Announcements

THIS SHABBAT, Parashat Lech Lecha, October 27-28, we welcome our next Shabbat Scholar, Rav Hanan Schlesinger, Co-Founder and Director of International Relations for Roots/Shorashim/Judur, a local Palestinian/Israeli Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence and Transformation.

Please join us on Friday night for a delicious and social Community Shabbat Dinner. And join us as well over Shabbat for a fascinating series of talks and discussions on the efforts of Root/Shorashim/Judur to foster a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians.

Reservations for the dinner should be made by Tuesday, October 24th.
Student: $18 | Dinner: $36 | Sponsor: $180

This Shabbaton includes:

• Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:40 PM
• Friday night dinner in shul at 7:00 PM (RSVP and payment required)
• Lecture at 8:30 PM (free – all are welcome),
• Shabbat morning sermon at 10:30 AM
• Q & A discussion at Seudah Shelishit at 5:45 PM

Speaking Schedule & Topics

Friday Night, 8:30 PM:
"Unlikely Partners for Peace-A Jewish Settler & A Palestinian Activist": Presentation on Roots/Shorasim/Judur with Antwan Saca and Rav Hanan Schlesinger

Shabbat Morning, 10:30 AM: 
Hassidic Texts of Passionate Jewish Pluralism

Seuda Shelishit, 5:45 PM:
Q & A with Rav Hanan Schlesinger

Rav Hanan Schlesinger

Hanan Schlesinger is an Orthodox rabbi, teacher, and passionate Zionist settler, who has been profoundly transformed by his friendship with the Palestinians he has met.  His understanding of the reality of the Middle East conflict, and of Zionism, has been utterly complicated by the parallel universe to which they have introduced him. 

Originally from New York, Rav Hanan made aliya at the age of 20 and has lived over the green line, in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion, for over 30 years. He spent over 10 years learning in Israeli Talmudic seminaries and also studied towards a MA in Jewish Philosophy at Hebrew University. His professional career has been dedicated to teaching Jewish studies in various colleges and seminaries in the Jerusalem area, as well as in different frameworks in Florida and Texas.

It was in Dallas about 9 years ago that he became involved in interfaith work, first with Christians, and then with Muslims. There he founded Faiths in Conversation, a framework for Jewish - Christian – Muslim theological dialogue. The mind-expanding experience of these trialogues inspired him to attempt to meet Muslims and Christians back in the Holy Land.

Although always drawn to pluralism and deeply empathic for the other, Rav Hanan had never formed a personal relationship with a Palestinian until he returned to Gush Etzion about three and a half years ago. The meetings that began then have become far more meaningful than he could have imagined. He found himself part of the small team that founded Roots/Shorashim/Judur and has dedicated himself to bringing reconciliation to that tiny sliver of land that both Palestinians and Israelis call home.