RJ Blog

Sukkot is celebrated in Israel in many of the same ways we celebrate it here in the United States. The Sukkah is built, the lulav is shaken, meals are shared and communities spend time together. See how the Reform congregations in Israel are celebrating the holiday this year!

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…” … [...]

This past weekend, a large group of Jewish Israeli teens attacked three Arab teens in Jerusalem’s Kikar Zion (Zion Square) while an even larger crowd of Israelis looked on. This attack was reported within hours of a firebombing of a Palestinian taxicab outside the Gush Etzion settlement of Bat Ayin. This pattern of violence reflects alarming and disturbing trends in Israeli society that threaten to tear the nation apart; erode the values of democracy, tolerance, and equal rights; and threaten the Zionist endeavor.

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 [...]

By Rabbi Stacey Blank What can Tisha B’Av mean today? Tisha B’Av is not a day ordained by G-d in the Torah, but rather it is an observance that was created by people in reaction to an event: The destruction of the First Temple.  This was a tragic and traumatic time for the Jewish people and the leaders felt a need to create a new ritual – to help people recover from the trauma, to integrate the experience in order to move on, and  later on, to commemorate the experience to preserve the memory.

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. [...]

The following is a letter of congratulations written to Rabbi Miri Gold by Rabbi Robert Leib of Old York Road Temple-Beth Am in Abington, PA. Feel free to share your own messages to Miri in the comments below,  or on ARZA’s Facebook page! Dear Miri, On behalf of our entire congregation, most especially those who have met and heard you, personally, we extend our sincere CONGRATULATIONS to you on your long-awaited victory!! We are all so thrilled for you and the extraordinary patience, courage, strength and optimism you have displayed over the course of so many years.

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 [...]

By Rabbi John Rosove In my introductory remarks to the Peter Beinart-David Suissa debate at Temple Israel of Hollywood last Wednesday evening (May 16), I said the following to help give political context to what we would be hearing from each speaker: In a thoughtful piece published this past week, Professor Shaul Magid of Indiana University, wrote that the response and rancor around Peter Beinart’s book “The Crisis of Zionism” represented four broad groups in the American and Israeli communities – the ideological left and right and the pragmatic left and right. A brief word about each: Those in the [...]

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.