Latest news with #ReformJewish
Axios
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
America's largest teachers' union rejects proposal to ban ADL materials
An executive committee of the nation's largest teachers' union rejected a member-approved proposal to sever ties with the civil rights group Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over the war in Gaza. Why it matters: The rejection comes after nearly 400 Jewish groups urged the National Education Association (NEA) committee to reject a plan to no longer to use ADL material on antisemitism or Holocaust education. Driving the news: NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement late Friday that the executive committee voted not to adopt the proposal "following the culmination of a thorough review process" under union rules. "It was determined that this proposal would not further NEA's commitment to academic freedom," she said. Pringle said rejecting the proposal wasn't an endorsement of the ADL's "full body of work" but acknowledged the rise of antisemitism. Catch up quick: NEA members voted last week to cut ties with the ADL at the 2025 Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon. "NEA will not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or its statistics," according to the proposal text. "NEA will not participate in ADL programs or publicize ADL professional development offerings." The members brought the proposal following criticism of the ADL for categorizing campus protests over the war in Gaza as antisemitic. Zoom out: After the vote, the proposal was sent to NEA's executive committee and met with strong opposition from Jewish groups. The groups wanted the NEA to issue a strong statement against antisemitism, which the organizations say is behind the proposal. Pringle then met with ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt "to clarify NEA's process and restate our commitment to combating the rise of antisemitism in our society." State of play: The ADL has also come under criticism from progressive-leaning and Reform Jewish leaders over the accuracy of its annual antisemitic incidents report. They say ADL unfairly lists criticizing the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians as antisemitic. The ADL defends its report and has pointed to antisemitic verbal attacks on some Jewish students during campus demonstrations. What they're saying: ""We welcome the NEA Executive Committee and Board of Directors' decision to reject this misguided resolution that is rooted in exclusion and othering, and promoted for political reasons," Greenblatt said in a joint statement with the leaders of other Jewish organizations.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Andover synagogue welcomes displaced worshippers from Haverhill
ANDOVER — Two, longstanding synagogues in the Merrimack Valley are about to unify as Temple Emanuel will welcome members of Temple Emanu-El Haverhill after months of dialogue and visioning. Temple Emanu-El, 514 Main St., Haverhill, will close its doors after 88 years in the Merrimack Valley, but its new house of worship will only be 16 miles down the road at Temple Emanuel at 7 Haggetts Pond Road. The Andover institution will absorb the temple's services and has invited all Jewish Haverhill households to join their community. Unification talks between the two congregations and others in the area have been ongoing for nearly a year. Temple Emanu-El representatives spoke with multiple temples before deciding to unite with the congregation. Temple Emanuel of Andover president Dana Katz said the Andover temple is excited to begin this next chapter in its congregation's history and to help another historic one find a new spiritual home. Both temples are longstanding centers of Jewish life in the Merrimack Valley. Temple Emanu-El has been around since 1937 while Temple Emanuel opened its doors in 1920. Representatives from both have met over the last few months to smooth the transition with leadership on both sides committed to unifying the two communities. 'Our hearts go out to them with their temple closing, but we are happy to welcome them into our community,' Katz said. 'We have shared values and a shared commitment to a warm and vibrant Jewish community.' 'It's a little bittersweet,' Temple Emanuel Rabbi David Wilfond said about the closing of the Haverhill synagogue. 'But we think that the sweet is more than the bitter.' Wilfond said it is not uncommon for synagogues to unify after financial challenges when it becomes too costly to operate a building independently as membership dips to under 100 families. 'Beit HaShalom' is a common name used by synagogues throughout the U.S. as a chosen name for unified congregations. Temple Emanu-El has around 100 families, while about 400 families make up the Temple Emanuel community. Katz said she doesn't know exactly how many families from the Haverhill congregation will join the Andover congregation, but so far she said she's seen a great response with families already signing up for membership. Both communities have welcomed each other over the past year. Haverhill congregants have visited the Andover temple and vice versa. 'I think people are looking to find community and build relationships,' Katz said. 'This isn't just a wedding, but this is a marriage which benefits two families,' Wilfond said. The two temples were basically 'sisters' with so many similarities in their theology, style of worship and practice of Judaism. Both are Reform Jewish communities. 'Part of why this unity of the congregations was so easy is there's so much in common in terms of shared values and practices,' Wilfond said. 'They are very similar, but just serve different geographical areas.' Temple Emanuel will hold special programs and mentoring for new families making the transition. There will be ceremonies to welcome new members. The synagogue will also welcome religious artifacts from the Haverhill congregation. It plans to put Haverhill's mezuzah scrolls at the entrance to the synagogue. 'This way a piece of their old congregation is part of a new building for them,' Wilfond said. 'The first thing they see will be a physical piece of their old synagogue.' For Wilfond, this unification will bring new ideas to the temple and likely new programming and activities along with it as well as optimism for a shared future. 'It's so sad whenever a community is unable to sustain itself and needs to close a chapter of its existence,' Wilfond said. 'But there's also a sense of joy to having new friends and new ideas. We're savoring the blessings of people being open-minded and open-hearted.'
