Last week, while the Knesset was in recess, MK Rabbi Dov Lipman spent five days in New York and New Jersey addressing a diverse Jewish audience to let them know how they can be involved and work to improve the relationship between the State of Israel and themselves.
As a newly-elected member of the Knesset, one of the rabbi’s roles is to oversee the needs of current and prospective immigrants from English-speaking countries as a member of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee.
Rabbi Lipman comes across as a man who inspires others. His dream, he says, is to create a better, unified Israel. On his first trip to the States, he spoke in synagogues about his goals to combat religious extremism and his hopes for a united State of Israel. Another trip followed after that and in the summer of 2012, Yair Lapid asked Rabbi Lipman to join the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) Party. The party won 19 Knesset seats in the recent Israeli elections and Lipman became the first U.S. born member of Knesset in almost 30 years. The beauty of the Yesh Atid party is its model of respectful discourse among different circles of Israeli society. Yesh Atid shows that people can work together to break down the barriers of discrimination and fear.
MK Lipman arrived in New York City on Tuesday, April 9 and spent Shabbat as a scholar in residence at Beth Sholom Synagogue in Lawrence, New York. During the course of the week, he addressed the local leadership of American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of North America, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the American Jewish Committee, the Republican Jewish Coalition, the Tikvah Fund and the New York Board of Rabbis. Public speaking events were hosted by both Yeshiva University (YU) and the 92nd Street Y and he was the keynote speaker at Congregation Keter Torah’s 13th Annual Dinner Reception in Teaneck, New Jersey.
At the Keter Torah dinner, MK Lipman spoke of his journey from Silver Spring, Maryland, where he spent his childhood, to becoming a member of Israeli Parliament. He shared his experiences of how blending American-style activism and engagement with the American values of tolerance and pluralism led him to a seat in the Knesset. His American Jewish values directed him to fight for equality and inclusiveness in many aspects of Israeli life. He praised Rabbi Shalom Baum, President Jonathan Gellis and the many members of Congregation Keter Torah for their contributions and heavy involvement in AIPAC, NORPAC and other Israel-related organizations. He congratulated the Guests of Honor Elissa and Michael Katz, and The William B. Manischewitz Community Service Award Honorees Fran and Sam Ebel, for all their hard work for Jewish and Israeli causes.
Looking back on his trip, the rabbi summed it up this way: “There is a lot that needs to be done. When the organizational leadership of the American Jewish community recognizes that there is now an MK on the committee who understands them, thinks like them and will have open and direct lines of communication with them, they will realize that there is so much that we can accomplish that will unite and reengage the many American Jews who have been disconnected from Israel. I look forward to connecting directly with Jewish communities and will strive to enable all Jewish Americans to feel welcome and wanted by Israel. I think this trip represents the first step in building a strong working relationship.”
His speech at Yeshiva University addressed his plans to encourage increased study of Hebrew and Zionist education in America.
YU President Richard M. Joel said, “At a time when people no longer talk, but scream at each other without understanding each other, people like Rabbi Lipman give us new hope that Israel will start representing us as people who aren’t identical, and will allow us to work together to further the good of Israel and the Jewish people.”
By P’nina Seplowitz
