ARZA Notebook: From the 36th World Zionist Congress: Day 1, Mechinah and More
June 15, 2010
Israel
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The 36th World Zionist Congress runs from June 15 to June 17, 2010. Rabbi Danny Allen, Executive Director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), is in Jerusalem attending the Congress. Below is part of his series of dispatches.
 We left the hotel just after 7 a.m. for the 36th World Zionist Congress only to return after 11:00p.m. Some might think our more than 50 ARZA delegation a bit daft. The merry band of Reform Zionists is led by ARZA President Rabbi Robert Orkand and includes Chairman of the URJ Board of Trustees Peter Weidhorn and URJ Senior Vice President Danny Freelander, with 25% of our delegation under the age of 30.
Back to the daft part. Through our efforts within the WZO it is our expectation that the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism will receive support of approximately $1,500,000. It is our hope, and our ARZA holy task, to raise our fundraising sights to match these funds in the coming year and to continue our support for the work of the Israel Religious Action Center.
One of the projects for which we hope to raise funds is the IMPJ Mechinah. In Israel there are many year long programs (Mechinot) that prepare high school graduates to enter the Israel Defense Forces. Our movement has sponsored our own mechinah for nine years. Last Thursday evening ARZA honored Rabbis Elyse Frishman and Danny Freelander in a New York event. The IMPJ Mechinah will be a significant beneficiary of the funds raised.
Danny Freelander and I attended a meeting of the Mechinah planning group this afternoon. The Mechinah
is engaged in planning for a new building in Jaffa, where the program
takes place. One of the strengths of our movement is our experiential
immersion programs: URJ Camps, NFTY Israel trips, etc. These are often
positive life-shaping experiences for our youth.
Mechinah
is an immersion program for the youth of our Israel movement. Through
their leadership in the IDF and after their service they will help
shape what we hope will ever be a democratic Jewish progressive Israel.
Through your work with and support of ARZA you are a participant in shaping Israel.
Danny
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