Barbara

Dear Friends, I rarely write about my personal life, however, this month I would like to share with you my and my family’s joy and happiness as my eldest daughter Amalyah will be called to the Torah and become a Bat Mitzvah, on the last Shabbat of January. She was also honorably called to the Torah yesterday morning at the Women of the Wall’s Rosh Hodesh service at the Kotel. A daughters Bat Mitzvah, naturally, brings about many emotions, perhaps most apparent, pride. Pride as a father knowing all the effort she has put into this moment and pride [...]

Shalom, We have received the results of the Supreme Court Hearing. They are outlined well in this news article: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/High-Court-demands-to-know-how-state-will-protect-womens-prayer-services-536796 In response to the Supreme Court's decision following yesterday's hearing, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, President and CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, said: "The court's decision reflects the fact that the government has not presented the court with any real progress towards the construction of the egalitarian prayer plaza at the Western Wall. We hope that the decision will make the Israeli government internalize its duty and begin serious and fair negotiations with the Reform and [...]

"The Reform and Conservative movements must not be allowed to gain a foothold...those who are not far from abominations, unholy, and unkosher - them - throw them to the dogs, and Women of the Wall - this group placed at the edge of the camp, next to the Dung Gate, in a far-off corner, that is their place, throw them to the dogs." This quote from ultra-Orthodox MK Meir Porush, using biblical terminology to show how little they value progressive Judaism, is how Orly Erez-Likhovski, director of our legal department, began in front of the Supreme Court at our [...]

S had a major assignment due by midnight, but was forced to take a lower grade and turn it in late because she had no access to the resources she needed in the college library as it was closed to women that day. This is a reality for students on campuses in Israel that are trying to attract ultra-Orthodox students. Freedom and equality, the most basic principles of academia, are suspended on ultra-Orthodox college campuses and students' acceptance is on the condition that they dress and behave a certain way or be expelled. The Israeli government promises its citizens' education. [...]

"You are not obligated to complete the work, nor are you free to cease from it." Dear friends, Rabbi Tarfon, in the Avot Tractate, said: “You are not obligated to complete the work, nor are you free to cease from it” (Avot Tractate, 2:21). As we near the end of another civilian calendar year, we stop for a minute, to take this statement to heart. What a year we have had here at the Israel Reform Movement. Great accomplishments, alongside significant challenges, weave together the fabric that makes us who we are. On a programmatic level, we have seen [...]