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OTS Newsletter- Winter 2001
IN PURSUIT OF UNITYTogether for Yom KippurFor many secular Israelis, the experience of visiting a synagogue on Yom Kippur can be uncomfortable at best - and alienating at worst. Personal tales abound of non-observant Israelis who have become disenfranchised and resentful of Judaism as a result of a lack of warmth from other congregants, a dearth of explanation in the synagogue, or an insensitive approach from the rabbi. Many of these individuals have come to feel that religion is the sole domain of the religious.
"No Jew, religious or secular, should feel that they are being denied access to their roots, or that Judaism is owned by one particular denomination," stresses Ohr Torah Stone chancellor Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. "Every Jew, regardless of background or lifestyle, is entitled to claim his or her birthright and experience the beauty and meaning of our heritage in their own personal way. We teach our rabbis to reach out to all Jews in an open, accepting manner because, ultimately, the best way to fight apathy and assimilation is by promoting true national unity. Indeed, the very name of the program - 'Yachad' - alludes to the fact that we are all bound together through our joined heritage, while also implying the responsibilities each person has toward his fellow Jew." "Yachad" Yom Kippur was first launched in 2000; this year, the numbers speak for themselves. Attendance tripled at the services, exceeding all expectations. The gatherings were deliberately held in buildings other than synagogues. "In this way, we attracted a number of people who would never consider entering a synagogue," says Yisrael Diamant, an Amiel student who was responsible for the technical arrangements at all the services. Each service was staffed by two Amiel students. One served as rabbi, leading and explaining the tefilot and the other functioned as hazan, teaching melodies and leading the singing. "All of the leaders made a point of greeting each person individually, with a specially-prepared machzor," continues Diamant, an oleh from Uruguay who also teaches in Ohr Torah Stone's Spanish-language program for converts to Judaism. "As the services progressed, people opened up and began to ask questions ranging from intense philosophical issues to the place of Jewish observance in everyday life." Locations for the services, which were advertised on flyers and on the radio, included urban centers, secular communities and non-religious kibbutzim and moshavim. Russian-speaking rabbis conducted services in areas with large Russian populations, and English-language services were held at the Mt. Scopus campus of the Hebrew University.
Spirituality at the ShoreTens of hip Tel Avivians participated in Kol Nidrei and Neilah prayers at one very unusual location: a caf? adjacent to the Tel Aviv beach. "This coffee house has a large window facing the street," reports Amiel student Ran Reshef, who ran the beachfront service together with Yisrael Diamant. "Many passers-by saw what was happening inside and decided to join us -- including a famous Israeli singer and a woman who had vowed never to set foot inside a synagogue.""In fact, Ohr Torah Stone had been challenged in the past to establish a regular Friday night service at the Tel Aviv beach," reveals Rabbi Riskin. "The overwhelming success of the Yom Kippur services at that location indicates that the time is now ripe." Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, director of the Amiel program, envisions "the kind of tefilah inspired by the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach - a combination of intense emotion and intellectual discovery -- followed by a traditional Shabbat meal. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the oceanfront, we will create an environment where all Israelis can experience the beauty of Shabbat, learn the melodies of their heritage, and explore their own spirituality."
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