So, I find myself inside the El-Al 767 that will take me overnight around the world to that distant, fascinating Mediterranean shore of the great land of our ancestors, Israel.

As we ascend the heavenly heights on a perfectly clear blue starry night leaving behind us the sinking sun in the far-away horizon, and as night lulls us into a restful slumber, one’s thoughts turn to what awaits us, what is yet to come, what we must do in order to enable certain necessary events to unfold….

The rocky and bumpy turmoil that assailed the Jewish world, be it in Israel or in the Diaspora, may at last be subsiding. The frictions and clashes that enveloped the international and Israeli Jewish community may be ebbing away and new hopes for a better relationship among our brothers and sisters may usher a new era of brotherhood and sisterhood deemed to be unattainable not very long ago.

And yet, one cannot be swept away by dreams of fancy, by wishful desires that may not materialize by themselves.

The election of Ehud Barak, Israel’s new prime minister and the development of new alliances, may for the first time in years facilitate the establishment of a more progressive society, a more equitable distribution of government funds to those streams of Judaism that were neglected and ignored for so long by radical, intransigent groups of monopolistic and tyrannical theocratically oriented fundamentalists. This may be the sunrise of a new day for the progressive liberal community. A majority of the Israeli population having endured the swallowing of a bitter pill of intolerance, now awaits eagerly to be released from the shackles that kept it anchored preventing it from living in its long-awaited freedom.

Now the soil may become fertile for its proper fertilization. Now there may be more opportunities for it to be nurtured….

So, what is it that we must do in order to facilitate the unfolding of events that until very recently were perceived to be far-fetched fantasies?

Nothing happens through mere wishful thinking. Hoping for divine intervention at times can be just an experiment in naïve expectations. The key to the achievement of concrete results rests on a fiery passion and drive to succeed linked to a pragmatic map of steps of action to be taken…..

A large segment of the Israeli society, until now reticent, passive, silent and impotent, now feels that the time is ripe to reclaim control of its destiny: - to demand recognition of its rights and aspirations and to assert its inalienable mandate and sovereignty to thrive, shine and to allow its citizens to become members of a truly democratic and pluralistic society.

A forest does not evolve into its majestic exuberance without a proper infra-structural preparation, without establishing a network of deeply rooted saplings that will be properly irrigated and nurtured into mature fruition. A modern progressive pluralistic society will only become a reality if each one of us assumes the responsibility and support for its survival.

Now is the time for us – one and all - to be involved actively in the strengthening of the progressive movement in Israel and throughout all of the countries of the Diaspora, especially the Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.

Now, more than ever, is the time for us to contribute as generously as possible to the fund-raising efforts of the World Reform Appeal of the UAHC and the Unity campaign promoted by the Jewish Federations throughout North America.

Each new progressive-liberal synagogue built in Israel, each new school, be it a kindergarten, elementary or secondary educational institution; each rabbi and cantor newly-ordained by the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem will strengthen the presence of a religiously diversified and liberalized society in our ancestral home Israel.

And yet, we must not overlook the fact that a kaleidoscope is only fascinating and scintillating if it contains a wide variety of individual components that contribute to its brilliance and beauty.

We must be aware that a mosaic can only be meaningfully appreciated if it contains an assortment of multi-faceted, multi-colored pieces that will enhance its overall image.

And we must understand that a tapestry will only become a masterpiece if we build into it a plentiful composition of beautiful shades, that, when properly interwoven will result into a feast for the eyes.

So, it is likewise incumbent upon us to enable the creation of an environment where all streams of Judaism can thrive and flourish on their own without interference, restrictions, limitations; coercion or entrapments..

It is fundamental that the newly elected Knesset members should invest their efforts and talents to enact a long overdue constitution that will guarantee religious freedom for all of Israel’s inhabitants.

It is indispensable that Israel’s government funds, previously gobbled up by a minute but controlling minority, be once and for all allocated and distributed in a just and equitable manner among all streams of Judaism in the land.

Only through the liberalization of religious councils in all of Israel’s municipalities, making them inclusive for all streams of Judaism, and only through the assurance of decreed measures that will safeguard the choices of a large segment of Israel’s population allowing it to opt for legally acceptable civil marriages, conversions, and life cycle events to be performed by non-orthodox rabbinical leaders will we truly be able to turn a new leaf in our people’s history.

As the 767 jet approaches Ben-Gurion airport’s landing strip one’s thoughts and hopes emerge obviously and unmistakably clear:

Our agenda is an ambitious and all-encompassing one. For too long, liberal-progressive Jews endured the humiliation of second-class considerations. Only by taking daring and bold steps; only by demanding the implementation of drastic changes will our dreams be fulfilled.

Then and only then, as we enter a new decade, a new century and a new millennium, will we be able to proclaim unequivocally the ushering of a new chapter and the turning of a new page of religious pluralism in our people’s multi-millenary history yet to flourish in our ancestral home Israel.