20
of years of Jewish tradition, beyond the excellent
vocational opportunities, such work offers a life that
is meaningful and leaves the world a better place.
We will continue to build our focus on and our
presence in Jerusalem. As the only North American
seminary with a full campus and program in Israel,
we are proud to be uniquely positioned to influ-
ence both Israeli and North American society, and
to ensure that the relationship between these two
great centers of Jewish life continues and thrives.
With our 84 ordained Israeli Reform rabbis and
many more studying in our program in Jerusalem
right now, in addition to the scores we have trained
in pluralistic Jewish education and chaplaincy, we
have already seen the indelible impact we can have
on Israeli religion, government, and society. We
must further ensure that visiting groups, family
and congregational trips, and
b’nai mitzvah
find a
welcoming home on our Jerusalem campus as well.
With dedication and hard work, we must improve
the understanding and linkage of Reform Jews
worldwide with our Jewish State and with all our
global partners, and we must fervently support
and advocate for the long-term security of the
State of Israel.
I would humbly suggest another project: we need
to consider precisely what it means to be Reform
Jews in an increasingly post-denominational world.
For me, Reform Judaism has always symbolized
what I consider to be the best of Judaism – firmly
rooted in our tradition, yet egalitarian, inclusive of
patrilineal Jews and intermarried families, welcom-
ing to the LGBT community, politically active,
and comfortably in dialogue with other faiths and
ideologies. But when we look around the commu-
nity, these qualities alone may no longer actually
distinguish us from many other developing streams
of Jewish life.
I dream of a Reform Judaism that is distinctive,
where the great ideas we stand for are a lasting
source of pride. To make this so, we must begin
to addresses anew the many challenges extant in
the world around us: from defeating poverty to
improving healthcare and upgrading public edu-
cation; from finding some rational way to decrease
the frightening gun violence in our midst to tend-
ing to the environment; from considering aspects
of foreign policy in an ever more complicated glob-
al scene to ensuring that voices are heard all across
the political spectrum. HUC-JIR must continue
to be a place where critical conversations like this take
place on the most vital issues, not in overly partisan
and polarizing ways, but in a deeper, more informed
fashion. The Jewish world will be better for it, and
we are perfectly positioned to make it happen.
Finally, we plan for the College-Institute to expand
its global thought leadership in the years to come,
allowing members of our community and our
affiliates to benefit from the creativity and expertise
of our faculty and students through new online
offerings, new kinds of conferences and gather-
(
From right) Cantor Yvon
F. Shore, Cantor Alane
Katzew, Rabbi Cantor
Angela Warnick Buchdahl,
Cantor Benjie Schiller, and
Merri Lovinger Arian.
“
We must send the message, loud and clear,
that there is nothing more exciting, more
important or more fulfilling than working
in today’s Jewish community. Such work
offers a life that is meaningful and leaves
the world a better place.”