Between the 27th and 31st of March, in Campos do Jordão, a meeting took place that brought together 35 young Latin American adults from the Netzer and Tamar movements. Representatives from six different countries and several Brazilian cities shared spaces for study, prayer and integration.
The initiative was promoted by the Union of Reform Judaism of Latin America (UJR-AmLat), with the support of Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL), World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), World Zionist Organization, World Jewish Congress (WJC NextGen), Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP) and Moishe House.
Communities from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Spain were represented at the meeting. For Carla Neimarkas, youth director at WUPJ, the meeting has global importance: “This is a door that opens to place young leadership at the forefront of communities at local, regional and international levels. We have a very great responsibility for the continuity of our people”. The educator was part of the event’s organizing team, made up of David Britva Beraha (executive director of UJR), André Liberman (educational coordinator of UJR) and Vale Levin (manager of Moishe House for Latin America). Melina Sternberg (communication director at UJR) and Daniel Ávila (chazan) also supported the group.
Over four days, participants explored different aspects of Reform Judaism, such as community, leadership, and Israel. The study of the Talmud was led by members of the Zehut/Tamar Group from Recife, Pernambuco. “From our perspective, as we expand our familiarity with tradition and provide more people with access to Jewish sources, we are strengthening our communities”, says Marcos Gandelsman, 31 years old, community activist and member of the Zehut Group. In addition to the educational dynamics, the schedule included Shacharít, Mincha and Arvít services organized by the participants themselves.
Creating connections and strengthening the youth network was one of the main objectives of the meeting. Esther Hernandes Cifuentes, 20 years old, is an educator in the Adat Israel Guatemala community and was surprised by the group’s welcome. According to the young woman, Netzer (reformist youth movement) is one of the pillars of her community and the meeting with other snifim (groups) was transformative. “I even forgot I was in Brazil! We became a real family.”
Spaces were also provided for brainstorming new projects. “I left the meeting taking tools to develop myself as a community leader”, said David Grimberg, 25 years old. Based on his experience on the community outskirts of Santiago, Chile, he says he will return to his country to reconnect young people with Judaism. “I want to go after people who are disconnected and bring them closer to their spirituality.”
The next regional meeting of the Netzer and Tamar groups will take place at the UJR-AmLat conference, which will take place in Buenos Aires between the 15th and 18th of August this year. For more information, follow UJR-AmLat on Instagram.
