Reclaiming responsibility for Judaism!
Nearly eighty years have passed since David Ben-Gurion handed over the management of Jewish life in the State of Israel to a minority that turned itself into a monopoly.
After nearly 2,000 years of exile, the Jewish people returned to their land and focused on building an Israeli identity. As a result of this success, a true revolution is unfolding before our eyes: Israelis from all walks of life are rising up and seeking to shape the face of Judaism. This is the next chapter in the Israeli story. Our generation faces a historic mission: to build an Israeli Judaism that draws strength from its roots, lives in the present, and prepares for the future. The 20th century was the Israeli century. The 21st century is the Jewish century.
THE IDEA
We celebrate Israeli Judaism everywhere - around the family table, in joyful gatherings with friends, at public ceremonies and events, in schools and synagogues, at community centers and youth movements, in the IDF and National Service, in workplaces, and in the town square.
We seek out connections and strive to broaden our circles - to blend tradition with modernity, to unite Sephardim and Ashkenazim, East and West, and to ensure that women are equal partners on the field, not spectators in the stands. We link Israel’s ancient sovereignty with the Rabbinic Judaism that developed in the Diaspora. The rabbinic halacha is a part of us, but it does not hold a sovereign monopoly.
We preserve our traditional texts and add another level: an Israeli-Jewish interpretation, adapted to our values and our era.
We honor the stranger among us, as it is written: “You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19).
We feel at home in Israel and serve as its ambassadors when abroad.
The State of Israel is the center of the Jewish People. The glue that binds us together, in Israel and in the Diaspora, is our shared Jewish peoplehood.
We all stand together beneath the blue and white flag, with the Star of David at its center, under Israeli law, and in the future under a constitution, with one anthem - Hatikva, and one language - Hebrew.
שיחות עם טרי ניומן
ראיון עם ליאת רגב בכאן ב'
שיחת עומק עם טרי ניומן
קובץ שמע 3
איפה היית ב-7 באוקטובר?": מעגלי השיח היהודיים לציון שנתיים לטבח - הרחק מישראל
כאלף צעירים ישראלים, בהם שורדי השבת השחורה וחיילים משוחררים, מתכנסים השבוע בבתי בינ"ה בהודו ובנפאל ויתייחדו באירועי זיכרון וכאב • טרי ניומן, יו"ר המועצה הציבורית של בינ"ה: "דווקא בריחוק הגיאוגרפי מתחדד הצורך בקהילה ובשייכות"
“Fresh Perspective” – an innovative podcast series by Terry Newman.
Reviews of the book
“Terry Newman’s book, The Jewish Century, offers a sharp and thought-provoking perspective on the role of Jewish identity in the modern era. The writing is clear, profound, and highly relevant, combining history, ideas, and identity in a way that is both accessible and intellectually engaging. This is a book that succeeds not only in enriching knowledge, but also in inspiring reflection on the place of the Jewish people in a changing world.”
Tom Livne
“The Jewish Century is an invitation reconsider our identity. The book challenges all of us not to avoid the essential questions: Who are we? And where are we headed?”
Shai Piron
“Terry Newman, a significant voice in the movement of Israeli Judaism, offers in his book a new and updated language for discussing the Jewish identity crisis facing both the State of Israel and the broader Israeli public. It is a language that was missing in the formative generations of the state and the high-tech era alike — and whose absence contributed to division and violence. Only when we truly understand ourselves can we continue building this land as the homeland of a free, moral, and peace-seeking people.”
Ruth Calderon
“From a vision of Judaism worthy of a living and renewing nation, Terry Newman presents a pioneering vision for building the next essential chapter in the Zionist and Jewish story.”
Tomer Persico
About the Author
Terry Newman is an entrepreneur and investor in the construction, security, and healthcare industries. Previously, he served as a strategic advisor at McKinsey & Company and as Chief of Staff to Lord Janner in the British Parliament. He is the Chairman of BINA’s Public Council and a member of the World Jewish Congress. Terry served in the IDF Rescue and Recovery Unit, is an Ironman triathlete, and holds a BA and MA in Middle Eastern and Jewish Studies from the University of Oxford, as well as an MA in Security and Diplomacy Studies from Tel Aviv University.