My life

I was born and raised in Netanya, a beautiful Mediterranean city, not far from Tel Aviv. a city that is very dear to my heart. Growing up I was active in youth movements. I graduated from "Moshe Sharet" High School in history and theater faculties. In 1993 I enlisted to the IDF armored corps, and served as a tank commander at the armored corps school in the south of Israel. Part of the time I was posted in the instruction division, where I organized and assimilated different programs. For that part of my military service I have received an outstanding soldier award from Israeli president at the time, Ezer Weizmann.

During my third year of military service Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. As many at that time, I felt as though things cannot remain as they were. I thought that at the basis of the split in the public opinion lays great ignorance. It made me feel anger and frustration. It was a turning point of my Jewish Identity. I began studying Gemara with a religious friend. Finishing my military service I went to Wisconsin in the US to coach in the OSRUI Jewish youth summer camp. It was a life changing experience. I have met the progressive Judaism that will shortly become the center of my life.

Returning to Israel I had worked in the non-formal education field. I have controlled the youth society of a kibbutz in Beit She'an valley; later on I organized the local branch of Beni Hamoshavim, a section of the Working Youth movement ("Ha'Noar Ha'Oved") in Emek Chefer. One summer I served as guide in a young instructors' course. That was a very powerful experience. Working with youths is very rewarding. During that period I started studying towards my bachelor's degree in Tel Aviv University. I studied history and classic studies, memorizing many Latin verbs (which I scarcely remember). In a Latin poetry seminar I met Sharon, who will eventually become my wife.

In 1998 a student strike began. As a student I saw it as a matter of social justice, since it directly affects the accessibility to higher education. I joined as an activist: demonstrated, protested and even participated in a hunger strike in front of the house of prime minister at the time, Binyamin Netanyahu. During the hunger strike we received aid from the "Beit Shemuel" center for progressive Judaism; none of the student leaders knew the reason for this. Apparently young man named Gilad Kariv (today rabbi attorney, director of the IMPJ), was the reason. I met with Gilad in the "Terra Sancta" building in Jerusalem; he had offered me to coordinate the Young Adult Leadership Forum of the Progressive Judaism Movement in Tel Aviv. Shortly thereafter I began working in "Beit Daniel - the Center for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv-Jaffo". We were a pro-active and rebellious student cell, a group of young idealists and devoted prayers in the Beit Daniel congregation.

When I finished my duty as coordinator of the Forum Sharon replaced me in office. That summer we got married. A civil wedding in Greece and a reform wedding in Jaffa, Gilad Kariv and Rabbi Meir Azari held the wedding ceremony (hupa). I was accepted to the Israeli rabbinical study program and began my next function in "Beit Daniel" as assistant to Rabbi Meir Azari. I have learned from him more than I could describe in words. Thanks to his benevolence I got to experience all of the various activities "Beit Daniel" has to offer: prayers and circle of life ceremonies, Judaism classes to diverse target publics, social and ideological activities, volunteer organization, community work, youth and children activities and much more. During my years at "Beit Daniel" my eldest, Kfir Dan, was born. I was at the time a rabbinical student in the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem.

Our rabbinical program is unique in a way that it combines different skills that are required for a rabbi function. In addition to a plenteous share of Bible, Rabbinic writings and Jewish culture, one needs to practice and acquire abilities in spiritual guidance, consultation, education and non-profit organization management. I can honestly testify that I have had the honor of learning from great teachers and I feel blessed to have had that opportunity. At the same time I studied for my master's degree in interdisciplinary study course in the Bar Ilan University.

I was ordained on Heshvan, 5765, October 2004.

The Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa offered me to lead the "Carmel" Progressive Be'it Midrash, in connection with the Lokey Academy of Jewish Studies. We dreamt of a leadership program for young reform Jews that will combine academic seminary, Tikun Olam and social activity, getting to know Israeli society and intense progressive Jewish community life. On September 2004 we inaugurated the first class. I am very proud of this work. I have learned greatly about setting to motion and management of educational operations. The main lesson is the tight connection between the stories and the story-tellers, meaning the way a vision translates into a work program backed-up by budgets, schedules and task distribution. The Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa specializes in this field- the fulfillment of educational visions.

During that period we had our second boy, Nimrod Hillel.

In the photo- Launching Ceremony of the Carmel Program.

During my first year in Leo Baeck I also began teaching high school. I taught the tenth grade and I prepared pupils in the eleventh grade for one unit in the matriculation exams. At the end of that year I was offered to correspondingly serve as director of Jewish studies. During that year my second son, Nimrod Hillel was born. As coordinator of Jewish studies in Leo Baeck I was trusted with the formal scholastic program for the tenth to twelfth grades: the entire tenth grade (8 classes) took the matriculations exam of one study unit, the eleventh and twelfth grades (about 25 pupils in each grade) took their exams of two study units. The duty included heading the teachers' staff, communication with the Ministry of Education in all supervision and professional matters, Jewish enrichment activities and of course responsibility over the scores of the Leo Baeck Education Center in the Bagrut exam in Judaism.

In November 2006 I participated in production of the 50 years anniversary of Dr. Leo Baeck. In collaboration with the Avihai fund we organized a week of memorial lectures, studies and activities. I was privileged to edit and publish a book to honor to the event: "From Vision to Reality: Judaism, Studies and Leadership in the Leo Baeck Education Center". The book included articles and reviews about Dr. Leo Baeck, the Leo Baeck Organization and matters of reform Zionism and current education.

For a year and a half I worked as an executive director for the "Sulha Peace Project" movement. This is a public grassroots movement that promotes peace between the children of Abraham in the holy land. In August 2007 and again in Augost 2008 we held a large peace conferences with over 4000 participants each. including Palestinians from the West Bank, guests from Jordan, Israeli Jews and Arabs, the personal representative of the Dalai Lama and many more distinguished guests and known artists (Sheik El Aqsa, Rabbi Malchior, David Broza, Mush Ben-Ari, Tamar Nafer and more). In addition we held youth activities, workshops and interfaith reconciliation meetings throughout the year. In that time our third son, Reshef Levi was born.

This work was very much demanding and complex. I did it lovingly. It is a dreamers' project: humble facilities and a lot of good will. Wherever we reached we received a lot of hope and support. There are many good people, Jews and Arabs, who are concerned over the current situation and feel compelled to act for change.

The Sulha was very generous with me. As a result of connections I have made there, I was privileged to teach Holy Scriptures in the elementary Jewish-Arab school of Newe Shalom, To be a member in the education committee of the Peace Ngo's Forum and to have my weekly broadcast show on "All for peace radio ."

Since the high holidays of 5769 (September 08) until those of 5773 (September 12), I was the Rabbi of "Achvat Israel" Progressive synagugue" in Rishon LeTziyon. It is a modest urban community with wonderful people. We shared our praying together, we learned together, we were active citizens in the neighborhood and in the city (see in this video). More than everything else, "Achvat Israel" was for me a place of relief, where one can come from an exhausting week and feel welcome just the way he is, where one can feel the possibility of taking refuge in the community, the tradition and the almighty god.

My choice in the congregation was to emphasize the elements of simple human encounter. This is what, I think, people lack hardness of modern life. If we can be a remainder to that quality – this would be fulfilling our duty. During this period we were blessed with a fourth son, Be'eri Bo'az, born in spring 2011.

As I decides to step aside from community work for a while, it was important for me to complite some creative projects that long waited for my attention. One of those is the publication of the book "Peace on God's Land" (Resling Press, 2012), that describes my time and work at the Sulha. Other than that I am involved in various endeavours, such as the City Educational Pioneers team in my home town, Netanya and in the Israeli Green Movement.

The Hebrew year of 5773 (2012-2013) was for me a time of wondering and self-inquiry. I lived back in my hometown, Netanya, but in me there was much restlessness. Finely, to make the long story short, the universe responded to my desire and sent me to Africa, where I am currently located, serving as the Rabbi of "Beit Emanuel Progressive Synagogue" in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Living and working in Africa had been a dream of mine for many years. Here I have a rare chance to express myself as clergy, as an activist and as a human being.

Thank you for visiting my web-site and I wish you joy and prosperity.

I would love to hear back from you.

In Friendship,

Sa'ar.