Dear Chaverim

I pray you are all keeping safe and healthy as we hold the course with our physical distancing measures. These are challenging days, so let’s focus on the good news. 

ARZA Canada emerged as the strongest Zionist organization!

I am so proud of ARZA Canada. I can finally report to you the official result of the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF) with regard to the final mandates for the 38th World Zionist Congress. 

Thanks to your support in membership, we  have emerged as the strongest Canadian Zionist organization. There is much respect for how well organized we are as Canadian Reform Zionists, for the validity of ARZA Canada's membership numbers, the membership list submitted and the hard work done to enlist our membership according to the rules. We invested many resources, financial and people, to create a new data base. We also tirelessly campaigned our congregations to help increase our membership. The reality is we went from about 3,000 at a low point to 8,415 ARZA Canada members.

The official result for the 20 mandates allocated by the World Zionist Organization to CZF is as follows: ARZA Canada 6, Canadian Forum of Russian speaking Jews 5, Mizrachi Canada 4, Mercaz Canada 3, Herut Canada 1, Armeinu/Meretz 1. It was agreed that elections would not be possible with the current Covid-19 pandemic. The final allocation is based on 100% agreement.

We achieved our goal! No Reform in any other country has won as many mandates proportionally - Canada 30%, US 25%, UK 21% - despite our being the smallest of the three main Jewish denominations in Canada.

Our success will help strengthen our faction in Israel. 

Save the Date: June 11, 2020

4:30pm Pacific,  5:30pm Mountain,  6:30pm Central,  7:30pm Eastern,  2:30am Israel

A Canadian Reform Fundraiser for the Israel Reform Movement

Join Us as We Rise Up for the Israel Reform Movement

I have some exciting news. We are all aware that the confinement we are experiencing is creating unprecedented challenges, both human and economic. Despite the difficulties we face here in Canada arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, our Israeli colleagues are facing even greater challenges due to a perfect storm of funding shortfalls, political turmoil and the impact of the pandemic. The economic challenges are greater than ever for the IMPJ. They rely on the help of their friends in the diaspora.

So we in Canada are making an effort to step up to the plate to help. 

Plan to join us on June 11 where there will be wonderful musical entertainment and meaningful dialogue from both our Israeli and Canadian Reform musicians, rabbis and lay leaders. If we truly believe in helping to grow egalitarian Reform Judaism in Israel and supporting all the work that IMPJ does, let’s dig deeply to support with a generous donation.

Stay tuned: I will provide more details in the upcoming days on how to donate.

Building a Bridge Across the World

Shabbat Service - Saturday, May 30

11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET, 9pm Israel

And finally, join a unique Shabbat Service on Saturday, May 30 for the first of a joint educational series with ARZA Canada and IMPJ. Hear Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, Temple Sholom, Vancouver, and Rabbi Stacey Blank, Kehilat Shir Hadash, Tzur Hadassah, talk about the partnership of their two congregations. 

View online at www.templesholom.ca/video, ARZA Canada Facebook, YouTube or Telus Channel 876.

Rabbi Stacey Blank                              Rabbi Dan Moskovitz

Thank you for joining us in the holy work of creating a just, democratic, pluralistic Jewish homeland in Medinat Yisrael. We can build the bright future Israel deserves, because if we will it, it is no dream.

L’shalom

Miriam

Miriam Pearlman
President, ARZA Canada