Central recently welcomed Dagan Shimoni as our new shaliach (an emissary from Israel). For the next three years, Dagan will engage with our congregation to help strengthen our understanding of—and connection with—Israel. The insight and perspective that an emissary from Israel brings to Central is especially crucial during these challenging days in Israel’s history.   

Get to know Dagan in the interview below. 

Central Synagogue: What is a shaliach (emissary)? 

Dagan Shimoni: There are schlihim all over the world. Through The Jewish Agency, we work to share Israel’s story with Jewish people all around the world. The idea is to strengthen Diaspora Jews’ connection with Israel through education, discussion, and programming. I am assigned to work concurrently with Central, Park Avenue Synagogue, and 92NY.  

Emissaries are here to represent Israeli society and people. We share what daily life is like in Israel, what Jewish Israelis are generally feeling and doing. 

And we learn from Americans as well. In Israel, being Jewish does not necessarily mean being religious, so on assignments like this, we often learn about Judaism and what it's like to be a Jewish person outside the Jewish state. 

CS: What type of work will you be doing as a shaliach at Central? 

I will be teaching lessons and talking with members of the community about what's happening in Israel. Not only about recent events, but also about the way I see Israel, what I think is important for people to know, and what kind of vision I have for who we can be as a country. I am going to be working with people of all ages -- adults and youth – to pose the questions: How are we similar, and how are we different? What do we hope to achieve together? I’ll also be part of the planning of Yom Ha’atzmaut programming, Tekes Ma’avar worship, and the Israel Day parade.  

CS: What's the first thing you would want American Jews to know about Israel? 

The population of Israel is diverse. Israelis are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and other religions. Some speak Hebrew, some speak Arabic, some speak both, and some speak another language entirely. Israelis may have spent their whole lives in Israel or emigrated from other places, including the U.S. I believe Israel could be a place that brings everyone together through shared values, and I want to show that it does happen. We don't hear about it enough, but there are people who still believe in that vision. For me, this is the essence of being a Jewish country – to welcome the stranger. It’s complicated and it’s not easy. But it’s possible. 

CS: In the other direction, what do you hope to share with Israelis about American Judaism? 
 
Some Israelis don’t know there are different kinds of Judaism, such as Reform. I also think Israelis can learn much about effective community-building from American synagogues like Central— it's a big community, but it's very tightknit. In Israel, we don’t necessarily have that, and I’d like to bring it back. 

CS: How does your family feel about living in New York? 

It’s been a big adjustment, but we are excited to experience New York culture and the American Jewish experience. In Israel, my wife and our two children lived on a kibbutz, which is a very small community. Now, we live on the 22^nd floor in the middle of Manhattan and use the subway to get around, which was very frightening for our kids at first, but now they treat it like a game. While neither of our kids speak English, they’re picking it up. Being inside a synagogue is also a big change. At a recent Friday night Shabbat service at Central, I said  my first-ever aliyah and our eight-year-old was so excited to say the kiddush with Rabbi Buchdahl and Rabbi Kaplan Mandel. 

CS: How can our congregants find you? 

I’m very excited to meet people. You can email me to set up an appointment. I’m at Central on Wednesdays to teach the Israel Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow class. I will also be coming to Friday night services, so you can find me there as well.