30 March 2016
New Israel Fund, Liberal Judaism & the Movement for Reform Judaism

Anat Hoffman, the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center and founding member of Women of the Wall, will be part of a unique event for young Jews in the UK.

‘Deal Deal or No Deal: The Kotel’ – an intimate conversation between Anat Hoffman and Student Rabbi Deborah Blausten – will take place on April 12 from 7.30pm.

The event will be jointly hosted by the New Israel Fund, Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism.

The discussion will focus on the Israeli Government’s recent deal to create an egalitarian prayer space, and the worry that its implementation is now being called into question with cabinet ministers refusing to back the plan.

Anat and Deborah will discuss the latest on this landmark deal in the context of Israel’s religious freedom, question how relevant the Kotel actually is to young Diaspora Jews and explore what this means for our relationship with Israel.

Liberal Judaism’s student and young adult chaplain, Rabbi Leah Jordan, said: “This is the symbolic issue around Judaism in Israeli politics right now. The Western Wall is the central symbol of Jewish life for many people and it has been run as an ultra-Orthodox synagogue for decades.

“The Government conceded, after much Progressive Jewish activism, to change this and now, because of right wing religious Orthodox pressure, this deal looks to be in jeopardy.

“Anat is the leader in the Progressive Jewish fight, and a proud Progressive Jew who spoke at the Liberal Judaism Day of Celebration, and I encourage everyone to come and hear her in conversation with Deborah, who is one of our most engaging Progressive Student Rabbis.”

This is a young adult event and for strictly under 35s only.
For more details, including venue, please visit: http://www.newisraelfund.org.uk/anat/