The Shalom Hartman Institute is a pluralistic center of research and education deepening and elevating the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world. Through our work, we are redefining the conversation about Judaism in modernity, religious pluralism, Israeli democracy, Israel and world Jewry, and the relationship with other faith communities.

It’s complicated……..

This seems to be the overriding theme of our wonderfully complex and engaging lectures and conversations about Israel and its relationship with our American Jewish community.  Donniel Hartman, Yehuda Kurtzer, Yossi Klein Halevy, Tal Becker; each present us with nuanced and profoundly thoughtful perspectives and open doors for rich, meaningful dialogue and questionings.  It is wonderfully thought provoking and we, the 15 Hillel professional participants, are being given the great gift of taking a step back and engaging deeply in issues that are central to our efforts as Jewish campus professionals and educators, and equally as important, central to our lives as Jews. There is a remarkably soul nourishing quality to our studies here.  Each of us loves and is passionate about Israel.  

Each of us has both the great honor and the great responsibility of engaging Jewish young and women on college campuses and striving to connect them to Judaism and Israel.  It is a sacred trust.  The opportunity to engage deeply and thoughtfully with complex issues in a nuanced manner is exciting and stimulating. We end each day feeling as if we have run a great marathon; we are both exhausted and energized.

Our seminars began with an overview of “David Hartman’s Torah”.  It begins with core axioms. Based on my notes, and as I understand them:

·       The individual finds him and herself within the context of community.

·       Zionism is the great project of creating a nation based on the core values that Judaism brings to the world.

·       Judaism has to be relevant to all of us in our lives.

We began our studies with each Hillel professional presenting his and her reasons for pursuing study at the Hartman Institute.  Here are mine:

To be in Israel:  Over forty years ago, upon graduating college I journeyed to Israel with the intent of making Aliyah.  I lived on Kibbutz Maayan Tzvi for six months learning Hebrew and raising turkeys.  When I returned to the states six months later I entered, what can best be described as a state of Israel withdrawal.  I ached for Israel – it’s hard to explain, but my body and soul long to be in Israel.  Since that time, I am drawn to return to Israel, following the metaphor, for my Israel “fix”.  To walk the streets of Jerusalem; to speak my stilted and limited Hebrew to a taxi driver or waiter; to meander along the promenade that links Tel Aviv to Yafo.  To breathe the air.

Integrity and Authenticity: If I am to engage my students in dialogues about Israel and if I am to fulfill my responsibility to connect them to the land and people of Israel then I must dedicate myself to learn, to understand, to explore, to question; what does it mean and what does it mean for each of us; where does it fit in with our lives.  It’s complicated; thus, let’s try to unwrap together.

Dugma (Example): As a leader of a Jewish community I must model and demonstrate a personal commitment to Israel and a responsibility to immerse myself in learning all I can.