United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

From Alyse Golden Berkley, Esq.

Chevre:  I have been asked to share information that I receive from the USCJ.  The following demonstrates what the  Israel Commission has done, and is doing, to fulfill its mission.  All  programs, materials  and services described are currently  available.  Contact Rabbi Paul Freedman  at freedman@uscj.org

USCJ ISRAEL COMMISSION VISION AND  MISSION STATEMENT

VISION:

To empower Jews throughout  North America via  the community of Kehillot to engage fully with Israel,  to facilitate and strengthen connections between Conservative Kehillot, their  membership and Israel so that Israel is integral to their identities and activities as Conservative Jews.

MISSION:

• To provide affiliated Kehillot, Districts and Departments of United Synagogue with information, materials and programming concerning Israel.
• To offer user-friendly services to kehillot by facilitating contacts with existing agencies and resources.
• To assist, facilitate, and encourage our membership  to consider aliyah and provide olim from our kehillot with a Conservative/​Masorti contact in Israel.
• To develop support for other Israel-oriented agencies both within and without to the Conservative movement.
• To strengthen the connection between Conservative kehillot  in North America and Masorti kehillot in Israel.

 PROGRAMS:

TWO MINUTES OF ISRAEL

 Every month we distribute a short message featuring another positive story  of Israel, often describing something that has happened in our Masorti Movement and/​or Fuchsberg.  Israel Affairs chairmen share these messages at the monthly Board meeting and/​or email to the general membership. Back issues are also available upon request.

TODAY’S ISRAEL

An e-magazine that contains articles on our movement in Israel and general Israel topics conveying a positive message about what is happening here!

THE COMISSION’S  PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FUSCHSBERG CENTER AND THE CENTER FOR LONE SOLDIERS IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL LEVINE

An outreach program offering room and board for Shabbatot at Fuchsberg. There is also an opportunity for visiting missions to dialogue during their stay with English-speaking lone soldiers, many coming from our movement, on their experiences in Tzahal.

THE USCJ ISRAEL COMMISSION INTERNET RESOURCE GUIDE

The guide is an annotated listing of materials produced and services available in Israel, all at no cost, with computer links . Your Israel Commission believes it is part of our mission to provide such information.

MA’A LOT GRANTS - ISRAEL COMMISISON PARTNERSHIP WITH NEFESH B’NEFESH - RAISING ISRAEL AWARENESS

In the first three years of this program, ninety-three kehillot have received modest  grants for Israel-oriented programs. Your Kehillah can benefit  from this partnership by applying for a grant for the fourth year 2012-2013.  Applications will be available by end 2011. The Commission partners with Nefesh B’Nefesh in a number of  additional  cooperative ventures.

USCJ ISRAEL COMMISION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

This new program features a link on your kehillot website with JNF, and  20% of all contributions made via the link or by the individual calling into a special number and identifying his Kehillah will be distributed quarterly from JNF to the participating Kehillah for Israel programming.

SUPPORTING MISSIONS TO ISRAEL 

Anyone planning a mission via his or her Kehillah is invited to contact us in order to  receive support re programmatic suggestions and opportunities, including interaction with our Masorti movement, a visit  and study opportunity at the  Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center and its Conservative Yeshiva. 

Rabbi Paul Freedman