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On Friday, July 25, Rabbi Uri Regev, president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism will give us an update on our movement's presence outside North America and in Israel.
An engaging speaker, Rabbi Regev, is an internationally renowned leader and pwoerful advocate of the liberal movements of Judaism in his native Israel and around the world. He is president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the global organization uniting the Progressive, Reform, Liberal and Reconstructionist movements, serving more than 1,200 congregations and communities in 42 countries on six continents.
As head of the World Union, Rabbi Regev works to strengthen modern, pluralistic Jewish life and democracy in the Jewish state and worldwide. He also guides the organization in tikkun olam (repairing the world) initiatives through social advocacy programs on both the local level and in partnership with prominent international non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations. He lectures widely on current political, social and religious issues that are of vital interest to all Reform Jews.
Prior to assuming leadership of the World Union in 2002, Rabbi Regev served as founding chair, and later as executive director and legal counsel, of the Israel Religious Action Center, the advocacy group established by the Reform movement in Israel. In that capacity he has defended the rights of Sabbath-observant Jews and argued cases concerning religious pluralism and human equality for all Israeli citizens, including the prohibition of public transportation on Shabbat, the problem many women have obtaining a divorce through the rabbinic courts, mass exemption from military service for yeshiva students, discriminatory state funding for Orthodox institutions and more. The historic victories in the Israeli Supreme Court in cases involving the "Who is a Jew?" issue and equitable funding for Reform and Conservative institutions were won under his leadership and received prominent media coverage in Israel and abroad.
A cum laude graduate of Tel Aviv University Law School and Hebrew Union College-Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, where he was ordained in 1986, Rabbi Regev served in the Israeli Defense Force as an assistant legal advisor in the Gaza Strip and Sinai and as military prosecutor for the Israeli Navy. He retired from military service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
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Do you want an introduction to Jewish life? Do you know someone who wants a greater feel for Jewish traditions?
This series of classes, on August 20th, 27th and September 3rd at 7:30 p.m., requires no prior konwledge of Judaism. It is designed for beginners, or those who are interested in learning more about Judaism, whether they are born Jewish or not. During these informal discussions, anyone seeking more knowledge about Judaism will experience Reform Judaism's approach to living in our rapidly changing society.
ALL ARE WELCOME, Jewish or not. Each class will be taught by oneo f our Rabbis. There is no cost to attend- but we would like to know if you are coming.
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