Exploring Key Ideas with the Shalom Hartman Institute
Posted on 12/20/2024 @ 05:00 AM
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This past Wednesday, CAJE was privileged to bring Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman to Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest for a conversation with Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, CAJE’s Director of Adult Learning and Growth, as he reflected on a year of war in Israel and shared his thoughts about how we can work together to imagine a stronger, more vibrant Israel.
As the president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Donniel Hartman, a Modern Orthodox rabbi, has championed the idea that pluralism is not just an acceptance of differences but an active embrace of diverse perspectives within Jewish tradition and community life.
He noted, “If you are engaging with our religious tradition, then you are ‘religious.’ You are contributing to the future of the Jewish people.”
For Hartman, a prominent modern Zionist thinker, pluralism stems from the recognition that Judaism has always been a multi-vocal tradition. From the debates of the Talmud to the varied customs of global Jewish communities, diversity has been a source of strength. Hartman argues that modern Judaism must reclaim this legacy to address the complexities of Jewish identity today.
When asked why the Hartman Institute began an ordination program for Israelis who come from widely diverse backgrounds with many different perspectives, he explained, “I don’t need you to adhere to my Judaism. I have a Judaism I need, and others have a Judaism they need. I ordain people I don’t agree with, but I know that the Jewish people need them to make another Jew like them love Judaism more.”
In his work, Hartman challenges communities to move beyond tolerance, urging them to see difference as an opportunity for growth. This means creating spaces where secular, religious, progressive, and traditional Jews can engage with one another openly and respectfully.
Donniel Hartman has also been a leading voice in advocating for a more inclusive and ethical approach to Jewish-Arab relations within Israel. He challenges the Jewish community to view Arab citizens of Israel not as "the other" but as integral members of Israeli society.
He argues that the State of Israel, founded on both Jewish and democratic principles, bears a unique responsibility to ensure equality and dignity for all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion. This commitment is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative rooted in Jewish teachings about justice and compassion.
Hartman reported on a study that demonstrated 85% of Israeli Arab Palestinians when given a choice to leave, instead want to remain Israeli citizens. He noted they have a complex identity and are frequently challenged who they are really loyal to, which he pointed out, has often been the case with Jews living in the Diaspora as well.
He related an anecdote about a group of Israeli Arab Palestinians who were being trained in a leadership cohort at the Hartman Institute whom he invited to dinner in his home. One Israeli Arab woman participating in the cohort asked him, “Why are you running this program and investing in us?!?”
Donniel responded, “Because you are an essential part of my country. You are fellow Israeli citizens, and you are important to our shared future.” Hearing that, the woman began to cry.
“Why are you crying?” Donniel asked. “Because you are the first Israeli Jew I’ve ever met that has shown me respect and not just suspicion or hatred.” And at that, Donniel replied, “That is so very sad.” And he began to cry too.
He concluded by noting, “The Torah I believe is built on the premise that we should all be treating each other the way we want to be treated. If we can each do that, our Jewish people will truly be a light to the nations.”
Mark your calendar for the next Hartman Institute conversation with Dr. Tal Becker, Vice President and Senior Faculty of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Becker served, until recently, as the Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been a senior member of the Israeli peace negotiation team in successive rounds of peace negotiations, representing Israel before the International Court of Justice, and playing an instrumental role in negotiating and drafting the recent peace and normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco (the “Abraham Accords”).
Sunday, March 9th 7:30pm @ Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center
For more information, contact Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, CAJE’s Director of Adult Learning and Growth: BellaTKrieger@caje-miami.org