The Power of Creativity
in Jewish Life and History
Creativity has always been a cornerstone of Jewish communal life, including unique melodies, ritual items, holiday decorations, humor, and theatre. The earliest Zionist thinkers saw culture as an essential cornerstone for the building of the new society, which would arise in the land of Israel. The early Zionist philosopher a.d. Gordon called on artists to stop isolating themselves and to put their creative hands together with the working hands of the Zionist movement.
Carrying the Torch
From Swamp to Stage
Like the early Zionist visionaries, we understand that without culture and creativity Israel and Jewish culture would be spiritually deficient and lack raison d’être. Therefore, the first pioneers who came to the country engaged not only in paving roads and draining swamps, but also in renewing the Hebrew language, publishing journals and establishing the first national theater, Habima. The Tarbut Movement sees itself as a continuation of this chain of cultural development, in its practice of training young creators for social action, and in the various cultural, educational and community enterprises that we establish. We place culture and the arts, in their connection to Jewish and Zionist roots and the current problems of Israeli society, as pillars of our activity.
Old Roots - New Generation
In 2024 in the State of Israel there is an increasing polarization between religious Jews and secular Jews which leads to isolation. Tarbut Movement appeals to young people from secular society and connects them to their Jewish roots, in order to bridge the gap between these two groups in Israeli society.This program grows awareness and a sense of Belonging to a meaningful Jewish life, outside of the confines of orthodox Judaism typically promoted in Israel.
Beit Midrash for Jewish Renewal
The Beit Midrash for Jewish Renewal is an annual educational program for young movement activists whose goal is to deepen the connection to their Jewish heritage and to deepen their identity as artists who create in contemporary Israeli society. This program engages 120 Israeli young adults ages of 24-40 each year in 3 stages:
- Training educators to deliver pluralist Jewish content to working artists.
- Mobilizing six Jewish learning groups throughout the country that will share pluralist and modern interpretations of Jewish customs with the young adults and secular activists in the Tarbut Movement.
- Initiating cultural events around Shabbat and holidays, with leaders and participants of the Beit Midrash.
Beit Midrash for Practical Civil Democracy
The Beit Midrash for Practical Civil Democracy is an annual curriculum for the founding members of Tarbut Movement – artists and educators who for two decades have been dedicated to promoting an agenda of educational and cultural activities in the periphery. The program will teach tools for understanding the social reality in Israel, increasing democratic consciousness, formulating a social vision and defining modes of action during the learning process. The program will combine lectures, tours, inspirational meetings and the acquisition of tools for impact operations. All program participants have have q bachelors and masters degrees in education, cultur and Israeli studies. All participants work in the field of education, culture, and social entrepreneurship reaching tens of thousands of adults, children and teenagers.
