IN THIS  ISSUE:

• IMPJ ATTAINS HISTORIC VICTORY IN SYNAGOGUE ALLOCATIONS

• ENROLLMENT BEGINS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL BEUTEL SEMINAR

• MOVEMENT RABBI MAKES COVER OF NEWSWEEK/ARGENTINA

• WORLD UNION CALLS ON UN BODY TO CONDEMN ALL RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

• UPCOMING EVENTS

IMPJ ATTAINS HISTORIC VICTORY IN SYNAGOGUE ALLOCATIONS

Israel’s Ministry of Housing and Construction will supply pre-fabricated buildings for use as synagogues by Progressive congregations in Modi’in, Zichron Ya’acov, Kiryat Tivon and Tzur Hadassah - the first time an Israeli government body provides non-Orthodox congregations with structures. An additional pre-fabricated building will be given to a Masorti (Conservative) congregation in Modi’in.

In recent years, local authorities have granted small lots to a handful of non-Orthodox congregations, which then had to finance construction. In contrast, Orthodox congregations have always been eligible for state-built synagogues on public land.

Iri Kassel, executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, called the move “revolutionary,” saying it was “the outcome of years of judicial, political and public struggles and great perseverance on the part of congregation members, leaders, lawyers and special staff.” He specifically cited the efforts of attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski with the legal department of the Israel Religious Action Center; IRAC executive director Anat Hoffman and associate director Rabbi Gilad Kariv; and Menachem Leibovic, assistant chairman of the Jewish National Fund (and a former senior staff member of the World Union).

While leaders of Israel’s Progressive movement admit that obstacles may still arise, the mere decision to provide the pre-fabricated structures has had an immediate effect. Says Ilan Halperin, president of the congregation in Tzur Hadassah, "For us it means we will have government backing as we begin to lay the foundations of a permanent building later this year."

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ENROLLMENT BEGINS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL BEUTEL SEMINAR

The World Union's Anita Saltz International Education Center is now accepting applications for the 2007 Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish Leadership Development, to take place March 5-15, 2007, in Jerusalem. The seminar is for Progressive Jews aged 30-50 who have demonstrated leadership capability at the local, national or international level and have the potential to assume a more active role in leading the World Union. It is named in recognition of Nani and Austin Beutel of Toronto for their longstanding leadership contribution to the World Union and to Progressive Jewry.

According to Rabbi Rich Kirschen, director of the Saltz Center, the Beutel Seminar will focus on “deep Jewish study and exploration of the land of Israel.” He adds that much of the curriculum concentrates on “how we shape and create our Progressive Jewish communities worldwide.” Last year’s seminar had 25 participants from 15 countries, many of whom have already moved on to higher positions of leadership since taking part.

The timing of the 2007 seminar will allow participants to stay on and attend Connections 2007, the World Union’s 33rd international convention, which is to open in Jerusalem on March 15^th. For more information on the upcoming Beutel Seminar, or for an application, contact Rabbi Kirschen at rich@wupj.org.il. For further information on Connections 2007, or to register, click here.

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MOVEMENT RABBI MAKES COVER OF NEWSWEEK/ARGENTINA

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, leader of the Progressive community in Argentina, was featured on the cover of a recent issue of the Argentine edition of Newsweek magazine. A social activist, Bergman is the founder of Fundación Judaica, which provides food, medicine, clothing and other support services for impoverished Jews and non-Jews. Fundación Judaica is supported by the World Union through its Yad B’Yad Task Force for Latin America.

The Newsweek cover story focused on Bergman’s activism, including his appearance at an August 31 rally in Buenos Aires - attended by a crowd of well over 100,000 - in which he called on the government to do more for citizens. The text on the magazine cover (see photo below) refers to Bergman as "the most controversial rabbi," saying he supports human rights but would also work with the country's president, and that he seeks conciliation with Islam.

Jerry Tanenbaum, chairman of the Yad B’Yad Task Force, expressed admiration for Bergman. “We at the World Union are proud of Rabbi Bergman and his principled actions to advance social justice in Argentina in the spirit of tikkun olam,” he said. “We feel privileged to be his partners. [His] appearance and speech at the rally constituted a very courageous act in a country where many community leaders…just try to get along with the authorities."

The Newsweek/Argentina cover.

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WORLD UNION CALLS ON UN BODY TO CONDEMN ALL RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

Following threats of violence against Pope Benedict XVI for what many in the Muslim world called anti-Islamic comments, the World Union called on the United Nations’ Human Rights Council to strongly condemn violence perpetrated in the name of God by any religion.

In a statement delivered on September 21 at the second session of the Geneva-based council, World Union representative David G. Littman cited what he called “reassuring” comments made on opening day in which Pakistan’s ambassador declared that Islam “abjures, renounces and condemns violence.”

But Littman went on to call for “an unambiguous condemnation at this council of all those who kill, or call upon others to kill, terrorise or use violence in the name of God or religion” – meaning any religion. He continued by saying, “Perhaps such a condemnation might then be reiterated by Muslim leaders and institutions, both state and religious, so that those who carry out these attacks in the name of Jihad, Islam, or in the path of Allah, would be condemned for thus defaming Islam.”

The statement was issued in conjunction with the Association for World Education.

In July, Littman, again speaking on behalf of the World Union and the AWE, reminded the council about Hamas, whose charter explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and makes racist references to Jews and Judaism (see WUPJnews #224).

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UPCOMING EVENTS

• Register now for Connections 2007 – the 33rd International Convention of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, March 15-20, 2007, in Jerusalem

• Shared Destiny –  the World Union’s International Humanitarian Awards Celebration honoring Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz, Lorry Lokey and Joanne Harrington in San Mateo, California, October 8, 2006

• Installation of Rabbi Burt Schuman as spiritual leader of Beit Warszawa, Poland’s first post-war Progressive community, by World Union president Rabbi Uri Regev in Warsaw, October 20, 2006

• Special World Union Mission to South America, November 9-20. (Adobe Reader required for this download)

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