About Maram
The Council of Reform Rabbis in Israel
Maram is the Council of Reform Rabbis working in Israel. The council serves as a professional, social and spiritual community for its members, as well as a workers’ union for the rabbis. Maram supports Reform rabbis, thereby strengthening and enriching the communities of the Reform movement in Israel and the Reform presence in Israel as a whole. Maram is committed to promoting an egalitarian, pluralistic Judaism that’s based upon social justice and tikkun olam.
Maram was founded in 1964 by Rabbis Moshe Zemer, Bob Samuels and Yaakov Cohen, and has been a registered NGO since 1998.
Vision and Goals
We dream of and work to create a democratic Israeli society in which every person, regardless of religion, race, gender or sexual orientation and ethnic background, can exercise their right to religious freedom and equality. We believe that Reform Judaism is an integral part of the Israeli mosaic, and we work to make its values and activities accessible to the public.
Maram works to strengthen Reform spiritual leadership in Israel, and to establish Jewish values of democracy, social justice and equality. As part of its role, the council supports its members and provides them with platforms for study, spiritual renewal and professional development, and serves as an intellectual creative house.
Our activities
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Professional community and continued professional development – Marem holds training, seminars, study days, continuing education and creates new Reform rabbinical knowledge.
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Operation of a Beit Din for conversion and Matrimonial issues – in Maram’s Reform Beit Din, one can convert and divorce. The court is led by the head of the court, Rabbi Galia Sadan, and the director of the court, Rabbi Gregory Kotler.
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Intellectual and liturgical enterprise – Over its many years, Maram has published siddurs, machzorim, collections of prayers and blessings, non-fiction books and Jewish philosophical essays. Maram is committed to innovative and high-quality Jewish creation.
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Support for Reform rabbis – professional guidance for rabbis in all matters relating to their employment.
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Strengthening local and international ties – cooperation with Jewish pluralistic organizations in Israel, alongside Reform rabbinical organizations around the world, with the aim of strengthening the status of Reform Judaism in Israel and promoting pluralistic, egalitarian and democratic Judaism.
Maram’s Team
Maram’s Chair
Rabbi Ayala Ronen Samuels
rabbi of the Tefilat Adam community, has served as chair of the Maram since 2020
Maram’s Director
Rabbi Efrat Rotem
an independent rabbi from Hod Hasharon
Director of the Beit Din
Rabbi Gregory Kotler
Rabbi of the Shirat Hagan community and director of the conversion department in the Reform movement
Head of the Beit Din
Rabbi Galia Riva Sadan
