Panel "Nationalism Becoming Haredi" with Yair Cherki and Ariel David, and an intimate performance by Micha Shitrit

19:30 — Doors open

20:00 — A fascinating current-affairs panel with Yair Cherki and Ariel David

Yair Cherki, an Israeli journalist who serves as a correspondent and commentator for the News Company and hosts current-affairs programs on Channel 12 News, in a fascinating panel with Ariel David, a researcher of Israeli politics. David analyzes how, already during the State of Israel’s first decades, there were currents within Religious Zionism and Haredi society that believed Israel should be a religious state governed by Torah law. These currents do not remain secluded in Bnei Brak; they actively work to promote their vision—a halakhic state. This vision exists within Shas, among the Kahanists, Hardalim, Chabad adherents, and influential figures on the right. Even if the sectors differ and their halakhic perspectives are not necessarily similar, they believe Israel should be a Torah state and work toward that goal.

Does the secular-liberal public fail to see the full picture? Is this a clash of identities between a Judaism that believes in a free national or cultural Jewish community, not subject to religious law, in which every Jew can live according to their beliefs, and the Orthodox-Haredi currents, for whom every Jewish identity is a religious identity? And what are the implications for the army, the education system, and the judicial system? All this and more in the panel.

21:00 — Micha Shitrit in an intimate performance

In a sweeping performance accompanied by musician Ron Bunker, Micha Shitrit will tell the story of us and of this place through his eyes, with songs from the beginning of his career with the band The Friends of Natasha, from his solo albums, and, of course, songs from collaborations with artists such as Arik Einstein, Berry Sakharof, Amir Benayoun, and others.

Photo of Micha Shitrit: Gabriel Baharlia

Photo of Yair Cherki: Ofer Chen

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