Canadian Reform Movement Statement on War with Iran
The Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC), Reform Rabbis of Canada (RROC) and ARZA Canada stand with the people of Israel and Iran in their common struggle against Iran’s tyrannical dictatorship.
We appreciate the position of the Government of Canada, as stated by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday morning.
The Prime Minister was clear in his support for military action against the ruling regime in Iran, intended to:
- Prevent Iran’s rulers from developing nuclear weapons
- End Iran’s support for regional terrorist proxy groups
- End repression and violence against the people of Iran
The Prime Minister also said that “Canada reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and to ensure the security of its people.”
We support efforts to make the Middle East a safer place for all. We pray that this can be achieved quickly with the minimum possible harm to civilians. We grieve for innocent civilians in Israel, Iran, and throughout the region already killed or injured in this war.
We pray for Shalom and a brighter future for Israel and her neighbours.
| Shield Israel with Your love, Spread over her Your canopy of peace | הָגֵן עָלֶיהָ בְּאֶבְרַת חַסְדֶּךָ וּפְרֹשׁ עָלֶיהָ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ |
Signed,
Kim Werker
President, Reform Jewish Community of Canada
Rabbi Yael Splansky
Chair, Reform Rabbis of Canada
Judith Wiley and Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chairs, ARZA Canada
Volunteer Opportunity with ARZA Canada
ARZA Canada seeks a new board member to serve as Treasurer.
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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The Center for Israel Education
75 people and things that form a mosaic of Israel’s past, present and future.
Judith Wiley and Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chairs, ARZA Canada
Israeli Reform Leadership in a Time of War
Shalom Chaverim,
At moments like these, understanding the broader context matters. This coming Sunday, the URJ & Israel’s Reform Movement (IMPJ) will host a special webinar together with our partners across the global Reform Movement, on Israel – Iran: Reform Leadership in a Time of War.
The program will feature an expert briefing by Dr. Thamar Eilam Gindin, a leading Israeli scholar of Iran and Persian culture. We will also hear from voices within our movement: Rabbi Ofek Meir, Director of the Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa, and Oz Avraham, Director of Mechinat Telem, IMPJ’s Leadership Academy gap year program, who will reflect on how our communities and young leaders are navigating these days.
Date: Sunday, March 8
Time: 1:45 PM ET (10:45 AM PT)
Duration: 1 hour
Click here to register.
Update from Israel’s Reform Movement (IMPJ)
Bomb shelters are once again a part of our daily lives. Disruption and economic uncertainty are all around us. Our society is still dealing with mental health and PTSD, and our clergy serve as a lifeline for so many in our Reform movement congregations and communities. Support for our core programs is in ever-increasing demand.
Earlier this week, a missile warhead landed at the entrance to the home of a long-time member of the IMPJ Executive Board and Kehilat Bavat Ayin in central Israel. Thankful ly, she and her family were not harmed.
You can read more from the IMPJ here and here.
To support the IMPJ Emergency Campaign, Standing Steady Together, click here.
Praying for Shalom Al Yisrael,
Judith Wiley and Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chairs, ARZA Canada
Upcoming Event:
Shaping the Israel We Want: Mobilization Rooted in Compassion and Responsibility 
A half-day event with Israeli and diaspora Jewish leaders as we delve into the role Canadian Jews have in shaping the future we want to see in Israel. A future centered on peace and democratic renewal, grounded in courage, compassion, and the Jewish values that define us.
Toronto – April 12, 2026 – 1pm – 5pm – Get Tickets – Location: The Quay, 100 Queens Quay East
Ottawa – April 14, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm – RSVP Now – Location: Soloway Jewish Community Centre, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private
Montreal – April 15, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm – RSVP Now – Location: Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, 4100 Sherbrooke St W
Click here for more information.
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Israeli Puzzle is a new podcast series offers insights into Israel and Israeli history. Its goal is to provide important information that isn’t widely known, in an entertaining format.
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Digital Leaders for Progressive Judaism
The World Union For Progressive Judaism is offering a program to develop “Digital Leaders”, who will learn about the values of progressive Judaism and how to share them on social media. The program includes leadership training with time in Israel.
Click here for more information.
•••
Shaping the Israel We Want: Mobilization Rooted in Compassion and Responsibility
A half-day event with Israeli and diaspora Jewish leaders as we delve into the role Canadian Jews have in shaping the future we want to see in Israel. A future centered on peace and democratic renewal, grounded in courage, compassion, and the Jewish values that define us.
Toronto – April 12, 2026 – 1pm – 5pm – Get Tickets – Location: The Quay, 100 Queens Quay East
Ottawa – April 14, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm – RSVP Now – Location: Soloway Jewish Community Centre, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private
Montreal – April 15, 2026 – 7pm – 9pm – RSVP Now – Location: Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, 4100 Sherbrooke St W
Click here for more information.
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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