After accusing the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation of failing to support the front lines of pluralism in Israel, several local heavy-hitting Reform Rabbis met last week with federation leaders to plead their case. The meeting, despite a positive response from all sides, produced no concrete proposals for action.
The rabbis are seeking money for beleaguered non-Orthodox causes in Israel. Some metropolitan area federations do offer direct support to cash-strapped Reform and Conservative synagogues in the Jewish state.
“What is good in Israel is under attack. Democracy is imperiled. Those of us who love Israel need to respond,” said Rabbi Richard Block, who will move to Israel in July to become executive director of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. The organization joined forces with ARZA last year.
Block, currently the spiritual leader of Los Altos Hills Congregation Beth Am, spearheaded the effort for JCF to redress its approach to pluralism.
He spoke after the closed-door meeting, attended by 10 other Reform rabbis and one Conservative rabbi, as well as representatives from ARZA/World Union, North America.
With the Orthodox monopoly growing ever more militant in Israel, the rabbis claim that JCF’s longtime policy of funding educational programs — but not the building of institutions that provide them — is not effective enough.
“The federation supports democracy in Israel to create pluralism. We think they should support pluralism to create democracy,” Block said.
“It was a very helpful meeting,” said Larry Hochberg, chair of ARZA’s Unity Campaign, which seeks to pool money for Reform construction projects in Israel. Hochberg, who traveled from Chicago to attend the meeting, added, “My feeling is that the federation will be more active in helping the Reform movement.”
Wayne Feinstein, JCF’s executive vice president, said that among a number of ideas mulled over at the meeting, he had some interest in aiding a Reform partner synagogue in Israel.
“We want to find new ways of deepening our connection with people in Israel,” Feinstein said.
Local rabbis who have been pressuring JCF to provide cash to non-Orthodox efforts stressed that diaspora communities need to realize Israel has reached a new boiling point.
“Israel, which is always changing, is in a new phase,” said Rabbi Michael Berk, regional director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Reform movement’s congregational arm. “I’m hopeful we’ve begun a constructive conversation that will lead to more help for pluralism.”
Though Rabbi Lavey Derby, spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon, was the lone Conservative rabbi at the meeting, he said his peers are solidly behind furthering Jewish diversity in Israel. “The issue cuts across denominational lines. Promoting pluralism is in the best interest of all Jews,” he said.
Derby promised to work with Block to press for those goals at a meeting with the federation scheduled in the coming month.
Block said he’s hopeful the JCF will decide it’s in its best interest to provide money for underfunded Reform and Conservative projects in Israel.
“I’m optimistic. However, it would be a tragedy for our community if nothing concrete came out of this meeting,” Block added.