The Reform*, Progressive, and Liberal Jewish Movements invites individuals and organizations from Jewish communities across the Diaspora (members of the Jewish Community who live outside of the State of Israel) to add their names to the statement below. This letter represents a message from members of the Jewish Diaspora to members of the Israeli Jewish community. By signing on, you or your organization will add your name to a public letter.
*When the term Reform is used throughout this letter it represents our global Progressive, Reform and Liberal Jewish Movements.
Israeli and Diaspora Jews Need Each Other.
Before there was a State of Israel, there was a people bound together by covenant. From Sinai through the generations, that covenant found expression in the teaching: כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה — Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh — all Jews are responsible for one another (Shavuot 27b).
That sacred responsibility has carried our people through exile and return, persecution and renewal, grief and celebration. It reminds us that, across continents and differences, we share a common fate, destiny, and purpose.
As Israel prepares to choose its next government, we are reminded of a simple truth:
We are meant to strengthen one another.
We in the Diaspora feel deeply connected to Israel, to the Jewish State, and to the people who call it home. We pray for Israel’s safety, mourn its losses, celebrate its achievements, advocate for its security, visit its communities, and teach our children that Israel is central to the unfolding story of the Jewish people.
As Reform Jews, our Zionism is rooted in the conviction that Israel must be unapologetically Jewish, firmly democratic, secure in defending its citizens, working towards a future reality that manifests in the self determination of our people and our Palestinian neighbors, and confident in embracing the diversity of Jewish life.
We approach the realities Israelis face with humility and respect. Israelis bear the weight of defending their nation, sending children to military service, confronting terrorism and external threats, and making difficult decisions under extraordinary circumstances.
At the same time, we ask that the realities of Jewish life in the Diaspora be understood with that same spirit. Decisions made by Israel’s government resonate far beyond its borders. They shape how millions of Jews experience Judaism, influence how the next generation relates to Israel, and affect the relationship between the Jewish State and the Jewish people.
In the spirit of our ancestors, this moment calls each of us to say Hineni—here I am.
For Israeli voters, Hineni means meeting this moment by choosing leadership that strengthens democracy and the rule of law; protects Jewish religious pluralism and recognizes Reform and Progressive Judaism; confronts racism and discrimination; upholds the dignity and rights of all citizens; and works toward a future in which Israelis and Palestinians pursue a vision of shared society and work towards reconciliation.
For Reform and Progressive Jews throughout the Diaspora, Hineni means refusing to retreat from Israel because our conversations are difficult or reducing our relationship to politics alone. It means deepening our engagement, investing in Israel education, strengthening people-to-people partnerships, visiting Israel, and supporting those working to build a more just and inclusive society.
As Reform Jews, we believe in advocating for Israel while also challenging it to live up to its founding ideals. Our commitment is grounded in honesty, responsibility, and hope—and inspired by Israel’s Declaration of Independence: A Jewish state founded upon the values of freedom, justice, and peace, committed to equality, liberty of conscience and religion, and serving as a homeland for the entire Jewish people.
Israel needs a vibrant, engaged, and committed Diaspora. Diaspora Jews need a secure, democratic, and pluralistic Jewish state.
That future depends upon a genuine partnership in which Israelis and Diaspora Jews recognize one another’s realities and responsibilities. Responsibility flows in both directions because that is what covenant means. To every eligible Israeli voter: make your voice heard. Vote your values. Covenant requires more than hope; it requires action. Make a plan to vote, help others participate, and cast your ballot for the future you want Israel to embody.
Our destinies remain intertwined. Together, we inherit both the extraordinary privilege and the profound obligation of writing the next chapter of the Jewish story.
With love, hope, and an abiding commitment to our shared future,
Sincerely,
Undersigned below