Association of Reform Zionists of America

The Association of Reform Zionists of America, "is the Zionist arm and voice for the Reform Movement in the United States. ARZA endeavors to make Israel fundamental to the sacred lives and Jewish identity of Reform Jews. As a Zionist organization, ARZA champions activities that further enhance Israel as a pluralistic, just and democratic Jewish state."

History of ARZA
"The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) was established in 1978 at a Biennial of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now URJ) after nearly 50 years of growing identification by Reform Jews with the national aspirations of the Jewish people and ultimately with the State of Israel.

"Inspired by the vision of Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn, and guided by ideological structures shaped by Rabbi David Polish, ARZA was created out of the recognition that in Jewish tradition there is no division between the religious domainand the polity of the Jewish people, and that the religious mandate of our prophetic and rabbinic traditions requires all Jews to participate in the issues and institutions that affect Jewish existence.

"ARZA sees Jewish nationalism as a seamless aspect of 21st century Reform Jewish identities, and through instrumentalities such as ARZA's Institute for Reform Zionism, seeks contemporary understandings of Zionism and of Jewish peoplehood.

"A membership organization, ARZA is an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism (the umbrella organization for the more than 920 Reform synagogues in North America). ARZA represents the URJ in its dealings with the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel, and is a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and of the URJ's Commission on Social Action.

"ARZA is a founder of the Israel Religious Action Center, and through its membership dues and advocacy activities is a major source of financial support for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism."

Leadership
Accessed September 2007:


 * President - Rabbi Stanley M. Davids
 * Vice-Presidents


 * William Hess
 * Rabbi Peter Knobel
 * Seymour Lipton
 * Charles Nechemias
 * Sandra Tankoos
 * Joan Wachstein
 * Ron Cohen
 * Allan Tushman
 * Secretary - David H. Newman
 * Treasurer - Leonard Sklerov
 * Associate Treasurer - Rabbi Robert J. Orkand

ARZA Rabbinic Council

Contact

 * Web: http://www.arza.org