RSY-Netzer
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
| RSY-Netzer
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| 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 |
| Website | rsy-netzer.org.uk |
| Remarks | Youth movement of The Movement for Reform Judaism (charity 1139806); a UK branch of Netzer Olami |
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.[1] RSY-Netzer describes itself as "one of the two UK branches" of Netzer Olami, "the worldwide Progressive Youth organisation".[2] The other UK branch is LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism. The MRJ is registered as charity 1139806.[3]
Its main Israel programmes are a summer Israel Tour after GCSEs and Shnat Netzer, a gap year now run jointly with LJY-Netzer.[4][2] Both are listed by the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA).[5][6] RSY-Netzer says it works closely with Israel Experience, "which is part of the Jewish Agency and UJIA".[7]
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."[8] Movement policy is set at an annual conference, Veidah, where "all of our movement policies are shaped and voted on".[4]
In January 2025 the 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".[9]
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".[4] 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.[10]
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:[7]
- "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.[7] UJIA lists RSY-Netzer among the youth movements whose tours it supports.[5] Its directory entry repeats RSY-Netzer's aim "to enhance and strengthen our participant's Jewish identity".[11]
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".[4]
- 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.[2]
The MRJ announced the joint programme on 25 March 2025. It said the Haifa section would take up "the remaining three months".[12] UJIA's directory lists it as "LJY-Netzer and RSY-Netzer's Joint programme", run "joint with the Israeli branch of Netzer".[6]
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.[2] The FZY Year Course and Bnei Akiva UK's Kadima both offer Marva.[13][14]
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).[15] Gap-year participants can apply for UJIA bursaries if they also get funding from Masa and the programme provider.[16]
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.[1]
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Movement for Reform Judaism, The Movement for Reform Judaism - Youth reformjudaism.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 RSY-Netzer, Shnat 5787 / 2026-7 rsy-netzer.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission, The Movement for Reform Judaism, charity 1139806 register entry, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 RSY-Netzer, What We Do rsy-netzer.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 United Jewish Israel Appeal, Israel Tour ujia.org, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 United Jewish Israel Appeal, LJY RSY Shnat Netzer ujia.org, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 RSY-Netzer, Parents' Information rsy-netzer.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ RSY-Netzer, What Is RSY-Netzer? rsy-netzer.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ The Movement for Reform Judaism, Festive fun at RSY-Netzer's Choref winter camp reformjudaism.org.uk, 15 January 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ RSY-Netzer, Israel Tour 5786 rsy-netzer.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ United Jewish Israel Appeal, RSY-Netzer Tour ujia.org, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ The Movement for Reform Judaism, Launch of joint RSY/LJY Shnat Netzer gap year programme reformjudaism.org.uk, 25 March 2025, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ Federation of Zionist Youth, About 1 fzy.org.uk, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ World Bnei Akiva, Kadima: World Bnei Akiva, Modern Orthodox Israel Gap Year worldbneiakiva.org, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ United Jewish Israel Appeal, Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025 Charity Commission register, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ United Jewish Israel Appeal, Financial Assistance ujia.org, accessed 23 October 2026.