Arzenu - International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists
Umbrella body for Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists in the World Zionist Organization
| ARZENU | |
|---|---|
| Type | Ideological grouping (Brit Olamit) of the World Zionist Organization |
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| Founded | |
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| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | |
| Status | International Zionist federation; US affiliate ARZENU Inc is a 501(c)(3) |
| Headquarters | Operates through national constituents and the National Institutions of Israel |
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| Area served | |
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| Key people | |
| Website | arzenu.org |
| Remarks | |
ARZENU (also styled arzenu), the International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists, is the political arm of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists inside the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and the other National Institutions of Israel: Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and the Jewish Agency for Israel.[1] It was founded in 1980 as a Brit Olamit (ideological grouping) of the WZO.[1][2]
The organisation says it has a twofold mission: promoting Zionist activity in Reform, Progressive and Liberal congregations abroad, and using seats won at the World Zionist Congress to press Reform Jewish positions on the Israeli government and to secure funding for Reform institutions in Israel and the diaspora.[1][3] Constituent groups have been described as operating in between ten and eighteen countries, including the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), ARZA Canada, ARZA Australia and Arzenu UK (formerly ProZion).[1][4][5]
Aims
ARZENU describes itself as "the political voice of Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists within the World Zionist Organisation and its subsidiaries".[1] It campaigns for official recognition of Reform Judaism in Israel, including on civil marriage, non-Orthodox conversion, gender equality and access at the Western Wall (Kotel), and says it supports "a Jewish State that embraces both democratic values and Judaism in all of its forms as well as protecting the rights of its minorities".[1]
The Union of International Associations records its aims as representing and stimulating Zionist activity in Reform and Progressive communities; encouraging adherence to the WZO Jerusalem Programme; fostering Progressive Judaism in Israel; and working for "authentic Jewish pluralism" through legislation and equal rights for all religious streams.[2] It works with the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), the Israeli Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), the young-adult network Tamar, and the youth movement Netzer Olami.[1][2]
World Zionist Congress and National Institutions
ARZENU contests elections to the World Zionist Congress, which it presents as the means by which diaspora Jews influence the budgets and leadership of the WZO, KKL-JNF and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Its own site states that "a strong election result for arzenu ensures that the Reform movement will maximise its political influence and provide access to the significant funds distributed by the Zionist movement".[1]
In material published ahead of the 2020 Congress, ARZENU said the IMPJ and WUPJ both depended on money from the WZO, the Jewish Agency for Israel and KKL-JNF, and that the Reform movement then received "more than $2 million annually in direct funding from the Zionist movement" for items such as shlichim, Israeli Reform congregations, a rabbinic programme, Reform kibbutzim, a Reform mechina and synagogue building projects.[3]
At the 38th Congress in 2023 the Reform Zionist movement brought 40 delegates under the ARZENU umbrella.[6] After the 39th Congress in 2025, ARZENU and the Union for Reform Judaism announced a power-sharing agreement with other blocs covering the National Institutions. The URJ said the deal gave ARZENU a vice-chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel; leadership of a WZO department; a KKL-JNF vice-chair plus Reform and Progressive seats on the KKL-JNF board; chairmanship of the KKL-JNF finance committee for two and a half years; chairmanship of the KKL-JNF lands committee for two and a half years; and a budget increase in KKL-JNF and WZO allocations for liberal Jewish movements.[7][8]
ARZA later said ARZENU representatives on the KKL-JNF board had pressed for a freeze on funds it associated with "hilltop youth" programmes and West Bank farm outposts, and that KKL-JNF subsequently announced that those allocations would not be renewed except for a limited number of educational programmes. It named Gidi Aizen as ARZENU-appointed deputy chair of KKL-JNF.[9]
National constituents
| Country / region | Affiliate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) | Zionist arm of the Union for Reform Judaism; ARZA says it serves 1.8 million Reform Jews in North America and is a member of ARZENU.[4] |
| Canada | ARZA Canada | Canadian Reform slate in World Zionist Congress elections.[10] |
| Australia | ARZA Australia | Affiliated to ARZENU, the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Union for Progressive Judaism.[11] |
| United Kingdom | Arzenu UK (formerly ProZion) | Represents Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism at the World Zionist Congress. In 2020 ProZion was allocated four of the UK's 19 Congress seats.[5] |
| Austria | Arzenu Austria | National site describes ARZENU as having member groups in 15 countries.[12] |
| Argentina / Brazil | National representatives named as Ricardo Rotholtz (Argentina) and Daniel Weiss (Brazil) | Active in local Zionist federations OSA and FSB.[13] |
Leadership
On 27 August 2023 the board elected a new officer team.[14]
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| Co-chair | Shoshana Dweck |
| Co-chair | Harry Levy |
| Vice-chair | Rabbi Jordan Helfman |
| Treasurer | Susan Longo |
| Co-secretary | Miriam Pearlman |
| Co-secretary | Roberta Glick |
| Immediate past chair | Rabbi Lea Mühlstein |
[15] Departing officers named in the same announcement were Rabbi Jack Luxemburg, Ellen Gordon, Michael Laufer and Zoe Dressner-Wolberg. Shoshana Dweck has also served as vice-president of ARZA, on the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, on the expanded executive of the WZO, on the national commission of the Anti-Defamation League, and later as national board chair of the American Zionist Movement.American Zionist Movement, Shoshana Dweck, National Board Chair azm.org, accessed 10 September 2026.Women of Reform Judaism, Shoshana Dweck wrj.org, accessed 10 September 2026. Rabbi Lea Mühlstein, previously chair of ARZENU, has represented UK Progressive movements at the World Zionist Congress.Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue, World Zionist Congress Report swesrs.org.uk, 5 November 2025.
Funding and US corporation
ARZENU Inc is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) organisation (EIN 11-3241702), established in August 1995, with the stated purpose of developing Reform and Progressive Judaism.501c3Lookup, ARZENU INC 501c3lookup.org, accessed 10 September 2026. GuideStar programme descriptions from IRS Form 990 list outreach to constituent organisations, additional programmes, and leadership development for young adults in Israel and abroad.GuideStar, Arzenu Inc guidestar.org, accessed 10 September 2026. One compilation of the 2024 filing reports revenue of $450,630 and expenses of $472,782, and names Shoshana Dweck as chairman, Roberta Franco Glick as secretary and Susan Longo as treasurer.GiveFreely, Reviews of Arzenu Inc givefreely.com, accessed 10 September 2026. Institutional income for Reform bodies in Israel is also drawn from the National Institutions according to Congress strength, as described above. The 2023 trustees' report of the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism recorded organisational sponsorship of its launch and conference "from the Anti-Defamation League and through Arzenu".London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, 2023 Trustees Report and Financial Statements, Appendix 2, approved 27 August 2024.
See also
Arzenu UK World Zionist Organization Association of Reform Zionists of America World Union for Progressive Judaism Netzer Olami Jewish Agency for Israel Jewish National Fund
External links
Official website About Who is Who ARZA (United States) ARZA Australia ARZA Canada Arzenu Austria
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 ARZENU, About arzenu.org, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Union of International Associations, ARZENU - International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists UIA Yearbook Profile, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ARZENU, Funding our Work arzenu.org, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ARZA, About Us arza.org, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Powerbase records Arzenu UK as the British branch; see Arzenu UK. Simon Rocker, UK Zionist groups agree on congress delegation after heavy wrangling is cited on that page from the Jewish Chronicle, 5 August 2020.
- ↑ Union for Reform Judaism, ARZENU Delegates Reflect on 38th World Zionist Congress urj.org, 6 November 2025.
- ↑ Union for Reform Judaism, Union for Reform Judaism Congratulates ARZENU on Historic Coalition Agreement at the World Zionist Congress urj.org, 13 November 2025.
- ↑ ARZA, ARZENU on Behalf of the Global Reform and Progressive Movement Welcomes Power‐Sharing Agreement arza.org, 29 October 2025.
- ↑ ARZA, When Zionist Institutions Realign with Zionist Values arza.org, 30 April 2026.
- ↑ ARZA Canada, World Zionist Congress 2025 arzacanada.org, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ ARZA Australia, About ARZA Australia arza.org.au, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ Arzenu Austria, About us arzenu.at, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ UJR-AmLat, Arzenu ujr-amlat.org, accessed 10 September 2026.
- ↑ ARZENU, arzenu elects new leadership arzenu.org, 28 August 2023.
- ↑ ARZENU, Who is Who arzenu.org, accessed 10 September 2026.