Aleph Bet Soup
Aleph Bet Soup
Movements have many members, and our Conservative/Masorti Movement is replete with dozens of working parts, all known by their acronyms or abreviations. As a service to our membrship we present this serving of "alphabet soup."
Formed to conserve tradition, the Movement views halakhah - Jewish law- as both binding and evolving throughout history, with its approach to understanding law as an authentic continuation from the time of the Sages. Known as Masorti outside North America. Masorti means "traditional". Many Conservative Organizations Use the burning bush or flames in logos. All support The Jerusalem Program
Organizations
(CA) Cantors Assembly
(CA) Cantors Assembly - serves Cantors and congregations within the Movement and promotes the
profession of the Cantorate. https://www.cantors.org
(CCCS) Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues
(CCCS) Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues - created to build a community of Canadian
Conservative synagogues and strengthen the Movement within Canada. https://canadianccs.weebly.com
(CFMJ) Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism
(CFMJ) Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism - supports the work of the Masorti Movement in
Israel. The Foundation raises funds to support programs in Israel through the Movement, its
kehillot, and institutions. https://www.masorti.ca
(FJMC) Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
(FJMC) Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs - with more than 250 men's auxiliaries, FJMC's mission is to
involve men in Jewish life through leadership, innovation, and community by bringing value and
meaning to the lives of Jewish men and their families. https://www.FJMC.org
(Hannaton) Kibbutz Hannaton
(Hannaton) Kibbutz Hannaton - a Masorti kibbutz and home to the Hannaton Educational Center, a
learning community and leadership institute seeking to provide a connection to Judaism for Israelis
and a dynamic experience of Israel for Diaspora Jews, through Mitzpeh BaGalil Gap Year Program, and
working to help realize a democratic and egalitarian Israel. http://www.echannaton.org/facilities/kibbutz-hannaton/
(JEA) Jewish Educators Assembly
(JEA) Jewish Educators Assembly - promotes excellence among educators by advancing professionalism,
encouraging leadership, pursuing lifelong learning, building community, and strengthening the
Movement. https://www.jewisheducators.org
(JYDA) Jewish Youth Directors Association
(JYDA) Jewish Youth Directors Association - assists the development of professionals in youth work.
JYDA is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of this profession. JYDA provides training
and develops programs and materials. https://www.jyda.org
(JEA) Jewish Educators Assembly
(JEA) Jewish Educators Assembly - promotes excellence among educators by advancing professionalism,
encouraging leadership, pursuing lifelong learning, building community, and strengthening the
Movement. https://www.jewisheducators.org
MAROM
Marom - the worldwide association of Masorti students/ young adults. http://marom.org
Masorti Foundation
Masorti Foundation - supports the work of Israelis in building a Judaism that preserves observance
and tradition while recognizing how modern life in Israel is lived. The Foundation is the US
counterpart to CFMJ. https://masorti.org
Masorti Movement in Israel
Masorti Movement in Israel - a traditional and egalitarian movement that supports the work of
Israelis in strengthening Judaism to preserve observance and tradition while recognizing how modern
life in Israel is lived.
Masorti Olami
Masorti Olami - aka World Council of Synagogues, the formal representative in the WZO of Masorti
synagogues and programs around the world and the philanthropic organization promoting the growth &
development of Masorti Judaism in Europe, South America & other areas outside of North America &
Israel. https://masortiolami.org
MERCAZ
MERCAZ - the Zionist arm of the Movement. MERCAZ is an acronym for Movement to Reaffirm Conservative
Zionism. MERCAZ means centre in Hebrew, indicating Zionism is central to Conservative/Masorti
Judaism. MERCAZ affiliates exist in countries and regions around the world.
MERCAZ-Canada
MERCAZ-Canada - represents Canadians within MERCAZ Olami at the World Zionist Organization (WZO) &
the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), as well as educating and advocating for our Movement in Israel
and representing Conservative Zionists in the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). https://www.mercaz.ca
MERCAZ Olami
MERCAZ Olami - the worldwide arm of the Movement's Zionist organizations. MERCAZ advocates at the
WZO and JAFI for funds on behalf of the Movement in Israel and around the world. https://mercaz.masortiolami.org
MERCAZ USA
MERCAZ USA - the US counterpart of MERCAZ-Canada with which we work most closely, especially in our
biennial Israel Scholarship Essay Contest with Women's League. https://www.mercazusa.org
(NAASE) North American Association of Synagogue Executives
(NAASE) North American Association of Synagogue Executives - the association serving professional
needs of executives of movement synagogues. https://www.naase.org
(RA) Rabbinical Assembly
(RA) Rabbinical Assembly - the international association of Conservative rabbis, a major force
shaping the ideology, programs, and practices of the Movement. The RA publishes Movement texts and
administers the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards for the Movement. It also serves the
professional and personal needs of its membership, and coordinates the Joint Placement Commission. https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org
(USCJ) United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
(USCJ) United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism - the network of Movement kehillot in North America,
working with its partners to articulate and disseminate a Conservative approach to Judaism. https://www.uscj.org
(USY) United Synagogue Youth
(USY) United Synagogue Youth - the Movement youth group within North America, with Kadima for
pre-teens. https://www.usy.org
(WLCJ) Women's League for Conservative Judaism
(WLCJ) Women's League for Conservative Judaism - a network of individual members and synagogue
women's groups supporting understanding and perpetuation of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, and
reinforcing the connection to synagogue and community, Israel, and Jews worldwide. https://www.wlcj.org
World Council of Synagogues
World Council of Synagogues - aka Masorti Olami, the formal representative in the WZO of Masorti
synagogues and programs around the world and the philanthropic organization promoting the growth &
development of Masorti Judaism in Europe, South America & other areas outside of North America &
Israel. https://masortiolami.org
Schools & Seminaries
(AJU) American Jewish University
(AJU) American Jewish University - a merger of the University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin
Institute, the university, based in Los Angeles, CA, provides undergraduate and graduate studies, as
well as summer programs for youth and young adults. AJU is home to the Ziegler School of Rabbinic
studies. https://www.aju.edu
(CY) Conservative Yeshiva
(CY) Conservative Yeshiva - a Jerusalem yeshiva devoted to study of traditional text within the
framework and openness of Conservative Judaism, and encouraging torah lishma, through a synthesis of
traditional and critical methods. https://www.conservativeyeshiva.org
(Frankel) Zacharias Frankel Rabbinical College & School of Jewish Theology
(Frankel) Zacharias Frankel Rabbinical College & School of Jewish Theology - created in 2013, in
Berlin, to train a new generation of Movement leaders, rabbis, and cantors.
https://www.juedischetheologie-unipotsdam.de/de/an-institute-und-kooperationen/frankel
(RAMAH) Camp Ramah Canada
(RAMAH) Camp Ramah - the camping arm of the Movement with overnight and day camps in North America
and Israel. Camp Ramah in Canada is located in Ontario's Muskoka region near Bracebridge, about 150 km north of Toronto. In addition, Ramah Israel runs congregational and school trips and a high school semester program. https://campramah.com
(SRS) Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies & Schechter Rabbinical School
(SRS) Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies & Schechter Rabbinical School - located in Jerusalem,
Schechter provides a rabbinical school, graduate studies, leadership programs, and research
institutes in multiple disciplines within Judaism. https://schechter.edu
(Seminario) Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano Marshall T. Meyer
(Seminario) Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano Marshall T. Meyer - located in Buenos Aires, the
Seminario provides a Jewish center to Latin America, training rabbis, teachers, chazanim, educators,
and volunteer leaders, and builds community development and interfaith dialogue. https://www.seminariorabinico.org
(Schechter) Solomon Schechter Day Schools
(Schechter) Solomon Schechter Day Schools - the network of Movement day schools working together to
advance techniques and collaboration, and providing connection, programs, professional development,
and advocacy.
TALI
(TALI) a Hebrew acronym for “Enriched Jewish Studies,” TALI is a network of schools providing a
pluralistic Jewish Studies program to tens of thousands of schoolchildren throughout Israel. TALI is
sponsored by the TALI Education Fund (TEF), which is authorized by Israel’s Ministry of Education. https://schechter.edu/programs/tali/
Other Zionist Organizations
(AZM) American Zionist Movement
(AZM) American Zionist Movement - a coalition of groups and individuals committed to Zionism. AZM is
the American affiliate of the World Zionist Organization, the Zionist federation in the United
States. https://azm.org
ARZA
ARZA - the Zionist affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, and a member organization of ARZENU,
the International Association of Reform Zionists. https://arzacanada.org
(CFRSJ) Canadian Forum of Russian-Speaking Jewry
Canadian Forum of Russian-Speaking Jewry represents the views and voices of the Canadian Russian-Speaking Jewish community in the World Zionist Organization. https://crjforum.org
(CIJA) Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs
(CIJA) Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs - the advocacy agent of Canadian Jewish federations. CIJA
is non- denominational, seeking to improve Jewish life in Canada by building support for the issues
that matter to the Canadian Jewish community. https://www.cija.ca
(CZF) Canadian Zionist Federation
(CZF) Canadian Zionist Federation - the national federation for Zionist organizations across Canada.
Through membership in the CZF, Zionist organizations in Canada connect with the WZO. https://canadianzf.ca
(JAFI) Jewish Agency for Israel
(JAFI) Jewish Agency for Israel - also known simply as the Jewish Agency or Sochnut. A central
player in the founding and building of modern Israel, JAFI serves as a link between Israel and the
Diaspora: educating and building relationships through programs worldwide and experiential trips.
JAFI is funded by The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, major Jewish communities
and federations, and foundations and donors from Israel and around the world. https://www.jewishagency.org
JNF
(KKL/JNF) Keren Kayemet LeYisrael/Jewish National Fund https://jnf.ca
Mizrachi
Mizrachi - the Orthodox Zionist affiliate, part of the Mizrachi World Movement. https://mizrachi.ca
Va'ad HaPoel
Va'ad HaPoel - The managing committee within the WZO, the Va'ad HaPoel includes all delegates
elected to the Congress by Zionist organizations around the world. https://www.wzo.org.il/index.php?dir=site&page=content&cs=3280&language=eng
(WZO) World Zionist Organization
(WZO) World Zionist Organization - founded by Theodor Herzl at the first Zionist Congress in 1897,
the WZO promotes Zionism and Israel in accordance with the Jerusalem Program. https://www.wzo.org.il/World-Zionist-Organization
(UIA) Keren Hayesod
(UIA) Keren Hayesod - founded in the 1920's as the fundraising arm of the worldwide Zionist Movement
building resources for the founding of the State of Israel. Keren Hayesod also worked to aid olim in
the Yishuv and early days of the State. Now, working around the world in partnership with
Federations and Friends of Israel, UIA works to rescue Jews where communities are in danger,
encourage aliyah, absorb new olim, and strengthen weak and/or disadvantaged populations in Israel. https://www.kh-uia.org.il