JERUSALEM – Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs of West Hartford has been named the next president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), it was announced recently.
Fuchs, who has served as senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford since 1997, will retire as a congregational leader in June. He will take up his new post in early July and will divide his time equally between North America and Israel.  He will also visit World Union communities around the world.

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs

“I am very excited by the opportunity that the appointment of Rabbi Stephen Fuchs will give to the WUPJ,” said WUPJ Chairman Mike Grabiner in announcing the appointment. “He is a visionary leader, an excellent speaker and advocate, and is passionate about the development of Progressive Judaism in Israel and around the world.”
Prior to his move to West Hartford, where he has also served as an adjunct professor at the Hartford Seminary, Fuchs served as senior rabbi at Congregation Ohabai Shalom in Nashville, Tenn. and as spiritual leader of Temple Isaiah in Columbia, Md. Now that he is leaving the pulpit, Fuchs noted, he expects to devote all his time and energies to the advancement of progressive Jewish life worldwide.
“To work for k’lal yisrael, to advance Progressive Jewish life in Israel and around the world is the opportunity for which I have been preparing my entire life,” he noted. “I know that working together as a team, a dedicated staff with a deeply committed group of lay leaders can and will make the World Union’s wonderful work even more effective in the years ahead.”
At Beth Israel, news of Fuchs’ appointment was greeted with pride.
“This position is a great honor for Rabbi Fuchs,” said April Haskell, president of Beth Israel. “It is a recognition of his many talents, and it will enable him to act on his passion for Reform Judaism. Our congregation is thrilled for him as he undertakes this exciting opportunity.”
Rabbi Richard Hirsch, honorary life president of the WUPJ, was quick to endorse the appointment: “I heartily congratulate Rabbi Stephen Fuchs on his selection as the next President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism,” he said in a statement.  “Rabbi Fuchs has a distinguished record of service and leadership in the rabbinate. He has a sterling reputation as a scholar, a Jewish educator, a social activist and community leader.  He is a role model of a spiritual leader who manifests throughout his entire career the noblest Jewish values.  I personally am delighted with the decision to appoint Rabbi Fuchs. I pledge to assist him whenever called upon in the vital task of advancing the cause of Progressive Judaism in Israel and throughout the world.”
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said, “I greet with great enthusiasm the appointment of Rabbi Stephen Fuchs as the new President of the WUPJ. Rabbi Fuchs combines a deep commitment to world Jewry and a profound love for Israel with long experience in Reform congregational life. He has been a distinguished leader of North American Jewry, and he will be a distinguished leader of world Jewry, uniting Reform Jews everywhere under the banner of progressive Jewish ideals.”
The World Union for Progressive Judaism is the international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements, serving more than 1,200 congregations with over 1.8 million members in 44 countries.  Its mission is to strengthen Jewish life in Israel and worldwide by establishing and supporting modern, pluralistic congregations and institutions, developing Jewish communal and youth leadership and advancing social justice.
Rabbi Fuchs will discuss his plans and the organization for which he will be working at Shabbat services on Friday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. The services will be followed by a sit-down Oneg Shabbat. The service and Oneg are open to the public.
Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford.
For more information, visit www.cbict.org; or contact bethisrael@cbict.org, (860) 233-8215.