Henry Greener learns about Tzohar…in the Sukkah
October 4, 2017 by Henry Greener-The Shtick
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Adam Segal, International Resource Development Manager for Tzohar, tells Henry it has succeeded in bringing Israelis closer to their Jewish Heritage, by bridging the gaps between religious and secular Jews in Israel.
The organisation, consisting of highly respected moderate Zionist rabbis, was founded by Rabbi David Stav in 1996, with a Focus on Public Policy, Grassroots Services including Jewish Marriage, Rabbinic Enrichment, the Shorashim Forensic Unit and the Jewish Holiday Project, where Jewish Law and values meet the realities of the modern world.
The gap and hatred between secular and religious Jews in Israel is much deeper
Than described here.
It is important to note a few things:
1. In Israel, your definition as Jew is determined by birth, not by choice. If you mother is Jewish, then so you are.
2. The social definition of a “secular Jew” is not the same as in Australia. It can be someone who identifies with Jewish heritage and culture without observing, but someone who don’t have and don’t want to have anything with Judaism or Jewish culture also falls under this category, while in Australia he/she will not
Be identified and counted as a Jew.
The last group is growing rapidly. More secular Israeli do not celebrate any holidays, avoid Jewish life cycle events (including Brith) and demand removing Jewish content from state schools curriculum, or establishing “Judaism-free” schools. This is a significant change comparing with 30 years ago,
When teaching the Bible was consensual. Today, intermarriage are widely accepted in Israel
and you risk yourself if you try to speak against that.
The religious side also suffer from radicalization when it comes to gender segregation
or acceptance of democratic values.
The gap is so big that one may wonder whether religious and secular Israelis can still be considered as the same people. With different and contradicting ethos and core values, different culture and generally living as two segregated groups, the efforts of Tzohar etc. are hopeless.
Israel is at a high risk of civil war on this background. The Judo-Zionist concensus, which has holder them together for many years, has faded away and the conflict can it be hidden any more.
Maybe there is no choice but turning Israel into a confederation of two states – a secular one and a religious one, before a civil war erupts.