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Greetings, We are about to celebrate Passover, a holiday that
is concerned not just with "outer" freedom the liberation from
physical bondage that we talk about at the Seder but also with
"inner" freedom freedom from spiritual bondage. In our day, when
freedom from the physical enslavement of Jews is assured by the nation-state
and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the personal and national
choice to be free means deciding to shape our lives on the
basis of independent ethical choices for which we take responsibility.
It's no coincidence that the Hebrew words cherut
(freedom) and achrayut (responsibility)
derive from the same root. Our journey to physical freedom is complete; in
contrast, our journey toward spiritual freedom, toward the burden of personal
and national responsibility, will never end. I wish you a joyous Festival of Freedom, Prof. Yedidia Stern |
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The Israeli Elections
Initial Conclusions Shmuel
Rosner |
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The fact that Israel has once
again found it difficult to form a majority coalition that will provide
governmental stability is problematic, to say the least. The question of
whether a temporary solution will be found in the post-election negotiations
that will propel the system forward, or whether Israel will be dragged into
the fifth election cycle in under three years, remains open. |
Credit: Shutterstock |
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The Fragmentation Disease Professor Yedidia Stern |
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Israeli cohesion is unraveling.
The disintegration of the Israeli "we" is evident in our current
electoral system. The plethora of party lists reflects the growing split in
society. A major change in the system of governance is needed from the
political perspective, as well as from the fundamental perspective of
revitalizing Israeli solidarity. |
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Israel Needs
"Naive" Leaders in the Mold of Shimon Peres Avi
Gil |
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The lack of political stability
and the short intervals between recent Israeli election cycles have given
primacy to short-term considerations. Israeli leaders need to cast off these
restraints and promote a peace treaty that will ensure the Jewish-democratic
character of the state. |
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Save the Date: JPPI Pluralism Index
Presentation Monday,
April 12, at 1:00 pm EDT. The Index, compiled by JPPI
fellows Shmuel Rosner and Noah Slepkov, is based on a wide-ranging survey
conducted by the Institute with the assistance of Professor Camil Fuchs.
Focused on identifying areas of consensus and controversy, the Index offers
new insights regarding major trends in Israeli society. Join us on Zoom for the presentation -> |
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The Diaspora Jewish
Community, Post-Pandemic Trends and Recommendations Shmuel Rosner |
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The coronavirus pandemic has
dramatically changed the ways Diaspora Jews practice and express their
Jewishness. Because the possibility exists that things will not return to the
pre-pandemic norm, measures must be taken for addressing recent developments
and their impact. |
Credit: S-F/ Shutterstock.com |
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The Haredim: What Was Is
Not What Will Be Prof.
Yedidia Stern |
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Israel's Haredi community,
which has flourished to an astonishing degree since the early years of the
state, now faces a number of developments that
threaten to impede its continued conduct along present lines. The impressive
success of the Haredi strategy has actually set in
motion processes that are now causing it to fail. |
Credit:
Amos Ben Gershomן / Government Press Office |
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Climate Change, Israel,
and the Jewish People Ambassador Gideon Behar (guest lecture at the
Institute) |
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Israel is
capable of contributing significantly to international efforts to
address the climate crisis. Regional and international collaboration in the
field must be initiated, and Diaspora Jewry should also be involved, both as
an expression of tikkun olam, and as a means of
strengthening the Israel-Diaspora relationship. |
Credit: Government Press Office |
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The views expressed in the
newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the
position of JPPI. |
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