weekly update 27th January 2008

Dear Members,
Before the introduction to our attached articles I'd like to invite you
to our 2008 Pro Zion Lecture in memory of Mervyn Elliot. The event is
being held next Sunday 3rd February at 5:30pm in Leeds. Our guest
speaker is Rachel Liel, the Director of Shatil. She was named by Globes
magazine as one of the 50 most influential leaders in Israel and will be
speaking on the challenges facing Israeli society. The event is being
organised along with Sinai Synagogue in Leeds and the New Israel Fund.
Please see the attached poster for more details.

We have further events planned this year one of which is our AGM on 30th
March. Please put the date in your diary and we will provide further
details as soon as they are confirmed.

On to our articles for the week.
First is an interview with Rabbi Stanley Davids, originally from
America, now from Israel. Rabbi Davids talks about Arza (the american
equivalent of Pro Zion), Zionism and progressive judaism in a short and
interesting piece.

Second is an upbeat article by Rabbi Michael Marmur on Sportsmanship and
Cooperation. Totally coincidentally I've just been watching the
highlights of the Israeli men's doubles pair winning the Australian open
becoming, I believe, the first Israelis to win a grandslam.

Our final article is the story about the offer by the nefesh b'nefesh
immigration organisation to offer US and UK doctors $60,000 to make
Aliyah because of a expected shortage of medics in Israel. If there are
any doctors in the house let us know your feelings. I've two friends who
are doctors in Israel both of whom work long hours for low wages while
they work their way up the ladder and I'm sure they have very mixed
feelings about this initiative.

As always we're delighted to hear your feedback on any articles.
Shavua Tov
Daniel and all at Pro Zion