By Gilah Kletenik, Special to JTNews
Sitting in the Jerusalem Renaissance Hotel’s Grand Ballroom at the recent Orthodox Union Biennial Convention, I felt a powerful sense of the Jewish past, present and the future. The gravity of the gathering, comprised of over 1,000 Orthodox leaders, was palpable and the significance was vast.
Together with my fellow Senator Joseph Lieberman Scholars, a program of the OU, I experienced a powerful sense of belonging. Memories of the past were the soft undertones of the entire convention, not only because this gathering was the backdrop of the transfer of power from the OU’s past president to the next, but rather because of the assembly’s location—home. Spending time in Israel, and specifically in its capital, Jerusalem, naturally lends itself to reflection.
As Orthodox Jews, appreciating the gift of the State of Israel comes to us naturally. Only 60 years ago, while my grandmother was still in Auschwitz and Jewish sovereignty resembled a distant dream, the very thought of such a gathering in our homeland was unfathomable.
President Moshe Katzav’s address to the convention symbolized the journey we have taken, while at the same time epitomized the present. The declarations about the eternal connection between Israel and the Diaspora by both Chief Rabbis were refreshing, while discussions about the state of American Jewry by OU leaders was particularly inspiring.
Witnessing the exchange of different perspectives concerning Israel’s security delivered by various military experts proved enlightening, while the colorful discussions about Israel’s future were thought-provoking.
More than the past and the present, however, to me the highlight of the convention was the anticipated future.
In our capacities as Lieberman Scholars, we explore Jewish leadership and discover how to effectively translate these notions into committed action. Not only did we revel in the privilege of experiencing expansive Jewish leadership first hand, but we also probed the nuances of its significance. Private Torah classes with Rav Hershel Schachter, a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University, pointed discussions with Israeli politicians, and participation in the convention resolutions session all helped us develop a true sense of Jewish leadership and dedication.
Of course, when I returned to Seattle, I was besieged with inquiries regarding the highlights of the convention. Each person’s question sent me back to the Renaissance’s packed ballroom. Together with my fellow Lieberman Scholars, I felt not only honored to be a part of this memorable process, but I was moved by the thought that one day we will be the ones leading the Orthodox Jewish community into the future.
Gilah Kletenik of Seattle is one of five Senator Joseph Lieberman Scholars and a student at Northwest Yeshiva High School.