What Is MERCAZ Olami?

What is MERCAZ Olami? MERCAZ OLAMI is the Zionist organization of the world Masorti/Conservative Movement. We promote and support Zionist education, Israel programs and aliyah in our movement and work to enhance the quality of Jewish life in Israel. MERCAZ represents the interests of Masorti / Conservative Judaism in the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael (the Jewish National Fund). We are the advocate and the force that guarantees funding for religious streams that is so crucial to our Movement. MERCAZ chapters can be found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Netherlands, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine. Why join MERCAZ? A strong MERCAZ within the WZO and JAFI is vital to the development of our Movement around the world and in Israel. It is also critical to our ability to influence the agenda and the distribution of resources of these organizations, which together have a tremendous impact on world Jewry - particularly in the areas of Israel-Diaspora relations, Jewish Zionist education, and aliyah. Our strength is a function of our representation within the Zionist Congress, which in turn is a direct result of our ability to "turn out the vote" during elections to the Zionist Congress, as well as our involvement in Zionist Federations throughout the Diaspora by virtue of which we gain representation to the Zionist Congress. Direct Benefits of a Strong MERCAZ representation The following are among the benefits to our movement as a result of the efforts of MERCAZ:  $1.7 million of direct allocations to Masorti institutions in Israel every year  Hundreds of thousands of dollars of grants over the years to Conservative / Masorti educational projects around the world  Shlichim for our youth movement and communities throughout the Diaspora  Over $500,000 to meet the religious and educational needs of Masorti / Conservative Jews outside of Israel through the Pluralistic Religious Allocation Funding of the WZO  Nearly $150,000 for developing Zionist programs for our constituency throughout the world  Support for a variety of activities intended to promote Israel programs and aliyah among our membership

The record of our achievements is impressive, but there is still so much to do! We believe that, with your support and active involvement, what remains to be done is indeed doable. Please contact MERCAZ USA [email protected] (President: Steve Wolnek) or MERCAZ Canada [email protected] (President: Marion Mayman) to join us in our efforts.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Vernon Kurtz Rabbi Tzvi Graetz President, MERCAZ Olami Executive Director, MERCAZ Olami