Woodlands’ ARZA-Israel Committee is part of an effort in Reform congregations across the United States to connect with Israel in a way that acknowledges and strengthens the values promoted by Reform Judaism.  In the first year of our newly invigorated committee, we have accomplished much: We displayed the Woodlands Community Temple banner at the Westchester community-wide celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary. We joined with the Social Action and Ritual Committees and Environmental Task Force in sponsoring WCT’s first congregational Tu B’Shevat Seder. We led the congregation in a service celebrating Israel’s 60 years. We created a replica of the Western Wall on which our congregants can leave their wishes, thoughts and prayers for Israel, to be delivered to the real Kotel by several of our teenagers. And, we created this web page to provide opportunities to connect with Israel. For now, please STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

Planting a tree in Israel is a way to remember someone you love and respect, to celebrate a simcha, or to send a thank you. It also provides important support for the environment in Israel by funding the JNF's many reforestration and water projects.   When you donate to the JNF through our website, 10% of the contribution comes back to Woodlands to help support our own Israel education and action projects.

Follow this link to read remarks "Israel @ 60 - The Land" Making the desert bloom

Breaking News from the IRAC

Israeli Supreme Court Gives Boost to Reform Conversions

May. 22, 2009

In this month’s news from ARZA, we want to share a very exciting success story from the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). IRAC, the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, was founded in 1987 with the goals of advancing pluralism in Israeli society and defending the freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion.  Five dollars of every ARZA membership goes to the IRAC making ARZA their largest single supporter.  Read the news below from IRAC’s Executive Director, Anat Hoffman:

It is a very important day (5/19/09) for Progressive Judaism and the cause of Jewish pluralism in Israel. IRAC just won a precedent setting case in the Israeli Supreme Court which says that the State has to provide equal funding for Reform and Conservative conversion classes.

The case itself may seem inconsequential but the implications are huge. This is the first time that the Court has declared that government funding must be provided to non-Orthodox Jewish religious services in Israel.

The verdict was amazing, going well beyond the issue of funding for conversion classes, and addressing the core issue of religious freedom in Israel. The three judge panel, including Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch, found the State’s practice of favoring only one Jewish stream discriminatory and contradictory to their responsibility to ensure freedom of religion, ruling “The duty of the State to pluralism is not only a passive duty, but an active one as well.” They also sited their previous ruling (Naamat and IRAC in 2002) that “Jews in Israel cannot be seen as only one religious sect.”

 It is a hot day in Israel but we all have goose-bumps.

 Read more about it in the following Israeli headline news articles. http://www.irac.org/NewsDetailes.aspx?ID=165

 Most importantly, thank you for your friendship, support and unwavering commitment to Jewish pluralism in Israel that has certainly helped us to win this victory today.

 In gratitude,

 Anat Hoffman, Executive Director, Israel Religious Action Center

Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Executive Director, Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism

Come visit us at this spot later. 

Watch this video to see how children and their teachers in an Israeli elementary school are using music and movement to confront their very real fears when "Red Color" alert is sounded.  Red Color

How many governments publicize the opinions of their critics? Israel does! Just as in the US, newspapers in Israel reflect a variety of viewpoints. You can receive a daily summary of editorials from the Hebrew Press from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And - or - stay informed about the changing situation in Israel by going directly to the newspapers. The following are excellent sources for news and information:

• Ynetnews.com
• JTA
• Haaretz.com
• The Forward
• WUPJ News
• Jerusalem Post

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED - SIGN PETITION FOR RIGHTS OF REFORM RABBIS IN ISRAEL

During the Holy Days, we are reminded of our accomplishments as well as those tasks that went unfinished. In the past year, we have seen tremendous advances for the Reform Movement in Israel thanks to the cooperative efforts of organizations across the world. However, there are still significant challenges to overcome. Our recent successes – such as the unprecedented presentation by the Israeli government of four new synagogue buildings for our Movement in Israel - have shown us that Reform advocacy efforts through the WZO make a significant impact for Reform Judaism in Israel. Below is a link for the petition to support the case of Rabbi Miri Gold, a case that demands the government of Israel. Please start out the New Year by joining fellow congregants  in signing this petition:

http://www.irac.org.

Reach out to friends and family by forwarding this link to them. Next year, let us be able to remember this event – the moment when we raised our voices in unity – the moment when together we fought for the rights of Reform Jews in Israel. May this year be a year for equality, for justice, and for peace, in Israel and across the world.

The ARZA Committee is investigating ways in which we at WCT can strengthen our ties with Israel; increase our knowledge of Israel and Zionism; and explore the challenges faced by Israel and the role of Reform Judaism in meeting some of these challenges. ARZA stands for "Association of Reform Zionists of America" ARZA literally means “to the land” and the land is the land of Israel. ARZA is an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism. To learn more about ARZA:  Read more

Bring your ideas to the next meeting or email them to us at ARZA@wct.org - we'd love to hear from you.

Did you know that there are at least 22 Reform congregations in Israel? More and more, Israelis are discovering that there is not just one way to be Jewish and that the rejection of Orthodoxy doesn't have to be a rejection of the Jewish religion. The same concern for social justice that draws so many American Jews to Reform also attracts Israelis.  To learn about how the Israeli Reform Movement works for social justice, read about Keren B'Kavod, IRAC's special program addressing the growing difficulties of many Israelis to provide themselves with the basic necessities (we have a whole page devoted to the amazing work of Keren B'Kavod), and visit the website of IRAC - the Israel Religious Action Center - http://rac.org/advocacy/irac/

You are also invited to read a report about the situation involving DARFURI REFUGEES IN ISRAEL. Learn what the Israeli Reform Movement is doing to help them.

When Joshua Montague became a bar mitzvah on February 23, 2008, the cards inviting friends and family to Woodlands were an unusual shade of green. The Montague family worked with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to create invitations that did more than ask people to join in their simcha. Each invitation doubled as a certificate for a tree planted in Israel in honor of the occasion.. This approach reflected Josh’s commitment to the environment. As he put it, “we used a little bit of paper but we also created a lot of trees.”  read more and see sample

Regardless of who you and I think did what, there are a lot of good folks trying to make a small difference in the seemingly impossible journey toward peace. Don’t you think that if there are Israelis and Palestinians who want to work together toward this goal that you and I, if there is a role for us to play, ought to get in there and roll up our sleeves too? Click HERE to learn about some organizations that are working for peace in Israel.

MAKING PROGRESS IN BUILDING:  Several congregations affiliated with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism have recently made major strides in their quest for building facilities for worship and community activities.  Read more.

FIRST ISRAELI PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE AT 50: Kehillat Har-El of Jerusalem begins year-long celebration of its jubilee. Read more.

Although there has always been tension in Israel between the religious establishment and progressive or secular Jews, it has never been as heated or intense as the current crisis between the Orthodox authorities and the progressive Jewish movements. Beginning with the "Who is a Jew?" debates in the 1980s, the issue has increasingly become more complex and emotional. Visit the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism website for information about Progressive Judaism in Israel. Progressive Judaism