MERCAZ-Canada is the Conservative Movement's "voice in Israel." We represent the views and voices of the Canadian Conservative Jewish community in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) through our affiliation with MERCAZ and Masorti Olami.
MERCAZ-Canada Annual General Meeting (Elections)
MERCAZ-Canada is holding general elections for our Executive and Board of Directors.
DATE: September 15, 2025
TIME: 8:30 PM EDT
PLACE: ZOOM - URL will be sent to registered members shortly before the meeting.
Late registrants may contact: sgorman@mercaz.ca
Join MERCAZ-Canada today!
Annual membership is available to all Canadians. Your membership includes acceptance of the WZO Jerusalem Program, details may be found here. Your membership information is subject to our privacy policy which may be found on the Privacy Policy page.
At MERCAZ-Canada, change starts with you.
Every act of kindness, every dollar, and every moment of your time brings us closer to achieving our mission. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate, egalitarian, and inclusive Zionist movement in Canada and Israel.
Your contributions power our mission:
- Donate: Every dollar counts. Contribute now to help us be Canada’s Masorti voice in Israel.
- Share: Share our campaign with friends, family, and on social media. Your advocacy amplifies our voice.
- Volunteer: Your time and skills make an impact.
Please note that while MERCAZ-Canada is a registered not-for-profit organization, we are not able to give tax receipts on any contributions. All funds received will support our organization's activities.
Who we are - MERCAZ-Canada
MERCAZ Canada is a full Canadian organization with representation from coast to coast.
President: Nola Lazar - Winnipeg
First Vice President: Rick Wronzberg - Thornhill, ON
VP Eastern Canada: David Roytenberg - Ottawa
VP Toronto: Rabbi Steve Wernick - Toronto
Pending Vice President - Western
Secretary: Howie Sniderman - Edmonton
Treasurer: George Nadas - Toronto
Past President: Stan Greenspan - Toronto
Executive Director - Rabbi Sean Gorman, sgorman@masorti-mercaz.ca, (extension 102)
Office Administrator - Beverlee Swayze, beverlee@masorti-mercaz.ca, (extension 101)
55 Yeomans Road, Toronto, ON M3H 3J7
(416) 667-1717 or (866) 357-3384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercazCanada
MERCAZ-Canada Mission Statement
MERCAZ-Canada and Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism work in cooperation to foster and strengthen Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Israel, based on the ideals of tradition and tolerance, study and spirituality, and social action and love of Israel. Affiliated with MERCAZ Olami, MERCAZ-CANADA is the Zionist voice of Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Canada.
MERCAZ-Canada Mission Statement
MERCAZ-Canada provides educational programming (lectures and seminars) about the Masorti/Conservative Movement in Israel and dissemination of news and information about the Masorti/Conservative Movement in Israel and the world, and represents the interests of Masorti/Conservative Judaism in the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF).
Our objectives are:
To promote and support education and programs about Israeli Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Canada
To foster the development of Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Israel
To reaffirm commitment to pluralism in Jewish religious life, ensuring Masorti/Conservative Jews feel free to practice Judaism equally with other denominations.
Providing support through scholarships to youth and young adults for Masorti/Conservative educational trips to Israel.
Directors
Lorie Abernethy, Calgary, AB
Barry Barnes, Thornhill, ON
Rabbi David Bluman, Vancouver, BC
Fran Caine, Toronto, ON
Marilyn Cohen, Toronto, ON
Rabbi Frydman-Kohl, Toronto, ON
Rabbi Philip Gibbs, Vancouver, BC
Devorah Gillard, Halifax, NS
Allen Gottesman, Vaughan, ON
Rabbi Jennifer Gorman, Toronto, ON
Kyla Hershoran, Innisfil, ON
Ron Hoffman, Toronto, ON
Barbara Kingstone, Toronto, ON
Fred Litwin, Ottawa, ON
Max Marmer, Thornhill, ON
Bruce Martin, Toronto, ON
Rabbi Kliel Rose, Winnipeg, MB
Jeff Rothberg, Vancouver, BC
Trudy Sassoon, Thornhill, ON
Rabbi Philip Scheim, Toronto, ON
Randy Schwartz, Winnipeg, MB
Rabbi David Seed, Toronto, ON
Judy Silver, London, ON
Don Smith, Toronto, ON
Howard Sniderman, Edmonton, AB
Allan Snow, Toronto, ON
Norm Spatz, Montreal, QC
Norman Wolter, Toronto, ON
Charles Wrock, Innisfil, ON
Michael Zeldin, Toronto, ON
David Zer Aviv, Halifax, NS
Ted Zittell, Toronto, ON
The Jerusalem Program
Affiliation with MERCAZ-Canada implies acceptance of the Jerusalem Program, set forth by the World Zionist Congress of the World Zionist Organization.
The Jerusalem program affirms:
- The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland, Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation
- Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli society
- Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state, and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world
- Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish People by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language
- Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism
- Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.
Privacy Policies
MERCAZ Canada and Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism respect the privacy of our members and donors. We work together to support our movement in Israel and provide Masorti/Conservative, Zionist, and Israel education in Canada. We collect information to keep members and donors informed about Masorti and Israel news, process memberships and donations, and disseminate information about the Masorti/Conservative Movement and religious pluralism in Israel. You may unsubscribe at any time.MERCAZ member contact information is used to register our members to vote every five years at the World Zionist Congress.MERCAZ Canada and Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism does not retain personal financial information. We will never share or sell your information. You may unsubscribe from emails at any time.
For more information, contact our Privacy Officer, Rabbi Jennifer Gorman, jgorman@masorti-mercaz.ca.