Knesset Members Model Tolerance and Compromise

One of the greatest challenge of our times is to break down the barriers between the secular and religious populations in Israel. I joined the Yesh Atid party because of the call from the party’s founder and chairman, Finance Minister Yair Lapid, to create a political movement in which religious and secular Knesset members work together instead of working against one another.

As he explained to me in one of our first meetings, “This approach is not the easy approach. It will require difficult dialogue and even heated debate. It will demand compromise. In the end the State of Israel won’t look 100% the way I may want it to look and it won’t look 100% the way you may want it to look. But, at least, in the end, we will find a way to function together in our land instead of battling with one another.”

It has been nothing short of an honor to be part of this process as a member of Knesset in Yesh Atid, and one of the best examples of this has been the relationship between MK Dr. Aliza Lavie and MK Dr. Ruth Calderon. Both have been at the forefront of some of the most positive changes which Yesh Atid has helped forge during our first year in office. Both are very passionate about Judaism and both are incredibly knowledgeable. Aliza is religious. Ruth is secular. Their friendship and partnership models the Yesh Atid vision of tolerance, working together and compromise.

Please watch the video below to see a conversation between them (with English subtitles) which captures their special relationship and this critical message: