Shalom Chaverim, 

I had the honour and privilege of participating in the Israeli Reform Movement’s biennial conference last week. Let me tell you, this is no ordinary conference. It’s more like summer camp for adults -- with inspiring learning and fabulous food!

The theme of the conference was "Hinenu" – Here we are! After a four-year hiatus due to Covid, everyone was joyful and grateful to be together -- 1500 Israelis as well as representatives from the Reform community around the world.

Yaron Shavit, Deputy Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and former Chair of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, with Lee Weisser, President of ARZA Canada, at Kibbutz Shefayim, site of the conference

On the back of our conference name badges was the phrase in Hebrew “Yahadut l’lo mechitzot” - “Judaism without Barriers”. This has a literal meaning in Israeli Reform congregations -- no barrier wall or curtain between men and women in prayer, as is the custom in Orthodox spaces.

But it has a broader meaning, too. The Israeli Reform Movement is a movement of inclusion:

• No barriers for individuals with mental or physical disabilities
• No barriers to members of the LGBTQ+ community
• No barriers to diverse ways of expressing Judaism
• No barriers to participation in worship, life cycle or social events
• No barriers to truly belonging to a community

Your support of ARZA Canada ensures that Reform Judaism will continue to be a strong voice for inclusion in Israeli society.

Click here for more highlights from the Israel Reform Movement's recent conference.

These videos provide a sample of the performances and the community-wide tefilah.