Kadimah 2026

Most people think Zionism is about sovereignty, security, and political identity — but political Zionism is only one part of a much wider story. From Hasidic thought to secular cultural renewal, from early socialist idealism to the writings of thinkers like Ahad Ha’am, Martin Buber, Rav Kook and others, Zionism has always been a laboratory for exploring what a Jewish collective can become. This session opens up the broader spiritual, cultural, and philosophical currents that shaped Israel and continue to animate it today. By widening the lens, we discover resources within the Zionist canon that can help us move beyond the current crisis and imagine a richer future for Jewish life.

Why are women traditionally exempt from many time-bound mitzvot, and what does that exemption mean in a modern egalitarian world? Through classic and contemporary Jewish texts, we’ll explore questions of obligation, spirituality, autonomy, and whether being “optional” changes our relationship to Judaism itself.

Israel’s political arguments aren’t just about laws — they’re about identity, fear, and the sense that different groups are living in different countries. What happens when democracy becomes the place where we fight instead of the place where we meet? Drawing on my work as co-director of Siach Shalom — an organization that works closely with the President of Israel and has convened confidential, behind-the-scenes conversations with senior political, religious, and civil-society leaders from every part of Israeli society — I’ll share what I’ve seen from inside the rooms where people try to rebuild understanding. Along the way, we’ll look at how Jewish sources imagine disagreement (machloket) not as a threat, but as something that can strengthen a community when handled well. Together we’ll explore what it might take for Israel to create a shared civic language strong enough to hold real differences.

Judaism has never viewed sexuality as either entirely sacred or entirely dangerous—it is powerful, human, holy, and deeply complicated. Together we will explore Jewish texts and ideas around desire, boundaries, intimacy, and what it means to build a thoughtful Jewish sexual ethic in the modern world.

For many, Israel has been understood as a response to antisemitism — a place where Jews could live with safety and dignity. After October 7th, Israel’s strength and self-defense were crucial — but something else became impossible to ignore. The passion, determination, and courage that poured out of Israeli society, especially from a younger generation often dismissed as distracted or disconnected, showed that Israel is about something bigger. The intense reactions this sparked around the world revealed a deeper story. In this session, we’ll ask: What larger meaning and purpose can Israel offer today? Drawing on experiences working closely with leaders and thinkers in Israel, I’ll share how the conversation about the long-term meaning of October 7th is unfolding — and what it might mean for the future.

How do we decide who gets treated first when lives are on the line? In this session, we will explore real triage dilemmas and examine how classical sources, halachic principles, and contemporary responsa can guide these decisions. Students will encounter cases involving limited resources, competing needs, and ethical tension, and will see how Jewish law balances compassion, logic, and moral responsibility in moments of crisis.