European Union for Progressive Judaism

Still waiting, still hopeful
(A WUPJ message modified for October)

This past January, Prime Minister Netanyahu made a commitment to the entire Jewish people. His government passed a resolution to include all forms of Jewish worship at the Western Wall, with detailed plans to build an egalitarian prayer space that would be administered by a pluralistic group including rabbis from our movement. For the first time in the history of the Jewish state, Progressive rabbis would join an official government-supported religious body. It was a great shared victory. Unfortunately, in the months since, the Israeli government has successfully avoided implementing its own commitment. Before Rosh Hashanah the WUPJ and leadership of the Reform Movement submitted a joint message asking the Israeli leadership to fulfil their commitment to make Judaism’s holiest site a home for all Jews. We hope that 5777 will be the year our joint victory at the Kotel is complete and Israel really is a home to all Jews. We believe that, with your help, by this time next year we will hear the shofar blast from a Western Wall that represents the best of our values and diversity.

Rabbi Daniel Freelander, WUPJ President
Carole Sterling, WUPJ Chair
Gordon Smith, EUPJ President
Miriam Kramer, EUPJ Chairman

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