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The question of how to sustain and maintain Jewish identity in a democratic State of Israel will be the subject of a daylong conference at the Knesset, May 27, 2010, expected to draw more than 400 participants and leading rabbis from all streams of religious thought in Israel.

and the complete program (Hebrew only)

 

Hartman Institute was asked to help organize the event. Hartman scholars Ron Margolin , Ariel Picard , Gili Zivan, and Shraga Bar-on are scheduled to be the chairs of four sessions, at which lecturers will talk on various aspects of the subject. Margolin helped organize the panels. Hartman Institute’s Micah Goodman is among the participants.

 

"This is an attempt to have a serious conversation in the Knesset and discuss issues of Jewish identity and democracy in a rational manner," said Ariel Picard.

 

The conference was developed by the opposition Kadima Party, but is intended to be non-political. No politicians will be speaking at the event; speakers include rabbis and scholars.

 

 

Opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told the Jerusalem Post: “The attention of the leaders and the public naturally is devoted first and foremost to security and diplomatic issues, but the challenges related to the character of internal Israeli society are no less important,” Livni said. “We must work on developing the Zionist vision of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

“Success dealing with the challenges of civil and social issues will make the state better able to deal with its challenges on diplomatic and security issues,” she told the Post.

 

The event is not open to the general public, but is aimed at community leaders and those who deal professionally with Jewish identity. According to the Post, the conference will draw more than 400 participants.

 

Click here for more information and the complete program (in Hebrew only).