IMPJ Newsletter

Shalom to all of our dear friends in Israel and around the world,

The establishment of the State of Israel enriched our Jewish lives and calendar with days and moments of joy and pride, such as Independence Day, as well as moments of sorrow and pain, such as Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror.

Seventeen years ago the Israeli reality and calendar was stricken with another unfortunate milestone – the Memorial Day for the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. This is a day of much more than just sadness; it is also a day for introspection and for liberating ourselves from apathy.

Currently, the State of Israel is preparing for a new round of Knesset elections. The Memorial Day for Yitzhak Rabin reminds us that our commitment to democratic values ​​cannot be limited to simply going to the polls every few years. Israel, and indeed the whole world, is enjoined to safeguard democracy on a daily basis, to instill the younger generation with its values and to stand against those snakes who seek to undermine it. Israel must embody this significant task, given the fact that there are elements who would exploit the Jewish character of the State in order to undermine its democratic nature. Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day is a reminder of this disturbing truth. The Hundreds of thousands of Israelis who filled the dozens of Reform and Progressive congregations across the country during the High Holidays are proof that we have the power to accomplish our mission of nurturing a tolerant, open, inclusive and optimistic Israeli Judaism.

Tuesday night, on the eve of the month of Cheshvan, Anat Hoffman – one of the IMPJ’s leaders – was arrested while praying at the Western Wall. We steadfastly support Anat and her work and view her struggle, and that of The Women of the Wall, as another form of our public involvement and responsibility. The integration of community and educational activities together with social action and involvement is the secret of our strength and the basis of our ability to empower Israeli society and the Jewish people.

As always, I welcome your reactions and ideas on our Facebook page.

Wishing you a Chodesh Tov – a good month,

Yours,
Rabbi Gilad Kariv

In the press:

“Reform, Conservative leaders aim to counterbalance ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel's Knesset”

On October 2, the Annual “Hakhel” Conference took place at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. The conference was attended by representatives of the various pluralistic streams of Judaism, with the agenda to create a new vision for liberal Judaism and discuss its involvement in the Israeli political arena.

On the same day, Ha’aretz wrote: “For the first time since they began operating in Israel, representatives of non-Orthodox Jewish movements and secular Jewish learning programs are actively seeking political power. They are trying to enroll voters in various political parties, and some are even considering running for places on party slates.”

To read the Ha’aretz article “Reform, Conservative leaders aim to counterbalance ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel's Knesset”, please click here.

Kiryat HaYovel – Religious Battle Ground
or Fertile Ground for Pluralism?

TIME Magazine’s cover story of August 13, 2012 focused on the troubled Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel. This exact same location is where the IMPJ has been working to develop a center for pluralistic religion, community and education on the campus of the TALI Bayit VeGan School. The goal of Rabbi Ezra Ende, the leader of this new community, is to “collaborate with the various Jewish streams that exist in this wonderful and diverse part of the city”.

To read more about what is being achieved by the IMPJ in Kiryat HaYovel, as well as download a PDF copy of the TIME article, please click here.

Reform Rabbi Gilad Kariv on the privatization
of Jewish identity and the tycoons of religion - Ha'aretz Interview

“I grew up in a super-secular environment, a home that was never anti-religious [but] … had never set foot in a synagogue. I started going to synagogue on my own, I started studying intensively. I remember going with my mother when I was in fourth grade and picking out Jewish books and then sitting and studying alone at home.”

To read this exclusive interview of Rabbi Gilad Kariv which appeared in Ha’aretz, please click here.

Reflections on New Year Celebrations

Tishrei was a busy month for the IMPJ communities across the country. Here are some of the highlights:

• Pluralistic Tishrei holidays were celebrated in nearly 50 locations across the country.
• High Holiday services were celebrated for the first time in: Herzliya Pituach, Kibbutz Beit HaShita, Shoham and Be’er Ora. In addition, High Holiday prayers were held for a second year in Kibbutz Yagur, Rosh Pina, Caesarea, Kibbutz Or HaNer and Kibbutz Gesher HaZiv.
• On Kibbutz Meggido, located in Israel’s Galilee, the spirit of co-existence reigned with two minyans – one Orthodox and the other led by the IMPJ.
• Second Hakafot for Simchat Torah were held in all the three major cities in Israel (Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). Other communities where these celebrations were held: Kibbutz Malkiyah, Nahariya, Jaffa, Holon, Rosh Ha’ayen, Havurat Kiryat HaYovel (Jerusalem) and Kibbutz Miflashim (Sha’ar HaNegev region).
• Despite over 50 rockets falling on the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip on Simchat Torah morning, the IMPJ community in Sha'ar HaNegev still celebrated Second Hakafot that evening, with over 200 participants from the region!

Riding4Reform 10th Anniversary

The IMPJ's Riding4Reform celebrates its 10th Anniversary! Join both old and new friends on one of this year's new options. For the first time, R4R will be suitable for all types of cyclers (with a new "light" route) as well as include Hiking4Reform for the non-riders.

For more information and registration, please click here…