If Judaism were to be refashioned for Israeli life, in a manner that brought together religious and secular, Ashkenazim and Mizrachim, young and old, and people of all political inclinations, what would it look like? Kehilat Zion, which is led by Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum may well be it.

Rabbi Elad-Appelbaum is co-founder of the Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis, and is also the founder of Kehilat Zion: an Eretz Yisraeli Community in Jerusalem. Her work spans and links tradition and innovation, working toward Jewish spiritual and ethical renaissance. She devotes much of her energy to the renewal of community life in Israel and the struggle for human rights.

In this week’s podcast, we speak with Rabbi Elad-Appelbaum. In our conversation, she shares her fascinating beginnings as a young girl in an Orthodox family of North African and French descent, her path to becoming an internationally recognized religious leader in Israel, and her vision of what religious life in Israel could be.

Here is an excerpt of our conversation. The full conversation will be posted in a few days for subscribers to Israel from the Inside.