Describe in a few sentences the mission of Tzohar, and why you started the organization.
I, together with several rabbinical colleagues from the Religious Zionist community, founded Tzohar shortly after the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin, at a time of deep social division in Israel. Our mission then, which remains the same today, is to work to make Israel’s Jewish society more unified and to allow every Jew in Israel, and indeed around the world, to feel proud of their Jewish identity. The unique way we do this is by helping provide different services that are connected to Jewish tradition, such as marriage, bereavement, holiday services, kashrut and others. This allows the Israeli community to realize that religion should not be a reason for division in our society, but should be something every Jew is proud of so that they can feel that Judaism belongs to them as well.
What is the current status of conversion reform in Israel, specifically with respect to local rabbis being able to perform conversions and the conversion of minors?
First, it’s important to point out that Tzohar does not deal directly with conversion issues as an organization. Some of our rabbis, myself included, are heavily involved in this area, but it is not currently part of our mandate as an organization. At present, since the onset of the new government, the conversion reforms which were being advanced by the last Religious Affairs Minister, Matan Kahane, are on hold, and that is unlikely to change in the near future.
How do you answer critics who say that liberalizing conversion rules open the possibility of accepting non-Orthodox conversions?
I don’t support a liberal approach to conversion. I support conversion that is based on strict and absolute adherence to halacha and not conversion like the one which has been in place until now in many batei din in Israel, where people are able to trick the beit din, telling them “what they want to hear.” I want conversion that will be based on integrity, and we need to find the ways to make that happen. This includes, based on our recommendation, conversion of minors.
What is your vision of kashrut supervision in Israel? Is a monopoly by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate the best approach, and if not, what’s the best structure? How do you get rid of corruption in the kashrut industry?
Monopolies are never good for effective operations of any kind because without competition, businesses are less likely to uphold the best possible standards of practice, and kashrut is no exception to that rule. Our vision for kashrut is just like in the United States and other countries; Israel should have multiple kashrut options that are guided by halacha. Our approach is to make kashrut supervision very professional and take away any direct financial relationship between the business and the kashrut supervisor, which can lead to corruption. Our vision is for kashrut to be guided by transparency, integrity and of course, high halachic standards. That has helped us grow to become the supervising agency for more and more businesses that desire that approach.
What is your opinion of the new government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, specifically as it relates to the goals and objectives of Tzohar?
We are not a political organization, and we don’t endorse any specific individual or party. We work with whatever government is in place and have excellent working relationships with politicians on all sides of the political spectrum. We certainly have concerns about the direction in which this government is headed because we fear that it will create an environment that is less respectful of all elements within Jewish society and that is harmful to the vision which Tzohar supports. We also worry that there may be legislative roadblocks put up that could harm specific areas of our work in places like marriage, kashrut, etc. But we will work to do everything possible to advance our mission under whatever conditions may lie ahead.
Do you believe that Israel can effectively be both Jewish and democratic?
Israel has to be democratic and Jewish because without both, Israel will simply not exist. Of course, we need a balance. We will never be 100% democratic because, for example, the Law of Return is not fully democratic as it is designed only for Jews. On the other hand, if we don’t provide equal rights to all, including minorities, we won’t be able to live here as one nation. The question is how to find that balance, and that is the challenge Israel grapples with each and every day.
Who are the rabbinic leaders, past and present, whom you most admire?
I deeply admired Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l, and I learned a lot from Rav Avraham Shapira, zt”l.
How many rabbis are currently connected to Tzohar? Are they mostly from Israel, or do you have a large number from the United States as well?
The network of volunteer rabbis who work on Tzohar’s programs, most importantly our Marriage Project that helps thousands of Israeli couples marry each year according to halacha, is about 600 rabbis. In addition, we have over 500 women volunteers who provide bridal counseling and other services. The majority of our volunteers are Israeli-born, but we have many English-speaking rabbis, too, including those who come from America. We very much welcome the chance to share Tzohar’s services with this community.
You ran for the Chief Rabbinate several years ago, but did not win. What did you learn from the experience?
I learned that the Chief Rabbinate, like any government authority, is defined by no small amount of politics, ego, jealousy, and even animosity. Whether or not this means that I will run again to try and change that approach is uncertain, as I don’t know whether this is the place where I can have the most positive impact. But when the time comes, I will think about it.
What would you say has been Tzohar’s greatest achievement so far? What else do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
I don’t know if it can be limited to one achievement. But most important is the fact that we have become the address for Israelis who are in search of a Judaism without bureaucracy, corruption or coercion, one that works to share the best and most beloved aspects of Judaism without politics through transparency and true love for the land and its people. This is the image that Tzohar has built within Israel and is a source of true pride. We have become that address for much of the secular community in Israel, but also increasingly for national religious Jews who seek out the best of what Judaism is about.
The greatest challenge for Israeli society that we need to work on is achieving unity in Israel and strengthening the bonds within our people, specifically the increasing gaps between religious and secular that have become even more apparent in the past few months. We are working on identifying the projects that work to achieve that goal. At the same time, we are working to ensure that the values that stand as the basic Modern Orthodox doctrine are being heard in regards to love for our fellow Jew, moderation, and the concepts of living as a religious Jew in a modern world. We are hopeful that we will be able to make our mark in all those areas and more.
There has been discussion in Israel about passing laws to create more gender separation in public areas in Israel. What is Tzohar’s position on this kind of legislation?
Measures that aren’t based in halacha and that will further distance people from pride in their Judaism and love for the land and its people are not ones that we believe are in the interest of the Jewish people.
Why should Diaspora Jews care about how the Chief Rabbinate in Israel is being run?
On the practical level, Diaspora Jews are impacted by the work of the Chief Rabbinate. The foods you eat, either that are exported from Israel or that are eaten in Israel by visitors, are often supervised by the Chief Rabbinate. As the agency that creates the standards for all types of religious observance in Israel, including conversion, marriage and divorce, and death and burial, it can impact you or your families. But on a larger level, we should have a world where we are one global Jewish community and the needs of one Jew impact Jews all over the world.
There has been an exciting upsurge in Religious Zionism, with many more young American families making aliyah. How will this trend affect the fabric of Israeli society?
Aliyah helps ensure the future of Israel, demographically, socially, and even in terms of our national defense. Therefore, we believe the increase in Aliyah is something which should be warmly blessed—and we welcome each and every Jew who chooses to join us here. North American Jewry has a particularly important role to play in that process because they have a passionate love for this country, and bring a sense of a strong and vibrant local community, as well as many professional skills and talents that can contribute to our growth. I urge everyone who is able to consider aliyah, and we look forward to welcoming you all in our homeland.
To learn more about Tzohar, visit https://tzohar-eng.org
By Michael Feldstein
