Guest Post by IRAC - A Few People Making a Big Difference

Our first guest post this month comes from Rachel Canar, Director of Development for the Israel Religious Action Center

A Few People Making a Big Difference: Champions for Pluralism, Tolerance, and Equality in Israel

February 3, 2011

Liberal Judaism doesn’t get enough credit in Israel. While there may not be many liberal congregations in Israel, it’s remarkable how enormous our contributions to Israeli society are. Since 1987, we at the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, have brought to the forefront major religion and state issues in Israel. IRAC has set major precedents not only in working toward recognition of the Liberal, Reform and Conservative Movements in Israel, but also to advocate for our progressive Jewish values. We achieve our mission to promote pluralism, tolerance, and equality in Israel through exemplifying these ideals, often partnering with the Conservative Movement, Orthodox groups, other civil rights organizations, religious, secular, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze—all kinds of Israelis—to bring about these changes.

IRAC is an example of the power that a small community in Israel has to affect positive change on a national level. In the past year alone, we led thousands of Jews and leaders of major Jewish organizations in an international campaign to stop the Conversion Bill that would hand all matters of conversion in Israel over to the ultra-Orthodox dominated rabbinate. Just last week, our lawyers won a landmark decision in the Supreme Court that declared the gender segregated buses illegal. IRAC also succeed in the Supreme Court to get roads paved to Bedouin schools in unrecognized villages so that children have safe access to schools. We triumphed in gaining municipal funding for the Jerusalem Open House, an LGBT community center, overcoming discrimination from the city after years of withholding funding that other community centers receive. With this all in the past year alone, IRAC demonstrates that the marginalizing attitude towards liberal Judaism doesn’t match up to our immense accomplishments and contributions to Israel.