"It is time for Rabbi Rick Jacobs to step down for a new generation of leadership to bring the Reform Movement into its next era of growth and impact," said the open letter.
"Our synagogue and American Jewry support Israel unconditionally, not uncritically, there never was such a Jew who was an uncritical Jew, but we support Israel unconditionally," said Hirsch.
HUC-JIR's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem is a hub for Reform Judaism in Israel. Its programs educate and prepare Israeli rabbis to lead religious pluralism in Israel and serve global Jewry.
Hirsch warned of a "deteriorating commitment to liberal values on the Left," which was camouflaged behind ideological rhetoric about anti-racism, anti-colonialism, human rights, and progress.
In the Jewish vernacular, caring for the dead is called chesed shel emet (“true kindness”) because bestowing honor upon the dead is a favor that cannot be returned by the beneficiary.
We can either all unite around a shared narrative and ethos, despite our differences, or find ourselves pulled back into the internal wars in a sad and predictable process.
As Benjy celebrates 40 years since his aliyah, he remains positive yet realistic.
Our history is a poignant testament to the power of solidarity; it is the fortress that has protected our values, culture, and very existence throughout millennia of challenges.
From solidarity to uncertainty: American Reform Jews and the Israel disconnect
Rehfeld cited “financial constraints” and enrollment among the reasons for discontinuing the programs.
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