Reminders of a sad reality

When I lived in Jerusalem in 2009 I would often walk past restaurants and shops with armed guards posted at the doors. In fact, almost every restaurant I ate in had a guard at the door, which served not only to reassure customers that the proprietor took security seriously, but as a very real mechanism of last resort in the event that a suicide bomber tried to force their way inside.

When I was in Jerusalem this past November I was particularly struck by the general absence of armed guards at the entrances to restaurants and cafés in the city. While in 2009 the vast majority of restaurants in the city had gaurds posted outside, in 2013 the opposite now seemed to be true. When I remarked to friends who live in Jerusalem that this seemed like a significant reversal, they all cited the presence of the security fence and the attendant decrease in attempted bombings, as the reason for this change. I have to admit that although I know they were right, and the number of bombings has been vastly reduced, that it still felt a little strange to sit in a cafe on Emrk Refaim, one of the busiest streets in Jerusalem, with no gaurds sitting out front.

By and large Israel is a very safe country with top notch police and security forces that do a remarkably good job protecting citizens and visitors alike. The fact that restaurant owners in town no longer feel a need to post a guard outside of every establishment is certainly a testament to the dedication and diligence of these professionals. That being said, there were several reminders in the past two weeks that there are those who have nothing in their hearts but contempt for the only democracy in the Middle East, and think nothing of  murdering innocent civilians to express the hatred. Since the middle of December we have seen an Israeli civilian working near Gaza killed by a terrorist sniper, an officer with the border police stabbed, some quick thinking by passengers and a driver who narrowly averted disaster when they discovered a bomb left on a passenger bus and most recently rocket striking both northern and central Israel.

Israel is still an incredibly safe country, one of the few places where I never hesitate to walk somewhere late at night, or to travel by myself. As I read the news about this latest violence, though, I couldn't help but think about the need for the Jewish community to remain aware of the existential danger posed to Israel by its enemies. Israel is not, and never should be, defined solely by the conflict with the Palestinians (or any other group), but until peace is achieved (and I fervently believe such a day cannot come soon enough) we cannot ignore the reality that in the last week alone, terrorists managed to shoot one Israeli, stab another, very nearly blow up a bus filled with passengers and terrorize innocent men, women and children with rockets.

Here in New Hampshire we have many people from across the political spectrum who care about Israel and the conversation can become heated, even when people of goodwill disagree. I would  suggest that during this period when we have had such terrible reminders of the threats still facing Israel, that regardless of where we might stand politically,  that a real and lasting peace is in everyone's best interest. In the meantime perhaps all we can do is hope and pray that Israel's enemies will realize that such attacks will never gain them what they hope to achieve, and that the rockets, bullets and bombs will stop.

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2013.

Making the Israel Connection

One of the roles that Jewish Federations and Jewish Community Relations Councils play across the country is to provide a point of connection between elected officials at all levels, and the Jewish community. These are relationships which are important when it comes to making sure that the voice of the Jewish community is heard on a range of topics, including Israel advocacy and matters of social justice. In New Hampshire we are lucky to have many elected officials who are aware of the social justice concerns of our community as well as the level of commitment and interest when it comes to Israel. For these reasons we were delighted to host Congresswoman Ann McClane Kuster (D) at the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire building in Manchester at the end of November.

During her talk Congresswoman Kuster discussed her visit to Israel this past summer and some of the insights she gained during meetings and conversations with government officials, community leaders and average Israelis on the street.  There are many organizations that provide opportunities for elected officials to visit Israel and learn about Israeli society at all levels - personally I think these programs are important not only because they help bolster connections between the US and Israel (the only democracy in the Middle East and a close US ally) but because they offer our leaders a chance to become immersed in Jewish culture and history, something which can only foster greater understanding. It is commendable that Congresswoman Kuster took the time to go to Israel to see firsthand some of the realities, challenges and triumphs that are part of daily life there, and equally as laudable, I would argue, that she took time upon her return to reach out to the Jewish community and share some of her insights.

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2013.

Reflecting on the value of Hillel, post Pew

While the results of the Pew survey have been dismaying to those of us who care about the future of Jewish life in America, I firmly believe that all is not lost and that there are certainly things we can do to address the challenges highlighted in the report.  In order to do this we need to bolster foundational programs and institutions to help ensure that future generations will feel connected to Judaism. One area where I firmly believe that our support and attention is likely to pay significant dividends  is on college campuses in the state.

Here in New Hampshire there are many Jewish students attending schools from UNH and Southern New Hampshire University in the east to Dartmouth College in the west. There are also places where people are working to create Jewish community, such as at Keene State College, where I had the pleasure of meeting with two students who are doing just this: building a Jewish community designed to not only meet the needs and interests of current students, but to create something that will be there to welcome future Jewish students as well.

With some financial and faculty support from the college these students have begun to establish a presence on campus and have already held several events, including a sushi Shabbat dinner and a Hanukkah party.  When we spoke I told them that I would share the news of what they are doing with others in the NH Jewish Community and also think about ways that the Federation might be able to offer support and guidance. I think the administration of Keene State should also be applauded for their support of this student initiative, since having visible, vibrant Jewish life on campus benefits not only Jewish students, but all students, providing an opportunity for everyone in the college community to learn about Jewish life, culture and traditions.

Of course when it comes to Hillel I'm not really objective, since when I was a graduate student Harvard Hillel played a vital role in my life, both personally and professionally, providing resources and opportunities to connect with Judaism in new and creative ways, to learn firsthand about Israel and  offering countless lessons in leadership and community building. During my time on the graduate student steering committee at Hillel we had many successes (and some failures) as we worked with the different minyanim, Hillel staff and undergraduates to create programs that we thought would improve Jewish life on campus.

 This was one of the places where I learned about the challenges (and the wonderful rewards) to be found in working within a pluralistic Jewish environment, something which certainly has resonance for me today as I visit different Jewish communities across New Hampshire. Although I would say I grew up with exposure to different ways of being Jewish, it was at Harvard Hillel that I learned to work across denominational lines, working with other Jewish young adults from across  the country who found their own connections to Judaism in diverse and myriad ways. The lessons I learned through my involvement with Hillel have proven invaluable, so the prospect of being able to help college students in New Hampshire enjoy some of the same benefits I got from Hillel is particulary exciting for me, and I am very much looking forward to continuing the dialogue with them.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the towering figure whose name adorns countless Jewish student centers across the US:  Hillel himself. His dictum that we must not only act for ourselves, nor must we delay action, has been a guiding principle in my own life and one that the Jewish people have held dear for centuries. Perhaps as we think about the sobering results of the Pew survey we would do well to think about Hillel, both his call to action, and the modern institution which bears his name. Both represent, each in their own way, important tools we have for ensuring Jewish continuity in New Hampshire and throughout North America.