Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I am watching events unfolding in Israel with mixed emotions. I am on the one hand profoundly worried about the deep and increasingly hostile divisions between the current extremist government and the majority of the people, the long-term impact of which is alarming. At the very same time, I am filled with immense pride and hope at the hundreds of thousands of people who boldly protest day after day and week after week an immoral, bigoted, and intolerant government determined to topple the democratic Israel many of us know and love.

Israel needs us more than ever and many have asked how best to be/remain engaged and offer support, here are some preliminary resources:

For Education:
ARZA - Association of Reform Zionists -  https://arza.org/
Times of Israel - https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Shalom Hartman Institute https://www.hartman.org.il/

For Support:
Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) - https://www.irac.org/
Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism  - https://reform.org.il/en/
Women of the Wall – https://womenofthewall.org.il/
Rochester Protest: Save Israel’s Democracy:  https://www.unxeptable.org/

My words from Shabbat Service 3/24 “Israel on the Brink” 

In Prayer

My God ‫אלי

In this sacred moment, give us hope for Israel and her future. 
Renew our wonder at the miracle of the Jewish State.

In the name of the pioneers who made the deserts bloom - give us the tools to cultivate a diversity of Jewish expression in Israel.

In the name of our fallen soldiers - give us courage to stand up to the words and ways of zealots. Those in our own midst and those among our neighbors.

In the name of Israeli inventors who have amazed the world with their innovations – help us apply the same ingenuity to finding a path to peace.

In the name of all these individuals - grant us the strength to conquer doubt and despair in Israel.

Replacing doubt with action.
Replacing despair with hope.

Anat Hoffman, Women of the Wall

Jewish tradition affirms several truths: one, life is precious; two, the life of a pregnant person (actual) takes precedence over that of an embryo or fetus (potential); and three, each person upon spiritual/emotional reflection, must be allowed the freedom to choose what is right. Today's Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization denies Jews the freedom to uphold these fundamental religious principles.

We join our colleagues at the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the American Conference of Cantors and “condemn, in the strongest terms, the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and deplore the reversal of the precedent set a half-century ago in Roe v. Wade.”

We believe that the separation of church and state is good for America, good for us as Jews, and creates a society of greater acceptance of difference and diversity. Thus, we are horrified at this decision’s preferencing of a particular religious perspective.  Prohibiting abortion access is contrary to Jewish law, traditions and pikuach nefesh.  As Jews, Torah calls us repeatedly to “defend the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.” We are outraged at any action that afflicts those who are most vulnerable in our society, and this decision will no doubt have the most devastating consequences for those in our society who are already marginalized. Kol aravim zeh b'zeh -- we are all responsible for each another.  Today we are devastated.  In the days to come, we get back to work.

Rabbi Debbi Till       Cantor Renata Braun       Rabbi Alan J. Katz