Shalom from Jerusalem

For the past day, we have been with the leadership of the URJ on its Board Mission, during which we will be visiting with government officials and community leaders. Yesterday we met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke a great deal about the peace process (or lack thereof). We also experienced some of Israel's modern culture with a performance of the Batsheva Dance Company. In addition, we  had learning sessions with leadership of the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism, which is the Israeli network of Reform congregations. Every day on this mission will be extremely packed. Today (Thursday) we started at 6:30 a.m. (!) to worship with Women of the Wall at the Kotel, tour the new proposed worship site, meet with Natan Scharansky and President Shimon Peres, and then travel to Ramallah (in the Palestinian Authority territory) to meet with local 'civil society' organizations. Unfortunately our meeting with Mahmoud Abbas was canceled due to the current situation with their new Unity Agreement with Hamas. Tomorrow, the WRJ delegation will have a private meeting with the leadership of Women of the Wall, and then we go to Gush Etzion to meet with leaders of the settler community. In the evening we will spread out for Shabbat with area Reform congregations and home hospitality for dinner. Saturday is Shabbat with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion students and a conversation with the author Ari Shavit. Sunday is Yom Hazikaron, so we're participating in some memorial events and several more political meetings before we head home. Whew! We should have lots to talk about when we return!