ARZA Canada (the Association of Reform Zionists of America – Canada) is affiliated with the Reform Jewish Community of Canada and the Union for Reform Judaism North America.
ARZA 2024 • Now More Than Ever
With over 4,400 members, our mandate is to connect with Reform communities throughout Canada, foster connections with and strengthen our ties to the Reform Movement in Israel, and work to realize the vision of Reform Zionism.
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Judith Wiley and Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chairs, ARZA Canada
A “Day After” for all Israelis
Shalom Chaverim,
Even in these difficult days, Israel’s Reform Movement (IMPJ) continues to work for a different reality, where people have hope for the future.
The IMPJ was recently awarded a “Champions of Shared Society” award by the Abraham Initiatives, in recognition of its commitment to fostering coexistence and building meaningful, lasting connections across Israeli society.
Yair Lootsteen (Chair, IMPJ), Anna Kislanski (CEO, IMPJ) and Orly Erez-Likhovski (Exec Dir, IRAC)
In accepting the award, Yair Lootsteen, Chair of the IMPJ, said:
We fight against racism, particularly against those who incite racism in the name of Judaism. This struggle has become especially critical over the past two years. Since October 7th, it has been clear to my colleagues and me in the movement that it is not enough to fight against racism and racists; we must offer Israeli society an alternative vision—a vision for ‘the day after’.
Tell the Mayor of Holon to give the Reform community a home – take action
If you haven’t already sent this letter to the Mayor of Holon, please do it now.
Rabbi Galit Cohen-Kedem of Kehilat Kodesh v’Chol in Holon
ARZA Canada has worked hard to help Rabbi Galit Cohen-Kedem and her Reform community in Holon to fight the Mayor and Haredi forces denying them their legal right to build a synagogue. Progress was made until the Mayor recently violated a court ruling by blocking construction.
We want Mayor Keinan to know how many Jews across the world are demanding him to uphold the law and religious freedom.
We’re all praying for the safe return of further hostages.
L’Shalom
Judith Wiley and Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chairs, ARZA Canada
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Upcoming Events
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From the Shalom Hartman Institute:
With a startling rise in anti-Israel activism and antisemitism on campus, how can Jewish communities understand and respond to these dynamics?
Campus resources for this moment - click here
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Israel Dialogues
The Israel Dialogues are continuing in 2025. Here’s the next session:
Thursday, February 27th at 12:00 PM ET
"Between Ultra Orthodoxy and Liberal Judaism – How Israelis relate to their Judaism in post October 7th Israel"
Orly Erez Likhovski, IRAC
Orly has been working as an attorney at the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement in Israel since 2004. She was the director of the legal department of IRAC between 2014 - 2021. In this capacity, she led the legal struggle against discrimination on the basis of religious affiliation, gender segregation in the public sphere and racial incitement. Orly has led to significant legal achievements such as abolishing gender segregation on public buses, breaking the Orthodox monopoly regarding the funding of salaries of Rabbis, disqualifying racist candidates from running to the Knesset and recognizing the rights of LGBTQ couples to adopt children in Israel.
To attend please click on the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87805743631
Passcode: 921609
Meeting ID: 878 0574 3631
If you'd like to view previous Israel Dialogues sessions from the fall, click here.
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Podcasts
Miriam Pearlman, immediate past president of ARZA Canada, discusses the impact of Israel’s new government with fellow leaders in a Canadian Jewish News Daily podcast:
About ARZA Canada
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Arza Canada Privacy Policy
The Privacy Commission of Canada states the following:
Non-profit organizations are not subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) when they do not engage in commercial activities.
The following activities are not considered commercial and are not subject to PIPEDA:
- collecting membership fees
- compiling a list of members’ names and addresses/email addresses
- mailing out newsletters
As you know, ARZA Canada represents Canadian Reform Zionists with members in all of Canada’s Reform congregations. Though independent of the sister organization, ARZA, in the United States, it is an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC). We are writing to address how ARZA Canada maintains its membership records, and in particular its commitment to the privacy of our members.
Accurate membership records are important to the entire Reform Jewish Community of Canada given that the size of our membership determines our influence on Zionist policies in Canada and in Israel. ARZA Canada members come through congregational solicitation and activism, and so annually it is provided lists of its members from Canadian Reform congregations such as yours in order to confirm individual memberships. This is deeply appreciated.
ARZA Canada has strong privacy practices to ensure the confidentiality of this membership information. It is used by ARZA Canada to communicate with our members and engage them in the activities of ARZA Canada, including joint programs with RJCC and our congregations.
For more please click here.
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