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{{short description|'''Youth movement of the Movement for Reform Judaism, a UK branch of Netzer Olami, which runs Israel Tours and a gap year with UJIA support'''}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = RSY-Netzer
| logo = RSY-Netzer logo.png
| type = Reform Zionist youth movement
| headquarters = c/o The Movement for Reform Judaism, The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY
| area_served = United Kingdom
| services = Summer and winter camps, leadership training, Israel Tour, Shnat Netzer gap year
| remarks = Youth movement of [[The Movement for Reform Judaism]] (charity 1139806); a UK branch of Netzer Olami
| website = [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk rsy-netzer.org.uk]
}}
{{Zionist movement sidebar}}
'''RSY-Netzer''' is the youth movement of [[The Movement for Reform Judaism]] (MRJ). The MRJ says it runs events and activities "for over 800 10–18 year olds" each year.<ref name="MRJYouth">[[The Movement for Reform Judaism]], [https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/youth/ The Movement for Reform Judaism - Youth] ''reformjudaism.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> RSY-Netzer describes itself as "one of the two UK branches" of Netzer Olami, "the worldwide Progressive Youth organisation".<ref name="RSYShnat">RSY-Netzer, [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk/our-events/shnat/ Shnat 5787 / 2026-7] ''rsy-netzer.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> The other UK branch is [[LJY-Netzer]], the youth movement of [[Liberal Judaism (UK)|Liberal Judaism]]. The MRJ is registered as charity 1139806.<ref name="CCMRJ">[[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]], [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5015263 The Movement for Reform Judaism, charity 1139806] register entry, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

Its main Israel programmes are a summer [[Israel Tour]] after GCSEs and Shnat Netzer, a gap year now run jointly with LJY-Netzer.<ref name="RSYWhat">RSY-Netzer, [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk/about/what-we-do/ What We Do] ''rsy-netzer.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="RSYShnat" /> Both are listed by the [[United Jewish Israel Appeal]] (UJIA).<ref name="UJIATour">[[United Jewish Israel Appeal]], [https://ujia.org/israel-tour/ Israel Tour] ''ujia.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="UJIAShnat">[[United Jewish Israel Appeal]], [https://ujia.org/experiences/ljy-rsy-shnat-netzer/ LJY RSY Shnat Netzer] ''ujia.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> RSY-Netzer says it works closely with [[Israel Experience]], "which is part of the Jewish Agency and UJIA".<ref name="RSYParents">RSY-Netzer, [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk/parents-information/ Parents' Information] ''rsy-netzer.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Ideology ==
RSY-Netzer's "What is RSY-Netzer?" page lists four "pillars": Reform Judaism, Reform Zionism, Tikkun Olam and Livluv ("to blossom"). Under Reform Zionism it says: "We are committed to offering a nuanced Israel Education encompassing a wide spectrum of perspectives and narratives, and aim towards an Israel for everyone that is more reflective of our progressive values."<ref name="RSYAbout">RSY-Netzer, [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk/about/ What Is RSY-Netzer?] ''rsy-netzer.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> Movement policy is set at an annual conference, Veidah, where "all of our movement policies are shaped and voted on".<ref name="RSYWhat" />

In January 2025 the [[The Movement for Reform Judaism|MRJ]] reported that RSY-Netzer's winter camp had created a "brave space" where participants "felt able to share their views on the conflict in Israel/Gaza". Sessions covered "the Israeli Declaration of Independence, Israeli Elections, different organisations working for peace, and on Israeli and Palestinian culture".<ref name="MRJChoref">[[The Movement for Reform Judaism]], [https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/festive-fun-at-rsy-netzers-choref-winter-camp/ Festive fun at RSY-Netzer's Choref winter camp] ''reformjudaism.org.uk'', 15 January 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Israel Tour ==
RSY-Netzer calls its [[Israel Tour]] "our post-GCSE trip to Israel". It aims "to engage with progressive Judaism in Israel and to introduce what it means to be a Reform Zionist!" Listed experiences include "the Kotel or Ammunition Hill".<ref name="RSYWhat" /> Ammunition Hill is in East Jerusalem. The 2027 tour page gives provisional dates of 4 to 25 July. It says households must have been Reform synagogue members since 1 September 2025 to get the member discount.<ref name="RSYTour">RSY-Netzer, [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk/our-events/year-11-summer-5786/ Israel Tour 5786] ''rsy-netzer.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

RSY-Netzer's information page for parents says the movement "works closely with Israel Experience (both in the UK and Israel), which is part of the Jewish Agency and UJIA". It also says:<ref name="RSYParents" />
* "Israel Experience Ltd in Jerusalem maintains contact with the appropriate Israeli security authorities who check all our itineraries on a daily basis";
* the leaders "consult daily with the Security Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel who are in constant contact with the government, police, and military authorities";
* "RSY-Netzer groups do not travel in the West Bank or in or near the Gaza Strip";
* groups "are accompanied by an Israeli security guard at all times".

The page gives a 2014 deadline for bursary forms, so parts of it may be out of date. It says financial assistance is available from the MRJ and UJIA.<ref name="RSYParents" /> UJIA lists RSY-Netzer among the youth movements whose tours it supports.<ref name="UJIATour" /> Its directory entry repeats RSY-Netzer's aim "to enhance and strengthen our participant's Jewish identity".<ref name="UJIARSYTour">[[United Jewish Israel Appeal]], [https://ujia.org/experiences/rsy-netzer-tour/ RSY-Netzer Tour] ''ujia.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Shnat Netzer ==
The two RSY-Netzer pages describe the gap year differently.
* The "What We Do" page says Shnat Netzer is "organised by our international umbrella organisation – Netzer Olami", and that participants "spend 8 months in Israel".<ref name="RSYWhat" />
* The current Shnat page (2026–27) calls it a "6-month gap year programme, which will be joint with LJY-Netzer". It has three parts: a month with Netzer South Africa; volunteering at the Lotan Ecological Centre; and a period in Haifa. In Haifa participants volunteer with communities "including Palestinian Citizens of Israel, Druze, Olim (immigrants), and Israelis", and hear sessions from organisations including Seeds of Peace and IRAC.<ref name="RSYShnat" />

The MRJ announced the joint programme on 25 March 2025. It said the Haifa section would take up "the remaining three months".<ref name="MRJShnat">[[The Movement for Reform Judaism]], [https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/launch-of-joint-rsy-ljy-shnat-netzer-gap-year-programme/ Launch of joint RSY/LJY Shnat Netzer gap year programme] ''reformjudaism.org.uk'', 25 March 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> UJIA's directory lists it as "LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer's Joint programme", run "joint with the Israeli branch of Netzer".<ref name="UJIAShnat" />

The current Shnat page lists South Africa, Lotan and Haifa as the programme's parts, and does not list an army course such as [[Marva]].<ref name="RSYShnat" /> The [[FZY Year Course]] and [[Bnei Akiva UK]]'s [[Kadima (World Bnei Akiva)|Kadima]] both offer Marva.<ref name="FZYPricing">[[Federation of Zionist Youth]], [https://www.fzy.org.uk/about-1 About 1] ''fzy.org.uk'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref><ref name="WBAKadima">[[World Bnei Akiva]], [https://www.worldbneiakiva.org/kadima Kadima: World Bnei Akiva, Modern Orthodox Israel Gap Year] ''worldbneiakiva.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Funding ==
UJIA's accounts for the year to 30 September 2025 do not name RSY-Netzer among grants of more than £100,000. Grants to "other youth movements" below that level came to £348,000 (2024: £378,000).<ref name="UJIAAcc25">[[United Jewish Israel Appeal]], [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1060078/accounts-and-annual-returns Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025] Charity Commission register, accessed 23 October 2026.</ref> Gap-year participants can apply for UJIA bursaries if they also get funding from Masa and the programme provider.<ref name="UJIAFin">[[United Jewish Israel Appeal]], [https://ujia.org/experiencing-israel/financial-assistance/ Financial Assistance] ''ujia.org'', accessed 23 October 2026.</ref>

== Contact ==
RSY-Netzer is part of the MRJ. The MRJ gives its address as The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 East End Road, London N3 2SY, telephone 020 8349 5640.<ref name="MRJYouth" />

== See also ==
* [[The Movement for Reform Judaism]]
* [[LJY-Netzer]]
* [[Israel Tour]]
* [[United Jewish Israel Appeal]]

== External links ==
* [https://rsy-netzer.org.uk RSY-Netzer website]

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Zionist movement UK|RSY-Netzer]]
[[Category:Zionist movement|RSY-Netzer]]

RSY-Netzer - Revision history

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