MERCAZ Newsletter — Winter 2005 – 2006
OUR PLATFORM

Read as a .pdf file: MERCAZ USA Platform
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MERCAZ USA is the Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement, representing Conservative Judaism within the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Conservative/Masorti Judaism was the first of the modern religious movements to embrace Zionism and has steadfastly remained at the forefront of the effort to promote its values: the centrality of Israel in the life and consciousness of the Jewish People and the unity of the Jewish People wherever they may live.

Our connection to the Land and State of Israel and its capital Jerusalem begins first and foremost with our People’s 4000 year covenant with the Divine. This covenant has imposed upon us the responsibility not only to support and defend the State of Israel but also to create in Zion an exemplary Jewish society that is a national home — democratic and pluralistic — for all Jews, secure and at peace with its Arab neighbors, committed to protecting its environment and natural resources, respecting the rights of all of its citizens and supporting all streams of Jewish practice.

MERCAZ STANDS FOR:

A Negotiated Settlement between Israel and the Palestinians — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote of support for the policies of the elected government of Israel in its dealings with the Palestinians. We back the decision to accept the Road Map for Peace which, based on the principles of territorial compromise and a two-state solution, will preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. We support Israeli demands that the Palestinian Authority fulfill its commitment to confiscate terrorist weapons and stop incitement. Furthermore, we uphold the government’s right to undertake unilateral actions, such as the Security Fence and the Gaza Disengagement, designed to improve Israel security needs.

An Open Pluralistic Jewish Society — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for an Israeli society that celebrates Jewish values without limiting itself to one particular definition of Judaism. We insist on the acceptance and registration of conversions and all other life-cycle events performed by Conservative rabbis in Israel, full participation on local religious councils and equal access to government funding for Masorti synagogues and “Torah Education”. Religious pluralism is ultimately a matter of civil rights, and thus MERCAZ rejects all attempts to exclude religious legislation from High Court judicial review.

Pro-Active Concern for Israel’s Environment — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for strengthening good governance and ecologically sound “Green” policies within the Jewish National Fund/Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael as have been championed for the past four years by our MERCAZ representatives. While mindful of the need to maintain development and security, we urge more resources be dedicated for river restoration and support more effective policies to ensure that Israel’s limited irreplaceable natural resources not be sacrificed for unnecessary building and highway construction.

Aliyah and Zionist Education — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for keeping Zionism relevant in the 21st Century as symbolized by the MERCAZ-authored new Jerusalem Program. MERCAZ USA supports a pro-active policy to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, encourages Aliyah from all countries, including the West, and opposes all attempts to amend the Law of Return. We also call for the strengthening of Jewish/Zionist education in the United States and throughout the world, including increasing the number of shlichim to Conservative/Masorti youth and college programs.

Support for the Conservative/Masorti Movement — A vote for MERCAZ is a vote for strengthening the Conservative/Masorti Movement in Israel and throughout the world. We call for increasing the Jewish Agency’s “Stream Funding” to bolster the institutions of Masorti Judaism in Israel — the Masorti Movement, Schechter Institute, TALI Schools — and the allocations from the WZO’s Pluralism Unit to build Masorti communities in South America and Europe. MERCAZ also calls for additional funding to support North American Conservative programs in Israel, such as USY’s Israel Pilgrimage, Camp Ramah’s Israel Seminar, NATIV, Solomon Schechter Day School Israel trips and the United Synagogue’s Conservative Yeshiva.

MERCAZ IS ENDORSED BY: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Rabbinical Assembly, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Cantors Assembly, Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Masorti Olami, United Synagogue Youth, KOACH, National Ramah Commission, Jewish Educators Assembly, North American Association of Synagogue Executives and Solomon Schechter Day School Association, Project Reconnect; and,
REPRESENTS the Masorti Movement of Israel, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, the TALI School Development Fund, the NOAM Youth Movement, MAROM-International Masorti Student Movement, Kibbutz Hannaton and Moshav Shorashim; and, is
AFFILIATED with MERCAZ OLAMI and the other MERCAZ chapters in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and Uruguay.