RJ Blog

Israelis for years rejected Reform as an import. They imported jeans and Coca Cola with enthusiasm – but pluralism and egalitarianism were stopped at the border… -Rabbi Naamah Kelman-Ezrahi, dean of HUC Jerusalem, at the Israel Biennial The Reform movement in Israel recently held its biennial convention, at the beautiful Shefayim convention center on the bluffs overlooking the Mediterranean, just south of Netanyah. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere festive. A thousand laymen and communal professionals gathered from the movement’s congregations throughout the country, including lots of teenagers from the youth movement and the pre-army preparatory program in Yaffo. Students [...]

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 [...]