Greetings Union Friends,

Writing in the aftermath of this year’s summer conference, I must admit it feels like coming down off quite a high. We had double the kids registered for Camp Union this year and our Ashreinu School has grown almost 6-fold since launching two years ago. When I commended Debra Pardo-Kaplan for the 240 women in the Union Sisterhood, she wouldn’t have it. She retorted: we have hundreds more who haven’t yet signed up. What can I say? I love it.

Greetings Union Friends,

With Israel at war, it’s challenging to churn out a garden-variety Executive Director letter that speaks to, for, and about what’s happening in the Union. With our Summer Family Conference only a few weeks away, however, it’s also hard to not speak to, for, and about that.

Writing against the backdrop of Israel’s ceasefire with Iran (one I hope holds), I can more comfortably speak about what I’m calling UMJC 2.0. I don’t mention 2.0 believing there is a problem with the classical 1.0 version—really I don’t. We’re getting a bit older; and it’s not unreasonable to ponder exactly who will emerge among our leadership ranks and participate with them in going where they want to take us—i.e. 2.0.

In the early morning hours of June 13, Israel launched a massive preemptive strike against Iran and its nuclear capabilities. Authorities warned citizens to be on the alert and stay close to bomb shelters as they anticipated possible attempts at reprisal by Iran.

Russ Resnik, UMJC Rabbinic Counsel, cited this verse from the Torah portion for the week: “Arise O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered; let those who hate you flee from before you” (Num 10:35).

Rabbi Resnik noted the special relevance of this verse and suggested several additional prayer points.

As most of us are aware, two Israeli Embassy staff workers were gunned down and murdered in cold blood while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Their murderer was arrested brandishing a keffiyeh while shouting “Free Palestine!”

What is less well known is their relationship to the Messianic Jewish community in Israel.

Greetings Union Friends,

Someone recently asked me what the Union was doing to (1) attract attention, (2) locate new leaders, and (3) facilitate new congregational launches in the USA. These, of course, are very important questions. They require more than a cursory answer, a perfunctory nod and superficial virtue signaling—say, simply by saying we’re having a young speaker and a young musician at our conferences. By doing so an administrator can “check the box” when next to nothing is really being done in the world—except for superficial signaling.

At this year’s Summer Conference, a variety of new initiatives will be proposed to the delegates. Among them we're planning a three-day Union young leaders' event for which Dallas Theological Seminary has generously provided a venue.

Greetings Union Friends,

As happens with changes in climate this time of year, the warmer weather brings new growth along with it. The earth rejuvenates, flowers bud, and the earth’s inhabitants behold an exciting moment in nature’s cycle. We see the spring’s “new life” motif within the Passover story and Israel’s rebirth after being set free from bondage. In the same season, we celebrate Messiah’s awakening from the grave during Passover—bringing new life along with him. Much as nature is cyclical and themes of new life are carried along with the cycles, so too there are spiritual rejuvenation moments, and we seem to be enjoying one of them. See my Executive Director video update below.