ALIYAH COMMITTEE
AMTON Newsletter
June 2001

TNUAT AM WELCOMES KARNI GOLDSHMID-LAHAV

Karni is the first "woman shaliach" (shlicha) from the Jewish Agency to the Conservative Movement in North America and more importantly, the first shlicha who comes to us directly from the Masorti Movement in Israel. Karni has her M.A. in Judaism and Gender Studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, and until the start of her term here, served as National Director of Education for Masorti Judaism in Israel. She is recognized as an educational innovator, having coordinated adult educational programs for the more than 50 kehillot in Israel. She composed the first Masorti Seder for Tu B’Shevat, and last year compiled an Israeli feminist Passover background sourcebook. Karni is already illuminating synagogues around the country with presentations about Israel and her vision for Israel and Masorti Judaism especially at this very difficult time for Israel and all world Jewry.

According to Rabbi Robert Golub, Executive Director of MERCAZ USA, "there are three main responsibilities for our shlicha. The first is to provide outreach to the synagogue population about what is happening in Israel, politically, socially and culturally. The second is to encourage short-term and long-term visits and stays in Israel. The third is to assist those individuals and families who are contemplating aliyah by guiding them through the complex process involved in moving to, and getting established in, the Jewish State..."

Karni also has special ties to Marom/KOACH, the North American student Zionist network, geared for college students and young adults who have spent time in Israel and who want to continue their Israel connection once back in the U.S.

She will share her views on the status of the Masorti Movement in Israel today, the US-Israel connection, and more, in the next AMTON.

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