What does Jewish pluralism actually look like in Israel today?

In this episode of Expanding the Conversation, Rakefet Ginsberg, Executive Director of the Masorti Movement in Israel, reflects on how Israelis are redefining religious identity and reclaiming spiritual space—from the egalitarian Kotel to public Yom Kippur services in Tel Aviv. Drawing on her work at the grassroots level, she offers stories of coexistence, struggle, and hope, and makes a compelling case for expanding access to Judaism that is both meaningful and inclusive. 

Bio of Rakefet Ginsberg

Discussion Questions

1. Pluralism in Practice
   Rakefet Ginsberg described the egalitarian section of the Kotel as a space where diverse Jewish expressions coexist. What does this tell us about how pluralism functions outside of formal policy? What challenges and opportunities does this model present?
2. Ownership of Judaism
   Ginsberg emphasizes the need for Israelis to "take ownership" of their Judaism. What might that look like in practice—for religious, secular, and traditional Jews?
3. Building Trust Across Difference
   How can trust be built between communities with vastly different religious worldviews? What lessons can we take from Ginsberg’s conversation with Rabbi Eliezer Melamed?
4. The Role of Institutions
   What role should state institutions like the Chief Rabbinate play in defining or regulating Jewish life in Israel?
5. Sources of Hope
   In difficult times, Ginsberg points to community, song, prayer, and memory as sources of hope. What spiritual or communal practices sustain you in moments of challenge?

Show Notes  
Video

• Rakefet Ginsberg speaking at Israel at a Crossroads

Further Reading

• Masorti Movement
• Rabbi Eliezer Melamed "The Reform Jews Prayer in ‘Ezrat Yisrael’" Weekly Article Revivim (July 24, 2021)
• Rabbi Daniel Gordis "The one where Yom Kippur escaped from the synagogue..." Israel from the Inside (October 9, 2022)