Reform ‘sorry’ for ditching kaddish activist
REFORM JUDAISM has apologised for the “enormous hurt” it caused a student by dropping her from leading an Israel tour after she took part in the controversial “Kaddish for Gaza” event.
Nina Morris-Evans was among a group of young Jews who sparked a major communal row when they said the Jewish mourning prayer for 62 Palestinians who died in clashes on the border with Israel in May.
Ms Morris-Evans, 20, joined a Liberal Judaism tour earlier this month after the group stepped in at the last minute to take her to Israel, despite objections from the principal organisers, UJIA.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Reform Judaism board said: “Reform Judaism and RSY-Netzer are pleased that Nina Morris-Evans is now working with LJY-Netzer Israel Tour.
“We are confident she has the qualities to excel in this role and delighted that she now has the opportunity to engage with young people as part of another Netzer-led Israel Tour. “We acknowledge that the process by which Nina Morris-Evans was removed from leading Israel Tour unintentionally led to enormous hurt, for which we sincerely apologise.” Ms Morris-Evans said she welcomed the apology: “Anyone who has been as committed a member of a Zionist youth movement as me knows how important the experience of leading Israel tour is.” Reform Judaism said it would “set up an independent review of our processes and wider issues raised” in relation to the case. “The lessons we have taken from this difficult time will affect how we educate going forwards.” UJIA did not respond to a request for a comment before the JC went to press.