The Mission Of MERCAZ USA

MERCAZ USA is the Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement, representing Conservative Judaism within the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

MERCAZ USA sees Zionism as an invaluable tool for strengthening Jewish identity and combating assimilation. It calls for linking Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora with Israel through tourism, Jewish education, Hebrew language study, "people-to-people" partnerships, short-and long-term Israel programs and Aliyah.

Conservative/Masorti Judaism was the first of the modern religious movements to embrace Zionism and has steadfastly remained at the forefront of the effort to promote its values: the centrality of Israel in the life and consciousness of thee Jewish People and the unity of the Jewish People wherever they may live.

Our connection to the Land and State of Israel and its capital Jerusalem begins first and foremost with our People's 4000-year covenant with the Divine. This covenant has imposed upon us the responsibility not only to support and defend the State of Israel but also to create in Zion an exemplary Jewish society that is a national home — democratic and pluralistic — for all Jews, secure and at peace with its Arab neighbors, committed to protecting its environment and natural resources, respecting the rights of all of its citizens and supporting all streams of Jewish practice.

MERCAZ USA works in cooperation with all the other arms of Conservative Movement including the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Rabbinical Assembly, Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, Cantors Assembly, Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, National Ramah Commission, Jewish Educators Assembly, North American Association of Synagogue Executives and Solomon Schechter Day School Association; is affiliated with MERCAZ OLAMI and the other MERCAZ chapters in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and Uruguay; and is supported by individual and family memberships in its annual membership campaign.

Your affiliation with MERCAZ implies acceptance of The Jerusalem Program, which define the Foundations of Zionism as:

The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation.
Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli Society.
Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.
Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish People by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language.
Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism.
Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.

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MERCAZ USA
820 Second Avenue, New York, New York 10017-4504
tel 212.533.2061 | fax 212.533.2601
info@mercazusa.org | www.mercazusa.org