Issue #354

Issue #354 - 2 April 2009 / 8 Nissan 5769


IN THIS ISSUE:


PROGRESSIVE JEWISH LEADERS HAIL CONNECTIONS 2009 AS PRODUCTIVE AND EXHILARATING

UPCOMING EVENTS


A total of 26 countries were represented as Progressive Jewish rabbinic and lay leaders assembled for the five-day program of learning, networking, sharing and field trips that, for the first time ever, took place in two cities: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The convention atmosphere was both warm and energetic, and reflected the productivity of the workshops and meetings as well as the collegiality of the delegates who renewed old friendships and began many new ones. Over 100 youths and young adults – who were also meeting for the global conferences of Netzer Olami and TaMaR – were a strong and enthusiastic presence throughout the convention, and many established important strategic connections with their parent organization.

Bookending the convention were presentations by two leading Israeli statesmen: Nir Barkat, the newly elected mayor of Jerusalem who spoke at the opening ceremony, and Shimon Peres, the president of Israel who was presented with the World Union’s International Humanitarian Award and spoke to the delegates at the closing gala dinner.

“We were especially honored by the participation of Mayor Barkat and President Peres,” noted World Union chairman, Steven Bauman, “as it sent a strong message of inclusivity and recognition of Progressive Judaism to their fellow Jews in Israel and around the world.”


Dozens of Netzer Olami and TaMaR delegates led a procession of flags representing the countries of those attending CONNECTIONS 2009 at its opening ceremony in Jerusalem



Israel’s president, Shimon Peres (l), converses with World Union chairman, Steven Bauman, prior to receiving the International Humanitarian Award.


Out and About
One of the signature highlights of this World Union convention was the number of opportunities delegates had to get out of the classroom and meeting halls both to visit and experience Progressive Judaism in Israel and to get off-the-beaten-track views of the historic city of Jaffa and glimpses of Israeli society from a variety of perspectives. Following a day full of topical and skill-building sessions on Thursday, convention goers hopped on buses Friday morning to visit one of six congregational communities affiliated with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), a regional arm of the World Union. Some got a taste of the Yemenite culture that infuses Kehilat Bavat Ayin; others learned about Progressive Judaism’s fight for equality from Kehilat Birkat Shalom’s Rabbi Miri Gold (on whose behalf the movement is filing a petition with the Israeli supreme court); while still others were hosted by the rabbi and children of Kehilat Yozma in Modi’in, a rapidly growing community with an extraordinary early childhood program.

Shabbat afternoon featured a selection of walking tours through the old port city of Jaffa, which borders the south side of Tel Aviv. Tour options included visits to the neighborhood bakeries that have sustained the community for generations, walks through the streets that have inspired writers and prophets, text-based discussion of Jaffa society and Israel, as well as a look at the diverse religious and cultural identities that colored the works of Bialik, Dizengoff and others.



A guided Shabbat stroll through the ancient streets of Jaffa was one of the top highlights of the convention.


Among the options for Sunday afternoon’s field trips were meeting with the students of the IMPJ’s pre-army service Mechina program, getting a behind-the-scenes look at Israel’s business and hi-tech industry, learning about the country’s latest environmental and sustainable development efforts and visiting  TV studios at Herzliya to see how Israeli society is portrayed in the media.




Food for Thought – and Consumption!
The first full day of the convention began with an insightful and witty keynote address by Rabbi Julia Neuberger of Great Britain, who spoke to the delegates about the critical importance of pluralism, inclusiveness and equality in sustaining the Jewish People and emphasized the increased need for volunteerism and social action – tikkun olam – in these days of economic crisis. This is not, she said, “to make us Jewish, but because we are Jewish, and it is the right thing to do.”


Rabbi Julia Neuberger of Great Britain charmed and challenged convention delegates in Thursday morning’s keynote address.


On Friday morning, which began a day that focused on the growing Israel movement and its communities, the IMPJ’s new executive director, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, addressed the assembly with his vision for the future and meeting the challenges that lie ahead. He was joined by Gusti Yehoshua Braverman, IMPJ’s associate director, and Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center. The convention’s final keynote, “Israel Politics: Where do we go from here?”, was presented by former MK Rabbi Michael Melchior (Meimad) and newly appointed MK Zev Bielski (Kadima) and was a very timely topic given the current upheaval in the country’s leadership and events in the region.

In between keynotes, trips and meetings, CONNECTIONS 2009 offered a wide array of workshops, panel discussions and presentations. A small sampling of topics included the Progressive rabbinate of the future, welcoming the new Jewish families of intermarried, interfaith and same-sex couples, perspectives on patrilineality, fund-raising and finances in tough times, women in congregational life, partnering with and traveling to congregations abroad, the art of the d’var Torah, Reform aliyah and the politics of conversion in Israel. Several sessions offered delegates a chance to hear and learn from leaders of other World Union regions, featuring, for example, the renewal of Jewish life in Europe and the former Soviet Union; ways of connecting communities over the widespread areas of Australia, New Zealand and Asia; the synagogue  structure of Reform Jewish life in the U.S. and Canada; and the rising interest in non-Orthodox affiliation in Central and South America.

CONNECTIONS 2009 also never lacked an opportunity to nourish the body as well as the soul, and some of the most popular events centered around the days’ meals:  a getting-to-know-you barbecue dinner with different regions, lunch and limmud on Shabbat, working lunches for the leadership and regional delegates, home hospitality dinners on Friday night with members of our mishpachah from the IMPJ communities and, of course, the gala dinner at the closing ceremony. One of the themed Friday lunches was also the debut meeting of the newly formed WRJ-Israel, a partnership of Progressive women leaders in the United States and Israel.


Special Highlights
CONNECTIONS 2009 was highlighted throughout by several special touches and events. Peri Smilow, our artist-in-residence for the convention, lifted our spirits with her pure and passionate singing from the first notes of the opening, when she was also accompanied by the Mattan Klein Trio, to the finale on Sunday. The hallway of Beit Shmuel – the World Union’s headquarters in Jerusalem – was transformed into a shuk (market) with individual stalls showcasing literature, souvenirs and chats with regional representatives, as well as the Judaic artistry of Yair Emanuel (www.emanuel-judaica.com). (Delegates and WUPJnews readers may receive a discount on orders through this Web site by using the coupon number 100).


The shuk at CONNECTIONS 2009 showcased the work of World Union regions and a bit of Judaica, and was also a popular place to socialize.


The World Union’s convention Shabbat is unique in all the world, and during CONNECTIONS 2009, the  liturgy was read in 10 languages by rabbis and lay leaders from more than a dozen countries, while heartfelt singing filled the hall. No matter our minhag (custom), style or language, all delegates prayed in spiritual harmony on a beautiful spring morning in Jaffa.


A multilingual, multicultural service for Shabbat during CONNECTIONS 2009.


The World Union’s international Zionist youth movement, Netzer Olami, officially turned 30 years old during the convention, and was enthusiastically celebrated at a special after-dinner party in Beit Shmuel’s beautiful Blaustein Hall. The evening featured movies of the Netzer sniffim (branches), a high-energy performance of singing on the stage and a ceremony to officially induct the newest Netzer snif – France – into the 15,000 member organization. Netzer participants also led the entire convention community in a rousing Havdallah on Saturday night.


Netzer Olami celebrated 30 years, and welcomed its newest branch – France – with a ceremony under the chuppah.

A great deal of business was conducted as well, before and during the convention, including a special two-day executive board meeting, an international rabbinic kallah and the annual meeting of the World Union’s International Assembly, during which the new board was officially elected and several resolutions were passed. These included calls to action in response to the alarming rise of anti-Semitism around the world and to urge the government of Israel to recognize the country’s Reform rabbinate on a religious and financial par with the Orthodox. Click here to read the complete text of the resolutions.



International Assembly members conduct World Union business against the stunning backdrop of Jerusalem’s Old City.



Full Circle
A magnificent gala dinner and awards ceremony at Tel Aviv’s Dan Panorama Hotel brought the World Union’s biennial convention to a close on Sunday night. In addition to presenting President Peres with his International Humanitarian Award, the World Union honored its immediate past president, Rabbi Uri Regev, with its first MICAH award in recognition of his many years of vision and leadership. Convention co-chairs, Joan Garson of Canada and Lori Stark of Israel wrapped up the proceedings with praise and thanks to all those who helped organize this most successful event, and introduced the World Union’s honorary life president, Rabbi Richard Hirsch, to swear in the newly elected members of the executive board. A short video (click here) replayed the highlights of the previous days for the delegates, and wished them all L’hitraot until the next CONNECTIONS in the United States in 2011.

Early evaluations received have given CONNECTIONS 2009 – its sessions, tours, meetings, networking and special events – top ratings, and written comments along with personal conversations suggest that delegates left charged with renewed energy and enthusiasm for the movement, and for bringing the World Union home to their communities around the world. Many have already diaried the date of the next convention – CONNECTIONS 2011 – for February 7-13, in the United States.


In addition to thanking others, CONNECTIONS 2009 co-chairs, Joan Garson and Lori Stark, were themselves thanked by World Union chairman, Steven Bauman, for their extraordinary efforts and success.



UPCOMING EVENTS

May 14-24, 2009 – Third Annual URJ Israel Kallah at the World Union’s Anita Saltz International Education Center in Jerusalem

June 18, 2009 – Abraham Geiger College – Rabbinic ordination and 10th anniversary celebration in Berlin, Germany

July 9-12, 2009 – 15th Annual Conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany, Berlin/Spandau, Germany

July 9-19, October 15-25 and December 3-13, 2009 – Dreams and Realities: The People, the Land and the Torah of Israel - A Reform Jewish Study Seminar, Saltz International Education Center, Jerusalem

November 4-8, 2009 – Biennial of the Union for Reform Judaism, Toronto, Canada

January 28-31, 2010 – Union of Jewish Communities in Latin America (UJCL) Biennial, Panama

March 4-7, 2010 – European Region Biennial Conference, Paris, France

May 28-29, 2010 – Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) Biennial, Israel

February 7-13, 2011 – CONNECTIONS 2011, USA

 

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