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Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi of Israel Comes to Orange County By Ilene Schneider the rabbinate in Israel to create a more welcoming environment,” according to Rabbi Eliezrie. Thus, he is coming to the United States and meeting with leadership “outside of the Orthodox world.” He is “making the chief rabbinate more open and welcoming while maintaining tradition,” in Rabbi Eliezrie’s words. “Rabbi Lau is walking on a tightrope,” Rabbi Eliezrie concluded. “It’s a fundamental change in the way a chief rabbi relates to people, it’s historic and it’s revolutionary.” January 12, 7:30 PM Historic Evening with Cheif Rabbi of Israel David Lau Is Israel a Jewish state or a state for Jews? Can ultra-religious (haredi) Jews in Israel devote themselves to the study of Torah while still fulfilling various obligations to society? Can Israel find a way to recognize and accept rabbis who are not Orthodox? These are some of the questions the chief Ashkenazic rabbi of Israel, David Lau, is forced to confront. The rabbi, who assumed his position in July 2013, appears undaunted by the challenge. In fact, he seems to thrive on building bridges. Rabbi Lau, 48, who previously served as the rabbi of the Israeli community of Modi’in, is the second in his family to be the chief Ashkenazic rabbi of Israel. His father, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau – a child survivor of the Buchenwald concentration camp – held the position from 1993 to 2003. Both have sought to transcend the barriers of the religious communities and connect with people from all backgrounds. Rabbi David Eliezrie, who met Rabbi Lau in March, was so impressed by Rabbi Lau’s interest in unifying Israeli Jews and reaching out to Jews around the world that he invited Rabbi Lau 4
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to speak at Chabad of North Orange County in Yorba Linda. Rabbi Eliezrie described the event, which will take place on January 12 at 7:30 p.m., as “historic.” The only other time a chief rabbi of Israel was in the area was 25 years ago when one was at Hebrew Academy for 45 minutes, Rabbi Eliezrie said. The new chief rabbi made his first official visit to the United States in May and visited the grave of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, while meeting with national leadership of other Jewish organizations. He is also meeting with many groups, including Jewish Federations, college groups and day school students, while in southern California. “This is a case of a chief rabbi reaching out beyond his constituency and sitting down with diverse groups,” Rabbi Eliezrie said. “It’s a very different approach to what has come before. Rabbi Lau believes that he has responsibility for all the Jewish people and wants to break down barriers.” Rabbi Lau is attempting to “open up
Interviewed by Rabbi David Eliezrie North Orange County Chabad Center 19045 Yorba Linda Boulevard Yorba Linda, CA 92886 Co-sponsored by North Orange County Chabad Center and Jewish Federation & Family Services Orange County Tickets: $22 in advance; $25 at door www.ocjewish.com or (714) 693-0770