Another Way to Love Israel

One of the principles of Jewish life is “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh – Jews all over the world are responsible for one another.” We live this idea by supporting, visiting, and keeping in touch with other Jewish communities. We also live it by creating partnerships with synagogues and organizations in Israel who are fighting for important causes. Temple Beth El has this kind of relationship with an Israeli synagogue. For the past few years, we have partnered with Congregation Birkat Shalom of Kibbutz Gezer in their struggle to establish a viable Reform Judaism in Israel.

Birkat Shalom is one of about 30 congregations that make up the tiny Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. Although Reform Jews make up only a fraction of Israel’s population, our sister movement is working hard through its synagogues, preschools, educational and community centers, and youth movement to expose the Jewish state to liberal, egalitarian Judaism. Slowly but surely, it is having unprecedented success! In fact, the leader of our sister congregation, Rabbi Miri Gold, is in the midst of making history. She has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to become the first Reform rabbi to be recognized as an official Community Rabbi. This would put her, in her role at Kibbutz Gezer, closer to equal footing with Orthodox rabbis who are already recognized in their community role. We at Beth El applaud Rabbi Gold for this bold move, and we hope the court will see the justice in her case.

Our partnership with Birkat Shalom has been fruitful on both sides. It has given Temple Beth El an invaluable connection to an important sister congregation in the Jewish state. And it has allowed Birkat Shalom to expand its programming and its reach. Those relationships will continue, as this summer’s congregational Israel trip will take us to Kibbutz Gezer for Shabbat. And Rabbi Miri Gold will be stopping through Charlotte this month. Please join us on Wednesday, December 5, at 6:00, for dinner and a chance to meet this groundbreaking religious leader. We are thankful for the work that she and her colleagues are doing in the Jewish state, and we look forward to continued partnership in achieving our common goals.

If you are interested in supporting Reform Judaism in Israel by joining our sister congregation, please send all membership dues to Temple Beth El c/o Rabbi Micah Streiffer. Any Temple Beth El Member who joins Birkat Shalom will automatically be made a member of ARZA (the Association of Reform Zionists of America), our movement’s Zionist organization.