Rabbi Tamar Elad-Applebaum

Rabbi Tamar shared with us her story of discovering liberal Judaism, which was much different from our upbringings in which we take our backgrounds for granted. Rabbi Tamar grew up in Jerusalem as a part of a traditional Moroccan family. During one Passover Seder when she was young, she noticed the marginalized participation of women, and she insisted that their seclusion in the kitchen end so that all could participate fully in the Seder. From that day, she realized a passion for Jewish text and wisdom that had never been made accessible to her, and she began a process of seeking out and immersing in all opportunities to engage with Jewish thinkers, texts, and ideas.

Hoping to spread her values and passion for knowledge, she figured she would accomplish her goals by being a teacher. However, a friend of hers who was about to begin his studies to become a rabbi told her that it is unjustifiable that he should become a rabbi and not her. She told him that he may be right, but this is the way it is. The friend encouraged her to come to America, where she knew liberal Judaism existed and flourished, and to study to become a rabbi. She and her husband came to New York with no roots or resources in America, and she began her studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She shared with us her immense appreciation for American Jewry that nuances and thinks critically about Jewish tradition. 

Upon returning home to Israel, Rabbi Tamar was once more bothered despite its label as the Holy City for all Jews, and despite the diversity amongst its residents, it remained dramatically compartmentalized. Rather than perpetuate or be complacent with the "black and white" perception of Judaism in Jerusalem (where one is either considered religious [i.e. Orthodox] or secular), she decided to create a community based on the value of pluralism and celebration of people's differences. She founded Zion, a congregation whose mission it is to Jews of different backgrounds, origins, observances, and traditions. She said that during a service, one should necessarily expect to know certain tunes and have never heard of others, and through that discomfort, learn to grow and appreciate the diversity of the Jewish people. 

I found the message to be not only beautiful but truly crucial for ensuring the sanctity of Jerusalem, both abstractly and in terms of the actual lives of its residents. Our program has exposed us to many different types of Judaism, not to show us what we are not, but to expose us to different people who study the same Torah as we do, worship the same God, but diverge tremendously in terms of practice and ideology. Those experiences have been both uncomfortable and challenging, but through that discomfort, just like at Rabbi Tamar's shul, we are able to gain a complete perspective on what it means to be Jewish, and how beautiful all the different Jewish voices can be. As emerging Jewish leaders, it has been tremendously powerful for our group, which is in itself diverse, to broaden our perspective and realize and appreciate the broad scope of Judaism. Only through openness, discomfort, and growth can we break down the walls between communities, remove labels, and foster a more conducive Jewish community.