4 minute read
FROM MEMPHIS TO SHOHAM
The race for the Zionist Congress 2020 election in the United States is on. The election takes place every five years and American Jews over the age of 18 can vote. Why do we have these elections and why are they important?
Established in 1897 by the father of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, the Zionist Congress was the legislative body of the Zionist Organization (ZO), a non-governmental agency that promoted Zionism. These two entities today are known as the World Zionist Congress (WZC) and the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The WZC, which serves as a “parliament of the Jewish people,” comprises some 500 delegates and meets in Jerusalem every five years.
Overall, Israel has 190 delegates which form 38% of the congress. The United States has 145 delegates, which make up 29%, while the remainder of world Jewry has 165 delegates, forming 33% of the congress’ body.
The congress exerts influence on Israeli society and the global Jewish agenda, as well as the allocation of financial and other resources specific to the Reform Movement in Israel. Although the election won’t start until January 21 (and will last until March 11), we need every member to vote for the Reform slate ARZA to give American Jewry the voice it deserves for equality, democracy, and inclusivity.
The election is expected to be “historic” because, with more slates than ever before, American Jews have a rare opportunity to make a direct impact on the future direction of Israel and Diaspora affairs. This is the only place where American Jews get a chance in a democratic election, to vote for who they would like to represent them on hard issues, such as who is a Jew, and conversion to Judaism. It is the only political arena in Israel where Diaspora Jewry has a seat and the only place where Israeli lawmakers must hear us out to allocate funds and influence decisions.
To Memphis from Shoham With Love, by Rabbi Rinat Safania
In November, we had the great honor of hosting 43 men and women from the Temple Israel Memphis Reform Community in our community in Shoham. The Memphis group was joined by another 30 members of the Shoham Reform Community who were delighted to meet our friends from overseas - in a short time we talked about being a Reform community in Israel, introduced the diverse community activities over the year, and heard from our youth - boys and girls - who participated in delegation to Memphis last year and delegation to Uganda this year. They talked about their experiences, and together we shared common discourses, sang, and shared Havdalah with a strong feeling of ואחיות אחים שבט (brothers and sisters united as one). It was heartwarming to hear the Memphis community members and Rabbi Micah emphasize their support for our community and finding a home for our community in Shoham - a home worthy of an equitable and liberal Jewish voice in Israel. Our members said that it was an exciting and meaningful meeting, and they were very excited to see how much people in Memphis love Israel and were happy to show our big sister, Temple Israel, that there are more and more people in Israel who look for a liberal, pluralistic community and found that in Shoham. שבט אחים ואחיות גם יחד
- RABBI RINAT SAFANIA
PLEASE VOTE THE REFORM ARZA SLATE & TELL EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT INCLUSIVE JUDAISM TO DO THE SAME!
TO VOTE, GO TO: ZIONISTELECTION.ORG
“All three of our children went on NFTY trips to Israel, but Dub and I had never been before. Our experience was incredible! Our guide, Yishay, and Rabbi Greenstein are both so knowledgeable and they took us to places that truly gave us a sense of the people who live there, in addition to its history. We had both learned about Israel through religious school and Jacobs Camp as well as the Israelis who have visited both places, but this experience taught us so much more! There’s no way to fully comprehend what Israel is like unless you visit.”
- JOEL & DUB ASHNER
“This was the 18th group I have led from the Negev to the Golan Heights,” said Rabbi Greenstein. “Several people went for the first time, but others who had been to Israel before related that they had never experienced the land and people of Israel as we did spiritually and communally.”
Rabbi Greenstein continued: “Our Friday evening service at the Kotel praying as one community was a moment we will treasure forever. Ditto on Shabbat afternoon with the Shoham Reform congregation Temple Israel has been in relationship with for more than five years. Temple Israel Memphis and members of the Israel Movement for Reform Judaism bonded immediately and my dear Israeli friend and master guide, Yishay Shavit, helped make this Israel journey a life-changing experience.”
- RABBI MICAH D. Greenstein
“Thanks to Rabbi Micah, we had the most amazing lifetime opportunity. It was magical, spiritual, indescribable, life-changing, and such an incredible experience. On November 2, we started getting to know a few of the 42 participants, and by November 13, we were exchanging emails, becoming Facebook friends, and planning a Chanukah gathering.”
- SUSAN EVANS, Temple Israel member and Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center teacher
