In appreciation and admiration - Joan Garson

Many messages of congratulations and thanks have gone out to the members of the worldwide Reform community over the last few days. At the risk of repetition, I want to add my own.

ARZENU was included on the conference calls with the other leaders of the Reform and Conservative streams in Israel and North America, and the leaders of the federations of the United States, which co-coordinated the response to the Conversion Bill. This is a most appropriate recognition of the roles that each constituent ARZENU organization around the world has played in the struggle to prevent the Conversion Bill from being presented to the Knesset.

I hope you all appreciate that the leverage which was brought to bear on the Labour Party in Israel during this struggle, to give active support for our position, was much strengthened by the relationship which has developed between ARZENU and Labour, within the Siah at the Congress and beyond. It is fair to say that that relationship made a major contribution to the result which was achieved.

The basis of that relationship was, in large part, I am told, the strength of ARZENU through the Congress mandates and in our actions at the Congress, together with World Union and with our constituent organizations including, of course, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ).

I believe that ARZENU's strength within the WZO together with the World Union and the Israel Movement, in numbers and actions, also strengthened our hand in dealing with Kadimah over the course of the last few days. Kadimah was able to more fully appreciate the strength of Reform as a potential partner in the future.

We should also be very proud of the work of our friends and partners in the IMPJ and IRAC over the days of the struggle against the Bill. It was clear during the conference calls that the leadership of the Israel Movement was respected by all and indeed was key in this struggle. As Diaspora Reform Jews, we were extremely well served by our Israeli colleagues. Todah raba raba.

The partnership of Reform organizations during the last few days was inspiring. Rabbi Danny Allen, the Executive Director of ARZA (US) and Rabbi Saperstein, the Chair of the RAC, both travelled to Israel, and worked tirelessly there with the leadership on the ground. The commitment and team effort of all of the Reform leadership as well the Conservative and Federation leadership during the calls coordinated by Rabbi Kleinman was simply irreplaceable.

It is my real pleasure to thank all of the leadership of the ARZENU constituent organizations for the work which was done around the world, often in partnership with the World Union, the URJ and many others. The mobilization which took place was astonishing - and effective. Kol hakavod.

And on all of our behalves, I thank Dalya for her support in sharing information through email and through the website, to keep us all informed. Again, todah!

This struggle is not over. There will be many others ahead in the battle to create a more pluralistic Israel. We will continue to strengthen the ties within ARZENU and between all of the branches of the Reform Movement, including with our partners in Israel. It is heartening, at a time of such challenge, to see how effectively and with what vision we can work together.

Joan