Podcasts about progressive judaism

Welcome back to Just For This. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  Our guest this week is Orly Erez Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center(IRAC), the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. IRAC is also a long-standing grantee of Women of Reform Judaism's YES Fund. We discuss the importance of a liberal Jewish voice in Israel and the efforts toward a shared society between Arabs and Israelis, even as the war continues. We also discuss the importance of voting in the U.S. election to the World Zionist Congress; voting closes May 4, 2025. Visit www.zionistelection.org to vote or www.vote4reform.org to learn more about the importance of standing up for our Reform values in Israel. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast  

Welcome back to Just For This, a new podcast. Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment.  This week's guest is Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. We reflect on the past year in Israel since the tragic events of October 7, 2023. We discuss the importance of a shared society; we also reiterate the necessity to bring the hostages home. View the transcript here. If you're enjoying Just For This, be sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Follow Just For This on instagram: @justforthispodcast justforthispodcast.com 

Rabbi, faith leader, Knesset member, and former CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, Gilad Kariv offers his insights on the conflict, politics, and diaspora relations from both an Israeli and rabbinic perspective, in a program from Central Synagogue.  With Rabbi Sarah Berman.

Bonni Pomush is the Chief Executive Officer of Working Wardrobes. With much joy, Bonni is committed to putting her strengths to work by being of service to the community. Bonni developed a great love and respect for research and data-based decision-making while earning her master's degree in Family Resources and Human Development. Bonni brings over 25 years of leadership experience in government and non-profit agencies. Her research- and strengths-based leadership approach has resulted in the national accreditation of centers, turning around budgets from shortfalls to surpluses, and retaining high-quality employees by creating and implementing performance-based pay systems. In partnership with board members and volunteers, Bonni has secured over $6 million in capital campaign funds and $1 million from events and annual giving. Originally from the East Valley suburbs of Phoenix, AZ, Bonni administered programs for 15 years in government agencies (the Kyrene School District, Arizona State University, and the City of Chandler). After making the move to Orange County, CA in 2009, she joined the nonprofit world at Temple Beth El of South Orange County: The Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism. Following Founder and 31-year CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Jerri Rosen's retirement, Bonni became Working Wardrobes' second-ever CEO in January 2022 and has focused her leadership on modernizing and preparing Working Wardrobes to scale. Since her arrival, she has been nominated for several awards (LA Times 2023 & 2024 Orange County Inspirational Women, OC Business Journal's Women in Business 2023) and was touted by the OC Register as one of Orange County's Most Influential People in 2023. Bonni revels in creating and implementing strategic plans and sustainable systems, working with boards to accomplish a mission, developing and leading high-performing teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and producing measurable results. When she's not hard at work, Bonni can be found paddle-boarding, walking, playing mah-jongg, hitting balls on the tennis court, traveling, or enjoying quality time with family and friends. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. 

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we follow up with Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch to break down the anti-Zionist crisis facing the Reform Movement.As young Jews feel increasingly disconnected from the Jewish People, America's non-Orthodox synagogues, summer camps, and day schools are challenged to ensure continuity and unity for the Jewish future. In this episode we discuss: —Do we need to choose between caring about our fellow Jews and caring about the world? —Why are younger Jews more antagonistic toward Israel than previous generations?—Can American Jewry survive without a connection to Israel? Tune in to hear a conversation about the past, present, and future of American Jewry. Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is a leader of the Reform Movement. He is the senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and former executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism, North America. He wrote two books: The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History (2023) and One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them (2003), which he co-authored with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.References:18 Questions, 40 Israeli ThinkersLeviticus 19:17Genesis 12:3Amos 9The War of Return by Adi Schwartz and Einat WilfJewish Wisdom by Joseph TelushkinThe Book of Jewish Values by Joseph TelushkinThis episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can receive a discount by using the coupon code 18Forty.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and a leader of the Reform Movement, about the way Jewish Peoplehood is understood among the non-Orthodox majority of American Jews.Rabbi Hirsch is known in the Reform Movement and beyond for his decades-long staunch commitment to Jewish Peoplehood. We recorded this interview before Oct. 7, and especially considering Rabbi Hirsch's leadership on issues related to Zionism, a follow-up conversation with him will follow shortly. In this episode we discuss:Where should the State of Israel fit into our priorities as a people? How has Reform Judaism course-corrected its views on Jewish Peoplehood over time?How can we be a unified people when we can't always agree on who is a Jew?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might improve the state of interdenominational relations.Interview begins at 19:50.Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is a leader of the Reform Movement. He is the senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and former executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism, North America. He wrote two books: The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History (2023) and One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them (2003), which he co-authored with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.References:One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them by Ammiel Hirsch and Yaakov Yosef ReinmanThe Impostor by Avner Gold18Forty Podcast: “Altie Karper: When a Book Is Banned”“The Believer” by Armin Rosen“Dissent in the Reform Ranks” by Armin RosenThe Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History by Ammiel HirschThe Book of Jewish Values: A Day-by-Day Guide to Ethical Living by Joseph Telushkin“Who Can Be Called Rabbi?” by Gil Student“Shomer Yisroel” by Omek Hadavar

In this episode, we explore Progressive/Reformed Judaism with Michel Laloum, Cantor at Temple Beth Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia. He was ordained as a Cantor at the Progressive Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and completed Rabbinic studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion, Jewish Theological Seminary and New York University. Temple Beth Israel Melbourne World Union for Progressive Judaism -- Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here.  Transcript of this episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf  Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 

Rabbi Micah Greenstein is senior rabbi of Temple Israel, Memphis' historic 170-year-old synagogue and the last remaining large congregation in a four-state region. His leadership roles include the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, the National Civil Rights Museum, and creating a network of the next generation of women leaders in Cambodia and Southeast Asia through the Harpswell Foundation. With antisemitism and demonstrations of Jew-hatred becoming commonplace and met mainly by silence, Greenstein is passionate about building bridges across faith communities. He cares deeply about the future of Jewish life in North America and the dramatic action necessary to preserve, build, and grow vibrant, diverse Jewish communities.

Host Joshua Holo speaks with HUC-JIR educator, Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste about her experiences on the ground in Jerusalem during the Israel-Hamas War. Rabbi Avnon-Benveniste is Director of the Israel Rabbinical Program at HUC-JIR's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem. She was ordained after completing the Israel Rabbinical Program in 2009, and returned to HUC-JIR following her time as Director of the International School for Peoplehood Studies at Beit-Hatefutsoth, the Museum of the Jewish People, where she instilled an active connection to the Jewish people among Jews throughout the world and led public discourse on Jewish Peoplehood and identity in the 21st-century. She led a series of programs that supported Beit-Hatefutsoth's cultural, community, and educational activities in Israel and around the world. Prior to her work with Beit-Hatefutsoth, Rabbi Avnon-Benveniste served as Head of the Education Department of Beit Daniel, the Center for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv, where she worked to promote a national, social, liberal, Jewish agenda, among state schools and in educational, cultural, and community frameworks, alongside fellow rabbis. Rabbi Avnon-Benveniste speaks in a variety of forums and events and is an expert on major issues in the new Jewish world.

If you missed last week's webinar, you can now listen to the conversation between with faculty members from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Professor Simon Barak and Dana Gavish-Fridman, and Rabbi Greg Weisman. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev sits 25 miles from the border with Gaza and was significantly impacted by the October 7 terrorist attacks. More than 60 BGU students, staff, faculty, and family were either murdered, kidnapped or missing. Since then, the University has transformed, turning dorms into army barracks and homes for displaced families, and mobilizing students and, staff to support the war effort.   They shared how the war in Israel has impacted Ben-Gurion University, the work of Soroka Medical Center that serves the southern part of the country and which treated 1,000 patients in its emergency room on the day of the attack, and how it has affected them personally. Organizations we encourage contributions to include the following: The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is raising money to support Israel's defense and recovery efforts. Magen David Adom is supporting Israel's rescue and medical resources. The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism is supporting the families of Israel's Reform congregations. Please also consider a contribution to Yozma, Temple Beth El's sister congregation in Israel.

Our latest episode with our new friend Rabbi Joseph Edelheit, who's promised to return several more times so we can learn from and listen to one another. Rabbi Joseph joined Johanna and me to share his reflections as a Jew living in Diaspora on the 10/7 Hamas massacre. We discuss other matters but never wander far from today's headlines. Here's a bit about Joseph:50 Years in the Rabbinate: Rabbi Joseph A. Edelheit (C '73) on the Unique Experiences of His Rabbinic Engagement:When I thought about becoming a rabbi as an undergraduate at CAL Berkely in 1966, I could never have imagined the extraordinary experiences I would have. For fifty years, people have asked me to engage them, teach them, and sometimes lead and interpret a meaningful ritual in their life.I have served three Reform congregations over thirty years in the Upper Midwest. where I learned what “windchill” meant. From the outset, the reality of interfaith couples and families became a central focus of my rabbinate. “Intro to Judaism” education and congregational programming have always been a significant concern.Eventually regional and national rabbinic work about gerim/gerut provided me with an opportunity to be a leading advocate for Patrilineal Descent. University teaching became important, especially Jewish-Christian dialogue, which led to an opportunity to do doctoral work at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.HIV/AIDS emerged at a time when those who were among its first patients and deaths were alone and often rejected. I served this tragically unique community, which led to opportunities to lead in how Reform Judaism faced these challenges both in Chicago and nationally. Eventually my work was recognized, and I was asked to serve on President Bill Clinton's Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, 1996–2000.I retired from my congregational rabbinate in 2001 because of challenges to my health, and I finished my doctoral work (DMin) at the University of Chicago in 2001.A state university that settled a class-action lawsuit over antisemitism asked for my help. As part of the settlement, I created a program of campus and community engagement about Jewish culture. Eventually, I became tenured faculty, and retired as Emeritus Professor of Religious and Jewish Studies.Though I tried to bracket my rabbinate at a state university, my pastoral role was called upon by students, faculty, and administration alike. My academic career required teaching about and interpreting Jews, Jewish life and texts, and Judaism to a campus and community of less than fifty Jews.I helped to bring a unique symphony and choral Holocaust memorial program, “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” to the state university and a nearby Catholic university. We later took more than 250 students and faculty to France and Germany and performed it at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp with survivors in the audience.During this period, there was an opportunity in India to continue my HIV/AIDS work with multi-faith organizations who worked among infected children whose parents had died of AIDS. I participated in creating an international NGO that funded and provided service for sixty AIDS orphans in rural India who were all living with HIV/AIDS. Engaging people who had never met a Jew, but invited me to share a meal while sitting on the floor of their hut, added to my life commitment of pluralism.My ongoing academic participation in the Society for Ricoeur Studies, is another unique experience of my rabbinate. I am the former student of Paul Ricoeur, who insists that philosophers and religious thinkers can and should engage in dialogue with a Jewish thinker.My participation in conferences, took me to Rio de Janeiro in 2011 when I was invited to speak to a Reform congregation, ARI. Now eleven years later, that unexpected Shabbat invitation, led to exceptional personal love and another chapter of my rabbinic life, serving the World Union of Progressive Judaism. I volunteer for Brazilian communities who have no rabbi, and whenever asked, I teach at ARI where it all started.During retirement I have written and edited two books with a third in preparation. The current crisis in antisemitism has added a new emphasis to my work in Jewish-Christian dialogue. I will co-teach a course at a Protestant seminary that deals with the challenges of preaching and teaching in response to antisemitism.In 2021, the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, honored me as their alum of the year, the first time a rabbi has ever been awarded this recognition.These fifty years were more meaningful because of the unconditional presence of my children. Still today, it is the love and respect of my family that I cherish the most.

In this special episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Rabbi Joshua Weinberg, Vice President of the URJ for Israel and Reform Zionism, and Executive Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. Together, they discuss what is going on in Israel amid the war with Hamas. Organizations we encourage contributions to include the following: The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is raising money to support Israel's defense and recovery efforts. Magen David Adom is supporting Israel's rescue and medical resources. The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism is supporting the families of Israel's Reform congregations. Please also consider a contribution to Yozma, Temple Beth El's sister congregation in Israel. Other resources mentioned in this episode: ARZA Rabbi Joshua Weinberg's Newsletter The Times of Israel Stand With Us  My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit Catch-67: The Left, the Right, and the Legacy of the Six-Day War by Micah Goodman The Promised Podcast  

Welcome to What Matters Now, a new weekly podcast exploration into one key issue shaping Israel and the Jewish World — right now. Wednesday night on primetime news, Israeli President Isaac Herzog presented his long-awaited "People's Framework," a platform meant to be the basis for working toward a compromise on the judicial overhaul. A few hours later, the platform was rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and judicial overhaul legislation continues apace. This week on What Matters Now, we learn how the new legislation could affect issues of religion and state. We hear from attorney and Reform Rabbi Uri Regev, the head of Hiddush: For Religious Freedom and Democracy, which describes itself as "a non-denominational, non-partisan Israel-Diaspora partnership uniting people across political and religious spectrums." Before founding Hiddush 12 years ago, Regev served as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, a global umbrella organization of the Progressive, Reform, Liberal and Reconstructionist movements, and was the founding chair and executive director and legal counsel of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Prophetically, back in 2015, Regev told The Times of Israel -- after facing off and winning a Supreme Court case against the future MK Simcha Rothman, the author of much of the judicial overhaul --  “it starts and ends with people fighting for the Declaration of Independence.” This week, we hear What Matters Now to religious rights activist Uri Regev. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts. Image: Attorney and Reform Rabbi Uri Regev (far right), head of Hiddush: For Religious Freedom and Equality, in the Israeli Supreme Court. (Courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love that old song by Player: “Baby Come Back” — especially when the singer says: “I was wrong…” It is not that easy to say. But, we do. Because we must. In late July, the Sunday New York Times devoted an entire section to that topic – “I Was Wrong.” The editors of the New York Times invited a cadre of their op-ed writers – among them, as pictured above, Farhad Manjoo, Paul Krugman, Bret Stephens, and Gail Collins – to describe how they had been wrong about what they had once thought, and about what they had once written. It was dazzling — an evocation of one of the themes of the High Holy Day season. “I was wrong.” I asked several of my friends and colleagues — all of them, veteran thought leaders in the American Jewish community — to describe those moments in their careers when they were wrong, didn't get it, or didn't see something coming. My guests: Rabbi Dan Freelander, one of the senior leaders of the Reform movement – who has held many positions within the Reform Jewish world, and is retired from his position as president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and is a popular singer of Jewish music, with Kol B'Seder.  Rabbi Laura Geller, one of the first woman rabbis in North America; former Hillel director, director of Los Angeles office of the American Jewish Congress, and rabbi emerita of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. She, along with her late husband Richard Siegel, is the author of Getting Good at Getting Older.  Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, a rabbi and author who currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for American Jewish University. Rabbi Karyn Kedar, rabbi emerita of Congregation B'nai Joshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield, Illinois, and author

Host: Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich (The Liberal Synagogue Elstree)  Guests: Rabbi Anna Wolfson (Mosaic Jewish Community) & Rabbi Igor Zinkov (The Liberal Jewish Synagogue & Co-Chair, Ukraine Crisis Committee of the World Union for Progressive Judaism)

Dr. Lana (a pediatrician) and Yuri (a technology executive for ALSAC, St. Jude's fundraising arm) Yanishevski, themselves refugees from Kyiv who moved to Memphis 31 years ago, discuss their efforts, in partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to translate medical records for childhood cancer patients leaving Ukraine and seeking treatment around the world.  Consider supporting their work with a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or support Ukrainian Jewish communities via the World Union for Progressive Judaism's Ukraine Crisis Fund.  Their tireless volunteer work has been recognized and reported on by the Today Show, the Associated Press, and the Times of Israel, among many other outlets.  AP and Times of Israel - "Jill Biden visits St. Jude hospital, meets evacuated Ukrainian child cancer patients" Today Show - "Memphis couple works with St. Jude to translate files to help evacuate kids with cancer" St. Jude Press Release - "Ukrainian couple volunteering to help children with cancer get to safety" -- Opening song - "Let There Be Love" by Noah Aronson; performed by Temple Israel Cantorial Soloist Happie Hoffman Find sermons, music, conversations between clergy and special guests, and select Temple Israel University (TIU) classes – easily accessible to you through our podcast, Torah to the People. Learn more about Temple Israel-Memphis at timemphis.org. Thank you to Ajay Cohen for audio and technical support.

Just days before a horrifying hostage standoff at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, we recorded an episode about antisemitism. Our guest: Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D, president of Reconstructing Judaism. Her Evolve essay, “Beyond Antisemitism,” brings a distinctly Reconstructionist perspective, one that calls upon a full understanding of the movement's evolution. In this piece, she lays out a positive call to action. Rather than give in to fear, Deborah argues we should lean into Jewish identity, community and coalition-building and link efforts to combat antisemitism with fighting racism, Islamophobia and other forms of intolerance. Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D., the show's executive producer, joins Bryan Schwartzman as a guest host. The three engage in a wide-ranging conversation and look for areas of hope and uplift at a time when the light can be difficult to see. Theme song, “Ilu Finu” by Rabbi Miriam Margles. Her album This is the Day is available for purchase at CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb Visit our home on the web — Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversions: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org Subscribe by Email at http://subscribebyemail.com/evolve.fireside.fm/rss Read these show notes on the web at https://evolve.fireside.fm/1 This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org (https://ReconstructingJudaism.org). Special Guest: Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D..

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, former president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and author of the new book, "And Sometimes the First Jew," which chronicles the accomplishments, adventures, and “firsts” in Germany for Rabbi Fuchs and his wife Vickie, who are both children of Holocaust survivors. [Read more...] The post Seekers of Meaning 11/05/2021: Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, author of “And Often the First Jew” appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Leading diverse progressive Judaism around the globe. Born in Buenos Aires in 1962, Rabbi Bergman holds a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Pharmaceutics from the University of Buenos Aires, and three Master's degrees: in Education from The Hebrew University, in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Jerusalem, and in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary, Jerusalem. He was ordained at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary of Buenos Aires in 1992, and HUC-JIR in Jerusalem in 1993. He is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbi (CCAR) and a graduate of the Jewish Agency's Jerusalem Fellows program. Founder of the Arlene Fern Community School in Buenos Aires, Rabbi Bergman is well-known for his innovative and inspirational socio-educational and religious projects with Fundación Judaica. He serves as Rabbi at Templo Libertad, Argentina's first Synagogue. Rabbi Bergman began his career as a community leader at Emanu El, epicenter of Argentina's Reform Movement. In 2011, he became the first rabbi ever elected to public office in Argentina and served as representative of the City of Buenos Aires. In 2013, he was elected to represent the city at the nation's congress and in 2015, President Mauricio Macri named him Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, a position he held until the end of President Macri's term in 2019. Named one of the world's 100 most influential leaders in the fight against climate change, Rabbi Bergman has received numerous international distinctions and awards. He has authored seven books, is a distinguished speaker on issues of social justice and human rights, and a strong exponent of civil discourse. Rabbi Bergman is honored to have been appointed President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, beginning in June, 2020. He is married and has four children.

Reform Judaism is one of the three major Jewish religious denominations. Also known as Liberal or Progressive Judaism, it arose in the first decades of the 19th century, mainly in Germany, but it has flourished especially in the United States, where about 750,000 Jews are affiliated with it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/yaar-ben-emmett/support

Anne Malloy joins this episode as a guest as she discusses her experiences with the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Anne has been a member of Rodef Shalom for over 30 years, serving in various roles, including President and Temple Librarian. We discuss her work with the World Union in the former Soviet Union, and why this type of work is so meaningful to her. Be sure to check out the World Union website (https://wupj.org/) to help support this important work.

Host: Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich, Nottingham Liberal Synagogue (NLS) Guests: Janet Berenson (Writer, Poet & Educator), Leonid Bimbat (Rabbi, Moscow Centre for Progressive Judaism) and Cllr Sajid Cllr Sajid Mohammed (Founder & CEO, Himmah Food Bank)

Rabbi Sergio Bergman has a conversation with Tom about his extraordinary life: growing up in a family of Polish Holocaust survivors who found refuge in Argentina and becoming the country's one and only Reform Rabbi. He discusses the effect the 1994 bombing of Buenos Aires’ AMIA Jewish Community Center had on him and why he decided to become a politician in Argentina - the only Rabbi to ever serve as a Government Minister in the country. He reveals what he makes of Pope Francis' recent decision to refuse to bless same sex unions and what he thinks can be done tackle climate change. He also discusses John Lennon's "Imagine". The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) Connections 2021 conference takes place from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 May. This is the biggest global event in Progressive Judaism, at which Rabbi Sergio will be installed as the President of the WUPJ. Register here: https://wupj.org/connections/This episode is brought to you by Modal Electronics, who make beautiful, innovative and powerful synthesisers. You can enjoy vibrant wavetable patches with their ARGON8 series. You can produce state-of-the-art analogue-style synth textures with their COBALT8 series. Go to modalelectronics.com to check out their incredible array of synthesisers.

SBS weekly Yiddish report with Alex Dafner 31/1/2021Malka Leifer, wanted on 74 charges of sexual crimes against students, when she was the Principal of the Addas Israel School in Melbourne, was extradited from Israel to where she escaped in 2008 and arrived in Melbourne under guard, where she will be held on remand to stand trial on those charges.Australian Jews were again among the recipients of national recognitions issued on Australia Day, the 26th of January, with the former Rabbi of the Progressive Judaism movement and author Rabbi Dr John Levi heading up the list, with an AC, Companion of the Order of Australia awardThe Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg headed up an impressive list of speakers and participants, including Holocaust survivors, in the first ever Australia-wide online commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on the 27th January 2021.

Mark is absolutely delighted to welcome Rabbi Sergio Bergman to the podcast today. Currently the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Bergman oversees 1,275 synagogues with 1.8 million members in more than 50 countries. He is an Argentinian-born pharmacist, politician, social activist, and community leader who is well known for many accomplishments, including his innovative and inspirational socio-educational and religious projects. The passage he has chosen to discuss today is Genesis 1:1-5. Rabbi Bergman begins by sharing his summary of the passage, his admiration for Martin Buber’s perspective on it, and the notion of the first light of Creation. He and Mark then discuss the contrast between physical and spiritual light, and the connection between light and so many sacred moments of Jewish life, particularly Hanukkah. The Rabbi concludes the episode with the lessons he has learned about humankind and his call to respect and take care of each other and of nature as well. You will undoubtedly be swept up in the passion and enthusiasm which Rabbi Bergman brings to today’s examination of the light of God and its infusion into our world and everyday lives, demonstrating once more the timeless relevance and guidance inherent in the Torah. Episode Highlights: · Rabbi Bergman’s summary of the passage and its significance for him · Martin Buber · The first light · Physical and spiritual light · The circle of light · The universal challenge · The connection between this passage and Hanukkah · Respecting and taking care of nature · The lessons about humankind that Rabbi Bergman has learned · Noah’s wife’s sacred work Quotes: “We have the beginning of the beginning of humankind.” “This is not a history book.” “The Torah tries to teach us the meaning of our lives.” “What is the light of the first day?” “I think that this light is God’s presence.” “I will put Myself in the physical world.” “Discover the difference between physical and spiritual.” “Where is the hidden light where we can bring more light to the world?” “This is the story of humankind.” “The light is the spirit.” “In your small table, with your close friends and family, you recreate the miracle of the light.” “Life is the light of God.” “We need to be there with our brothers.” “In every generation, in every time, the flood is coming.” “We need to rebuild balance inside and outside.” “Peace is in us.” “Everyday we have a miracle to celebrate.” Genesis 1:1-5 When God began to create heaven and earth— the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water— God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day. https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.1.1-5?lang=bi&aliyot=0 Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: The Rabbi's Husband Mark’s Twitter: Mark Gerson - The Rabbi's Husband (@markgerson) The Rabbi’s Husband Newsletter contact: daniel@therabbishusband.com Notes go here

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, the president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, discusses challenges of identity facing the liberal Jewish community worldwide. The post President of World Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, discusses Jewish identity appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, the president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, discusses challenges of identity facing the liberal Jewish community worldwide. The post President of World Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Sergio Bergman, discusses Jewish identity appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging.

Rabbi Leonid Bimbat of the Moscow Centre for Progressive Judaism, serving the Jews of Russia and other Former Soviet Union countries. He will talk about the root שוב and how the prophets made a revolution by introducing the idea of personal repentance.

Michael Shevack received the rare honor of a private ordination by a Classic Reform Bet Din in 1995. He has been deeply involved in inter-religious dialogue around the world. Shevack has taught Spirituality and Comparative Religion in the School of Social Welfare at S.U.N.Y. Stonybrook, and Business Spirituality at the Iacocca School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University. The author/co-author of 5 books, Shevack is currently the Social Responsibility Officer for the Patton Foundation, working with Helen Patton, the granddaughter of General George S. Patton. He’s also on the board of the Association for Progressive Judaism, and the Daisy Alliance. Prior to ordination, Shevack was an award-winning Madison Avenue Creative Director. He wrote the campaign Gillette. The Best A Man Can Get, still running in 120 countries. His work on Apple computers, won a Silver Lion at Cannes. Shevack has helped many religious groups and non-profits find their voice. Catch Michael Shevack at https://enlightenedjudaism.org/

Michael Shevack received the rare honor of a private ordination by a Classic Reform Bet Din in 1995. He has been deeply involved in inter-religious dialogue around the world. Shevack has taught Spirituality and Comparative Religion in the School of Social Welfare at S.U.N.Y. Stonybrook, and Business Spirituality at the Iacocca School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University. The author/co-author of 5 books, Shevack is currently the Social Responsibility Officer for the Patton Foundation, working with Helen Patton, the granddaughter of General George S. Patton. He’s also on the board of the Association for Progressive Judaism, and the Daisy Alliance. Prior to ordination, Shevack was an award-winning Madison Avenue Creative Director. He wrote the campaign Gillette. The Best A Man Can Get, still running in 120 countries. His work on Apple computers, won a Silver Lion at Cannes. Shevack has helped many religious groups and non-profits find their voice. More about Enlightened Judaism at https://enlightenedjudaism.org/

In this moment of complex activism taking place all over the world during the coronavirus crisis, we speak with Rabbi Sergio Bergman, the new head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Bergman, who is locked down in his Buenos Aires home, is a Reform rabbi who turned social activist after the 1994 bombing of the Jewish Community Center -- an act of terrorism that killed 85 people and wounded hundreds. The perpetrators are yet to be brought to justice and to advocate for the victims, he cofounded the Memoria Activa foundation over 25 years ago, which until today holds demonstrations in front of the Supreme Court, a few steps from the first synagogue of the Argentine Republic, where Bergman holds the pulpit. Eventually Bergman turned to local and then national politics and in 2015, he was appointed Minister of the Environment under President Mauricio Macri, a position he held until 2019. Now Bergman is set to come to Israel to champion world Liberal Jewry and fight for religious freedom in Israel.

Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein, head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

Mutually inspiring sources of Reform Judaism—from places you may not expect. Rita Fruman was raised in the Reform Movement in Belarus, beginning in 1999. In 2001, she became a madricha and then the Director of the Minsk Netzer club, where she oversaw the training of the next generation of leaders in Jewish summer camps. In 2003, she made Aliyah, and can say that her love for Israel was given to her at the Netzer camp. In Israel, her relationship with Reform Judaism has become even stronger both emotionally and professionally. She has been working for World Union for Progressive Judaism since 2005 and today serves as the Director of WUPJ Operations & Programs in the Former Soviet Union. Cantor Rustein currently resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with his wife, Angélica Tobón. He serves as CEO, Student Rabbi and Chazzan at Templo Libertad, Argentina's most historical Jewish congregation. He is currently an advanced rabbinical student in the Iberoamerican Institute for Reform Rabbinical Education. Previously, he trained in Jerusalem (Conservative Yeshiva) and Seminario (Chazzanut). Cantor Rustein was selected by the URJ for the Klal Yisrael Fellowship (as the first South American). Additionally, he has sung in the Vatican to Pope Francis and travelled through Jewish Germany as a guest of the German Government.

This week, my man Charlie Kramer from LA opens up about his blindness and how that has impacted his life as a Jewish songwriter.  Then we talk about the powerful message of hope behind his tune "Closer." Listen to "Closer" and all of the featured songs that have appeared on Jewish songwriter by subscribing to the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.   Legally blind and armed with an acoustic guitar, Charlie Kramer unites, magnetizes and elevates the communities around him. A touring songleader, songwriter & spiritual leader. Charlie has sung with communities throughout North America, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.   Full time song leader at Temple Israel of Hollywood, Head Songleader 3 years running at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, Faculty at the 2016 UPJ Shir Chadash Conference (Union for Progressive Judaism), Presenter at the 2017 ACC Mid Winter Retreat (American Conference of Cantors), featured as an “Emerging Artist” on Jewish Rock Radio, Faculty at the 2019 SLBC National Conference (SongLeader Bootcamp), and host of 2 Jewish Rock Radio shows (Artist Feature and Jewish Camp Rocks), Charlie’s soul shines whenever he leads.   Pioneering generous gear and instrument donations, Charlie worked to transform the camp library into “The Lab”, Camp Hess Kramer’s first ever fully designated music space. Enabling campers to explore their musicality in a fresh environment, the creation of “The Lab” culminated with CHK’s first inaugural Rock Band. Charlie established a thriving youth choir culture with 3 different age groups at Temple Israel of Hollywood (1st-3rd, 4th-6th and 7th-10th grades). This year, co-leading the Teen Chavurah at SLBC, Charlie is more present in the Jewish world of song than ever as he unlocks and activates the potential of each community he leads.   Released in September 2017, Charlie’s debut EP, We Will Overcome maps out personal and global struggles with comforting, spiritually-driven sing-along anthems. With the music of We Will Overcome, Charlie hosted a Gathering for Change- combining concert, social action projects & fundraising together to benefit change-based organizations & communities in need of healing. During one Gathering for Change, Charlie and Temple Israel of Long Beach raised over $1,000 for Hurricane relief in Puerto Rico!! All proceeds (Every Dime!) of We Will Overcome benefit Planned Parenthood and The Ricky Martin Foundation. Charlie's YouTube PageCharlie's SpotifyCharlie's FacebookCharlie's Website This week's episode was brought to you by Bandzoogle which makes it easy to build a stunning website for your music in minutes.  Click here to try it free for 30 days and get 15% off the first year of your subscription.

From piyyutim to zemirot to Yeshiva acapella groups in the United States, the use of music in the Jewish faith is numerous and varied. In this interview, Breann Fallon of the Sydney Jewish Museum chats to Dr Ruth Illman of Åbo Akademi University and Uppsala Universityi n about her research on the role of music as an agent of change within the progressive Jewish community in London that appears in her most recent monograph Music and Religious Change among Progressive Jews in London: Being Liberal and Doing Traditional. In particular, Dr Illman discusses the power of music to fuse the traditional and the liberal in a forward movement of progressive Judaism.

Daniel Freelander, President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, joins Dan and Lex for the second segment in a two-part conversation about the history of Reform Judaism. In today's episode, Freelander walks us through Reform Judaism's journey from the mid-20th century to the present, and we discuss where Reform, and Judaism in general, may be headed in the future. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here. To access full shownotes for this episode, click here!

Daniel Freelander, President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, joins Dan and Lex for the first of a two-part conversation about the history of Reform Judaism. In today's episode, Freelander tells the story of the first 100 years of Reform Jewish history, beginning in Germany and continuing into the first few generations of Reform in the United States. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here. To access full shownotes for this episode, click here!

What have religion and spirituality got to do with climate change?Patrick Nunn, professor of geography at the University of the Sunshine Coast and specialist in Pacific Island cultures, thinks there is a deep and abiding connection that needs to be recognized by ENGOs and climate action campaigners. He explains why in this edition of Dirt Radio.Then, long time climate campaigner and active member of ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black from the Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism talks about his recent participation in the 'Funeral for Coal' action at Minister of the Environment Josh Frydenberg's office, and the outcome of a subsequent meeting with the Minister.

1. Jared Kushner Meets With Palestinian President Abbas US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner along with Trump's Peace Envoy Jason Greenblatt met with Abbas to 'reaffirm their commitment to advancing president trump's goal of a genuine and lasting peace'. Tensions reportedly rose between U.S. and Palestinians over incitement. #JaredKushner #JasonGreenblatt #Abbas ____________________ 2. Senior Russian Politician: You Should Be Glad We're In Syria The chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Parliament, Konstantin Kosa-Chev, is in Israel and tells Israel that Iran has a right to bilateral relations with Assad. #KonstantinKosaChev #Syria ____________________ 3. Iran Hardliner Named As Saudi Arabian Crown Prince King Salman of Saudi Arabia has named a new heir, the 31 year old Muhammad Bin Salman, whose been known for his hawkish, anti-Iran foreign policy. #SaudiArabia #Prince #MuhammadBinSalman ____________________ 4. What's Permissible For Women At The Western Wall? Rabbi Gilad Kariv- Executive Director of The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, Lesley Sachs- Executive Director of Women of The Wall, Rabbi David Fendel- Dean of Yeshivat Hesder and Rabbi Seth Farber - Modern Orthodox Rabbi and Historian speaking at ILTV studio to discuss why the Israeli Supreme Court's order to facilitate the construction of the egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall has been put on ice. #WesternWall #EgalitarianPrayer ____________________ 5. Courts: El Al Can't Move Women Because Of Haredi Men The Jerusalem Magistrate's court has ruled that the practice of asking female passengers to move seats on the airplane when ultra-Orthodox men don't want to sit with them as discriminatory against female gender. #ElAl #Haredi #Women ____________________ 6. Thousands Protest In Jerusalem For Truth On Yemenite Children Thousands of people protested in downtown Jerusalem, demanding that the government acknowledge that the Yemenite kids in the 1950's were abducted and were used for medical experimentation. #Protest #Yemenite #Children ____________________ 7. Israel Court Martials Soldiers For Faking Skin Disease 48 IDF soldiers were court-martialed for faking a skin disease in order to get medical leave. #IDF #CourtMartial ____________________ 8. Third International Yoga Day Draws Thousands To Tel Aviv Hundreds of people poured into Tel-Aviv's Rabin Square yesterday for an incredible demonstration of international respect and celebration of the third annual international yoga day. #Yoga #TelAviv ____________________ 9. Israeli Whiskey Goes To Auction After A Few Years Aging Eitan Attir, CEO of the Milk and Honey Distillery speaking at ILTV studio about the brand new distillery in Tel Aviv that has just produced the first ever Israeli whiskey. #EitanAttir #Distillery ____________________ 10. California Bat Mitzvah Girl Raises 50,000 Dollars For Israel A girl in California, Shira Futornick, raised 50,000 dollars from her bar mitzvah and is donating the money to Arava Center for Agriculture in Israel. #ShiraFutornick #AICAT ____________________ 11. Hebrew word Of The Day, TIRGUL | תרגול = A PRACTICE Learn a new Hebrew word every day. Today's word is "tirgul" which means "a practice" #Learnhebrew #Hebrewwordofday #Iltvhebrewwordofday _____________________ 12. The Weather Forecast Tonight the skies will be clear to partly cloudy with a low of sixty-nine or twenty-one degrees Celsius. The weekend is looking to be pretty sunny with a slight rise in temperatures and a high of eighty-four or twenty-nine degrees Celsius. #Israelweather #Israelforecast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part 2 of a 4-part series, Rabbi Ted Falcon of the Three Interfaith Amigos shares his views on progressive Judaism.

Rabbi Anna Gerard talks to Gerry about liberal or progressive Judaism in Ireland.

Rabbi Address has just returned from participation in the 4th Conference of Jewish Communities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sponsored by the World Union for Progressive Judaism - Latin America WUPJ-LA). The World Union for Progressive Judaism is the international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements, serving 1,200 congregations with 1.8 million members in more than 45 countries. [caption id="attachment_1174" align="alignleft" width="180"] Berta Zylberstajn, executive secretary, World Union for Progressive Judaism - Latin America[/caption] While he was in Buenos Aires, Rabbi Address recorded this interview with Berta Zylberstajn, executive secretary of the WUPJ-LA, about the important role Progressive Judaism is playing the spiritual life of Latin American Jewish communities. [powerpress] Visit www.jewishsacredaging.com for future episodes in this podcast series. 

In Out of Left Field, Rebecca Alpert explores how Jewish sports entrepreneurs, political radicals, and a team of black Jews from Belleville, Virginia called the Belleville Grays -- the only Jewish team in the history of black baseball -- made their mark on the segregated world of the Negro Leagues. Through in-depth research, Alpert tells the stories of the Jewish businessmen who owned and promoted teams as they both acted out and fell victim to pervasive stereotypes of Jews as greedy middlemen and hucksters. Some Jewish owners produced a kind of comedy baseball, similar to basketball's Harlem Globetrotters, that reaped financial benefits for both owners and players but also played upon the worst stereotypes of African Americans and prevented these black "showmen" from being taken seriously by the major leagues. Alpert also shows how Jewish entrepreneurs, motivated in part by the traditional Jewish commitment to social justice, helped grow the business of black baseball in the face of oppressive Jim Crow restrictions.Rebecca Alpert is associate professor of religion and women's studies at Temple University. She is the author of Whose Torah? A Concise Guide to Progressive Judaism. Recorded On: Tuesday, February 28, 2012

 It is an honor to have Rabbi Meir Azari, Senior Rabbi of the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv and Jaffa at our Friday night Shabbat service this week. Rabbi Azari has the largest Reform congregation in Israel and has been a leader in the Israeli Reform Jewish movement for decades. He has written numerous articles for the Israeli press and various...Listen to podcast

This week's links: Progressive Judaism, Wikipedia listing World Union for Progressive Judaism Virtual Jewish History Tour of Latin America Union of Jewish Congregations in Latin America and the Caribbean