Joint UPJ – ARZA Australia Announcement
Under a joint agreement, UPJ and ARZA – have agreed to offer a free membership of ARZA -Association of Reform/Progressive Zionists of Australia.
This is in recognition of the financial pressures currently being faced by members of our congregations and also in recognition of the importance of the Progressive Movement of Australia being strongly represented at the World Zionist Congress, when it is held in Israel, either in person or remotely. We are also working closely with our Coalition Masorti partners in this endeavour.
We believe this is a very exciting decision, and one which we hope all our congregational members will strongly support. It means that your voice will be heard by the world Progressive Zionist Movement and help shape Israeli political and economic policies and the challenges facing the Jewish people.
Our Progressive Zionist views support religious equality for all streams of Judaism, a pluralist society, peace, social justice and Tikun Olam in our Jewish Homeland.
With your support, we can continue to add to our magnificent achievements in Israel and ensure the voice of Progressive Judaism continues to be heard in Israel and around the world.
WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM AND PROGRESSIVE ZIONISM
Helen Shardey
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President
David Knoll AM
UPJ Co-President
Brian Samuel OAM
UPJ Co-President
News and Events
The Phenomenon of Sinat Chinam
Rabbi Gilad Kariv takes part in prayers on Israel's independence day at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv in 2018. (Courtesy Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism) MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv talked to Rabbis Lazarow, Conyer and Sadoff in Australia on the eve of Tisha B’Av about the meaning of Sinat Chinam or “Baseless Hatred”. At the same time, Ultra-Orthodox teenagers were invading the egalitarian space of the Kotel, attempting to disrupt and shout down the annual [...]
Future Israeli Prime Minister with Progressive Jewish Values
Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There Is a Future) party, arrives at the Israeli President's residence in Jerusalem on May 5, 2021. © Oren Ben Hakoon, AFP I have written about the sigh of relief that I believe has been felt by our Progressive community in relation to the change of government in Israel and the prospect of Israel becoming a more pluralistic tolerant society. This has now been reinforced for [...]
Letter from Anat Hoffman
Anat Hoffman to Helen Shardey (Abridged letter) Dearest friend Shalom. Thank you for keeping in touch. Thank you for your thoughtful words and solidarity as expressed in the ARZA Australia website. If we had enthusiastic, energetic colleagues like you all over the Jewish world we would be able to create serious and dramatic change in the Israeli social and religious landscape. Your words matter because encouragement like this carries unadulterated TIKVAH for all of [...]
Peace and Equality for All
Dr. Nachman Shai currently serves as Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs (Photo: The MirYam Institute). Progressive Jews around the world are probably breathing a sigh of relief, because regardless of their political persuasion there seems to be the chance of a more moderate government in Israel, which may recognise the desire for Israel to be a more tolerant, pluralistic State giving equal status to all streams of Judaism. In a sense this is the [...]
New Government in Israel
Ministers in the newly sworn in Israeli government pose for a group photo at the president's residence in Jerusalem. June 14, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90) Progressive Jews in Israel and the Diaspora have celebrated the new government in Israel. Their hopes are that Israel will be more reflective of a pluralistic state, where all streams of Judaism are treated equally and all citizens of Israel can enjoy equal rights under a democracy they were promised in [...]
Astonishing Coalition to Govern Israel
(L-R) Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Yamina chair Naftali Bennett, New Hope chair Gideon Sa'ar, Blue and White head Benny Gantz, Ra’am chair Mansour Abbas, Labor head Merav Michaeli and Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz at a meeting of the heads of the would-be-coalition in Tel Aviv, June 6, 2021. (Ra'anan Cohen) Israelis are “witnessing the biggest election fraud in the history of the country, in my opinion in the [...]