For Rabbi Donniel Hartman, co-director of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, a leading innovator in the field of pluralistic Jewish thought and education, a Jew is a Jew is a Jew.
That’s a radical idea these days when many Jews feel more comfortable with non-Jews than with Jews of the other Jewish religious denominations.
“To build a community today, more than we need pluralism, we need the courage … to stand up for the belief that ‘I’m responsible for the Jewish people.’ Not ‘Do I accept Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Reconstructionist?’; but ‘Am I willing to say that my primary association is with the Jewish people and not just my denomination?’” Hartman said.
Hartman will strive to promote this idea as the first community scholar-in-residence during a visit spearheaded by Dan Weber of the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning. As part of his stay, Hartman will kick off the “One Community, Two Books: 1,000 Opinions” program on March 3 (see related story this page).
Hartman, an Orthodox rabbi and educator, will speak at a variety of community events about pluralism, Jewish continuity and Israel. The theme for his visit, March 2-5, is “Foundations for Tomorrow: Building Blocks for Individual and Communal Jewish Identity.”
Hartman also aims to decrease alienation among many modern Jews, to help Jews “feel comfortable feeling Jewish,” he said in a telephone interview from Israel.
In Milwaukee, Hartman will also discuss Israel and its importance to modern Jewry.
“Israel reminds us that we are one people,” he said. Moreover, “Israeli society teaches us what could happen if we don’t deal with the [polarization within our community]. The deep alienation of some Israelis from Judaism is an indication of where American Jews could end up.”
Diversity and vibrancy
Hartman holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish and general philosophy from Hebrew University and master’s degrees in religion and political philosophy. He is completing his doctorate in Jewish philosophy at Hebrew University.
He helped create a new Judaic curriculum for Israeli schools and is developing, with other scholars from SHI, a curriculum for rabbis, educators and lay leaders entitled “Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism.”
When the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning sought to find a speaker for its annual meeting, they wanted a person who could also serve the rest of the community.
“We wanted an individual who could really bring the community together,” said Weber, who visited Hartman at SHI and was impressed by its programs. Weber worked with a planning committee comprising representatives from the various sponsoring organizations to bring Hartman here.
Hartman’s topics “all center on how you bring community together,” said Weber. “Not that everyone agrees with each other but that each values the diversity of the others…. In so doing, you construct a community that is vibrant.”
Hartman will speak at the following open-to-the-community events:
• Sunday, March 2, 12:30 p.m. — WSJL’s spring meeting at the Golda Meir Library of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2311 E. Hartford Ave. The meeting includes lunch, which costs $18, and Hartman’s lecture on “Education and Forming Identity,” which is free. For more information, contact Kathy Jendusa, 414-963-4135.
• Sunday, March 2, 6 p.m. — Hillel Foundation-Milwaukee’s Supper and Program for University/High School Students and Faculty at the Golda Meir Library. Hartman will speak on “Israel and Jewish Identity.” For more information, contact Zak Mazur at Hillel, 414-961-2010.
• Monday, March 3, 7 p.m. — Kickoff for “One Community, Two Books: 1,000 Opinions” program of the Coalition for Jewish Learning, the education program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. The event will take place in the Ritz Theater of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. Hartman will discuss “Building Jewish Community Dialogue: What Works.” For more information, contact Lis Shapiro, 414-962-8860.
• Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. — The Ben-Gurion Society of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation invites young leaders (aged 25-45) to a dialogue with Hartman on “Pluralism and Tolerance: Acceptable and Unacceptable Behavior.” For location, call Margie Stein, 414-390-5700.
• Wednesday, March 5, 7 p.m. — Community synagogue program, location to be announced, sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Shir Hadash, Congregation Sinai and Lake Park Synagogue. Hartman will discuss, “Living with Others: Hillel, Shammai, and Building Community.” For more information, contact Rabbi David Brusin, 414-962-9212, or Rabbi David Fine, 414-962-5508.
Co-sponsors of Hartman’s visit, as of press time, are: WSJL; the adult education task force of CJL; Congregations Beth Israel, Shir Hadash and Sinai; the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC; Hillel Foundation-Milwaukee; Lake Park Synagogue; Milwaukee Jewish Federation; Nicolet High School Hebrew program; Tikkun Ha-Ir; the Golda Meir Library; and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis.
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