Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is amplifying the voices of those willing to speak up for Judaism’s central values.
As American liberalism has become increasingly hostile to Jewish values and as anti-Israel animosity intensifies, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue has created an education and advocacy initiative aimed at healing the fractured relationship between American liberal Jews and Israel.
Learn more about this initiative by reading our press release here.
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism Conference
MAY 31 – JUNE 1, 2023
Hosted at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
in New York City
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism is the exciting grassroots convening of clergy, educators and lay leaders to begin to address the existential challenges facing the North American Reform Movement. With a constructively critical eye, we will lay bare these key issues that require urgent attention:
- The growing distance between North American Liberal Jews and Israel, and their fraying connection with the concept of Jewish peoplehood;
- Rooting justice and tikkun olam efforts in Jewish tradition, and ensuring they are more inclusive of our congregations’ and communities’ wide range of perspectives and ideologies;
- Re-centering God and elevating creative ritual practice as core to Reform Judaism; and
- Prioritizing and funding Reform Jewish education.
This conference will bring together the concerned Jewish professionals who deal daily with the defining issues of our times. We need you and your voice in this process of Re-CHARGING the Reform Movement. Together, we will build a bright future.
Now Accepting Celebrate Israel Parade Teen Leadership Applications
PARADE: SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
New York’s Jewish teenagers ages 16–19 are invited to apply for an exclusive opportunity to accompany VIPs at this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade!
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York has designated Stephen Wise Free Synagogue as the coordinating partner to recruit these teen leaders.
Those who are selected will have the opportunity to connect with over 150 New York and U.S. elected and appointed officials, elected and appointed officials of other countries, and community leaders, and meet teens from across New York at a pre-parade breakfast.
As they walk the parade route, teen leaders will be able to voice their experiences, concerns, hopes and aspirations — and represent their communities — to the dignitaries with whom they’re paired.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications are now open and applicants will be selected March–May on a rolling basis on the 15th and 30th of each month.
To apply, complete this teen leadership application form, which includes:
- Agreeing to the teen leadership role description (and providing parental permission for those under 18 years of age)
- Photography permissions
- Your resume, including educational background, and Jewish/general organizational affiliations.
- A brief personal statement addressing the reason you are applying for this program and how it aligns with other choices you’ve made (or imagine making in the future).
- Those selected will be asked to confirm their participation and pay $25 to cover the cost of the breakfast program.
- Upon being paired with a dignitary, teen leaders are required to write a letter of introduction to their dignitary.
Join us to read about the most pressing issues facing the Jewish people today. This group meets every other month on Thursday evenings. Dinner is available for order, or you may bring your own!
Book list:
April 20, 2023: “Second Person Singular” by Sayed Kashua
This program is free and open to the public.
Next Class Coming Soon!
Israel is a hot-button issue. About as big as New Jersey, the country is covered in the media, at the U.N., and in public discourse to an extent far exceeding its size or population. With limitless information available about Israel from sources that range the political and ideological spectrum, it can be hard to break into the Israel conversation…
By exploring and gaining an understanding of the historical Jewish connections to Israel, the purpose and definition of Zionism, and what makes Israel unique — and not-so-special — among nations, learners will build a foundation upon which to layer their personal connections and convictions about Israel and become empowered to add their voices to the Israel dialogue.
During this three-session course, learners will explore primary sources — such as maps, videos, archaeology, articles and other texts — in small groups and engage with common criticisms of Israel and Zionism.
This class is open to members and non-members alike, but space is limited! Tuition is $36 for Stephen Wise Free Synagogue members and $50 for non-members. Included in tuition are course materials.
5 Sessions, TBA
You have the power to make a difference in the world around you. And your impact increases when you pool your resources and work together. Join other teens to learn about some of Israel’s most pressing social issues — and become part of the solution.
This giving circle is open to member and non-member teens alike. We ask each participant to contribute $50 to the circle upon joining. Donations are tax-deductible. A $40 program fee also applies. The total cost to join is $90. Attendance at meetings is required; participants may miss no more than one session.
Every other week, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch hosts intellectually honest conversations unpacking current events through the lens of Jewish wisdom.
Unbound by politics and untethered by party lines, Ammi and his expert guests discuss everything from race and antisemitism to all the other issues that keep you up at night. Recorded from New York’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, a historic Reform congregation deeply rooted in liberalism, support for Israel and social justice.
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism
In These Times With Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
THE CONFERENCE IS COMING!!!
Get your tickets now.
Meet Rabbi Tracy Kaplowitz
Rabbi Tracy J. Kaplowitz, Ph.D., is our inaugural Marilyn G. and Joseph B. Schwartz Israel Fellow.
She came to Stephen Wise from JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, which ensures the quality of Jewish life for Jews in the U.S. military and the Veterans Administration. An experienced spiritual leader and educator, Rabbi Kaplowitz served as a reserve chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and on the professional staff of both the Schechter School of Long Island and the Jewish Education Project. She was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and earned her doctorate in the sociology of education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
