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 20 Beit Midrash Baderech 22 Progressive Judaism and the Jewish Life Cycle 24 Enriching Israeli Culture with Progressive Values 26 Financial Overview 27 IMPJ in Numbers 27 written and prepared by: Pamela Deutsch Graphic Design: Stephanie & Ruti Design Thank You! 28 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 or the first time of the name, Judaism. While striving for the enrichment of Jewish life in the Israeli Society, the IMPJ in its history and is constantly involved and active in protecting and defending the democratic, liberal, law abiding nature of our Jewish state. in the history the The challenges are overwhelming and can’t be addressed by our small movement F without the joint efforts of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Jews all over the State of Israel , IMPJ world. We are connected and together we have tremendous influence. The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism sees itself as the global ambassador has a real chance to 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 sow deep roots in the when working together. We are grateful to our supporters around the world and invite you to continue Jewish homeland. 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 Bringing Progressive Judaism Making Progressive to Communities Around Israel Judaism an Accessible Option Progressive congregations throughout Israel are the backbone of the Progressive Looking ahead movement. While the synagogue is the center of these congregations, many Women of Reform We expect to expand the satellite model to other strong congregations progressive congregations function more like community centers. The range Judaism (WRJ) of services provided by many of these congregations includes Batei Midrash including Shoham (a satellite congregation of Yozma in Modi’in) and the he Israel Twenty four congregations in Israel now for adults, formal and informal education for children and families, holiday Krayot. have women’s groups which have joined celebrations, youth groups, and more. Movement for We expect to expand our partnerships with regional councils to the Lower WRJ-Israel, an affiliate of WRJ. The mission Like Progressive communities throughout the world, every Israeli congregation Galilee, Galilee Panhandle and Western Galilee, and by doing so increase the of WRJ-Israel is threefold: strengthening is committed to programs of social justice and welfare, each reaching out to Progressive presence of the Progressive Movement in the periphery. of individuals as Jewish women in Israel those in need around them. The elderly, new immigrants, distressed populations, T (personal growth and development in and children and youth at risk are some of the groups cared for and supported Judaism has taken Promoting Equal Funding for Rabbis a Jewish environment), strengthening by our congregations. In Israel, the Ministry of Religious Services allocates funds for clergy salaries. community and congregation, and a leading role in reaching out beyond the community to The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism has taken a leading role in ensuring Allocations to date have been limited to orthodox and ultra orthodox rabbis. the State of Israel and globally. that every Jewish citizen in Israel will, be able to choose from different styles In order to ensure the vision of greatly increasing our constituency, we need of Judaism. ensuring that every funds to pay the salaries of young Rabbi’s willing to hold positions in peripheral Each woman’s group is free to devise locations. Over the last several years, more and more young Israelis see serving as their own programming. Some examples New communities Jewish citizen in Progressive Rabbis, educators and community workers as their chosen profession. include bat mitvah programs for mature The number of young people being trained in the Rabbinical and education Over the last 18 months, since September 2009, we have added 9 new women, text study, and Jewish film nights Israel will, be able to programs at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem is growing measurably. Our community initiatives to the 25 existing congregations. Our goal in the next with facilitated discussions. In addition, ability to reach additional communities is dependent not only on having available decade is to double number of Israelis who identify with the Reform Movement. Israel’s 24 women’s groups are twinned choose from different manpower, but also on our ability to get public funding for these professionals, From now until 2020 we expect to add 2 or 3 new communities each year. with more than 50 WRJ Sisterhoods in and thereby equalizing government funding for non-orthodox rabbis. North America. Using Skype, groups of Our new communities are based on three different models. styles of Judaism. The IMPJ’s legal and advocacy arm, the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), 5-10 women in Israel and North America, has made great strides on this issue through its precedent setting Israeli facilitated by two teachers, are employing In communities where there has been no Reform congregation to date, we The Torah: A Women’s Commentary work with local leadership to create new initiatives. In the last year, new 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 (produced by WRJ) to build partnerships congregations have been created in Holon, Gedera, Even Yehuda, and through text study. Larger groups are a third progressive community has been initiated in Haifa for Russian its rabbis. Negotiations are on still ongoing, however, funding for our Rabbis appears to be achievable goal. celebrating holidays together. A very speakers. successful Tu B’shvat seder was held jointly We are encouraging large Reform communities to create satellite communities. by Kehillat Mevakshei Derech, in Jerusalem In Tel Aviv the Beit Daniel congregation has two new satellites, one in Jaffa Increasing Accessability and Temple Beth David in Commack, NY. and one in the center of the city. Kol Haneshama has a satellite congregation In this day and age, providing services to additional communities is not limited in Kiryat Yovel, Jerusalem operating in conjunction with Tali Bayit Vegan to providing them with a Rabbi or educator. We are also using technology to Looking forward: (which expanded to the Stone School in Kiryat Yovel this year).