December 2016

Dear friends,

The Alliance for Progressive Judaism urges you to read this message from our sister movement, the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, about the great work they do in Israel and the challenges they have faced during 2016.

IMPJ CHANUKAH APPEAL

“As we approach chanukah, the holiday of light and the end of 2016, we turn to you to ask for your continued support; to ask that you make an end-of-year donation via our website (or see overleaf) so we can continue advancing pluralistic Judaism in Israel. Just this past week, the Haredi parties in the Knesset proposed a draconian law outlawing egalitarian prayer at the Kotel in any form. In this complex and unpredictable situation, your contribution to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state has tremendous impact in building the forces of light.

As we reflect on the past year, we are sobered by our challenges, yet filled with pride at our accomplishments. At the end of November, the increasing incitement and hate speech directed towards the Israel Reform Movement over the past year reached a new level, when our congregational building of Kehillat “Ra’anan” in Ra’anana was sprayed with hatred filled graffiti, as well as knives being pointed at Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Anat Hoffman. The support of our friends and partners around the world in this situation was of paramount importance, and we thank you so much for that.

We cannot deny that this event was frightening. However, as a movement, we will not let this slow down our mission to build a better Israeli society by making liberal and egalitarian Judaism accessible to hundreds of thousands of Israelis. We will continue responding. We will establish new congregations in Hadera and Bat Yam. We will renew the agreement with the Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs for the DOMIM-aLike project. We will update educational curricula to fit the Ministry of Education program and reach over thousands of students. We will assist Israelis in need each year through Keren b’Kavod, the Israel Reform Movement fund for humanitarian assistance and social responsibility. We will respond through the tireless work of our public policy and advocacy arm, IRAC.

We are proud that we have more than doubled the number of IMPJ congregations to almost 50 in the past seven years, and have grown significantly in all areas of activity. This tremendous success has made us a visible force to be reckoned with on both a national and local level throughout Israel.

We are proud and grateful. We are proud of our movement. We are proud of our congregations and community members and we are proud of our incredible accomplishments. We are grateful to you and to so many of our friends and partners around the world who stand by our side in moments of triumph, such as the historic Western Wall resolution, as well as in moments of challenges. Together, we are undoubtedly stronger.”

The Alliance hopes that you will consider donating to the IMPJ as we reach a time of reflection and gift giving.

If you would like to find out more about the Alliance for Progressive Judaism and how we support the IMPJ please contact Rabbi Charley Baginsky ([email protected]).

We wish you a warm and bright holiday season, chanukah sameach and may 2017 be a year of new and continued successes in the endeavours of progressive communities around the world.

The Alliance for Progressive Judaism

How to donate

Cheque Made out to: “Friends of Progressive Judaism” Marked with: “For IMPJ” Sent to: The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London, W1T 4BE

Online www.fpjie.org.uk Please send an email to [email protected] with your donation details and contact information, specifying that your donation is intended for IMPJ.

-2-