Message from Rabbi Gilad Kariv, IMPJ director

This past week was a week of great challenges as we stood together, one strong Jewish community, struggling over the face of Israeli society. I am happy to update you that thanks to our joint efforts, we were successful in stopping the Conversion Bill from going to a vote this Wednesday.

Currently, Netanyahu has declared he does not support the bill and has expressed his intention to form a special committee to promote a dialogue around these burning issues - recognition of Reform Judaism - Klal Israel and its relationship to the Jewish state.

However, this troubling development is far from over. While we have succeeded in stopping the bill for now, we have strong reasons to believe the Bill will be put to vote once again as soon as the Knesset returns from its summer break, and we must be ready to rally our opposition once again.

Having said that, we all deserve a huge “Kol HaKavod” (well done)! Once again the Reform community has proven its unity and remarkable leadership as Israel and world Jewry worked hand-in-hand in full cooperation against this outrageous legislation.

This is the time to appreciate you, our friends and colleagues, members, professionals and lay leaders of all Reform and Progressive organizations worldwide. Specific recognition should be given to the leaders of the North American Jewish community as they literally got on the plane and within 24 hours, they were walking the Knesset corridors with us in our joint effort to stop this legislation.

We could not have done this without the support and partnership of all of you. The unified Reform front presented before the Members of Knesset as well as the Prime Minister proved once again that the Reform and Progressive community, in Israel and worldwide, is one and is strong.

I also wish to thank all of the IMPJ and IRAC staff and lay leaders who rose to the challenge and led a professional, well-organized and inspiring fight. You have made me proud to be a Reform Israeli citizen.

On this day of the 9th of Av, the day when we commemorate the destruction of both the first and second ancient Temples, we must take the time and reflect on the role the Reform and Progressive community carries in the shaping of a more tolerant and pluralistic Israeli society.

"It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it" (Avot 2:16)