Shabbat Lech Lecha 5767
Do you care about Israel? Of course you do. That you are reading this, and in all likelihood, reacted strongly to the suggestion that you may not care, is the clearest indication that you care deeply about Israel.
But do you know that a large proportion of Western Jews do not share your feelings?
A new study just released, commissioned by the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, finds that a younger generation of American Jews is far more weakly connected to Israel. Of those 35 years old and under, 52% said they would not consider the destruction of Israel to be a personal tragedy; 48% said they were uncomfortable with the idea of a Jewish state. (Download the study, Beyond Distancing, here).
In the immediate post-Holocaust era, communal support for Israel was clear: in a world filled with anti-semitism, an independent Jewish country seemed our best hope for survival. However, in an age in which Jews have comfortably assimilated in many countries in the Diaspora while Israel is beset with enemies, it can be harder to see why we must stand with Israel.
Of course, U.S. data does not provide an indication of the current state of affairs in Australia. However it may very likely provide a future glimpse of Australian attitudes unless we do something now.
As I announced on Rosh HaShana, we at South Head are commencing a new Adult Education programme as part of the world-wide and highly acclaimed (see below) Jewish Learning Institute.
In our first course, The Land and the Spirit, we seek to provide participants an opportunity to articulate their relationship to Israel and clarify why it matters. We hope to allow the generations to speak to one another, sharing their varying perspectives, their hopes and their dreams, their concerns and their fears.
There are as many ways to connect to Israel as there are Jews. The Land and The Spirit does not attempt to cover all possible reasons for our examine six dimensions of caring, six reasons to involve ourselves in working for the Israel we wish to see. We hope that students will gain a deeper appreciation for the way they currently relate to Israel, and that they will discover a few new ways to think about their relationship to the land. And we want them to recognize that whether they agree with Israel's current policies or are deeply critical of them, there is a bond that we share with Israel that transcends these differences.
This course is not about history, though we look at some historical events; it is not about geography, though we take a closer look at some cities in Israel; it is not about politics, though students may find some political implications to the information shared. Quite simply, this course is about the soul of Israel: the meaning of the land, the purpose of its being, and the vision that gives it life.
We are at an important turning point in Jewish life now. I believe this course, which I will teach, can be a valuable tool in challenging a new generation of Jews to think about Israel. Please consider lending your support to this vital endeavor.
You can enroll in this six week course by email, or by calling Helen on 9371 7300 Ext 4. Details of the course can be found here. The course commences on Monday, 5th November at 8.00pm for Men and Women, and On Wednesday Morning, 7th November, for Men at 7.45am.
Below you will find the first page of an information kit on JLI and The Land and the Spirit Course. For the full kit, please click here. |