By Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal | Rabbi Blumenthal is the CEO of the Rabbinical Assembly and the CEO of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). Previously he served for over 20 years as Founding Rabbi of Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg, Maryland. On a recent trip to Israel, I met with a wonderful group of Masorti congregational […]
“Mordechai learned of the matter and told it to Esther and she told the King in Mordechai’s name” [Megillat Esther 2:22] Twice in Megillat Esther, Mordechai becomes aware of critical information, as he sits outside the palace gates, in the streets of the city. He passes that information on to Esther, who chooses to believe […]
Rabbi Hillel Skolnik is the President of MERCAZ USA … Purim, Zionism, and Israel: Vote MERCAZ (Slate 17) today!
By Dr. Daniel Olson | Dr. Olson is the Assistant National Director at the National Ramah Commission. Daniel completed his PhD in education and Jewish studies at NYU in 2020. He received the Harold Wechsler award for emerging scholars from the Network for Research in Jewish Education and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar. He […]
We wrote the book on Why to Vote MERCAZ! Download a copy of this volume by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD, President of MERCAZ Olami, to learn why MERCAZ offers a voice about Zionist issues, and advocates for Jewish religious pluralism in Israel. Also learn the history of Conservative Judaism’s Zionism …
By Rabbi Amy Levin | Rabbi Levin has led congregations both in the United States and Israel, as well as teaching, mentoring, and advising congregational leaders. She is a trained congregational consultant, served as a mentor for senior rabbinical students, and helped two congregations in transition as their interim rabbi. Amy’s expertise includes supporting congregational […]
From Ancient Persia to Modern U.S. Campuses: Echoes of Purim Continue BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – EVENTS – STORIES Book of Esther: The Story of Purim The Jewish holiday of Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a massacre in ancient Persia, now known as Iran. The decree for the annihilation of […]
Resolution Proposed and Debated at the 2023 Extraordinary Congress. | Photo by Eric M. Leiderman By Eric M. Leiderman, Secretary, MERCAZ USA Rabbi Eric Leiderman is a Chicago-based educator and community builder. He is a dedicated advocate for vibrant, inclusive Jewish life, working to inspire the next generation through education, activism, and leadership. In October […]
By Dr. Yizhar Hess | Dr. Yizhar Hess is the Vice Chair of the World Zionist Organization and the senior representative of MERCAZ in the World Zionist Congress. The fabric of Jewish and Israeli society is at stake as are billions of dollars that could end up funding divisive extremists Theodor Herzl was not the […]
A Shabbat prayer says If our mouths were filled with song like the expanse of the sea … we could not thank you enough, Gd, for the good that you have done for us and for our ancestors. After 2,000 years of suffering the cruelty of our enemies, how have these words continued to be […]