Today we explored the role that religion plays in Israel society. In the morning Rabbi Unterberg met us in Tel Aviv to talk to us about what it means that Israel is both a Jewish and democratic state. We discussed where Israel fits on the spectrum of possible relationships between religion and government. The United States with almost total separation of church and state and Iran on the extreme opposite of the spectrum with the religious leaders controlling the government seem to be the end points of the spectrum. Israel might be considered as a mid-point by some.Examples of the “state” power exercised by religious parties include: banning ELAL flights from flying on Shabbat, marriage, divorce, death and kashrut (religious dietary standards). One of the hottest topics is regarding marriage. People want civil marriages and also want th ability not be married by their non-orthodox rabbi.
Then later in the day, we went to Bina, which is a secular yeshiva(place of Jewish learning). When Israel was first created, the founding leaders wanted to create a strong secular Jewish society. This initial idea from the founding of the State only came to fruition for some in a negative rather than a positive way after the assination of Yitzchak Rabin. When Igal Amir, a u Jew, assinated Yitzchak in 1994, he did so claiming he did this in the name of religion. This turned many secular Jews away from any connection they had to Judaism. For some it meant they would have to find their own non-Orthodox path to Judaism In reaction to this, many secular Jews, primarily from kibbutzim, founded Bina in 1996 with a focus On learning and social action and only later did it become a yeshiva.
Currently Bina has 200 students in their Tel Aviv location, 30 in the Jerusalem location, 40 young Israelis who take a gap year before the army and 10 international students who take a gap year before college. In addition, there are many secular Israelis who go to Bina while serving in the army to strengthen their Jewish Identity. There are also post college programs and many programs for the greater community. Many people are attracted to this program not only because of the intense and well rounded education, but also because they are attracted to living in South Tel Aviv.
When by others why the mechiniks (young adults before their army service) are engaged in this year they respond that the are living in South Tel Aviv , Everyone is either shocked or surprised as Southern tel aviv is populated primarily by migrant workers and refugees from south Sudan, Eritrea and parts of Asia. This neighborhood is poverty stricken and has high crimes rates as a result of the influx of immigrants. It is a very “undesireable neighborhood. Yet, serving such a poor neighborhood is considered a fulfillment of the Jewish passion for tikkun olam, world transformation. With the emphasis on social justice, the students learn about Judaism through the lens of social justice and implement those teachings into their surrounding neighborhood. With the creation of Bina and the spread of learning thoughout the secular community, there is more grey now. Now there are secular Jews who are connencted to Judaism but not through the conventional sense.
The extreme powers the that chief rabbinate has, upsets many people. The members of Bina have acknowledged that the reason for the homogenous group in charge is partially because many secular Jews have rejected Judaism. Instead of distancing themselves from the seemingly flawed religion, they are beginning to lead a revolution of embracing Judaism throughout the seculular community in Israel.