New organisation – new approach
Mercaz Australasia, the new Zionist organisation of Masorti Jews in Australia, has hosted a novel meeting dealing with the Hamas rocket blitz on southern Israel.
Sydney meeting
Mercaz invited The Zionist Council of NSW to partner in the event and thanks the Council for its continued support together with that of co-sponsors Emanuel Synagogue, ARZA and Kehilat Nitzan in Melbourne.
In an effort to create a direct personal connection to those most immediately affected by the conflict, Mercaz Australia established a video link between Sydney, Ashkelon in Southern Israel and Melbourne. There were local audiences at the Emanuel Synagogue in Sydney and at the Holocaust Centre in Melbourne. Seven residents of Ashkelon representing 4 local families participated in an hour-long Q&A session moderated by Dr Ron Weiser, life President of the Zionist Council of NSW.
Ashkelon a city of about 100,000 lies 12 kilometers from Gaza and has been subject to hundreds of rockets fired from Gaza in the last few months in the build up to the recent conflict.
The interviewees, Olim from Britain, USA, and South Africa, enthralled the two audiences with their eloquent and powerful descriptions of their various experiences under fire and of their personal and collective hopes and aspirations arising from the cease-fire. The atmosphere created by the clarity and honesty of the speakers was pervasive. The courage of the speakers emerged as all confirmed their loyalty and love for Israel and their optimism for its future.
Mercaz Olami is the Zionist organization of the World Masorti Movement. Mercaz Australasia is its representative in this region and is affiliated with the Zionist Federation of Australia. We support Zionist education, Israel programs and aliyah in our movement and work to enhance the quality of Jewish life in Israel. Mercaz represents the interests of Masorti Judaism in the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Mercaz looks forward to developing its role on the Australian scene.
