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.

Logo of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Reflecting on the Legacy of Gerard Daniel z”l

Gerard Daniel passed away on December 14, 2018 at the age of 102.

The world will be a different place without Gerry Daniel. Gerry’s personality, energy, wisdom and heart were larger than life. He was a natural story teller with a keen eye for detail and his memory was bar none remarkable. He related to people — so many people from so many walks of life fell in love with Gerry.