Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
The first Israeli Reform synagogue, Jerusalem’s Congregation Har El, was founded in 1958. In 1973, the World Union for Progressive Judaism moved its headquarters to Jerusalem, establishing Progressive Judaism’s international presence in Zion and reflecting its commitment to help build a strong indigenous movement. In 1976, the first Reform kibbutz, Yahel, was established in the Arava (65 km. north of Eilat) followed in 1983 by the founding of Kibbutz Lotan. A Progressive settlement in the Galilee, Har Halutz, was inaugurated in 1985.
Today, the IMPJ boasts a growing membership of both immigrants and native Israelis, with some 30 congregations around the country. Helping to ensure the movement’s future is a growing network of schools, educational and community centers, a youth movement, Hebrew and English Beit Midrash study programs, and the degree-granting and informal programs at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Also working to assure the movement’s advancement is the Israel Religious Action Center, the IMPJ’s public and legal advocacy arm.
"There's more than one way to be Jewish"
Reform Zionism in Israel
In its practice, Progressive Judaism in Israel is in some ways more traditional than in the Diaspora. Hebrew is used exclusively in worship services. Classical Jewish texts and Rabbinic literature play a more prominent role in Reform education and synagogue life. A Progressive Beit Din (religious court) regulates procedures of conversion and offers guidance in other ritual matters. This traditional leaning embodies one of the original, classic principles of the movement: that Progressive Judaism draws upon powerful influences in the larger social context in which it lives and grows. Indeed, the leaders of the IMPJ have always endeavored to shape an indigenous movement, a natural synergy of the highest ideals of both Progressive Judaism and Israeli society.
Like Reform Jews worldwide, the members of the Israel movement value the principal of “Tikkun Olam” – the repair of the world through the pursuit of social justice – as they value ritual and tradition. In Israel this commitment extends to protecting the physical and spiritual well-being of the Jewish State. Progressive Judaism is dedicated to ensuring that the State of Israel reflect Judaism’s highest prophetic character which calls for freedom, equality and peace among all the inhabitants of the land.
Recent IMPJ activities include:
Opening the doors of their summer camp facilities to house people (over 200 families housed) and helped to establish day camps and clubhouses in many northern congregations. Rabbi Ilana Nesher of Tel Aviv’s Beit Daniel officiated at the collective wedding ceremony of 10 displaced couples from the north.
- Kehilat (Congregation) Yozma, located in the city of Modi’in delivered donations of food toiletries and gifts to families in bomb shelters in Safed, Akko, Naharia and Haifa.
- Kibbutz Yahel opened its bed and breakfast to low income Northerners seeking refuge from the shelling.
- IRAC (Israel Religious Action Centre) found housing for hundreds of people with special needs. It also helped to organize a Rabbinic Counselling and Social Worker Hotline for people working on the front lines and for those with nowhere else to turn.
- The Leo Baeck Centre ran 12 social service centres that saw more than 250 people daily and converted its parking garage/bomb shelter to an underground playground for children who were unable to play outdoors as result of the shelling.
These efforts were felt throughout Israel and many people were made aware of the Israel Movement for Reform Judaism for the first time! We should be very proud of their efforts.
ARZA Canada sent over $70,000 to aid in the efforts of the IMPJ.
For more information on the IMPJ, click here to visit their English website!
Support the IMPJ initiative to fund three new Reform preschools.
Visiting Israel? Click here for a directory of Reform congregations and kibbutzim throughout Israel!