Decline of Traditional Mediators Between Israel and the Diaspora

The world is changing fast, but Jewish institutions? Less so. Today the Jewish world is experiencing a decline in old models of Jewish legacy institutions. This decline poses a new challenge to Jewish communities in the United States and elsewhere. In our recent paper, we argue that the traditional mediators must be updated, and that …

Renovating Robinson’s Arch Won’t Solve the Kotel Crisis

Today it was announced that the government promised $5 million to renovate and expand the egalitarian prayer space at the Davidson Archaeological Center next to Robinson’s Arch. This money won’t solve the Kotel Crisis. Even if the government rescinded the cancellation today, and reinstated the Kotel Compromise in full, it would not resolve the deep …

Its not just the Americans

In the past several weeks, we've seen sharp reactions from Jewish communities throughout the world, following the Israeli government's decision to cancel the Kotel Compromise. The cancellation of the Kotel Compromise, the Conversion Bill, and the Rabbinate's Blacklist of Diaspora rabbis, are not just insults to the Reform or Conservative movements, or even just American …

It’s not about the wall.

It’s not about the wall. On June 26, Naftali Bennett, Minister of Diaspora Affairs, released a video (in Hebrew) explaining the cancellation of the Kotel Compromise, intending to calm the storm. Bennett calmly explained that although the compromise was cancelled, men and women could still pray together at Robinson’s Arch, and so there was no …

The Cancellation of the Kotel Compromise

The Kotel is the symbol of the expression of Jewish longing throughout generations and exile for Zion. It is the most foundational Jewish symbol, not real estate to be traded within Israeli coalition agreements. It is a spiritual asset that the State of Israel administers on behalf of the entire Jewish People and future generations. …