Yesodot – The Center for Torah and Democracy–
Yesodot deals with the connections and relationships between the Torah and Jewish tradition and Western democratic values in the emerging Israeli alliance.
The interrelationships between the two bases of morality, the Jewish and the humanist, are manifested in several ways: in a country that is both Jewish and democratic, in a Western society that is also traditional, and in the position of the individual within the community, society, and state.
Yesodot chooses to focus on internal work for religious educators as an impetus for the improvement of the religious Zionist population in Israel.
Yesodot operates as an educational body that carries out deep, long-term processes that impact educators and leaders of the next generation from among the religious sector who will lead and create the emerging Israeli alliance.
The Yesodot organization operates by:
– Developing responsible leadership
– Writing pedagogical content and opinion pieces
– Guiding and leading educational processes in the community
– Developing those in complex educational and social roles.
Commitment
Yesodot is committed to the values of Torah and mitzvot and to the values of democracy and the way of life that reflects them, and views the values of democracy as a realization of Jewish values, which serve as a platform to the establishment of a reciprocal society in the State of Israel. Yesodot views democracy as the appropriate approach to managing life in the State of Israel.
Complexity
Yesodot aims to develop a dialogue which includes mutual listening and the ability to formulate complex world views regarding ethical issues in the public sphere in the State of Israel.
Respect and Equity
Yesodot believes that the State of Israel is a shared space, which includes non-Jewish citizens, and is committed to respect and equity for all citizens of Israel in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.
Open Dialogue
Yesodot is a religious Zionist non-profit organization which welcomes to the table all partners to participate in the civic discussion of the Jewish-democratic State of Israel.
Discussion
Yesodot strives to facilitate discussion of the core civic topics on the basis of common Jewish-civic language, without imposing beliefs and opinions on the target populations.
Sources
Yesodot believes that reliance on Jewish sources is an essential component in addressing civic topics as a way of fostering a Jewish-democratic culture in the State of Israel.
