With support from the World Zionist Organization Edited and complied by Marcus Frieze | [email protected] | June 2010 2 Table of Contents Welcome letter...........................................................4 Map of the Congress area.............................................5 Who is in our delegation ?............................................6 Theodor Herzl & The Zionist Congress..........................11 All about MERCAZ Olami.............................................13 Masorti Country and Organization Reports Latin America Argentina ....................................................................................................... 16 Brazil ............................................................................................................. 18 Chile .............................................................................................................. 20 Mexico ........................................................................................................... 22 Uruguay ......................................................................................................... 23 Europe France ............................................................................................................ 25 Germany ........................................................................................................ 28 Hungary ......................................................................................................... 30 Spain ............................................................................................................. 32 Sweden .......................................................................................................... 33 UK ................................................................................................................. 35 Other parts of the world Australia ......................................................................................................... 39 Russia ............................................................................................................ 41 Ukraine .......................................................................................................... 43 North America Federation of Jewish Mens Clubs ....................................................................... 45 MERCAZ Canada .............................................................................................. 47 MERCAZ USA .................................................................................................. 49 The Jewish Theological Seminary ....................................................................... 51 United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism ........................................................ 53 Israel Israel ............................................................................................................. 55 The Schechter Institutes ................................................................................... 59 World Movements Cantors Assembly ............................................................................................ 62 MAROM Olami ................................................................................................. 64 Rabbinical Assembly ........................................................................................ 67 Ramah ........................................................................................................... 69 Women‘s League of Conservative Judaism .......................................................... 71 NOAM Olami....................................................................................................74 3 Welcome letter Dear Friends, We are so happy that you have all been able to join us here in Jerusalem for the 36th Zionist Congress. We very much hope that your stay here will be interesting and informative, and that our meetings, discussions and debates will be fruitful. Our delegation of delegates, alternates and observers is close to 150 people, and along with our partners at Kadima we are amongst the largest of all the delegations participating in the Congress. The four years since the last Congress have been both exciting and challenging at the same time. So many of our kehillot, youth movements and organizations have grown in numbers and reach, and the scope of our activities and programs is greater than ever before. New kehillot have been started, and existing kehillot have joined our worldwide Masorti family. At the same time, financial pressures have made the past few years difficult for us all. We are, however, proud to say that all of our core programs and services are still functioning, and plans are in place to ensure that we will be able to support more and more programming in the future. Putting together all of the arrangements for you to be here in Israel is no mean feat. Tremendous thanks must go to Marcus Frieze, our Projects & Communications Manager who joined us almost a year ago. He has ably led the Congress Coordination team, and has carried out his work with professionalism and enthusiasm. Thanks must also go to Galit Wittman our Office Manager and Meira Levison, our Assistant Congress Coordinator, as well as to the rest of our Masorti Olami / MERCAZ Olami / MAROM Olami office team which includes Hana Hoffman, Avigail Ben Aryeh, Avigail Shapira and Lucas (Pato) Ledjerman. In this booklet you will find what we hope will be helpful background information, as well as reports and updates from Masorti kehillot and organizations from all around the world. With so many countries and organizations represented, it is clear to see that the worldwide Masorti movement is flourishing. We look forward to sharing this week with you. Kol tuv, Alan Silberman Rabbi Vernon Kurtz Rabbi Tzvi Graetz President President Executive Director Masorti Olami MERCAZ Olami Masorti Olami & MERCAZ Olami 4 Map of the Congress area 5 Who is in our delegation ? Below you can find a full list of all 130 people from 18 countries in the Masorti Olami & MERCAZ Olami delegation, along with our partner organizations from around the world. Information is based on what we receivedWho in advance is in from our our delegation, delegat and weion apologize ? for any mistakes or omissions. First Cell phone in Title Last Name Delegation Country Position Email Name Israel Miss Claire Aboudi MERCAZ Olami France Delegate [email protected] steven.eric.abraham@gmail Mr. Steven Abraham MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate .com Rabbi Daniel Alter MERCAZ Olami Germany Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Ehud Bandel Masorti Olami Australia Alternate [email protected] 050 963 4273 Mr. Ira Bartfield MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] Mrs Kathryn Bartfield MERCAZ Olami USA Observer Ms. Miriam Benson MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mr Adam Berkley Masorti Olami UK Delegate [email protected] Mr. Mark Berlin MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Ms Alana Bernick MERCAZ Olami Canada Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Alejandro Bloch Masorti Olami Chile Delegate [email protected] Mr. Joshua Block Masorti Olami USA Delegate [email protected] directorejecutivo@masortia Mr Ariel Bluftsien Masorti Olami Argentina Delegate mlat.org Ms. Eileen Blumenthal MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] Rabbi Joseph Brodie MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] 052 386 1974 Mr. Julian Brook MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mr Randall Brown MERCAZ Olami USA Observer Mr Randall Brown MERCAZ Olami USA Observer [email protected] Mr. Aryeh Canter MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mrs Gillian Caplin MERCAZ Olami UK Delegate [email protected] [email protected] Mr Diego Cassorla Masorti Olami Chile Delegate m Cantor Jack Chomsky MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] Ms. Sarah Chopnick MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mr Stephen Chopnick MERCAZ Olami USA Observer Mrs Marian Civins MERCAZ Olami Australia Alternate [email protected] Mr Zvi Civins Masorti Olami Australia Delegate [email protected] Ms. Gloria Cohen MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mr. Simeon Cohen MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] 6 Masorti Olami & MERCAZ Olami delegation Title First Cell phone in Last Name Delegation Country Position Email Name Israel Mr Daniel Cohn MERCAZ Olami Uruguay Alternate [email protected] Mr Alejandro Cozachcow MERCAZ Olami Argentina Delegate [email protected] Ms Alexandra Cyngiser MERCAZ Olami Canada Delegate [email protected] Mrs Terri Davis MERCAZ Olami Israel Alternate [email protected] Miss Valentina del Fierro Masorti Olami Chile Delegate [email protected] Ms. Amy Dorsch MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Daniel Dorsch MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Gilah Dror MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Matthew Earne MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] Mr Sebastian Ebram MERCAZ Olami Argentina Delegate [email protected] Rabbi Gesa Ederberg Masorti Olami Germany Delegate [email protected] Mr. Kenneth Elfand MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] 052 233 1846 Rabbi Jerome Epstein MERCAZ Olami USA Delegate [email protected] 052 531 4386 Ms. Barbara Ezring MERCAZ Olami USA Alternate [email protected] Ferreira Miss Olivia Masorti Olami Brazil Delegate [email protected] Netter Mrs Gay Fine-Elfand MERCAZ Olami USA Observer Melissa MERCAZ Olami Ms Frank USA Alternate (Aviva) / GZA Rabbi Paul Freedman Masorti Olami Israel Observer