Rabbi Reuven Greenvald is the former director of Israel engagement at the Union for Reform Judaism. His experience in re-thinking Israel engagement comes from work on innovative initiatives in the North American program of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
A walk in Tel Aviv’s Old Cemetery led me to the tombstone of Ahad Ha’am, one of the most influential pre-state Zionist thinkers and the founder of cultural Zionism.
Despite a nasty response as the Reform community celebrated the ordination of the 100th Israeli Reform rabbi at the Kotel, we persisted, dancing with our Torah scrolls.
Reform teens meaningfully engaged with Judaism seek arenas in which caring American Jews can delve into matters internal to Israel’s societal well-being.
This new year, I’m studying Arabic to be able to converse with Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank, augmenting my lifelong caring relationship with Israel.
On Yom Kippur, Isaiah’s powerful prophetic metaphors call us to reflect upon the moral and spiritual shortcomings that stand in the way of the Jewish people’s progress.