This week, a delegation of leaders from our RA, USCJ, JTS, Ziegler, Mercaz USA, Masorti Israel, Masorti Foundation, and Masorti/Mercaz Olami met with Israel's new president, Isaac Herzog. We spoke of our shared connection with movement institutions and the hope of increased success for the Masorti movement in Israel and strengthening religious pluralism. [Read the full Facebook post]
Our delegation also had the chance to meet with a number of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Knesset to advocate for religious pluralism. They received an inside take on the status of this month-long coalition, and also heard from members of the opposition. Finally, our delegation attended meetings with Masorti organizations based in Israel. [Read the full Facebook post]
Our RA commends the members of our delegation for their dedication and insights around the future of the Masorti movement in Israel.
Photo caption (from left):
Heidi Schneider, Board Chair of the Masorti Foundation; Sophie Fellman Rafalovitz, President of Masorti Israel; Ashira Konigsburg, Chief Operating Officer of the Rabbinical Assembly; Ned Gladstein, President of USCJ; Gideon Aronoff, Executive Director of Masorti Israel; Sarrae G. Crane, Executive Director of Mercaz USA; Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies; President Isaac Herzog; Rakefet Ginsberg, Executive Director of Masorti Israel; Jacob Blumenthal, Chief Executive Officer of the Rabbinical Assembly and USCJ; Mauricio Balter, Executive Director of Masorti Olami and Mercaz Olami; Shuly Rubin Schwartz, Chancellor of JTS; Tehila Reuben, Deputy Director of Masorti Olami and Mercaz Olami; Stewart L. Vogel, President of the Rabbinical Assembly; Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization; Mikie Goldstein, President of RA Israel region; Zvi Vapni, Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor to President Herzog