A Torah scroll donated by Beth Israel earlier this year is traveling the country, synagogue to synagogue, and will then go to Jerusalem for Women of the Wall’s Rosh Chodesh Tamuz celebration at the end of June. Once in Israel, it will be given to Sha’ar HaNegev, a Reform community in the Northern Negev desert. Sha’ar HaNegev is just one of many congregations in Israel which is reaching out to Israelis eager for an inclusive Judaism that here in North America, we sometimes take for granted as the norm.
The journey, called Torateinu ARZA, is an initiative of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. ARZA strengthens and enriches the Jewish identity of Reform Jews in the United States by ensuring that a connection with Eretz Yisrael is a fundamental part of that identity. It also develops support for and strengthens the Reform movement in Israel and promotes advocacy for a Jewish, pluralistic, just and democratic society in the State of Israel.
The scroll left San Diego on Monday, February 10, following a beautiful blessing by Rabbi Michael Berk. On Sunday, February 16, it arrived at Greene Family Camp, where over 100 NFTY regional board members learned about the project and gave the Torah its official youth send-off.
As the scroll journeys, over 20 North American communities in every region of the country, will gather to discuss the pressing civil issues currently unfolding in the State of Israel through the lens of Torah values. Issues related to gender equality, immigration reform, human rights, and religious freedom. The journey will raise awareness, create public discussion forums, and give Reform Jews the opportunity to bring the vision of a pluralistic and democratic Israel to fruition. Think of the statement that our Torah and ARZA can make together to the American Jewish community and to Israel: liberal Jews care deeply about an inclusive and just Israel, and are ready to make it happen.
Follow the Torah’s journey here.
URJ Blog Post about Torateinu ARZA
Learn more about ARZA here.
Here’s where the Torah has been and is going (subject to change):
Fri Feb 7 San Diego
Sun Feb 16 NFTY Veida at Greene Family Camp
Feb 28-Mar 2 Austin, Texas
Mar 7-9 Dallas, Texas
Mar 14-16 Los Angeles
Mar 21-23 San Francisco/Palo Alto
Mar 28-30 Seattle
Mar 30-Apr 2 Chicago – CCAR Convention
April 5 ARZA Gala, New York
Apr 6-Apr 13 Minneapolis/St. Paul
Apr 14-18 Milwaukee
Apr 18-20 Miami
Apr 25-27 New Orleans
May 2- 4 Atlanta
May 5 -May 11 NYC
May 16-18 Boston
May 23-25 Toronto
May 30-Jun 1 New Jersey
Jun 4-8 Cincinnati
Jun 13-15 DC
Jun 20 Israel