Embrace Honest Conversations to Lift Israel Up
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Sitting in my study with my post-Confirmands, the conversation started off in a way that might have been different if I still lived in Mamaroneck, New York. Growing up and then working in the New York City metropolitan area, I was used to people being fairly critical of Israeli politics and policies. Of course, many of us were passionate Zionists, raised on the stories of the glorious Six Day War.
There is Not One Way: How to Teach Israel
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? The methodology we use to teach about Israel must be analogous to the methodologies employed in all our educational endeavors. We surely wish to foster a deep love and nuanced understanding of what it means to be Jewish in the contemporary world. This ought to be achieved through value-driven conversations incorporating moral, ethical and personal dilemmas.
Putting Reform Judaism on the Map of Israel
The leaders of Israel’s Reform Movement are putting Reform Judaism on the map there. Walk into the office of Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, and you will see, behind his desk, a picture of David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel. On the opposite wall is a map of Israel; blue push pins denote Reform congregations or institutions, and red push pins represent locations of future communities.
Resources for Combatting Islamophobia
Following the recent attacks in Paris in November 2015 and San Bernardino in December 20
A New Introduction to My Homeland
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Growing up in Israel, I visited almost all the places that groups from Birthright, Masa and other organizations visit – many times. During those visits I was with fellow Israelis who, like me, didn't find much significance in being at these historic sites. Masada, the Western Wall and the Dead Sea had always been a natural part of our horizon. That changed when I led NFTY in Israel and URJ Kesher Birthright trips.
How to Teach About a Land of Milk, Honey and Other Ingredients
How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? Two years ago, I became a full-time Israeli Shaliach at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach. For the past three summers, I’ve also served as the head of the Israeli delegation at URJ Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Georgia. My job is to strengthen the bond between Israel and local communities in the United States. Israel is clearly my home, but how can I help others feel closer to it?
How the Ultra-Orthodox Are Trying to Slow Progress in Israel
Writer Carl Sandburg once said, “If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.” In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox establishment is doing lots of table-pounding and yelling in response to progressive Judaism's many recent achievements.
Senate Approves Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Legislation
Last week, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA, S. 524) on a 94 to 1 vote.
How We Celebrate Purim with Our Twin Congregation in Israel
While the Purim celebrations and unpacking of lessons continue, we continue to explore other ways to celebrate - including partnering with our "twin" sisterhood in Israel.
6 Statistics to Remember from Pew's Survey of Israelis
Much of the Jewish world has been abuzz since the Pew Research Center released results from its recent survey of Israeli society last week.