Israel Religious Action Center - IRAC

15/10/2026

Israel's 2026 Elections: What's at Stake?

With Israelis preparing to vote on October 27, questions about the country's future extend far beyond who will form the next government. What will the election mean for democracy, religious freedom, and the place of Reform Judaism in Israeli society?

This week, we're sharing a recording of a special election webinar organized by the Reform movement, featuring political journalist Tal Schneider, IMPJ CEO Anna Kislanski, and IRAC Executive Director Orly Erez-Likhovski. Moderated by Shoshana Dweck, Co-Chair of Arzenu, the conversation examines the political landscape, the Reform movement's priorities for the next government, and the role of Diaspora Jews in Israel's future.

https://youtu.be/Zmp5rjdlMp8
Watch the webinar recording on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Orly Erez-Likhovski
Anna Kislanski
www.instagram.com/talschneider/
Shoshana Dweck
Josh Weinberg
Arzenu Olami
ARZA
Reform Judaism in Israel
Union for Reform Judaism

14/10/2026

Reform Judaism in Israel
מרם מועצת הרבנות הרפורמית בישראל

REFORM JUDAISM IN ISRAEL: PUBLIC STATEMENT ON OLIVE HARVEST IN WEST BANK: TO OUR SHAME, THE OLIVE TREE HAS NOW BECOME A SYMBOL FOR INTIMIDATION AND CRUELTY. WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS!

Appalling acts of violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians and human rights activists in the West Bank

The destruction and burning of olive trees, the prevention of Palestinian farmers from accessing their olive groves, and even the brazen theft of olives from their trees in broad daylight have become daily occurrences.

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“Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” (Jeremiah 22:3)

The appalling acts of violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians and human rights activists in the West Bank have been escalating for many months. Now, with the beginning of the olive harvest season, the situation has deteriorated even further. The destruction and burning of olive trees, the prevention of Palestinian farmers from accessing their olive groves, and even the brazen theft of olives from their trees in broad daylight have become daily occurrences. According to data collected by the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din, 109 incidents of violence and attacks against Palestinian farmers were documented in 75 communities across the West Bank during the first ten days of the harvest season alone—and the season has only just begun. These acts threaten the livelihoods of numerous families who have depended on olive cultivation for generations.

Appallingly, these acts have not been met with the firm response they demand from law enforcement authorities, creating a situation of lawlessness in which everyone does as they please, with no accountability for their actions. This is an intolerable situation that must not be allowed to continue.

The Israel Reform Movement and the Israel Council of Reform Rabbis express their profound outrage at these acts, which stand in direct contradiction to Jewish values.

Those responsible for these acts have forgotten the biblical prohibition against theft and robbery: “You shall not defraud your fellow. You shall not commit robbery” (Leviticus 19:13), as well as the words of the prophet Micah, who condemned those who “covet fields, and seize them [...] They defraud people of their homes, and rob them of their inheritance” (Micah 2:2).

On the contrary, in Jewish tradition, the olive tree and the olive harvest symbolize peace and deliverance, as in the story of Noah, as well as righteousness and concern for the vulnerable, as the Torah commands: “When you beat down the fruit of your olive trees, do not go over them again; that shall go to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:20).

To our shame, the olive tree has now become a symbol of intimidation and cruelty. We refuse to accept this.

We call upon all those who hold the values of justice, morality, and human dignity dear to their hearts to condemn these acts and raise their voices unequivocally against violence and theft.

We reiterate our call upon the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police to take all necessary measures without delay to protect olive grove owners and their property, identify those responsible for these unlawful acts, and bring them to justice.

ARZA
Union for Reform Judaism
Arzenu Olami
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

12/10/2026

Orly Erez-Likhovski writes from her heart about the violence in the West Bank. She talks about the olive harvest and how Palestinian olive farmers, who depend deeply on the olive harvest each year are denied access to their groves, because of settlers who regularly attack, because the army who refuses to protect the Palestinians... This is unacceptable. Orly writes: We must continue raising a Jewish voice demanding equality and dignity for all. Democracy is at stake. It is under attack and this violence is but one manifestation of that threat...

"what should be an annual occasion of abundance and communal productivity, particularly for Palestinians, has become one of the most violent times of the year in the West Bank, where Al Walaja and its time-defying tree are located.

Under the current government, Jewish terrorism in the West Bank is growing increasingly severe, reaching horrifying proportions. Jewish extremists in facemasks, armed with clubs and guns, set fire to trees and attack Palestinian harvesters, driving them from their groves.

The terror inflicts severe economic harm, as the olive industry is a cornerstone of Palestinian agriculture in the West Bank, sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of families and communities. The mesik isn't merely a tradition during which people harvest fruit from trees planted by grandparents and great-grandparents and the generations before them, sharing stories handed down as they engage with their patrimony. It is vital to the livelihoods of families and entire communities. The violence of the Jewish terrorists has the clear aim of imposing fear and hardship, impairing the viability of Palestinian economic life in order to seize control of more and more areas of the West Bank.

In the past two weeks alone, the human rights NGO Yesh Din has documented 355 incidents of violence, 100 of them related to the olive harvest.

Appallingly, this terrorism is rarely met with arrests or indictments by law enforcement authorities, except in exceptional cases. Not only do the police and military in most cases fail to protect Palestinians, but soldiers often back the Jewish perpetrators. Although it is the army's legal responsibility to provide security for the farmers, units often respond by declaring the olive groves "closed military zones", suspending the harvest.

In October, military orders have already restricted Palestinian access to nearly 22,000 acres of olive groves—almost one-fifth of the West Bank's olive-growing land— requiring farmers to obtain prior military coordination to enter their land, which is often delayed or indeterminately deferred, putting a substantial part of the harvest and the livelihoods that depend on it at risk.

What is happening in the olive groves is not only a story of extremist violence. It is also a test of the rule of law. When authorities fail to protect vulnerable communities and hold perpetrators accountable, the consequences extend far beyond the West Bank. They undermine the very foundations of a democratic society."

Read the entirety of Orly's email here:
https://mailchi.mp/irac.org/ancient-roots-and-moral-responsibilities

Photo from olive harvest 2025 near the threatened Palestinian village of Taybeh.
ARZA
Arzenu Olami
Reform Judaism in Israel
Union for Reform Judaism

07/10/2026

FOREVER Simchat Torah will be etched upon our collective minds as October 7th. In Israel, today, we mark that day.... A day that has left nobody untouched or unscratched... So much has been lost. So many people killed and so many who have survived but have not recovered. We remember... Orly Reflects: (Scroll down to the bottom to get to the link of the full mailing and to get the link to the podcast episode with Josh Weinberg).
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“After the holidays” is a uniquely Israeli expression. It refers to the return to routine after the High Holy Days. For three weeks from Rosh Hashanah to Simchat Torah, it feels like there are more holidays than ordinary days. While the festivities and family time are wonderful, usually by the end of Tishrei, we yearn for normalcy and routine.

But these are not normal times.

For the past three years, there has been no real routine, no real “after the holidays.” And Simchat Torah, the anniversary of October 7th according to the Jewish calendar, will certainly never again be what it once was.This week, we mark the anniversary of October 7th according to the Gregorian calendar with ceremonies and gatherings across the country. Yesterday, I attended a ceremony at Hebrew Union College, where rabbinical student Zohar Avigdori told the heartbreaking story of how his sister-in-law and niece were kidnapped on October 7th along with other family members, and about the courageous fight for their release. After 50 days in captivity, they came home safely, but he continued the fight until all hostages returned.

Exactly one year ago, on Hoshana Rabbah 5786, all of the living hostages returned home. It was an uplifting moment that came after two terrible years.

On the latest episode of the Pluralist podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and I spoke about what it means to remember October 7th three years later, both in Israel and in North America. We reflected on how the events of that day continue to shape our communities in different ways, and on how we can carry the memory of what was lost while finding a path forward. You can listen here.

Over the past year, I have repeatedly reminded myself of the success of the struggle to bring the hostages home. It reminds me that even when a situation appears hopeless, when we come together and persist, we have the power to change reality. We have the ability to spread light amid darkness.

Read the entire message from Orly Erez-Likhovski here: https://mailchi.mp/irac.org/after-the-holidays-we-begin-again

06/10/2026

October 7, Where Are We Three Years Later? Memory, Accountability, and Moving Forward

Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg reflect on what it means to remember October 7 three years later — as Israelis and Jews around the world continue to live with its consequences while asking whether it is possible to begin again.

Together, they discuss the absence of accountability for the failures of October 7, the lives of returned hostages and their families, how Israelis and Diaspora Jews are marking the anniversary, and the challenge of holding Israeli trauma alongside Palestinian suffering. They return to Simchat Torah to ask what we carry forward, what must still be confronted, and what it means to remember while choosing life.

https://youtu.be/vNoqZ1_7uw4
Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and share to keep this conversation going.
Josh Weinberg
Orly Erez-Likhovski
ARZA
Union for Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism in Israel
Arzenu Olami
Central Conference of American Rabbis

24/09/2026

As Sukkot comes in we are heartened and inspired by our friends and family in global Jewish community. We all sit in the Sukkah together... It is a fragile structure but its is strengthened, not by our blind unity but by our constructive engagement with the world around us while remaining grounded in our core values for creating an Israel that adheres to the values of the Megilat Atzmaut!

From Israel - We invite you to read this insightful essay on Zionism by our friend Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central synagogue, nyc and to decide to remain engaged, plugged in and true to yourselves!

"When we fall short of our promise, as every person and every nation does, the Jewish response is not abandonment. It is teshuvah, a return to who we are meant to be. That is what Yom Kippur asks of us. Teshuvah requires honest accounting and change. But the goal of teshuvah is not shaming. Teshuvah is fundamentally an act of hope, the hope of return."

Hag Sameach!

Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi of Central Synagogue in Manhattan, delivered a sermon on Zionist ideas and ideals

24/09/2026

https://youtu.be/MYSvxPnzj10
How Jews Can Organize Without Walking Away: Rabbi Jonah Pesner on Democracy and Israel

As 5787 begins, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg speak with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, about what it takes to organize liberal Jews at a moment of political exhaustion, democratic strain, and growing tension around Israel.

Together, they explore why protecting democracy is a Jewish responsibility, how the Reform Movement decides where to focus its organizing power, and what it means to build coalitions when partners disagree sharply over Israel. They also look at the changing place of Israel in American politics, the strain in the relationship between liberal American Jews and Israel, and how frustration can be turned into constructive engagement rather than disengagement.

Orly Erez-Likhovski
Josh Weinberg
Jonah Pesner
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
ARZA
Arzenu Olami
Union for Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism in Israel

24/09/2026

Thanks to our friends at ARZA (Josh Weinberg, Lindsey Danziger) for thinking of critical and engaging ways for our communities throughout the world to express their concern, love, and vision for an Israel that strives for democracy, equality, and civil rights for everyone here...

As Israel prepares to choose its next government, we are reminded of a simple truth: We are meant to strengthen one another.

We in the Diaspora feel deeply connected to Israel and its people. We pray for its safety, mourn its losses, celebrate its achievements, advocate for its security, and teach our children that Israel is central to the story of the Jewish people.

As Reform Jews, we believe in supporting Israel while challenging it to live up to the ideals in its Declaration of Independence: freedom, justice, peace, equality, and religious liberty.

This public letter is a message from members of the Jewish Diaspora to the Israeli Jewish community. By signing on, you and/or your organization can add your voice to that message: https://urj.tfaforms.net/2031

23/09/2026

Orly Erez-Likhovski writes:

Yom Kippur was deeply meaningful this year. The annual occasion to pause and reflect, both personally and collectively, is one of the things I find most powerful about Judaism. As someone whose work throughout the year is devoted to tikkun, to repairing our society, it is especially important to me not only to acknowledge our sins, but also—and above all—to look toward repair.

The services at my Reform synagogue, Kamatz, in Mevaseret Zion outside Jerusalem were uplifting as usual, as in so many communities throughout Israel and around the world.

This was also the case in Kehilat Kol HaNeshama, one of Jerusalem’s prominent Reform congregations. But after an inspiring Kol Nidre prayer in the evening, when its members returned in the morning, they discovered once again that their sanctuary had been broken into and desecrated.

In communities outside Israel, such a thing would immediately be recognized as an antisemitic attack by non-Jews. Especially today, when attacks on synagogues are taking place around the world amid the disturbing rise in antisemitism. Indeed, we are praying for the recovery of the police officer injured when shots were fired at the Sons of Jacob Conservative Synagogue in Ontario, Canada, this Yom Kippur. But Kol HaNeshama is a fixture of a Jewish south Jerusalem neighborhood, and we are painfully aware that the vandals were extremist Jews. In fact, their extremism was the point, as they had torn down the Pride flag that the community displays to demonstrate that it welcomes and values people of all orientations.

This was not the first attack of its kind on Kol HaNeshama. Nor was it the second. A month ago, someone smashed a window and tore down the Pride flag. On Rosh Hashanah, teenagers entered the synagogue during services and harassed worshippers, throwing eggs at them. And just the previous day, on Yom Kippur eve, someone threw a plate into the synagogue, where it shattered on the floor.

Read More. Subscribe. Support IRAC today... https://mailchi.mp/irac.org/from-brokenness-to-repair