A Big Week for Our Reform / Progressive Movement

Earlier this year, in May and June, elections for delegates to the World Zionist Congress were held across the world. ARZA Canada, our Reform movement organization earned 4 delegates to go to the 39th Congress in Jerusalem, that took place this week. Out of 750 delegates, ARZENU (the Reform/progressive movement across the world) sent 80 voting delegates to the Congress, as well as many other non-voting supporters. Working with representatives of other factions, who do not share our same values and have a different vision from our own, requires defining effective strategies for promoting our liberal values at the Congress. The resolutions voted upon will define the policies of the World Zionist Organization, Jewish Agency and Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (JNF) for the coming years.

While there are only about 7% affiliated Reform Jews in Israel, more than 33% of Israelis are connected to the Reform movement, since orthodoxy is not representative of their Jewish life. That large percentage speaks to the importance of progressive Judaism in Israeli society. Despite that, while orthodox synagogues and organizations in Israel receive government funding, the Reform movement has had to fight in court for support, and in the end, receive very little.

ARZENU made up a large part of the Progressive and Center-Left alliances and unexpectedly were able to secure some very important victories. In all, delegates were slated to debate more than twenty-four proposed resolutions and eighteen proposed amendments to the World Zionist Organization Constitution, many of which are extremely controversial. Our delegates worked alongside fellow progressive, democratic reform religious Zionists who care deeply about these issues. Resolutions addressed Sovereignty and Borders, Pluralism, Antisemitism, Social Justice, Jewish Unity, and National and Social Policy.

Thanks to your support in the elections, we have the representation to make Reform Jewish voices and values heard. A coalition of progressive and liberal slates at the 39th World Zionist Congress successfully passed resolutions

• Calling for an immediate commission of inquiry, regarding October 7th
• Calling for protection of liberal Jewish institutions.
• Forbidding funding from any of the WZO institutions for Jewish settlement of Gaza.
• Supporting draft equality.
• Supporting direct access to the stones of the Kotel at the family (egalitarian) section of the Kotel (the Western Wall)
• Forbidding hate speech and ad hominem attacks in voting for the Congress
• And others…

This represents significant achievements for the Reform/Progressive and Masorti/Conservative Judaism movements and our liberal/pluralistic allies. Our values will be reflected in the positions of Israel’s national institutions.

We are almost most proud of Reform Rabbi Lea Muhlstein of the UK, who chaired the voting session. In a very challenging room of delegates, Rabbi Muhlstein led with calm command of the session despite offensive, inappropriate behavior, continuous screaming and aggressive speech from the Haredim.

Our Reform Cantor Ross Wolman of Chicago and Conservative Cantor Hazzan Joanna Selznick Dulkin of Minnesota closed out the WZC, leading delegates and attendees in a moving and powerful Hatikvah.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack

Mark your calendars! Wednesday, November 19th at 6:30pm, West End Reform congregations will be gathering at Shaarei Beth El in Oakville to hear from Lesley Sachs, Chair of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). She will be speaking on “Truth as Our Anchor, Activism and Hope as our Beacon: The IMPJ in Today’s Israel”

Looking for more ways to learn? Here is a selection of new podcasts about Israel:

Israeli Puzzle is a new podcast series from ARZA Canada that offers insights into Israel and Israeli history. Its goal is to provide important information that isn’t widely known, in an entertaining format.

Ask Haviv Anything “Ask Haviv Anything” is a podcast with Haviv Rettig Gur, Israeli journalist, and political correspondent and senior analyst for the Times of Israel. Haviv talks about history, focusing “not just on what I want to talk about but on what you want to learn and discuss. Nothing is off limits. We’re going to talk about big and painful things, and also beautiful and fascinating things, wars and identities and painful history. And also more light-hearted things. Humor matters, especially when facing tough subjects.”

What Came After Ordinary people, extraordinary stories. What Came After explores the stories of people whose lives were shifted, shaped, and changed by the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war. This podcast explores how people from all walks of life—in Israel and around the world—have navigated the aftermath of such profound trauma

Homeland: Ten Stories, One Israel When a bus breaks down off an Israeli highway and leaves its passengers stranded, Emily, American journalism student, decides to put her skills to the test…much to the chagrin of her fellow travelers. As she eventually coaxes each person to share their story, Emily uncovers the rich and complex history that every Israeli holds. Each episode is a deep dive into a new character’s world; from Morocco to Russia, all paths lead to Israel in this narrative style pod.

Unpacking Israeli History Join self-confessed history nerd Dr. Noam Weissman on a journey through the fascinating and sometimes controversial events and personalities that have shaped Israel’s past and present. Each week, Noam explores the layers of Israeli history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the cultural forces at play—drawing on a variety of sources and perspectives.

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