[STATEMENT] Israel Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Recognizing Reform and Conservative Conversions: An Historic Achievement of the IMPJ and IRAC

The World Union congratulates its partners, the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), who, through the leadership of its legal advocacy center, the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), have secured a landmark ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court to recognize non-Orthodox conversions carried out in Israel for the purposes of Israeli citizenship under the […]

[ISRAEL] Kehillat HaDror Celebrates New Synagogue

On February 6, 2019, Kehilat HaDror in Jerusalem celebrated the inauguration of their new Beit Knesset in the Tali – Bayit Vagan school.

The synagogue was made possible thanks to the generous support of Nani and Austin Beutel who were present for the celebration.

wupj press release

The World Union Mourns a Legend and Leader for our Global Movement

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Gerard Daniel at the age of 102, on Friday, December 14th. 

Gerry served as President of the WUPJ from 1980-1988. His legacy of leadership and vision blesses us to this very day. He and his wife Ruth were lifelong builders of Reform Judaism, as you can read in the reflection shared by Rabbi Meir Azari here. 

His leadership changed the landscape of Reform Judaism in Israel. During his tenure as World Union President, Gerry partnered with WUPJ Executive Director Rabbi Dick Hirsch to design, fund and construct Beit Shmuel, the World Union’s headquarters in Jerusalem.

Beutel Leadership Seminar Participants learning about coexistence programs in Ramla

Promoting a Shared Society in Israel: Jews and Arabs Working Together

On the fifth of the Hebrew month of Iyar, 5708 (May 14, 1948), the leaders of the newly established State of Israel signed a Declaration of Independence. … Almost 70 years later, the State of Israel still struggles to balance its Jewish and democratic character – to remain committed to its Jewish values while at the same time remembering that those values obligate it to treat those who are not Jewish as equals.