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
If Not Now When
On Friday, December 6, 2024, arsonists attacked the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. Over the past 14 months we have seen continuous acts of incitement to violence, hate speech, intimidation, boycotting and cancellation targeted at Jewish community members. It seems that apart from rhetorical condemnation, law enforcement was minimal to non-existent. At ARZA we have been alerting to the risk of escalation and that lack of enforcement of legislation regarding hate speech and incitement to [...]
Albanese Government Supports Unconscionable UN Resolutions
SHAME YET AGAIN AS THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS UNCONSCIONABLE UN RESOLUTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE As Alexander Downer when Foreign Minister of Australia in 2005 said in reference to United Nations resolutions “too many of these resolutions are aimed at condemning Israel. You would think by looking at these resolutions that this small country – with a population roughly equivalent to NSW and a land mass one [...]
Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran
The Mask is Off Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran on 26 October 2024 is an unprecedented act representing the beginning of a new phase in the Middle East. Iran and Israel have been fighting a shadow war for many years. Iran both established and has been supporting a circle of fire around Israel for decades, by arming and financing terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Gaza, Yemen and Iraq, as well [...]
ARZA AGM 2024
ARZA AGM 2024 Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (VIC), the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Reform Zionist Association (ARZA) will be held on: Date: Wednesday 6 November 2024 Time: 8:00pm (AEDT) The AGM will be held online via Zoom. Click here to join. Click on the following links to view the: Notice of meeting and agenda Executive Committee and Ordinary Member Nomination Form [...]
The Wider Threat To Israeli Democracy
File: A general view of the Givat Ronen outpost in the West Bank on October 25, 2006 (Olivier Fitoussi / Flash 90) This past month we have witnessed several worrying incidents of extremists on the far right in Israeli society. On August 9th, two Israeli Bedouin women were driving with a two year-old toddler to the Palestinian city of Nablus when they mistakenly entered Givat Ronen. Settlers threatened them [...]
Our Responsibility Not To Be Silent
1. A blog by Keren Zewler published in the Times of Israel. Keren shared it on WhatsApp – saying she wished she did not have to write this but hopes some Aussies see it. Who will put a stop to the Jew hate in Australia? blogs.timesofisrael.com/who-will-put-a-stop-to-the-jew-hate-in-australia 2. On 16 June I attended a special screening at Temple Beit Israel in Melbourne of Josh Frydenberg's Never Again documentary that examines the alarming rise [...]