The “State” of Israel:
Engaging in a Candid Conversation About Current Challenges and Opportunities
Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, JTS director of Israel Programs, Jerusalem

In the aftermath of the Gaza war and a polarized electorate, Israel finds itself wrestling once again with issues central to its identity as a Jewish and democratic state.  Arab-Jewish coexistence in Israeli towns, the Jewish nature of the State, and the question of a two-state solution are all part and parcel of a vibrant conversation taking place in Israeli society today.  This session will offer an opportunity to discuss these topics by engaging with questions such as:  how will the new government headed by Naftali Bennett engage these issues?  What are the central challenges this government will be facing?  And how can we constructively contribute to a substantive and open conversation on Israel’s future – both in the Shaarei Kodesh community and the larger Jewish world.