Today marked an exciting day for the Reform Movement and for the RAC in particular. At Israel’s Independence Day ceremony today, Rabbi Richard Hirsch, the RAC’s first director and longtime head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) became the first Reform rabbi to receive the honor of lighting a torch during the evening ceremony opening Israel’s Independence Day
celebrations on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. He was one of 14 Israelis invited to participate.
The torch-lighting honor, bestowed upon Rabbi Hirsch by a committee within the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recognizes his key role in the Zionist movement, as chairman of the Zionist General Council, and in strengthening ties between Reform Judaism and the Zionist movement.
In 1962, Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, President of the URJ (then called
the UAHC) appointed Rabbi Hirsch to direct the newly-formed Religious
Action Center. he served as director of the RAC until 1973, when he
moved to Israel and became executive director of WUPJ. He is largely
credited with influencing the organization’s decision to relocate its
headquarters to Israel, solidifying the commitment of Progressive
Judaism and its adherents to Israel and the Zionist endeavor. He became
a major figure in Zionist politics, serving as chairman of the Zionist
General Council.
In a statement today, Albert Vorspan, Senior Vice President Emeritus of the URJ, said, “Dick Hirsch led the Religious Action Center during this
country’s historic and tumultuous struggles for civil rights and peace
in Vietnam. He helped to mobilize the coalitions of decency which
secured passage of milestone civil rights laws and Great Society
programs in America.”
Echoing Vorspan’s sentiments in today’s statement, Rabbi David Saperstein, who is
Hirsch’s successor as Director of the RAC, said, “Rabbi Hirsch is one
of the great institution-builders in Reform Jewish history. His
world-wide reputation as an influential Zionist leader makes our work
so much easier, and we congratulate him on this wonderful honor. When I
arrived here in the mid-1970s, Dick had set a remarkable standard as
the RAC’s first director. A respected friend of Israeli Ambassadors,
Members of Congress, and interfaith leaders during his tenure in
Washington, he helped set in motion the trademark social justice
programs and advocacy efforts that have helped define the Reform Jewish
Movement in America and across the globe.”
On behalf of the RAC staff, a hearty mazel tov to Rabbi Hirsch on this great honor!
Photo credit: Sasson Tiram and the Jewish Agency for Israel