (Avanhandava – Brazil), Naomi Tamir (Netzer UPJ – Germany) and Vicky Richards (Netzer Australia) will all be a part of the Netzer Olami Hanhagah!

The deadline to apply to the 2023 Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leadership has been extended for one week to February 17. If you aspire to grow and solidify your leadership within Progressive Judaism the Beutel Seminar will equip you with the skills, network, knowledge and perspective.

Progressive Jews around the world, including WUPJ President Rabbi Sergio Bergman, came together this weekend to voice their opposition to Israel’s far-right coalition Government and its assault on the country’s legal system. He was one of the 40,000 people protesting in Tel Aviv last Saturday night.

In a hybrid talk at Boston College, in the USA, Rabbi Bergman spoke about many of the Pope’s ground-breaking projects in their native Argentina including around interfaith dialogue, environmentalism and remembering the Holocaust.

Helen Shardey OAM, ARZA Australia President and UPJ Vice President, shares highlights and reflections on the Australian first Progressive Taglit Birthright tour participants taken at the Lebanon border.

Young adults from South Africa, Australia, and the UK began their Shnat Netzer Olami gap year program — Shnat Ramah — in Israel in late January. Shnatties gathered for the opening program at Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev. 

It is with deep sadness that the World Union for Progressive Judaism shares the news of the passing on last Shabbat in Herzliya, Israel, of Ruth Cohen z”l, one of our greatest lay leaders and much-loved friend of the World Union and our global Movement.

The WUPJ Clergy Kallah, which takes place immediately prior to our flagship Connections 2023 conference, is open to all ordained and student rabbis, cantors and other clergy in our global Reform, Liberal, Reconstructionist and/or Progressive movements.

The WUPJ is proud that two exciting leadership seminars will be part of its biennial conference: the WRJ Wilkenfeld International Women’s Leadership Seminar and the Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leadership.

Nominations are now open until 30 January for positions on both the Governing Board and the Leadership Council, for the next 3-year cycle. We invite nominations of individuals across the spectrum of ages, genders, Jewish backgrounds, and languages. You may nominate yourself or someone you believe would be a great fit for WUPJ.