Ideology

i. Noam is the youth movement of Masorti Judaism. We operate in the Halachic framework as laid down by Masorti Rabbis.

ii. Torah and Halacha comprise the backbone of Judaism and we recognise our obligation to follow them.

iii. We also believe Judaism must engage with the challenge of modernity, contemporary scholarship and Moral Imperatives. We all inherit the tradition and believe that it is a living and dynamic system.

iv. We seek to imbibe our members with the knowledge and skills to develop a love for Jewish practice and learning. We aim to provide educational opportunities for all our members such as the opportunities that are offered at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

v. Noam believes in personal autonomy and opposes religious fundamentalism and coercion.

vi. Noam is an egalitarian Masorti Kehila (community) and believes that people of any, all and no gender are both equally obligated in all areas of Jewish practice.

vii. Noam seeks to be an engaged, literate, questioning, observant, vibrant and caring Kehila, that is the driving force behind the Masorti Community and its future.

viii. Through Noam each member is able to embark upon their own Jewish journey and engage with our own unique tradition.

ix: Noam stands for equal rights of LGBTQ* people. We call for same gender couples to be able to be married in a shutufat or a kiddushin cermony. We will put pressure on the wider Masorti movement to develop a halachic and ritual framework for trans (including non-binary) people.

i. Noam believes firmly in the existence of Israel as a Jewish, equal and democratic state.

ii. We believe that we have an obligation, through Diaspora activism, to build a Jewish state that reflects our beliefs, as Israel claims to act in the name of Jews around the world

iii. Hebrew is the national language of the Jewish People, and we will use it and teach it as much as possible.

iv. Noam is committed to providing its members with a detailed, historical understanding of the emergence of Modern Zionism and a contemporary understanding of the State of Israel.

v. Noam believes in a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resulting in peace. Since Noam is dedicated to contemporary Zionism, Noam will educate its members on why Zionism and Palestinian liberation are still important and relevant and not mutually exclusive post-1948.

vi. Noam commits to educating about Palestinian narratives and culture, as well as providing Palestinian perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

vii. Noam believes in a Zionism where there is a clear separation between Synagogue and State.  Noam believes in freedom of self-determination for all peoples.

viii. Noam will educate its members about issues of Orthodox hegemony in Israel, and will campaign to end these wherever possible.

ix. Noam believes in an Israel which supports religious freedom for all.

x. Noam believes that civil, same-sex and non-Orthodox Jewish marriages and partnerships, both performed inside and outside of Israel, should be recognised by the Israeli government.

xi. Judaism holds all life to be sacred. Noam will fight for the human rights and living conditions of all people within Israel and the Palestinian Territories, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

xii. Noam aims to reduce poverty and inequality in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This must reflect that a disproportionate number of the most vulnerable people in these societies are not Jewish.

xiii. Noam will provide the opportunity for its members to spend time in Israel in order to develop a greater understanding of the land, people, cultures and religions.

i. Noam is an intentional kehillah (community) and strives to welcome and supports the rights of all, regardless of gender, race, socio-economic background, political persuasion, sexual orientation, or ability.

ii. Noam is committed to fighting for racial equality and combatting racism of all forms.

iii. Noam aims to be an intersectional feminist youth movement.

iv. Noam believes in democracy as an effective process for communal decision making. Assefot (on Veida and at other times) are the formalised enactments of this belief.

v. Noam believe in creating an environment in which all members are given a voice in this process.

vi. Noam invites its members to engage regularly with the movement through the events and structures provided throughout the year. The Mazkirut will empower members of Noam to bring about change within the community.

vii. Noam seeks to develop bonds with other Masorti communities across the world. Noam Olami and other individual initiatives will facilitate this.

ix. Noam strives to foster an inclusive and secure environment for all its members. This environment is sustained through active participation and investment in the community.

i. Noam will foster Hagshama Atzmit (self actualisation) for all of its participants at all Noam events.

ii. The process of education is a crucial step towards self-development.

iii. Noam aims to be innovative in its education, pushing the boundaries of both formal and informal education, in order to stimulate creative thought.

iv. Noam aims to create a safe and open environment for debate on all issues within a supportive and informal framework.

v. We aim to promote and foster high standards of Hadracha through training programmes and experience.

vi. Noam believes feedback to be a central part of personal growth, and as such will create opportunities for and encourage feedback.

vii. By striving to live out our ideology we aim to become a Dugma Ishit (role model) and an Or L’Tnua (light onto our movement). Positive Dugma is the best way to pass Noam’s ideology onto its members.

viii. Hadracha is the primary way Noam and its members promotes, educates and lives out Noam’s other four branches.

ix. Noam is committed to tracking the progress and achievements of all its Madrachim, in order to provide its members with individually focused skills and training throughout their time in the movement.

x. Noam aims to improve the wellbeing of all its participants through structures such as Atid at all Noam events.

i. Noam believes that every individual and the movement as a whole has the obligation of Gemillut Chasadim (Acts Of Loving Kindness), advancing equality, peace, justice & kindness.

ii. Noam believes that the world is imperfect and that it is the duty of every individual to improve the world around them.

iii. Noam believes that we should end every day having left the world a better place that the one in which we woke up.

iv. As an ideological movement apathy towards injustice is no option and we must always strive to educate to make and informed opinion.

v. Noam values and encourages all Social Action endeavours that its members engage in and support in their daily lives.

vi. As an ideological movement, apathy towards injustice is not an option. We must always strive to educate and make informed decisions on which to act.

vii. Noam believes that practical engagement in Tikkun Olam & Chesed should run alongside Chinuch and Hadracha development. Fostering a safe, inclusive and caring environment for young people are Gemillut Chasidim in themselves.

viii. Noam views all elements of Tikkun as an inherent part of Chesed and will support its members in all tikkun activities.