It’s been several months since my sabbatical, but I haven’t had the chance to reflect with you on my Encounter trip sponsored by my rabbinical organization, the Rabbinical Assembly, called “Leading Across Difference: Equipping Rabbis for Nuanced Community Engagement on Israel.” The RA organized this program, which also included several pre- and post-trip Zoom sessions, because it recognized that its rabbis needed support in holding the difficult struggles and divisions in our communities around the topic of the “Israeli-Palestinian reality” (as Encounter calls it). I was selected to be in the group of 25 American Conservative rabbis who came from across the spectrum of political viewpoints and demographics.
Over the course of the week, our group of rabbis listened to Israelis and Palestinians in West and East Jerusalem and in the West Bank from a diversity of political perspectives and experiences. Our speakers included educators, activists, artists, and religious and civic leaders. Our job was to listen and learn. There were no assumptions or agenda, other than the core themes of inquiry of the trip organizers, which were: 1) Sovereignty and what that means to Jewish Israelis today; 2) Statelessness and what that means to Palestinians in light of Jewish sovereignty; and 3) Strengthening our relationships with Israelis and Palestinians and with each other across the political spectrum.
Without trying to recap all of the conversations with dozens of Israelis, Palestinians, and rabbinic colleagues, I can share two main takeaways from the experience. The first is that: everyone is traumatized – both Israelis and Palestinians – particularly since October 7, 2023, and most people are responding to their traumatic experiences with the natural inclination to fear, protect, defend, fight, and not trust. We did meet some of those rare individuals who have managed to defy this natural inclination and are still working towards hope, coexistence, peace and feel that “giving up isn’t an option.” It was inspiring to listen to those in the latter group, and it was heart-breaking to listen to all of our speakers, and we were filled with many emotions throughout the week.
My other big takeaway came from the values and “Principles of Practice” of the Encounter Program itself, which their educator, Leah Solomon, shared with us as a model for thinking about our own commitments and values in our home communities regarding the Israeli-Palestinian reality in this polarized time. Their list included values like courage, humility, perseverance, and interdependence, and we were invited to write our own set of values, commitments, and principles of practice. Here are mine – that which I hope for our Netivot Shalom community, no matter our politics or views on the Israeli-Palestinian reality:
- B’tzelem Elokim – we honor all humanity as created in the Divine image and endeavor to act in alignment with the Divine image in ourselves.
- Shema – we value loving communication and listen to others with an open heart.
- Elu V’Elu – a diversity of views is welcome and respected, and we stay connected as a community even if we disagree.
- Am Yisrael – we value our connection to the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.
- Tzedek – we value justice, equality, and dignity for all.
It was from this exercise in considering my own principles of practice, values, and commitments for our community that I decided to write a new prayer for our country and Israel, which is the one we’ve been using in Shabbat services since I returned from sabbatical at the end of March.
A Prayer for our country and for Israel
Creator, who endowed humanity with the unalienable Rights
of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness[1],
Tzur Yisrael v’Go’alo, Rock and Redeemer of the people of Israel[2],
Yachid Chei Ha’olamim, Unifying Life of all worlds[3],
May we in our own sacred community
that includes a diversity of concerns and convictions
Support each other in these divisive and difficult times
Through curiosity, transformative listening, and compassion.
May we be guided through Your Torah and mitzvot
to support the highest aspirations envisioned in the founding documents of both our country and Israel[4]:
Democracy, Justice, Freedom, and Equality for all their inhabitants.
And may there be tranquility, safety and dignity for all in these lands.
Ufros Aleynu Sukkat Shlomecha[5].
Spread over us all the shelter of Your Peace.
May we each be guardians of humanity,
Our own humanity and that of the other,
reflectingTzelem Elohim[6], your Divine image, and
may we each do our part to create a world
that is a dwelling place for Your Divine Presence[7].
I hope that we can enact these aspirations together, and I look forward to growing together as a community, even as we may differ in our views. Finally, I want to thank the Netivot Shalom board for their supporting my participation in the Encounter-Rabbinical Assembly program.
[1] This whole phrase is paraphrased from the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America
[2] From the Prayer for the State of Israel
[3] From the prayer Baruch She’amar in Psukei D’zimra
[4] See the Declarations of Independence of the US and of Israel
[5] From the Hashkiveinu prayer in Maariv; paraphrased in the Prayer for the State of Israel
[6] Genesis 1:27
[7] Exodus 25:8