Enrich Your Passover Experience

Explore a variety of ways to understand Pesakh and to immerse in its practices. 

We have curated a series of essays that open discussions and analyses of Passover by Erica Riddick, Rabbi Margie Jacobs, Rabbi Mychal Copeland, Max Buckler, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein,  Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Rabbi Vivie Mayer, Rabbi Ellen Bernstein, z”l, Dr Shoshana Fershtman and Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein.

Think you understand what North American Jews believe about Israel?

Researcher Matthew Boxer’s groundbreaking survey of 1,800 North American Jews reveals just how incomplete our assumptions have been—and his findings challenge everything from the “95% Zionist” statistic to how we define Zionism itself.

Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations

Evolve is an online platform with conversation-sparking essays from thought-provoking rabbis, leaders and creators. Explore essays on key topics, as well as curricula, sermon sparks and videos that apply the best thinking to contemporary questions.

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What do North American Jews think and feel about Israel and why do they feel it? As researcher Mathew Boxer explains, we have, at best, an incomplete understanding of opinion. That’s had a harmful impact on discourse and planning. So to find out, Boxer surveyed some 1,800 North American Jews. In this episode, he shares his findings and what he believes they mean. Among his major takeaways: he disproves the-oft sited statistic that 95 percent of American Jews identify as Zionist, even though most American Jews have attitudes that one would associate with Zionism. Many on the left and right feel that their interpretations are obvious and clear and think that opposing views are dangerous and outside the pale. Also, many American Jews feel strong emotional attachment to Israel, but that emotional attachment doesn’t correlate to particular or obvious opinions about the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. Boxer shares how he thinks future researchers can learn from his work. And, he makes a case that particular perspectives on Israel should not be a condition for inclusion in Jewish life and community.

Read Matthew Boxer Evolve Essays: “How We Talk About Jewish Young Adults’ Connection To Israel: The Evidence or Lack Thereof” and “What is Zionism? It Depends on Who You Ask.” 

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Web Conversations

Evolve Web Conversations are opportunities for you to interact with our authors in real-time, by asking questions and challenging their assumptions. Videos and transcripts are posted in an archive for those who are unable to attend live.

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