International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists
Congress achievements: An impressive list! By Joan Garson, Arzenu chair
Any listing of what we achieved at the World Zionist Congress, the Assembly and the Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors meetings must begin with a heartfelt thanks to our delegates.
The ARZENU delegation, including our World Union members, were extremely committed, hard working, enthusiastic and engaged. Our people (led in many cases by our young delegates) kept abreast of sometimes chaotic situations, led their subcommittees, built partnerships with representatives of other organizations, thought hard about what they were there to achieve, and succeeded.
We are going back to our countries with a renewed sense of purpose, not least because of the effective partnership with our Israeli team members from the Reform movement in Israel, led by Yaron Shavit, the new chair of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and Rabbi Gilad Kariv, its Executive Director.
What we achieved, both within the Congress and beyond:
- Overwhelming support to oppose the currently proposed changes to Israeli conversion law. In its present form, that law would weaken the Law of Return and the rights of Jewish streams such as ours to act in regard to the conversion process.
- Immediate implementation of equal WZO funding for all Jewish religious streams’ activities around the world, outside of Israel.
- Cancellation of elections to the 36th World Zionist Congress on a one-time basis. As a result, even as we saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for our movement around the world, and the WZO saved millions of dollars during a time of continued economic uncertainty, we maintained our numerical strength from the prior Congress elections.
- Control over the Congress. ARZENU was the leader of the largest faction in the Congress, ensuring its positions and concerns were given legitimacy and weight. The Israeli political parties in the faction, Labor and Meretz, committed themselves to an agenda of pluralism. Labour is of course a member of the governing coalition in the Knesset. This alliance has translated already into support for our position regarding the Conversion Bill in the Knesset.
- ARZENU and our faction partners, together with our partners in the World Union, succeeded in passing our major resolutions and in defeating all resolutions which attempted to attack pluralism or other Reform core values. We strengthened the role of women in forthcoming Congresses and strongly asserted the negative impact of settlement expansion. Our presence was strongly felt and acknowledged by all participants, thanks in no small part to the extremely active and engaged presence of our delegates and alternates and the leadership roles assumed by our youth representatives. A complete list of approved resolutions will be provided when it is prepared by the WZO staff.
- ARZENU and its WUPJ partner held key leadership positions within the Congress planning and operational period. Amongst other key positions, Phil Meltzer from ARZA (U.S.) was chair of the Congress Presidium; Yaron Shavit, the upcoming chair of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (the Reform Movement in Israel), chaired its Standing Committee.
- Ehud Barak, the leader of the Labour party, committed to expanding the role of Reform in Israel in the quasi-governmental section through filling positions with Reform Jews identified by us. We will ensure this process is followed up.
- Reform now holds the co-chair position in the Diaspora department of the WZO, enabling direct input to Zionist activities around the world. Reform also holds the land position in the Jewish National Fund, which gives it control over land issues and related funding issues. A complete list of all Reform roles will be circulated when the remaining details are finalized.
- The role of Diaspora representatives in the WZO was expanded going forward through agreement to provide translation and participation in key committees throughout the year. This will enable our representatives to play a larger, ongoing role and will help to ensure the WZO is more open to Disapora input.
- The process of reforming the WZO was continued. Our negotiating team ensured that extensive checks and balances were implemented, particularly with regard to financial matters. We will be chairing an empowered budget and finance committee.
- Our youth were active, empowered and valued participants throughout the WZO Congress. The measure of the success of their participation will be found of course in their ongoing involvement in their constituent countries. The generosity of individual delegates and of ARZA Canada in supporting the costs of the youth delegates is much appreciated.
- We began with an extremely successful weekend ideological seminar. This resulted in an engaged and informed core in our delegation. We also co-ordinated an extended and well-attended conversation with Labor representatives, a conversation that put on the table for future discussion significant areas in which we agree - and disagree,
- The announcement of a competition (funded by ARZA Canada) to fund further bridge-building by youth in the Diaspora and Israel is a first step toward realizing our future. Contest rules will be forwarded separately.
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