The Community Synagogue of Port Washington will host Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), for a weekend of learning as Scholar in Residence. Hoffman guides IRAC in its work to promote Jewish pluralism, tolerance, and equality and to combat racism, corruption, and religious coercion.
During her tenure, she also expanded IRAC’s mission to go beyond the courts and the Knesset, and to engage in helping people directly through social action. Hoffman will give three presentations on April 20 at 6:30 p.m. and April 21 and 22 at 9 a.m.
The “If You See Something, Say Something” presentation is set for April 20 and in it Hoffman will suggest an action guide for the perplexed, when Israel strays from its own declared vision. An invitation to speak up when Israel strays away from its own declared vision. Israel’s Declaration of Independence ensures social and political rights to all of Israel’s inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; and a country that will safeguard the holy places of all religions. There are instances where Israel goes off course. What should diaspora Jews do?
In the teaching Torah study “Resilience And Resistance—Keeping The Struggle Alive” set for April 21, Hoffman speaks on how to find patience for a marathon in a world that is running sprints. What does it take to fight for Tikkun Olam for 30 years? It takes resilience to make Israel (or any other homeland) live up to values and goals. What is resilience?
The presentation, “Between the Stones and the Hard Place” set for April 22 presents the struggle of “Women of the Wall”, a group of Israeli women, who seek the right for Jewish women to conduct prayer services, read from a Torah scroll while wearing prayer shawls, and sing out loud at the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred holy site.
These free lectures are open to the community and are held at The Community Synagogue, 160 Middle Neck Road, Port Washington, NY 11050, 516-883-3144, www.commsyn.org.
