Reforming Israel – Growth, Energy, and Spirit from the IMPJ Veida (Biennial)

Friday, June 24, 2022 – כ״ה סִיוָן תשפ״ב

As the sun set on Friday night, close to two thousand people sat under the clear sky feeling the salty breeze from the Mediterranean Sea, sing together welcoming in Shabbat. People swayed, danced in the aisles, and children ran barefoot in the grass as the prayers, blessings, and soulful stirring music brought together Reform Jews from all over Israel and the world to Kibbutz Shefayim for a convention to celebrate our Movement’s growth and achievement – coming back together in person after a pandemic hiatus.

Towards the end of the service, a hupah appeared on stage, and under it a number of people. They were of different ages, backgrounds, colors, genders, and ethnicities, with one thing in common. They all made the decision to become Jewish, and in the presence of this gathering, they finished the process of conversion affirming they are now part of the nation of Israel and the Jewish People.

It was a beautiful moment, chocked with layers of meaning. This was previously impossible as the conversions of Reform and Conservative rabbis were not recognized in Israel. Only after a Supreme Court ruling in March of 2021 were conversions by non-orthodox religious streams able to be recognized (and some of our Jews-by-choice are still fighting through the bureaucracy of the Ministry of the Interior). This moment was prescient as we rejoiced with them and welcomed them home.

The story of the Israeli Reform Movement goes beyond this emotional moment. The entire story can be told through the lives of the 7 aliyot who were called to the Torah during the Shabbat morning services.

We bid farewell to our leaders who rotated off the board showing a healthy inclusive pipeline of the leadership of a diverse group from different walks of Israeli society.

The story continues with “Bayit BaKehilah” (“A Home in the Community”), a Reform Movement initiative to offer a community housing system for young men and women with disabilities operated by Kehilat Yozma, the Reform community in the city of Modi’in. Yozma is a community heart for hundreds of families from Modi’in and its surroundings. From its inception in 1997, the community emphasized the equal and full participation of people with disabilities, and this project provides a solution for young people who need support in order to live a full and meaningful life in the community.

Of course, the IMPJ could not have grown without the support of the worldwide Reform Movement. In honor of their contribution, the leadership of the CCAR, URJ, and WUPJ was called for an Aliyah.

In the 4^th Aliyah, five people came up led by Advocate Nicole Maor of the Israel Religious Action Center’s (IRAC) Legal Aid for Olim Center. Several of these people waited years and years for their conversion to be recognized and had been living in limbo as conversion status influences one’s citizenship, access to health care, employment ability, and much more. The symbolism was not lost on all who were listening as the Torah reader chanted these poignant words from the parashah:

חֻקָּ֥ה אַחַ֛ת לָכֶ֖ם וְלַגֵּ֣ר הַגָּ֑ר חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם כָּכֶ֛ם כַּגֵּ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
(במדבר טו:טו)

“There shall be one law for you and for the resident stranger; it shall be a law for all time throughout the ages. You and the stranger shall be alike before יהוה;”
(Numbers 15:15)

Over the past several months, our Reform Movement mobilized in support of Jews and Ukrainians who fled Ukraine and sought refuge in Israel. To see Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny, Kyiv’s leading Reform rabbi, and student rabbi Miriam Klimova join for an Aliyah, and even sing in Ukrainian, showed that our Movement – including both the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism – is not only about looking within, but has dedicated critical resources to support and provide aid in a time of need.

The Torah service ended with a celebration of the Women Rabbi pioneers in the Israeli Movement. We honored Rabbi Maya Leibovitch – the first native-born Israeli woman to be ordained, Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon, the first woman to establish a congregation in Israel, and Rabbi Naamah Kelman, the first woman to be ordained through our Movement in Israel.

These rabbis were true trailblazers. Even as we celebrated the jubilee anniversary of Rabbi Sally Preisand’s ordination, we, in North America, must recognize the incredible hard work, perseverance, and uphill battles that these rabbis fought to gain a foothold in Israeli society. There are still many women in Israel who are not asked to perform weddings and officiate at B’nai Mitzvah celebrations because someone in the requesting family is uncomfortable with the thought of a woman rabbi leading the event. Too many women in Israel are breaking through the ‘boys’ club nature of Israeli society, whether in the National Institutions, court houses, or political echelons. It was so moving to pay homage to three trailblazing leaders.

Throughout the moving t’filot, learning sessions, concerts, and discussions with friends on the lawn of Shefayim, the story of our Movement is one of growth and excitement. The youth showed up with passion and purpose, and one could see them take being Jewish seriously and how they can interpret our tradition to contend with contemporary society.

Rabbi Dr. Ayala Samuels, the chair of the Reform Rabbinical Council, shared that:

“Our power as a minority is that we can magnify a unique perspective, articulating an alternative world view and our readiness to stand up for ourselves in the face of the majority. Influencing the public demands spiritual courage and the willingness to show ourselves to the public. We must stand steadfast, loyal to our inner truth as we face opposition, discrimination, and even violence.”

She is right. We not only will stand steadfast but will continue to grow and expand. And we cannot do it alone.

For a more detailed report and a breakdown of our numbers please read the following:

IMPJ Veida by the numbers – a Shabbat to remember!
A report on the IMPJ’s Biennial Convention June 17-18, 2022