Oded Harush: "Judaism Should Not Remain Only in Synagogues and Study Halls"

If you haven't yet encountered the bright face of Oded Harush, and his enlightening words spoken and heard in calm, it is likely to happen soon. After several years of vigorous yet quiet activity, Oded recently began to publish his opinions through the media. Currently, he mainly gets his platform from 'Kan' - the new public broadcasting corporation set to replace the Broadcasting Authority.

Despite his extensive activity, and despite the positive and numerous reactions he receives, he remains humble, straightforward, and pleasant. "I'm more boring than people think," says Oded. "And I love this boredom. Because even routine is a miracle in my eyes. It’s a wonder. Divine Providence by Hashem, literally. Once I spoke with a certain rabbi, and he told me to notice that even routine is a miracle, and since then I go everywhere thinking about that. Think what a miracle it is that you plan something and it just happens. Picking the kids up from kindergarten. Praying. Sleeping and waking up. It’s really not to be taken for granted."

The first time I encountered Oded was when I watched a video he wrote and filmed about the dire state of public health in the south. But before we dive into Oded's opinions and actions, let's tell a little about him. Harush, nearly 30, has lived in Dimona since childhood, is married to Idit, a social worker by training, and is a father to Alma and Gefen-Yitzchak.

After his release, Harush worked as a youth affairs advisor to the mayor of Dimona, and was later involved in establishing a study house for young people in Dimona. At the same time, he began studying business administration and continued to engage in public activities.

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"Today we are working on establishing study houses for mature youth, dealing primarily with deepening Jewish identity, we are also working on setting up study houses for young people, as well as creating a platform for young religious artists to have a home for their creations. The department embraces them, giving them opportunities to perform, all from a sense of mission for spreading the Torah and Judaism."

"Why Not Move to the Media?"

Alongside his public work related to Jewish culture, he began filming opinion pieces for "Kan" Broadcasting.

"To this day, I have written and filmed pieces about the state of road accidents in the Negev in general, about the Bedouins, the social message that comes from Tu BiShvat, the ethnic divide, the state of healthcare in the south, and more. I have many hues within me, and every time, something different comes out of me. Many things occupy me. And perhaps above all, I am happy there is a return to social discourse. And on the other hand, I fear it will dominate the discourse too much. I fear there will be big winners and big losers. I simply want it to be better. I don’t think after 2,000 years of exile there needs to be one shade here. Complexity is needed in this country. Inclusion is needed."

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"I am driven by all sorts of things, but one of the strong things that drive me is that people tell me that my opinion pieces interest them. Usually, after that comes the question: 'Why don’t you move to the media?', and I tell them that there are two things burning within me. Public action and public discourse. Regarding discourse - I try to influence through the media, and regarding activity - through formal roles. In my humble opinion, anyone who deals only with one of them misses out on the other. I hope Hashem will continue to open doors for me in both."

Where and how much are you connected to Hashem? What place do you give Him in your life?

"I’m very connected. And as I said at the beginning of the interview, I feel Him primarily in the routine. I have a wife, kids, plans that get carried out. Is there a better presence than that of the Master of the Universe? Beyond that, it’s also not common for a person who chooses to live in Dimona, someone so far from the nerve centers of Israel, to get the opportunity to act in it. With the opinion pieces on the Broadcasting Corporation, with God's help, I manage to reach the heart of the media discourse. And I see this as a very great involvement of the Master of the Universe."

"One Must Not Underestimate the Power of Culture"

When talking to Oded, every few minutes, consciously or not, the subject of Jewish culture comes up repeatedly. The matter clearly burns within him. "From reading Rabbi Kook's book, 'Collected Essays', an outside observer might understand that there is a possibility to think there is a difference between holy and mundane. However, delving into these writings one understands that in the life of a Jew, there shouldn't be a real separation between holy and mundane. In a certain respect, everything is holy. Everything is connected and linked to the service of Hashem. As it is written in Proverbs: 'In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.' If, for example, a person releases an album with quality, Jewish songs that are connected to Hashem and bring others closer to Him, then that’s holiness. It’s Torah, in some way.

"Beyond that, in my view, one of the functions of the Jewish state is to provide a suitable platform for the Jewish person to create Judaism, and enjoy Judaism everywhere. It is not right and not logical for Judaism to remain only in synagogues and study halls, and when you want to, for example, watch a movie or a play - that world always remains secular. In a world disconnected from Hashem. The Torah is in the study hall, at home, at work, and in culture. And even more than that, I can say that in my humble opinion, one must not underestimate the power of culture on the life of every individual. It is part of shaping identity. And it greatly affects."

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"Sivan Rahav Meir, for example, does it excellently. I see what is called 'religious Zionism' putting her in the forefront, and I also see her featured in what is known as the 'ultra-Orthodox' media. They present her there as an 'ultra-Orthodox' woman influencing the public discourse. And when I attend her lectures - I see all of Israel. And I think that precisely her ability as a returnee to religious observance is a very important and good ability, because if you are there - it’s relatively easy to speak to all worlds. It’s a very positive model in my eyes. I think with that ability of hers, and with her social sensitivity, she can bridge the gaps, which, in fact, should not exist. Beyond that, there are also many musicians who do this, like Hanan Ben Ari and Shuli Rand. My brother, who is also involved in music, did a renewal of 'Shirat Habaqashot', and you see Yonatan Razel and other Ashkenazi singers cooperating with him. Music, specifically, and the cultural world in general, have a strong ability to bridge gaps and build connections. And in my opinion, that is the most important thing. The thing we need the most."

To the classic question - where would you like to be in 20 years?

"I have no ambition for a specific role. I have an ambition to feel a certain feeling. A sense of mission, a sense of activity, and a sense of closeness to Hashem and fulfilling His will. I don't want to be someone but something. I would be happy if Hashem continues to enable me to operate in the social and media space. And in any platform that may be - I will bless it."