The Movement for Reform Judaism

The Opening Reception was held at the neo-gothic Vienna City Hall.  Several invited guests were present including the Israeli Ambassador to Austria Dan Ashbel, Judith Adler, Vice-President of the Israelitsche Kultisgemeinde,  Dr Bimal Kundu from the Hindutempel Vienna, Dr Michael Staikos, from the Greek Orthodox Metropolit Church and Bishop Michael Buenker of the Evangelical Council of Austria.

The Conference was held during the 70th Anniversary of the Anschluss and to be holding such a conference in which around 250 Jews from 16 countries from around the World took part, was especially moving.

For the first time ever in Vienna, two Progressive Shabbat Services took place.  The first for around 200 people was held at the Conference Hotel, the magnificant Imperial Riding School Vienna - a Renaissance Hotel. The second, for a meeting of eurojews - Progressive Jewish young adults - was held at the Or Chadasch Synagogue in Robertgasse.Several wonderful and thought provoking addresses were given, notably the Keynote lecture from Rabbi Michael Marmur, an update on WUPJ International Developments by Rabbi Joel Oseran, and the Shabbat Sermon given by Or Chadasch's Rabbi Walter Rothschild.

During the Friday Night Gala Dinnner, six of 65 Rabbis who were ordained more than 25 years ago by the Leo Baeck College received Fellowships from Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, Vice-Principal of the College.  These were Rabbis Henry Brandt (Germany), Tony Bayfield (UK), David Goldberg (UK), Andrew Goldstein (UK), Harry Jacobi (UK) and Edward Van Voolen (The Netherlands).  The rest will receive their Fellowships in June.  Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein was inducted as a Senator of the Abraham Geiger College by Rabbi Dr Walter Homolka.

Many study sessions, a visit to the Jewish Museum at Eisenstandt, a walking tour of Vienna, 15 workshops, a magnificent exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the history of the Union Liberale Israelite de France, Saturday night havdalah and dinner at a typically Viennese “Heurige”, and a showing of the film "The Darien Dilemma" added to the choices available to delegates.  

The ER’s Annual General Meeting was closed with a rousing update from Rabbi Uri Regev, President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. A post-conference tour led by ER Chairman Rabbi Dr. Andrew Goldstein visited Bratislava in Slovakia, St. Poelten and Mauthausan in Austria, and Mikoluv in the Czech Republic as well as including two walking tours of Vienna. All in all this was a most memorable and unique Conference.

Rabbi Michael Marmur

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