home new English – לכתחילה תורה ישראלית

Lekhathila

A movement for cultivating Israeli Torah.

Be partners in the creation of Israeli Torah, and in opening a gateway to an era of renewed connection between the Jewish people and their Torah of life.

Our Vision

To bring the Torah to this generation — to take responsibility for it, to renew it, and to build within it a new story that transcends the divide between the religious and the secular.

החזון שלנו

A story of a living Torah that grants full space to the mundane, the body, and the earthly — one that cultivates deep commitment while preserving room for growth and freedom. The Torah of the Land of Israel: the Torah of a redeemed people that has returned from exile to life.

Lekhathila will teach that the renewal of Torah is necessary, possible, and vital at this time — without waiting for another generation or for some miraculous authority. Lekhathila will also formulate and disseminate Israeli Halakha: halachic rulings that put into practice the principles of the Torah of the Land of Israel.

Join Israeli Torah — Lekhathila — and become partners in the creation of Israeli Torah, and in opening a gateway to an era of renewed connection between the Jewish people and their Torah of life.

Members of the Public Council

The Public Council of Lekhathila represents a microcosm of the intellectual and spiritual elite within modern Religious Zionism and the traditional circles adjacent to it. It comprises key figures, each of whom holds a different “key” to solving the riddle of Israeli identity.

Rabbi Dan Be'eri

Rabbi Dan Be'eri, an educator and Rabbi Kook Prize laureate, founded the "Barkai Method" to integrate Jewish sources with core school studies. Adopted by twenty schools, his method gives students deep traditional roots alongside general education. He explores the mystical link between Hebrew language revival and national destiny, emphasizing the Torah's universal dimension and teaching that Israeli national identity is meant to bless all humanity.

Rabbi Shai Zarchi

Rabbi Shai Zarchi, co-founder of the "Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis" and the "Nigun HaLev" community, is a pioneer of rural Jewish renewal. He envisions Judaism as a shared culture, advocating for a non-coercive "Israeli rabbinate" based on partnership. He innovates by designing life cycle and holiday ceremonies that blend ancient tradition with modern Israeli culture, proving communities can hold deep religious meaning without religious-secular partitions.

Dr. Hannah Friedman

Dr. Hannah Friedman, an educator and co-founder of Tel Aviv's "Yachad" community, serves as a halakhic teacher and researcher. Representing a voice of "sensitive Torah," her research explores the intersection of Halakha with personal crises, mourning, and prayer. She tackles modern spiritual challenges like loneliness, using Talmudic tools to build open, inclusive communities that provide emotional and spiritual support to all Israelis.

Yehuda Etzion

Yehuda Etzion, a thinker and public activist, focuses on the fundamental questions of Jewish sovereignty in Israel. Presenting an uncompromising vision of an "Israeli Torah," he calls for a constitution based on Hebrew Law and strives for a "kingdom of priests," including Temple discourse. Rejecting the "status quo," he demands a connection between politics and Jewish metaphysics to fulfill the true purpose of Zionism.

Blu Greenberg

Blu Greenberg is a trailblazer of Orthodox feminism who founded JOFA to address women's changing societal status within the Orthodox world. Coining the rallying cry, "Where there's a rabbinic will, there's a halakhic way," she advocated for halakhic solutions for *Agunot* and the integration of women into Torah study and leadership. Synthesizing loyalty to tradition with equality, her book "On Women and Judaism" argues that Halakha is a dynamic system capable of responding to contemporary moral needs. Her work sparked a profound consciousness shift, leading to women's prayer groups and a new generation of female spiritual leaders. *Funding:* Their US and Israeli initiatives rely on decades of support from large American Jewish philanthropic foundations and private donors promoting modernity, feminism, and inclusive Orthodoxy.

Rabbi Dov Berkovits

Rabbi Dov Berkovits, head of "Beit Av for Israeli Creation," immigrated to Israel to establish a new Torah language. He revolutionized Talmud study with the "Existential Page" (Daf Kiyumi), looking beyond complex legalities to uncover the ethical, psychological, and spiritual layers of every issue. By demonstrating how monetary or marriage laws reflect human relationships, he transforms the Gemara into a relevant "Torah of Life" for modern challenges.

Sarah Eliash

Sarah Eliash, a senior educator and pioneer of Samaria settlement, founded the Lehava Ulpana. She embodies the connection between Torah, people, and land, educating youth toward national responsibility. Viewing the "Israeli Torah" as a matter of realization, she asserts that Torah is written through building settlements and nurturing society, reminding us that Jewish renewal must remain grounded in actual Israeli reality.

Prof. Vered Noam

Prof. Vered Noam, a Tel Aviv University professor and 2020 Israel Prize laureate, is a leading researcher in Rabbinic literature and early Halakha. By comparing Sages' writings with Qumran scrolls, she reveals how the early rabbis consciously chose a flexible, interpretive "Torah of Life" over rigid sectarian approaches. She proves that adaptation and renewal are the true DNA of Rabbinic tradition, arguing that loyalty to tradition requires the courage to innovate.

Prof. Avinoam Rosenak

Prof. Avinoam Rosenak, a researcher at the Hebrew University and Van Leer Institute, specializes in halakhic philosophy and Rabbi Kook's thought. Combining Torah knowledge with academic philosophy, he views Halakha not merely as a rigid legal system, but as an "educational system" shaping personal and societal identity. He demonstrates that halakhic decisors were historically driven by ethical and cultural considerations, suggesting Jewish renewal requires returning to this ethical awareness. *Funding:* Supported by the Hebrew University's Mandel Chair, the Van Leer Institute, and donations from American Jewry (including the UJA-Federation of NY) for his "Siach Shalom" initiative.

Dr. Yaffa Gisser

Dr. Yaffa Gisser, a senior lecturer and central figure in women's midrashas, expertly makes Aggadah and Midrash accessible to the public. Focusing on the Aggadah as the "beating heart" of the Talmud, she demonstrates how it shapes values and identity, complementing halakhic boundaries. By utilizing sages' stories for current discussions on morality and family, she transforms the Beit Midrash into a place of personal encounter with Torah.

Rabbi Yehuda Chelouche

Rabbi Yehuda Chelouche, a Netanya neighborhood rabbi and dayan, combines Sephardic halakhic erudition with social involvement and conflict resolution. Championing the integration of "Hebrew Law" into the modern state, he embodies the Sephardic tradition of moderation and leniency. His pragmatic approach seeks to embed Torah principles of justice and morality into the Israeli legal system through recognition of their value, rather than coercion.

Prof. Meir Buzaglo

Prof. Meir Buzaglo, a Hebrew University philosopher and prominent social activist, is the leading voice of new Israeli traditionalism. In "A Language for the Faithful," he redefines "traditional" not as a mediocre compromise, but as a deep identity blending loyalty to heritage and family with openness to modernity and science. He offers an inclusive alternative to the religious-secular dichotomy, creating a soft Jewish-Israeli language where love for tradition precedes rigid formalism.

Prof. Jonathan Grossman

Prof. Jonathan Grossman, a senior researcher at Bar-Ilan University and Herzog College, is an expert in the precise literary analysis of biblical stories. Mastering "literary reading," he exposes hidden textual layers like structure and irony, revealing the Bible as a sensitive masterpiece of human complexity. His approach brings biblical figures to life, making faith messages highly relevant to contemporary Israelis by finding God's word within the story's style.

Emuna Elon

Emuna Elon, a Prime Minister's Prize-winning author and journalist, is an influential voice in Israeli culture hailing from Religious Zionism. She contributes a profound literary perspective to Jewish renewal, sensitively exploring the dilemmas of religious women and Israeli society. Tackling explosive topics like faith, bereavement, and politics with compassion, she demonstrates that "Israeli Torah" is also written through novels shaping the national spirit.

Rabbi Yitzchak (Yitz) Greenberg

Rabbi Yitzchak (Yitz) Greenberg, a central thinker of US Modern Orthodoxy, is renowned for promoting Jewish pluralism and interfaith dialogue. He founded CLAL to bridge gaps between Jewish streams, believing every Jew is part of the covenant. He also played a key role in establishing the Washington Holocaust Memorial Museum, viewing the Holocaust as a formative event requiring a reexamination of Jewish faith. Theologically, he coined the "voluntary covenant," arguing that post-Holocaust, Jews must freely choose to engage in Jewish life and mitzvot rather than out of forced commitment.

Prof. Binyamin (Benny) Ish-Shalom

Prof. Binyamin Ish-Shalom, president of "Beit Morasha" and former head of the Joint Institute for Jewish Studies, is a key figure in Israeli identity and conversion discourse. He advocates "unifying Judaism," translating Rabbi Kook's "unity of opposites" into practical public action to bridge divides rather than subdue the secular "other". He emphasizes a Jewish "public sphere" containing diverse voices, believing Torah truth emerges through dialogue. *Funding:* Since 1989, "Beit Morasha" was primarily funded by the "Avi Chai" foundation, and now relies on tax-deductible private donations and government budgets for defense and civil society programs.

Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin-Nun

Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin-Nun, a founder of Yeshivat Har Etzion and Herzog College, is a renowned biblical scholar and father of the contemporary "Bible Revolution". He shifted Torah study back to the "plain meaning of the text," deeply connected to the Land of Israel's history and reality. Integrating archaeological and scientific findings, he proves that biblical and scientific truths coexist, treating the Bible as a living story rather than a diasporic text.

Active members who believe in and support the vision of Israeli Torah

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Our Activities

"The Good Land" Newsletter

A monthly publication from Lekhathila, offering samples of Israeli Torah — fresh and broad in scope — spanning thought and Halakha alike. A newsletter that serves as a platform for diverse voices united by the dream and vision of Israeli Torah.

To download sheets

"Speaking Lekhathila"

Outreach gatherings presenting the foundational ideas of ‘Israeli Torah – Lekhathila’ to groups and communities open to hearing about the Torah we need in this time. Direct encounters with the project’s leaders — and an invitation to join as members and partners.

Listen to our Podcast

Live Gatherings

These take two forms: a bi-weekly traveling Beit Midrash that hosts a range of speakers and explores questions of Torah and Israeli society — Aggadah, Halakha, and communal life; and ‘Home Circles’ — outreach gatherings presenting the movement’s foundational ideas to groups and communities open to listening, questioning, engaging, and joining. Direct encounters with the project’s leaders.

To The Lessons

To order a home class

Our Publications

Israeli Torah – vision and practice

In this small pamphlet, Dr. Yoav Sorek unfolds the story behind the ‘Lechatchila‘ initiative, which he leads alongside a group of prominent intellectuals. Appended to this work is the article ‘The New Generation,’ written in the wake of the war and addressed to parents and educators within Religious Zionism

תורה ישראלית – חזון ומימוש

בקונטרס קטן זה פורש ד”ר יואב שורק את הסיפור שמאחורי מיזם ‘לכתחילה’, אותו הוא מוביל יחד עם קבוצה של אנשי רוח מובילים. לחיבור מצורף המאמר “הדור החדש”, שנכתב בעקבות המלחמה ופונה אל הורים ומחנכים מן הציונות הדתית.

אל מעבר לדתיות ולחילוניות – בעקבות תורת ארץ ישראל של הראי”ה קוק

“מעבר לדתיות ולחילוניות” פורס חזון ליצירת זהות יהודית-ישראלית חדשה, המבוססת על חזון “תורת ארץ ישראל” של הראי”ה קוק, המבטל את ההבחנות המסורתיות בין קודש לחול ובין דתיות לחילוניות, מתוך מטרה לקדם חברה בונה יותר.

לאכול כשר בחו״ל – מדריך לנוסע הישראלי

טקסט לכל שומר כשרות – מעניק הבנה של עקרונות ההלכה והדרכות פרקטיות לשמירה על כשרות בסיסית או מוקפדת במהלך טיול או נסיעת עבודה.

"Israeli Torah"

Dr. Yoav Shorek — intellectual, editor, and historian — lays out in this short pamphlet the story behind the Lekhathila initiative, which he leads together with a group of prominent thinkers. In many respects, this work may be read as an updated condensation of his book The Israeli Covenant (Yedioth Books, 2015). Included alongside the pamphlet is the essay “The New Generation,” written in the wake of the war and addressed to parents and educators within Religious Zionism.

"Eating Kosher Abroad"

A text relevant to every observer of kashrut — from the traditionally minded to the strictly observant — providing an understanding of the principles of Halakha alongside practical guidance for maintaining basic or stringent kashrut during travel or a work trip.

"Beyond the Religious and the Secular"

This essay seeks to transform the divisive controversies fracturing Israeli society into something constructive and forward-moving, by reshaping their substance and tone. The author finds the key to this transformation in a return to the vision of ‘Torah of the Land of Israel’ as articulated by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (the Reiyah), which opens before us a gateway to a new Jewish-Israeli identity — one in which the conventional distinctions between the sacred and the mundane, and between the religious and the secular, dissolve.