Progressive Judaism (Israel)
Encyclopedia
Progressive Judaism is the Israel
i equivalent of Reform Judaism
.
The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli Yishai
, refused the Israeli supreme court decision to refer to reform Jews as Jews in 2002. Another example of the discriminating of reform Jews is that reform female rabbis are not allowed to be referred as rabbis in most places including the Western Wall
.
, who was the first Chancellor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and in 1938, became its President. Rabbi Meir Elk, who graduated from the liberal Breslau Rabbinical Seminary in Germany (now, Wrocław, Poland), founded the Leo Baeck School in Haifa
, which today is one of the most renowned educational establishments in the country. The first Reform synagogue
in Israel
is "Kehilat Har-El" (Mount of God Community) in Jerusalem, which was founded in 1958.
Despite a great investment of resources the Reform movement remains tiny in Israel. It has failed to attract many Israelis and its prime constituency is English speaking immigrants.
The headquarters of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
(Reform Judaism is generally referred to as Progressive Judaism in Israel
) were moved to Jerusalem in 1973, establishing Progressive Judaism’s international presence in Zion
and reflecting its intention to form a strong indigenous movement.
The first Reform kibbutz
, Yahel
, was founded in 1976 in Arava
and Lotan
was founded in 1983. Har Halutz
was established in Galilee
in 1985.
With the mass-immigration of Jews from the CIS to Israel, the Reform movement in Israel grew yet was still limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties.
The organizational bodies for Israeli Progressive Judaism are:
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i equivalent of Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
.
The Reform Judaism's growth in Israel is limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties. Reform Jews are being discriminated by the ultra orthodox parties, for example Israel's Interior minister, Eli Yishai
Eli Yishai
Eliyahu "Eli" Yishai is an Israeli politician and head of the Shas party. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Shas, and as both one of four Deputy Prime Ministers and Minister of Internal Affairs.- Political life :...
, refused the Israeli supreme court decision to refer to reform Jews as Jews in 2002. Another example of the discriminating of reform Jews is that reform female rabbis are not allowed to be referred as rabbis in most places including the Western Wall
Western Wall
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall or Kotel is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount...
.
History
Some of the earliest Reform rabbis to settle in Israel included Rabbi Judah Leon MagnesJudah Leon Magnes
Judah Leon Magnes was a prominent Reform rabbi in both the United States and Palestine. He is best remembered as a leader pacifist movement of the World War I period and as one of the most widely recognized voices of 20th Century American Reform Judaism.-Biography:He was born in San Francisco,...
, who was the first Chancellor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and in 1938, became its President. Rabbi Meir Elk, who graduated from the liberal Breslau Rabbinical Seminary in Germany (now, Wrocław, Poland), founded the Leo Baeck School in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, which today is one of the most renowned educational establishments in the country. The first Reform synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
is "Kehilat Har-El" (Mount of God Community) in Jerusalem, which was founded in 1958.
Despite a great investment of resources the Reform movement remains tiny in Israel. It has failed to attract many Israelis and its prime constituency is English speaking immigrants.
The headquarters of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
(Reform Judaism is generally referred to as Progressive Judaism in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) were moved to Jerusalem in 1973, establishing Progressive Judaism’s international presence in Zion
Zion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
and reflecting its intention to form a strong indigenous movement.
The first Reform kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
, Yahel
Yahel (kibbutz)
Yahel is a Reform kibbutz in the Arava or Arabah in the Negev desert in the southern part Israel, 60 miles from the city of Eilat. It is the first kibbutz founded by the Reform movement.The name of the kibbutz is symbolic and means " will put up a tent"...
, was founded in 1976 in Arava
Arabah
The Arabah , also known as Aravah, is a section of the Great Rift Valley running in a north-south orientation between the southern end of the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea and continuing further south where it ends at the Gulf of Aqaba. It includes most of the border between Israel to the...
and Lotan
Lotan (kibbutz)
Lotan is a Reform kibbutz in the Arabah Valley in the Negev desert in southern Israel. It was founded in 1983 as Yahel Bet by twenty Israeli and twenty American youths. The current name derives from "one of the sons of Seir". The kibbutz currently serves as location for eco-tourism and...
was founded in 1983. Har Halutz
Har Halutz
Har Halutz , officially known as Halutz is a communal settlement in the central Galilee in northern Israel. Har Halutz is located in the rocky terrain of Gush Tefen and belongings to the Misgav Regional Council....
was established in Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
in 1985.
With the mass-immigration of Jews from the CIS to Israel, the Reform movement in Israel grew yet was still limited because of political pressure from the ultra orthodox people and parties.
The organizational bodies for Israeli Progressive Judaism are:
- Israel Movement for Progressive JudaismIsrael Movement for Progressive JudaismThe Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism is the organizational branch of Progressive Judaism in Israel. It currently has around 30 communities around the state of Israel including two kibbutzim, Yahel and Lotan, Israel....
- congregational association - Israel Religious Action CenterIsrael Religious Action CenterThe Israel Religious Action Center also known as IRAC, was established in 1987 as the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. It is located in Jerusalem, Israel. IRAC aims to defend equality, social justice, and religious pluralism within Israel, through the...
- In Israel, public and legal advocacy for Progressive Judaism.