Greetings Union Friends,

My wife Barri and I recently returned from our Winter Leadership Conference in San Diego, California. Our president, Rabbi Barney Kasdan (with Liz Kasdan), hosted a great conference. We were pleased to connect with old friends and excited about all the new ones, too.

One of those new friends was a videographer named Todd Morehead. He showcased his new video entitled, “Hope in the Holy Land”…

Greetings Union Friends,

In 1899, Charles Holland Duel, Commissioner of the US Patent Office, (supposedly) said: “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” I was shocked that someone in his position could say such a thing, so I was pleased to learn later he was misquoted. Believing as I do that the future belongs to those who dream and strive, accepting the status quo doesn’t abide with me. For me, it’s all about forward!

Ben Volman’s 2023 drash on Parashat Ki Tavo, entitled "When the Way Seems Uncertain" won the Canadian national 2024 Word Award for best Digital [online] Inspirational Devotional.

Greetings Union Friends,

I recently passed the one-year marker as the Union’s Executive Director. Upon this first anniversary, I was asked what it was like leading the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations in the first year. Though well-intended, I thought it was a poor question for a few reasons—not least of which being that I am not the leader.

The Union is delegate-led. Delegates outline policies that are managed by the Executive Committee, which the Executive Director is a part of. The Executive Director works with the Executive Committee, under the president, at the behest of the delegates. In theory and in practice we all work for you. 

Greetings UMJC Friends:

There’s so much happening in the Union, I’m prompted to think people would be better served by a newspaper than a letter—but a letter it is, with a video.

I am sure that first and foremost on our hearts is our beloved Israel. We are all heartbroken over the recent recovery of six more murdered hostages, and continue to pray for true peace to be reached very soon for the sake of all those impacted. Thank you for your practical support these many months. 

This year’s spectacular Summer Conference is behind us—and what a conference it was. Unfortunately for me, I was holed up in the hotel with COVID—an affliction that raised its head, spread rapidly, and impacted others. I’m sorry I missed so much of it. Rabbi Jude Caracelo reported that we needed to bring out extra chairs to accommodate the crowd on Saturday morning. I loved hearing that and am sure others were pleased to see it.

This year’s conference saw a 25% increase over the previous year’s. The uptick follows a trend.

I write to you from England, where I am slaving away with further studies. My attention is simultaneously state-side, as foremost in my thinking, labors, and prayers is the upcoming Union Summer Family Conference next month.

We're so looking forward gathering as a community; seeing old friends and making new connections, hearing from our many gifted teachers, and enjoying downtime together. 

I just returned from Israel with my wife, Barri. We went to provide aid and share joy. Despite the mood there, we did our best to stay upbeat. At times though, Barri couldn’t help but be a bit “catty” (see the photo taken in an Israeli hospital’s underground emergency room).

We all know we are living in a rather upside-down world, evidenced, in part, by the assault on Jewish personhood and statehood being perpetrated from Gaza and reflected on our college campuses. While we were in Israel, time and time again Israelis lamented the lack of support and the uptick in antisemitism on our college campuses. I know that you are concerned by it, too.

This year’s Passover-related, “Happy Holiday” greetings were eclipsed by the realization we’re living in particularly dark and unhappy times. It’s not enough that Israel was thrown on its heels in October 2023. To add further insult to the egregious injury, support for Hamas and cascading antisemitism is on full display at some of our nation’s best universities—rendering them unsafe for Jews. It all leaves me with a sour feeling.

During this time of trial for Israel, leaders in the UMJC are showing solidarity by visiting in person. Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Seif and his wife, Barri Cae, recently returned from Israel, as did UMJC Rabbi Michael Kashdan. Jeff Seif’s brief report is followed by a longer account by Rabbi Kashdan.