Leap of Faith: Connections

As I joined rabbis, cantors and lay leaders from more than 50 countries at the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) Connections conference in Israel, I immediately realised what was missing from the movement’s last gathering: hugs.

Stepping down after eight years of service on the WUPJ’s Executive Board, and having co-chaired its first and (God willing) last online convention, it was deeply emotional to be back together at Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem after six years and a pandemic. The conference was a display of the potential of the WUPJ – our global community of almost two million Reform, Liberal, Reconstructionist and Progressive Jews founded in London back in 1926 – highlighting what we can achieve when we unite.

Connections showed how our Jewish world has been able to provide both Torah (learning) and kemach (sustenance) to those in need. The most moving moment for me was seeing members of our communities in Ukraine receive an Aliyah to the Torah. While they stood receiving their blessing, I learned how the WUPJ’s Ukraine Crisis Fund – managed by a team including the WUPJ’s outgoing chair, Carole Sterling, and Rabbi Igor Zinkov of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood – has been saving lives while keeping Jewish life possible.

I got to spend time with Leo Baeck College-trained Rabbis Julia Gris and Alexander Dukhovny, who were both forced to flee Ukraine. They told me how financial support from around the world continues to help both people and congregations in Ukraine – who they still serve via video-conference – and refugees and refugee communities in many different countries.

Another highlight was the WUPJ Torah Exchange organised by Andrew Keene, where established global congregations donate scrolls to developing and emerging communities who need them to grow. We often talk about Judaism being passed from one generation to the next, and this moment was a visual display of that mantra – as the seven sifrei Torah continued their journey across the world by being ceremonially handed, during the Shabbat service, from their current congregation to their new one.

Of course, any conference taking place in Israel must address our fears over the country’s extreme right-wing Government. Led by WUPJ president Rabbi Sergio Bergman, and including visits to the Knesset and Supreme Court, our global Progressive Jewish community pledged itself to continue to fight for an Israel that is both Jewish and democratic. Many delegates, myself included, also joined the millions of Israelis taking part in the marches and protests against the planned judicial overhaul that would irreparably damage this ideal.

As the conference ended, with the torch being passed from one strong and deeply caring WUPJ chair, Carole Sterling (Canada), to the next, Phyllis Dorey (Australia), I know my friends from the global Jewish family are just a Zoom call away. But there will be nothing like hugging them, walking hand in hand and joining them in prayer and song when we meet again at the next Connections.