What Does God Ask Of Us At This Time?

“It has been told to you, human being, what is good, and what God demands of you: Only doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with your God” Micah 6/8

הגיד לך אדם מה טוב ומה ה’ דורש ממך כי אם עשות משפט ואהבת חסד והצנע לכת עם אלהיך

Conference Highlights

About the Conference

Sunday, March 30, 2025
Rosh Chodesh Nisan

Co-sponsored by the Baruch College Wasserman Jewish Studies Center
B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue
257 West 88th Street, New York, NY

The last two years have challenged our American Jewish communities with pressing questions about democracy and justice both here and in Israel. In this conference we will explore our responsibility in the present moment as observant Jews in North America.

Recent events have raised questions about Jewish power, Messianism, the occupation, U.S. support for Israel and the conduct of war. We watch in dismay as our Orthodox and observant communities have avoided these discussions and remained indifferent to the staggering Palestinian civilian death toll in Gaza and the ongoing occupation of 5 million people.

This conference will explore our Jewish tradition’s values and teachings about peace, equality, dignity, co-existence and self-determination for Israelis, Palestinians and all people.

Rabbi Yosef Blau
Opening Address

Morning Plenary

Morning Plenary Video

Dean Jessica Lang - Welcome

Rabbi Yosef Blau - Video Address

Esther Sperber - Opening Remarks

Am Segula and B’Tzelem Elokim – Observant Jewish Identities in an Unjust World

This session will focus on the existing tensions between two Jewish principles, the particularist idea of Jewish chosen-ness and the universalist notion that all of humanity is created in the divine image. What obligations flow from the principle of B’Tzelem Elokim (the idea that all human beings are created in the image of God)? Does Am Segula (the idea of the Chosen People) imply entitlement or obligation? How have the Jewish people navigated chosen-ness in the diaspora and in the State of Israel? How does this affect others, especially Palestinians? What should be the religious response to violence by Jews and have we discharged that duty?

Ruth Messinger - How Does Change Happen?

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