Debbie Weissman

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Why Now?

My Own Turf

by Debbie Weissman

I made aliyah over 30 years ago. I want all of you contemplating this big move to know that if and when you come, in a way, you will remain olim forever. Our introspection and self-consciousness about the reasons we're here never leave us. I suppose that the reasons why I came and the reasons why I'm still here aren't totally the same, but there is still some overlap between them.

A Whole Country of Jews

"So..I ask the person who looks at someone like me with a raised eyebrow, who thinks that life is so hard and horrible and 'not for them' over here, If life is so hard and horrible, then why do I feel as though I'm sitting on top of the world?"

Rashi Rosenzweig, Ra'anana immigrant of two years

One of the main reasons I came and stayed had to do with the Shabbat and the holidays. I love the Jewish calendar. I love living by it-it thrills me to celebrate Purim and Pesach and even Tu Bishvat with a whole country of Jews. I still get excited about Hebrew language and culture. Israel is still a fascinating, multi-cultural country where everyone has a story.

But I want to add that one of the best things for me about living here, totally unanticipated before I came, has to do with the opportunity to have deep friendships with non-Jews. Growing up in the States, most of my friends were Jewish. To this day, many of my friends and relatives who live in America live in exclusively Jewish environments. Most of them have never hosted a Christian or a Muslim in their homes, certainly not at their Shabbat table.

On the other hand, living in Jerusalem, as I do, I frequently host non-Jewish guests in my home on Shabbat or Yom Tov . I am engaged in much interfaith work - both teaching and dialoguing . The synagogue I attend, Kehillat Yedidya in Jerusalem, has a long-standing tradition of hosting groups of Christians from all over the world. Spending time with religious people of other faiths has deepened my own spiritual commitments.

On Equal Footing

Now, this reason may seem very idiosyncratic. Most olim do not end up teaching Judaism in ecumenical frameworks. In fact, outside of Jerusalem, I'm sure there is far less opportunity for this sort of thing. Nevertheless, I

"The very essence of Zionist thinking about the life of the Jewish people and its history is basically revolutionary - it is a revolt against a tradition of many centuries. ... we call for an independent existence of a working people, at home on the soil, and in a creative economy."

David Ben Gurion
would like to make one point that is more general and would affect others, besides me, who may choose a community and lifestyle very different from my own: living in Israel gives us-perhaps paradoxically -a certain sense of security vis-a-vis the Gentile world. Obviously, I'm not talking about physical security, because the rockets and suicide bombers plague us much of the time. I'm talking about a kind of security that comes from being at home and being able to encounter the Other on a more equal footing.

The Jews as a people are now on the map and, together with that, our religion and culture. Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote many years ago that Judaism is the least-known religion. I feel privileged that I have the opportunity to contribute to sharing some profound ideas and wonderful practices with human beings from other faith traditions. My hope and prayer is that these various cultures and traditions will be able to educate the people of the world regarding the sanctity of human life and the need for peace and justice. The struggle is a world-wide struggle. I'm trying to do my share within the context of a Jewish society.

Debbie Weissman is a Jewish educator, founder of the Kehillat Yedidya Synagogue, active in Meimad and Netivot Shalom.

Monday 06 October, 2008

יום שני ז' תשרי תשס"ט