About Us

Mission

Kehilat Nitzan’s mission is to be an inclusive, vibrant home where traditional Judaism is lived and breathed, where community is family, where learning inspires action, where prayer touches the hearts and good deeds repair the world.                                                                                                                 

We are an egalitarian Masorti (Conservative) congregation, dedicated to worshipping God through Torah (Study), Avodah (Prayer) and Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of loving-kindness).                                                                

Our purpose is to be a spiritual, cultural and religious home that fosters strong Jewish values, connection and commitment to Jewish living through pride in our Jewish heritage, lifelong education, tzedaka, and tikkun olam (social action).

Core Values

We are a People : We believe in the centrality of Israel in the life and consciousness of the Jewish people and the unity of the Jewish people wherever they may live.

We Welcome : We are a welcoming, caring, and compassionate community.

We Acknowledge : the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of country and the land on which our Synagogue is situated and stand in solidarity with them as sovereign peoples who have never ceded sovereignty. We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging.

We Connect : Fostering the connection between people, God, and the world is at the core of our aspirations and activities.

We are Traditional and Inclusive :  We are committed to Jewish law and tradition and our spirituality within the context of an egalitarian, diverse and inclusive environment that embraces all individuals, couples and families, where Jewish people of all genders, ages, sexual orientation and ability may participate in traditional Jewish practice and come close to Torah.

We Live Torah : We live the philosophy and teaching of the Masorti (Conservative) movement.

We Learn/We Educate : We offer lifelong transformative learning for all members, children and adults.

Integrity : We act with clear intention and demonstrate accountability

We are Leaders : We demonstrate leadership while listening with humility

We Act : We value and enact volunteerism and social action through tzedaka and Tikkun Olam.

Conservative/Masorti Movement

Where Tradition and Modernity Meet

Kehilat Nitzan is associated with Masorti Australasia and Masorti Olami, the World Council of Conservative Congregations.

Masorti offers Jews a unique approach to Judaism through a robust and traditional Judaism firmly rooted in Torah and Mitzvot and fully integrated into modern-day lives. Masorti Judaism distinguishes itself by examining the values of egalitarianism, pluralism, tolerance and democracy alongside traditional historic sources. Men and women are encouraged to be active in all areas of the synagogue.

The worldwide Masorti movement had its beginnings in the liberalising Germany and Europe of the 19th century and became popular in the United States, where it is called Conservative Judaism.

Masorti in Hebrew means ‘traditional’ and Masorti Judaism is indeed traditional Judaism practiced in a spirit of open-minded enquiry and tolerance. Masorti Judaism accepts the binding force of Jewish law (halakha) but understands that Jewish law has always developed in response to the circumstances and context of the time.

More information about Masorti Australasia can be found here.

Masorti Resources:

• American Jewish University providing digital Jewish learning to our communities  

Worldwide Conservative/Masorti Leadership Statement On President Herzog's Framework 

We, the leaders of the Global Conservative/Masorti Movement representing more than 2 million Jews around the world, commend President Herzog for his leadership and his serious, responsible framework for resolving the unprecedented crisis facing Israel’s democracy and society. As hundreds of thousands of Israelis continue to take to the streets and deep concern about the plan currently being advanced in the Knesset is vocalized by key sectors of Israeli society, we strongly support President Herzog’s efforts to bring about the broad consensus necessary to preserve Israel’s foundations as a Jewish and democratic state and to heal the deep and unprecedented rifts in Israeli society. We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to freeze the current legislative process, support the President’s framework, and work with him and the opposition as necessary to bring this crisis to a conclusion. We also call upon leaders in Israel and pro-Israel leaders around the world to publicly support the President’s proposal. While individuals on both sides of this dispute will find elements of the President’s proposal imperfect, implementing it is the responsible path forward for those who believe it is essential for Israel to be a unified, Jewish and democratic state. Rejecting President Herzog's plan risks further harm to Israel’s security, economy, and society at a time when the country already is facing significant domestic and external challenges. As a proud centrist religious movement, the Conservative/Masorti Movement worldwide will continue to lend our moral voice and our organizational strength to the defense of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. At this critical hour, this means firmly supporting President Herzog and his proposal to resolve this historic crisis.

Kehilat Nitzan Constitution 

The Jerusalem Program

We accept 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.