Prior to October 7th, the North American discourse surrounding Israel focused on its proposed judicial reforms and their long-term implications for Israel’s democracy. When Hamas attacked Israel, the Reform Movement, along with the leaders of the protest movement in Israel, temporarily paused our outcry against judicial reform to join the worldwide Jewish community in solidarity with our Israeli siblings. We provided resources for congregations and individuals, held webinars to address the global rise in antisemitism, and worked to facilitate civil discourse around the conflict. We remain committed to our vision of a democratic, pluralistic Israel and have persistently called on the Israeli government and international community to take action and ensure that vital humanitarian aid reaches innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
During the weekend of December 15-17, nearly 1,000 Reform Jews gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate our Movement’s legacy in North America and recommit to building a vibrant and vital Jewish future. Following the 150th event, 500 attendees joined together for an evening of solidarity with our Israeli siblings. We welcomed MK Gilad Kariv, who shared his vision for how Israel can emerge from this moment of crisis and inspired people to approach Israel with a nuanced and complex understanding. We then enjoyed a concert by Israeli musician David Broza. As we stood together to show our support for the people of Israel, our hearts were in the east.
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2023 was a year of advocating for tzedek (justice) in North America and around the world. We partnered with individuals and communities to promote climate justice legislation through our nonpartisan 2023 Power for Purpose campaign.
We also advocated for:
We used various methods to achieve this, including:
The Reform Movement’s 2023 Power for Purpose Campaign focused on advancing environmental justice and staving off the devastation of climate change. In May, Reform leaders convened in Washington, D.C. to deepen connections, listen to speakers, and advocate for policy change on Capitol Hill as part of the RAC Day of Action. Throughout the year, we empowered our network with trainings and community organizing initiatives aimed at strengthening climate change regulations.
Following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling overturning the constitutional right to abortion access in 2022, Ohio put this right to a vote, proposing an amendment to the state constitution that would protect the right of individuals to determine their own reproductive medical treatment. Reform Jewish congregations and individuals across the nation spent the majority of 2023 reaching out to more than 436,000 Ohio voters. In November, that hard work paid off when Ohioans overwhelmingly passed the amendment.
