ARZA Program with Rabbi Uri Regev

Wednesday, January 11th, 2006
7:30 pm, at Shir Hadash

On January 11th, Rabbi Uri Regev will speak on "The Upcoming Israeli Elections: Implications for Peace, Social Justice and the Reform Movement in Israel." This program is sponsored by ARZA/WUPJ (Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism) and the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) of Silicon Valley, and co-sponsored by the Shir Hadash Men's Club. The entire congregation is invited to attend.

Rabbi Regev is the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the largest body of religious Jews in the world. Founded in 1926 and now headquartered in Jerusalem, it serves congregations and communities in over 40 countries, encompassing over 1,200 Reform, Progressive, Liberal and Reconstructionist congregations and more than 1.5 million members throughout the world.

Prior to assuming this position, for more than a decade, Rabbi Regev served as founding chair and later as Executive Director and Counsel of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the leading advocacy group in Israel promoting religious pluralism, social justice and human equality, established by the Reform Movement. In that capacity, he led the battles in which he and IRAC's legal team achieved historic victories in the Israeli Supreme Court in cases involving the "Who is a Jew?" issue, the fight for representation on religious councils, for equitable funding for Reform and Conservative institutions, and other central issues of religious freedom and religious pluralism in Israel.

A frequent guest of the media, Rabbi Regev is often quoted on matters of religion and state, pluralism, and Reform Judaism.

The program will be preceded by a No-Host Dinner for Empty Nesters at 6 PM at Cafe Viva. If you would like to attend the dinner please RSVP by Jan. 9th to Rabbi Fleekop at or 358-1751 x114.