Shortly after I shared a post on whether we are each willing to acknowledge that we were wrong, a reader wrote to ask if I was willing to admit I was wrong for urging American Jews to take a stand against judicial reform back in early 2023. This reader’s note was so thoughtful that I decided to share my response—and my deep uncertainty about the answer—more widely.
Tomorrow, I will share a presentation that I hope addresses this reader’s excellent question, but that will also focus on what I believe is an even more pressing question that emerges from that note: How many of us are willing to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis the Jewish people now face—and the terrifying fact that we long ago jettisoned the tools we need to face it?
In these trying times for the Jewish people and the Jewish state, Rabbi Doron Perez—one of whose sons fell in battle on October 7 while his other son was seriously wounded the same day—shares with us a vision for Jewish life characterized not only by personal humility, but by ideological humility as well. “The truth,” he believes we all need to acknowledge, “does not begin and end with me.”
One might expect that the tragic events of these past years, and the horrific personal loss that Rabbi Perez and his family suffered, might have produced a worldview characterized by certainty about how we should proceed, or by rejection of those he believes are misguided. But that is not who Rabbi Perez is. In today’s conversation, we receive the gift of hearing a vision for Jewish and Israeli life that could be key to renewing our people and our country, precisely in this season when we focus on renewing ourselves.
I was deeply moved by what Rabbi Perez had to say, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to share his thoughts, dreams, and vision of religious tolerance with us at this critical moment in Jewish history.
Rabbi Doron Perez is the President of the World Zionist Organization and the Executive Chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement .
Rabbi Perez has Rabbinic Ordination, a BA in Jewish education and an MA in Jewish history and has authored two books: Leading the Way – a collection of writings on some of life’s most important issues and The Jewish State – from Opposition to Opportunity – a manifesto on Zionism and Jewish statehood, available in English, Hebrew and Spanish . He has recently co-authored book on the Shema about Jewish commitment and conviction.
His second son, Captain Daniel Perez was killed in action on October 7th. His body was held in Gaza for two years before being returned to Israel for burial.
His focus as President of the WZO is on rebranding Zionism and initiatives to build Jewish unity , especially in wake of October 7th .
The link at the top of this posting will take free subscribers to an excerpted portion of today’s conversation.
For paid subscribers, the link at the top will take you to the full conversation; below, paid subscribers will also find a transcript for those who prefer to read, as always.
