The Movement for Reform Judaism

Sixty years ago, Israel was at the centre of world news.  I wonder how many people realised then that, 60 years later, Israel would still be the focus of world attention. 

Why this should be so is a perplexing question.  Whatever the other reasons, it has something to do with the fact that Israel has emerged as the tiny piece of land where two giant tectonic plates meet.

To the west is the modern western world – Europe and America and its post-Christian culture of free-market economics and democracy.

To the east is the Islamic world which has found itself unable, over three centuries, to emulate the success of the west and feels itself humiliated and exploited.  It is a world that has largely fallen prey to the Islamists and Islamic extremism.

To have survived at all over the last 60 years is a triumph.  But, as Islamic extremism grows, past opportunities not taken are looking more and more a cause for deep regret.  Can Israel survive being crushed between east and west? 

I believe so – but only by repeating the miracle of 60 years ago and becoming a bridge rather than a victim of gigantic seismic forces. 

Israel, the people, has contributed much to western culture, through the incalculable impact of the Hebrew Bible, through the prophetic tradition of social justice and through two millennia of participating actively in the societies in which we live. 

But the people Israel have also contributed much to the Islamic world, living fruitfully and peaceably in Muslim countries for centuries, having deeply influenced the Koran itself.  The population of the State of Israel owes as much to its Muslim Diaspora experience as to its Christian one.

Who better to act as bridge between the two cultural masses? 

Israel, of course. In fact, perhaps only Israel.  Not just Israel the State but Israel the people.  We Diaspora Jews can and must play our part.  By engaging with those people, projects, initiatives and institutions which promote engagement, dialogue and cooperation and which foster justice and peace.  This e-Newsletter will highlight in every issue opportunities to participate.  We urge you to engage wherever you feel you can contribute.

It is an immense challenge but I suspect it’s a challenge we have to meet if we are to survive.  We have to believe that the moderate majority on both sides wants peace, that promoting the stake in moderation that economic prosperity brings is the key, that talking to one’s enemies is invariably the right thing to do, that democracy and human rights are non-negotiable – and that im tirzu, if we will it and work for it, Israel will continue to tell the remarkable story that Herzl began sixty years ago.

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