Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism
Professional services
UnclaimedIsrael's national organizational body for Reform and Progressive Judaism.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) is the national organizational framework for Reform, also called Progressive, Judaism in Israel. It connects congregations, communities, educational institutions, youth programs, kibbutzim and rabbinical initiatives that offer a liberal Jewish alternative within the Israeli religious landscape. The movement is affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism and works with related bodies, including the Israel Religious Action Center, the Council of Progressive Rabbis in Israel, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, and international Reform Jewish organizations. Reform Jewish activity in the land that became Israel predates the movement's formal creation. Among early liberal Jewish figures associated with the country were Judah Leon Magnes, who became the first chancellor and later president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Meir Elk, founder of the Leo Baeck School in Haifa. Congregation Har'el, established in Jerusalem in 1958, is generally identified as the first Reform congregation in Israel. A public conference in 1965 brought together supporters of a non-Orthodox Jewish option and helped consolidate the country's initial congregations. The IMPJ was formally organized in 1971. The World Union for Progressive Judaism moved its headquarters to Jerusalem in 1973, strengthening Israel's role in the global movement. Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion opened its Israeli rabbinical studies program in 1974 and ordained its first Reform rabbi through the program in 1980. The movement subsequently expanded beyond synagogue services into Jewish education, conversion, social action, youth leadership, pre-military preparation and communal development. Its affiliated communities include urban congregations, newer U'faratztah communities and the Reform kibbutzim Yahel and Lotan. Other associated communal initiatives have included kindergartens, school programming, Noar Telem youth activities, a young-adult and student forum, and batei midrash, or Jewish study centers. The movement operates in a religious and legal environment in which the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate retains significant state authority over marriage, conversion and other matters of personal status. The IMPJ and its advocacy partners therefore campaign for recognition of non-Orthodox rabbis and conversions, equal access to public religious services, pluralistic prayer arrangements and a broader separation between religion and state. The Israel Religious Action Center, founded in 1987, provides legal and public-policy advocacy, while the movement also participates in social-justice work such as cooperation with Rabbis for Human Rights. The IMPJ has achieved several institutional milestones despite the limited formal recognition of Reform Judaism in Israel. Kehillat Yozma in Modi'in became the first non-Orthodox congregation in Israel to receive state funding for a synagogue building. Kinneret Shiryon became Israel's first female Reform rabbi, and Alona Lisitsa became the first female Reform rabbi to serve on a religious council when she joined the Mevaseret Zion council in 2012. In 2012 the organization adopted its current name, emphasizing both Reform and Progressive Judaism. Its present work combines congregational development, Jewish education, rabbinical services, youth and pre-military programs, and legal advocacy for religious pluralism.
History
Liberal Jewish institutions and personalities appeared in the Yishuv before the IMPJ was created. Judah Leon Magnes was an important early figure in Jerusalem, while Meir Elk established the Leo Baeck School in Haifa. The first Reform congregation in Israel, Congregation Har'el in Jerusalem, opened in 1958. A 1965 public conference concerning a Jewish alternative to Orthodoxy helped unite six existing congregations and laid the organizational groundwork for a national movement. The IMPJ was formally established in 1971, and the World Union for Progressive Judaism relocated its headquarters to Jerusalem in 1973. The movement's rabbinical infrastructure developed through Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. Its Israeli rabbinical studies program began in 1974, and the first Reform rabbi was ordained through the Israeli program in 1980. Reform communal life then expanded through congregations, Jewish schools and kindergartens, youth work, study centers, young-adult programming and social-action projects. The first Reform kibbutz, Yahel, was founded in the Arava in 1976; Lotan followed in 1983, and Har Halutz was established in the Galilee in 1985. By 2012 the movement described its network as comprising about 40 communities and congregations, including newer U'faratztah communities and the kibbutzim Yahel and Lotan. Its social and educational infrastructure included Noar Telem, part of the international Netzer Olami youth network, programming for school-age children, a forum for people aged approximately 20 to 30, and four batei midrash. In the same year, the organization adopted the name Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. The movement has faced structural obstacles. Orthodox institutions, particularly the Chief Rabbinate, have historically held state-backed authority over many areas of Jewish personal status. Reform Judaism has consequently had difficulty obtaining equal recognition for rabbis, conversions, marriage and public religious facilities. The movement's Israel Religious Action Center, founded in 1987, became its principal legal and public-policy arm. IRAC has pursued cases and campaigns concerning religion and state, religious equality, conversion and recognition of Reform clergy. The IMPJ also participates in social-justice initiatives, including work associated with Rabbis for Human Rights. Public disputes intensified during debates over Women of the Wall and arrangements for egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall. Statements by government ministers in 2015 and 2016 characterized Reform Judaism as illegitimate or declining, and IMPJ and international Reform leaders responded publicly. At the same time, legal developments improved access to state services. In 2016 the Supreme Court held that publicly funded mikvot must be available without discrimination to candidates converted through Reform and Conservative processes. The movement has also marked institutional breakthroughs: Kehillat Yozma in Modi'in became the first non-Orthodox congregation to obtain state funding for its synagogue building; Kinneret Shiryon became Israel's first female Reform rabbi; and Alona Lisitsa became the first female Reform rabbi to join a religious council, in Mevaseret Zion in 2012. Today the IMPJ combines religious services, congregational development, Jewish learning, youth and pre-military education, rabbinical activity and advocacy for religious pluralism. Its network remains smaller than Israel's Orthodox religious establishment, but it provides an organized alternative for Israelis seeking egalitarian worship, progressive Jewish interpretation and civic engagement.
- 2016
Supreme Court affirms equal access to public mikvot
[1]The court rules that publicly funded ritual baths cannot exclude candidates converted through non-Orthodox movements.
- 2012
Organization adopts its current name
[1]The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism becomes the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.
- 1987
Israel Religious Action Center is founded
[1]IRAC is created as the movement's legal and public-advocacy organization.
- 1983
Lotan is founded
[1]Lotan is established as a second Reform kibbutz.
- 1980
First Reform rabbi ordained through the Israeli program
[1]The first Reform rabbi is ordained by HUC-JIR's Israeli program.
- 1976
Yahel is founded
[1]Yahel becomes the first Reform kibbutz in Israel.
- 1974
HUC-JIR begins Israeli rabbinical studies
[1]Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion starts its rabbinical studies program in Israel.
- 1971
IMPJ is formally established
[1]The national Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism is organized.
- 1965
Conference helps consolidate Reform congregations
[1]A public conference concerning a non-Orthodox Jewish alternative strengthens ties among six existing congregations.
- 1958
Congregation Har'el opens in Jerusalem
[1]The first Reform congregation in Israel is established in Jerusalem.
Products and positioning
A pluralistic, egalitarian and socially engaged Jewish movement providing Reform Jewish communal life and advocating equal recognition for non-Orthodox Judaism in Israel.
Religious communities · 1958
IMPJ congregations and communities
A network of Reform and Progressive Jewish congregations across Israel provides egalitarian prayer, lifecycle services, Jewish learning, community programming and social engagement. The network has included established congregations, newer U'faratztah communities and the Reform kibbutzim Yahel and Lotan.
Youth movement
Noar Telem
A Reform youth organization connected with the international Netzer Olami network. It offers Jewish identity, leadership, community and social-action activities for young people.
Pre-military education
IMPJ Mechina
A post-secondary year of Jewish, Israeli and civic preparation before compulsory military service. The Jaffa-based program combines study with community-service projects.
Legal and public advocacy · 1987
Israel Religious Action Center
IRAC represents the movement's public-policy and legal advocacy work, focusing on religion-and-state issues, recognition of Reform rabbis and conversions, and equal access to public religious services.
Rabbinical services and study
MARAM
The Council of Progressive Rabbis in Israel coordinates Reform rabbis and produces prayer and Jewish-law materials. It also operates study, conversion and rabbinical-court initiatives.
Controversies
2016
Yariv Levin's criticism of Reform Judaism
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin criticized efforts to provide pluralistic prayer arrangements at the Western Wall and made dismissive predictions about Reform Jews. Reform leaders and rabbinical organizations protested, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the remarks.
2015
Religious Affairs Minister's comments about Reform Judaism
David Azoulay described Reform Judaism in derogatory terms during a dispute involving Women of the Wall. IMPJ executive director Gilad Kariv condemned the remarks and questioned the minister's ability to represent all Israeli citizens.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Equal access to public mikvot
Israel
Through IRAC-supported litigation, the Reform movement sought to prevent publicly funded ritual baths from excluding people converted through Reform and Conservative processes.
Outcome. The Supreme Court ruled that public mikvot must be operated without such discrimination.
- 2015Religious pluralism and the Western Wall
Israel
The movement opposed official hostility toward Women of the Wall and advocated recognition of egalitarian and pluralistic Jewish practice at the Western Wall.
Outcome. The dispute generated public condemnation of government statements and continued debate over an egalitarian prayer area.
Brand decisions
2016
Legal challenge to exclusion from public mikvotOtherBackground
Orthodox authorities had excluded non-Orthodox converts from some publicly funded ritual baths on the grounds that their conversion practices were not accepted by Orthodox Jewish law.
Action taken
IRAC brought the issue before Israel's Supreme Court on behalf of the Reform and Conservative movements.
Aftermath
The court held that public ritual baths must provide access without discrimination to prospective converts, including those converted through Reform and Conservative procedures.
2012
Adoption of the Reform and Progressive Judaism nameStrategyBackground
The movement operated in Israel as the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism while representing the broader Reform and Progressive Jewish tradition.
Action taken
It formally changed its name to the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.
Aftermath
The new name more explicitly linked the Israeli organization to both Reform and Progressive Jewish terminology.
Sources2 sources
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