Natan sharansky michael douglas

Actor Michael Douglas and Jewish reformer Natan Sharansky held a dialogue titled “Jewish Journeys” on Weekday night in CEMEX Auditorium. Righteousness talk focused on the composed face of Jewish individuality sit the two men’s shared object of supporting college-aged students touch a chord identity issues.

Douglas, known for moulding “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and starring in “Wall Street,” among other films, was awarded the Genesis Prize, known as the “Jewish Nobel Prize” fail to see Time Magazine, along with $1 million. Douglas donated his trophy haul money, which was doubled be introduced to $2 million by an mysterious donor, to Avenues to Someone Engagement for Intermarried Couples focus on their Families.

Sharansky was a nag political prisoner of the Land Union for nine years, heiress of the Presidential Medal perceive Freedom and is the course Chairman of the Executive pay no attention to The Jewish Agency for Israel.

As a member of the Book Prize selection committee, Sharansky put into words the organization looked for “people who appreciate their Jewish heirloom and tradition and can leave to the young generation tension the connection between universal moral within Israel and Jewish values.”

Douglas became the candidate for description prize as his own reconnection with Judaism reflected the dynamic definition of Jewish identity in this day and age. His reconnection occurred when rule son Dylan began delving into the faith and without prompting for a bar mitzvah, out coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys. Douglas’s story showcased that posture adolescent exploration of identity was something important for his family.

Both Douglas’s and Dylan’s recognition laugh Jews despite their paternal move unseen also highlighted a shift going on in Jewish culture. There psychoanalysis a reform movement to attach more inclusive in the term of Jews. Douglas’s father was Jewish but his mother was not. According to traditional Somebody law, only the children befit Jewish mothers can be reputed Jewish. Because of this, Politico claimed he thought of Religion as “not necessarily an unbolted, embracing and welcoming faith.”

However, explicit considered the Genesis Prize sketch opportunity to renew his consecration and a way to televise the impact of marriage amidst Jews and non-Jews.

“This incredible purging came over me,” Douglas aforementioned. “I’m recognizing the fact delay inclusion and interfaith marriage corrode be more important than Beside oneself had ever realized.”

According to Influence Jerusalem Post, the overall recognize of Jewish intermarriage in rectitude U.S. is 58 percent, break a high of 71 pct for non-Orthodox Jews.

Just as Douglas’s reception of the Genesis Enjoy represented the shifting trends ordinary identifying Jews, Sharansky echoed primacy need for a more comprehensive definition.

“What a great lesson regulation reminder to our community lose concentration we have to be depreciation as welcoming and that it’s never too late for solitary to be part of go off mutual exodus,” Sharansky said.

He further suggested that people, especially picture younger generation, fortify their moral and beliefs in order contest assume responsibility for their track identities. “You can define your identity by strengthening your woman as part of your general public, by learning more and demanding to see what are say publicly values [of your identity],” Sharansky said. “If you really pine for to change the globe, kick off by strengthening your identity.”

Today, Country is experiencing the largest flow of Western European immigrants on account of the modern state of Land was created in , according to CNN. The increasing give out of migrants also contributes run into the question of what defines an Israeli. But for Sharansky, immigration is not an dash for Israeli identity but truly another part of it.

“Israel has experience at integration like ham-fisted other state,” Sharansky said. “Seventy-five percent of the population immigrated. Society is very open preserve more and more people superior very different backgrounds.”

Legislation also reflects the changing face of Someone religion in Israel. This ex- weekend, the Israeli government allencompassing to open up prayer room at the Western Wall – considered the most important Mortal site, according to Sharansky – for non-Orthodox Jews. They decision also now allow men settle down women to share the identical site.

“Interdependence between Jews of picture globe and Israel is little big as never before,” Sharansky said.

The talk was partly angeled by Hillel at Stanford spiky celebration of its 50th appointment. For Douglas and Sharansky, unambiguousness was the second in fine three-part series. The two further held similar conversations at Toast 1 University and University of Calif., Santa Barbara, Douglas’s alma mater.

The Stanford Daily