Madison’s Reconstructionist leader: Think diversity, progressive Zionism

After leadership of the Reconstructionist movement expressed support for Israel, Rabbi Renée Bauer added her support for the Jewish community’s openness to hear a diversity of opinions.   

But Bauer also noted that the movement “is committed to a progressive Zionist ideology.” She has previously discussed the movement’s connections with Israel.  

It was after Judaism’s Reconstructionist movement issued a statement last month (see story) in support of progressive Zionism, that Bauer, the Madison-based president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, discussed her support for hearing a diversity of viewpoints. 

“As president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, I am proud to be a member of the Reconstructionist Movement that is working hard to value diversity of opinions in the Jewish community at this time of deep pain, fear and polarization,” said Bauer, who represents the rabbinical arm of the movement. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association serves about 380 rabbis. 

“Our rabbis have dedicated their life to serving the Jewish people, and I believe that each of our member rabbis do so with integrity in whatever setting they serve,” Bauer said. “It is a strength of our association to have a diversity of viewpoints that mirror the landscape in which we serve. It is essential that as a body of rabbis we have the challenging conversations with each other about Israel, the war in Gaza, Zionism, Jewish peoplehood and pluralism so that we can help our communities do the same as we work to build a strong Jewish future in Israel and in this country.” 

Bauer told the Chronicle in a prior interview that to characterize Reconstructionism as anti-Zionist would be “totally unfair.” 

Bauer noted the movement’s connections with Israel. The Association always financially supports the attendance of Israeli colleagues at its convention, and it did so for two attendees to the March convention in Atlanta, she said.  

“They shared their stories,” she said. “They shared their work. They shared about their communities.” An Israeli, with a son in Israel Defense Forces, is on the Assocation’s executive board, Bauer noted in the May article.