Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism

Israel Movement for Reform
and Progressive Judaism
Leading Israel’s
Jewish Renaissance
Strengthening
Israel’s Democracy
Annual Report 2010-2011
June 2011
Table of Contents
A Message from IMPJ’s Executive Director and Chairperson
6
Bringing Progressive Judaism to Communities Around Israel
8
Galit Cohen Kedem – Building Community
11
Rabbi Benjie Gruber – Bringing Judaism to the Arava
12
Bringing Children, Teachers and Parents Closer to Progressive Judaism
14
Frida - It’s Not Just About Training
15
Jacob - School to School Hosts
15
Promoting Social Justice in Israel - Strengthening Israel’s Democracy
16
Tamar Chinn, Telem Co-chair
16
Neta Ravid – a personal story
19
Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
Beit Midrash Baderech
20
22
Progressive Judaism and the Jewish Life Cycle
24
Enriching Israeli Culture with Progressive Values
26
Financial Overview
27
IMPJ in Numbers
27
Thank You!
28
written and prepared by: Pamela Deutsch
Graphic Design: Stephanie & Ruti Design
Vision of the Israel Movement for
Progressive Judaism for the State of
Israel and Israeli Society
The State of Israel will act in accordance with the values laid down in its
Declaration of Independence: as a Jewish state embracing all forms of Jewish
religion and culture, fulfilling the moral and universal values of Judaism, and
serving as the center for the Jewish people from all over the world; and as a
democratic state, protecting individual human dignity, equality and religious
freedom, promoting pluralism, communal life and social and environmental
responsibility, and committed to all of its citizens regardless of religion, race,
gender or sex.
Mission of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism will act as a religious and social
movement, for all ages, dynamic and sustainable, working throughout Israel
and amongst a broad sector of Israeli audiences, having earned significant
recognition as a leader of the spiritual, intellectual, educational, and public
discourse in Israel and the Reform world.
Principal task
To increase significantly the numbers of Israelis who enjoy experiences identified
with Reform Judaism, in a way that promotes long term identification with the
values of the movement, and connection with movement communities and
activities.
4
A Message from IMPJ’s Executive
Director and Chairperson
Dear Friends,
In recent years a window of opportunity has opened for the Reform Movement
in Israel. For the first time in its history and in the history the State of Israel , IMPJ
has a real chance to sow deep roots in the Jewish homeland. We, in Israel, are
witness to a Jewish renaissance that we have been dreaming of for years. More
and more Jews are showing interest in their Jewish identity, in Jewish tradition
and in Jewish culture.
Reform and Progressive Judaism offers Israelis an opportunity to become
acquainted with answers they are looking for in a manner that is accessible and
friendly for Hebrew speakers; through a religious and social movement that
works in the fields of community life, education, and social justice.
This report proudly reflects the growth of the movement; its congregations,
schools, kindergartens, achievements in the field of social justice and the variety
and depth of its outreach.
Alongside our joy at our successes, we are well aware of the need as a movement
to be involved in cultivating and protecting the democratic and progressive
character of the State of Israel. As we celebrate our growth and development, we
need to face the fact that there are forces within Israeli society who are actively
trying to undermine the democratic values that we take pride in, making ill-use
of the name, Judaism.
While striving for the enrichment of Jewish life in the Israeli Society, the IMPJ
is constantly involved and active in protecting and defending the democratic,
liberal, law abiding nature of our Jewish state.
The challenges are overwhelming and can’t be addressed by our small movement
without the joint efforts of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Jews all over the
world. We are connected and together we have tremendous influence. The
Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism sees itself as the global ambassador
of progressive, reform and liberal Judaism, the major faction of Jews worldwide,
in the Jewish homeland. We have seen in the last year the influence we wield
when working together.
We are grateful to our supporters around the world and invite you to continue
fulfilling the Zionist dream by building together with us a vibrant Progressive,
Liberal and Reform Movement in Israel for the benefit of the Jewish State and
future generations.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Gilad Kariv
Yaron Shavit
Executive Director
Chairman
6
F
or the first time
in its history and
in the history the
State of Israel , IMPJ
has a real chance to
sow deep roots in the
Jewish homeland.
Bringing Progressive Judaism
to Communities Around Israel
Making Progressive
Judaism an Accessible Option
Progressive congregations throughout Israel are the backbone of the Progressive
movement. While the synagogue is the center of these congregations, many
progressive congregations function more like community centers. The range
of services provided by many of these congregations includes Batei Midrash
for adults, formal and informal education for children and families, holiday
celebrations, youth groups, and more.
Looking ahead
Like Progressive communities throughout the world, every Israeli congregation
is committed to programs of social justice and welfare, each reaching out to
those in need around them. The elderly, new immigrants, distressed populations,
and children and youth at risk are some of the groups cared for and supported
by our congregations.
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism has taken a leading role in ensuring
that every Jewish citizen in Israel will, be able to choose from different styles
of Judaism.
New communities
Over the last 18 months, since September 2009, we have added 9 new
community initiatives to the 25 existing congregations. Our goal in the next
decade is to double number of Israelis who identify with the Reform Movement.
From now until 2020 we expect to add 2 or 3 new communities each year.
Our new communities are based on three different models.
In communities where there has been no Reform congregation to date, we
work with local leadership to create new initiatives. In the last year, new
congregations have been created in Holon, Gedera, Even Yehuda, and
a third progressive community has been initiated in Haifa for Russian
speakers.
We are encouraging large Reform communities to create satellite communities.
In Tel Aviv the Beit Daniel congregation has two new satellites, one in Jaffa
and one in the center of the city. Kol Haneshama has a satellite congregation
in Kiryat Yovel, Jerusalem operating in conjunction with Tali Bayit Vegan
(which expanded to the Stone School in Kiryat Yovel this year).
We are assisting regional councils in meeting the demand created by the Jewish
Renaissance now occurring in Kibbutzim throughout Israel. This creative
initiative operates in partnership with the regional councils assisting
kibbutzim in the periphery to celebrate Shabbatot, Hagim, Bnei Mitzva
celebrations, and more. This model is active in the Sha’ar Hanegev and
Arava regions.
8 I Bringing Progressive Judaism to Communities Around Israel
T
he Israel
Movement for
Progressive
Judaism has taken
a leading role in
ensuring that every
Jewish citizen in
Israel will, be able to
choose from different
styles of Judaism.
We expect to expand the satellite model to other strong congregations
including Shoham (a satellite congregation of Yozma in Modi’in) and the
Krayot.
We expect to expand our partnerships with regional councils to the Lower
Galilee, Galilee Panhandle and Western Galilee, and by doing so increase the
presence of the Progressive Movement in the periphery.
Promoting Equal Funding for Rabbis
In Israel, the Ministry of Religious Services allocates funds for clergy salaries.
Allocations to date have been limited to orthodox and ultra orthodox rabbis.
In order to ensure the vision of greatly increasing our constituency, we need
funds to pay the salaries of young Rabbi’s willing to hold positions in peripheral
locations. Over the last several years, more and more young Israelis see serving as
Progressive Rabbis, educators and community workers as their chosen profession.
The number of young people being trained in the Rabbinical and education
programs at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem is growing measurably. Our
ability to reach additional communities is dependent not only on having available
manpower, but also on our ability to get public funding for these professionals,
and thereby equalizing government funding for non-orthodox rabbis.
The IMPJ’s legal and advocacy arm, the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC),
has made great strides on this issue through its precedent setting Israeli
Supreme Court case on behalf of Rabbi Miri Gold. As a result, the State of Israel
is now holding formal negotiations with the IMPJ regarding equal funding for
its rabbis. Negotiations are on still ongoing, however, funding for our Rabbis
appears to be achievable goal.
Increasing Accessability
In this day and age, providing services to additional communities is not limited
to providing them with a Rabbi or educator. We are also using technology to
increase accessibility to Progressive and egalitarian Judaism. One of the leading
examples of this strategy over the past year, is our new website designed to
offer materials for celebrating Jewish holidays. The site speaks to all age groups,
highlights family education, and includes a variety of sources and articles.
In the last year 100,000 Israelis have visited the site and downloaded materials.
http://www.hagim.org.il/
Women of Reform
Judaism (WRJ)
Twenty four congregations in Israel now
have women’s groups which have joined
WRJ-Israel, an affiliate of WRJ. The mission
of WRJ-Israel is threefold: strengthening
of individuals as Jewish women in Israel
(personal growth and development in
a Jewish environment), strengthening
community and congregation, and
reaching out beyond the community to
the State of Israel and globally.
Each woman’s group is free to devise
their own programming. Some examples
include bat mitvah programs for mature
women, text study, and Jewish film nights
with facilitated discussions. In addition,
Israel’s 24 women’s groups are twinned
with more than 50 WRJ Sisterhoods in
North America. Using Skype, groups of
5-10 women in Israel and North America,
facilitated by two teachers, are employing
The Torah: A Women’s Commentar y
(produced by WRJ) to build partnerships
through text study. Larger groups are
celebrating holidays together. A very
successful Tu B’shvat seder was held jointly
by Kehillat Mevakshei Derech, in Jerusalem
and Temple Beth David in Commack, NY.
Looking forward:
An eight week leadership course will
be offered in the fall funded by the Beit
Berel Foundation. This unique course
will empower women not just as leaders,
but enable them to bring an awareness
of Jewish values to community forums in
which they are active.
9
Galit Cohen Kedem
Building Community
For Galit, a third year rabbinical student, the new Reform community in Holon
is all about building community.
Galit, was raised in a secular family in Tel Aviv, and over the years has been
involved in a number of programs that bring Jewish culture to secular Israelis: at
first she studied in the Beit Midrash at Beit Shmuel, then worked as a counselor
for Jewish Identity seminars for religious and secular youth at Gesher, as a
community organizer at Beit Tefila Yisraeli, and eventually as the coordinator
for the Reform community in Tsur Hadassah.
Two years ago, Galit moved with her husband and young family to Holon with
the idea of bringing Liberal Judaism to the social periphery.
“Many people don’t realize that Holon is a very mixed community with a very
varied population.” In Holon, Galit started working as a community organizer
for the Holon Community and Recreation Network, seeing in her position an
opportunity to learn more about her new home.
Today, after a year of informal activity, Holon’s new Reform congregation, Kodesh
Vechol, has the support of IMPJ and works in cooperation with the Holon
municipality and the Holon Community and Recreation Network. Meeting on
a regular basis at one of the local community centers, the community involves
two age groups; young couples with young children who grew up in traditional
or secular families and young retirees who are mostly interested in learning
groups and cultural activities.
We are beginning to build a core group of volunteers and regular attendees. We
have already celebrated 2 britot and a wedding…we are a new model focused
on building an urban community, increasing Jewish solidarity and enhancing
Israeli and Jewish culture.
10
we are a new
model focused
on building an
urban community,
increasing Jewish
solidarity and
enhancing Israeli and
Jewish culture.”
11
Rabbi Benjie Gruber
Bringing Judaism to the Arava
Speaking to Rabbi Gruber, one gets the feeling that he has found his rabbinical
niche. Not so easy to do when your family abounds with rabbis – very different
rabbis. Benjie’s grandfather was a Reform Rabbi in Columbia, South Carolina,
his father is a Conservative Rabbi and a professor of Bible Studies at Ben Gurion
University, his younger brother is a Habad congregational rabbi outside London,
and his older brother is a Secular Humanistic Rabbi in Texas.
“I was raised as a modern orthodox Jew, “ says Benji who was born in 1975 and
made aliyah with his family to Beersheva in 1980. “I attended state religious
schools, attended a yeshiva high school, and was one of the founding members
of the hesder yeshiva in Yerucham.”
It was during an extended stay in Portland, Oregon, that Benjie discovered
liberal Judaism. “Every week I would attend services at a different synagogue.”
Following his two years in the US and his work as a Jewish Agency emissary
in different parts of the FSU, Benjie returned to Israel, attained a BA in Jewish
philosophy at Hebrew University, and met Tovi. Tovi, a social worker by training,
had a dream of volunteering in Africa. A six month stint in Malawi gave Benji
a much clearer idea of what he wanted to do with his life. Becoming a rabbi
would allow him to combine his love of education and working with people
with his need to be involved in tikkun olam.
Benjie was accepted at HUC and combined his rabbinical studies with a Master’s
in Jewish philosophy from Hebrew University. During his studies he did practical
work at Congregation Mevakshei Derech in Jerusalem and at IRAC, and taught
Jewish studies at the IDF Institute for Jewish Studies.
Even before being ordained, Benjie was approached by Kibbutz Yahel and the
Movement about serving as one in a long line of rabbis for the kibbutz. Benji
became a long distance rabbi like most of his predecessors, but after a year and
a half he approached the kibbutz and the movement about actually moving to
Yahel. They were very excited about the idea, and in August 2010, the Gruber
family - Rabbi Benjie, Tovi, and Yair and Ella (6 and 4) moved to Yahel in the
Arava.
For the last year, Benjie has been listening and learning. As he works with
other kibbutz members in the cow shed, as he meets with people of all kinds
- businessmen in Eilat, the head of the regional council, the director of the
community center…
The area north and south of Yahel and Lotan contains 3000-4000 people who
12 I Bringing Progressive Judaism to Communities Around Israel
live on 12 kibbutzim, 5 moshavim, an army
base and a few other settlements. What
has emerged from his meetings and his
work is that people are interested in Israeli
culture and that there is an interest in
learning more about Judaism.
Benji, who does not wear a kippa most of
the time, does not look like what people
expect a rabbi to look like and is in great
demand.
He teaches at a local high school, at the
pre-army mechina in Hatzeva, and is the
main teacher for Beit Midrash Baderech.
He is a regular lecturer in the officer’s
training course at the Ovda air force base.
He teaches regularly scheduled classes in
parshat hashavua and Talmud at Yotvata,
Yahel and Grofit.
R abbi B enjie is also in demand at
ceremonies. They may be weddings at
Timna or in Eilat, or bar and bat mitzvah
ceremonies at kibbutzim and at isolated
settlements.
When I looked at the map of
Reform congregations around
Israel, I realized that with the
exception of Yahel and Lotan, there were
no Reform communities in southern Israel,
not even in Beersheva or Eilat. Working in
the Arava has given me the opportunity
to work, live and study with people who
are discovering new aspects of their
Jewishness... sharing my knowledge of
Judaism with those who want to learn
more.”
Bringing Children, Teachers and Parents
Closer to Progressive Judaism
Our 50 nursery schools/kindergartens are community-based, operating
within and alongside IMPJ congregations, creating constant opportunities
for children and parents to become acquainted with the synagogue, to meet
the rabbi, to participate in broader communal activities, and to experience
from the earliest age the sense of completeness and stability that comes from
Jewish community.
In our 8 schools, Progressive Judaism is part of the core curriculum. These
schools foster pluralism and equality, providing educational continuity for
progressive families.
What’s New :
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism won a tender put out by the Holon
Community and Recreation Network (a municipal subsidiary) to provide the
staff of early childhood and afterschool programs with training that enables the
staff to bring Jewish content into their programs.
For the first time the Ministry of Education has approved curriculum developed
by the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism for 6th graders in Israeli
state-secular schools. The program, Israeli Culture, exposes pupils to Jewish
knowledge, traditions and experiences from an egalitarian and progressive
point of view. At this critical age, when children are preparing for Bat and Bar
Mitzva celebrations, the pupils learn, for the first time, that girls — just like the
boys — can have an aliyah to the Torah and fully participate in all aspects of
the celebration. The Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism is one of the six
organizations whose curriculum was approved by the Ministry. The program
is currently being marketed and will be taught in dozens of schools during the
2011-2012 school year.
In cooperation with the Center for Educational Technology, the education
department had developed a new website aimed at enhancing Jewish
Peoplehood among 5 and 6 graders. The School to School website provides a
unique platform for children in Israel and the United States to meet and discuss
items of personal interest through forums and social networks. Currently 25
schools are participating in this pilot project. The project will be expanded
globally in the future.
th
th
14 I Bringing Children, Teachers and Parents Closer to Progressive Judaism
T
he IMPJ
Education
Department
strives to ensure
that Jewish tradition
and heritage are an
integral part of our
contemporary Jewish
- Israeli identity.
Looking Ahead:
Our current strategy is to open additional
k indergar tens and nurser y classes,
particularly in areas which currently lack
Progressive Judaism alternatives.
In Jerusalem, we are making a strategic
move to strengthen progressive education.
In cooperation with the municipality, we will
be opening 3 new nursery/kindergarten
classes for the coming school year.
Significant expansion of the School to
School programs, not only to more schools,
but also to additional countries.
We are currently working with the Ministry
of Education to expand the Israel Culture
curriculum to 5 graders.
Freida
It’s Not Just About Training
In order for Freida to join the New Moons and Values program, she (along with
the 35 other applicants) underwent a complex selection process including a
personal interview and a meeting with an acceptance committee. “This program
is not just about training these women,” says Yael Katz, Director of the IMPJ
Education Department. “This unique 18 month pilot program is designed to
empower and enrich these participants as educators and as people. Most of
the women participating in the program do not have an academic education
and are viewed by many as babysitters. Upon completion of this program, not
only will the women have taken part in writing a workbook that contains a
year’s worth of lesson plans for bringing Jewish content to their work in daycare
and afterschool programs, but they will also have the ability to teach and share
with their colleagues what they have learned. In fact, they have all committed
to doing so.”
Jacob
School to School Hosts
am very distanced from Judaism, I
only know what I learned in school
which wasn’t very much. If I can
learn, then I can pass on that knowledge,”
says Freida.
One of the most personal outcomes of the School to School program has been
the efforts made by the Israeli participants to host members of their partnered
schools: During Passover vacation, Jacob, a fourth grader from the Congregation
Beth Elohim Religious School, and his family were hosted by children from
Ma’aganim School at Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. During the course of the visit,
which included lunch in the Kibbutz dining hall, a tour of the kibbutz, its fish
ponds and beach, the children were surprised to learn that Jacob’s grandfather,
Paul Cowan, had been a volunteer on Ma’agan Michael in 1962.
The fifth graders of the Weizman School in Nahariya have a surprise for Y, when
he comes to celebrate his bar mitzvah in Israel. Y, who attends the Avodat
Shalom Religious School in Bergen County, New Jersey, aside from his aliyah at
the Kotel, will be celebrating his Bar Mitzva Nahariya style, at a party hosted by
pupils from the Weizman School.
th
15
Promoting Social Justice in Israel
Strengthening Israel’s Democracy
Tamar Chinn,
Telem Co-chair
The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism is committed to the vital Jewish
tradition of social justice, care and solidarity for our own communities as well
as for those who live among us.
As one of the Telem co-chairs, Tamar Chinn,
17, was getting frequent phone calls from
fellow Telem members asking how the
youth group could best help those in need
of assistance after the fire in the Carmel.
Within a short time, Telem volunteers were
busy packing boxes of goods donated to
Keren B’Kavod. By Tuesday, when the
situation had calmed down a bit, a van with
ten Telem volunteers was off to Nachsholim
where families evacuated from Beit Oren
and Ein Hod were staying.
Keren B’kavod – The Fund of the Progressive Movement in Israel for Social
Responsibility is the humanitarian arm of the movement. Its work is based
on 4 important values; the ethics according to Judaism of giving tzedakah,
providing aid to all sectors, community involvement, and empowering people
so that a chain of giving is created, i.e. recipients become involved in giving
themselves.
The Fund, originally part of the Israel Religious Action Center, provides not only
humanitarian aid such as food and medicine, but also develops education and
community empowerment programs. An example of such a program is the
family empowerment program operated in Jerusalem which provides Ethiopian
families with financial assistance and workshops aimed at increasing their
parenting and coping skills.
What’s New:
The fire in the Carmel forest highlighted the ability of Keren B’kavod to respond
immediately to calls for assistance. Within 12 hours of the fire breaking out,
the Fund was on the scene providing residents and emergency personnel with
hot meals. As the days went on, Keren B’kavod provided additional assistance
such as volunteers. Assistance from the Fund did not stop here. Now the Fund
maintains contact with the welfare authorities in order to provide assistance
where needed.
16 I Promoting Social Justice in Israel Strengthening Israel’s Democracy
“It seemed we got to Nachsholim
just at the right moment,”
says Tamar. “The parents were just
about to go into their first meeting with
the social workers and psychologists about
putting their lives back together, and there
we were, ready to take their children off their
hands for a few hours. It was a lot of fun, the
kids were cute and some of them were really
little. As we were leaving some of the parents
came up to us and told us how helpful it was
to have four hours of quiet. We were there
just when the parents needed us.” 17
Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)
Founded in 1987 with the goals of advancing pluralism in Israeli society and
defending the freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion, IRAC is the public and
legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. Focusing on the issues of
religion and state, IRAC uses litigation, legislation, public policy and advocacy
to advance civic equality.
Today IRAC is considered one of the preeminent civil and human rights
organizations in Israel. Employing the spiritual energy and humane worldview
of Progressive Judaism., it is the leading Jewish organization that advocates on
behalf of a broadly inclusive Israeli democracy.
What’s New:
Stopping Gender Segregation
As we approach IRAC’s 25 anniversary, the Center continues to lead the public
and legal effort to promote gender inequality and to protect the status of
women and their equal role in Israel.
th
During the past year, the Israel Supreme Court published a groundbreaking
decision against, purposeful gender segregation on public transportation.
This decision stated that public transportation companies may not encourage
or impose gender segregation in any way. The result of this decision is that
it prevents the expansion of gender segregation to other public and private
services. IRAC has a large number of volunteers who continue to monitor the
situation on the ground.
Social Justice Programs in the Planning:
L’Taken Social Justice Seminars – expanding to Israel the training seminar
model developed in the US for educating young adults and teenagers about
social change through legislation and other means.
Shared Futures - an initiative to bring together Israeli Arabs and Jews to discuss
the joint future of the two communities in the state of Israel while recognizing
the sensitivities and needs of each. This initiative is particularly important as
we are witness to growing tension between the communities.
18 I Promoting Social Justice in Israel Strengthening Israel’s Democracy
Building Global Partnerships
for Progressive Zionism
Neta Ravid
A personal story
The IMPJ is a key player in the global
partnership of Progressive Zionist and
Jewish movements around the world.
This partnership is active within the Zionist
institutions, i.e. Jewish Agency, World
Zionist Organization and Jewish National
Fund, as well as in other arenas promoting
progressive Zionist values, strengthening
the status of Israel among the nations
and bolstering Israeli democracy. Over
the course of the year, Israeli reform
and progressive leaders take part in
international and national educational
eve nt s g e a re d towa rd s c re at i n g a
strong vibrant relationship between the
progressive community in Israel and in
the Diaspora.
Neta, a Jerusalem resident, needed to travel to Arad in January of 2011.
The only direct bus available between Jerualem and Arad is a segregated
“mehadrin” bus leaving from a Haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem. That
evening, Neta and a male friend were the first ones on the bus. They sat in
the front. After a few minutes Haredim began boarding the bus and when
they saw Neta and her friend sitting in the front, they began to shout at her
friend that ‘she’ needs to sit in the back. It wasn’t limited to one critic, but many
and most of them were men. It was a demeaning and humiliating situation.
Neta got very upset and asked them: “Why are you talking to him rather than
to me?” She was totally ignored, and the Haredim continued to repeat their
demands. Eventually, she remained seated in the front of the bus, but not
before she had to remind her critics that “We are not living in Iran, and ‘she’
can speak for herself, this is my place and I am not moving.”
The strength of this partnership was
evident during this past year as the Reform
Movement in Israel, together with our
partners, successfully blocked conversion
legislation that would have prevented
recognition of non-orthodox conversions
in Israel. Together with the Conservative
M ove m e n t , J e w i s h Fe d e r a t i o n s o f
North America and the Jewish Agency,
progressive and reform communities
throughout the world led the effort
to convince the Israeli government to
withdraw its support of this controversial
legislation. Unfortunately, the legislation
remains on the Knesset backburner and
the movement continues to keep its level
of awareness on high.
Neta thought that she was living in a modern country. She is currently a
doctoral student and as far as she is concerned the world is an open book
and there are no limitations. This incident caused her to feel that her freedom
and that of many others was in danger. “The minute a woman is asked to
remove herself from the public sphere such as a bus, there is no stopping
this kind of phenomenon. A look at the pashkevil (public notices put up in
Haredi neighborhoods) hammers home this point.”
Neta shared her experience with her friends and together they decided
that complaining about the situation just wasn’t enough. Because this
phenomenon is increasing at a very rapid pace it is important for those who
want to oppose it to move quickly as well. They decided that as a group they
will ride these segregated buses and sit in the front. (The area usually limited
to men.)
Having heard that the IRAC is also fighting this phenomenon, Neta
contacted the Center. It was an auspicious overture as following the
victory in the Supreme Court against segregated buses, IRAC wanted to
ensure that the verdict was enforced and to work towards changing social
norms. IRAC is experienced in running campaigns; together with Neta and
her friends, they will work to change to change the way the public deals
with this situation.
Segregation of women for funeral services at
a Netanya cemetery
“My goal is to raise awareness
among both Haredim and the
secular public to the dangers of
extremism and the behaviors extremists
allow themselves in order to enforce
their views. It is these behaviors that may
eventually lead to limited freedoms for all
of us,” says Neta.
19
Developing the Next Generation of
Leaders
The IMPJ is committed to cultivating young Israeli citizens who acknowledge
and celebrate their Jewish identity, are dedicated to living in a State of Israel
which is both Jewish and democratic, and are willing to take an active role in
the advancement of Progressive Judaism in Israel.
Noar Telem is the IMPJ’s youth movement, providing year-round experiential
activities for children from grades 3 to 12 focusing on Jewish tradition and
culture, social justice, equality, and democracy. At a national level activities
include seminars, tours, and summer camps.
The IMPJ Mechina, combines rigorous Jewish studies with leadership training
and the intense experience of living in a close community. Located in Jaffa, a
diverse neighborhood whose residents include Jews from an extremely wide
range of religious and ethnic backgrounds, as well as Muslim and Christian Arabs
and migrant laborers from around the world, participants put Jewish values
into practice by working in local community service projects. Participation in
the Mechina allows participants to defer their military service by a year, during
which they develop interpersonal and leadership skills which enhance their
ability to contribute in a significant manner to the Israel Defense Forces.
What’s New:
Noar Telem opened three new branches this year in Kibbutz Yahel, Tsur
Hadassah, and Kibbutz Gezer.
Even more exciting is the development of a new educational model. This pilot
project, developed in cooperation with the Leo Baeck Education Center and the
Israeli Scouts Movement, brings elements of progressive Jewish education to
the Israeli Scouts movement.
The plans for the Mechina’s permanent home have been approved and we are
now seeking partners to help us initiate and complete the actual building.
A pilot post-army program, Beit Misrash Baderech located on Kibbutz Yahel, is a
6-8 month program combining agricultural work, Jewish studies, volunteering
in social projects, and the experience of living in a community. Twenty five
participants joined this year’s program and for most it was their first contact
with progressive Judaism.
20 I Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
In parallel, through MASA, Kibbutz Lotan is
offering young adults from the Diaspora,
programs of varying lengths. Participants
develop practical skills through hands-on
work in Lotan’s environmental education
center, organic gardening, and alternative/
natural building projects, which are
complemented by classroom sessions in
ecological design, permaculture, gardening
theory, and community building.
Participants are also interwoven into the
daily life of the kibbutz, a community based
on the principles of liberal, egalitarian
Judaism.
Looking ahead:
Expanding our strategic programming
with the Scout movement and other Israeli
Zionist youth movements.
We hope to make serious strides towards
the completing the construction of the
Mechina building within the next year.
The Campus for Jewish
Peoplehood
Begin planning the creation of a Negev
campus for young adults from Israel and
the Diaspora, which will further Jewish
Peoplehood through a consortium of
programs focusing on Jewish studies and
social and ecological activism.
Beit Midrash Baderech
Alon, originally from Hod Hasharon, age 23
“I began my participation in Beit Midrash Ba’derech the day after I finished
my army service. It was a period when I wanted to work, learn, and live in a
community. Being part of a community was really important to me and the
experience of living on a kibbutz was very significant. It was amazing how the
presence of 20 young people really brought new life to Yahel.
As we were the first participants in the program, we were given a lot of freedom
and were very active in deciding what kind of activities we wanted. When we
first arrived, it was a very busy season in the kibbutz and we were all working 1012 hours a day. Later on when things calmed down, we worked 8-10 hours a day.
From the beginning we had a weekly shiur with the Rav of the kibbutz. I was not
a part of the Reform Movement before this program and knew nothing about
what the Movement does in Israel. Rav Benjie started teaching us about Judaism
from the very beginning and as he did not make any assumptions about what
we knew or didn’t know it was very meaningful. I especially connected with his
encouraging us to write our own prayers. We had weekly lessons given either
by Yaya, the project coordinator, or by one of the group on Israeli and Jewish
culture and a weekly lesson about the Arava, with each session being given by
a guest lecturer. Once a month we had a Shabbat together with lectures on a
different topics such as the political left or gender and we had 3 field trips which
were also devoted to specific topics.
Our group was made up of really special people and it was the group that really
made the program. I am going to spend the summer working as a coordinator
for Havaya (the Israeli Reform Movement’s summer camp), and then we’ll have
to see what comes next.”
22 I Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
Our group was
made up of
really special people
and it was the group
that really made the
program.”
Progressive Judaism
and the Jewish Life Cycle
In the last decade, reform and progressive communities throughout Israel have
become the leading alternative to the orthodox establishment at some of the
most important moments in the lives of Israeli families.
Reform communities are well known throughout the country as centers for
life cycle events and for providing the ability to celebrate Jewish life in an
egalitarian, open-minded pluralistic, and welcoming way.
For example, in Ra’anana the Reform congregation celebrates the Bnai Mitzva
of 200 families a year. The rabbinical clergy of Beit Daniel perform more than
200 weddings annually.
And yet the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, working together with
other progressive movements, continues to face legal and legislative barriers
to providing religious services.
Since the creation of the State of Israel, the orthodox establishment has had
a full monopoly over marriage and divorce of Jewish citizens and over burial
despite Knesset legislation to the contrary. IRAC is leading the public effort to
change existing legislation in the area of marriage and divorce by coordinating
the Israeli Forum for Freedom of Choice in Marriage. During the first 6 months
of 2011, IRAC and the Forum launched a campaign placing this issue once again
on the public agenda, promoting new legislation and taking the initial steps
toward petitioning the High Court of Justice over the issue.
Conversion Classes
In the last 10 years, as a result of the High Court of Justice ruling, the State of
Israel recognizes Reform converts in Israel as Jews. Hundreds of Israelis, who
have converted under the auspices of Reform communities around Israel, are
now being registered and recognized by the government as Jewish. Together
with our congregations, the Movement operates 10 conversion courses around
the country, three of which opened during the last year. These courses serve
mainly Russian speaking Israelis and foreign born spouses of Israeli citizens.
In addition, many infants and young children, adopted by Israelis in foreign
countries, are converted by the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. As a
result of devoted efforts by Reform rabbis and the Israel Religious Action Center,
in 2010 these courses received government funding for the first time.
24 I Progressive Judaism and the Jewish Life Cycle
R
eform
communities
are well known
as centers for life
cycle events and for
providing the ability
to celebrate Jewish life
in an egalitarian, openminded pluralistic, and
welcoming way.
We are being
pushed into one
framework
In Israel we do
not have the
freedom to
choose how
we marry, our
only option is
the oppressive
Personal Status
Though IRAC has won recognition for Reform
and Conservative conversions, many new
olim, especially converts, still have difficulties
when seeking Jewish status recognition for
themselves, their spouses, and their children.
Government-sanctioned rabbis often refuse
to provide services, such as marriage, to
those without an Orthodox conversion.
IRAC’s Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO), an
expert at immigration rights in Israel, offers
pro-bono legal aid to new immigrants, with
a special focus on assisting converts.
framework of the
Chief Rabbinate
Enriching Israeli Culture
with Progressive Values
Financial Overview The IMPJ budget for 2010 was $5,892,133 (US$ = 3.6 NIS)
Over the last several years there has been increasing interest in Judaism in the
general public. This has translated into increased demand by the Israeli public
for books on Jewish topics and many more outlets for Progressive Rabbis to
put forth their views and/or serve as educators reaching a broad and varied
population through extensive media exposure.
Expenses
Publishing
All of the Israeli publishing houses have new titles that reflect a broad spectrum
of approaches to Judaism. In the last year, one of the leading publishing houses,
Yediot, has published 3 books by Progressive Rabbis. Two Israelis have had books
published: Harav Dr. Dalia Marks is the author of the book, “When I Sleep and
When I Wake: on Prayers between Dusk and Dawn” and Professor Yehoyada
Amir is the author of “A Small Still Voice.” In addition, Rachel Adler’s book,
“Engendering Judaism” has been translated into Hebrew.
In parallel, the IMPJ has reached an agreement with the Kibbutz Meuchad
publishing house to produce a new line of books which will present the Israeli
public with original progressive writings. In the coming months, two books
will be published. One contains original writings of four movement rabbis
on the role of water in Jewish tradition and in contemporary Jewish life. The
second is a translation of Professor Rabbi Eugene Borowitz book, “Renewing
the Covenant.”
Looking ahead we expect to publish two to four books a year, and by doing so
create a Jewish book shelf, making works on the Jewish renaissance, progressive
thought and Jewish literature accessible to all Israelis.
In the Media
The appearance of progressive Israeli rabbis in the media is now increasing at
a steady rate. For example, during the last year Reshet Beit, the leading radio
station in Israel, has added programming before every Jewish holiday to include
a Progressive Rabbi who speaks about ideas for celebrating the holiday, the
spiritual meaning of the holiday, and its significance in our lives today.
Op-eds by Reform Rabbis in response to current events appear with increase
freqency in Israel’s leading newspapers such as Maariv, Yediot, Haaretz, Ynet, the
Jerusalem Post and Haaretz in English.
IMPJ in Numbers
L
ooking ahead
we expect to
publish two to
four books a year, and
by doing so create
a Jewish book shelf,
making works on the
Jewish renaissance,
progressive thought
and Jewish literature
accessible to all
Israelis.
35
congregations and communiy
centers throughout Israel
50
kindergartens in 12 cities
70
reform rabbis ordained in Israel
100
reform rabbis in Israel
500
young people have participated
in our pre-army mechina
800
weddings have been performed
by movement-affiliated rabbis
1000
campers participate annually in
our summer camps programs
3000
bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies
were held during 2010
10,000
families are affiliated with IMPJ
communities and educational
institutions
40,000
Israelis define themselves as
reform Jews based on data
collected by the Central Bureau of
Statistics
50,000
people have visited our holiday
website
Income
500,000 NIS
2.5 million NIS
has been allocated by the
Government of Israel for
conversion classes between
2006-2010
has been invested by the Israeli
government in building reform
synagogues over the last 4 years
26 I Enriching Israeli Culture with Progressive Values
27
Thank You!
The achievements detailed in this report, along with many others since the founding of the Israel Movement of Progressive Judaism,
would not have been possible without the support and generosity of our donors in Israel and abroad.
We wish to acknowledge the support of the following major donors who contributed to IMPJ during 2010-2011.
(in alphabetical order)
Aidekman Family Foundation
Rabbi Daniel Freelander
Rabbi Amy & Gary Perlin
Kathryn Ames Foundation
Friends of Progressive Judaism, Great Britain
Pratt Foundation
ARZA - Association of Reform Zionists of America,
Canada
Dennis Gilbert
Progressive Trust, Keren Hayesod-UIA, Australia
and the Australian Progressive Community
ARZA - Association of Reform Zionists of America,
USA
Didi Gilbert
Gimprich Family Foundation
Bonnie and Bennett Rechler
Daniel Reich
ARZENU - International Federation of Reform and
Progressive Religious Zionists
Gold Family Foundation
Avi Chai Foundation
The Donald Gordon Foundation
Claudia Bach
Jewish Agency for Israel
Philip & Muriel Berman Foundation Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundation
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the
Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Central Synagogue, New York, New York
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Shannon Family
Cohen Family Foundation
Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County
Shapiro Foundation
Ruth & Harvey Cohen
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - Jewish National Fund
Robert Sillins Foundation
John & Noleen Cohen
Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Chicago
Temple Israel of Ottowa
Naomi & Nehemiah Cohen Foundation
Community Synagogue, Rye, New York
Congregation Beth Am, Los Angeles, California
Shoshana & Jay Dueck
Isabel P. Dunst
Eder Foundation
Einhorn Family
Rhoda & Richard Goldman Fund
Sue & Jim Klau
Peachy & Mark Levy
Lorri Lokey
Steve Lurie
MAZON
Memphis Jewish Federation
Lois and Richard England Family Foundation
Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable
Funds
Edith Everett
Minneapolis Jewish Federation
Finchley Reform Synagogue, London
Ministry of Education and Culture
FNZ Foundation
Ministry of Immigration and Absorption
Ford Israel Fund
New Israel Fund
28
Righteous Persons Foundation
Leif Rosenblatt
Rosenzweig Coopersmith Klau Foundation
Betty & Arthur Roswell
John Roth
Union for Reform Judaism
UJA-Federation of New York
UJA/Federation Westpor t-Weston-WiltonNorwalk
United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, New
Jersey
Westchester Reform Temple
Women of Reform Judaism
World Union for Progressive Judaism
In addition, IMPJ would like to express our deep
appreciation to all those donors who wish to
remain anonymous.
29
Support US
Please support our efforts to lead Israel’s Jewish renaissance and strengthen
Israel’s democracy by making a contribution towards our work.
Tax-Deductible Donations
Tax deductible donations to IMPJ may be made via the following
organizations:
Arza
633 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 212-650-4280 [email protected] www.arza.org
FPJ - Funding Progressive Judaism in Israel,
Europe and The Former Soviet Union PO Box 3998 Gerrards Cross SL9 1AS
Great Britain (440) 7765 55 2830 www.fpjie.org.uk
UIA Progressive Trust
7 Ocean Street
Woollahra NSW 2025
Australia
(02) 93287644
www.arza.org.au
Canadian Friends of the WUPJ
Canadian Council for Reform Judaism
3845 Bathurst Street, Suite 301, Toronto
Ontario, M3H 3N2
World Union for Progressive Judaism
633 Third Ave. 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212)452-6530
www.wupj.org
For more information about how
you can get involved, please
contact:
Chen Abrahams
Director of Development
Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
13 King David Street, Jerusalem 94101
Israel
Tel: +972-1-6203489, Fax: +972-2-6203446
Email: [email protected]
To join our mailing list please email
[email protected]
Direct Donations
To donate to IMPJ directly, please send a
check to IMPJ at the address above.
Thank you!
For more information about IMPJ
and to find out how you can get involved,
please contact:
Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
13 King David Street, Jerusalem 94101, Israel
Telephone: 02-6203448
Fax: 02-6203446
E-mail: [email protected]
www.reform.org.il