An Instant In An Eternity

We are a part of the Masorti community here in Yokneam. Having grown up in Reform communities, engaged with Conservative and Orthodox programs and communities during our early adult years (which I hope we're still technically in!), we've been exposed to a great variety of ways to observe Judaism. We were raised by parents and in communities where religious observance is a journey of our lifetimes that ebbs and flows as our life unfolds. That's not really how Israelis see religion which leads to this diametrical opposition of Religious (aka - Orthodox) and Secular camps with a huge gaping hole in the middle. It's no man's land. Apparently it's extremely dangerous is an unknown kind of way to step foot there. If you are Religious and consider doing something Secular it's the end of time, and if you are Secular and consider doing something Religious, yep, end of time! Well that's a gross simplification because there are certainly people who move betwe...

Communities, no matter how hard they might try, are not monolithic. Even if everyone comes together for a shared purpose, within the community smaller pockets will emerge. A strong community will allow for those dynamic elements and find a way to keep them connected. A weak community will see the "other" as part of "dangerous factions" who are a threat to the overall fabric of the larger community. We see this often at the national level when one dominant ethnic group wields power over another and there is conflict, or worse. Or within political parties, especially common here in Israel, where splintering into new, smaller parties is preferable to being a more dynamic and inclusive group. And we see it in religion, and in particular we see it in Judaism. There is one large umbrella of Judaism; one overarching set of principals that are fundamental to the concept of the religion. But then as hairs start to split, populations move from one country to another, trad...

There is room at the table for everyone. Last night I was at a Masorti Movement dinner celebrating, honoring, and thanking the rabbinic interns who have engaged with and supported the Masorti communities throughout Israel. There was much discussion of the challenges that Masorti Movement and pluralistic Judaism face in Israel. It is an ongoing conversation that was heightened as a result of a " Tag Machir " (price tag) attack on one of the Masorti communities in Jerusalem this week. Additionally, in the car to and from Jerusalem my companion and I had a lengthy discussion about the current state of affairs both within our community and our larger municipality vis-a-vis our newly established religious presence. Having grown up in the Reform Movement , trips to Israel heightened my sense both of individual Jewish identity and the challenge of losing that on a daily basis in American life. Therefore, I chose to incorporate more observance into my life - keeping Shabbat, pla...