The Public Arena

Ties with governmental and societal figures – Tzohar’s public status has made the organization the address of choice for the conducting of dialogue with the leaders of government and the society as a whole. Tzohar’s rabbis are active in public committees, are members of many different organizations, and take an active part in the shaping of the Jewish nature of the State of Israel. Over the years channels of communication have been opened to various government ministries, to the Army and the other security forces, to academia, to the communications media, and to social organizations. Tzohar has been in close contact with those involved in major crises over the last few years, and has helped in establishing dialogue between the opposing camps within Israeli society.

Communication

One of Tzohar’s goals is to make the Jewish voice heard clearly in the public discourse in the State of Israel. Until recently, this arena was neglected, and the voice of Halachic Judaism was seldom heard on matters of public concern. Tzohar trains response teams of rabbis who are expert in various areas, and who can comment on, and spark discourse on, the different issues which appear on the public agenda. Tzohar’s rabbis are very much in demand on television talk shows, on radio, and for interviews by the press. Tzohar’s rabbis write op ed columns for newpapers and for internet websites. In this way, most of Israeli society is exposed to the messages of Halachic Judaism and to the Torah of the Jewish People.

Conferences and seminars – Tzohar hopes to place subjects of urgent importance to Israeli society at large on the agenda of the religious Zionist public. As part of the dialogue and the attempt to clarify problems, Tzohar sponsors a number of conferences during the year devoted to discussion of issues which have become important to one segment or another of Israeli society. Tzohar’s summer conference is the most central and comprehensive of these conferences. Hundreds of rabbis, including many who have a major influence on the religious Zionist public, participate in this conference, which provides lectures, panel discussions, and many informal contacts related to the Israeli and Jewish experience.

The Tzohar Journal – Tzohar publishes a quarterly journal which serves as a forum for open discussion for the religious Zionist public in Israel. The journal has printed articles with the highest standard of content and writing. Outstanding rabbis of the religious Zionist community contribute articles to the Tzohar Journal. The Journal joins the aspects of Tradition and research with in-depth treatment of the topics at hand, and opening for discussion by rabbis and by the general public issues of central importance to the religious Zionist community.