Welcome to the homepage of the
Waikato Jewish Association
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Hamilton
New Zealand
ABOUT THE WAIKATO JEWISH ASSOCIATION
The Waikato Jewish Association is a constituted community
organisation which has been active for very many years. Although there is no
synagogue or other visible establishment around which we can organise Jewish
activities in Hamilton, we are publicly listed in the Hamilton City
Council's Register of Community Organisations and with the Citizen's Advice
Bureau.
We comprise Jewish families and individuals in the Waikato and Bay-of-Plenty
region. We meet regularly to support and celebrate our collective
cultural/religious identity and respond to the needs of our community. This
community includes both New Zealand-born Jews and emigres from the four
corners of the globe, including Israel, North America, South Africa, and
Eastern and Western Europe
The WJA represents a cross-section of people from different backgrounds,
nationalities, ages and professions who range across a spectrum of religious
and political degrees. We also liaise with other Jewish organisations, both
within New Zealand and internationally.
Aims and objectives of the WJA
1. To nurture Jewish spiritual and cultural values, through the social
and
communal celebration of festivals and significant events.
2. To work for the preservation of the identity of the Jewish people of
the
Waikato-Bay of Plenty region through the fostering of Jewish and Hebrew
education.
3. To take initiatives in education in the Jewish community in order to
increase Jewish consciousness and identity, and to assume an information
and educational role in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional community.
4. To co-ordinate appropriate and united responses to issues of interest
or
concern within the community, and to represent the Jewish community of the
Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the public forum.
5. To assume both a watchful and an active role, and to respond to
anti-Semitism, defamation and other issues of concern or interest, and
where necessary, liaise with other groups in the community in responding to
incidents.
6. To acknowledge and remain mindful of the fact that our members are the
most appropriate people to make their own informed decisions about their
personal practice of Judaism.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Jewish Holidays
Members of our community gather together to celebrate
many important Jewish holidays throughout the year. These include: Purim
(Feast of Esther), Pesach(Passover), Yom Ha'Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance
Day), Yom Hatzma'ut (Israel Independence Day), Shavuot (Festival of Weeks),
Hannukah (Festival of Lights), and Sukkot (Festival of Booths).
You can learn more about these and other Jewish holidays
at the sites listed below
HAMILTON CITY
General
With a population of approximately 110 000, Hamilton is
New Zealand's fourth largest city. It is also the only major N.Z. city
which is not located on a coast. Hamilton is located in the heart of the
Waikato region, named for the river around which the city itself is built.
The Waikato Region enjoys fertile soil and excellent agriculture. It has a
thriving dairy industry, and rumour has it that the highest per-capita
population of dairy cattle in the world is found right here. But contrary to
what some may think, there is more to Hamilton than dairy cows! There are
many wonderful things going on in and around Hamilton and the Waikato
region. For an excellent and extensive description of its many attributes,
visit the Hamilton City
website. The map at right and the photo at the top of the page are borrowed
with permission from that site.
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University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and caters to approximately
10 000 full time students. For more information, visit the Waikato University website
CONTACT THE WJA
LINKS TO OTHER NZ JEWISH SITES
Jews of New Zealand
New Zealand
Jewish Page
