Rabbi Eldar Advocates for Unity and Dialogue Amidst Israeli Divisiveness
Rabbi Itamar Eldar, head of the Orot Shaul yeshiva, discussed his philosophy of fostering unity and dialogue within Israeli society, particularly in the lead-up to the High Holidays. He emphasized the importance of finding common ground and avoiding escalating disagreements into irreconcilable conflicts, advocating for a mindset of judging others favorably and seeking connection, love, and trust.
One prominent manifestation of this approach is the Yom Kippur prayer service Rabbi Eldar leads at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv for the third consecutive year. He described the square, initially a symbol of pain, as having transformed into a space for Israeli society to convene above its divisions. He recounted thousands of participants, many secular, reciting the "Shema Yisrael" prayer together, an experience he called deeply moving. He also shared a poignant story about the daughter of hostage Ahad Ben-Ami asking him to pray while wrapped in her father's tallit, and how Ahad later stood with him at the same prayer service after his release.
Rabbi Eldar noted a significant shift in Tel Aviv, observing a growing number of young people seeking spiritual meaning and a connection to Judaism out of curiosity rather than coercion. He described this as a "real awakening" where individuals are searching for a spiritual language and a desire to understand and connect, even if they don't yet identify as religious. He shared an anecdote about a chance encounter with a motorcyclist who initially expressed alienation, but after an hour-long conversation initiated by Rabbi Eldar, the man expressed interest in visiting the yeshiva, illustrating Rabbi Eldar's belief that perceived differences can be invitations for dialogue.
He clarified that his engagement with the secular public is not about "winning" arguments or forcibly converting people, but rather about "returning lost property," referring to a spiritual void he believes many are seeking to fill. He sees himself as having something to offer, but also much to gain from these interactions. The relocation of the Orot Shaul yeshiva from the Golan Heights to Tel Aviv, he explained, stemmed from a sense of mission to share a Torah that could resonate with a broader Israeli audience, a need he feels is more pronounced than ever given the current demand for the yeshiva.
Addressing public issues, Rabbi Eldar suggested that confronting "progressivism" requires more than direct confrontation, emphasizing the need to identify elements of truth in differing viewpoints to enable dialogue. Politically, he believes Israel's primary challenge is not just the next prime minister, but the formation of a broad coalition that fosters stable consensus rather than deepening societal rifts. He stated that Israeli society needs wider agreements and cannot continue with governments that merely undo the work of their predecessors. He concluded by referencing his teachers, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein and Rabbi Yehuda Amital, from whom he learned to hold one's truth firmly but acknowledge its non-exclusivity, ultimately seeking connection through empathy to rebuild society.
