June 25 – July 2, 2019
More than 200 participants joined us in 2019 for a week of pluralistic, open-minded text study, small group seminars, field trips and cultural experiences exploring Nationalism and Tribalism in a Global Era, and what the current global tensions mean for North American Jews, for Zionism, and for the State of Israel.
Highlights of Summer 2019
- Donniel Hartman on “Nationalism: Dilemmas of the Encumbered Self”
- Rachel Korazim on “In the Land of Oz,” a tribute to Amos Oz
- Yehuda Kurtzer on “The Jewish People in the Family of Nations”
- A conversation between Donniel Hartman and Jewish Agency Chair Isaac Herzog
- Alexander Kaye discussed historical perspectives on Jews and nationalism
- Elana Stein Hain on “Minority Narratives: The Stories We Tell”
- Mijal Bitton on “Identity Politics: American Jews, Between Power and Vulnerability”
- Donniel Hartman on “Jewish Nationalism From Independence to Israeli Nation-State Law“
- Private screening of “The UnOrthodox”
- Tehila Friedman and Mohammad Darawshe presenting Voices from Arab Israelis and religious Zionist communities on the Nation-State Law
- Micah Goodman on “National Narrative and National Solidarity in the Bible”
- Yehuda Kurtzer in conversation with author Deborah Lipstadt on “Anti-Semitism Here and Now”
- Tal Becker and Yossi Klein Halevi discussing the challenges of contemporary Jewish nationalism
Small-group study session leaders included Dani Segal, Rani Jaeger, Michal Guvrin, Orit Malka, Sara Labaton, Tomer Persico, Zohar Atkins, Channa Pinchasi, Sarah Mulhern, and Tal Becker. Topics included innovative Jewish rituals, different models of “chosenness,” poetry and history, and the conflict between philosophy and politics.
Day trips (tiyulim) included exploring the conflicting identities of Palestinian Israelis, a hike in the hills along the Israel Trail from Tel Azeka to Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Hey on a route connecting the biblical story of David and Goliath, “Jewish Nationalism and Tribalism” through the centuries beginning at Tel El-Ful and the Tomb of Samuel. A visit to the Shrine of the Book and an exhibit about Ilan Ramon the Israel Museum connected the dots of Jewish nationality and Statehood from ancient times to the 21st century. A Hadassah Hospital tour included staff, doctors, and patients speaking first-hand about everyday human encounters and how they overcome the tensions and challenges.
2019 Videos
Click above to watch Nationalism & Tribalism in a Global Era
