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WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 1 PROGRAM World Union for Progressive Judaism International Humanitarian Award Gala Dinner Honoring RABBI LENNARD R. THAL Installation of RABBI DANIEL H. FREELANDER World Center Marriott, Orlando Thursday, November 5, 2015 WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 2 Welcome! Bienvenida! Добро пожаловат! Bienvenue! Willkommen! Bruchim Haba'im We are delighted to welcome you to the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s International Humanitarian Award Gala Dinner. We’re thrilled that you’re with us this evening to share in celebrating world Jewry and the vibrancy and growth of more than 1,400 Progressive Jewish communities in 50 countries across the globe. On this festive occasion, we are especially pleased to honor Rabbi Lennard R. Thal with this year’s WUPJ International Humanitarian Award in recognition of his lifelong devotion to strengthening, enriching, and promoting Progressive Jewish communities in Asia and Latin America. Indeed, we owe Rabbi Thal a tremendous debt of gratitude for his expertise and commitment to this sacred work, which has been instrumental in building and sustaining congregations that serve as holy kehillot and beacons of Reform Jewish life throughout the world. Yasher koach, Rabbi Thal! We are also elated to celebrate the installation of Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander as the president of WUPJ. In the past four decades, Rabbi Freelander has provided the URJ with creative vision and direction in programs, worship, Biennials, and many other facets of Reform Judaism. We are confident that Rabbi Freelander is exceedingly well positioned to lead WUPJ and its network of congregations into an exciting new chapter. With deep appreciation to Rabbi Freelander and Rabbi Thal for their resolute devotion to the Reform movement and its congregations, we wish them mazel tov on this gala evening. It is our fondest hope that as they continue to lead and inspire us, so, too, will they and their loved ones go and grow from strength to strength. L’shalom, Lynn Magid Lazar Tadd Schwab Gala Co-Chair Gala Co-Chair WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 3 DINNER PROGRAM HONORING RABBI LENNARD R. THAL INSTALLATION OF RABBI DANIEL H. FREELANDER WELCOME Lynn Magid Lazar and Tadd Schwab Gala Co-Chairs HAMOTZI Dr. Linda R. Thal, Ariella Thal Simonds, Rabbi Joel Thal Simonds GREETINGS Carole Sterling, Chair World Union for Progressive Judaism DINNER IS SERVED CHARGE Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch, Honorary Life President World Union for Progressive Judaism INSTALLATION OF WUPJ PRESIDENT Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, Ph.D., The Barbara & Stephen Friedman Prof. of Liturgy, Worship & Ritual, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, NY RESPONSE Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander, President World Union for Progressive Judaism TORAH PRESENTATION Rabbi Andrew Paley, Senior Rabbi Cantor Don Alan Croll, Cantor Emeritus Jacque Comroe, Co-Chair, Torah Gifting Committee Temple Shalom, Dallas, Texas Cantor David Bentley, Spiritual Leader Sally Castle, Treasurer Congregation Beth Or, Brisbane, Australia Jocelyn Robuck, Executive Officer Union for Progressive Judaism MUSICAL TRIBUTE Neshama Carlebach and Josh Nelson AWARD PRESENTATION RABBI LENNARD R. THAL Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President Emeritus Union for Reform Judaism RESPONSE Rabbi Lennard R. Thal, Senior Vice President Emeritus Union for Reform Judaism CLOSING REMARKS Lynn Magid Lazar and Tadd Schwab Gala Co-Chairs BIRKAT HAMAZON Rabbi Joel Oseran, Vice President, International Development World Union for Progressive Judaism WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 4 Scroll of Honor As of October 27, 2015 We are deeply grateful to our generous donors who honor RABBI LENNARD R. THAL AND RABBI DANIEL H. FREELANDER $10,000 + Nani and Austin Beutel Betty and Arthur Roswell Honey and Rudi Scheidt $5,000 + Janet Abrams and Steve Pruzan Sigrid and Alan Belinkoff Dora Lucia Brenner Kati and Alex Dembitz The Frishman-Freelander Family Nancy and Dennis Gilbert Marina and Raul Gottlieb Susan and Martin Jannol The Loeb Family Charitable Foundation Daryl Messinger and Jim Heeger Anne Molloy and Henry Posner III Sandy and Tadd Schwab Sharon Ser Nancy and David Solomon Carole and Jay Sterling United Hebrew Congregation (Singapore) Past and Current Members The United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong (Clayton Carol, Daniel Kirwin, Samantha and Jonathan Kriegel, Robert Meyer, Sharon Ser) Miriam and Itche Vasserman $1,800 + Jean and Jay Abarbanel Ina and Steve Bauman Stephen Breslauer Gerry Daniel Rabbi Joshua Davidson Betty Golomb Patti and Louis Grossman Cherie and Fred Half Amy and Robert M. Heller Rabbi Deborah A. Hirsch Rabbi Nancy Kasten and Rabbi David Stern Herbert, Alec, Lucretia and Miryam Levy Lynn Magid Lazar and Dale Lazar Olga Markus and Rabbi Michael Farbman Rabbi Amy and Gary Perlin Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner and The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Jane and Rabbi Bart Shallat Judy and Gordon Smith Donna Stein Jerry Tanenbaum Linda and Larry Vogel Vicki Weber and David Behrman Dolores Wilkenfeld Jane and Rabbi David Wolfman Women of Reform Judaism Women of Reform Judaism Presidents Rabbi Michael Zedek $1,000 + Richard Cameron Central Synagogue, New York City Linda and James Cherney Joan and Ronald Cohen Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York Isabel P. Dunst European Union for Progressive Judaism Fadem Family Foundation Linda and Earl Ferguson Stephanie Garry and Art Tatge Joan Garson and David Baskin Kathy and Rabbi David Gelfand Robyn and Jay Gellman Ellie and Allan Goldman Evelyn and Rabbi Roberto Graetz Lindie and Kenneth Henderson Lois Horn and H. Rudolf Ziedler WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 5 Stephen Kollins Connie Kreshtool Linda Levenson Regina and Rabbi Robert Levine Mary and Harry Levy IV Ina Rae Levy Peachy Levy Phyllis Savar Levy and Michael Levy Diane Marcus Rabbi Janet and Rabbi Sheldon Marder Blair C. and Joe Marks Lenore and Daniel Mass Barbara and Philip Meltzer Lisa Messinger and Rabbi Aaron Panken Laura and Steve Olson Penny and Claudio Pincus Jo-Ann Nevas Price and Michael Price Beverly and Les Rothschild Susan and Charlie Rothschild Margery and Jerome Somers Jane Taves Dorothy and G. Leonard Teitelbaum Helene and Jeffrey Waranch Linda and Richard Zoll $360 + Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson and Rabbi Misha E. Zinkow Jane and Rabbi Richard Address ARZA-US Ayelet Tours, Ltd. Andrea and Philip Bliss OAM Simcha and Rabbi Daniel Bridge Maureen and Jim Busis Community Synagogue of Rye Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell and Nurit Levi Shein Paddy and Barry Epstein Vicki Reikes Fox and Rabbi Steven Fox Lily and Alan Frishman Rabbi Rayna Gevurtz and Rabbi Gersh Zylberman Gary Glick Melanie and Rabbi Edwin Goldberg Cathy Goodfriend and Paul Reichenbach Rabbi Donald Goor and Cantor Evan Kent Joyce and Warren Heilbronner Jennifer and Todd Kaufman Rabbi Susan Laemmle and John Antignas Leonard Lawrence Rabbi Paula Marcus Rabbi Joel Oseran Barbara Pollard and Mitchell Stein Carolyn Polowy and Carl Silverman Rabbi Deborah Prinz and Rabbi Mark Hurvitz Barbara and Rabbi John Rosove Nancy Sanders Evely Laser Shlensky and Rabbi Ira Youdovin Barbara Shuman Rabbi Sharon Sobel Weitz Tzedakah Fund Linda and Jimmy Wimmer Amy and Rabbi Eric Yoffie Marcie and Howard Zelikow We also gratefully acknowledge contributions from: Rabbi Nathan Alfred Phyllis and Michael Bamberger Natalie and Daniel Barkin Nancy, Alan, Ashley and Jeremy Brenner Bette Cotzin Phyllis Dorey Rabbi Karen Fox and Michael Rosen Diana and Dan Goldman Lori and Ken Goldman Sharene Hambur Jane Herman Pam and Marc Intrater Valerie Kaplan Fran Krimston Marlene Levenson Marsha and Mark Novak Lois Rubin Julie Sandell and Jeremy Wolfe Joann Shank Temple Israel of New Rochelle The URJ Implementation Task Force on Communities Ira Warshawsky Deborah and Mark Weinstein Betty and Bernard Werthan Rabbi Amiel Wohl WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 6 Our Honoree RABBI LENNARD R. THAL This evening, the World Union for Progressive Judaism is thrilled to honor Rabbi Lennard R. Thal with the WUPJ’s 2015 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD in gratitude for his longtime, deep devotion to our mission and his special commitment to building and sustaining Progressive congregations in Asia and Latin America. In addition to his long and impressive list of accomplishments on behalf of the institutions of North America’s Reform Movement, which span more than 40 years, Rabbi Thal served for more than two decades as the visiting rabbi at the United Hebrew Congregation of Singapore. Through his efforts there, as well as in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, he was instrumental in developing and supporting our Asian congregations. He also played a key role in promoting the growth of Progressive Judaism in Latin America, building and strengthening ties to congregations in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. A true “rabbi’s rabbi,” Lenny brings many blessings to this work: vision, wise counsel, creativity, straight talk, humor, menschleichkeit, a sense of purpose, boundless energy, and deep Reform convictions. He regularly offers friends and colleagues advice, camaraderie, and laughs, and in that spirit, he graciously shares these five little known facts about himself: 1. Rabbi Thal, a genealogist, comes from a huge family (his mother had 50 first cousins). Three of his most enduring memories came from visits to family graves in cemeteries in Skapiskis, Lithuania, Moisesville, Argentina, and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. However, there is no truth to the rumor that Rabbi Thal has a cousin named Neander. 2. The U.S. Postal Service chose a dreydel from Lenny and Linda’s dreydel collection to photograph for its Hanukkah commemorative stamp. 3. The Thals’ first family pet was a Hungarian Sheepdog named Yetzer (not Yetzer Ha-Ra or Yetzer Ha-Tov --- the dog was just “all inclination”). Their second dog, Willie, was so intellectually challenged that he flunked dog-training classes – twice. The Thals’ last dog, Cosmo, was a cross between a Golden Labrador and a Chinese Shar Pei; Lenny loved that dog, noting that Cosmo proved that sometimes intermarriage could be a good thing. 4. In all likelihood, Lenny is the first (and probably only) student night watchman of the Princeton University chapel to become a rabbi….and then to deliver the memorial sermon in that same building on the occasion of his class’s 50th reunion weekend in 2014. 5. In 1972, the year before he was ordained, Lenny and Linda were eager to spend the summer in Israel; the only way they could manage the cost was to take and chaperone four 17-18 year-olds for nine weeks. They rented a large, ugly apartment in Jerusalem and were greeted by another HUC student living on the same landing and who was convinced that Lenny was completely out of his mind to take on this responsibility. That other student was Eric Yoffie. Rabbi Thal and his wife, Dr. Linda Thal, have two married daughters and four grandchildren. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 7 Our President RABBI DANIEL H. FREELANDER It is with great joy and excitement that we celebrate Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander as the new president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism this evening. A lifelong Reform Jew and product of the Movement, Rabbi Freelander has held nearly every professional leadership role within the Union for Reform Judaism, including NFTY director, URJ regional director, director of programs, and URJ senior vice president. Over the course of 40 years, he was the tremendously creative, visionary force behind countless URJ programs and initiatives. A longtime supporter of the World Union and ARZA, Rabbi Freelander has led the effort to build a Mechina residence in Jaffa under the auspices of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). He is a gifted musician, who has composed dozens of popular Jewish melodies with Cantor Jeff Klepper, including the well-known “Shalom Rav” and “Lo Alecha.” As WUPJ president, Rabbi Freelander will hear his compositions in congregations from Sydney to Belarus and from Haifa to Guatemala City. Generous, caring, and not to be out done by Rabbi Thal, Rabbi Freelander offers these five little known facts about himself: 1. Early in his career, Danny interviewed for the regional director position in the Union’s New Jersey-West Hudson Valley Council. At the time, the chair of the interview committee, Len Teitelbaum, who now chairs the Reform Pension Board, confused Danny with the bar mitzvah student sitting outside the interview room. Danny nonetheless got the job, a position he held for 12 years. 2. Danny hails from Worcester, Massachusetts, second only to Cincinnati, Ohio, as a springboard for Reform Jewish leaders. Rabbi Alexander Schindler officiated at the wedding of Danny’s parents, and his father followed Judith Yoffie – mother of Rabbi Eric Yoffie – as president of Temple Emanuel. In 1967, Eric was Danny’s camp counselor at Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA. 3. Music has always been integral to Danny’s life. A music major at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, Danny has coordinated the North American Jewish Choral Festival for the last 25 years. 4. His most auspicious musical undertaking, however, was in 1974, when he played the lead role in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in an effort to woo that “cute little red-haired girl” to whom he has been married for 37 years. 5. Danny’s first job at the Union was as the Westchester Regional Youth Director. At the time, the president of the WeFTY region was none other than the incoming chair of the URJ Board, Daryl Messinger. He is married to Rabbi Elyse Frishman, senior rabbi of Barnert Temple in New Jersey. They are the parents of three millennials. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 8 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD GALA DINNER GALA CO-CHAIRS Lynn Magid Lazar, Pittsburgh, PA Tadd Schwab, Delray Beach, FL GALA VICE CHAIRS Janet Abrams and Steve Pruzan, Seattle WA Nani Beutel, Toronto, Canada Dora Lucia Brenner, Sao Paulo, Brazil Stephen Breslauer, Houston, TX Kati and Alex Dembitz, Mies, Switzerland Nancy and Dennis Gilbert, Scarsdale, NY Betty Golomb, New York, NY Marina and Raul Gottlieb, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Susan and Martin Jannol, Los Angeles, CA Peachy Levy, Santa Monica, CA Daryl Messinger and Jim Heeger, Palo Alto, CA Anne M. Molloy and Henry Posner III, Pittsburgh, PA Betty and Arthur Roswell, Bridgewater, NJ Sharon Ser, Hong Kong Carole and Jay Sterling, Toronto, Canada Miriam and Itche Vasserman, Sao Paulo, Brazil Women of Reform Judaism GALA HONORARY COMMITTEE Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson, Columbus, OH Ina and Steve Bauman, Los Altos, CA Austin Beutel, Toronto, Canada Susan G. and Rabbi Richard A. Block, Shaker Heights, OH Georgianne and Rabbi William Cutter, Los Angeles, CA Rabbi Denise L. Eger, West Hollywood, CA Rabbi David Ellenson, New York, NY Rabbi Marla Feldman, New York, NY Rabbi Steven Fox, New York, NY Robert M. Heller, New York NY Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch, Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Richard J. Jacobs, New York, NY Rabbi Janet Marder, Palo Alto, CA Blair C. Marks, Marietta, GA Rabbi Michael Marmur, Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Joel Oseran, Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Aaron Panken, Mamaroneck, NY Rabbi Uri Regev, Jerusalem, Israel Stephen M. Sacks, Chevy Chase, MD Jerry Tanenbaum, Hot Springs, AR Al Vorspan, New York, NY Peter J. Weidhorn, Tenafly, NJ Dolores Wilkenfeld, Houston, TX Rabbi David S. Wolfman, Lexington, MA Rabbi Eric Yoffie, Westfield, NJ GALA COMMITTEE Hope Chernak, New York, NY Linda and James Cherney, Wheat Ridge, CO Joan and Ronald Cohen, Rye, NY Gerry Daniel, Sarasota, FL Isabel P. Dunst, Chevy Chase, MD European Union for Progressive Judaism Stephanie Garry and Art Tatge, Stamford, CT Joan Garson and David Baskin, Toronto, Canada Rabbi David Gelfand, New York, NY Robyn and Jay Gellman, Coral Springs, FL Rabbi Roberto Graetz, Lafayette, CA Cherie and Fred Half, Palo Alto, CA Lindie Henderson, Gold River, CA Connie Kreshtool, Wilmington, DE Michael H. Laufer, New York, NY Ina Rae Levy, Sarasota, FL Diane Marcus, San Mateo, CA Rabbi Janet Marder, Palo Alto, CA Blair and Joe Marks, Marietta, GA Laura and Steve Olson, San Francisco, CA Susan and Charlie Rothschild, Los Altos, CA Judy and Gordon Smith, London, England Jane Taves, Cross Plains, WI Linda and Richard Zoll, Houston, TX WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 9 PAST WUPJ INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENTS 2012 Shirley and Al Vorspan Joan and Peter Weidhorn Anne and Irwin Zeplowitz February 2002 Rabbi John L. Rosove Evely Laser Shlensky 2010 Betty and Arthur Roswell Rabbi David Gelfand 2000 Jerry Tanenbaum Dr. Jane Evans Rabbi Richard J. Jacobs 2008 Rabbi David M. Posner Women of Reform Judaism 1998 Rabbi Jerome Davidson Leah Rabin 2006 Betty Golomb Rabbi Jonathan Stein 1996 Dr. Ronald Sobel Senator Frank Lautenberg Ambassador Maxwell Rabb 2006 Rabbi Roberto Graetz Joanne Harrington and Lorry Lokey 2004 Sheila and Bill Lambert Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein 2003 Rabbi Robert T. Gan Middie and Richard Giesberg September 2002 Rabbi Robert N. Levine Prime Minister Ehud Barak Richard J. Scheuer 1994 Larry King Dolores Wilkenfeld 1992 John Slade Donald Day Rabbi Richard Hirsch WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 10 A Whirlwind Tour of Our Progressive Communities around the World Join us for a trip around the world to catch a glimpse of some of the incredible programs, initiatives, and activities happening in so many of our communities. From Berlin and Dallas to Brisbane and Shanghai, from Belarus and Ukraine to Lyon, Florence, and Rio de Janeiro, the World Union for Progressive Judaism strengthens Jewish life and values by supporting and advancing a Progressive approach to Jewish tradition. …a million lost Jews We’ll begin in the former Soviet Union, where estimates are that there may be as many as a million “lost Jews” from Minsk to Siberia. Although their grandparents were Jewish, these individuals have no connection to today’s Jewish community. For the last 25 years, WUPJ has been fulfilling a moral and historical imperative to bring as many as possible back into the fold. One way we do this is by building and supporting indigenous leadership through the Machon program. It invites the most promising young people to engage in a three-year initiative that includes academic study, an internship in Israel, and fieldwork throughout the FSU. Machon graduates – community leaders and educators – are instrumental in engaging Jews and “lost Jews” of all ages in Jewish life through education initiatives, summer camps, and holiday and Shabbat celebrations, all of which emphasize the Movement’s democratic, egalitarian values, and strong connections to Israel. Last summer, more than 850 children, teens and young adults participated in summer camp in the FSU. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 11 …training Russian-speaking leadership and clergy New this year, the Machon Rabbinic Leadership Institute will help fill the need for additional Russian-speaking clergy. Based in Moscow, the Institute offers highly qualified students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies from Moscow’s State University. The most promising students will be invited to pursue rabbinic ordination at Geiger Kolleg in Potsdam, Germany, provided they agree to return to the region following ordination to impart Reform Jewish leadership, knowledge, and values to the next generation. This essential work will likely involve introducing many thousands of Jews to their Jewish heritage, history culture, and religion. The first class of seven Machon Institute rabbinical students began their studies this fall. …rescued Torah scrolls and new communities in Asia Let’s move on to Asia, where a Torah scroll that had been rescued from Berlin, Germany, in 1939 found a new home at Kehilat Shanghai during this year’s High Holidays. Donated by Associação Religiosa Israelita (ARI), a large, flourishing Reform congregation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that has more Torah scrolls than it can use, the scroll – the congregation’s first – was transported to China by Jeanine Buzali, a member of Kehilat Shanghai who traveled to Rio to get it. “We now have a responsibility to have a continued presence here,” she said. “We need to always have a community around this Torah to support it and make sure that it is used. I think we can do it.” ARI’s gift honors Josef Aronsohn, a refugee from Germany who landed in Shanghai in the 1940s before making his way to Rio, where he and others went on to found the congregation and train many of its b’nai mitzvah students. …learning and leading in Spanish and Portuguese Traveling on to Latin America, where Progressive Judaism has grown significantly over the past several decades and an array of diverse synagogues, schools, and community services thrive. A translation into Portuguese of Rabbi Gunther Plaut’s The Torah: A Modern Commentary is underway and earlier this year Rio Di Janeiro was the site of the WUPJ Connections conference, which more than 600 people attended. Even so, as in the FSU, the region lacks Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Reform rabbis. To remedy this shortage, initial plans for a pre-rabbinic leadership Mechina (preparatory) program in Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires are in the works. Developed in partnership with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Mechina program expects to launch next year. Two years later, several home grown, Latin Americans will enter rabbinic study programs after which they will return to the region to serve the growing communities in their native countries. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 12 …investing in our youth in the Progressive communities of Europe Our tour continues on to Europe. In France -- 6,800+ miles from Buenos Aires – where our 13 Progressive congregations are growing in number, despite tremendous concern about rising anti-Semitism there and elsewhere in Western Europe. Leveraging decades of work in Poland, Hungary, Argentina, and other countries where Jews have been imperiled, we understand that the best indicator of young people’s ability to build and sustain their own Jewish lives is a strong Jewish identity. With that in mind, our WUPJ-funded Netzer summer camps bring French students together from all parts of the country to share stories and experiences with peers, offer opportunities for Jewish study, including Hebrew, with rabbis and communal leaders, and challenge students physically and intellectually, ensuring that fun is an integral part of their summer. In addition to France, Spain and Germany also are home to similar Netzer summer camps for students in those countries. In 2016, we plan to double the number of young people who attend a WUPJ-funded Netzer summer camp. From France, it is just a short hop to Italy, where Progressive Jewish communities in Milan, Rome and Florence all joyously celebrated the High Holidays. In Florence’s Congregation Shir Chadash, a 12-year-old congregation that serves the city’s entire non-Orthodox Jewish community, as well as tourists and students, the services incorporated musical selections from Sephardi, Ashkenazi, and Italian traditions to reflect the diversity within the congregation. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 13 …promoting democracy and pluralism in Israel The last stop on our itinerary is Israel, the spiritual center of our people, where more than 40 new and more established Progressive congregations dot the Israeli landscape from Nahariya in the north to Kibbutz Lotan in the southern desert, offering the country’s largely secular population a way to be Jewish that complements and enriches their 21st century lives. Both Kehillat Kodesh V'Hol in Holon and Kehillat Birkat Shalom on Kibbutz Gezer have new facilities funded by WUPJ, which is committed to investing significant resources into building and expanding Progressive congregations throughout Israel. In addition to promoting synagogue life, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism offers a wide range of communal and public programs designed to bring Israelis closer to their Jewish heritage and culture and to the values of pluralism, equality, and humanism. As our tour draws to a close, we hope this snapshot of Progressive Jewish living, learning, and celebrating in just a few of the 1,400 WUPJ-affiliated congregations in over 50 countries has touched your heart and soul. Support us, then, by joining the WUPJ family as we continue our efforts to: • Build, strengthen, and connect WUPJ congregations • Ensure democracy and pluralism in Israel • Advance social justice initiatives and interfaith understanding • Invest in our youth and young adults to secure a vibrant Jewish future • Encourage and develop Jewish lay and professional leadership How You Can Make a Difference in Progressive Congregations around the World • Encourage your community to partner with a congregation in the FSU • Support the next Rabbi Lennard Thal, by underwriting travel costs for a North American rabbi to lead High Holiday services in Asia. • Tell us if you are planning to travel this year and we will connect you with a Reform congregation in Latin America, Europe or the FSU. Attend Shabbat services, or share a meal and learn how connected we really are. • Provide scholarships that enable young people to build and strengthen their Jewish identities by attending Jewish summer camp in Germany, France, or the FSU WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 14 WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM Jerusalem (International Headquarters) 13 King David Street, Jerusalem, 94101 972-2-620-3447 www.wupj.org New York 633 Third Ave, New York, NY 10017 212-452-6530 www.wupj.org WUPJ Regions Australia, Asia, and New Zealand The Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) Stephen Freeman, President www.upj.org.au Europe European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) Leslie Bergman, President Miriam Kramer, Chairman www.eupj.org Former Soviet Union Association of Progressive Jewish Congregations in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine Masha Sheinin, Chair www.wupj.ru Israel Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) Reuven Marko, Chairman www.reform.org.il Central America and the Caribbean Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean (UJCL) Phil Gelman, Chairman www.ujcl.org North America Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Stephen M. Sacks, Chairman www.urj.org South Africa South African Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ) Alvin Kushner, Chairperson www.saupj.org.za Latin America Unéão do Judaísmo Progressista na América Latina (WUPJ-LA) Raul Gottlieb, President Miriam Vasserman, Vice President www.wupj-latinamerica.org World Union for Progressive Judaism Senior Staff Rabbi Daniel H. Freelander, President Shai Pinto, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Joel Oseran, Vice President, International Development Naomi Smook, Director of Advancement Danny Jaffe, Chief Financial Officer Rabbi Steve Burnstein, Director, Saltz Educational Center Dr. Alex Kagan, Director, FSU Programs WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 15 WUPJ Management Committee Carole Sterling, Chair, Canada Stephane Beder, Sr. Vice Chair, France Charlie Rothschild, Secretary, US David Robinson, Vice Chair Finance, New Zealand Phyllis Dorey, Vice Chair, Australia Yaron Shavit, Vice Chair, Israel Gordon Smith, Vice Chair, UK Miriam Vasserman, Vice Chair, Brazil WUPJ Executive Board Nani Beutel, Canada Dora Lucia Brenner, Brazil James Cherney, United States Paula Edelstein, Israel Sonja Guentner, Germany Sharene Hambur, Australia Rabbi Jordan Helfman, Canada Andrew Keene, United States Miriam Kramer, United Kingdom Alvin Kushner, South Africa Lynn Magid Lazar, United States Yair Lootsteen, Israel Anne Molloy, United States Rabbi Danny Rich, United Kingdom Les Rothschild, Canada Tadd Schwab, United States Masha Sheinin, Russia North American Advisory Board James Cherney, Chair, Wheat Ridge, CO Tom Abelson, Shaker Heights, OH Mark Anshan, Toronto, Canada Steve Bauman, Los Altos, CA Austin Beutel, Toronto, Canada Nani Beutel, Toronto, Canada Stephen Breslauer, Houston, TX Peter Buchsbaum, Stockton, NJ Joan Cohen, Rye, NY Ronald Cohen, Rye, NY Miriam Daniel, Chevy Chase, MD Gerry Daniel, Sarasota, FL Isabel P. Dunst, Chevy Chase, MD Rabbi Steven Fox, New York, NY Stephanie Garry, Stamford, CT Joan Garson, Toronto, Canada Rabbi David Gelfand, New York, NY Jay Gellman, Coral Springs, FL Dennis Gilbert, Scarsdale, NY Betty Golomb, New York, NY Rabbi Paul Golomb, Poughkeepsie, NY Andrew Goodman, Scarsdale, NY Rabbi Danny Gottlieb, Pacifica, CA Rabbi Roberto Graetz, Walnut Creek, CA Cherie Half, Palo Alto, CA Jim Heeger, Palo Alto, CA Lindie Henderson, Gold River, CA Bill Hess, New Orleans, LA James Klau, Newport, RI Sue Klau, Greensboro, NC Connie Kreshtool, Wilmington, DE Gus Kuhn, Nashville, TN Michael Laufer, New York, NY Marlene Levenson, San Mateo, CA Linda Levenson, Saratoga, CA Ina Rae Levy, Sarasota, FL Phyllis Savar Levy, Voorhees, NJ Rabbi Josh Lobel, Sugar Land, TX Lynn Magid Lazar, Pittsburgh, PA Diane Marcus, San Mateo, CA Rabbi Janet Marder, Palo Alto, CA Lenore Mass, Chicago, IL Anne Molloy, Pittsburgh, PA Laura Olson, San Francisco, CA Steve Olson, San Francisco, CA Jane Oppenheim, Scranton, PA Arthur Roswell, Bridgewater, NJ Betty Roswell, Bridgewater, NJ Charlie Rothschild, Los Altos, CA Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, New York, NY Tadd Schwab, Delray Beach, FL Rabbi Bart Shallat, Huntington, NY Jane Shallat, Huntington, NY Carl Silverman, Cockeysville, MD Nancy Solomon, New York, NY Carole Sterling, Toronto, Canada Barbara Stern, South Salem, NY Rabbi David Stern, Dallas, TX Jerry Tanenbaum, Hot Springs, AR Jane Taves, Cross Plains, WI G. Leonard Teitelbaum, Holmdel, NJ Larry Vogel, Oakton, VA Helene Waranch, Baltimore, MD Dolores Wilkenfeld, Houston, TX Lois H. Zeidler, Southbury, CT Linda Zoll, Houston, TX WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 16 Mission Statement The mission of the World Union for Progressive Judaism is to strengthen Jewish life and values in Israel and Jewish communities throughout the world by supporting and advancing a Progressive approach to Jewish tradition. WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 17 QUICK FACTS WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM 1,800,000 people affiliated with the World Union’s constituent movement globally Over 5,000 Jewish, Christian and Muslim families receiving pre-holiday food assistance in Israel 1,400 Progressive, Reform, Liberal and Reconstructionist congregations around the world 70,000 people a year enjoy quality educational and cultural programs in our Mercaz Shimshon/Beit Shmuel center in Jerusalem 50,000 family members reached through Progressive Judaism’s pluralistic Jewish Studies program in Israeli public schools 1,000 youths participating in weekly activities in clubs across the former Soviet Union 18,000 members of Netzer Olami, the World Union’s international youth movement 50 countries with Progressive congregations WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 18 WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 19 WUBookletfinal_Layout 1 10/28/15 12:30 PM Page 20 World Union for Progressive Judaism 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 212-452-6530 www.wupj.org
