The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization held its annual summer conference this week with a dedicated track for English speakers and Anglo olim. Renowned for its work within Israeli society using Jewish tradition to bridge gaps between communities, Tzohar has identified that unique issues deserve to be asked within the community of Anglos, many coping with similar questions of Jewish identity and practice.

The conference, which took place at the Jerusalem Convention Center, included a day-long series of sessions and panels on a variety of contemporary issues relevant to Israel, Judaism, and parenthood. The English track, designed by Tzohar’s Rabbi Reuven Spolter, specifically tackled questions of concern for Anglo immigrant parents and families–whether an Anglo can ever truly fit in within Israeli society and the sometimes complicated relationship the religious Zionist community has with Diaspora Jewry.

“The Religious Zionist community in Israel and the Anglo community in particular can play a transformative role in further connecting Diaspora communities to Torah and Israel,” said Rabbi Doron Perez, director general of World Mizrachi. “I believe that serving Diaspora Jewry should be one of the major priorities of Religious Zionism for the 21st century.”

Of interest to many of the participants were the sessions in Hebrew and English about intimacy and relationships, an often glossed-over topic in the religious community. “Intimacy between a husband and wife often needs to be updated and recalibrated some years after the honeymoon phase,” said presenter Dr. Jenny Rosenfeld. “Changes in a relationship are natural, just require adjustments.”

Wrapping up the day’s sessions on the topic of if and how Anglos can contribute to Israeli society, moderator and Voice of Israel radio personality Josh Hasten said, “It was an amazing experience to hear ideas flushed out in a public forum such as this one. The three panelists–Rabbi Dov Lipman, Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth, and Laura Ben-David–have made immeasurable contributions within the immigrant community in Israel and it was inspiring to hear them share their advice through their experiences.”

“It was very invigorating to experience the energy of people interested in taking a day from their busy schedules to invest in themselves and their own personal development,” said Rabbi Spolter. “Focusing on interests related to Anglo-Israelis in a dedicated English-language track sends the clear message that Tzohar cares about the needs and issues important to olim from English-speaking countries.”

“The Anglo community in Israel is not simply growing in terms of numbers but also has a large influence on the character and makeup of our country and in particular within the Religious Zionist world,” says Tzohar’s founder and president Rabbi David Stav. “It was therefore important to include an English component to our annual conference, an initiative we hope will be welcomed and embraced by many in the future as well.”

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