Register for MERCAZ—A letter from our leadership
Dear Friend,
What do 300 kids at a summer camp outside of Kiev have in common with dozens of children with Down Syndrome celebrating their Bar Mitzvah in synagogues throughout Israel, hundreds of youth movement counselors participating in a training course in Buenos Aires, young adults studying at a Torah-study drop-in center in London, a group of parents creating a Jewish day school in Paris, a group of Conversos studying towards conversion in Portugal, dozens of North American college graduates spending a year of study at a co-ed Yeshiva in Jerusalem, twenty twenty-somethings forming learning communities in Prague and Budapest, and 48 pioneering congregations struggling to legitimize your kind of Judaism in the Jewish state?
The answer is simple:
You. And a commitment to Conservative (Masorti) Judaism.
These are but a few of the hundreds of projects of the Conservative/Masorti movement operating now in 25 countries around the world. And it has all been made possible as a result of the remarkable work of our members, funded in large measure due to our strength within the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency, strength we have transformed into grants and services exceeding $2,000,000 annually.
Now that strength is being tested, and we need you to prove that we are more deserving than ever of ongoing support.
Once every four years the Jewish people is called upon to elect its representatives to the Zionist Congress. Elections are currently being conducted for the next one, to be held in Jerusalem in June 2006, the 35th such gathering since Herzl convened the first in Basle in 1897. And it is the relative strength of the different groupings attending the Congress that will determine the agenda and the budgets of the World Zionist Organization, and in turn, the Jewish Agency. MERCAZ, the Zionist arm of worldwide Conservative/Masorti Judaism will be there to speak up for an agenda of tolerance, pluralism, mutual respect, Jewish tradition, and modernity in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. Unfortunately, these are not values and concepts that can be taken for granted in the Jewish world today, and we need your vote to make sure that our voices will be heard.
Here is how you can make a difference. Register to participate in the elections and vote for MERCAZ. In the U.S., click onto www.mercazusa.org . In Canada: www.mercaz.ca For other countries, go to the list of contacts on the MERCAZ section of the Masorti Olami website: http://www.masortiworld.org/about/contacts.htm
What we've already built as a movement is amazing. What remains to be done is as well.
We, leaders of the Conservative/Masorti Judaism in Israel who benefit from WZO/JAFI funding, and who enable others around the world to benefit as well, call upon you with a united voice to join the effort.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Breakstone |
Rabbi James Lebeau |
MERCAZ/Masorti representative in the |
Director, United Synagogue Fuchsberg |
World Zionist Organization/Jewish Agency |
Jerusalem Center |
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Rabbi Dr Eitan Chikli |
Rabbi Peretz Rodman |
Executive Director, TALI Education Fund |
President, Israel Region, Rabbinical Assembly |
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Dr. Joe Freedman |
Rabbi Joe Wernik |
Director, Ramah Programs in Israel |
Executive Vice President, Masorti Olami / MERCAZ Olami |
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Rabbi Paul Freedman |
Irit Zmora, Ph.D. |
Project Reconnect |
Chairperson, The Masorti Movement in Israel |
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Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin |
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President, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies |
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Hot off the Press! Masorti Olami News
W
e have just published our annual Masorti Olami News and are sending copies of the newsletter to our kehillot around the world. You can also read the newsletter by downloading it from our home page (www.masortiworld.org) or if you would like copies, please write your request to Judy at mail@masortiolami.org It’s a great way to find out what’s happening in our movement around the world and see how you can get involved.
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6th Annual World Wide Wrap
It’s almost that time of year again…the World Wide Wrap is just two months away. Sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, the goal of the Wrap is to have all Jews everywhere put on tefillin on the same day. This year’s World Wide Wrap will take place on February 5, 2006.
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Members of Kehilat Nitzan in Melbourne participate in the World Wide Wrap |
For more information, click on: www.worldwidewrap.org
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Ten Minutes of Torah
Rabbi Chaim Weiner, Director of the European Masorti Beit Din, has announced a new study opportunity for those who are looking for a way to engage in regular Torah study, but are unable to dedicate a great amount of time. The goal is to enable people to study one verse of Torah each week in depth, as part of a regular study routine. Rabbi Weiner comments, “You will be surprised how many skills you can acquire, and how much you can learn, by dedicating only 10 minutes each week to Torah study.”
Each week, Rabbi Weiner will send out a verse from the weekly Torah reading, together with a commentary or Midrash and some guiding questions. The following week you will receive some comments on the previous week’s verse, together with a new verse and questions. You can engage with this material however you wish: by reading, thinking, answering the questions or even by sending your answers to Rabbi Weiner for comments.
This is an exciting new opportunity to add Torah study into your life. If you wish to receive the weekly email, please send Rabbi Weiner a message (weiner@masorti.org.uk) and ask to be added to his list. You can also access the material directly on his website: www.tenminutesoftorah.supanet.com
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Jewish Journeys with Rabbi Chaim Weiner
I am pleased to provide information about my next guided trip, this time to Portugal. The theme of the trip is the Crypto-Jews of Portugal, and will provide a unique insight into my work with the Beit Israel community in Lisbon.
Off the Beaten Track Jewish Adventures
Sign up now for a trip to Lisbon, Castello De Vide, Tomar
March 2 – 5, 2006
Please be in touch with me if you are interested in joining, or have any questions.
Contact Rabbi Chaim Weiner: weiner@masorti.org.uk
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Upcoming Masorti Events in UK
Masorti Winter Study Day – Sunday, December 25th
“Courage”—a Chanukah Study day - led by Rabbis Jonathan Wittenberg and Chaim Weiner
10 Amberden Avenue London N3 1BT
Contact Michael Gluckman (mg@masorti.org.uk ) for details or telephone +44 208-201 8772 ext 201
Lunch and Learn in the City
Looking for something to do in London over lunchtime? AMS has the answer.
Rabbi Joel Levy runs a “Lunch and Learn” session once a month in central London. He is a phenomenal teacher and is discussing coexistence and cooperation within the Jewish community and with the non-Jewish world.
Lunch is provided. Just contact Michael Gluckman (mg@masorti.org.uk) for dates and more details. Cost: Free!
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