Expanding the Options

by Daniel E. Levenson

June 15, 2009

JERUSALEM- When it comes to Jewish learning in this city, there is certainly no shortage of programs and opportunities, with options running from full-time learning at a yeshiva to weekly shiurim and one-time lectures. Jerusalem is a city alive with the love of learning Jewish texts, but the fact of the matter is that the majority of these opportunities are organized by or affiliated with Orthodox Jewish institutions, which may be unappealing or even off-putting for Jews who affiliate with a more liberal stream of Judaism. Since I arrived in Israel in early January of this year, I have been looking for places that  offer learning opportunities in a less-Orthodox environment, which is why I was excited to recently discover the Anita Saltz International Education Center, located in the center for the World Union for Progressive Judaism, here in Jerusalem.

On a recent June morning I sat down with Rabbi Rich Kirschen, director of the center, to find out a little more about the center and how it operates. Rabbi Kirschen explained to me that right now the majority of the work the center does is focused on providing educational content and experiences for groups that come to visit from different Diaspora communities, which includes walking tours, lectures and text study, as well as a weekly Wednesday night learning series in Jerusalem that are open to all who are interested. The center is also home to the annual Beutel Seminar for Progressive Jewish leadership, which draws participants from around the world.

I was encouraged by Rabbi Kirschen’s enthusiasm and to see that he is actively working on new ways to provide learning opportunities for non-Orthodox Jews who want to come to Jerusalem and be able to learn about Jewish tradition and ideas in a liberal environment. I feel it is very important that all Jews find a way to connect with Israel, and be able to do so in a way that is meaningful and accessible for them. If we in the Diaspora are genuinely concerned about forging stronger ties between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, then we need to make sure that we support not only traditional yeshivot or programs like Taglith-Birthright, but that we encourage the growth of places like the Anita Saltz Center, so that liberal Jews can come to Israel and learn while they are here, without having to make extreme compromises when it comes to observance and practice.