"This is a nightmare government…but every nightmare is still a dream".

-Rabbi Galit Cohen Kedem

Medarim is Kodesh VeChol's meeting group which brings together congregants from communities across North America. In the year since its inception, we've met regularly with congregants from CBI, as well as with congregants from Greenwich Reform Synagogue in Greenwich, Connecticut and with our Canadian friends from City Shul.

We believe that engaging and communicating with one another represents a meaningful way for us to become a holy community, meaning a community of justice (צדק) and kindness (חסד) as it says in scripture: "Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, your God, am holy"  (Leviticus, 19:2).

Each of our sessions focus on a different topic that resonates with everyone, ranging from studying Jewish texts to having an open conversation about current events. Our first meeting focused on Israel’s Remembrance Day and Independence day, and their meaning to us in Israel and to our brothers and sisters in America. During  our second meeting, moderated by Rabbi Galit, we studied a text from the Talmud exploring what infrastructure and natural resources are required for a city to be considered a good city in the eyes of the Rabbis. Our third meeting addressed the United States’ midterm election and the political and social ramifications. 

Recently, our topic of conversation has shifted to what is on everyone's minds right now: the newly elected ultra-right winged Israeli government. On the one hand, many of the North American Reform Jewish communities realize the importance of a Jewish independent state, but their values as liberal Jews prevent them from fully supporting Israel in the current political climate. We in the Kodesh VeChol community have an equally hard time living in Israel as a liberal Jewish minority – which is on the receiving end of the new government's anti-democratic legislations – whilst holding down the fort, literally in the firing line, in our collective struggle as liberal Jews aspiring to shape Israel as a just and free state. And while we've shared this dream collectively with all our liberal brothers and sisters in the diaspora, this dream has turned into a nightmare.

And yet, every nightmare is still a dream. There are many ways Jews in North America can continue to support Israel whilst still staying true to their pluralistic values. Israel is made up of millions of individuals, many of whom oppose this government and are fighting to protest it. In our recent Medabrim meetings we've joined our minds and hands together and are exploring how our values can guide us in better supporting the projects and innovations within Israel that promote causes near and dear to our North American brothers and sisters' hearts – causes that we believe have the capacity to change Israel from the ground up, regardless of who is in the Knesset at any given time. We challenge and learn from each other, discussing the numerous ways we can be politically active and engaged as American, Canadian and Israeli Jews, leveraging our unwavering commitment to  transforming  our collective dream of a liberal Jewish state in Israel a reality.

Interested in scheduling a Medabrim meeting with your congregation? We invite you to connect with us directly to set a date and time.