An important Shabbat message from Rabbi Frank. Vote For Me! (Sort Of) I am running in a critical election and I need your support. As the rise of religious fundamentalism is felt in Europe and the Middle East, we know the danger it poses to any society. Clerics who interpret religion literally and espouse dictatorial and exclusionary rhetoric, so easily incite division and tear apart the fabric of democratic societies. And that is why I need your vote - because exclusive religious control of the ultra-orthodox in Israel also undermines our pluralistic values and deprives non-orthodox rabbis, synagogues, and Jews in Israel of equal rights. But this does not have to stand! Right now, as Reform Jews, we have a unique opportunity to bring about change. Once every five years, the World Zionist Organization holds elections, representing Jews worldwide and giving stakeholders a significant voice in Israel. In the last election, the Reform Movement was extremely successful, winning enough votes to command $4.5 million to build our Reform institutions in Israel, to become key players in setting the social priorities of the Jewish Agency and, with our coalition partners, to influence important legislation in the Knesset. In this election, it is imperative that we not only equal that success, but exceed it, so that we can continue and expand our work. I am proud this year to be an election delegate, representing ARZA, our Reform Zionist organization. I undertook this role because I believe with all my heart in religious pluralism, in tolerance and respect for all streams of Jewish expression, and in the legitimacy of Reform Judaism in Israel. That is why I hope youll vote for me (sort of) by voting the ARZA slate in the upcoming World Zionist Congress. Simply click on this link and you will be directed to our ARZA website for easy and clear instructions: reformjews4israel.org/vote (and, if you care to open the menu item Slate on the upper right of the webpage, you will find my name among the delegates). Our Temple Solel ARZA campaign is something you will be hearing more about in the coming weeks. Please join the cause to insure that our beloved Israel reflects the democratic and pluralistic values we hold dear, and that will help us truly realize our prophetic ideal as A light unto the nations. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi David Frank
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 21:42:23 +0000
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