Posters of Pre-State Israel Give Special Insight Into Zionism

israelsatticYesterday, Inspiring Tomorrow.

These 18 authentic posters from pre-state Israel and its early years of independence give expression to the ideals on which the Zionist movement was founded, the challenges it has had to contend with since its outset and the remarkable achievements characterizing its first decades.

More than an important historical record, this collection provides a fascinating insight into the atmosphere and spirit of the times. It also serves as a source of inspiration for carrying on with the vital mission of continuing to work for the fulfillment of the Zionist dream. Printed on each poster is a brief description of its contents in Hebrew, English, Spanish, and French, providing context and background enhancing appreciation of its message and associated values.

In addition to being suitable for display in schools, Jewish community centers, synagogues, youth movement clubs, community institutions, camps, offices and homes, these posters constitute a rich resource for informal educational activity on the Zionist vision and the realities that the movement has had to face.

Special introductory offer:

Full set of 18 posters (50 x 70 cm. / 20 x 28 in.): $65 in celebration of Israel’s 65 years

1 poster: $10

5 posters: $25

10 posters: $40

Shipping is included in all prices. Purchase a full set of 18 posters and get 3 additional posters FREE!

Purchase Your Poster(s) Here.

Note: To order posters, you must keep the purchase form open in a separate window.

 

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Mayor of Migdal HaEmek Promotes His City

In an effort to promote the Israeli city of Migdal HaEmek as a destination for American olim, Mayor Eli Barda met with representatives from across the Jewish non-profit world on June 4. At a luncheon sponsored by the American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Organization and hosted by AZM leader Marlene Post, the Mayor praised his city and shared its merits with leaders from a range of religious and ideological backgrounds, including MASA Israel Journey, Hadassah, Mercaz, ARZA, Neot Kedumim and the Jewish Agency. Barda was joined by Migdal HaEmekl’s city planner, Ronen Peleg.

According to Barda, Migdal HaEmek’s population is comprised of immigrants from many countries. But, knowing how much the city has to offer, he noted that he’d like to encourage Anglos to move there and create their own communities. He emphasized that the city is open to people from any and all religious backgrounds, and that there are plans to build 4,500 housing units that will accommodate varying religious and communal needs.

The beauty of the Galilee and Migdal HaEmek’s convenience to several large cities are major selling points. In addition, the city focuses on education and has won several awards in recognition of its educational system. This is reflected in its job market: due to its many industrial zones, the city is known as the “Silicon Valley of the North” and has numerous job opportunities.

On this trip, Mayor Barda is visiting New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago as part of a promotion sponsored by Habayta, the WZO’s Aliyah Promotion Unit. By traveling to these major metropolitan areas, executives from Habayta hope they will reach both prospective American olim as well as advocates for local Jewish organizations who will continue to spread the word about Migdal HaEmek’s qualities.

For more information regarding Migdal HaEmek, please contact habayta@wzo.org.il or visit http://www.habaytamh.co.il/.

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Join the Intergenerational Dialogue with Muki Tsur

Muki Tsur, educator and raconteur, will address the theme: Gazing from Mount Nebo, with former students and youth movement participants from across the generations.  This is an  extraordinary opportunity to hear one of Israel’s leading educational thinkers and story-tellers.  This Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) Muki was one of the 12 individuals who was asked to light one of the torches on Mount Herzl at the official public celebration, a high honor.

Join us for an evening to savor and  remember.

There is no charge to participate, but you must register.

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Voices Fellowship Program in Philadephia and New York

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Progressive Jewish communities in North America are often concerned about certain phenomena occurring in the Jewish State that they recognize as counter their conceptions of Jewish social justice.

It is time for us to come together and build an open and safe space for learning, questioning, and discussing the conflicts that arise in our commitments when we attempt to actualize various ideologies and values.

Four partners (AZM, Ameninu, World Zionist Organization and Binah) have joined together to bring these issues to the table. We believe in the importance of voicing opinions and listening to others’ opinions through learning ancient and modern text, meeting with academic speakers and organizational leaders, and engaging in respectful provocative conversation.  Through the process, we will find new and meaningful ways to grapple with the problematic realities facing world Jewry and the Jewish State.

The Voices Fellowship is a pilot program being launched in New York and Philadelphia this spring. The program is designed to engage its selected participants in a deep discussion about Judaism, Zionism, social justice and Israel. The questions raised will include issues of religious tolerance, human rights and democracy, as well as relations between Israel and Diaspora, Jewish values and collective responsibility.

If you  would like to see a program like this in your organization or community please contact AZM to explore the question.

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Asthrith Baltsan Presents “Hatikva” in New York City

This program is now fully subscribed and we cannot accept more reservations.

If you would like to hear Astrith Baltsan, and enjoy her entire 90 minute Hatikva program, we suggest you take advantage of her

April 11th performance of Hatikvah: Hope Reborn

Temple Israel
7:30 PM
112 E. 75th Street

To purchase tickets, please call: 212.415.5500

Or visit:  http://www.92y.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=91544

 

 

 

 

Take a mesmerizing journey on April 10th through the background and history of Israel’s national anthem, HaTikva.  Through a multi-media presentation, pianist Asthrith Baltsan reveals Hatikvah’ s past and its path to becoming the song of the Jewish People.

Register today

 

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Learn Some Hebrew Words and Roots;Learn About Zionism As Well

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This unit was written by Dr. David Breakstone
in association with Rabbi Miles B. Cohen
This publication is not going to make anyone fluent in either the Hebrew language or Zionist ideology. It does aim, however, to convey the vital importance of both to the future of the Jewish people.

Just as fidelity to the Hebrew language was a key to our redemption from Egypt (Midrash Vayikra Rabba 32:5), so, too, was it a key to our survival throughout the long exile from our homeland. Dispersed to the four corners of the earth, our diligence in continuing to study and pray in Hebrew united us in a collective bond to our common inheritance and its values. Tzedakah, hesed, tikkun olam, am segullah, aliyah, and shalom are just a few of the myriad words and phrases that define who we are with meanings and associations that cannot be fully appreciated in translation. And then a century ago, by virtue of the assiduousness of our forebears throughout the generations, the early Zionists were able to revive Hebrew as a dynamic language enabling those returned onto Zion to conjoin not only with their heritage but also with one another. Enlarging the circle of those able to do so is fundamental to the Zionist vision, predicated as it is on the unity of the Jewish people.

 

Naturally, then, this conviction is integral to The Jerusalem Program, the ideological foundation of the Zionist Movement. It consists of a basic statement of principles to which all who would call themselves Zionists are bidden to agree, a unifying statement pulling together into a single force those holding a broad spectrum of diverse beliefs and ideologies but who together comprise a single, cohesive World Zionist Organization. It also establishes the tone and direction of Zionism today, as subscribing to it not only affirms one’s belief in the right of the Jewish people to a state and homeland of its own, but also expresses our hopes and aspirations for the society we would wish to create there, as well as for the relationship we would like to see develop between the Jewish state and the Jewish people everywhere.

 

In creating this unit, then, the World Zionist Organization and its affiliate, the American Zionist Movement, hope to stimulate those using it to engage in a deeper exploration of the ideological underpinnings of Zionism and the richness of the Hebrew language, and to see both as treasures to be embraced and embedded in their own lives.

 

CoverZionistHebrew Intro The lessons of עִבְרִית צִיּוֹנִית – Zionist Hebrew are designed in a modular fashion so that they may be used in a variety of venues, ranging from a 10-minute opening of a meeting or event to a series of 45-minute sessions. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 1 Learn about the meaning of Tokhnit תָּכְנִית in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 2 Learn about the meaning of Ahdut אַחְדוּת in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 3 Learn about the meaning of Aliyah עֲלִיָּה in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 4 Learn about the meaning of Hevra חֶבְרָה in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 5 Learn about the meaning of Lashon לָשׁוֹן in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 6 Learn about the meaning of Hagannah הֲגַנָּה in The Jerusalem Program. Read more
CoverZionistHebrew Lesson 7Learn about the meaning of Yishuv יִשּׁוּב in The Jerusalem Program. Read more

 

 

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Feminism, Zionism and the Identities of Jewish Women Activists

FeminIsrael Panel for web

PRE-REGISTRATION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Monopolity: The Fun Game of Israeli Politics

Do Israeli politics confuse you?  Do you understand what happened in the elections and why?
Who won and who is Yair Lapid, anyway ? What is a coalition negotiation?monopolity-2-6

The WZO: Department of Diaspora Activities presents Monopolity- a life-size game board and simulation of the political parties and issues in Israel today.

Monopolity is a fun, inter active game that explores the complexities of the Israeli Society and Knesset! Using the game, you can debate and discuss some of the major issues in Israeli society: State vs. Religion, Peace & Security , Immigration, the Israel-Diaspora relations, to name a few.  It  is suitable for a wide variety of venues and groups, including Hillels, youth movements, congregations, Jewish Day Schools and supplementary schools, and other Jewish communal settings for adults as well as students.

The 2013 Israeli elections that took place last month create a great opportunity to educate, learn, and stay up to date with the current political realities in Israel. In that light, the WZO has prepared a special Monopolity supplement that simulates the ongoing process of coalition building and government formation. This activity will help participants understand the meaning of the election results and connect to the political negotiations that are occurring in Israel right now.

By ordering the kit, you will receive the board game, information cards, game pieces of real Israeli party leaders, fake money, dice, and leader’s guide.

If you order Monopolity now for your community, you will receive the supplemental activity for FREE!

In addition, the WZO can work with you to train you for facilitation or can help you find a facilitator for your program. (dependent on location, there may be a cost)

Special AZM 25% discount: The original price of the kit is $120.00 plus shipping. The special AZM discount price is only $90.00!

Purchase today on PayPal 

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AZM and WZO to Host Exclusive Space at General Assembly

On Sunday, November 11, through Tuesday, November 13, the American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Organization will join Jewish organizations from across North America at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, held this year in Baltimore, Maryland. For the first time, WZO, together with AZM, will be hosting a major area in the exhibit hall.

The General Assembly serves as a marketplace of ideas and trends in the Jewish community, and so it is fitting that WZO chose to highlight Zionism as its main theme. WZO and AZM’s exclusive space will feature three unique ways to engage with Zionist ideas. Visitors are invited to drop by and listen to Israeli music, read the Israeli press, play a game of Sheshbesh or Hebrew Bananagrams, and have a slice of Hebrew with their coffee. “Touching Israel” is an interactive smart wall that will allow users to learn more about the history of Zionism and its relevance today. And, as an innovative way to explore these ideas in more detail, comedian Joel Chasnoff will perform stand up as a part of a facilitated discussion about Zionist identities.

AZM’s unique addition to the 2012 “Tribefest” program, QUIZRAEL, a trivia bonanza about Israel, global Jewish communities, and the impact of the Israel Action Network and the Federation movement overseas, will be reintroduced as a special event on Sunday evening at 8:00 PM. There will be prizes, giveaways and lots of fun.

We invite you to join us for all of this and more. Every year, the GA proves to be the premier event for Jewish organizations. WZO and AZM look forward to being a part of it and to connecting with the Jewish community.

 

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A Post-Holiday Greeting from the WZO Chairman Avraham Duvdevani

After the Holidays is Now

The expression “after the holidays” connotes the period following the holidays in the month of Tishrei, when the work week goes back to its regular routine.  “After the holidays” is a very common and useful phrase.

The holidays are a sort of time-out.  A period that transcends time, in which a person becomes introspective and concentrates on himself and his family.  The time for action and creativity, and the time of renewal comes “after the holidays.”

These three words have become a reason and explanation for the “tradition” that has evolved over the years, whereby there is a period during which important meetings are postponed, decisions are not reached, and ideas remain on paper.

We use the phrase ‘after the holidays’ to project the present in our lives to a particular point in the future, and so for many years, the phrase “after the holidays” has become an expression for pushing things off.  On the other hand, it also has become an expression of renewal, as written by the late songwriter, Naomi Shemer,  in her song “Renewal”:

 

“After the holidays, everything will be renewed.

Ordinary days will return…”

 And the late Ehud Manor in his song “After the Holidays”:

“After the holidays

We will correct the mistakes

And start from the beginning”

After the holidays is already here.  We have turned the clock back one hour and this is an opportunity to remember the ideas and tasks we have put off, to rest for a moment, to gather our strength and continue at the place we left off before the holiday began.

We can use this time for introspection, maybe with a different outlook on things, on goals, directions and paths we are on, to bring about an awakening, added motivation and new life and to continue with greater strength after the holidays.

We have said farewell to the year that has passed.  It will not return, and it will join the previous year before it.  We will remember the past two years, as good ones.  However, these years have also included a lot of effort, distress and difficulties, but what we have accomplished will grow and become in our memory blessing, greatness and goodness.

We have reached the “after the holidays” period, packed with positive energy that we have amassed during the first two years, and the organization’s employees and managers are imbued with team spirit and a sense of mission.  We are all ready to move forward, to revitalize things, to renew and become renewed.

In this way, we will welcome the new year with a sense of happiness and satisfaction, giving special meaning to the continuum of the coming days and added significance to simple everyday activities.

Following the last Zionist Congress, when we embarked on a path of renewal and revitalization at the World Zionist Organization, we adopted a number of missions and challenges that are based on classic Zionist goals, which have yet to be completed, while updating and adapting them to our time and place.

At the top of the list is promoting aliyah from prosperous countries as part of the ‘Habaita’ Program.  Olim making aliyah of their own free choice, from a sense of Zionism and ideals, where there is no Zionism without aliyah.  That is its realization.

We are ‘cultivating Zionism’ in order to develop and strengthen Zionist awareness and education in the Diaspora, through ‘Israel Families in the Community’, ‘Batei Am’, encounters between youth from the Diaspora and the Galilee and Negev, etc.   We have assumed the responsibility of strengthening and cultivating the Hebrew language as the language of the Jewish people. This is the language that builds Jewish and Zionist identity.   We have taken upon ourselves to lead the struggle against rising anti-Semitism. We are ‘connecting’ with hundreds of thousands of Israelis living in the Diaspora and the Russian-speaking community, bringing them Hebrew culture and language and Zionism.

We have also accepted the responsibility for engaging in Zionism in the State of Israel as well, based on the idea that the country is not a goal, rather a tool for something much bigger:  creating a model ethical society, known for equality and justice, integrity and morality, “a light among nations” as envisioned by the prophets.

As the years go by, and we approach Israel’s 65th year of independence, it becomes ever clearer that we cannot live in the State of Israel without the ‘good old’ Zionism. Only ideological Zionist commitment can ensure that young families won’t pack their bags and leave in times of trouble.

As our reality here in the Middle East becomes more complex, it becomes obvious that Zionism is critical in order to provide meaning to our existence as a Jewish State, and it ensures that we will not stop believing and convincing others that the State of Israel can and will be better, more humane, civilized, enlightened – a country that demands justice, tolerance, and respect for others.

Through the Rural Settlement Division, we work to settle the length and breadth of the land of Israel through ‘Culture for Israel’, we strengthen cultural life and enrich the periphery.  We assist the Herzl Center and the Zionist Council, in order to create a younger generation that will be imbued with belief and Zionist values, and which will foster leadership that will assume the responsibility for national missions.

Yes, since the Congress, we have witnessed success in our endeavors, and significant indicators of young people returning to the Zionist movement have been seen and our reputation has improved.  We need to bring this outcome to public attention this year, convince and enlist as many Jews, as individuals and groups, youth and adults, in communities and organizations, in Israel and the Diaspora.  We will do this by gathering together – at conferences small and large, international and regional, according to topic and sector, in Israel and overseas, while continuing the momentum in implementing all we have begun.

“After the holidays” – how many times have we used those words without noticing how we perceive or even disparage the dimension of time?

Before Rosh Hashanah, we held an educational tour in Europe – ‘Leadership Looks Ahead to the Future’ – in the steps of Theodore Herzl, which was very successfully organized by the Department for Activities in the Diaspora.  We were once again awed by Herzl’s amazing personality and enormous contribution.  Most of all, we were impressed by how he did all this is such a short period of time.

All of Herzl’s activity, from the time he realized that the only solution to the Jewish problem was a Jewish state, and until his death, took place during a period of less than nine years.  This single man managed to accomplish so much in such a short period of time!  His actions were essentially the cornerstone for the founding of the State of Israel, reminiscent of the words of Victor Hugo:  “As short as the time is, it’s enough to change everything.”

We must also see this subject as part of Herzl’s heritage.

“Time travels, because that is what time is supposed to do,” sings Ehud Banai, one of Israel’s contemporary young musicians.  Time waits for no man.  And just as we must properly and optimally utilize our budgets, we must also not waste or lose time.  Only recently, we saw in the Olympics the value of a millisecond.

Therefore, my friends, we will adopt the expression “after the holidays” in order to work with greater strength and effort to move with the pace of time, in order to promote all the challenges and tasks that are gaining momentum and stability, along with creative renewal and innovation.  This is reflected in the verse from Ethics of our Fathers:  We must complete the work, and in any event, we are not free to ignore it.

Yours,

 

 

 

 

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