Rabbi Gilad Kariv and Dr. Yizhar Hess: A Panel Discussion on Religious Pluralism in Israel
The Center for Jewish Learning presents
Rabbi Gilad Kariv and Dr. Yizhar Hess
A panel discussion about the status of religious pluralism in Israel
Both prominent proponents of pluralism in Israel, Rabbi Gilad Kariv and Dr. Yizhar Hess will present up-to-date information about what is happening on the ground in Israel as leaders of the Reform and Masorti Movement in Israel.
Tuesday, November 13 | 7 pm
Kaplan Feldman Complex
12 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146
Dr. Yizhar Hess, Executive Director, Masorti Movement in Israel
Dr. Yizhar Hess is a 10th generation Jerusalemite. Following his military service, Yizhar earned a BA in Political Science and Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A member of the Israeli Bar, his law degree is from the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. He holds an MA in Jewish Studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem and a Ph.D. on “A Comprehensive Examination of First and Second Generation Masorti Jews in Israel” from Sussex University, Brighton, England. He is known as one of the leading voices in Israel promoting Jewish Pluralism and represents the Masorti-Conservative Movement in the negotiations with the Israeli government regarding egalitarian prayer at the Kotel.
Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Executive Director, Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ)
For the last 17 years, Rabbi Kariv has been an active and committed member in the IMPJ. He previously served as the Associate Director of the Israel Religious Action Center. Rabbi Kariv served in the Israeli Defense Forces’ special Talpiot project of the Intelligence Corps. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University, earning a combined degree with a BA in Law and Jewish Philosophy. He obtained his LLM in Public and International Law from the Northwestern University School of Law and studied in the Israel Rabbinical Program of Hebrew Union College, where he was ordained as a Reform Rabbi in 2003. He has written numerous articles and position papers on Judaism, religion and state, and community empowerment. Recently, Rabbi Kariv led the negotiations on the Kotel issue with leaders of the Conservative Movement, Reform Movement, JAFI, and JFNA, which resulted in a historic decision to create a pluralistic section of the wall.
For additional information, contact Kathy Schmeltz at KSchmeltz@JFedSTL.org or 314-442-3761.
Sh’ma: Listen! Speaker Series is generously funded by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
The Sh’ma: Listen! Speakers Series promotes engagement with a wide spectrum of ideas as a means to deepen our community’s education and commitment to Jewish life. The views expressed by speakers are their own and not necessarily those of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis or the Center for Jewish Learning.
Sh’ma: Listen! Advisory Committee Chair
Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman
Staff
Rabbi Tracy Nathan, Senior Educator, Center for Jewish Learning
Cyndee Levy, Director, Center for Jewish Learning
Jewish Federation of St. Louis
Gerald P. Greiman, Board Chair
Andrew Rehfeld, President & CEO