This year, CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation by transforming its traditional three-week Israel Summer Seminar (ISS) into an impactful one-week seminar in Spain. This shift, necessitated by the situation in Israel, did not diminish the profound experience our Fellows had. Instead, it opened new avenues for exploring Jewish pride, global networking, and maintaining a strong connection to Israel and our partnership community in Yerucham.
In Parshat Pinchas, this week’s Torah portion, we are flooded with names. The Parsha recounts a census that highlights the most important names from each of the tribes of Israel. Among them are seven names of women, remarkable and regrettably, the greatest number found in any one Torah portion. Prominent in this list are the five “Daughters of Zelophehad” -- Mahla, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirza… We must wonder why these five women got so much attention in the Torah.
Zionism, the ideological cornerstone of the modern state of Israel, encompasses a rich tapestry of beliefs, visions, and historical contexts. By exploring the diverse ideologies that have shaped Zionist thought — from political pragmatism to cultural revivalism — individuals can gain more appreciation for Israel’s complexities and foster a deeper understanding of its significance within Jewish collective consciousness.