By Rabbi Amy Levin | Rabbi Levin has led congregations both in the United States and Israel, as well as teaching, mentoring, and advising congregational leaders. She is a trained congregational consultant, served as a mentor for senior rabbinical students, and helped two congregations in transition as their interim rabbi. Amy’s expertise includes supporting congregational leadership through fostering productive, healthy leadership teams based on a collaborative process, supporting individual leaders through strategic advising, and helping congregational leadership teams envision, plan and move forward.
“THE STATE OF ISRAEL will … guarantee freedom of religion” [Israel’s Declaration of Independence, 14 May 1948 / 5 Iyar 5708]
For many American Jews, Israel engages their concern, interest, passion, and commitment far more than the birthplaces of whoever in the family immigrated to America in the first place.
Why? Because God instructed Abraham and Sarah to plant their roots here in the Land of Israel. Because the future of our people and our faith was not secured until Moses and Joshua shepherded the enslaved Israelites back home.
Indeed, no matter where your grandparents or great grandparents or great great grandparents came from, ultimately they, too, could only trace their roots back here, to Israel.
Which is why Israel’s “Law of Return” is called “the Law of Return.” Because no matter where you are coming from when you make aliyah, no matter whether your Jewish roots go back uncountable generations or six months ago when you emerged from the mikveh as a convert to Judaism, you are returning to your homeland when you make aliyah.
Unfortunately for those of us who are part of the non-orthodox streams of Judaism, the State of Israel has politicized religion instead of guaranteeing equal freedom of religion. Despite the promise made by the 37 signatories of Israel’s declaration of independence, the only faith practiced in Israel which suffers from government-institutionalized discrimination is Judaism. Orthodox, actually ultra-Orthodox, Judaism has been nurtured and supported since the beginning of the State. Our Muslim, Christian and Druze friends and neighbors face many hardships, but they are left to run their faith organizations as they see fit.
The overwhelming majority of native Israeli Jews have only been exposed to ultra-Orthodox messaging and are left to assume that our tradition is incapable of offering a path of faith, commitment and community that reflects the reality of our lives here and now. So they have turned their backs on Judaism. Culturally they’ll light Hanukah candles because the kids get presents and they’ll sit home instead of driving on Yom Kippur out of some vestige of respect, and they may go to a seder, but they’ll pack sandwiches for lunch when they and their kids go for a hike the next day. And that breaks my heart.
Which brings me to the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections. The results of these elections are existential for Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Israel. Our congregations, our rabbis, our educational programs and youth movement do not benefit from the government’s funding [in the billions of shekels] to Israeli orthodox rabbis and religious institutions. These World Zionist Congress elections will determine whose voice will prevail when deciding where WZC funds will be allocated in Israel. For us … your Masorti family and friends in Israel … this is our lifeblood. It will also directly impact the ability to direct funds to your institutions in America.
I am a Masorti rabbi. I wear a kippah. The kippah on my head keeps me grounded in the awareness that no matter where I am, I am in the presence of God. This expression of humility and self-awareness is existential for me.
My kippah has led to a wide range of experiences and conversations: From being physically shoved at a bus stop and near the Kotel in Jerusalem to being practically hugged by a lady at a take-out food place. When people ask respectfully, I explain that Masorti Judaism is halakhic and egalitarian. That every step we take, from ordaining people of all genders to invoking the matriarchs in our prayerbook, is the result of rigorous halakhic research and legal decision making [responsa]. Whether the people who have approached me [respectfully, out of sincere curiosity] have been Orthodox or secular, they have been intrigued. Many then go on to ask where there might be a Masorti congregation near them.
Sadly, I often have to admit that there isn’t one.
My aspiration is to tell any curious Israeli that there is a Masorti congregation with an approachable, encouraging, nurturing Masorti rabbi near where they live. A decisive Mercaz USA presence in the next World Zionist Congress could help move that aspiration closer to a reality.
