Engaging Israel

Last summer, an invitation in our weekly email bulletin to enroll in a course called "Engaging Israel" created more buzz than anything I've ever posted here. Engaging Israel is the project of the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, a pluralistic think tank where I have had the privilege to study and argue Jewish texts and ideas with rabbis from across the spectrum.

With the goal of "creating a new narrative regarding the significance of Israel for Jewish life," we launched the course in the fall with twenty-six individuals. Most attended the full course of nine sessions on Sunday evenings, despite the difficult topics, the discomfort of disagreement among us, and the constant challenge to question our own assumptions.

This past Sunday night, following the blizzard, a dozen hardy individuals showed up for our final class. Coincidentally, that same day, the founder of the Hartman Institute, Rabbi David Hartman, a giant of our generation, passed away in Jerusalem. We dedicated our final session to his memory.

As the Hartman Institute described him on their website:

Rabbi Professor David Hartman, one of the great Jewish philosophers of his generation and the founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute, passed away Feb. 10, 2013, at 81. Rabbi Hartman was one of the leaders of liberal Orthodoxy, and his philosophy influenced tens of thousands of Jews in Israel and around the world

Each week, we were exposed to a number of Hartman Institute scholars, most prominently, David Hartman's son, Rabbi Donniel Hartman. Sadly, we were never able to experience the authenticity and brilliance of Reb David himself. To get a sense of his greatness, his deep love of people and his fiery pursuit of truth and justice, I recommend reading some of the tributes in The Times of Israel.

What made this course different, and was particularly appealing to many of the participants, was the focus on Jewish values rather than on political opinions. The learning that took place helped many to discover teachings that they had not realized were found in Jewish thought. The intense focus on values created a foundation for conversation in which we could all share, a focus that fostered unity and attentive listening rather than division and conflict.

One value that Engaging Israel stressed in nearly every class was the importance of listening to divergent opinions. Rabbi David Hartman was known to say:

"You don't always have to agree with what the other side says, but you always have to try to understand them and why they are saying what they are saying."

This message formed the basis for our class, enlivened the discussion, and was noted by many at the final session as one of the most significant aspects of the course. One participant said:

"Though everyone is different, we can envision studying with people who are different."

By "people who are different," we did not just mean people in the room. Of course, it could mean others who are not Jews, including those we consider our enemies. But even more startling, "people who are different" could include other Jews with whom we might otherwise think we have nothing in common, Jews outside our community and outside our comfort zone. That was an eye-opening realization for some.

All of this, I would argue, is part of Rabbi David Hartman's legacy. As a seeker of truth and at the same time, an ardent lover of people, his vision was one of vibrant, even heated, yet respectful debate. After all, as the rabbis taught about the ongoing debates between the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai, elu v'elu divrei Elohim chayim - each one speaks the words of the living God. Who is right or who is wrong is not the question. What is truth is the central question, a question that can best be achieved by listening and being open to the Other.

May Rabbi David Hartman's memory continue to bless us with his quest for truth and commitment to love one another.