March 15, 2025 -
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Dear fellow Mishkan Or members,
When my husband, Joe, and I were ready to tie the knot, we decided that we wanted the big day to take place in Israel. As we started the process of marriage, we learned that our rabbi couldn’t officiate our wedding in Israel simply because he was ordained a Reform rabbi. Having learned that only ultra-Orthodox rabbis perform life cycles in Israel, we pivoted to getting married in the United States and only have our wedding celebration in Israel.
This, among other issues, are policies made by the Israeli government that can exclude the Reform Jewish voice. Thankfully, we have a political presence in Israel – the World Zionist Congress (WZC), which meets every five years providing Diaspora Jews with the opportunity to express their views that shape policies and government-sponsored programs in Israel.
We are represented by ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America, which works with the Reform Movement to promote a more equal, democratic, and pluralistic Israel. As a part of the WZC elections, ARZA prepared a slate of delegates that would represent and advocate for our values in the coming years when the Congress assembles.
The delegates that will serve at the WZC will be determined by how many people vote for the Reform slate. Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum, Mishkan Or member, Dr. Tom Abelson, and I are all on the ARZA slate- so a vote for Reform is not only a vote for our values, but it is a vote for your clergy and members of our community to represent our movement!
As American Jews we should concern ourselves with the Reform Movement globally, especially in Israel. We should receive the same funds and opportunities as other movements in Israel. Moreover, our way progressive values and Jewish practice should be recognized in the Jewish homeland and voting in the WZC ensures that our Jewish experience matters and your vote can make all the difference.
Let us together cast our vote for our voice to be heard!
Rabbi Yael Dadoun, Congregation Mishkan Or
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