Rabbi Jonathan Kligler will discuss his Evolve essay with Rabbi Jacob Staub, elaborating on why he no longer supports a continuation of the war in Gaza despite his passionate commitment to a liberal, democratic Israeli state.
There is no charge required to register for an Evolve web conversation. Participants can interact with the speaker, making comments and asking questions.Â
About Rabbi Jonathan Kligler
Rabbi Jonathan Kligler (RRC ’89) led Kehillat Lev Shalom – the Woodstock Jewish Congregation in Woodstock, New York from 1988 until his retirement in 2022. During that time Kehillat Lev Shalom grew to be the largest congregation in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Rabbi Jonathan has recorded numerous albums, including Let My People Go: A Jewish and African American Celebration of Freedom with Kim and Reggie Harris. Rabbi Jonathan performed this concert with Kim and Reggie Harris around the US and in Europe. He is also the author of two books, including Turn It and Turn It, for Everything Is in It: Essays on the Weekly Torah Portion (Reconstructionist Press, 2021.) You can follow his current writings at jonathankligler.substack.com.
About Evolve
Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations is an initiative of Reconstructing Judaism. We seek to promote the ongoing evolution of the Jewish community by launching collective, communal conversations about the urgent issues of our day. To that end, Evolve brings multiple voices together to listen to one another’s point of view and to interact respectfully. In an era when it has become ever more difficult to remain open to viewpoints that differ from our own, Evolve cultivates covenantal conversations even when we disagree. In this way, we hope to enhance the ongoing evolution of Jewish civilization.
Learn more on our Evolve website.
Evolve does not endorse every viewpoint presented on its platform. Its goal is to cultivate groundbreaking, constructive, respectful conversations about urgent issues of concern. Evolve makes space for a wide range of viewpoints and seeks to support constructive debate while abiding by the values of tzelem Elohim (regarding and treating all people as created in the divine image), kavod (respect), redifat shalom (pursuing peace) and makhloket leshem shamayim (disagreements for the sake of heaven).
