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UPCOMING EVENTS
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August 8-12, 2012
World Union for Progressive Judaism-Latin America (WUPJ-LA)'s 4th Conference of Jewish Communities, Buenos Aires For more details, please visit the WUPJ-LA website. |
October 25-28, 2012
UPJ Biennial Conference, Sydney, Australia For more details, please visit the UPJ website. |
February 7-17, 2013
The Buetel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leadership, Jerusalem, Israel |
April 28-30, 2013
WUPJ Executive Board Seminar and International Assembly Meeting, Jerusalem, Israel |
World Union for Progressive Judaism projects are supported by The World Zionist Organization |
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| | - World Union calls upon the International Olympic Committee to remember Victims of Terror in Munich 1972
- Beit Shmuel hosts group of Moroccan students
- WUPJ President visits congregation in London
- WUPJ President to visit Latin America congregations, participate in Conference
- Jerusalem's Kehillat Mevakshei Derech dedicating The Sidney and Freda Davidson Educational and Cultural Center
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Another Bergman seminar for Jewish Educators comes to a successful end | What a gift to be able to spend 10 days with a group of exceptional Jewish educators from Israel, Australia, France and the United States. These amazing professionals traveled throughout Israel grappling with critical issues facing Israel and the Jewish People with the Bergman seminar for Jewish Educators run by the Anita Saltz International Education Center. Developed by Saltz Educational Director Paul Liptz and Director Rabbi Steve Burnstein, this extraordinary seminar uses the sites of Israel to delve into issues vital to Jewish education, incorporating Jewish texts to include the voice of our tradition. Throughout, the program included encounters with some of the top leaders in Jewish education. Read more... 
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Summer fun for youth in Belarus | Summer has just started and we are already proud to report that our youth camp in Belarus was a great success. The camp took place in Mogilev, Belarus, from June 30 to July 9 for 100 campers ages 14-17. This year's theme was Maccabiada Netzer 2012, focusing on the principles and ideology of Netzer and Reform Judaism as well as historic and modern Israel using sport, games, learning and cultural activities based on the Maccabiah Games which are held every four years in Israel. The program helps to build and strengthen their Jewish heritage and identity and connect with the Jewish nation. Read more... 
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Kehilat Ra'anan celebrates the Tenth Anniversary of Beit Samueli | One of the many successes of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) is its ability to establish centers throughout Israel. Thanks to the generosity and on going support of Henry and Susan Samueli and the Samueli Foundation, the beautiful center in Ra'anana, (Beit Samueli) was able to celebrate its tenth anniversary on the weekend of June 29-30. The double celebration, a Kaballat Shabbat service in the Ra'anana Park and a dinner honoring Henry and Susan Samueli, was attended by the many local members of Kehilat Ra'anan and many guests representing the support of worldwide Reform Jewish philanthropy and other Jewish organizations. Read more... 
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Making Tikun Olam a reality at the IMPJ's Mechina program | The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) has been running its Mechina program since 2003. This is a gap-year program for Israelis that helps prepare them for the challenges of their army service through learning, leadership development, and volunteering. The Mechina received official recognition from the Ministry of Defense, and in 2009 was recognized by the City of Tel Aviv for excellence in volunteering.
Read more... 
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President's reflections on.... A Progressive perspective on Tisha B'Av by Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs, President | | The Ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, Tisha B'Av, is a day when traditional Jews fast in memory of the magnificent Temples of Jerusalem which were destroyed: the first Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. It is also a solemn day in memory of other historical tragedies associated with that date. For example, it is said that the first Crusade in 1095 - a time of persecution and slaughter of the Jews of Europe - began on Tisha B'Av; and in 1290 the expulsion of Jews from England took place on that date. Tisha B'Av also coincides with the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Back to In This Issue |
| | The leadership and staff of the World Union offer their sincerest condolences to Executive Board member Diane Marcus on the passing of her mother Caroline F. Libby. May her memory be for a blessing. |
| | - World Union calls upon the International Olympic Committee to remember Victims of Terror in Munich 1972
- Beit Shmuel hosts group of Moroccan students
- WUPJ President visits congregation in London
- WUPJ President to visit Latin America congregations, participate in Conference
- Jerusalem's Kehillat Mevakshei Derech dedicating The Sidney and Freda Davidson Educational and Cultural Center
Read more... Back to In This Issue |
Shabbat Hazon - Parashat D'varim - "Between Eicha and Ayeka"
By Rabbi Haim Shalom, incoming Rabbi at Menorah Synagogue, Cheshire Reform Congregation in the North West of England | | Every year on the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av, the day that commemorates the falling of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews, we read the same Parasha and the same Haftarah. The Parasha is always Parashat D'varim, the first Parasha of the book of the same name (D'varim = Deuteronomy), and the Haftarah is always the Haftarah from the very beginning of the book of Isaiah - referred to as Haftarat Hazon (Vision). It is so called because it starts describing the vision, or prophecy of Isaiah. It is the Haftarah that gives the name to the Shabbat. In his prophecy, Isaiah bemoans the terrible depths to which the people of Judah have sunk. He cries: "How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers" (Isaiah 1:21). Read more... |
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