Whether we identify as American Jews, Jewish Americans, Israeli Americans, or American Israelis, the Land of Israel plays a significant role in our identities as spiritual and physical descendants of the ancient Hebrews. For thousands of years, the Jewish soul has yearned to return to Zion, to our indigenous homeland; on May 14, 1948 this hope - this Tikvah - became reality. Just as the exodus from Egypt was an arduous and painful process, the State of Israel and by extension the Israelite diaspora continues to struggle against challenges to Jewish sovereignty and freedom. In addressing the external and internal threats to Jewish liberation, Herut (meaning "freedom"), in the spirit of Zionist founding father Ze'ev Jabotinsky, seeks to do so with strength, pride, and care for all people. Herut North America is a Zionist movement that advocates Jewish sovereignty in all of Israel, Jewish unity, and Jewish-Zionist education for Jews of all ages. We embrace the diverse cultural backgrounds and religious affiliations of all Jewish people and commit to working together, unified as one people, for Jewish sovereignty in all of Israel and against all who deny Israel's right to exist. We do everything from Z to A: from Zionism to Aliyah. In this vein, Herut North America's essential activities involve assisting Jews of all backgrounds and origins to make Aliyah and integrate into Israeli society. Be it navigating through the absorption process, writing Hebrew resumes, accompanying them to government offices, or informing them of immigrant entitlements (higher education, Hebrew language programs, army service, and medical plans), Herut is here to provide them with the skills needed to adjust from a life in Galut (exile) to renewal in their homeland. Herut believes that to strengthen the Jewish State, we must reunite the people of Israel within their homeland to ensure our nation's continued security at home and abroad. With these values in mind, Herut North America's focus on impacting decision-making in the World Zionist Congress as an influential movement, is an investment in Israel's future and in our quest to guarantee the continued strength and success of the Jewish nation in truly being a light unto the nations.
