Spirituality Making Progress Reform movement strives to secure its place in Israel. Robert A. Sklar Editor B eware of imitators, the Israeli newspaper Index bellowed on Erev Rosh Hashanah, Oct. 3, 2005. The unsigned ads told Jews in Rosh Hayin to stay home rather than join the new Reform congre- gation in that city of 75,000 near Tel Aviv. The ads further ques- tioned women serving as rabbis. "That ad was very important to us:' said Iri Kassel, execu- IN Kassel: tive director of the Pursuing Israel Movement for change. Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), Israel's version of the Reform move- ment. "It was like a free commercial for us. We didn't have to put out any ads of our own:' The ad campaign caused a stir, but didn't deter the cause. Led by Rabbi Ayala Shaashua Meiron, an Israeli native, the congregation, Bavat Ayin, is home to 50 families today. It's Israel's newest Reform synagogue. "Three years ago, Rosh Hayin couples, . mostly in their forties with children, Educator Named Julie Eisman has been named director of Adat Shalom Synagogue Nursery School and Kindergarten in Farmington Hills. Most recently, Eisman has been the associate director of education at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield..A. gradu- ate of the University of Michigan, she has also served as a youth edu- cator at Congregation Julie Eisman Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County. She is currently working on a master's in early childhood education at U-M. Adat Shalom President David Schostak says, "Julie is the perfect individual for this position. We are confident that she will carry on the fine traditions set by our nursery school leadership in decades past:' Adat Shalom Nursery School is taking applications for the fall semester for pre- school, "Just For Me" and parent-toddler B2 May 29 2008 came to us and said they were exposed to Reform Judaism abroad and didn't know there was such a thing;' Kassel said. "They came back to Israel and decided they wanted to participate Kassel and his wife, Saralee, live on Kibbutz Hatzerim in the northern Negev. The IMPJ is based in Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem, which means Kassel drives 3,500 miles a month for work. The Kassels have four children and two granddaughters. From 1976 to 1978, Kassel was national director of the Tzofim, the Israel Boy and Girl Scouts Federation. He now represents 24 Reform congrega- tions and the 10,000 Jews who pay IMPJ dues. He figures thousands more also would identify with the organization if given the opportunity. About 51/2-million Israelis are Jewish. Spreading His Message Kassel visited Metro Detroit on May 14-17 as the guests of Judy and Allan Tushman of West Bloomfield following participa- tion at the National Assembly of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) in Baltimore. Allan Tushman, an ARZA vice president, was a National Assembly co-chair. While here, Kassel spoke at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Shir Tikvah in Troy and Beth Emeth in Ann Arbor. His pitch to the 500 Detroiters and Ann Arborites he met was simple: "Something is changing with Jewish life in Israel!' Kassel had never been to Detroit. Tushman saw an opportunity to make a match. "Too frequently," Tushman said, "Reform Jews just hear about the stumbling blocks placed before Reform and Conservative Jews in Israel by the Ultra-Orthodox. That message is negative and doesn't really help connect Reform Jews here with Progressive Jews there. I wanted people to hear about the wonderful things the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism does and has accomplished and why it is deserving of our support:' Kassel's second of three examples of what's changing in Israel focused on Modi'in, a city of 35,000 residents located midway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Three weeks ago, the Israeli government dedicated a new synagogue it financed for the 19-year-old Reform congregation Yozma — the first Reform synagogue to receive such an honor. Rabbi Kineret Shirion, who made aliyah from America about 30 years ago, now leads 120 mem- ber families. Kassel's third example of how Israeli times are changing involves Mechina, an IMPJ-sponsored, pre-military leader- classes. The school offers a Hebrew immer- sion program and more. (248) 851-5105. Adat Shalom Installation Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills will install its new leader- ship following a Shabbat Rocks service and dinner on Friday, June 6. Jeffrey Jeffrey Supowit of Supowit Farmington Hills will become synagogue presi- dent and Norma Dorman and Michael Betman, both'of West Bloomfield will assume the presi- dencies of the sisterhood and men's club. Serving along with Michael Sipowit will be First Vice Betman President Julie Teicher, Vice President Lori Issner, Recording Secretary David Sherbin, Treasurer Norma Dorman Norma Dorman and executive commit- tee members-at-large Joyce B. Weingarten, Carol Weintraub Fogel and Stuart Loga. Newly elected to the board are David Goodman, Jeanne Maxbauer, Bruce Brickman, Shannon Dickstein and Alarm Armin. The Installation Shabbat Evening will begin with services at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and installation ceremony. There is a $20 dinner charge for adults; $10 for children 3-12; or a $52 household charge. RSVP: (248) 851-5100. The evening is chaired by Sharon Hart and Paul Magy. Rabbi To Be Feted Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills will honor Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz for 14 years of service to the community at a ship program. The Jaffa-based program allows young adults who delay mandatory military service to bolster their Jewish identity, undertake volunteer assignments and develop leadership skills. The year- long program is open to Jews of all back- grounds, not just Reform Jews. This year's class has 30 participants. Graduates total 100 over the past five years. The IMPJ annual budget is $4.5 mil- lion. It comes largely from donations via the Jewish Agency for Israel, ARZA, the New York-based United Jewish Communities and the Jerusalem-based World Union of Progressive Judaism. IMPJ rabbis are trained through the Israeli program of the Cincinnati-based Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The current Israeli class has 30 rabbinical students. "The Jews joining the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism feel something is missing in their life Kassel said. "We are doing our best in order to meet their needs. We are not yet where we shall be, but we are doing our best in order to strengthen Jewish life in Israel." Li ARZA dues are $36 per year. Eighteen per- cent is sent to the IMPJ; an additional $5 goes to the Israel Religious Action Center, the Jerusalem-based public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. Shabbat service and din- ner on Friday, June 20. Kabbalat Shabbat Services are at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner and program with Rabbi Samuel Stahl, rabbi emeritus, Temple Beth- Rabbi El, San Antonio, Texas. Yoskowitz Rabbi Yoskowitz came to Detroit in 1994. He joined the Adat Shalom Clergy 10 years ago, following the merger with Congregation Beth Achim of Southfield. He holds a master's in clinical psychology and was appointed a visit- ing fellow at the University of Minnesota Bioethics Center. He is the editor of The Kaddish Minyan, 20 personal stories about the value of ritual in times of chaos and stress. There is a $20 dinner charge for adults; $10 for children 3-12; or a $54 household charge. RSVP: (248) 851-5100. The evening is chaired by Arlene Tilchin and Irwin Alterman.