Temple Isaiah’s board adopted a new project to support Reform Judaism in Israel called Hineini: Embracing Our People, Building Our Future. Over the next two years, Temple Isaiah, together with other Reform congregations in North America that are participating in the project, will be raising money for the sponsorship of Israeli Reform rabbinical students.
The project is intended to address the need for strong and innovative leadership in Israel, where Progressive Jewish affiliation is growing rapidly. The scholarships, given to Israeli rabbinical students studying at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, will finance the last
two years of the students’ seminary tuition and provide the rabbis with seed money to create new Reform Judaism projects once they are ordained. Throughout the next two years, we will have the opportunity to establish lasting relationships with these rabbis (through online chats, video pen pal programs, and quarterly newsletters), and learn more about the traditions and challenges of Reform Judaism in Israel.
This project is part of a Reform Movement-wide initiative adopted by the General Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism at the Biennial convention in November 2003. The initiative was proposed by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union, in recognition of the need to strengthen the Movement’s connection to Reform Jewish peoplehood and the State of Israel. In concert with the grassroots nature of the Hineini program, (Name of Congregation) is asking each of our members to contribute at least $18/year for two years to support the sponsorship of these rabbinical students. We hope that through our efforts and those of other Reform synagogues, they will create innovative Progressive Jewish programs that meet the spiritual needs of today’s Israelis and enrich religious life in Israel for years to come.
For more information about the Hineini project and Temple Isaiah’s involvement, visit the Hineini website (http://www.urj.org/hineini) or contact Emily Blanck, Temple Isaiah’s Hineini Coordinator and co-chair of the Israel Committee.
View a video about Hineini here.
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