What is the IMPJ?

Founded in the 1970s, the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism – the Reform Movement’s sister organization in Israel – now comprises 30 synagogues; 2 kibbutzim; a special community in the Northern Galilee, Harel; the Israel Religious Action Center, and a youth movement that is similar to NFTY.

What is the role of the Israeli Progressive Movement in Israel?

While a recent survey noted that 80% of Israeli Jews consider themselves "secular," 34% of all Israeli Jews responded that the Progressive movement is the Jewish movement with which they most identify. (23% stated that they identify most with Orthodox Judaism).

For the first time since the founding of the IMPJ, the Israeli Government has provided land and buildings for Reform synagogues in Israel. More people than ever before are involved in study and religious programs at our Israeli synagogues. The Reform Movement, through the IMPJ, is becoming a force in the lives of thousands of individuals through the Jewish Agency and in local and national government institutions.

Why is there a need for a special campaign at this time?

The crazy worldwide economy.

Much of the financial support of the IMPJ and its member congregations comes from individual contributions from North America. With the devaluation of the dollar – something we see every day at the gas station and the grocery store – a 30% shortfall has been created, just over two million shekels. The value of the donations supporting the IMPJ, the Israel Religious Action Center, and the dozens of rabbis, teachers, lawyers, and community organizers involved in building Reform Judaism in Israel are at risk.

Why is the Union for Reform Judaism involved in this effort?

It's not just the Union for Reform Judaism. Leadership from the Union, HUC, the CCAR, the World Union, ARZA, and ARZA Canada, have all come together to help the IMPJ. As Rabbi Yoffie notes in the Spring issue of Reform Judaism Magazine...

"For Reform Jews, the stakes are especially high. If we fail to establish a significant presence on Israeli soil and do not become a powerful force in the next generation, we will have consigned ourselves to the margins of Jewish history. While Reform success in Israel gives me confidence that this will not happen, it is for this reason that our support of Reform Judaism in Israel is so vitally important. "