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2013 ACTIVITY REPORT

Beutel Leadership Seminar

The Beutel Leadership Seminar was held in February, at the WUPJ’s Anita Saltz Education

Institute, with sixteen people from seven countries attending. Enrique Jurkowski, Adjunct

Secretary of the Fundación Judaica, in Argentina, was the Latin American representative at

the seminar. The group in which he participated travelled through Israel for ten days,

reflecting on some of the critical issues faced by Jewish communities throughout the world,

by the Jewish people and by the Jewish State.

WUPJ Latin America welcomes its new affiliates

The following are now a part of the list the WUPJ Latin America affiliates: the Centro Israelita

de Pernambuco, in Recife, the Associação Cultural Israelita de Brasília – ACIB, both in Brazil

as well as the Comunidad Israelita de Concepción, in Chile. In this manner the WUPJ also

renews its mission of building bridges between Reform / Progressive congregations in the

region, supporting and organizing programs with inclusive Jewish content.

Centro Is raelita de Pernambuco Associação Cultural Israeli ta de Bras íl ia Comunidad Is rael i ta de Concepción

Lashir Benefesh Seminar – 7th Edition

Held on March 10, 11 and 12 at the ARI-RJ, the 7th edition of the Lashir Benefesh Seminar

had the special participation of the Argentinean Chazzan Isidoro Abramowicz, musical

educator and choir conductor. Presently Abramowicz is a guest chazzan at the Mishkenot

Beit Ruth-Daniel and Reform Synagogue Kiriyat Ono synagogues, both in Israel. He actively

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participated in the reconstruction of Reform Judaism in Germany, where he worked at

various institutions between 2005 and 2009. He performs in various recitals for different

musical genre in Israel, the United States and Europe.

Chazzan Isidoro Abramowicz Public at ARI’s concert

Connections 2013

The WUPJ’s 36th International Convention – Connections 2013 – “Being the Difference”, was

held on April 28th to May 5th. The WUPJ-LA had a delegation of 30 participants including

youth and adults.

Latin America group young adults / Tamar

The organizers of Connections 2013 created a broad list of involving and inspiring topics for

the Jewish community throughout the world, including, for example, the challenges of

contemporary society – including the relationship between new technology and religion –

and reflections on how communities can become more welcoming.

The convention also created the opportunity for the implementation of new joint projects,

especially with plans of integrating the local communities with their youth movements, with

the objective of conducting joint training sessions for their leaders.

In addition to lectures, debates and discussion panels, the program of the Connections 2013

convention also provided the participants with the opportunity of getting to know Israel in a

different way, with specific itineraries which provided emotional moments for all, including

tours before and after the conference.

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(L) Raul Gottlieb (WUPJ-LA)

Tributes The convention’s organizers made a tribute to the Fundación Judaica of Argentina and to the

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, who received the WUPJ Micah Award for his commitment to Tikkun

Olam and his leadership in Latin America.

Rabbi Sergio Bergman receives the WUPJ Micah award from Joel Oseran, Miriam Vasserman and Stephen Breslauer (L-D)

The following also received awards from the WUPJ International: the President of the

American Jewish World Service, Ruth W. Messinger; Rabbi Bob Samuels who runs the Leo

Beck Educational Center in Haifa; Professor Dr. Irwin Cotler, Member of the Canadian

Parliament; and the Israeli author David Grossman.

Ruth W. Messinger Rabino Bob Samuels (R)

David Grossman (L) Prof. Irwin Cotler (C)

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Bergman Seminar – the strength of Jewish education

The 2013 edition of “The Bergman Seminar for Progressive Jewish Educators ”, held in Israel

on July 4th to the 14th, brought together Jewish educators from the reform, progressive and

liberal movements with the theme “Creating meaningful connections”. Communities

throughout the world sent their representatives to participate in classes, reading of texts

and visits to various locations where the content of the studies can be experienced hands

on. Eleven participants from nine different countries were present including Panama, Israel,

Czech Republic, United States, South Africa, France, Argentina, Australia and Brazil. The

three participants from Latin America (Panama, Brazil and Argentina) who participated were:

Deby Malamud from Buenos Aires (Arlene Fern Community School), Joana Rychter from Rio

de Janeiro (ARI) and Nurit Meresman from Panama (Kol Sherith Israel Congregation).

Chilean community gets support from the WUPJ Latin America

The president of the WUPJ Latin America, Miriam Vasserman, was as guest of a Kabalat

Shabbat at the Ruaj Ami Community in Santiago. During this visit, she met with various

people from the local community and gave an interview to the local Jewish media

emphasizing the importance of the work conducted by the WUPJ in small Jewish

communities.

1 (L-R) Rabbi Chaim Kori tzinsky, Rabbi Roberto Feldmann and his daughter Malka with Miriam Vasserman

2 - (L-R) Patty Thal , Susy Pi tchon, Rabbi Chaim Kori tzinsky, Erika Wol ff , Miriam Vasserman

3 - Miriam Vasserman with Victor Grimblatt (L) and Martin Hirsch

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Scholars in Residence

Rabbi Gilad Kariv visits South America

The Executive Director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism - IMPJ, Rabbi Gilad

Kariv, attended various meetings with leaders and young adults during his visit to Latin

America at the beginning of August. The trip was organized by the World Union for

Progressive Judaism with the support of its affiliates Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), in

São Paulo; Associação Religiosa Israelita (ARI), in Rio de Janeiro; Sociedade Israelita Brasileira

de Cultura e Beneficência (Sibra), in Porto Alegre; and Fundación Judaica, in Buenos Aires.

Meeting with Young adults from ARI Meeting with Young adults from CIP

(L-R) Roberto Ochman, Ricardo Silveira,

Rabbi Guershon Kwasniewski, Rabbi Gilad Kariv

Board and representatives from Fundación Judaica Representatives from Mishkan

Professor Joshua Holo – The importance of a liberal Jewish education

Professor Joshua Holo, Dean of the Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Los Angeles (USA) was in

São Paulo by invitation of the WUPJ and the Congregação Israelita Paulista to participate in a

series of activities with Jewish education as the main topic.

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Holo participated in a panel with Rabbi Gilad Kariv, with the topic “What is the importance of

Liberal Judaism to Israel, the Diaspora and the world?”

Holo also participated in meetings with leaders from the educational sector, teachers, young

leaders and members of the community to discuss educational projects, his experience in

the United States and specially the importance of a consistent Jewish education in

legitimizing Liberal Judaism, promoting the involvement of future generations with religion.

Round table –CIP Shiur with young adults - CIP

Outreach Project

Helping the small Jewish communities in Latin America.

Judaism on-line in the south of Brazil

The Sociedade Israelita Brasileira de Cultura e Beneficência de Porto Alegre – SIBRA –, in Rio

Grande do Sul, will soon begin Judaism courses through the internet with members of the

Jewish communities in the other states of the South of Brazil: Paraná and Santa Catarina.

The idea came about in April, when the Associação Israelita Catarinense began its activities

at its new headquarters with a special weekend attended by Guershon Kwasniewski, from

the Sibra, who led the religious services of Kabalat Shabbat and Saturday morning.

One of the highlights of the new location of the AIC is a work by the renowned artist Marc

Chagall on the Aron Hakodesh of the synagogue.

Exchange of experiences

Ricardo Jose Rotholtz, member of the Centro de Epiritualidad Judía Mishkan, in Buenos

Aires, Argentina, visited the Centro Israelita de Pernambuco (CIP), in Recife, Brazil . Rotholtz

is also a member of the regional board of directors of the WUPJ LA. He was welcomed by the

President of the CIP Zeev Katz, with whom he discussed topics common to both entities and

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was surprised by the efforts of the community from Pernambuco to maintain their activities

despite numerous adversities.

(l-R) Ricardo Jose Rotholtz and Zeev Katz

Rabbi dedicated to Human Rights and to helping people with AIDS visits

Brazil

Rabbi Joseph Edelheit, Director of Religious Studies at St Cloud State University (USA), visited

the Jewish communities in Recife and Florianopolis. He is known for his fight for Human

Rights and for work conducted with HIV positive individuals, especially in India.

In Recife, Edelheit led the religious services of the High Holy Days together with the Chazan

David Eisenkraft, and in Florianopolis he participated in meetings to discuss Progressive

Judaism and the Jewish thinkers of the 20th century at the Post-Graduate Social History

Program of the Universidade Federal of Rio de Janeiro.

(L-R) Chazzan David Leo Eisencraft and Rabbi Joseph Edelheit

Mifgash: Conference of Young Latin American Jews / November 1 to 3, 2013

With the topic “Latin American Judaism: its traits and characteristics and the relationship

with Israel”, a group of 35 young adults with ages between 20 and 35, representing

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Ecuador and Guatemala participated in a conference at the

beginning of November at the legendary Avigdor Colony (www.judaica.org.ar) in the

Province of Entre Rios in Argentina

Called Mifgash-Beit Midrash Judaica, the event was organized jointly by the Fundación

Judaica (Argentina) and the TaMaR – the WUPJ’s young adult movement (World Union for

Progressive Judaism (WUPJ). The event was made possible thanks to the Fundación Judaica

(FJ), the TaMaR, WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism), WZO (World Zionist Organization) and

the WUPJ-LA.

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The event was under the coordination of Rabbi Karina Finkielsztein and Adrian Mirchuk of

the Fundación Judaica and Anabella Esperanza, TaMaR coordinator for Spanish and

Portuguese speaking countries. Miriam Vasserman participated through Skype.

This was the first meeting of a medium and long-term project in which young adults find a

place to conduct their Judaism and Zionism. The next event is being prepared for August

2014 in Brazil.

WUPJ Latin America elects new management

To guarantee the continuity and development of the work conducted at the WUPJ Latin

America, the new management will have as President Raul Cesar Gottlieb. After two

consecutive terms as President, Miriam Vasserman will now be Vice President and will

continue to represent the organization on the WUPJ worldwide board. The new members of

the board were also chosen for the period 2013/2015 with single slate composed of the

following names:

Álvaro Orantes - Asociación Judía Reformista de Guatemala – Adat Israel

Carlos Malamut – Congregação Israelita Mineira (CIM)

Dora Lucia Brenner – Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP)

Enrique Jurkowski - CIRA Templo Libertad (Buenos Aires)

Flávio Levi Moreira - Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP)

Hermano Wrobel - Associação Cultural Israelita de Brasília (ACIB)

José Frenkiel - Sociedade Israelita do Ceará (SIC)

Juan J. Bravo - Comunidad Judía de Huánuco “ Beith Etz Chaim” (Peru)

Miriam Vasserman

Mario Ruschin- Congregación NCI-Emanu-EL (Buenos Aires)

Raul Cesar Gottlieb - Associação Religiosa Israelita do RJ (ARI)

Ricardo Rotholtz – Centro de Espiritualidad Mishkán (Argentina)

Sebastián Vainstein - Asociación Israelita de las Pampas - AIP (Argentina)

Sergio Brukman - Fundación Judaica (Argentina)

Sérgio Caraver – Sociedade Israelita Brasileira do RS (SIBRA)

Susana Pitchon - Escuela Comunitária Arlene Fern (Buenos Aires)

Teresa Roth – Associação Religiosa Israelita do RJ (ARI)

Victor Grimblatt Hinzpeter-Comunidad Cultural Y Religiosa Ruaj Ami (Chile)

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WUPJ-LA presence at URJ Biannual Conference / Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)

one-hundredth anniversary

Led by Miriam Vasserman, a committee representing the WUPJ-LA participated in the events

with the following members: Dora Lucia Brenner (CIP), Rabbi Guershon Kwasniewski (SIBRA),

Flavio Levi Moreira (CIP), Teresa Roth (ARI) and Erika Wolf (CIP); Rabbi Karina Finkielsztein

and Miriam Olchansky (Fundación Judaica/Argentina).

In the WUPJ’s panel “Around the world in 80 minutes”, Miriam Vasserman made a

presentation on the WUPJ-LA, its history and projects. During her presentation, she

emphasized that Brazil will hold three large international events: the 2014 Soccer World Cup,

the 2016 Summer Olympics and the WUPJ Connections in 2015 in Rio de Janeiro.

During the WRJ meeting and the celebration of its one hundred anniversary, Rabbi Karina

Finkielsztein, of the Fundación Judaica, from Argentina, was one of the guest speakers and

she spoke about the advancement of the status of women in Judaism throughout the world,

but did not forget to enumerate some challenges faced by the communities in Latin America

in accepting and recognizing the presence of female Jewish leaders.

A special moment was the ratification of the first group tied to the movement to be installed

in Brazil, at the Congregação Israelita Paulista.

(L-R) Lynn Magid Lazar, Miriam Vasserman, Dora Brenner, Erika Wolff

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Save the date

Porto Alegre is preparing for the WUPJ events in 2014

The WUPJ Latin America is already preparing the calendar of activities and events for next

year. The SIBRA (Sociedade Israelita Brasileira de Cultura e Beneficência), in the city of Porto

Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, will host the meeting of the Regional Board of the

WUPJ-LA on August 17th-19th, 2014 plus a Rabbinical Kallah and the 8th edition of the Lashir

Benefesh, conference for chazanim, musicians and people interested in the musical aspects

of religious services. There will be a big concert for the whole community of Porto Alegre on

August 18th.

Connections 2015 – May 13th to the 16th - Rio de Janeiro

Miriam Vasserman Raul Cesar Gottlieb

President Vice President

World Union for Progressive Judaism – Latin America

http://www.wupj-latinamerica.org

contato@wupj-latinamerica.org

5511 3865 9492