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United Synagogue Supports Religious Pluralism in Israel

June 1st, 2012

“We welcome this first step towards greater religious pluralism in Israel. We support it fully and look forward to participating with colleagues and supporters in North America, Israel and around the world for furthering the rights of all Jewish religious expression.”

                   
Richard Skolnik                                      Rabbi Steven Wernick


Posted on June 5, 2012 | in In Israel |
Posted on May 2, 2012 | in In Israel, Top Stories |

USCJ Family Israel Experience! July 30 – August 10, 2012

Posted on April 5, 2012

This coming summer, we invite you to join the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism on its 2nd annual Family Israel Experience. This dynamic Israel travel program encompasses many of Israel’s wonders – Caesarea on the Mediterranean, the Carmel Mountains, Masada, … Continue reading →

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Join the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) as we head to Israel for a memorable journey in the Land of Milk & Honey. Together we will experience the magic of Jerusalem, the thrill of the Dead Sea, and the beauty of the Galilee. The program includes visits to Israel’s must-sees along with wonderful cultural experiences, an authentic Shabbat experience in Jerusalem, insightful speakers, and meals at some of the best restaurants in Israel.

HAZAK is the USCJ organization for mature Jewish adults. It provides programming for people, age 55
and older, who are members of our affiliated congregations. The HAZAK Journey to Israel program is
appropriate for active adults. You are not required to be a member of HAZAK or a United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism synagogue to participate in this trip.

For more info, including the program itinerary, travel info, registration forms and much more, please download the PDF by clicking here.

You can also email the the program’s director, Jo-Anne Tucker-Zemlak, zemlak@uscj.org, or call her at 301 230-0801.

Posted on April 5, 2012 | in In Israel |


To:        Conference of Presidents Leadership
From:    Richard Stone, Chairman
Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman

Attached is important background and contextual information regarding the escalation of rocket fire on cities in Israel’s south:

II.     Click here for Report from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
III.    The Conference of Presidents called on the international community to denounce the attacks, and to prevent weapons flow and financial support enabling future attacks. (link to release)
IV.    Israel’s Consul General in New York, Amb. Ido Aharoni, briefed Conference of Presidents leaders via conference call yesterday, March 11, A summary of the call follows.

Background
Last Friday, the IDF acted on information received about two Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees preparing to carry out an attack on Israel.  A targeted air strike in Gaza on Friday eliminated Zuhair al-Qaissi, the commander the Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees, who had a long-history of planning violent attacks against Israelis, and who was behind the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.  His son-in-law and fellow commander in the terror group, Mahmoud Hanini, was also hit in the strike along with a low-level accomplice.  The strike escalated into a barrage of Palestinian rocket fire into Israeli civilian areas along with counter-strikes by the Israeli Air Force.

Rocket Fire
As of Sunday afternoon Israel time:

•    140 rockets were fired into Israel.
•    Iron Dome has a 90% success rate, but 1 million people still living under range of rockets.
•    Four Israelis injured, one gravely.
•    Two Grad missiles, which have a 120 km range, have landed in Be’er Sheva. One of them hit an elementary school.
•    IAF carried out 22 air strikes in last 24 hours, fourteen of which were against field operatives who were in preparation to launch more rockets. Eight were against armament depots.

 Since Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, Hamas has continually used the area as a terrorist base to launch thousands of rockets.  Israel is not interested in an escalation and has displayed restraint, but Israel must defend its citizens.

The Popular Resistance Committees and Islamic Jihad have taken responsibility for the rocket attacks. Hamas has been using these terror groups as proxies to attack Israel.  We hold Hamas ultimately responsible as rulers of Gaza.

Egypt and Iran Not Directly Involved; No “Third Intifada”
Media reports indicate that Hamas turned to Egypt to mediate a ceasefire, but these reports are unconfirmed as yet.  Israel’s assessment is that Hamas is not interested in escalation. However, there is concern about Hamas building a military foundation like Hizbollah did in Lebanon.

Israel is not holding Egypt responsible for the escalation.

This latest round of attacks does not seem to be orchestrated by Iran, although Iran continues to fund and support the terror organizations involved, including the Popular Resistance Committees and Islamic Jihad.

There is no indication that the rocket fire is part of a “Third Intifada.”  Palestinian leaders may  use such talk as a threat, although not necessarily carry it out, as the current PA leadership, in part due to economic situation in the West Bank, has much to lose from a renewed round of violence. Moreover, today Israelis are much better protected by the security fence, which did not exist during the Second Intifada.   It is 95% operational, and there is 0% infiltration where the fence exists.

Defending Israelis
The Prime Minister issued a statement about Israel’s right to self-defense and the Defense Minister has issued security updates.

The success of the Iron Dome system is encouraging but is financially costly. While cost is not a factor in protecting the lives of the Israeli people, it costs NIS 80,000 ($21,000) every time the Iron Dome system is deployed.

All citizens were instructed to spend Sunday in the sheltered areas of their homes. One rocket hit a school, but it was empty due to the safety precautions. Until calm is achieved, Israel will not send students back to school. The next 24-48 hours will be critical.

US Condemns Rocket Fire
The US issued a statement the rocket fire into Israel.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/03/185595.htm

Action Recommendation
It is imperative to expose media bias and double standards related to reporting from Israel.  Last week, on a day that 300 people were butchered by the government of Syria, The New York Times ran a front page photo of Israeli soldiers firing rubber bullets.  Various reports on the events in Gaza cited the number of “Palestinians” killed without noting that they were terrorists often in the midst of a planned attack.  Even Hamas and other official statements acknowledged this. We must continue to bring this double standard to light and to insist that the media expose the atrocities in Syria and Iran with the same focus they report on events in Gaza.

Please enjoy the video by clicking on the image below

Wishing You a Great Purim!

- The Project Reconnect Team

Check out the Volunteer & Study Program at Jerusalem’s Conservative Yeshiva!

The program empowers you to be part of a diverse learning community and help out in Israeli society by volunteering with an Israeli non-profit organization.

You can choose to study in the morning or the afternoon. Courses include Hebrew Ulpan Talmud, Tanach, Tefillah & Halacha much more!

Go to http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/volunteer-study-summer-program for more information.

Register now for Conservative Yeshiva Online Learning beginning the week of January 22, 2012. Students of all Hebrew levels and Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome.

Hevruta – study with a partner – is strongly encouraged for all students including those with no prior experience in hevruta study. Conservative Yeshiva Online students have set up hevruta study in person, by phone, and even via Skype. The Conservative Yeshivas course management system makes online learning easy and fun!

One eight-week course and two four-week mini-courses will be offered:

A Jewish Theology of Human Rights (begins January 22)
Dr. Shaiya Rothberg

Megillat Esther (begins January 22)
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb

Midrashim on the Exodus (begins March 4)
Rabbi Gail Diamond

Complete course descriptions are found at http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/distance-learning.

Registration: To register for the classes, please go to https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/programs/survey.asp?nsurvey=55 and choose online spring 2012 for your choice of program. Follow the instructions for completing the application. Alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva, please email yeshiva@uscj.org to register.

Tuition: $200 for the eight week course, $100 for each four week course. A 10% discount will be given to Hevruta partners who sign up together for the class, to alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva and to members of USCJ congregations. If all three apply to you, go ahead and take a 30% discount! Students from Asia, South Africa, Eastern Europe and other developing nations will receive a 50% tuition discount. College and university students may enroll free of charge!

Please share this announcement!

For more information about the courses or about on-line learning with the Conservative Yeshiva, please contact Rabbi Gail Diamond at yeshiva@uscj.org.

The High Court of Justice was scheduled to hear a petition in support of civil marriage on Monday, December 5th. The petition was partially sponsored by the Masorti (Conservative) Movement, along with other groups including the Israeli Religious Action Center and the Kolech Religious Women’s Forum.

For more information, please visit http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=248146.

Posted on December 5, 2011 | in In Israel |

After more than five years in captivity, Gilad Shalit is finally back in Israel. Although the price that Israel is paying is high, MERCAZ and the entire Conservative Movement express our gratitude and support to the Israeli government in its tireless efforts to bring about Gilad’s release.

Click here to read the statement of the Rabbinical Assembly. Click here for the prayer of thanksgiving prepared by the Masorti Movement in Israel. Go to http://www.giladgreetings.org/ to send welcome home greetings to Gilad.