ALIYAH COMMITTEE
AMTON Newsletter
Fall 2002

Israel Now
Dr. Etti and Yisrael Serok

We know that when you read about Israel in the newspapers, life here sounds pretty frightening. In fact, our life goes on, despite "the situation," maybe not the same as before, but we carry on with hopes that one day, one way, there will be peace, and we value our lives as never before.

Our home in Har Adar, a small community on the highest mountain in the Jerusalem suburbs, represents our ideals and hopes for the future. Har Adar was started 20 years ago as a private initiative of idealistic, native-born Israelis. From the beginning, we hoped American and other new immigrants would join us, to help our community become more heterogeneous and to be a possible bridge between Israeli and diaspora Jews.

After several years of shlichut in the U.S., we became acquainted with American Jewish life and Conservative Judaism and gradually became "Conservatives by Choice", a rare phenomenon among native-born Israelis at that time.

When we returned to Israel in 1981 and began to build our home in Har Adar, we did so with the conviction that American families, preferably from Conservative Jewish backgrounds, could contribute significantly to our community. We had become convinced that the liberal religious dimension of American Conservative Jews was necessary for our country because Orthodoxy was the only accepted form of religion, and a hostile gulf was growing between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox (secular). We felt then and we feel now that liberal American Jews, such as those from the Conservative Movement, can help us to change the face of Israeli society in several ways, allowing many Israelis to find religious alternatives.

But this is only a small piece of the story. Israel is also transitioning from a socialist to a capitalist society and this is a difficult change. During our years of shlichut in the U.S., we learned how Jewish communities there organized and how the synagogue can function as the center of Jewish life. Community members help one another and organize their community life without the help of "authorities" or the government. Americans volunteer their time and money to make their community vibrant while Israeli society has been learning more about volunteerism over the last several years. More Israelis volunteer now in community organizations and are learning to donate their time and money for social causes to raise the quality of life for the entire community. We feel strongly that American Conservative olim bring with them the experience and background to help us reshape Israeli society by making it more attentive to people's needs.

Finally, we want American Conservative olim to help us strengthen our democracy. Israel was started as, and continues to be a democracy. But this is a difficult road and our struggle to be a more democratic society is ongoing. Although Israel was created by immigrants from all over the world who enrich our society with their own unique contributions, a large number of our citizens have come from non-democratic countries. Liberal Jews from America, such as those from the Conservative Movement, bring with them their unique heritage from the largest democracy in the world to help with this.

The contribution of American olim to Israel can be seen in our various ongoing civil campaigns. Among the Israeli activists fighting to form a constitution in Israel, you will find many North American olim. Among the Israeli activists for religious pluralism, an improved ecology, and peace with our neighbors, you will find many North American olim. But we need more of you.

For all these reasons, we wish you would come to Israel to help us build our society for future generations. First, come to visit us, spend as much time as you can. See for yourself.

Etti and Yisrael Serok are leaders in Israel's Conservative / Masorti Movement. Yisrael retired after years of service at the Jewish Agency of the World Zionist Organization, most recently as Executive Director of the Events Department. He now runs his own investment management company.... Dr. Etti Serok, a fourth generation Jerusalemite of a Bulgarian Sephardic background recently received her Ed.D. degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in N.Y. while she was simultaneously the educational representative from the World Zionist Organization in the U.S. She is now the Head of the Frankel Center for Jewish Family Education in Jerusalem. Etti and Yisrael continue to live in Har Adar with their three children. They want us to come and join them in Har Adar or anywhere in Israel.

Another community of note is developing adjacent to the Conservative Movement's Kibbutz Hannaton in the southern Galilee. To be called Yishuv Hannaton, it will be municipally connected to the Kibbutz, but it will be a community of independent homes, 115 to start, with an estimated growth of up to 450 more. More about Yishuv Hannaton will appear in our next issue.

For information about visiting, touring and living in Israel, or about Yishuv Hannaton, please contact our shlichah, Karni Goldshmid-Lahav at 212-339-6920 or email, shlichah@mercazusa.org.

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