Record-Breaking 100% Attendance "You stand this day, all of you...all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp..." (Deuteronomy 29:9-10) Shalom Haverim,

Even during the High Holidays, no rabbi or lay leader or even grandparent cooking a Rosh Hashana dinner is guaranteed 100% attendance. But this week we read of an incredible gathering of the Israelites where every single person showed up. On the edges of the Promised Land, there they were, standing all together. אַתֶּ֨ם נִצָּבִ֤ים הַיּוֹם֙ כֻּלְּכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם “You stand this day, all of you, before the LORD your God”



Somehow, by some miracle, every single person showed up, came out and stood together “ כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל ” "all of the people of Israel"



And in case it wasn’t clear, we’re told that this was in fact everyone: “ טַפְּכֶ֣ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וְגֵ֣רְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֶ֑יךָ מֵחֹטֵ֣ב עֵצֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד שֹׁאֵ֥ב מֵימֶֽיךָ׃ ” “your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer—"



Women and children. Every type of profession. Young and old, rich and poor, machers and unaffiliated. Even the stranger? Really? Even those who were probably somewhat ambivalent or possibly agnostic – they were included too. It was one of those rare occasions when we all came together around a single cause.



We all answered that call to be ניצבים – to stand up and be counted. We all knew that our voice and our showing up were absolutely essential.



They all stood there before God waiting to enter the Promised Land. They learned how they were meant to set up a society based on צדק ומשפט - righteousness and justice, grounded in the rule of law and a judicious social order. A society that takes care of the powerless and is inclusive of כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל – of all the people of Israel.



Right now is that moment.



Right now we are witnessing attempts to undermine Israel’s status as a Homeland for all Jews, and we need every single person to be ניצבים



This is about the soul. It is about the very definition of what it means to have a Jewish State. This is about every single one of us standing up and being counted. About having our voices heard and making an impact.



We are facing a crisis and we need all of you to join us in our



Just imagine what we could do if we stood together, prioritized religious equality in Israel, and increased our capacity.



As

“For too long, ensuring the strength of pluralistic Judaism in Israel has not been a priority of Israel-oriented philanthropy. The government’s decision to ban egalitarian prayer at the Wall is ultimately a symptom of this neglect. Now more than ever, solidarity with the forces of light in Israel can change this.”



Imagine if every single Reform gave $5, or $10, or $100. If every single Reform Jew stood up today and joined us in our



Please join us.

to stand up and be counted. There is a crisis in Israel that is only getting worse. This is greater than any one issue – greater than the Kotel or conversion, greater than civil marriage or transportation on Shabbat.This is about the soul. It is about the very definition of what it means to have a Jewish State. This is about every single one of us standing up and being counted. About having our voices heard and making an impact.We are facing a crisis and we need all of you to join us in our Campaign for Religious Equality Just imagine what we could do if we stood together, prioritized religious equality in Israel, and increased our capacity.As Prof. Alon Tal wrote some weeks ago:“For too long, ensuring the strength of pluralistic Judaism in Israel has not been a priority of Israel-oriented philanthropy. The government’s decision to ban egalitarian prayer at the Wall is ultimately a symptom of this neglect. Now more than ever, solidarity with the forces of light in Israel can change this.”Imagine if every single Reform gave $5, or $10, or $100. If every single Reform Jew stood up today and joined us in our Campaign for Religious Equality we could build our movement in Israel, strengthen our legal advocacy in the courts, and spread our message throughout the whole country.Please join us.

שבת שלום ושנה טובה --Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova,

Josh Upcoming Events Registration for the URJ Biennial in Boston, MA from December 6-10, 2017 is now open! Register here and join us to celebrate ARZA at 40 and a whole lot more! Join us for the ARZA Leadership Mission to Israel, May 23-June 4, 2018! Participants will attend the IMPJ Biennial and show our support for Reform communities in Israel. Itinerary & registration available here.