In this moving and deeply personal conversation, we sit down with Anna Kislanski, one of the most influential liberal Jewish leaders in Israel today, to talk about what it means to be a Reform Jew in the Jewish state—especially after the horrors of October 7.

Anna shares the story of a moment of joy and progress—16 Israeli municipalities inviting Reform communities to lead egalitarian Simchat Torah celebrations—cut short by Hamas’ brutal attacks the next morning. From there, she traces how her movement sprang into action: mourning, organizing, comforting, and rebuilding.

She speaks candidly about the trauma facing Israel’s liberal Jewish communities, from the kibbutzim of the Gaza Envelope to the displaced families of the northern Galilee. But she also tells a story of hope—of Havdalah ceremonies in Hostage Square, of Reform rabbis crisscrossing the country to hold together scattered communities, and of new bridges built between Jews and Arabs.