RJ Blog

How can one best participate in building the State of Israel? In the long history of the Jewish people, this is a very new question. The question of what is the best way to build or protect Israel has been, and continues to be, at the center of many debates. These debates were present in Israel before the declaration of the state. There were two groups in the land; those who worked to return the Jewish people to the land as farmers, workers, and builders, and those who wished to bring about a state based on Torah study. The chalutzim [...]

In the book of Nehemiah (chapter 8), we find a description of an ancient Rosh HaShanah at the time of rebuilding Israel after a period of exile. “When the seventh month arrived – the Israelites being settled in their towns – the entire people assembled as one man in the square (in Jerusalem) before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of Moses .. On the first day of the seventh month (Rosh HaShanah) Ezra the priest brought the teaching before the congregation, men and women and all who could listen with understanding…” … [...]

Actions have consequences. That is the message of Ekev. It is the message each time we recite the full Shema. On the positive side, we read: “If you will obey the commandments that I enjoin you today, loving the lord your God and serving God with all your heart and soul. I will grant the rain for you in the Land of Israel.” On the negative side, the passage continues: “Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods and bow down to them. For the Lord’s anger will flare up against you and God will shut up [...]

The last two weeks of June were sort of a blur of meetings and conferences in Israel. Many of our ARZA leaders participated in several of these meetings including Rabbi Bob Orkand, Didi Gilbert, Sue Fratkin, Ellie Danker, Phil Meltzer, Rabbi Stan Davids, and Bill Hess. The various meetings also included the leadership of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, including Yaron Shavit, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Gusti Braverman, Menachem Leibovich and others. ARZA was pleased to attend with Rabbi Rick Jacobs in several of these gatherings in his first Israel visit as President of the URJ.

Activism is the theme of Parshat Pinchas. The first example is Pinchas, acting violently and alone in order to “solve a problem.” For this he is lauded. The daughters of Zlofchad present a picture of activism that is carefully thought out in order to achieve their goals. The Torah recalls them by name. Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah present their case, not only to Moses, but to the leadership of the Jewish people and to God. They are not lauded nor afforded the personal glory of Pinchas. Yet, their efforts were successful long term and the acts of Pinchas solved nothing. [...]

What is Israel like today? Who lives there? What do they look like? What is the country like? Can we make a place in the land, our land given to us by God, even if it means conquering those who are already there? This was the charge of the 12 scouts or spies, one from each of the 12 tribes, to make sure that the entire Jewish people had a stake in the report and a reporter who was one of their own upon whom they could rely.

Editor’s Note: The following post was issued as a press release this afternoon following the news today that Rabbi Miri Gold would become the first non-orthodox Rabbi to be paid by the State of Israel. Israeli Reform Rabbi Miri Gold will be the first non-orthodox Rabbi to be paid by the State of Israel, under a ruling today by the Israel Attorney General. Rabbi Gold, who first heard the news on the radio said, “This is a big step for religious pluralism and democracy in Israel.  Israeli Jews want religious alternatives and with this decision the State is starting to [...]

Can it be that only men were at Sinai? When we read the Asseret HaDibrot this Shavuot, do they apply only to men? Is there some proof that the brain power or the moral worth of a woman is less than a man? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding no. As Jews, we are always worried about being demeaned, marginalized, or discriminated against. We work hard and spend millions of hard to raise funds to support equality within our American society and to protect the civil rights of all citizens. We, likewise, do the same for [...]

Lag BaOmer is a break, a time out, a moment to recall an ancient plague that may or may not have occurred, and perhaps a moment for reflection. It comes just past the middle of the 50 days which we count from the liberation to the responsibility of law, from Pesach to Shavuot. And perhaps, it comes to remind us that every now and then one must step back to reflect on what has been accomplished in the journey. In 1983, in his book The Land of Israel, Amos Oz wrote the following: “Perhaps it was a lunatic promise: to turn, [...]

The simple answer is yes, but the reasons are more involved and the process of our involvement a bit arcane. Politics is the only contact sport in Israel. Our movement is a non partisan player in that game through our Israel Reform Movement and ARZA as part of the WZO. We want the Government of Israel to support our values just as we support their security and sovereignty. Yes, we care who governs Israel and so we care about their elections as well. ARZA and our Movement access the public square in Israel in many ways. The organizational path is [...]

On behalf of all the branches of our American Reform Movement, Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom. Tonight we, as a movement, celebrate Israel’s 64th Birthday. We might wonder, to paraphrase the McCartney song we sang decades ago, “Does Israel still need me when she’s 64?” The truth is we, the American Jewish community, our Movement, and Israel need each other.

Haggai. I danced at his wedding in the fall of 1971. He was a proud member of the IDF Tank Corps. The wedding was at Kibbutz Na’an not far from Rehovot. My first Israeli wedding. We laughed and danced. He embraced me into the “kibbutz family” into which my sister would marry in February. On the first day of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Haggai was killed on the Golan. He is buried not far from where he fell. Haggai was born on the 29th of November 1973, an auspicious day in our Zionist/Israeli history. He was the first child on Kibbutz [...]

Pesach is celebrated by more than 90% of all Jews. We recall the story of our liberation from slavery, but we often forget that we were freed in order to be a holy people. Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, is celebrated by most Israeli citizens, but less than a third of the Jews of America? Why? In the play The Fantastiks, there is a song about vegetables and children. The opening line is, “Plant a radish; get a radish, never any doubt.” The song goes on to the subject of children. “While with children, it’s bewilderin.’ You don’t know until the seed [...]

If Jews have an edifice complex some might point to this week’s Parashah of Vayahkel/Pekudei as the starting point. Five times in this double portion the instructions are repeated for the building of the Mishkan, the temporary portable tent of meeting used by the Jewish people for worship during the 40 year period of wandering in the desert. Why did the instructions need to be repeated five times? Rashi gives two explanations. The first is so that the people will fully understand the needs and be generous with their contributions to the building fund. The second reason was so that [...]