
Israel Engagement
We believe that Israel is at the center of the Jewish narrative and Jewish identity, and that we need to educate ourselves and to explore our connections to it in order to embrace, to discern, and to help. We understand that our fate as a congregation is linked to our engagement with the State of Israel.
We affirm the central Jewish value of love of Israel and are committed to a meaningful relationship with the state and its peoples. We marvel at the wonder of a sovereign nation that has in-gathered its exiles, defended its borders, and moved from pioneering achievements in agriculture to astounding success in high technology. Israel has evolved from a besieged fledgling to a thriving nation that radiates a continuing promise of renewed Jewish culture.
We believe that it is critical to encounter realities about Israel: We need to educate ourselves and to explore our connections to it in order to embrace, to discern, and to help. By creating relationships with the people of Israel who are busy remaking the nation today we can each forge a personal connection to our brothers and sisters there and learn to appreciate the nuances of a complex society. This type of engagement is essential to developing informed stances on the future of Zionism, on peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and to help bring about needed social change within Israel. We also strongly support those in Israel who are dedicated to revitalizing and creating new pathways into liberal religious Israeli Judaism, particularly for those who have been alienated by the extent of Orthodox religious and political power in the country.
Through our Department of Israel Engagement, we are committed to creating rich programming as well as opportunities for conversation about the ever-changing landscape of Israeli society, politics, and culture. We will continue to pursue various causes to support social action and social justice initiatives in Israel, both as a congregation and as individuals.
See some of our past events
In Defense of Israeli Democracy: IDF Reservists Speak Out
B'nai Jeshurun
March 12, 2023 7:55 pm
Post-Israeli Election: Reflections with Professor Moshe Halbertal
B'nai Jeshurun
December 8, 2022 11:00 am
Israel Unfiltered: Sigal Kook Aviv
B'nai Jeshurun
July 21, 2020 9:11 am
The Ultimate Ally: The Last Decade of US-Israel Relations
B'nai Jeshurun
December 10, 2020 3:57 pm
Torah from Israel
B'nai Jeshurun
December 15, 2020 12:09 pm
Torah of Israel: Einat Kramer—Shemita Yisraelit, A Once-Every-Seven-Years Opportunity
B'nai Jeshurun
April 12, 2022 11:13 am
Torah of Israel: Making Shemita Alive and Relevant in Israel
B'nai Jeshurun
April 12, 2022 3:42 pm
Torah of Israel with Professor Yehudah Mirsky — December 19, 2021
B'nai Jeshurun
January 10, 2022 1:48 pm
Stay in touch
Subscribe to our monthly Israel Engagement newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming Israel-related programming at BJ.