Jerusalem From Afar and Up Close

After a six-month hiatus, I'm back with a wonderful cohort of rabbis participating in the Hartman Institute's Rabbinic Leadership Initiative.  It has been a real blessing to reconnect with colleagues in person and to hear about personal and professional developments over the past half-year.  On our first day, we also took some long walks to reacquaint ourselves with certain neighborhoods in Jerusalem.  

Jerusalem in winter has a different feel and pace than Jerusalem during the summer.  The air is crisper and the crowds are much thinner.  Our first official session featured a conversation with Rabbi Donniel Hartman, President of the Institute.  He spoke to us about a project designed to engage adults in conversation regarding Israel's approach to the "two-state solution."  The visionaries behind the project were challenged to identify what values underscore their attitudes toward the establishment of two states for Israelis and Palestinians, respectively.  Rabbi Hartman shared that his support for a two-state solution is grounded in three basic values.

First, our sources from Genesis on urge us to be "part of the world," to be mindful of what those whose opinions we value are thinking.  In this case, argues Hartman, that means recognition of the widespread view that Israel's relationship with the West Bank is one of occupation.  Second, the Kantian imperative of acting in a way that we would want to see become the universal norm compels us to accord the sort of recognition of the national aspiration of others that we would want accorded to our own aspirations.   Finally, the Jewish penchant for justice, which he claims to have an exceptional quality, urges us to go "above and beyond" when it comes to pursuing justice.

He asked us for initial feedback, which a number of us provided. I wondered aloud, for example, if the Institute had considered including Palestinian leaders in their visioning process.  We briefly discussed that, as well as other feedback, with the promise that this conversation would continue and be expanded. 

Our week here will be devoted to the exploration of various aspects of Jewish ethics, including ethical issues implicit in Jewish holidays and in various dilemmas facing contemporary Israel.

Below is a picture that I took today from the Haas Promenade in Talpiyot, a destination of one of our walks.  It features the Old City and the Arab village of Silwan.  From far away, Jerusalem looks so peaceful.  In the coming week, we're going to take a closer look.