Israel in 2018: It’s Complicated

Sunday, 2018 SEP 16
Dr. Ed Wolpert
Israel in 2018: It’s Complicated

>>> Click here for the audio <<<

Three Areas of conflict: UltraOrthodox Israelis/Other Israeli Jews, Israeli Jews/Israeli Arabs,
Israelis/Palestinians


Slide Presentation:

JEWS IN ISRAEL

There are 6.6 million Jews in Israel.

Classification by observance to Jewish teaching:

1.Charadim (ultraorthodox)  8%

2.Religious Orthodox  12%

3.Religious Conservative  13%

4.Religious Non-traditionalist  25%

5.Secular   43%* (half “believe in God”)

Data adapted from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (2010 study)

REFORM JUDAISM

“For me, Reform Judaism has always symbolized what I consider to be the best of Judaism—firmly rooted in our tradition, yet egalitarian, inclusive of patrilineal Jews and intermarried families, welcoming to the LGBT community, politically active, and respectful of other faiths and ideologies.”

Rabbi Aaron Panken (1961-2014)

ISRAEL REFORM ACTION COMMITTEE

Main mission: to make Judaism more accessible to Israeli Jews.

Five key issues:

1.Dismantling the orthodox monopoly on promulgating policy for public transportation on Shabbat.

2.Equality of government funding (presently the orthodox receive $60 million, the reform gets $6 million).

3.Health and safety.

4.Struggle against racism.

5.Remove gender discrimination in varied aspects of Israeli life.

Israel Today

FOLLOW UP TO PRESENTATION

YOUTUBE has many videos showing varies aspects of life in Israel

Readings:

  • The Lemon Tree: An Arab a Jew and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
  • My Promised Land by Ari Shavit
  • Letters to my Palestinian Neighbors by Yossi Klein Halavi
  • Six Days of War by Michael Oren

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