Secular, and Educated

August 30, 2006 - 7:26 PM by

Via Esther, news of a new “Secular Yeshiva” in Tel Aviv.

A “yeshiva” is a study hall/lecture center/ library in which one studies classical Jewish texts such as the Bible, Talmud, Jewish Law, and Jewish Philosophy. It’s not the sort of place that one is typically attracted to unless one believes in Jewish ideology of some kind.

Israel’s newest yeshiva has it all: Hassidism. Kabbalah. Gemara. Halacha. Combining military service and Torah studies. And every two weeks, on-site Shabbat observance. Huh?

If this sounds ideal to you, then consider enrolling in Tel Aviv’s newest yeshiva, along with 150 other non-religious students who have chosen to immerse themselves in a program of religious study that (at least to my Diaspora eye) closely mimics (or perhaps is “divinely inspired by”) the hesder approach to military approach, but with a secular bent.

An initiative of the BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, the secular yeshiva program features one year of study, followed by draft into the IDF “for full military service… interrupted by a one-year yeshiva study break,” according to a Ynet article. The program also contains two days a week of “social activity” in south Tel Aviv. (I assume this means social action activities, rather than sushi with friends or martinis on the tayelet with hotties in handkerchief tops.)

They’re hoping to create a “Tel-Avivi” approach to Jewish study, “like rabbinic study produced the Talmud ‘Bavli and the ‘Yerushalmi’.” But a central goal of this initiative is tikkun olam, and, according to their press release, they also “expect the Secular Yeshiva to will serve as a basis for creating indigenously non- (or Trans) denominational approaches to Jewishness that will be meaningful for Israelis. In addition to creating new forms of community in Israeli society, graduates will connect to existing pluralistic organizations; some may also find their way to the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel.”

With the vast cultural gulf between Israel’s religious and secular populations, many secular Israelis have eschewed the study of Judaism in any way. The problem is, that if one does not study Judaism because one does not wish to associate with religious people, then one is also bound to be ignorant about one’s religious, ideological, and cultural heritage. How can an Israeli understand Israeli literature if one doesn’t know the Bible, even as literature? How can one understand so many aspects of Israeli life if one does not know Jewish Law?

It seems that the founders of this new institution are tapping into an idea that has caught on in the last 20 years or so: that of teaching classical Jewish texts without forcing any sort of practical or ideological interpretation onto it. It’s the approach of “teach the texts, and let each student decide for himself or herself what to make of it — to put it into practice, or forget it, or say ‘that’s nice’ and just think about it every so often.”

So this secular yeshiva, where Jews can gain access to Jewish history and culture, without feeling that they have to toe any religious lines, is a great way to help ALL Jewish Israelis to understand Judaism – whether they decide to practice it, or not.

I do wonder, though, whether Ynet’s phrase “the holy city of Tel Aviv” is meant to be tongue in cheek.

Tags: • Category: General, Israeliness 

Comments

2 Comments on Secular, and Educated

  1. Ilan on Fri, May 18th 2007 12:03 PM

    2. Shalom,
    Very interesting! The study of Kabbalah is OPEN TO ALL! Secular or religious, race or creed!
    Hope that you take a look at this site:)) also these links as well:
    http://www.kab.tv/
    http://www.kabbalahforwomen.com/

  2. alex on Sun, Sep 16th 2007 10:32 AM

    3. you may also take a look at the kabbalah blog
    http://www.kabbalahblog.co.il

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