Report of the Israel Task Force - March 2003
Introduction
In the fall of 2002, the President of the BJ Board of Trustees established the Israel Task Force to explore ways that BJ could broaden and deepen its relationship to Israel. The purpose of this report is two-fold:- To describe the diverse thoughts and recommendations emerging from the Israel Task Force; and
- To stimulate a community-wide extension of that dialogue.
The Appendix of this report outlines the numerous Israel-focused programs already in place at BJ. Several activities shown - including New Israel Fund/Congregation Connect and the decision to focus BJ's 2003-2004 community Beit Midrash study on the topic of Israel - are responses to suggestions that Israel Task Force members made. Although the activities listed in the Appendix reflect BJ's substantial commitment to Israel, the Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed broadening and deepening our support of Israel as one of our key priorities for 2002-2003.
BJ Israel Task Force
Rationale
Congregation B'nai Jeshurun is a Zionist congregation. Collectively and individually, BJ members love and support the State of Israel. The continuing violence in Israel deepens our commitment as it saddens our hearts. We pray together for peace. At the same time, we assume our obligation as sacred communities to take action that will both encourage ongoing dialogue about the situation and explore the myriad ways that we - collectively and individually - can support Israel fulfill the vision put forth in its Declaration of Independence.
BJ is also a large and diverse community, with a multiplicity of members' views on the policies of the government that is in place in Israel at any given time. Remembering our common love and support for Israel while also attempting to share our personal views on current political issues sometimes strains our community spirit or silences our individual voices.
Many BJ members have intense personal connections to Israel. A number travel to Israel, have friends or family living there, and support or work for Jewish organizations with a strong Israel focus. Many take part with great kavannah in the BJ programs already in place in support of Israel. BJ's rabbis frequently invite speakers to the bima to discuss Israel during services, regularly talk about Israel, and often alter the flow of services to allow reflection on recent happenings in Israel.
Keenly aware of the complexities, hopes, fears, and expressions of commitment that underlie our community's current relationship to Israel, the Board of Trustees charged the members of the Israel Task Force with engaging in thoughtful and respectful dialogue that would offer our rabbis and our members rich food for thought in our individual and communal quest for a deeper connection to Israel.
Task Force Membership
The Israel Task Force was comprised of the following BJ members, who contributed extensive experience and diversity of thought about BJ and Israel:
Chair: Ted Becker (President of BJ)
BJ Board members:
- Joan Bronk
- Rachel Cowan
- Susan Kippur
- Sara Moore Litt
- Kathleen Peratis
- Mark Tsesarsky
BJ Israel Committee & BJ Israel Action Committee representatives:
- Nancy Greenblatt (Israel Committee)
- Rachel Sosland (Israel Action Committee)
Other BJ members:
- Joel Citron
- Peter Geffen
- Jules Love
- Naomi Meyer
- Letty Pogrebin
- John Ruskay
- Amir Shaviv
Rabbis:
- J. Rolando Matalon
- Marcelo Bronstein
- Felicia Sol
Executive Director: Deborah Pinsky