MERCAZ Newsletter — FALL 2007

CELEBRATING ISRAEL'S 60TH

Inspired by these thoughts from the former Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary and those of other Conservative Movement leaders, the Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism agreed earlier this year to adopt the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel as a movement-wide priority. Now, on the eve of the new Jewish year, the celebration of this important milestone of contemporary Jewish life kicks off.

Leading the organization and coordination of the Movement's yearlong program is MERCAZ USA, which is chairing the LCCJ committee for the planning of the 60th anniversary's activities.

While the formal celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary does not come until next May, activities to mark this occasion within the Conservative Movement have already begun. First of all, a special dedicated website www.israelanniversary.org has been created to serve as a clearinghouse for information, programs and materials relating to Israel.

Geared for sharing information, the website should serve as an important resource for congregations and organizations. For example, under "Materials and Resources for Study and Celebration", there are links to program banks on Israel and Zionism available from the United Synagogue, Jewish National Fund, MERCAZ USA and Jewish Agency.

In addition, the website contains a Movement calendar with information for Conservative Jews looking for opportunities outside of their local congregation to celebrate Israel. For example, the United Synagogue is organizing a special Saturday night "Israel Fair" at its biennial convention in early December in Orlando, FL, that will be open to the public.

According to Rabbi Robert Golub, MERCAZ USA Executive Director, "while the new website is a good start for the yearlong program of celebration, it is only as good as the information that it is provided. Therefore, I would urge individuals and organizations within the Conservative Movement to send me any and all updated information about Israel events and activities taking place that can be posted and shared with others within the movement."

Besides developing the new website, the LCCJ's 60th Anniversary Committee is organizing a special "Israel" month for teaching and celebrating Israel within our synagogues and organizations. The program is scheduled to take place this November to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration (November 2nd) and the 60th anniversary of the UN Partition Vote (November 29th). Click here for "The Road to Sixty" program for study and celebration.

For its part, MERCAZ will be organizing once again this year the annual "Lech Lecha" speaking tour of American-born leaders of the Israeli Masorti Movement. While the exact dates and schedules have not yet been fixed, tentative plans call for the speakers to visit this fall the Southern California and Baltimore/Washington areas. For more information, contact the MERCAZ office.