Over 1,200 congregations around
the world – both large and small - currently affiliate with Reform Judaism.
From the former Soviet Union, Germany and Israel to Australia, Latin America
and beyond, Jews are experiencing an awakening or a rebirth of congregational
activity on new and unparalleled levels. With an estimated 1.8 million members
in 45 countries, the liberal streams of Judaism now represent a global
community with diverse practices and yet similar goals: to build a
contemporary, creative expression of Jewish spiritual and cultural identity
around the world that is rooted in our rich Jewish traditions.
Like Congregation Micah, Progressive Judaism is rooted in the Torah, especially
the teachings of the Hebrew Prophets. It is founded on authentic manifestations
of Jewish creativity, ancient and modern, which stress inwardness and desire to
learn what God expects from us: justice and equality, democracy and
peace, personal fulfillment and collective obligations. The practices of
Progressive Judaism are anchored in Jewish thought and tradition. They seek to
extend the range of observance by granting full equality to all Jews,
irrespective of gender and sexual orientation, while challenging laws that are
contrary to Judaism's fundamental principles.
Of the 12 million Jews in the world today, nearly one-third still live in
countries where Jewish life is weak and where there are few opportunities for
meaningful Jewish practice. It is the goal of the World Union for
Progressive Judaism to ensure that all Jews have access to the vibrant
Jewish life that can best inspire them spiritually and bring their communities
together practically. We at Micah are also committed to this sacred task. Under
the tutelage of Rabbi Ken Kanter several members of Congregation Micah have gone
on to become rabbis. This list includes Rabbi Nicole Roberts, who will be
installed as rabbi of North Shore Temple Emanuel in Australia next month and
Student Rabbi Noah Scacciaferro who is studying in Cincinnati. Student
Rabbi Michael Cohen, who began his studies in Jerusalem this past year, was
there at Micah’s founding in 1992. He is a former Confirmand whose father
rests peacefully in our cemetery, and he writes to you from Israel (below) on
behalf of the Jews of the Former Soviet Union.
Shalom from Jerusalem! I am halfway into my first year of rabbinical
school at Hebrew Union College. From witnessing the conflict between Hamas and
Israel to the recent elections, this has been a truly eventful and experiential
year. I eagerly look forward to sharing my stories with you all when I spend
some time at Micah this summer shadowing the Rabbis Rice. It’s been a very long
time since I was home in Nashville for an entire summer. After graduating
from Brentwood High School in 2003, I went on to study at Brandeis University. Then
I joined the United States Army where I served for the last five years.
In that time, I deployed to Haiti, Kuwait, Qatar, and Afghanistan. As of
May 2012, I switched into the US Army Chaplain Corps and moved to Jerusalem for
my first year of rabbinical school. Following in the footsteps of several
Micah members who came before me, I would not be on this path without the
support and Jewish education that I received growing up at Micah and the
guidance of all of my teachers including Rabbis Ken Kanter, Philip and Laurie
Rice. I am forever grateful.
This Passover I will be traveling to the Former Soviet Union (FSU) to lead a
Seder as well as teach Jewish education classes. The FSU Pesach Project brings
students from Hebrew Union College together with Jewish communities of the
Former Soviet Union (FSU) to celebrate Passover. This project was created in
response to a call from FSU Jewish communities with insufficient access to
progressive Jewish experiences. In close partnership with the World Union of
Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), the FSU Pesach Project has seen 10 years of
success. Last year's project enabled nearly 5500 people in Russia, Belarus, and
the Ukraine to come around Seder tables together in celebration. Every Jew,
regardless of where they grew up, deserves a Jewish experience that resonates
with their values.
In order to achieve this goal, each student needs to personally raise $2500
through tax deductible contributions. As such, I am asking the Micah
community for assistance in this effort. For many of the people I will
have the privilege of teaching and learning from, this will be their first
formal Jewish experience. So I/we need your help. Please visit the
following website to help bring Passover to those who have never experienced
it. http://fsupesachproject2013.wordpress.com
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing all of you this summer! - Michael G
Cohen
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