At the crossroads between unbridled joy and devastation, Rabbi Allison Conyer, along with Co-President Jacky Magid and four other TBI members joined with Australians from around the country to visit Israel at one of the most pivotal moments in Israel's history.

Just after the release of the remaining living hostages in Israel, the joy was palpable; and yet, the impact of the trauma since October 7 was unavoidable everywhere we looked. From the Gaza Envelope to the Lebanese border, from the Supreme Court to cooking in the shuk, from volunteering in a food bank to attending a Shalom Hanoch concert, our experiences were vast. Listening to Bibi supporters, Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Ukrainian refugees, and a Maronite Christian serving as a General in the Israeli Army, we were exposed to different perspectives and viewpoints. Learning about the current challenges surrounding the migrant workers and refugees, the tension between the secular and religious, and the growth of our Israeli Progressive Jewish Movement was simultaneously disheartening and inspiring, revealing the multilayered complexities of living within Israeli society. 

Don’t miss this multimedia presentation of the 2025 World Union for Progressive Judaism Connections Conference and the UPJ Mission to Israel on Wednesday, 10 December at 7pm. Please register below.