“Coming Together to Create Something Magnificent”: A New Seminar Brings Reform Leaders Together to Experience the Spirit of Hebrew Union College in Tel Aviv

"I am so thrilled to see my dream of many years come to fruition," says Rabbi Meir Azari, Senior Rabbi at the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv, describing "Crisis and Creativity," the inaugural Spiritual Leaders Seminar led by Hebrew Union College and Daniel Centers from August 3-9 in Israel.

The objective, Azari says, was to bring a cohort of 20 rabbis including 18 Hebrew Union College alumni from the U.S. to Tel Aviv to experience "the democratic, pluralistic, open-minded vision of Israel. We wanted to give Reform leaders and clergy an opportunity to see a different perspective of Israel, to get to know the real Tel Aviv, Israel's center for culture, business, and the free Israeli society, which is one they are not typically exposed to." That exposure, he says, made it possible for participants "to dive into the heart of the current situation, raise doubts, ask questions, and try to find the spirit to help rebuild the state of Israel and to build a bridge between a more pluralistic Israel and the Jewish diaspora."

"The summer seminar was truly a breakthrough for our activities in Israel and for strengthening our relationship with the Reform rabbinical community in the United States," says Nachman Shai, Ph.D., the Dean of Hebrew Union College's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, who described the week of meetings and visits as "uplifting and deeply enjoyable." "The original goal - to present Tel Aviv as a city of culture and a liberal, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming spirit - was fully achieved. At the same time, we highlighted the complementary relationship between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, each representing different poles in Israel that together create a fuller picture of the country."

"We will make every effort to continue this activity in the coming years and to firmly establish the seminar as part of the annual agenda of both Hebrew Union College and Beit Daniel," Shai says.

The program was built around teachings from numerous Hebrew Union College faculty members, conversations with thinkers and activists from the Daniel Centers, and presentations by Israeli Reform leaders. Sessions also included discussions with members of the Israeli Knesset, including MK Mansour Abbas, the leader of the United Arab List, and MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv '03, the First Reform Rabbi to be a member of the legislative body, who has also served as President and CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. Seminar participants also attended a demonstration following a havdalah ceremony at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.

"Bet Daniel and HUC's program reminded us that the Jewish people are built for crisis, and that our tradition has given us many tools for responding creatively to the opportunities that crisis brings," says Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York. "I appreciated the diverse set of voices who taught us throughout the week, and the different modalities of learning, from traditional text study, to music, drama and literature. The program also helped American Reform rabbis connect with our Reform colleagues in Israel in meaningful ways."

Rabbi Nicki Greninger of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California, reflects, "Coming back to America is, frankly, difficult, at least vis-a-vis Israel. The headlines, social media posts, and public opinion are so binary, with such ridiculous black-and-white thinking." But in reality, she adds, "One can be both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian. To be Zionist doesn't mean being blind to Israel's challenges. I loved our seminar for the way we were able to engage in nuance and complexity," Greninger says, noting that the sessions with high-level thinkers, teachers, scholars, rabbis, artists, politicians, along with the activities, enabled the group "to think through Israel's challenges deeply and lovingly. I am now able to bring a lot of that learning back to my community, helping to deepen their connection to Israel and their understanding of Israel as a complex place, with way more to sink their teeth into than just the headlines of the day," she says.

Rabbi Dana Sharon '21, an alum of Hebrew Union College's Israel Rabbinical Program who heads the Rabbis' Network for the organization Rabbis for Human Rights, helped put the event together. She says she learned a great deal from working with the hosts, faculty members, and other speakers, and from the participant cohort. "It was such a brilliant group, so committed and passionate and compassionate and intellectual - and enthusiastic. It was just an honor and a privilege to get to know them, and to serve them in that capacity and to create a meaningful experience for them where they all feel like they've learned so much."

"It was a memorable, enlightening, extraordinary time of great learning," says participant Rabbi Michael White of Temple Sinai of Roslyn, in Roslyn Heights, New York. "Thanks to all my fellow participants. It was a joy to be with you and share this amazing time together."

With gratitude to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation for their support of the program.