Greetings from Kim Werker, New President, RJCC

Shalom, friends.

I’d like to introduce myself as I begin my four-year term as president of the Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC).

I'm a member of Temple Sholom in Vancouver, where I’ve served on the board and executive committee for several years. I first became involved with RJCC as a member of the Tikkun Olam Steering Committee; social justice work is my spiritual home.

A couple of times each summer, Temple Sholom holds Friday-night services at the beach. Folks bring picnic dinners, share blankets and folding chairs, and we welcome Shabbat in a truly stunning setting, enjoying challah and BC-grown cherries, stories of summer plans and adventures.

Earlier this month at Shabbat at the Beach, Rabbi Dan Moskovitz gestured to the setting around us—the water and the mountains, the trees and the slowly setting sun—and talked about being overwhelmed by awe and wonder.

Halfway through 2025, I think it’s safe to say this year has been a challenging one for many or all of us, in one way or another, and probably in many ways. One of the reasons being in Jewish community is so important to me is for reminders like Rabbi Dan’s: to take a deep breath and savour a moment of beauty and togetherness. To deliberately remind myself that challenges are best faced with others, together.

In addition to my role at RJCC, I serve as a member of both the Union for Reform Judaism’s North American Board (NAB), and the Commission on Social Action (CSA). It is an honour and a privilege to represent the Canadian Reform movement in these settings.

Earlier this week, the NAB adopted a resolution first passed by the CSA,“Hono[u]ring Cherished Ties Across the U.S.- Canada Border.”

Resolutions form the foundation of advocacy undertaken by the North American Reform movement. At a time when political tensions between the U.S. and Canada are high, it felt important to leaders on both sides of the border to affirm our solidarity and shared commitment.

The NAB considered adopting the resolution at its meeting on July 10 (it passed resoundingly), and I was asked to speak to it before the vote. I’ll leave you with my short remarks:

I just want to give direct voice to what it means to me, personally, as a Canadian member of this movement in this current context—as one experience among tens of thousands. I’m an expat. I was born and raised in New York. I have lived in Canada for almost all of my adult life. Canada is my home, and I have an immigrant’s love of my chosen country.

The Reform community north of the border shares different norms and expectations from those of you south of the border, in a way that mirrors, I think, how special the differences and similarities are between Canadians and Americans generally. Reform Judaism in Canada is a fair bit more traditional in religious practice compared to the U.S. We do not recognize patrilineal descent, as a dramatic example. You may hear more Hebrew in our Shabbat services than you do in some congregations in the U.S. But we are Reform Jews all the same. We share a commitment to social justice, to creating and nurturing inclusive communities, to exploring and celebrating our progressive Jewish spirituality.

Not only do both Canadian and American campers attend Camp George in Ontario, families in Alberta and British Columbia send their children to Camp Kalsman in Washington State. I know several Canadian parents who have struggled with the notion of being on the other side of the border from their kids this summer. One is staying in Washington this week as her daughter is at camp, as the only way she could feel comfortable sending her child over the border.

Canadians generally, and perhaps especially Canadian Jews, have strong social and, not uncommonly, familial ties across the border. All three clergy at my synagogue are American, and have family and close friends in the U.S.

I have real, deep anxiety being on the other side of the border from my aging parents right now. Like many Canadians, I have anxiety when I think about crossing the border, even though, and perhaps especially, because I am a dual citizen. Notions and privileges I had long taken for granted are things I no longer trust.

Which is why it is so meaningful to me to speak to the issue of this resolution this afternoon. While I wish it didn’t need to be said, the solidarity of our movement, the recognition that we as Reform Jews on both sides of the border stand firmly in our shared values, in our commitment to each other socially and spiritually, gives me peace and it gives me hope. That together we are stronger, that our connection to each other is unwavering.

Thank you for listening, and for your support.

If you’d like to discuss this or anything else related to our movement in Canada, please don’t hesitate to hit reply, or reach me anytime at kwerker@therjcc.ca.

I hope you have many opportunities to experience awe and wonder this summer.

Kim Werker

President, Reform Jewish Community of Canada

PS I was delighted and inspired to learn of Montreal Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom’s initiative to install a geothermal climate control system. Kol hakavod!