In the modern world Jews have a respected place both within the insular, tribal community and the larger, universal society. We celebrate the freedoms associated with citizenship and acceptance in a global society, even as we are challenged by the consequences of going beyond the safety of Jewish community boundaries. The existence of a strong Jewish State alongside a largely successful diaspora Jewish community brings the question of tribalism vs. universalism into greater focus. The confluence of war in Israel and rising antisemitism in America makes the question even more complicated.

Through a series of compelling presentations, Rabbi Tucker explores the enduring and evolving meaning of two prophecies from Isaiah: “The Torah shall come forth from Zion” (2:3), and “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people” (56:7).

Saturday, December 14

9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Services with Sermon by Rabbi Ethan Tucker
12:30 PM Lunch and Learn – Israel: Covenant, Land, Power, Responsibility
An authentic Zionism embraces the deep responsibility for all who live in the land of Israel. In this session, we re-examine the roots of religious Zionism, the purpose of Israel, and why we should remain committed even when the going gets rough.

5:30 PM Havdalah and Learning Session – Should Jews Proselytize?
It is a generally unexamined assumption that Jews should not proselytize, i.e., seek to convert others. We will explore the roots of this concept, along with alternative branches of our tradition that think very differently.

Rabbi Ethan Tucker is President and Rosh Yeshiva at Hadar. Ethan was ordained by the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a doctorate in Talmud and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a BA from Harvard College. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, he was a co-founder of Kehilat Hadar and a winner of the first Grinspoon Foundation Social Entrepreneur Fellowship. He is the author, along with Rabbi Micha’el Rosenberg, of Gender Equality and
Prayer in Jewish Law (2017).

This year’s Scholar-in-Residence weekend is generously sponsored by the M.B. Lewis Charitable Foundation.