CURRENT OPINION: THE DYNAMICS OF UNITY IN ISRAELI SOCIETY

By JONATHAN LIEBESMAN/Dec 29, 2023 13: 51 am , BEIT MIDRASH Le'MAASEH: men and women from across the political spectrum and religious scale sit around one table.(Photo Credit: NETA ARICHA)

Reading newspapers, listening to the news, or following social media is impossible without reading about the survival struggles of Israelis.

Everyone talks about how the horrors of Simchat Torah and the subsequent war brought people together. You can't read a newspaper, listen to the news, or follow social media without reading about the collective struggle of Israelis for survival.

Actually, some of my works are based on this theme.

The Slogan B'yachad N'natzeach, which means Together we will win, can be found wherever you go.

We have heard from the Haredi community that respect, love, and military obligations towards the IDF have increased. It's not easy to swim against the current and join a community that some people in your camp consider to be an "us and them" situationJews, who had never been publicly known as Jews, began to rise up because they realized that they too were part of the "situation."

Stephen Fry, who is very famous and may be considered a Jew like a Christmas tree, delivered a Christmas message to the nation, saying that he proudly identifies as Jewish while strongly criticizing the increase in antisemitism.

However, there is one quiet initiative that should appeal to Jews, especially Jews in Israel, as it is almost tantamount to this search for unity.

My close friend and one of the founders of Judaism who inspired Techelet, Rabbi Dr. Ido Pachter, was the Rabbi of the Young Israel community in Ramat Poleg, Netanya, for nine years.

The nation was still involved in disputes and conflicts throughout the month of August and into the upcoming summer due to ineffective judicial reforms. Who is currently taking notice of this? He established a new beit midrash (study room) known as Rav Ido. It's not new because there are thousands of them all over the country.

But this one is different. Beit Midrash Le'maaseh is its name in Hebrew. It is basically a group of people from all walks of Israeli society, although it is difficult to translate into English. They cover a wide range of religions and politics, from the strictly Orthodox to the completely secular. They also include Ashkenazi, Mizrachi, new Olim, and native Israelis.

Every week, everyone gathers around one table to talk, learn, and throw ideas away. The focus of this conversation is on the major issues facing Jews around the world, but most significantly in Israel. His goal was to change Halacha, the Jewish rule of life, from stagnation and make it relevant, significant, and important for the daily lives of Jews.

The traditionalists are now shouting, "FoulThis is reform!" However, liberals tell me that this already exists, and I have to follow them. 

But none of these responses understood the ethos of Rav Ido, Techelet, and The New Bet Midrash Le'maaseh. The goal is not to follow Halacha or live in contemporary Israeli society. Rather, it is an attempt to remain true to the ideals of both while combining them in all possible ways.

Due to various historical processes, Jewish law has become very frozen and restrained over the past few centuries. It has faced many changes that have swept the world, especially the Israelites.

This can be seen in many areas, such as the status of women, the treatment of minorities in the state of Israel, opinions on Shabbat and other rabbinical services, etc.

Therefore, Halacha hardly uses the language of previous generations, although Israel has renewed and refreshed Jews in many areas where we are often world leaders and innovators.

Halacha seems to hold back the Israelites in many ways rather than accompany and lead them into the future.

The result is obvious, even to those who are reluctant to discuss it: many Jews abandon the world of traditions and Halacha not because they are not believers but because they cannot relate it to the modern world.

This Beit Midrash aims to resolve the differences that arise and develop in the interpretation of modern Halacha. To be honest, Halacha has evolved over the centuries and adapted to the needs of a particular generation.

This is the initial plan for the process. We have written and oral laws because God does not lack ink. In the halacha interpretation of traditional Judaism, interpretation, adaptation, and development occur. However, this ended when Orthodox Judaism emerged as a result of Newton's third law, which states that there are equal and opposite reactions to forces in nature.Reform Judaism unearths and preserves Halacha in the same way that Orthodox Judaism discards it.

It looks like Rav Ido's new venture will receive negative criticism from various points of view. Nonetheless, see Yoav, who is responsible for managing Tel-Avivian content for Amit. Tehila, a doctoral student from Jerusalem who teaches Talmud to haredi women, Aya, who teaches and presides over Jewish ceremonies in secular settings, and others come together and work together to create a better and more relevant Jewish future. Women of various faiths have kippots and head coverings displayed, and some do not have them at all. This incredible diversity is something to see.

Our unity will prevail, my friends, as Rav Ido said: "Our goal is to return Halacha to an interesting and unique place, with a spirit and a vision of values that are relevant and inspiring for all Israelis."

Everyone, unity is victory.

Its author was a rabbi from Ramat Poleg, Netanya, and one of the founders of the religion of Judaism that inspired Techelet.

 News Sources : ( https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-779950?dicbo=v2-YcAuYE0#google_vignette)