In Kansas City, Backyard Issues Higher on Agenda Than Israel
Image by kurt hoffman
For my congregation, Israel is not the most important matter on the agenda. Oh, members care about Israel, want it to succeed, pray for it, support it and sometimes visit it. But it’s not our central focus.
Jacques Cukierkorn
So when people ask me how I handle the many divisive feelings around Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I invite them to travel to Israel and make up their own minds. If they find they are absolutely in love with Israel, I tell them they should consider moving there and being part of its life firsthand.
But before they go — whether with me or alone — I tell them that Israel’s existence is a daily miracle that needs to be nurtured and protected. And I tell them that when we can, we should stand with Israel, though there may be times when the government of Israel does things or adopts policies that we simply can’t support.
For me and my congregation, though, the larger issue is living out our Jewish values wherever we are, whether in Israel or in Kansas City. I tell my people that they need not move to Israel to be true Jews. In fact, I tell them that if they can’t be committed Jews in Kansas City, they can’t be committed Jews anywhere, including in Israel.
Jacques Cukierkorn is the rabbi of Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City.
Read the rest of our special coverage of how rabbis talk — or don’t talk — about Israel in synagogue.
Andy Bachman writes Congregation Needs To Be Involved in Israel To Make a Difference
Jacques Cukierkorn says In Kansas City, Backyard Issues Higher on Agenda Than Israel
Valerie Cohen warns Don’t Allow Views on Israel To Overwhelm Congregation
Asher Lopatin says Make Israel a Personal Issue for Congregation
Sam Fraint writes that Rabbis Must Speak About Israel, Warts and All
Ellen Lippmann advises building A Wide Tent on Israel, of Respectful Tension
Pinchas Allouche encourages shuls to Use Israel To Build Bridges Not Walls
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
