Upcoming Events:

Everything You Want to Know About the Israeli Elections

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 16 and 23 at 11 AM PT, 2 PM ET

Join the URJ and Israel Policy Forum (IPF) for a webinar breaking down the process and key issues for the October 27 Israeli election.

Join Shanie Reichman from IPF and Rabbi Josh Weinberg from URJ to discuss the procedures for the election, the major stakeholders, and issues most pertinent to Israeli voters. This webinar is part of a series of joint discussions between the URJ and IPF to educate North American Jews on the Israeli election.

To register:

Wed. Sep 9 – Israeli Elections 101 – click here

Wed. Sep. 16 – Security Issues and Geopolitics – click here

Wed. Sep. 23 – Religious Pluralism – click here

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A Canary’s Song: Antisemitism in our “Free and Democratic Society”

Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 8:30 AM to 5 PM ET

University of Toronto – in-person or virtual

Twenty leading voices on antisemitism today, and what its resurgence reveals about the health of our democracy.

For more information and to register, click here.

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Liberal Zionism: The Search for Middle Ground with Rabbi Englander

Wednesdays, from Oct. 7 to Nov. 25 at 7:00 PM ET

Temple Sinai, Toronto – in-person or virtual

Join us as we respond to the dominant criticisms of Israel and Zionism in a post-October 7 reality, while outlining frameworks for teaching about Israel in a time of war and engaging our communities with courage, compassion, and clarity.

Liberal Zionism: The Search for Middle Ground, led by Rabbi Lawrence Englander and informed by the Shalom Hartman Institute, explores the core tensions and values of Liberal Zionism today.

Topics:

• The Crisis of Liberal Zionism
• Pariah Nation: Countering the Criminalization of Israel
• Is Zionism a Colonial Project?
• Love and Tough Love: Criticism vs. Solidarity
• Warrior Nation: The Militarization of Israeli Society
• The Rise and Challenge of Illiberal Zionism
• The Legacy of Gaza in Israel
• The Legacy of Gaza in the Diaspora

For more information and to register, click here.

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Voices from Israel

Starts Wed. Oct. 7 at Noon ET

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Montreal

The “Voices from Israel” program offers an opportunity to hear diverse perspectives directly from speakers, activists, and scholars in Israel during a time of ongoing conflict and heavy news coverage.

To register:

Rabbi Rinat Safania-Shwartz of Shoham, Israel - Oct. 7 at Noon – click here

Professor Gil Troy, The Upcoming Israel Election: A Zionist Reset Moment? – Oct. 13 at Noon – click here

Isabel Kershner, noted Israeli Author and Journalist – Nov. 11 at Noon – click here

Book discussion – The Future is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land – Dec. 15 at Noon – click here

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Israel’s 2026 Elections: Implications for the Israeli Reform Movement, Religious Pluralism, and Israeli Democracy

Sun. Oct. 11 – 10 AM PT, 1 PM ET

Hosted by the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) and ARZENU

Israel stands at a pivotal moment. As Israelis prepare to go to the polls, the choices they make will help shape the future of the country’s democracy, the struggle for religious pluralism, and the place of Reform Judaism in Israeli society.

Join us for a timely, nonpartisan online program exploring the election landscape, the key issues shaping the campaign, and the possible political scenarios ahead, asking what they may mean for Israel’s Jewish and democratic character.

The program will feature Tal Schneider, diplomatic and political correspondent for The Times of Israel. Her presentation will be followed by a conversation with Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, and Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center, on the implications for the Israeli Reform Movement, religion and state, democratic institutions, equality, and the future of liberal Judaism in Israel.

Register: click here

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The New Knesset: Diving Into The 2026 Israeli Elections

Sun. Nov. 8 – Noon ET

Virtual program – Holy Blossom Temple

Jeremy Leigh, master educator from the Hebrew Union College, will join us from Jerusalem to guide us through the outcome of Israel’s election at the end of October.

While it is unlikely that a new Knesset will have already been formed, the votes will have been tallied, the mandate assigned, and Israel’s leaders will be deep in negotiation towards forming the next government!

Who will partner up with who? What new alliances will emerge? Who ‘won?’ the election, and what does that mean for Jews across Israel and across the world? We’ll review the results and predictions, and discuss what they mean for the future of Israel.

To register, click here.

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The Herzl 100

David Matlow owns the world’s largest collection of Theodore Herzl memorabilia.

He’s presenting his top 100 artifacts in a series of YouTube videos. To see items 19 to 11, click here.

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New podcast

One People – Am Echad

Created by: Rabbi Allison Cohen

One People - Am Echad (עם אחד) is a podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Israel and the Diaspora. Together, we’ll move beyond the news headlines to discover the stories and unseen realities of the people who live there.

Link to the podcast