ARZA Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that works to represent the views and values of Progressive Jewish Zionists. We work to ensure that Israel lives in peace and security as promised in its Declaration of Independence. We work to strengthen the Progressive Movement in Israel, Australia and worldwide.
Why Join ARZA Australia?
YOU SHOULD JOIN ARZA BECAUSE:
- ARZA (Australian Reform Zionist Association) represents the views of the Australian Reform (Progressive) movement relating to social policies in Israel
- These include trying to break the monopoly of the orthodox rabbinate on matters like civil marriage and divorce, equality for women, access to the Kotel, and state salaries for Progressive rabbis
- ARZA does this by sending delegates to participate in the meetings of the World Zionist Congress, which represents the diaspora in Israel and has considerable influence with members of the Knesset
- ARZA has strength in Israeli forums because of its weight of numbers. Our voting power is directly related to the number of members we have.
- If we can build our membership numbers, we will increase our influence
- ARZA also gives financial support to Australian youth through grants to Netzer and young people undertaking leadership studies and training
- ARZA does not get involved in internal Israeli politics or its foreign affairs.
- Membership fee is only $18 per person a year. This is less than a cup of coffee a month.
- ARZA membership is strongly supported by the Moetza, the association of Australian Progressive rabbis, and by your own synagogue Board
Please add $18 for each person over 18 years of age in your family to your synagogue membership invoice and help us to keep the Progressive voice strong in Israel.
News and Events
Solidarity and Resolve at a Critical Crossroad
Dear Friends, Over the last 12 hours, we have witnessed yet another critical and defining crossroad for Israel and the wider region. Following the collapse of the most recent round of negotiations, the United States and Israel have carried out pre-emptive targeted strikes against strategic targets under the operation named Lion’s Roar. The danger to the Israeli home front is immediate and acute, and the implications of these developments are profound. In light of these [...]
When the Threat Hits Home – Identity, Propaganda, and the Stakes of Silence
Dear ARZA friends Today we cover 4 topics: 1. When the Threat Hits Home -Identity, Propaganda, and the Stakes of Silence This piece is an attempt to connect the dots between history and what is happening in our schools and universities today. By looking at insights from major thinkers like Dan Senor, Aviva Klompas, and David L. Bernstein, a worrying pattern emerges: The West is repeating a dangerous form of psychological [...]
Courageous Leadership: The Missing Link in Israel’s Arab Crime Crisis
Dear Friends and Partners in our Australian Progressive Jewish Community, In these early months of 2026, our connection to Israel feels more vital—and perhaps more complex—than ever. As Progressive Zionists in Australia, we are bound by a vision of an Israel that is both a secure homeland for the Jewish people and a sanctuary of justice for all its citizens. Today, that vision is being tested by a profound internal [...]
From “Yid” to “Zio”: Why President Herzog’s Message Matters for Australia Now
As the Israeli presidential jet touches down in Australia this week, it brings with it more than just the weight of diplomacy. President Isaac Herzog arrives at a moment of profound vulnerability and historical reckoning for the Australian Jewish community. Coming just months after the horrific December massacre at Bondi Beach—an event that claimed 15 lives and shattered our collective sense of safety—Herzog’s visit is, fundamentally, an act of “Mishpacha”. [...]
Reflections from the World Zionist Congress
Reflections from the World Zionist Congress: Israel at a Crossroads Friends, I want to begin by thanking our community for entrusting me with the privilege of representing us at the World Zionist Congress. Standing among hundreds of representatives from Jewish communities around the globe — debating the future of our people with passion and purpose — I felt strongly that I was not there alone. I was there carrying all of [...]
2025 AGM
ARZA Australia convened its 2025 Annual General Meeting on 27 November, providing an opportunity to reflect on a significant and productive year for our organisation and our global partners. A central focus of the recap was the World Zionist Congress 2025, where ARZA and its associated organisations achieved important outcomes. These included progress on measures to enhance security for Liberal Jewish communities in Israel, advancing transparency in equal-opportunity budgeting within the National Institutions, and reinforcing [...]