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“…we know that
ultimately our extended Jewish family is only as strong as its
shared religious heritage…Therefore our primary task …is to
support synagogues and to promote religious life wherever Jews are
found.”
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union of Reform Congregations
said in the presidential sermon at the 2003 biennial convention.
Who can question that
without strong Israeli progressive Jewish movements, our extended
family is impacted? Yoffie continued, “Jewish life cannot
be sustained without Israel at its core.” The progressive
synagogues in Israel are struggling in an environment that has
always been difficult, and sometimes even hostile.
”The State of Israel…’will guarantee freedom of religion,
language, education and culture.’ So promised the founders of the
State of Israel in the Declaration of Independence in 1948. Yet,
more than 50 years later, hundreds of thousands of Israelis do not
have access to rabbis and religious services of their choice.”
From the Masorti (Conservative) Movement publication.
Progress has been made,
but those battling on behalf of our movements are facing an uphill
struggle. We need to find an effective way to strengthen their
position in Israel and to increase their support among the largely
secular and traditional, and mostly unaffiliated, Israeli
population.
 We
are launching Kehillot B’Yahad to materially increase support for
progressive congregations from individuals. KBY congregations
represent a collective approach to Jewish values and practice that
mirrors and makes whole a stream of Judaism that we accept as
consistent with our own modern traditions. We want to show our
support for pluralistic progressive Judaism and to make sure those
institutions that represent us in Israel have the necessary
resources so that they may build a stronger position within
Israeli society. This takes time, it takes money, and it takes
commitment. |
