Welcome!

Hi everyone,
To facilitate sharing our vision statement drafts, we've created a blog, which we hope will be easy to use.
You should be able to post your draft as well as comment on others' drafts. Anyone who has the link can comment (if you lose it, just google think tank vision drafts and you'll get back here).
One tip for viewing others' comments: underneath each post, it shows the number of comments related to that post. You will need to click there in order to see the comments that go with that post.

To make a post of your own vision draft, there are two ways to go:
- if you are not a seasoned blogger, just email me your work (at rtasch@earthlink.net) and I'll post it (that way you won't have to sign in or learn anything about how to use blogger). Everyone will be able to see and comment on your post.
- if you want to make the post yourself, go right ahead and sign in (the menu bar in the top right has a command called "New Post" which you will see after you sign in).

If you need help, please email me at rtasch@earthlink.net.
Thanks!
Rachel

Jamie Gibson submission

Reform Judaism is light.  It shines hope and optimism on the world, sure in its connection to our past and our hope in God and our efforts for the future.  It is relentlessly forward looking and refuses to turn away from the challenges that modernity raises.  We maintain faith in our covenant with God, our commitment to Torah for our age and a connection to a people with whom we share a common history and aspire to a destiny of wonder.

Reform Judaism is faith.  We hold aloft the flame of faith in God and humanity, our purpose and our potential. We believe in the truths of our ancient prophets as a roadmap to an ethical life, for us and our community.

Reform Judaism is the divine spark of souls.  In an impersonal age, we connect people at the level where it matters most, that is, spiritually.  We matter, infinitely more than we can express, because we share inner connection and outer purpose, to make this world better, to be bearers of our unique insight to all who would want to connect their spark to our flame. 

A home with an open door (Rachel Tasch submission)

Reform Judaism is a home with an open door.  Inside is a life of meaning and a sense of belonging.  

Each home is different, but all of us strive to create homes that are places of safety, warmth, and nourishment.  Inside is full of light, family, good food, and memories.  Homes have history, character, and charm.

Just as a person may have several homes throughout his lifetime, one’s home in Reform Judaism can change over time.  

For the most part, we don't build our own homes from scratch;  we buy (inherit) them and then make them our own by the choices we make. 

Home is where we welcome and entertain others.  It’s where we all come from and all return to at the end of the day.

It’s where we build our lives and dream of the future. 

Im Nirtzeh - If We Will It (Jan Katzew submission)

Reform Judaism will be the spiritual, intellectual, ethical and emotional home for Jews who are committed to tikkun middot (repairing the world inside us), tikkun olam (repairing the world around us), yirat shamayim (awe of God), ahavat Yisrael (love of Israel), talmud Torah (lifelong Jewish learning), and k'vod ha-briot (honor of all creatures).

By 2020, 80% of the people who identify as Reform Jews will be active participants in Reform kehillot.

Liz Dunst submission

The vision of the reform Movement is to create an inclusive community of Jews dedicated to continued innovation in the evolution of a Judaism, inspired by our tradition yet embracing of contemporary realities.  A Judaism that speaks to our souls and our need for a spiritual  foundation to lead lives of purpose and to be God’s partner in the important work of repairing the world.