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The Masorti movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in the State of Israel . It is also the name used by many Conservative Jews for their movement outside of the U.S . '''Masorti''' means "traditional" in Hebrew Conservative Judaism had begun to make its presence known in Israel before the 1960s . Today, there are over 40 congregations with over 12,000 affiliates. In 1962 the Jewish Theological Seminary of American (JTS) began creating Neve Schechter , the university's Jerusalem campus. This center houses the Schocken Center For Jewish Research , and the Saul Lieberman Institute For Talmudic Research . In 1975 a new rabbinical school curriculum instituted a year of study in Israel as a requirement for every rabbinical student in JTS and the University Of Judaism 's rabbinical seminary. In 1979 JTS Chancellor Gerson Cohen announced the creation of the Masorti ("Traditional") movement as Israel's own indigenous Conservative movement, with its own executive director, board and executive committee. The Masorti movement created MERCAZ, a Zionist party within the structure of the World Zionist Organization . The Conservative movement is thus officially represented in the centers of decision making within the Zionist movement. The Masorti movement sponsors youth groups, an overnight camp, a system of day camps, Kibbutz Hanaton and its Education Center and Moshav Shorashim , and special programs teaching new Russian and Ethiopian Olim (immigrants) basic Judaism . It is involved in many issues promoting the legitimate rights of non-orthodox, traditional Jews. MERCAZ is the Zionist organization of the Conservative Movement, and represents Conservative/Masorti Jews the world over. Its goals include pressing for religious pluralism, working for an equitable distribution of funding from the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Conservative Zionist programs in Israel and America, promoting civil rights in Israel for all people, encouraging electoral reform in Israel, and opposing any change in " Who Is A Jew? " and "Law of Return". MERCAZ is a member of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel, both of which have been designated by the Knesset as channels of communication and influence between Diaspora Jewry and the government of Israel. Through these institutions MERCAZ works with on issues such as aliyah and absorption, education, young leadership, and community affairs. MASORTI JUDAISM IN THE UK In Britain today, the Masorti movement has six congregations. The first and largest congregation, the . In 1957, Rabbi Louis Jacobs , then lecturer at the Jews' College , London; published his book "We Have Reason to Believe", in which he said: The Torah did not drop down as a package from heaven, but is an ongoing relationship with the people of Israel. It is a product of many generations of reflection on what is meant by God's word. While Jacobs found that statement to be compatible with Orthodox Judaism, the Chief Rabbi condemned his views as ''denial of the divine origin of the Torah''. Jacobs was rejected for the principalship of the Jews' College and subsequently from the United Synagogue rabbinate. Jacobs then founded the New London Synagogue, where he remained as rabbi until his retirement in 1995. Rabbi Chaim Weiner succeeded Louis Jacobs as head of the New London Synagogue, but when Weiner was appointed head of the new European Masorti Beth Din in 2005, Jacobs returned. The British Masorti movement has not yet ordained women rabbis, and unlike in American Conservative Judaism , in some synagogues, women do not read from the Torah. MASORTI JUDAISM IN THE NETHERLANDS In 2004, Masorti Judaism was introduced in the Netherlands by the founding of a Masorti community in the city of Almere . In 2005, the community had some 75 members, though it's growing in numbers. With it's proximity to Amsterdam , home to some 15,000 Jews, it is expected that the community will see a further growth in the future. MASORTI OLAMI (WORLD MASORTI) Also known as the World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues, Masorti Olami provides services to affiliated kehillot (communities) on five continents. Services include sending visiting rabbis to communities, and providing programming support. In many of these communities there are chapter of NOAM (NOar Masorti) youth groups and Marom, groups for young adults. Masorti Judaism is known to have communities in Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switserland, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Headquarters are based in Jerusalem and New York City. EXTERNAL LINKS
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