ARZA Brunch: Sunday, April 18, 9:15 am
Guest Speaker: Abeer Joubran-Dakwar, "The Challenge Facing Israeli Arabs"
Abeer Joubran-Dakwar received her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Economics in 2005 from the Joint Program of Economics & Law, Haifa University. During her studies she interned at Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. During that year, Abeer drafted a brief in a case against Haifa University, demanding the prohibition of the use of discriminatory criteria in allocating student dorms. After becoming a member of the Israeli bar in 2006, Abeer worked as a lawyer for Hamoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, an Israeli human rights organization that assists Palestinians in the Occupied Territories whose rights have been violated. In 2007, Abeer was named the director of Hamoked’s legal department. Currently participating in the New Israel Fund US-Israel Civil Liberties Law Fellowship, Abeer hopes to work to improve the lives of people in the Arab sector.
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ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America - the Zionist arm and voice of the Reform Movement in the United States - endeavors to make Israel fundamental to the sacred lives and Jewish identity of Reform Jews. As a Zionist organization, ARZA champions activities that further enhance Israel as a pluralistic, just and democratic Jewish state. ARZA's core mission activities are: Engagement: Bringing Israel into the minds, hearts and lives of American Reform Jews through increased awareness, education and programming. Advocacy: Empowering Reform Jews to promote Israel in a caring, honest and intelligent manner in their communities and beyond. Travel: Creating hands-on experiences in Israel that lead to a lifelong relationship. ARZA National Assembly: On Sunday, May 11, the 15th ARZA National Assembly leadership welcomed over 130 participants and presenters to Baltimore, Maryland. The Assembly featured a wide range of workshops and plenary sessions focused on Israeli arts, culture, media affairs, politics and policy, and concluded on Wednesday, May 14th. Rabbi Stone helped lead a workshop on eco-Zionism. National Assembly delegates celebrated Israel’s 60th year with a ceremony and dinner program on Sunday evening and a keynote address by Washington Post editor and former 9/11 Commission staff member, Warren Bass. Monday’s program featured a joint presentation by Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of IRAC and Rabbi Stanley Davids and the conclusion of a multi-day seminar for young adults engaged in Israel outreach. On Tuesday, delegates had the opportunity to participate in ARZA’s Special Issues Consultation on Jewish Dialogue with Christians and Muslims about peace and conflict in the Middle East or in a series of focused workshops on politics, the media and more. ARZA welcomes your membership. Only $36 per year for a family membership goes a long way toward enabling ARZA to fulfill its mission and bring programs to the Temple and the community. Please make payment to Temple Emanuel, designated for ARZA. More information about ARZA can be found at www.arza.org.
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The Jewish National Fund (JNF) and ARZA are pleased to offer Temple Emanuel an opportunity to help our environment and support Israel by participating in the JNF/ARZA GoNeutral Synagogue Affiliate Program.
 Temple Emanuel has long been a leader in the environmental movement. This program is another and important way we can make a difference. Here's how you can participate. Click on the JNF/ARZA GoNeutral link HERE. This link will take you to JNF's "carbon calculator" where you can calculate your family's carbon footprint. With that knowledge you will be given two opportunities to immediately take steps to offset your negative environmental impact. You may plant trees in Israel OR support cutting edge research on alternative energy sources. JNF will return 20% of all donations made through this link on a quarterly basis for environmental or Israel activities in the congregation. The Temple will also benefit from outstanding educational resources, speakers, and activities available to us as program participants. Let's seize this excellent opportunity to both help the environment and support Temple programs.
The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies  is an ideal place for college students looking to integrate their interests in Israel and the environment. Arava offers Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, Palestinian and overseas students, including Americans, an intensive hands-on academic program focusing on their joint environment. The program is conducted in English, situated on the grounds of Kibbutz Ketura, adjacent to the Jordanian and Egyptian borders. The Institute serves as a regional center for conservation andenvironmental protection activities where university students and environmental practitioners from the Middle East and across the globe develop ties that later serve as nuclei for environmental cooperation. The program features unique ecosystems and human habitats: the arid Arava (Araba) Valley, the rich coral reefs of the Red Sea, kibbutz communal life and arid sustainable agriculture. Together, its diverse student body and faculty participate in lectures, field trips, and group and individual studies. The program provides a balanced scientific, political and social understanding of complex environmental issues.
Kibbutz Lotan
Kibbutz Lotan was established by graduates of the URJ's Youth Division along with pioneers from the World and Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism in 1983. This vibrant community has made great strides in combining environmental awareness with activism in the Arava region and is recognized in Israel as a leader in sustainable infrastructure development. The United Nations, the Global Ecovillage Network, the European Union's LIFE foundation and the Jewish National Fund have participated in activities and programs developed by the Center for Creative Ecology – Lotan's not-for-profit education and development institute. All this and more information is available on the website http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/
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