By Matt Lebovic

More than two dozen local Jews of all denominations returned this week from the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts' (SCM) 20th Anniversary Unity Mission. For the first time ever, participants traveled to Israel to build bridges between local synagogues and dialogue with counterparts in the Jewish state.

Funded by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and other sources, SCM has engaged more than 600 Conservative, Orthodox, Reform and Reconstructionist Jews in past unity missions. This month's Israel trip included visits to Jerusalem and Boston's sister city Haifa, where participants met with Congregation Or Chadash members. Former Or Chadash President Yishai Lachter called the SCM a "model and fine example" for Israeli Jews struggling to build a pluralistic society. 

Participants also met with Israeli volunteers from CJP's Boston-Haifa Connection, including some who will join SCM members for programming in the US. Discussions included the myriad ways in which Boston Jews of all denominations supported Haifa during last summer's war, both materially and spiritually.

"This is the time to work toward unity," said Yossi Kfiri of Haifa's Moriah Congregation. "All the tribes, all the streams and all the movements of Judaism should work hand in hand toward a better future. The peace must start between us internally."

Mission participants were unanimous in their praise for SCM's efforts to build understanding and respect amongst Jews of all backgrounds through dialogues, year-round programs and unity missions. Participants immersed themselves in the full spectrum of Jewish observance in Israel, from visiting Haifa's Vishnitz Hassidic community to meeting with Rabbi Naamah Kelman, the first female rabbi ordained in Israel.

"We had a number of shared experiences that touched everyone in our group," said SCM President Jesse Hefter. "For one sunrise we went to the famous Makhtesh Ramon crater in the Negev desert, where I loaned my tefillin (phylacteries) to our group's secular Israeli guard. This young man had never put on tefillin and was incredibly moved by the experience of being with our group at sunrise. He went into a quiet meditation mode and everyone was very inspired."

Bringing the annual SCM mission to Israel presented both veteran and new SCM members with expanded insight into the complexities of Israeli Jewish community-building. Participants learned about the struggle for all voices to gain acceptance in the Jewish state, said SCM Executive Director Alan Teperow.

"Through this trip we're trying to open people's minds and hearts to other styles of Judaism so they can recognize and appreciate that there are multiple ways of approaching our faith," said Teperow, who celebrated his 25th anniversary with SCM during the trip. "It's very fulfilling to be with other people who love being Jewish and interested in learning from each other. This is cutting edge work that has strengthened our Jewish community in so many ways."