The Israel Religious Action Center Preschool Network Leading Israel's Jewish Renaissance Strengthening Israel's Democracy
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Celebrating 25 Years of: The Israel Religious Action Center Preschool Network Leading Israel's Jewish Renaissance Strengthening Israel's Democracy Annual Report 2011-2012 l June 2012 Written by: Davida Chazan; Edited by: Chen Abrahams Graphic Design: Stephanie & Ruti Design Table of Contents A Message from the IMPJ Executive Director and Chairperson ....................................................................... 4 The IMPJ Vision, Mission & Task ................................................................................................................................... 6 Enriching Communities across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities ................................................... 8 Bringing Children, Teachers and Parents Closer to Progressive Judaism ................................................. 12 Honoring Ganei Haim on its 25th Anniversary ................................................................................................. 16 Developing the Next Generation of Leaders ..................................................................................................... 18 Promoting Social Justice in Israel for 25 Years - IRAC ...................................................................................... 24 Strengthening Israel's Society through "Tikkun Olam" ................................................................................. 26 Reaching out to Israel's Russian Speaking Population ................................................................................... 28 Celebrating Reform & Progressive Judaism through Jewish Life-Cycle Events .................................... 32 Building Global Partnerships for Reform & Progressive Judaism ............................................................... 34 Enhancing Israeli Culture with Progressive Values .......................................................................................... 38 Witnessing the Growth of Progressive Judaism in Israel - Academic Survey Findings ...................... 40 Financial Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 41 IMPJ by the Numbers ................................................................................................................................................... 42 Thank You! ....................................................................................................................................................................... 43 A Message from IMPJ Executive Director & Chairperson Dear Friends, On the first Shabbat of June 2012, only days after the historical agreement with the Israel Government regarding the funding of our rabbis in regional councils (the case of Rabbi Miri Gold), 1,200 members from Israeli Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) gathered in Kibbutz Shefayim to celebrate the 20th Biennial Conference. These two events demonstrate how on the one hand, our movement promotes the values of pluralism, freedom of religion, and equality for all Jewish streams through our legal public action, led by the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), and on the other hand, touches the lives of thousands of Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Adv. Adv. Yaron Shavit Israeli families through our growing community, educational and cultural grassroots activities. These unique forces came together during the IMPJ Biennial when we celebrated 25 years of IRAC – the legal and public arm of our movement, along with 25 years of Ganei Haim – the Jewish pluralistic network of preschools. W e w o u l d l i k e During the Biennial, leading politicians came to Shefayim to speak to our audience, t o e x p r e s s o u r giving further evidence to the impact our movement has on Israel’s society. deepest gratitude to Furthermore, the conference concluded with welcoming four new congregations into the movement: Kehillat Yovel in Gedera, Kiryat HaYovel Havurah in Jerusalem, all of our communities, Miskanot Ruth in Jaffa and Kehillat Halev in Tel Aviv. rabbis, educators, lay The theme of the biennial was “To Learn and To Do”. This motto is embedded in all leaders, professional staff of our work. We are proud to present you with this annual report, which shows the growth and diversity of our activities of learning and doing. We would like to express and especially to our our deepest gratitude to all of our communities, rabbis, educators, lay leaders, supporters and partners professional staff and especially to our supporters and partners around the world. around the world. We invite you all to join us in leading Israel’s Jewish renaissance and strengthening Israel’s democracy. Sincerely, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Adv. Adv. Yaron Shavit Executive Director Chairman 4 5 Vision of the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) 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 democratic state, protecting individual human dignity, equality and religious freedom, promoting pluralism, communal life, social and environmental responsibility, and committed to all of its citizens regardless of religion, creed, race, gender or sex. Mission of the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism The Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism, having earned significant recognition as a leader of the spiritual, intellectual, educational and public discourse in Israel and in the Reform and Progressive Jewish world, 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. Principal Task To significantly increase the numbers of Israelis who enjoy experiences identified with Reform and Progressive Judaism, in a way that promotes long-term identification with the values of the movement, and connection with the movement's communities and activities. 6 7 Enriching Communities across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities By building 37 progressive Jewish communities across the country, the IMPJ has taken a leading role in fulfilling the task of ensuring that Israeli citizens can have access to pluralistic formal and informal education, Shabbat and holiday celebrations n approximated and more. The IMPJ New Communities are being developed according to three models: 40 Reform • With communities where there are no congregations, the IMPJ works with local and pluralistic leaders to create new initiatives. In 2011 the IMPJ started two new communities A in Rosh Pina and Caesarea. Shavuot activities • With large, established communities the IMPJ helps initiate satellite communities. In 2011-12, Kol Haneshama, a veteran community in Jerusalem, worked to were planned strengthen the satellite community in the Kiryat HaYovel neighborhood. Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv worked to strengthen Miskanot Ruth in Jaffa and Kehillat HaLev across the country in Central Tel Aviv. • The IMPJ cooperates with kibbutzim and peripheral regional councils to assist for thousands of them in integrating Jewish pluralistic celebrations, traditions and study into their communities. In 2011-12 the IMPJ continued the development of three participants. new regional communities: Sha’ar HaNegev (near Sderot), Arava (near Eilat) and Megiddo-Yokneam (Lower Galilee). Highlights: Looking Ahead: • A Women’s Leadership Training Course was established with the help of the • IMPJ community development will focus Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) in Israel and included 22 participants. on assisting the new communities in • The first national “Shaliach Tzibur”(prayer leading) course was opened in Beersheba, Rosh Pina, and Caesarea. partnership with HUC-Jerusalem. • The IMPJ will also work on expanding • 10% increase in egalitarian, pluralistic Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies. activities in fledgling communities such • Out of the over 40 communities holding Yom Kippur services, seven were held in as the Megiddo-Yokneam, Sha’ar HaNegev, new locations for the first time, with an increase in participants of 75% over last year. the Arava region, Holon, Gedera, Shirat HaYam (Haifa) and Even Yehuda. • Communities established during 2010-11 are showing more than a 200% increase in numbers of participants over their first year’s activities. This includes celebrations • The IMPJ will continue to work to of holidays, Shabbat services, study sessions, children’s activities, and more. significantly increase the numbers of Israelis who enjoy experiences identified • An approximated 40 Reform and pluralistic Shavuot activities are planned across with Reform and Progressive Judaism the country for thousands of participants, including many “Tikkun Leil Shavuot” throughout the country. (all night study), tours and special prayer services, to include children and their families in their respective communities. 8 I Enriching Communities Across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities Enriching Communities Across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities 9 Rosh Pina's First Bar Mitzvah 10 I Enriching Communities Across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities Enriching Communities Across Israel with Progressive Jewish Activities Gil & Ma’ayan Matz Building a New Pluralistic Jewish Community in Rosh Pina Gil & Ma’ayan Matz are two members of the budding Jewish community of Rosh or nothing but when they