Israel Engagement

Two primary questions frame our community’s engagement with Israel: 

  • How can we continue to express our commitment to Israel in ways that feel relevant, meaningful and impactful? and
  • How can we embrace the fullness and diversity of that commitment among our members?

We constantly strive to meet the challenges of these questions.

Over several years, we have greatly expanded our Israel programming and learning opportunities, including a congregational trip to Israel with Kaleidoscope, Engaging Israel at a Crossroads. We often invite speakers, journalists, civil rights activists and organizational leaders to speak to our community here at our shul and at the Rabbi’s home:

Our Speakers and Teachers:

  • Anat Hermann-Aharoni, Executive Director of the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, one of Israel’s leading human rights organizations working to protect the rights of refugees, migrants, and survivors of human trafficking.
  • Eyal Tartchisky, Engagement Director D’ror Yisrael: Educating for a Just and Equal Society
  • Tomer Sharoni, a Technical Group Leader in Israel’s Prime Minister Office. Mr. Sharoni spoke about Israeli technological innovation and developing global relationships through technology.
  • George Deek, a diplomat with the International Law Department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An Arab-Christian Israeli, his family has lived in Jaffa for over 400 years. Mr. Deek was the manager of the “Arab-Jewish” debate forum of Israel’s leading news website Ynet and served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies of Israel in Nigeria (2009-2012) and Norway (2012-2015)
  • Iddo Haklai, Schusterman Scholar at Brandeis University. Mr. Haklai spoke about reframing classical Zionist concepts.
  • Aaron Fortus, Wexner Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. Aaron served in the IDF Intelligence Corps and works in the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr. Fortus spoke about Israeli and American Jewish community
  • Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs and former Israeli Ambassador the U.S.
  • Eilon Schwartz, who was among the founders of the Heschel Center for Sustainability, an environmental NGO, and has been an entrepreneur and scholar on environmental issues in Israel. Eilon is now the Founding Director of Shaharit, a new “think-and-do tank” that seeks to transcend the polarized debate that has divided Israeli society and create new possibilities and surprising alliances. He discussed Shaharit, its vision and strategy for building an Israel inclusive of all Israelis.
  • Gili Rei, Israeli Peace and Social Justice Advocate, spoke about the foundational work of Shaharit.
  • Linda Gradstein, NPR Correspondent and Middle East Bureau Chief, the Media Line
  • Dr. Yuval Ran, Wexner Israel Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, spoke about serving as an orthopedic surgeon in the military.
  • Dr. Sigmund Kaharash, Attending Physician at MGH Pediatric Emergency Department and Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Dr. Kharash spoke about the multi-ethnic fabric of patients, doctors and staff in hospitals, where peace and goodwill prevail.

Please contact Sharon Topper or Rabbi Berman with programming ideas.

Living