Julian Resnick’s love of Israel runs deep, and he’s got the travelogue to prove it.
Across four decades and four continents -- Africa, Asia, Europe, and now North America -- Resnick has championed the Jewish state as a travel guide and educator, shuffling visitors through the turnstiles of the holy land with an eye toward experiential learning.
Last weekend that winding road led Resnick to the Main Line Reform Temple (MLRT) in Wynnewood, PA, where he spent two days as the scholar-in-resident, encouraging young and old to test their faraway notions of Israel against the face-to-face encounter of a visit. It is both his life’s work and his personal creed. “I’m convinced that people should learn as much as they can and see things first hand," Resnick says, “and then whatever conclusions they come to I can respect.”
Raised in South Africa, with an accent still soaked in that peculiar British twang, Resnick moved to Israel in 1976 where he has lived for the greater part of 35 years. In 2008 he guided a tour group from MLRT and still maintains a close relationship with Rabbi David Strauss, which prompted his most recent visit. He hopes to organize a return trip in 2012 along with a local Presbyterian congregation.
Resnick currently lives in New York, serving as the Central Shaliach, or emissary, to the North American wing of the Habonim Dror Youth Movement -- an international Socialist-Zionist youth group.
Wait, Socialist-Zionist? In this day and age? What a curiosity!
I’ll admit, the label shocks my provincial political sensibilities. Zionists don’t really hang with Socialists in America anymore, not since Henry Wallace at least.
So I turn to Julian Resnick, the man who seems equal parts Orrin Hatch and Bernie Sanders, for an explanation.
“I believe [Socialist-Zionists] are behaving very Jewishly, “ he says, “I do believe that in our tradition there is a tremendous emphasis on social justice.”
Resnick endorses universal health care and the right to collectively bargain with same verve he promotes Israel. Though he admits the combination puts him in a precarious position -- particularly in America, where Socialism is something of a dirty word -- he turns to Jewish teaching for intellectual support.
“The Talmud is all about difference of opinion,” he says, “Ours is a culture that has always allowed, if not encouraged, difference of opinion. The moment we try to turn into a culture that tries to silence those who disagree with us we lose what makes us Jewish.”
And so Resnick relishes these moments of conflict. He’s open about his support for an independent Palestinian state just as he is Israel’s mandate to defend itself, and encourages dissenters to have at it.
For him, the conversation matters most. “[I'm] trying to enable people to get to a place where they can discuss things seriously,” Resnick says.
Indeed, he seems to have a secular sort of faith in the power of human experience and interaction, with Israel always central to that ongoing dialogue.
“I’m very, very connected to Israel,” Resnick says, “It’s my passion.”
Questions for Julian?
Email him at renicj@gmail.com
And now....
Link of the week: BASEBALL!
