"If you will it, it is no dream."
-Theodore Herzl
The mission of the Israel Engagement Committee is to build and strengthen connections between the Temple Shalom’s community and the state of Israel. Our core principle is the recognition that the existence of the state of Israel is essential to the safety and prosperity of world Jewry. To this end, we believe that Israeli Jews and American Jews must redouble their efforts to understand, respect, and support one another. We will endeavor to help our congregants derive personal meaning from an ongoing relationship with Israel, and to feel kinship with our brothers and sisters in Israel.
Engagement with Israel at Temple Shalom takes many forms:
Education: Inviting experts and leaders to share their knowledge.
For example, subject matters may include history, religion, politics, social justice, culture, arts, business, or technology.
Travel: encouraging and/or organizing travel to Israel
Gatherings: Celebrating Israel with themed social and cultural events (e.g. food, music, dance).
Personal Relationships: Getting to know Israelis living in our region and overseas.
We are committed to promoting discussion of varying opinions about modern Israel. For example, what is the place of progressive Judaism in the Israeli religious landscape? How can Israel remain both Jewish and Democratic? What should be Israel’s policies towards its Arab Citizens and neighboring countries? We will provide a safe atmosphere, in which our members can discuss such issues in a way that promotes learning and mutual understanding.
Israel Current Events Resources
Click on this link to view a list of News media and other resources for following and understanding the current conflict in Israel. The list has been prepared by the Israel Engagement Task Force.
Current Israel Programs
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 7:30PM - Fostering Compassionate Resilience in Israel's Education System: A Conversation with Dr. Yuli Tamir.
Professor Yael (Yuli) Tamir is the President of Beit Berl College and an adjunct professor at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University. Professor Tamir is a founding member of the Israeli peace movement “Peace Now” and served as the chairperson of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel.
Amid the Israel/Hamas post-October 7th war, Dr. Tamir's perspective on education becomes a powerful tool for building bridges across the Arab/Jewish Divide. The classroom, and the education system in general, have become a second front in this war.
Dr. Tamir speaks to the opportunity to cultivate Compassionate Resilience, a system of ideas and actions in the school system to steer away from perpetuating ahte across generations.
Past Israel Programs
Sunday, November 19, 2023 - Israel 101 with Elaun Rave
Israel 101 class for parents of our K-8 students on Sunday, November 19, from 11am-12pm in the chapel. Taught by Elaun Rave, a new congregant who is a longtime Israel tour guide.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 - Sukkah of Solidarity: Israel Conversation
Join Rabbi Abrasley and her local interfaith clergy colleagues for a conversation about this past summer's JCRC's Summer Clergy Trip to Israel. We'll share our perspective and our ongoing questions as we continue to educate ourselves about what is happening in Israel today.
Friday, December 2, 2022 - Special Visitors from Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace Village - Israel)
Saturday, December 3, 2022 - Rabbi Gabby Dagan to lead Minyan Service & Torah Study
8:45 Minyan service ~ 9:45 Torah Study
Rabbi Dagan is a dynamic and talented rabbi who uses music and text to teach about Israeli life and the social, religious and political challenges facing Israel. He will lead a musical Shabbat morning service, including a short Torah service, and then will guest-teach our Torah study, bringing a wonderful topic: 6 Texts I Always Have in My Israeli Rabbinic Pocket.
About the Rabbi: Rabbi Dagan was born in the development town of Hatzor Ha-Gelilit in the north of Israel to a traditional Moroccan-Iranian Orthodox family. Gabby was educated within the Orthodox stream of the Israeli education system and in a B’nei Akiva Yeshivah. Following his army service as a Religious Affairs Officer, Gabby left the Orthodox way of life for academic studies. He has a BA from Haifa University in Sociology, Anthropology and Politics and an MA in Jewish History from Haifa University. Rabbi Dagan has served as a congregational rabbi in Haifa for the last 13 years and is now in partnership with Rabbi Naama Dafni Kelen as co-senior rabbis of Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa, Israel.
Class - Israel: Places, Political Parties and Peace Possibilities
Join Dr. M.M. Sliver, Professor of Modern Jewish History at the Max Stern Yezreel Valley College and visiting scholar at Brandeis University's Schusterman Center for four sessions exploring the evolution of politics and parties in Israel and how the "left" and "right" came to define the political arena and the possibilities for peace.
Classes will be held in-person in Room 101. Sundays: October 16th, November 13th & 20th, 2022 , and December 4th, at 10:15 AM.
Temple Shalom Goes to Israel 2022
Join us as we explore Israel in style, with the Food, Wine and Politics of Israel experience, led by Rabbis Allison Berry and Laura Abrasley. Travel on a journey of inspiration, education and excitement. This trip is geared to adult learning.
Please click here to view the itinerary and to learn more about this trip.
Altshuler Scholar: Whose Jerusalem? The Holy City in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 7:00 PM, on Zoom
Join Dr. Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam, Hebrew Union College for "Whose Jerusalem? The Holy City in Judaism, Christianity and Islam." Why has Jerusalem been a point of contention between Jews, Christians and Muslims during so much of our common history? What makes it holy for each of the scriptural monotheisms? And why do they seem to feel the need to “own” it? This program will consider the sanctity of the holy city, some of the polemics that have grown up around it, and some thoughts about how we might get beyond them.
Can We Talk About Israel?
Sunday, January 11, 2022 at 7:30 PM, on Zoom
In Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted, New Israel Fund CEO Daniel Sokatch meets the emotional landmines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict head-on and answers seemingly off-the-table questions with nuanced perspective and understanding.
From One God to Another
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM, in person in Room 101, as well as on Zoom
Learn gorgeous melodies that track a personal musical journey of Rabbi Gabby Dagan from an Israeli Sephardi synagogue through Ashkenazi Yeshivah, Orthodox and Israeli Army Rabbinate to the Reform Rabbinate in Or Chadash - Haifa. Learn a wide variety of melodies that summarize such different aspects of Israeli life and allows a different angle to understanding Israel social, religious and political challenges.
The Recent Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Facts and Future
Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 8:00 PM on Zoom
Temple Shalom is honored to be co-hosting an upcoming conversation with Dr. Rachel Fish on the current situation in Israel. Dr. Fish is a celebrated academic with 20 years of experience in the fields of Israeli history, Zionist thought, and Middle Eastern Studies.
Shiv'at HaMinim: Virtual Tour of the Israel Museum
Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 10:00 AM
“Take a trip” to Jerusalem with us! A guide will lead us on a virtual tour of The Israel Museum, exploring the seven species, plants, and grains described in the Torah through art. See first hand how artists bring these special products of the land of Israel to life, as depicted in the artworks at The Israel Museum Jerusalem.
ARZA and URJ Learning Session
Wednesday, May 18, 2021 at 4:00 PM on Zoom
ARZA and the Union for Reform Judaism are offering a virtual learning and Q&A session focusing on the current situation in Israel. Members of the Temple Shalom Israel Engagement Committee will be in attendance and we invite all our congregants to join them.
American Jews and the Jewish State
Thursdays April 8-May 13, 2021 at 7:30 PM
In this 6-class course, we will explore the history and evolution of the relationship between American Jews and Israel. Beginning in the 1880s (with the emergence of a new Zionist movement) we will look at how—and in what ways—the American Jewish community both came to embrace but also feel conflicted about the emerging Jewish state. We will look at how the American Jewish community both supported and challenged the new state in its first decades, how the 6 Day War changed that relationship, and how American Jews have increasingly asserted their voices regarding religion in Israel, security, land, and the Palestinians. Students will reflect on what we have learned and think about stances they may want to take in relating to and engaging with Israel. This course is lead by Jonathan Golden and Yoni Kadden of Gann Academy.
Rabin in His Own Words: Film Screening & Discussion
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Join us for a screening & discussion of the film, Rabin in His Own Words in commemoration of Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron. Through a combination of rare archival footage, home movies, and private letters, Yitzhak Rabin's personal and professional dramas unfold before the viewer's eyes in the film. Registered participants will be sent a link to watch the movie on their own online.
Navigating Our Intersectionality: A Conversation with the ADL about anti-Racism, anti-Semitism, and Israel
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Join Eileen Hershenov, the Senior Vice-President of Policy at the Anti-Defamation League, and Aryeh Tuchman, the Associate Director of ADL's Center on Extremism, as they lead us in learning and in discussion about the relationship between Judaism, anti-Semitism, Zionism, intersectionality, and racism in America. Together, we will raise these topics with respect and civility and engage with experts in an open-minded exploration.
Zoom in on Israel: A Virtual Tour of the Old City of Jerusalem
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Explore the magical Old City of Jerusalem, virtually! We will walk through the markets and alleyways of the Old City and visit the Western Wall, Holy Sepulcher, Temple Mount, Ramparts, City of David, and more. The tour will be led by the extraordinary Israeli guide, Moshe Gold. This tour is designed for adults who have been to Israel before, exploring new aspects of Jerusalem, as well as those who have never been. At each stop, we will learn about the history and religious context of the site and have time for questions from participants. The virtual tour will use maps, text, music, photos, and Google street view.