Wednesday, April 29, 2015
ARZA
Over the past few years, my temple has been raising awareness about an organization called the Association of Reform Zionists of America. ARZA is a group that was formed to have a Reform view in the Wold Zionist Organization. They believe in making Israel sacred for Reform Jews. My Rabbi, Bennett Miller, is the chair of this organization. For the past few years, I have heard him talk about registering to vote, but only now do I truly understand the meaning behind it. The goals that ARZA has are very similar to many of the topics that we discuss in class. One of the issues that we talk about a lot in our class specifically is the marriage equality law. Only 20% of the Jews in Israel are Orthodox, however marriages in Israel are only legal if they are to Orthodox standards. Another issue is that the Israeli Government pays salaries for Rabbis in Israel, but only a very small percentage of them are Reform. After my experience at the Kotel last week, I believe more than ever that women should have more space to pray. By voting to make ARZA a part of the World Zionist Organization, Reform Jews can get more of a say in gaining equality in Israel.
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I think ARZA is a very important organization that is trying to do very important work in reforming different parts of the Jewish world to make them more fair for everyone. I totally agree that voting is very important and I know personally that I will try and vote in ARZA when I turn eighteen. I know that marriage is not the only problem that plagues secular and less religious Jews in Israel and I very much hope that ARZA and the liberals in the K'nesset will do whatever they can do help make more equality.
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