Rabbi's Blog

Dear Haverim,

Today, on August 28, sixty years ago, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspired our nation with these unforgettable words:

“I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.  It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.  I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:  “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…”  This is our hope.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.  With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.  With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together…, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day…”

Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech has been an inspiration to all those, around the world, who have struggled for justice and peace, and against racism and hate.

Two days ago, in Washington, D.C., that day was remembered and re-enacted as thousands gathered to “Keep The Dream Alive,” with an even broader agenda and a more diverse group of speakers, including the ADL’s national CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt.  More religious groups joined, and new causes were added, including LGBTQ and women’s rights, as well as combatting climate change, voter suppression, gun violence and more.

A deep hope was expressed by so many speakers and attendees to broaden the coalition and not splinter it, and to mutually understand the needs of so many minorities and causes in order to continue to fight hate and promote inclusivity to preserve the dream of democracy.

On that same day, as we all know, there was a mass shooting – one of over 400 that have happened across this country, so far, this year.  A gunman, with a swastika on his weapon and a manifesto of hate against African-Americans, Jews, immigrants and others, murdered three people in Jacksonville, Florida.

Yes, the dream of democracy and justice is still alive, but it’s also threatened by dangerous extremists, election deniers and white supremacists, day in and day out.  Each one of us in our country needs to “choose a side.” Bystanders, the apathetic and the indifferent will only cause our country to morally regress and that will threaten all of us so much more.

In Israel, many of us have  championed the 20% of Israel’s population protesting for democracy and justice against Ultra-Orthodox fanatics and Jewish supremacists.  We love Israel and we will defend it against anti-Zionist hatred and, yet, we know that we must also oppose hatred by Jews against Arabs and by Arabs against Jews in our beloved homeland.

This Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Shabbat services, we will be impressed and inspired by two young Israeli activists, who have worked in towns with Jewish and Arab citizens, living side by side, but not always together, to lessen the growing tensions and violence that often erupts between these two groups. 

All of these townspeople are Israeli citizens and it is imperative that they learn to live together successfully, perhaps even more than Jewish-Arab relationships across borders.  Israel today is only 75% Jewish, and it must assure its 25% of minorities that they are also valued as citizens who are entitled to be equal members of the body politic.

Sivan Bamberger is the acting co-director of Dror Israel's Department of International Relations. She previously managed Dror Israel's international educational programming department which focused on short and long-term Israel education for Jewish teens and young adults in Israel and abroad, as well as creating connections between Jews from all over the world. Sivan moved to Israel from Northern Virginia after high school and served in the IDF before receiving her B.Ed. in informal education and history from Beit Berl College. She is currently completing her MBA from the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Jaffa in its impact and social entrepreneurship track. She lives in the Educators' Kibbutz in Rehovot with her partner and three sons.

Noam Schlanger is an educator, group facilitator and Dror Israel’s liaison to the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. and Canada. He began his career as a youth counselor working with at-risk teenagers in several centers in northern Israel including the Arab-Israeli village of Kfar Manda.  He was responsible for creating a nationwide network of student-led cooperatives in Israel’s education system, bringing climate awareness and sustainability programs and arts and sports workshops to schools across the country. He currently lives in Dror’s urban kibbutz in the mixed Arab/Jewish city of Akko.

These future leaders of Israel are part of “Dror Israel,” connecting Jews around the world to help Israel fulfill its prophetic destiny, as stated in its Declaration of Independence 75 years ago:

“The State of Israel will be open to immigration of Jews from all countries of their dispersion; will promote the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on the precepts of liberty, justice and peace taught by the Hebrew prophets; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex; will safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of the shrines and Holy Places of all religions; and will dedicate itself to the principles of the charter of the United Nations.”

These words are “our dream.”  Click here to meet Sivan and Noam, who are helping our shared dream of a democratic and united Israel come true.  (If you want to watch on Livestream, there’s no need to RSVP – just click the link on our homepage at the time of the service or anytime thereafter.)

Shavua tov/Have a week of dreaming of a better world,

Rabbi Arnie Rachlis