ARZA Canada Newsletter
February 24, 2016
Upcoming Events



Upcoming Events Israel
 
 
Riding4Reform 2016

Hop on for the ride! 
February 28th
March  3rd

Come meet fellow progressive Israelis, visit Reform communities and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Israel has to offer.

To support ARZA Canada Board Member
Adam Roberts.
Choose
 this option     IMPJ - Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
You can include a message to this charity Please write Adam Roberts Riding4Reform 
 

Photos

ARZA Canada Delegation 37th World Zionist Congress

ARZA Canada
Can Help.

WHERE IS YOUR CONGREGATION  now with regard to Israel connections?
In what ways has your congregation connected with Israel?
What do your congregants know about Israel? 
What do they want to learn?
Does your congregation have a representative on the board of ARZA Canada?

ARZA Canada can help. 

Why is connecting with ISRAEL  GOOD FOR YOUR CONGREGATION?
It embeds the love of Israel into the ethos of your congregation.
It builds community around a common interest.
It provides motivation for congregations to do Israel advocacy, education, celebration and travel together.
It paves way to build partnerships with Israel Reform congregations.
It encourages travelling together to Israel on a Reform mission. 
It creates relationships with inspiring, charismatic Israeli Reform rabbis and lay leaders. 

ARZA Canada can help. 

Why is CONNECTING WITH ISRAEL SO IMPORTANT?
It accepts both a loving and a criticizing relationship with Israel. 
It encourages helping to shape Israel to be a democratic, pluralistic, egalitarian society. 
It recognizes Israel as a core element of Jewish historical and current experience. 
It inspires a sense of connection and belonging to the Jewish people.
It inspires a sense of collective investment and responsibility.
It inspires deepening knowledge and commitment.
It plays a significant role in enhancing and sustaining one's Jewish identity, particularly important for our Jewish youth. 

ARZA Canada can help. 

Our goals through ARZA Canada are to
Support and promote Israel engagement and travel to Israel in our Reform congregations.
Work with the Israel Reform Movement and IRAC to support the growth of Progressive Judaism in Israel. Help our movement in Israel work for a Jewish, pluralistic, just and democratic society.
Serve as the voice of Reform Zionists in Canada and advocate for Israel in the wider community.
Represent Canadian Reform Jews in national and international Zionist organizations.

Keep in touch. Follow us on Facebook. Support us through your membership .

L'shalom
Miriam
ARZA Canada President
 
 
 

Knesset approves egalitarian prayer at the Kotel

The Knesset approved the construction of a new prayer space at the Western Wall where men and women will be able to conduct egalitarian prayer together.  The new location, just south of the existing men's and women's sections, will not be under haredi supervision.

 

 
 

 



Haaretz: The Reform movement in Canada is growing


Reform Judaism Makes Inroads in Canada With Its Focus on Social Justice
 
 

 
 
Reform immersion
 
The growth of Reform Judaism in Israel takes the form of small but important steps - a new congregation, a state-sponsored Reform Rabbi.  Often progress means challenging the state-sanctioned domination of religion by the ultra-Orthodox.  Here's another victory.  Mikvahs, which are required to perform conversion to Judaism, have been off limits to Reform.  But now Israel's Supreme Court ruled that public mikvahs must be available for non-Orthodox conversion ceremonies.  It's a small step, but could be a precedent for future challenges to the ultra-Orthodox monopoly.  
 
Spotlight on: Equality for Arabs in Israel

Israel's political  far right, with its mixture of support for settlements and intolerance of minorities, poses a risk to the health of Israel's democracy. 
Read More....


But the news isn't all bad.  The Knesset recently acknowledged that financial discrimination against the Arab sector is bad for Israel.  It approved increased funding to improve education, industry and other infrastructure in Arab communities.  Read More....
 
                                                            Yoav Gallant, former chief of Staff and current housing minister, says that equality for Israel's Arabs will counter incitement and terrorism.  And an Israeli professor, observing a trend among Israeli Arabs to value their Israeli citizenship, says that increasing education and employment opportunities for Arabs is important for Israel's economy as a whole.Read More....


Recent polls suggest the overwhelming majority of Israeli Arabs prefer peaceful coexistence over any form of violence * Steps must be taken to make the most out of this momentum.

Read More.... 
Just Visiting: Abu Ghosh  
Any Israel will tell you that for the best hummus in the country, and Middle Eastern food as good as you'll find anywhere, the place to go is Abu Ghosh.  This Christian Arab village just off Highway 1 is friendly and safe.

 

 
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