Israel & Zionism

המנורה: בין שמרנים וליברליים

In Israel & Zionism and The Jewish Year

מאז תקומתה של מדינת ישראל, ניצבת בלב הוויכוח הציבורי השאלה האם יש לנהל את המדינה על פי ערכים יהודים או דמוקרטיים. שני הערכים נראים כבלתי מתפשרים. היהדות מייצגת השקפת עולם תיאוקרטית שבה א-לוהים ממוקם במרכז. הוא המוקד והסמכות המוחלטת. לעומת זאת, על פי השקפת העולם הדמוקרטית מי שעומד במרכז הוא העם.
December 13, 2017
O Jerusalem!

In Israel & Zionism

A poem in praise of the holy city of Jerusalem, in the wake of the American announcement to designate Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
December 7, 2017
Shabbat desecration, the Olympics and the dilemmas of a Jewish State

By E.S.

Several recent events—the Olympic Games and the proposal to work on the railway line construction on Shabbat—are excellent opportunities to start a conversation on the role of halacha in the Jewish State. The question is: what form should the conversation take? It should not, I believe, primarily take the form of a formal halachic argument.
September 7, 2016
A Slap in the Face to the Holy One Blessed Be He?

Some Afterthoughts on Tish’ah be-Av

In Israel & Zionism, Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Tisha B’Av

I must confess that this year’s Tish’ah be-Av, a few days ago, was the first time in 54 years (since I was 16) that I did not go to synagogue to hear Eichah (the reading from the Scroll of Lamentations) and recite kinot (elegies written by famous sages throughout the centuries regarding the destruction of both Temples and the many later tragedies that befell the Jewish people).
August 18, 2016
Session 8: The Founding of the State of Israel and the Challenge of Halachic Living

In Halacha and Israel & Zionism

The think tank discusses whether the founding of the State of Israel has changed how we approach Halacha and its mode of development, as well as what kind of changes can be made to the halachic system.
March 14, 2016
A Prophetic View: The Gentile Aliyah Epidemic

In Israel & Zionism

We will soon have to expand our borders far beyond our wildest dreams – this time at the request of millions of Europeans, Americans and possibly many others who will wish to come on Aliyah.
November 26, 2015
Israel: The Blessing of Insecurity

In Israel & Zionism

Israel is summoned to remind the world of God’s existence, not only concerning religion but also as a historical reality. There is no security for Israel unless it is secure in its own destiny. We must shoulder the burden of our own singularity, which means nothing less than fulfilling our role as God’s witness. And we must draw strength from this phenomenon, especially in times like these when Israel’s very existence is again at stake. Once Israel recognizes its uniqueness, it will, paradoxically, enjoy security and undoubtedly be victorious.
October 22, 2015
The Survival of Israel and the Art of Recognizing Miracles

In Contemporary Issues and Israel & Zionism

When one carefully studies Jewish history from the early biblical days to our own times, one can only conclude that, in spite of the many pogroms, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, Jews were constantly accompanied by highly unusual events, large and small. The fact that Jews survived these atrocities, outlived all their enemies throughout the millennia, and made it back to the Land of Israel is unprecedented and a vexing conundrum for historians and sociologists. It is indeed miraculous.
August 28, 2014
On The Israeli-Arab Conflict: A Biblical Perspective

In Contemporary Issues, Israel & Zionism and Parashat Bereshit

Impartial observers of the Middle East will realize that these are extraordinary times. Tens of thousands of Jews from many different countries are returning to their national and historic homeland after thousands of years.
July 16, 2014
Rockets and Survival, Israel and Miracles

In Israel & Zionism

As Israel was once again bombarded with short-range mortar shells, Grad artillery rockets and, Hamas’s latest addition, Iranian long-range Fajr-5 missiles, forcing nearly a million people to hide in shelters for over a week, it is understandable that many wonder whether this will ever end.
November 28, 2012
Israel’s Security and the Need for Strangerhood

In Israel & Zionism

As usual, residents of the State of Israel are once again threatened by political unrest in the Middle East, which is escalating day by day...Within Israel as well, strife and discord rock the country...One wonders why the Jews, like no other people, throughout thousands of years of their history, were never able to develop into a stable, secure nation...
February 2, 2012
A Phenomenon Called Israel

In Israel & Zionism

Throughout the centuries, historians, philosophers and anthropologists have struggled with the notion called Israel more than with nearly any other topic. While attempting to place Israel within the confines of conventional history, they experienced constant academic and philosophical frustration. Any definitions they suggested eventually broke down due to serious inconsistencies. Was Israel a nation, a […]
November 27, 2011