On the Ground in Israel A personal view of our efforts in Israel from Amir Shacham, UJC MetroWest Director of Israel Operations July 15, 2008

Family Matters

Pigua is an act of terror, a word that we haven't heard for quite some time and don't want to hear again. We have seen too many of them over the years in many shapes and forms, but the last one was something new. An Arab bulldozer driver used his powerful vehicle to smash cars and kill Jews just because they were there. The terrorist was a Palestinian from East Jerusalem. He carried an Israeli ID; he didn't have to sneak in or cross any fence. He theoretically was a member of our tribe and not the tribe of our enemy - a distant relative. However, in practice, there was no difference between him and any other Palestinian terrorist. To demonstrate some of the complexities of this country, this city, and this people, here are some family affairs facts:

• The neighborhood from which this terrorist and his own family came had been very friendly with their Jewish neighbors for many years. They used to demonstrate together against the Jerusalem municipality on local issues.
   
• The terrorist who committed the mass killing in the "Merkaz Harav" yeshiva a couple of months ago came from a nearby neighborhood with a similar background.
   
• Unbelievable but true: the bulldozer driver had a Jewish ex-girlfriend who bore him a Jewish son. They live in a Jewish settlement near Jerusalem.
   
• The hero who killed the terrorist at the attack in the yeshiva was an IDF officer on vacation who happened to live nearby. Believe it or not, he is the brother in-law of the soldier who killed the bulldozer terrorist.

Blood Convenant is the phrase we usually use to describe the relationship with the Druze. The story of this unique community in Israel is fascinating. The Druze speak Arabic but they are not Arabs. Their religion emerged from Islam, but it is so different and very sacred. They are known as great warriors. For hundreds of years, they have lived on hilltop villages in the Galilee. They are loyal to their country and serve the IDF in a higher percentage than Jews, usually in combat units and command positions. After the Second Lebanon war, UJC MetroWest decided to create a three-way relationship between the Druze village of Hurfeish, the community of Neve Eliyahu in Rishon LeZion (partnered with UJC MetroWest for 30 years), and the New Jersey-based Jewish community. Since then, we have developed many programs and projects in Hurfeish, but the best part of it is the encounters among the three communities. Many groups and individuals from all three communities have visited one another and explored the others' traditions. For the first time in history, we are hoping to be able to bring to New Jersey a joint Druze-Jewish dance troupe. It will perform on Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, and by doing so will reflect the patriotic covenant that has been established between the communities. Last Friday was the official day of "Salute the Druze Soldier." The main ceremony was held in Hurfeish. The Druze-Jewish Israeli relationship has been described as "the Covenant of Blood." We serve our country together shoulder to shoulder, and our military cemeteries, like the one in Hurfeish, act as silent evidence of this covenant.

Rubinsteins. Some 15 years ago, I went down to Be'er Sheva to interview candidates for a newly created position. It was during the mass wave of Aliyah from the FSU, and there was a need to help the new olim with their integration into Israeli society. The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) of the Reform movement, which I then directed, opened legal advocacy centers for the immigrants. A new center was about to open in the Negev. We interviewed several candidates to coordinate this center and there were two finalists. The first one was already a veteran immigrant, she knew her way around Israel and spoke Hebrew well; she met all our criteria. However, the second one, although only newly arrived and knew nothing, had a certain glimmer in her eyes. We debated a lot but eventually decided to go with our gut feeling and chose the latter for the job. Her name was Yelena Rubinstein, and she was doing an excellent job in spite of her then poor Hebrew and lack of formal knowledge. I left IRAC after a while to go on Shlichut in New Jersey and continued to hear only good things about Yelena. At one point, she decided to become a Rabbi and went to study at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. She became the first Russian-born Israeli female rabbi and is in charge of all the movement's activities for Russian-speaking Israelis, including the painful issue of conversion. A big job.

Yelena's daughter Yulia, who was a young kid when we "discovered" her mother, decided to become a rabbi herself. She went to the Schechter Institute and is already in her third year of studies towards her ordination as a Conservative rabbi. Every year, the Religious Pluralism subcommittee of UJC MetroWest gives a scholarship to a rabbinical student at Schechter. In the past, we supported Yulia Rubinstein in her studies. A couple of years ago, we invited Yulia, together with other recipients, to meet with our subcommittee for dinner. I was seated next to her but didn't make the connection. She told me that Yelena is her mother and that she sends her regards and thanks for giving her her first chance. It was quite an emotional moment for me.

Last week I was invited, together with others, to a Knesset committee that was debating the last conversion fiasco in Israel. The Reform movement was asked by the chair to present the painful situation and discuss potential solutions. The presentation was thoughtful, clear, and in perfect Hebrew. The presenter was Rabbi Yelena Rubinstein, with the same glimmer in her eyes. I was so proud.

Drishat Shalom,

Amir

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On the Ground archive

• July 1, 2008
• June 6, 2008
• May 26, 2008
• May 12, 2008
• April 28, 2008
• April 14, 2008
• March 31, 2008
• March 17, 2008
• March 3, 2008
• February 13, 2008