Last week in Jerusalem, the Reform Movement made history. We arrived at the World Zionist Congress (WZC) — a global gathering held every five years where Jewish communities from around the world come together to shape priorities and funding for the future of Israel and the Jewish people — and we made our presence known.

Here is what I know: If there are tables where decisions are being made, we want to be sitting at them.

I am in “over-kvell” as I reflect on my nine days in Israel for the World Zionist Congress, preceded by the World Union for Progressive Judaism Connections conference and Rosh Chodesh with Women of the Wall.

I’m writing this from a sun-lit corner of Jerusalem overlooking the walls of the Old City. In front of me, the ancient stones shimmer in the late-morning light, whispering stories of generations who dreamed, argued, and prayed for the future of our people.

As I walked into the newly dedicated pavilion at HUC’s Jerusalem campus on Monday morning, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. There were familiar hugs from old friends and the wave of nostalgia that always accompanies entering a place filled with memories.

Here at the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem, I find myself questioning whether Kevin Bacon’s six degrees of separation still applies to the Jewish people, if it ever did.

Day two of the Congress started bright and early at 7:30 a.m. After an exciting first day of ceremony and celebration, we were ready to buckle down for the real business of the WZC. Little did we know at that point that we were in for more than 16 consecutive hours of said business!

Walking into the World Zionist Congress today transported me to another world. All of a sudden, it was 1897, and I was in Basel, Switzerland, with Theodor Herzl himself, after he had the creative idea to bring together Jews from around the world to decide on certain things pertaining to the future of the Jewish people, not least among them the possible creation of a Jewish state.

This past Saturday night, as Shabbat ended, I packed my bags and headed to JFK  for the 39th World Zionist Congress. This late October trip to Israel is routine for me now – my involvement with ARZA, Arzenu, and the World Zionist Organization (WZO) began nearly 8 years ago.

We all know that the next several days will be filled with conflict, political machinations, and attempts to demonize and marginalize the large coalition of progressive Jewish institutions, organizations, and values that make up our coalition.

First and foremost, I want to share how emotional it was to walk down the long hallway of Ben Gurion airport today and see only 13 hostage posters remaining.

Six weeks after October 7, I spent a Friday night in Tel Aviv.

Midway through Kabbalat Shabbat, the Red Alert siren sounded. We walked to the shelter, waited for the all clear, and then went back upstairs into the sanctuary. Rabbi Meir Azari called seven women to the bima to formally welcome them into the Jewish people. It was a decisive moment when these women declared that, even in a time of fear, they chose faith.