The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) is the Zionist organization of the
Reform movement
A reform movement or reformism is a type of social movement that aims to bring a social or also a political system closer to the community's ideal. A reform movement is distinguished from more radical social movements such as revolutionary mo ...
in the United States. It was founded in 1978.
History
ARZA was founded in 1978 after a resolution at the 1977
UAHC
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms established b ...
54th General Assembly biennial convention.
ARZA is a member of the
American Zionist Movement
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is the American federation of Zionist groups and individuals affiliated with the World Zionist Organization. According to its mission, it is committed to Zionism: the idea that the Jewish people is one people wi ...
and, by extension, is part of the
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization ( he, הַהִסְתַּדְּרוּת ×”Ö·×¦Ö´Ö¼×™Ö¼×•Ö¹× Ö´×™×ª הָעוֹלָמִית; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the ...
. In 2015, ARZA sent 56 delegates to the 37th
World Zionist Congress
The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress ( he, ×”×§×•× ×’×¨×¡ ×”×¦×™×•× ×™ ×”×¢×•× ...
after winning 40% of the US vote held by AZM. This was the single largest faction of the US delegation.
Between the previous AZM WZC election in 2006 and the 2015 election, ARZA sent 56 delegates to the 2006 35th WZC and to the 2010 36th WZC.
Leaders
Lay leadership
''Current Chairman'': Rabbi Bennett Miller (2012-present)
''Former Presidents''
*Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn (1978-1984)
*Rabbi Charles Kroloff (1984-1989)
*Norman Schwartz (1989-1993)
*Marcia Cayne (1993-1995)
*Philip Meltzer (1995-2004)
*Rabbi Stanley Davids (2004-2008)
*Rabbi Robert Orkand (2008-2012)
*Rabbi Bennett Miller (2012-2016, 2018-2021)
*Rabbi John Rosove (2016 - 2018)
Staff leadership
''Current President/Executive Director'': Rabbi Joshua Weinberg (2013-present)
''Former Executive Directors''
*Rabbi Ira Youdovin 1977-1983
*
Rabbi Eric Yoffie 1983-1992
*
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch 1992-2004
*Rabbi Andrew Davids 2004-2008
*Elana Paru - Interim Executive Director January to July 2009
*Rabbi Scott Sperling August 2009-June 2010
*Rabbi Daniel Allen July 2010-October 2012
*Barbara Kavadias - Interim Acting Executive Director November 2012-August 2013
See also
*
Reform Zionism Reform Zionism, also known as Progressive Zionism, is the ideology of the Zionist arm of the Reform or Progressive branch of Judaism. The Association of Reform Zionists of America is the American Reform movement's Zionist organization. Their mission ...
*
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms established ...
*
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based in 40 countries ...
*
Religious Action Center
The Religious Action Center (RAC) is the political and legislative outreach arm of Reform Judaism in the United States. The Religious Action Center is operated under the auspices of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, a joint body of ...
*
American Zionist Movement
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is the American federation of Zionist groups and individuals affiliated with the World Zionist Organization. According to its mission, it is committed to Zionism: the idea that the Jewish people is one people wi ...
*
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization ( he, הַהִסְתַּדְּרוּת ×”Ö·×¦Ö´Ö¼×™Ö¼×•Ö¹× Ö´×™×ª הָעוֹלָמִית; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the ...
*
World Zionist Congress
The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress ( he, ×”×§×•× ×’×¨×¡ ×”×¦×™×•× ×™ ×”×¢×•× ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Official website
Jewish charities based in the United States
Jewish organizations established in 1978
*
Zionist organizations
Zionism in the United States
Reform Zionism
World Zionist Organization