What is Zionism? With Rabbi Jonathan Singer (5/12)
What are We Talking About When We Talk About Zionism.
Taught by Rabbi Jonathan Singer
Guest for May 12: Joshua Burg, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Join Rabbi Jonathan for a six-part lunch and learn with guests from different perspectives sharing about the beautiful complexity of Zionism, both from historic and contemporary perspectives. Zionism is both celebrated by some as being the miraculous expression of Jewish nationalism and questioned by others as an ideology that has become disconnected from Jewish values. As is our approach at Emanu-El, we want to bring in many voices and so will include Orli Bein from the New Israel Fund, Rabbi Josh Weinberg leader of ARZA- the Reform Movement’s Zionist Wing, a board member from IF NOT NOW, a speaker on Orthodox Zionism, and our own John Rothmann- who brings a wealth of historical knowledge and capacity for political analysis.
We will use Gil Troy’s updated version of Arthur Hertzbergs’ “The Zionist Idea” as our text.
'"Josh Burg (he/him) grew up in Petaluma, CA, as a member of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, CA, and is a proud product of the Jewish Community High School of the Bay. Josh graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in May of 2020 with a degree in philosophy, though he spent the first two years of college at the University of Michigan. He also spent a semester abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem as a fellow on the Nachshon Project. Josh has been heavily involved in the Bay Area Jewish Community his entire life, especially as a staff and faculty member at URJ Camp Newman.
These days, Josh works at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant. His legislative portfolio includes civil rights and racial justice, voting rights, criminal justice reform, the death penalty, campaign finance reform, and gun violence prevention. In his free time, he organizes for climate justice with the Sunrise Movement and is a member of IfNotNow's core strategic planning team."
Wednesdays from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Bring your lunch and an open mind.
April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 12, 19
