Temple Emeth Israel Trip

VAT in another sense

2011-03-03T15:00:00.001-05:00

Many of us on this last Emeth trip to Israel had a firsthand experience with VAT, the tax that you pay up front and then get back at the airport. But I’m talking about a different VAT…..that is Value Added Travel when you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be on a trip to Israel with Rabbi Steven Sirbu. For our family, it was most extraordinary. The itinerary was perfect for us, having been in Israel twice but decades ago. We made the decision to take our ten year old granddaughter, and while the pace was rapid, the Rabbi was so sensitive to the kids on the trip, that they were able to take it all in stride. For me, it is virtually impossible to isolate a particular event, city, experience as a favorite. But high on the list, was our granddaughter calling her parents and telling them that Israel is paradise. As we venture back into our day to day routines, waiting anxiously for the pictures to be done, the beautiful feeling of having traveled with acquaintances from Emeth, who became Emeth family in a few short days, guided, encouraged, nurtured and taught by this unusual, caring and knowledgeable Rabbi, continues to expand. We highly recommend the VAT-Sirbu experience! It will change you forever.

Micki Grunstein
Vice President Operations and Administration
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Third time's the charm

2011-03-03T11:47:00.001-05:00

This was the most amazing trip. I was the only one of the 20 congregants that had traveled twice previously to Israel with Rabbi Sirbu. Some places we visited were repeats (The Old City of Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Caesaria, Tsfat, the Golan Heights, Masada and the Dead Sea) but I discovered more with each visit. Muki, our tour guide, was such a wealth of information and history that it was never difficult to listen to him. We had an additional tour guide in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and we all learned so much from her. And the new places we visited, Qumran (site where Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered), Akko (ancient Crusader city), Haifa, Sderot, Beersheva, Capernum (where Jesus was said to have stayed) and the Hula Nature Preserve were wonderful. And we got to see how "up close and personal" Gaza is to Israeli borders. the morning we visited Beersheva, there was a missile attack there earlier. Scary but daily events for Israelis.

Incredible to me is that I said Kaddish for my mother on her yahrzeit at the Kotel. Cried the entire time. So moving. And I ran into my opthalmologist on the top of Masada! He was traveling with Rabbi Frishman and the Barnert Temple group.

And I loved the synagogues we visited in Haifa, Nahariya and Jerusalem and sharing a meal with the congregants. We were able to find out so much about Israeli life on a daily basis. And were so graciously welcomed at each one.

The last Shabbat afternoon, I visited the Israeli Museum and the 2 hours I spent there barely touched the surface. It certainly warrants another visit....

I look forward to my next visit...

Elinor B

Third Time's the Charm

2011-02-23T11:46:00.000-05:00

In 2005, we had Qumran on the schedule but we didn't make it there. In 2007 we had Qumran on the schedule but we didn't make it there. We finally made it today.

What is Qumran? Qumran is the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The site has been excavated and the ruins tell us about the life of the Yachad community, who composed the scrolls and hid them away for nearly 2000 years.

The Yachad community was a monastic group of Jews who had fled to the desert to escape the corruption of Jerusalem and lead a life of simplicity and ritual purity. According to the scrolls and corroborated by the archaeology, the community was highly structured, with men entering the ritual bath twice a day, eating communal meals in silence, and building the infrastrucure required for life under these difficult conditions.

After hearing the story of the people who wrote the scrolls, who lived there from approximately 10 BCE to 70 CE, Muki recounted for us the story of the discovery of the scrolls, which were found by chance in 1947. How lucky we are that the scrolls were discovered...and that we finally made it to the site of the discovery.

A Group Picture at Masada

2011-02-23T08:54:00.003-05:00

We got together again for a group picture overlooking Masada. For this photo we donned our group T-shirts. You can't really tell from the picture, but they have an Israeli flag and a flag with the Temple Emeth logo on them. Thanks to Temple member Peter for designing the T-shirts.

View of the Old City

2011-02-23T02:53:00.002-05:00

On our lunch break Tuesday in the old city, I took 7 people with good knees to the tower above the Lutheran Church in the Christian Quarter. We ascended the 178 narrow spiraling steps and were rewarded with some breathtaking views of Jerusalem. (I figured I owed this to them after our first view of the city was so misty.)
This photo faces to the northwest. The two big domes in the foreground are the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

At the Western Wall

2011-02-23T02:45:00.002-05:00

The Western Wall attracts visitors of all backgrounds. this picture shows Orthodox Jews (like the one seated in the plastic chair) who have come to pray, and tourists who are wearing the white kippot. In the middle, trip participant Jeal (wearing the blue cap) is looking out as he touches the wall. If you look closely you can see notes tucked in the crevices of the wall.

The Temple Mount

2011-02-23T00:58:00.002-05:00

Our group had seen the Christian Quarter and two or three sets of ruins and had lunch before we finally got to go to the Western Wall, "the hub of the Jewish world." This photo, taken from the last outlook before we descended to the level of the Western Wall plaza, shows the dome of the rock above and the Western Wall below. You can see the beautiful weather we had on Tuesday.

You Have Mail, God

2011-02-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

At the Conregational Meeting on February 10, we collected notes to be placed in the Western Wall. We finally arrived at the Wall this afternoon. Before we were given about half an hour of free time at the wall, I took out the bag that held all of the notes. I warned participants how scornful it is to unfold the notes and read them, then I held open the bag and each person took out two or three to insert into the crevices of the wall.

Prior to that, I sat down with 11-year-old Naomi and 10-year-old Elizabeth and we wrote notes of our own so we would be prepared when we got to the Wall.

So, Temple Emeth members, rest assured that your notes have arrived. And to the Holy One Blessed be God: please check your inbox.

Everything in Jerusalem is Complicated

2011-02-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

Our morning in Jerusalem started with the history of Christianity in Jerusalem. The strongest presence in the Old City and in the country is the Greek Orthodox Church. Their symbol, a T interlocked with an O, can be found in numerous places in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. There is also a Greek Catholic and an Armenian Orthodox Church. These three denominations--along with Franciscan Roman Catholics and others--share the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but they do not get along at all, except when they are forced to. Case in point... they cannot agree on who gets to clean the first stair of a staircase that ascends from the courtyard in front of the church.

Later in the day, Muki brought us to a lookout on top of a public roof in the Old City in Jerusalem. In the U.S., there is no such thing as a public basement or a public roof, but Jerusalem has both.

As Muki put it, "The Status Quo in Jerusalem in Holy." Everything is complicated here.

Our 1st Group Photo

2011-02-21T15:08:00.002-05:00

Temple Emeth Group arrived in Jerusalem on Monday. This our 1st group photo taken from the Mount Scopus ridge.

An Artist in Tzfat

2011-02-21T04:03:00.001-05:00

The mystical city of Tzfat is known for it's artists colony. Our first stop as we arrived there was the studio of David Friedman. He explained his mystical style which put emphasis on the Hebrew letters aleph, shin and mem, and the numbers 1, 3 and 5.
As he described the mystical influence on his art, he even led us in a few meditations along the way.

The Theater in Caesarea

2011-02-21T03:54:00.001-05:00

On Friday, as we made our way from Tel Aviv to Haifa, we stopped at the Caesarea Archaeological Park. It was originally a large Roman city founded by King Herod. The most impressive ruin is a Roman amphitheater which has since been restored and is a venue for concerts today.
Muki deputized us as Talmudic rabbis and led us in a discussion on whether Jews at the time should have been permitted to attend the gladiator fights that would have taken place in the theater. Then, like now, one has to make difficult decisions in order to stay true to one's self in a majority culture.

Akko

2011-02-21T03:35:00.001-05:00

On Saturday afternoon, following our service in Nahariya, we visited the crusader city of Akko. This photo taken by trip participant Joel is of one of the great halls--dating to the 12th and 13th centuries--which has been excavated and preserved in the last decade or two.

Shabbat Morning in Nahariya

2011-02-20T14:20:00.002-05:00

On Saturday morning we drove about 45 minutes north to Nahariya. Our relationship with this congregation goes back several years as they are part of our Federation's partnership 2000 program.

At the Shabbat service at the Emet v'Shalom Reform Congregation, we were asked to lead the Torah service. Different members of our group led singing, opened the ark, lifted the Torah and read Haftarah.

Following the service, we were treated to another communal meal. Before we left, Naomi made a presentation of tzedakah that had been donated by her fifth grade class at Temple Emeth.

In both Or Chadash and Emet v'Shalom, we learned how Reform congregations are a small minority that get no help from the government, but nonetheless strive for acceptance and the chance to introduce Israelis to a liberal, welcoming form of Judaism.

Shabbat Evening in Haifa

2011-02-20T14:16:00.001-05:00

Our Friday night services were at Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa. We gathered in advance of the service so the rabbi could welcome us and tell us a little about the congregation. The services were beautiful. Rabbi Nof played guitar and a very talented cantorial soloist led the singing. We had a locally dinner there as well.

At the end of the evening we had 2 special treats. First we each received 4 CD's of music produced by the congregation. Then we got to see the most beautiful bomb shelter around. In the 2006 war with Lebanon, Or Chadash became a bomb-proof day care center for those who had no where else to bring their children. On very short notice the shelter was renovated with paintings of doves, shofars and even painted-on stained glass windows. It was so inspiring to hear how this congregation responded in a time of crisis.

Adventures in Hummus

2011-02-19T15:07:00.002-05:00

Hummus, for those who don't know, is a chickpea spread. It is a middle Eastern specialty and I've had some great hummus so far

At the Magadna restaurant in Tel Aviv, the hummus was a perfect introduction to our shish kabob entree. During lunch on our own in the market in Tel Aviv, our guide Muki brought me to his favorite lunch place in that area. I ordered sabicha which is hummus along with eggplant, potato and hard boiled egg. And Saturday night for dinner at Jacko, a fish restaurant in Haifa, we had a wide variety of appetizer salads including hummus.

In most cases, including those above hummus is served with fresh pita bread.

Hummus is catching on in the US, but it has yet to capture the essence of the original.

"Local" Soldiers

2011-02-19T15:05:00.001-05:00

As we departed Independence Hall, we saw about 50 soldiers waiting to go in as part of their orientation. We struck up a conversation with a few of them and learned that three we're from the US and one from Canada. One was from Tenafly and his brother graduated with Julie and Stephen's elder daughter.

It really is a small Jewish world.

A house that tells two stories

2011-02-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

On Friday morning we checked out of the hotel on Tel Aviv and went to Israel's Independence Hall. It wasn't actually called that until around 1978. On May 14, 1948 and for thirty years beyond that it was simply an art museum.

The declaration ceremony was prepared on only 36 hours notice, so all the decorations and chairs were borrowed for the occasion and then promptly returned. The name Independence Hall give the building national prominence.

But before it was even an art museum it was the home of Meir Dizengoff, who was the first Mayor of Tel Aviv. He built his house on the very spot where 66 families gathered in 1909 to draw lots for the first 66 plots of land (really sand dunes) and establish the settlement that would eventually become Tel Aviv. The house was almost like a city hall or foreign ministry, hosting dignitaries such as General Allenby and Albert Einstein.

So by entering this building, we became a part of both the development of the city and the founding of the state.

Yummy Dinner

2011-02-18T00:03:00.000-05:00

Our welcome dinner was at an historic Tel Aviv restaurant called Maganda. It was traditional Middle Eastern fare, with fresh pita, delicious hummus and sizzling beef and chicken shish kabob. Dessert was served with nana tea. Nana is fresh spearmint leaves that are so flavorful that many Israelis don't even bother to add the teabag.

On the walk back from the restaurant, several people opted to walk along the beach. After all, Tel Aviv sits on the Mediterranean Sea.

Safe Arrival

2011-02-17T23:54:00.000-05:00

Out flight from Newark to Tel Aviv was smooth and uneventful. That's always good news on a trans-Atlantic flight.

As we boarded the bus to go from the airport to our hotel, the sun was setting and a full moon was rising. This means that Purim is just a month away.

On our drive to Tel Aviv, we learned that, though the city was founded in 1909, the name "Tel Aviv" wasn't chosen until two years later, so this year marks the centenary of the name.

Why Tel Aviv? The name literally means the historic mound of spring. Really it is in homage to the founder of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl. Herzl's most famous work was Der Judenstaat (The State of the Jews); his next most famous work was Altneuland (Old-New Land) which was translated as Tel Aviv.

It Begins

2011-02-16T22:14:00.001-05:00

Everyone has arrived at the gate and we are boarding the plane. Our next post will be from Tel Aviv!

Sent from my iPhone

Better Early than Late

2011-02-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

They recommend arriving at the airport at least two hours in advance. I shared a cab with trip participants David and Stewart and we arrived at Newark Liberty about three hours early.

We needed special attention at the ticket counter because we were booked as part of a group. Then we had to be patient because of the long line at security.

Now we're at the gate and--no surprise--we're the first of our group to get here. Who will be next? And who will be last?

Staying Connected

2011-02-15T13:58:00.000-05:00

Israel is known for being at the cutting edge of technology. For an American tourist, technology is not so cheap. As an iPhone user, I could sign up for an international plan and then pay "only" $1.99 a minute for phone calls. Instead I elected to rent an Israeli cell phone for 39 cents a minute outgoing, with incoming calls for free. So not only will I not be using my iPhone for calls, I'm even turning off my voicemail capability, as receiving a voice mail could cost me $2.50.

I will have my iPhone with me so that I can use the internet and send personal email to my family. It will probably also be the main way that I update this blog. Those also required special international plans, but I found them more affordable.

Meet Us: Michelle and Robert

2011-02-15T13:52:00.001-05:00

Michelle and Robert are joining our trip through word of mouth. This means they are braver than the rest of us, choosing to join a trip where they don't yet know anybody. I think that by Shabbat they will feel like family. Here's what they write about themselves...

We are a married couple from Sudbury, MA. This is our first trip to Israel. We belong to Beth El in Sudbury, MA, a reform congregation. We thank you for the opportunity to join Temple Emeth members on this trip.
We have three kids – one in high school, two in college. They are not going with us on this trip. Our oldest was at U of Haifa studying Hebrew last summer.

What does one bring to Israel?

2011-02-15T13:17:00.001-05:00

In addition to the things you would bring on any trip, there are other items that one brings only on a trip to Israel. Here are some of the things I am packing to make sure I get the most out of my experience.

A copy of the Bible--There are times when a particular psalm or other quote will help make the experience of seeing a historical site more meaningful. Mine is a small paperback one in Hebrew and English, and I've brought it on the last two trips. On those trips I even got everyone to sign, kind of like a yearbook.

Notes and Tzedakah--I have a sandwich baggie filled with notes for the Western Wall that we collected at the Congregational Meeting. People were also generous in giving us money to bring for tzedakah. Transporting these items means we are not just travelers but shlichei mitzvah "mitzvah emissaries" which brings extra mazel (luck) on our trip.

Items for Friends--When people hear you are traveling to Israel, they often ask you to bring a little something from the states for them. This is true for our guide, Muki, for whom I am bringing a book; my good friend Paul, for whom I am bringing some CD's; and cantorial student Laura, for whom I am bringing snack food that isn't available in Israel.

Receiving Our Blessing

2011-02-07T13:22:00.000-05:00

The participants of the Israel Trip are scheduled to receive a gift and a blessing at the special congregational meeting scheduled for this Thursday, February 10. Refreshments will be served at 7:30 and the business part of the meeting will begin at 8:00.

Our gift is going to be a copy of the newly-published prayerbook "Mishkan T'filah for Travelers," which will enable us to say blessings or have a brief service (for example after our visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum) when it is appropriate.

We will be collecting notes to bring to the Western Wall at this meeting only, so if you would like to send us with a note, please come on February 10.

Preparing for our Trip

2011-02-07T10:12:00.000-05:00

Preparing for a trip to Israel literally takes over a year of planning. We must choose the itinerary, publicize the trip, recruit participants and take care of all kinds of details.

A major part of planning for the trip took place on January 30. All of the participants who were in town gathered were hosted by Micki and Mike, who are participants on the trip. We discussed everything from what to pack to where we would pray to what we needed to know about security. It was also a great chance for us to spend time getting to know one another. Even though everyone in the room was a Temple member, there were people who didn't know everyone.

As we concluded our meeting, excitement was high. If only we could have gone straight to the airport...

Vicky on Thursday, February 28

2007-03-22T13:42:00.000-04:00

We began the day with a trip to Latrun – the former British fortress that controlled the road to Jerusalem in the War of Independence. Latrun is now the home of the Israeli Armored Vehicle Corps. This was amazing. We saw the history of the Armored Corp, a museum that displayed all the nationalities that have fought to defend Israel over the years. We walked through their memorial site and stopped and acknowledged those who had fallen that date in Israel’s history. And then we walked into the Hall of Tears and I could barely breathe. This magnificent memorial to those who have fallen was intensely moving. I could feel the tears of the mothers, fathers, families and friends mourning. A truly impactful visit.
I was struck many times at how insistent Israel is in acknowledging each person who dies for Israel as the individual they are and not just part of a large anonymous group. It says a lot about the society and the country and the value of each individual to Israel.

Our visits to Ramle and Modi’in were a study of interesting contrasts in two cities. Ramle is a lower-economic level city, with little investment. Modi’in, the city of the future, is the up and coming city of Israel – full of beautiful homes, well maintained and strategically placed parks, schools, and all the other necessities of a small city. (They even have American stores like Ace Hardware and Burger King.) It is fascinating to look at a city’s layout and realize how beloved and valued the children of the community are.

Our final stop was Jaffa Flea Market, a fun stroll and a little haggling. Then a last stroll down the beach to Tel Aviv, a final good bye to an amazing teacher and the trip home. After these five intensive days, I realize I just scratched the surface!

Vicky on Wednesday, February 28

2007-03-22T13:38:00.000-04:00

Muki gave me a quick overview of Haifa – the view from the seaport, the Baha’i Gardens, a little history of the town. We then traveled to the archaeological site Megiddo. A very ancient city, the James Michener book “The Source” was based on the multiple layers of cities found here. Interestingly, while Megiddo went through so many layers of civilization, it ceased being a living city about 300 BCE. It was fascinating to look at the development of the city and disappointing not to be able to walk in its water tunnel – another day! We stopped for lunch in Zichron Yaakov, a lovely town with many artists’ galleries and shops. Our trip then continued with a wonderful hike in the Rothschild Reserve in the Carmel learning about the history of the area and some of its archaeological findings. There is something so peaceful about hiking and learning in Israel.

Vicky on Tuesday, February 27

2007-03-22T13:37:00.000-04:00

Our next day we went to Beit Hatusefoth –the Museum of the Diaspora. I had visited here previously and found it fascinating, so we did a shorter but thorough tour of the building. The museum lays out the ideas and reasons that have kept the Jewish people together all these centuries. It was illuminating.

From there we proceeded to the Palmach museum, an unforgettable experience. The Palmach Museum honors those members of the Haganah who underwent extensive military training to defend the Jews of Palestine before 1948 and to fight in the War of Independence. It has a “you are there” approach – you go through each step of belonging to the Palmach with its members, through training, bringing illegal immigrants to Palestine between 1945-48, and then fighting for Israel. It was truly moving.

Part of the Tel Aviv experience is lunch at a sidewalk café. As it was the week before Purim, we enjoyed the parade of pre-Purim costumes worn by young and old. Another essential experience in Tel Aviv is admiring the beautiful handmade crafts and local artwork at the Tuesday Crafts Fair.
From Tel Aviv we traveled to Haifa, where I met a friend for dinner at a wonderful local restaurant and to be ready for our northern adventures the next morning.

Vicky on Monday, February 26

2007-03-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

Our second day, we visited the Supreme Court of Israel, located in Jerusalem. The relatively new building is constructed with lines and circles throughout – lines for the law and circles for justice. How brilliant that the architect realized the practical application of the law can lead to justice! We were able to sit in one courtroom for a few minutes and follow the proceedings. Unlike US courts, where there is often a jury trial, in Israel all trials are heard by judges.

We left the Supreme Court and proceeded to Mt. Herzl and the grave of Theodore Herzl, the founder of Modern Zionism. We moved on from there to the military cemetery. It is always significant to acknowledge those who have dedicated their lives to Israel. This military cemetery drove home an important lesson – there are so many Jews from all over the world who have come to Israel and work together to create this Jewish society and country. There were monuments acknowledging the sacrifice of so many groups – those who died in the establishment of the state, Jews from different countries who died during WWII fighting the Nazis, as well as victims of terror. The individual attention given to each gravesite and monument was moving. The flowers and other items left by family members were heartbreaking.

After leaving the Military cemetery, we traveled to Tel Aviv. As we left the Jerusalem, Muki commented “say goodbye to Jerusalem” and I felt a pang – “If I forget thee O Jerusalem!” Even after several wonderful days, still twinges leaving our city.

Tel Aviv was bright and vibrant. Muki shared the history of the Neve Tzedek neighborhood – an original section of Tel Aviv that had become run down and is now going through a renewal. It’s a wonderful, warm artistic area with beautiful homes, stylish stores, restaurants and some jazz clubs. The narrow roads give the area a very picturesque look. Later, walking alone to dinner and back through the neighborhood, I could see how alive it is with so many different people.

Vicky on Sunday, February 25

2007-03-22T13:32:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate to stay an additional five days to explore and learn more about Israel with our brilliant and talented educator Muki. We spent the first day learning about the Old City of Jerusalem through an intensive and thorough walk exploring the establishment of the city, its development and improvements during biblical times. A highlight was walking through the Canaanite water tunnel close to Hezekiah’s water tunnel, another engineering marvel that is both beautiful and mysterious. Visiting the Herodian mansions, the Davidson Center, seeing the remains of the shops outside the temple, Muki reading the text in Kings that described David looking out on the rooftops of the city, combined to remind me of how strong our connection to Jerusalem is.

That evening, I had dinner with a rabbinical student on Emet Refrain Street to discuss teaching at the congregation where I am Executive Director.

A note on Vicky's reflections

2007-03-22T13:21:00.000-04:00

As mentioned earlier, one member of the group, Vicky, arranged in advance to stay five extra days in Israel with Muki as her guide and see some of the sites that we couldn't fit onto our group itinerary. She has shared some of her journey in the next few postings.

While, as a congregational rabbi, I tout the advantages of group travel to Israel, I think you will see from Vicky's postings, that there are many advantages to going alone and hiring a guide who can customize the experience.

I envy Vicky's opportunity to travel on her own and I admire her perseverance in pursuing this experience.

One last thing, I mentioned in a much earlier posting that Vicky and Ilene spent part of our free day in Eilat on a hike with Muki. Here is a photo from that trek! Enjoy.

Another Reflection from Judith

2007-03-20T21:18:00.000-04:00

One more quick note about our trip to Israel. On Thursday morning, a few of us opted out of the dig at Beit Guvrin, having been there in 2005, and opted to go shopping on Ben Yehuda Street instead. So Elinor, Ilene and I started out from the hotel to walk to Ben Yehuda Street, an easy stroll on a beautiful morning. We had gone only a couple of blocks, perhaps, when I looked across the street and recognized the hotel where I had stayed in 2002. I actually recognized the corner and exclaimed to my friends, "I know where I am--I stayed there in 2002 and the Sheraton is there and there's the SuperSol (grocery store) where we bought lunch on the last day and that's the artist's gallery we went into a couple of times." What a kick to feel so familiar when I was actually 6,000 miles from New Jersey and feeling as much at home as I would walking on Cedar Lane in Teaneck.

If you haven't been to Israel yet, or haven't visited in a number of years, you should consider going. It is safe and wonderful and we should all touch base with our spiritual homeland at some point. I encourage you all to consider a trip soon.

A Reflection from Ilene

2007-03-20T21:16:00.000-04:00

Had an amazing time in Israel. Was even more relaxed this time than the last. Felt and acted more independently by walking alone and exploring Mea Shearim. Liked the fact that it was a more intimate group. Was a really special trip because it included my Rabbi. Special moments were particpating in services at Bet Daniel and Yozma; especially Yozma which included the 1st graders leading part of the service. Loved HUC especially bumping in to Rabbi Gerald Weider who married Vic and I. Thought the desert experiences of "meditation", chevruta study, visit to the Bedouin style tent and hiking with Vicki and Muki were most memorable...as was my morning shopping for rimonim and noshing with my Rabbi. Already thinking and planning (mentally) for the next trip!! Feel closer than ever to Israel..angered by the NY Times writing only about the plight of the Palestinians -- while at the same time recognizing that, it appears, as if the regular "Palestinian on the street" suffers greatly from his government's "leadership". Hoping for Peace and thinking of ways to do my part to help bring it about. Kein yehee ratzon!!

A Reflection from Judith

2007-03-20T21:14:00.000-04:00

Like the rabbi, I was struck by the juxtaposition of visiting Yad VaShem on Friday morning and then visiting Kehillat Yozma in Modiin on Friday evening for services. Yad Vashem always leaves me feeling sad, and then amazed. Sad because of the attempted destruction of a proud and ancient people (thank God it has failed time and time again--truly, by all that's logical, we should not exist) and amazed that we are still here at all--and a vibrant and growing community, world-wide.

The service at Kehillat Yozma was joyous and spiritual and the children's enthusiasm was contagious, at least to me. It reminded me of our own music service in a way. There was no dancing in the aisles, but the children with their arms around each other swaying happily and singing loudly really touched me. Here is a Progressive community in Israel proving to all the world that we do exist and that what we Reform Jews do is as authentic and wonderful as what anyone else practices.

I can't wait to go back.

Post-Trip Reflections

2007-03-20T21:13:00.000-04:00

Now that we've been home for about a month, I have invited participants on the trip to share reflections on what we saw and experienced together. I will post them as they are submitted to me.

A post-trip greeting from Vicky

2007-03-16T13:39:00.000-04:00

Shalom Chaverim!

I got back Friday and send regards and love from Muki. He really enjoyed our group. He shared with me how easy most of you got through security at the airport – sorry Donna and Rabbi!

During the additional five days, I managed to do another hike in the Carmel and to see a lot of beautiful places in Israel. There is so much more for us to see on the next trip!

I’m sending some photos that I thought you’d enjoy. Please feel free to share yours as well.

Saturday: Our Departure

2007-03-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

The drive from Jerusalem to Ben-Gurion International Airport takes about 45 minutes. As always, we ran on time. Muki explained how the security would work when we arrived at the airport. The first stage is to stop our bus at the perimiter and ask about the driver, the guide and the passengers. We soon reached the curb outside our terminal, where we claimed our luggage from under the bus and said goodbye to Moshe.

The next stage is to question every member of the group, starting with me. As it turns out, I was the only person who had my bag go through the special x-ray and then had to report for a hand inspection. The reason? I can't know for sure, but it is probably because I told the screener that I had accepted two gifts, a stuffed toy from my Israeli friend, and a book from the head of our travel agency.

Of the rest of the group, Donna faced the most questions because I told them that she was not a member of the congregation. Clearly they were concerned about a "hanger-on" who joined the group in order to have access to the plane. After speaking to her for a few minutes, they could see she was just a tourist like the rest of us, and we were all approved.

Next we had to get our boarding passes. This was where it was time to say goodbye to Muki. Like any airport, we went through the metal detectors and then go through passport control. I got in line behind one member of the UJA group who had apparently lost his passport and had a replacement one issued by the embassy. My line, therefore, went the slowest of all. Finally, after all the checks we entered the shopping paradise known as Duty Free. That is where I got in line for the last time, to reclaim my VAT tax from the gifts that I had bought.

Our flight boarded and departed on time. This time I stayed in my assigned seat. I had an inside seat, so there was really no reason anyone would want to switch with me. We landed about 30 minutes early in Newark. The Newark ground crew wasn't ready for us, so we had to sit on the plane for those 30 minutes until they would open the door.

We didn't really have a chance to say goodbye at Newark Airport, but that's OK. Part of the joy of taking a Temple trip is knowing that you'll see one another at Temple activities.

I suppose this concludes the blog, but the impact that the trip will have on us will continue. The next trip won't be for a few years, but I hope everyone in the Temple Emeth community will consider joining us. Shalom u'l'hitraot!

Saturday: Our Farewell Dinner

2007-03-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

Before leaving the hotel, we had a session where each of us got to share what our favorite mental snapshot of Israel was. It was clear that, as promised, this had been a life-changing trip for everyone, young and old. A few minutes later, we celebrated Havdallah. Unfortunately, it was too cold to do it outdoors, so we did it in a meeting room of the hotel. Nevertheless, it was our spirit that brought meaning to the service much more than any venue could.

Our last meal together was a festive one, held at a restaurant called Olive and Fish, just around the corner from our hotel. We loaded the bus with all of our luggage and then went to dinner. We were originally seated at the end of the main dining room, but after taking one look at us, the manager offered to move us upstairs to half of the private dining room (separated by a curtain from the other half which was waiting for a group that hadn't arrived yet). I made my final executive decision of the trip and approved the move upstairs.

Though wine wasn't included with our meal, we quickly decided to use our excess shekels to order some. We toasted our fearless guide, Muki, and our driver, Moshe, for never making us fear.

Sometime between the appetizers and the main course CJ threatened to start blowing the whistle that he had been given earlier in the day by a group having a Shabbat children's program at HUC. At that point I decided that it was time for he and I to take a walk. We went across the street to Liberty Bell Park, so named because of its replica of the American Liberty Bell.

We concluded our meal with mint tea and a delicious chilled chocolate mousse cake. We said our goodbyes to Vicky, who had previously arranged to stay an extra five days in Israel, and boarded the bus for Natbag, the Hebrew abbreviation for Ben Gurion Airport.

Saturday: The Rooftops of the Old City

2007-03-01T10:09:00.000-05:00

After lunch, Muki took us on a walking tour that brought us to the rooftops of the Old City of Jerusalem. Many rooftops, he explained, are public space, not unlike sidewalks where we live. Our perch was close to the intersection of the four quarters of the Old City: Muslim, Christian, Armenian and Jewish.

We learned about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and how none of the Christian sects that have shrines in the Sepulchre complex want the others to have the key. So a member of the same Muslim family has been opening and closing the main door for generatoins.

I recalled when I took a rooftop tour about 10 years ago that the Muslim Quarter was distinguishable by its many television antennas. This was not a religious expression, simply a reflection that the Muslim Quarter did not have cable. This time, the antennas were gone, replaced by--you guessed it--satellite dishes.

Sitting on the rooftops gave us a good sense of the relatively small size of the Old City, and that, like with everything else in the Middle East, there are no hard and fast rules. There are Jews living in the Muslim Quarter and Muslims living in the Christian Quarter. There is a mosque in the Christian Quarter, but all of the Reformation churches except Lutherans are excluded from the Old City altogether. Why the Lutherans? Because when the Turks ruled Israel, they had an alliance with the Germans, so a German denomination was allowed in when the rest were excluded.

Following our view from the rooftops, we returned to the hotel for a few hours to nap and pack before our farewell dinner and our trip to the airport.

Saturday: Weather Report--Chamsin

2007-02-28T21:28:00.000-05:00

Every Israeli can tell you that a chamsin is a dusty desert wind. I assumed until this weekend that chamsin was exclusively a summer phenomenon. Not so. The chamsin meant that we were unable to see all the way to the Mediterranean Sea as we descended to Modi'in on Friday. It also meant that from the back side of HUC, we were not able to see past the Old City all the way to Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives at the far end of the city. For people with respiratory problems, the dust of a chamsin can be especially irritating. For us, thankfully, it was just another Israel experience. This photo was taken from the Jaffa gate of the Old City facing south into the Gehinom valley.

Saturday: Services at Hebrew Union College

2007-02-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

For the first time on our trip, Shabbat services were at an outside synagogue that was walking distance from the hotel. That meant that services could be optional and people could arrive when they wanted to. I'm too tactful to say publicly who arrived on time, who arrived in the middle of the service, who arrived ten minutes before the end, and who arrived ten minutes before the end and still believed she deserved Bat Mitzvah credit.

Suffice to say that we prayed at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Jerusalem campus. The land was alloted to the Reform movement in 1964, when the eastern edge of the property faced onto No-Man's Land and a view of the old city risked encountering a Jordanian sniper's bullet. In 1967, of course, the entire situation changed, and now HUC-JIR has some of the best real estate in Jerusalem. The campus was expanded in the mid-1980's and again in the late 1990's, so that it is now a thriving center of Reform Judaism in Israel.

All this is a long way of saying that many Reform groups stop at HUC-JIR for services. On Saturday, there were at least 5 American rabbis in attendance, who were welcomed by Rabbi Naamah Kelman. The service itself was very familiar to us. Though all the prayers were in Hebrew, we used Gates of Prayer, and all the commentaries and the sermon were in English.

The singing, led by Cantor Tamar Havilio, was beautiful, and meant a lot to me. The cantor, once known as Heather Feffer, was my classmate in the year in Israel program almost 15 years ago. She said I haven't changed a bit. The gray hairs of congregational life mean that isn't entirely true, but the sentiment is sweet nonetheless.

Friday: Services in Modi'in

2007-02-27T21:21:00.000-05:00

Modi'in is not the obvious choice for a group staying in Jerusalem to pray, but I'm so glad we ended up there. First of all, it is the home of our guide, Muki. He speaks fondly of Modi'in and its status as "City of the Future."

Before services, we got a quick drive-through of the town. Then we met in a nursery school classroom (it's funny how they look the same no matter what country you're in) to learn about the history of the Reform congregation, Yozma, and how we can support it if we choose. We were told that this would be an unusual service, not just because we were visiting, but because this service would honor the first-graders and their parents.

It was a great service, not just because we were able to follow the prayers, but because after being at Yad VaShem in the morning, it was so reassuring to see so many Jewish children, living in Israel and beginning their Jewish educations. Sure they made a lot of noise during the service, but no one seemed to mind. When it was their turn to sing, they sang with all their hearts and gave hope to us that the Jewish people has a strong future.

After services, we were divided into smaller groups for home hospitality. On the bus ride home, everyone spoke about how friendly their hosts were, and how wonderful the experience was.

Friday: Machane Yehudah and Nachlaot

2007-02-27T21:11:00.000-05:00

From the sadness and solemnity of Yad VaShem we learned about one of Jerusalem's oldest neighborhoods by means of a scavenger hunt. Before the hunt began, we were given free time in Machane Yehudah, Jerusalem's main open-air Jewish market. After wandering for only a minute or two, it is clear that there is nothing edible that you cannot buy in Machane Yehudah: fresh and dried fruits, baked goods, fish, meat, beans and spices are all in abundance in this feast for the senses. My purchases included dried figs, dried dates, roasted pistachios and a falafel.

The scavenger hunt focused on the adjoining neighborhood of Nachlaot, one of the first neighborhoods established outside the Old City walls. Our group was divided into three teams, with each team taking a different route but required to answer the same questions. We had to count how many stars of David were worked into the architecture, we had to answer a question on kashrut and on Jewish numerology, and we had to find a particular window based on a black and white photograph. My team consisted of Alli, Donna, and Elinor, and I thought we were destined for victory. But, alas, it was one of those Goliath moments, I guess, as CJ's team were the ultimate winners.

Friday: Yad VaShem

2007-02-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

The word "yad," we learned, can have two meanings. The first is "hand" as in Yad L'Kashish (a hand to the aged). The second is monument as in Yad VaShem, the name of Israel's Holocaust memorial museum.

It's impossible to describe the array of emotions we felt in the museum--shock, anger, sadness, even hope--but the museum gave important details on a story we all know partially but no one knows completely.

Pictures are not allowed in Yad Vashem, but this is a photo of the lobby area on the right (with the tall windows) and the footbridge to the museum on the left (with the triangular facade).

Friday: Yad L'Kashish

2007-02-27T12:17:00.000-05:00

With the hours counting down until Shabbat, we made the only pre-scheduled shopping stop on our itinerary. Yad L'Kashish (Lifeline to the Elderly) is a tzedakah organization that gives retirees a social outlet and a warm meal, while at the same time earning them some extra money for the crafts they make. We didn't have time to see the workshop, but we did descend en masse on the gift shop, buying Judaica and other items of all kinds.

Thursday: Happy Birthday George W

2007-02-27T12:13:00.000-05:00

While Americans celebrated George Washington's birthday on Monday, his actual birthday was on Thursday. While the Father of Our Country gave us so much, he also gave us the opportunity to have this trip, since most NJ school districts are closed for the week of Washington's birthday. In my own little homage to the first president, I walked around the corner from our hotel and took a picture of this street sign. Clearly, I'm not the only one who appreciates the original George W.

Thursday: The Old City of Jerusalem

2007-02-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

One could easily spend a week in the Old City of Jerusalem and still only scratch the surface of the history that it holds. We began our visit--typically--with a stop for eating and shopping.

Once we were ready to hear Muki's description of the Old City, we began at what seemed to be just a pile of rocks until we knew just what these rocks represented. It was a ruin from the First Temple period, when the Kingdom of Israel was divided into two (Israel in the north and Judah in the south). In 722 BCE the Assyrians invaded from the north and destroyed the 10 northern tribes of Israel, hence the saying today "Ten Lost Tribes." The Assyrians continued southward toward Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, but were never able to breach the city wall. The wall that we looked at was that wall. That pile of rocks, then, represented the difference between 10 lost tribes and 12 lost tribes, or between the reduction of the Jewish people and our complete destruction. When the story is told like that, one can have new awe for a 2800-year-old wall.

Our next stop were the Herodian mansions, where it seems the High Priest of the Second Temple period lived. We learned about the ritual and political position of the High Priest and the priesthood. But we also learned that even the High Priest's neighborhood was not immune from idolatry. In a cistern that the High Priest most likely would have drawn water from, archaeologists found a pagan fertility goddess. Even in ancient days, the Jews had to find the right balance between Judaism and the outside world.

Finally we made our way to the Western Wall. We had been there the night before, but only to go in the tunnels. This time we had the opportunity to pray and to put notes in the wall. In the Western Wall plaza, there were about 150 soldiers on a tour coordinated by the army. The juxtaposition between old and new, between holy and military, was impressive.

Thursday: Our Archaeologcial Dig

2007-02-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

On Thursday morning, we departed Jeruselem to head for Beit Guvrin, an active archaeological dig that enlists the help of tourists to help uncover artifacts from a people who lived at the same time as the Maccabees, over 2100 years ago. Along the way we saw the valley in which the famous battle between David and Goliath took place.

The geology of Beit Guvrin is fascinating. The ground has a 3-foot deep crust, beneath which there are dozens of feet of very soft chalk. The people who lived here long ago had houses on ground level and then dug caves in the chalk for storage, oil pressing, and water retention.

One of the reasons that tourists are allowed to work here with only a few minutes of training is that this site has objects from only one period, so there is no concern about objects being confused.

We were a small group on this day. All four of our return customers decided to do some exploring on their own. Allie had a lunch date with cousin Shoshana, and so only 8 of us made the trip to Beit Guvrin. It was certainly worth it. The caves that have been completely excavated and are now open to the public are amazing. After seeing six or seven of them, we went to work. The first stage was to loosen dirt on the floor of a cave, look for artifacts (including pottery, bones, and shells) to put in the "finds" bucket, put all the dirt in a different bucket. It was great to see CJ and Tamara collaborating so well together. And they were really successful, finding several pieces of pottery with "profile" (a rim, a base, or a handle).

The second stage was to bring our buckets of dirt out of the caves, and then to shake it out on a sifter. It's amazing to see how much we could find in the sunlight that we missed in the cave. During the sifting, one group even found a shiny coin. Too bad it was a 10 agorot piece (circa 2004 CE) planted by Muki to see if we were paying attention.

At the end of our time at Beit Guvrin, we saw some of the more impressive things found there and had the chance to take souveniers from the discard pile. Then it was back to meet the rest of the group in the Old City.

Meet Frances

2007-02-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

Like many American Jews, Frances has been to several countries to learn about the history and culture of other people. Now the time has come for her to visit Israel, and it was important she share it with her whole family. She asked her mother-in-law, Diane, more in passing than anything else if she wanted to join the rest of the family, and to her pleasant surprise, she said yes. Fran listens more than she talks, not surprising for a psychiatrist, and I think that in doing so she is seeing Israel through six sets of eyes, one for each member of her family.

Wednesday: The UJA-Federation Event at the Israel Museum

2007-02-25T13:12:00.000-05:00

Later that evening, the 350-member delegation of the UJA-Federation of Northern New Jersey invited us to join them at their reception at the Israel Museum. We began with a tour of the Jewish history and ritual section of the permanent exhibit. There I ran into several people I know, including State Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and his colleague, Englewood City Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen.

From the tour, we were led into a tent built for the occasion and heard the customary words of welcome and support. The emcee specifically welcomed Temple Emeth. We then had a yummy dinner, and though there was no dance floor, many of the participants began dancing between the tables. It was a great way to celebrate being in Jerusalem

Wednesday: The Western Wall Tunnels

2007-02-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

One thing that we learned relatively quickly in Israel is that names are not always accurate. We were in Tel Aviv, but it is really Tel Aviv-Jaffa. We went to the desert earlier in the trip, but we actually went to three distinct but contiguous deserts: the Negev, the Arava, and the Judean desert. So when we say we went to the Western Wall, it's important to say exactly what we mean.

Many people associate the Western Wall with the area designated for prayer, where people often put notes in the cracks of the huge stones. That is the Western Wall, but it is not the entire Western Wall. Much of that same retaining wall of the plateau for the Second Temple is now underground, obscured by the homes and businesses of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. But we had a chance to see the whole thing.

Muki led us on a tour of the Western Wall tunnel, describing the structures that would have been adjacent to it, like stores, foot bridges and aqueducts. To see the enormity of one 400-ton stone is to appreciate just how amazing it was to build this wall with 2000-year old technology and yet still maintain such precise building standards.

Wednesday: Our Arrival in Jerusalem

2007-02-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

Finally, five days after we landed in Israel, we reached Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people. We stopped on Mount Scopus, home of the Hebrew University for a magnificent view of the city. Muki told a story about how Jews see Jerusalem both with their eyes and with their hearts. I told a story about how the Hebrew University just behind us was founded in the 1920's by Rabbi Judah Magnes, who was born in Oakland, California (just like another famous and beloved rabbi).

Together we read a Psalm of ascent to Jerusalem and said the Shehechianu. As we prepared to leave, we had our first meeting with the Jersey to Jerusalem group from our Federation who had just arrived in Jerusalem from the north.

Wednesday: The Dead Sea

2007-02-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

No trip to the Dead Sea area is complete without some time to float in the Dead Sea. I regret that I have no pictures of this, as I took a nap in the warm sun. (On the other hand, I think many in our group have pictures of me napping.) While it is a great tourist attraction, the Dead Sea is also very important to Israel's economy because of the minerals that are extracted from it. But there is a problem--the level of the Dead Sea is dropping, and without major intervention, it could dry up in 400 years. Muki told us some of the options, including a canal from either the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. But there are no easy answers, and few are likely to look for the difficult answers until there is peace in the region.

Wednesday: Masada

2007-02-22T12:27:00.000-05:00

Virtually everyone has heard of Masada, though not everyone knows what happened there. This first picture was taken atop Masada facing southeast toward the Dead Sea.

Muki told a three-part story atop the ancient fortress, interweaving characters and ideas that give this place its identity.

The first story was about King Herod the Great who built the fortress and its palaces. Archaeology, however, cannot confirm that Herod ever visited the completed fortress. The second story was about the Jewish Zealots who made their last stand against the Romans in 73 CE. According to Josephus Flavius, a historian who was not present at the standoff, the Zealots chose death over slavery to the Romans. The third story was about Yigael Yadin, the father of modern archaeology and the techniques he used in the excavation of Massada in the 1960's. The second picture is of a 2000-year-old "Jewish" mosaic, one which used no iconogcraphy, that was unearthed and preserved at Masada.

Usually a group visiting Masada in the summertime can expect 100+ degree temperatures, but we were lucky. It was about 80 with an occasional breeze.

Wednesday: How Are We All Related, Anyway?

2007-02-22T12:20:00.000-05:00

In our hotel in Eilat, we noticed a group of Nigerian Christian tourists, but no one had the chance to say hi to them until we both stopped at the same rest stop at the same time, about two hours north of Eilat. Ilene asked me to take a photo of her and some of the Nigerians, so they immediately wanted to know how we were related.

"Is he your husband?" they asked. "No, no." Then came the doozie... "Is he your son?" Ilene didn't know quite how to respond to that in the moment, but I think her long-term response was to buy a year's supply of Dead Sea face cream. They had never heard of a rabbi, but we explained that I was like the priest for the group, and they all nodded. After a few more photographs, we parted ways, but for the rest of the day, we helped Ilene cope with her sudden identity crisis.

Tuesday: Our Free Day

2007-02-22T12:14:00.000-05:00

It seemed perfect on such a rigorous trip to pick a day in the middle with no structured activities. And so it was on Tuesday.

Ilene and Vicky climbed a mountain in the afternoon with Muki. Muki had said that he wanted to climb the mountain and he was glad to have the company. The climb was difficult, something Vicky couldn't have done on our last trip, and a truly transformational experience for her. Ilene read a Psalm of the day, and Muki--appropriately enough for a mountain climb--sang a Psalm of ascent. For Vicky it was a perfect example of how Jewish time and Jewish space intersect in the Land of Israel.

Our family of six chose to swim with the dolphins. I did a little shopping in the midday with Ilene and then caught up on my sleep later. By far the most impressive day trip was the one Elinor, Judith and Donna selected: a trip to Petra in Jordan.

Petra is a wonderfully preserved Nabatean city nestled in the red mountains of Jordan. Since I didn't go (I visited in 1995, shortly after direct travel from Israel to Jordan became possible), I can't give many details, but the Petra three reported that it was not to be missed!

Monday: The Stars at Night

2007-02-22T12:10:00.000-05:00

One other amazing aspect about our bedouin experience had nothing to do with the hospitality. The stars in the middle of the desert on a clear night are simply brilliant in a way that they can never be at home. Orion's belt, sword and sheild were all shining brightly, and for the first hour of nightfall, there was a wonderful crescent moon with moonglow and Venus hanging in the sky right next to it. Breathtaking.

The stars don't photograph well, but here's the desert sunset from our bedouin location.

Monday: Bedouin Hospitality

2007-02-20T15:02:00.000-05:00

At about 5:00 we arrived at a site that offers Bedouin hospitality to groups like ours. The Bedouin camp. First we looked from our high perch down into the Aravah valley below and across to the mountains of Jordan. CJ made a joke that we might have to be ready for an attack across the valley from Jordan. It occured to me that he was born a year after Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, so while someone my age knows how long and hard it was to forge a peace treaty, someone CJ's age may not even know about it.

CJ looked over my shoulder and reminded me that it was a learning moment for him and to say how awsome he is!

Our Bedouin host, Amir, gave us an introduction to Bedouin music; to the ideas, limits, and culture of hospitality; and to the many things you need to know about camels if you are going to live the life of the Bedouin. We then sat down to a yummy dinner of chicken and rice. There were other kids CJ and Tamara's age, so they had a great time hanging out outside the tent while the grownups finished dinner inside.

Monday: We Are not the First Ones in the Desert

2007-02-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

Our final stop before dinner was at a 6000-year-old shrine. It was pre-Israelite, so our ancestors didn't worship there, but it gave us a sense that people have been worshipping God in the desert for many centuries. Muki split us up into chevruta (study pairs) and together we read from I Kings 19 about the prophet Elijah's flight to the desert after his victorious competition with the worshippers of Baal. Elijah thinks he can escape God in the desert, but in fact his relationship with God is strengthened when an angel brings him food and water and encourages him to return to the service of God.

Our discussion in this setting brought the Bible to a different level. I especially appreciated Tamara's (my chevrutah partner) interpretation of what the Bible means when it says God was in the still small voice.

Meet Elinor

2007-02-20T14:50:00.000-05:00

Elinor is a long-time member of the congregation. She sits on the board and chairs the Paul S. Lazar Caring Community Committee. If you have attended Rosh Hashanah services at Temple Emeth in the last few years, you have heard Elinor speak from the bimah talking about the work of her committee. Elinor has one of the most profound lines in the promotional video we made on the last trip. She says she just can't imagine making this without her rabbi and members of her congregation. Well she didn't want to miss this opportunity, so even though this is the longest flight she has taken without her husband, here she is.

Monday: Our Relationship to the Desert

2007-02-20T14:43:00.000-05:00

The image of the desert that predominates among us city-dwellers is bare sand dunes that drift as the wind blows. Actually, more than 90 percent of the world's deserts are hard and rocky, including the Negev, but Muki took us to a place where perception met reality. While we were there we took a few minutes to basque on top of the sand and then Muki asked each of us to isolate ourselves from the group for about 10 minutes to appreciate how desert adds to the sense of solitude. Vicky called the sand dunes "amazing" because they brought us to a different state of consciousness and because we could "hear" the silence of the desert.

Meet Howard

2007-02-20T14:38:00.000-05:00

I have long admired Howard's patience. Even though he is a busy cardiologist, he is the person the Temple office turns to when we have a question about our email or computer network. His patience is a valuable resource as he (along with his wife, Frances) keeps an eye on his mother, Diane, and his three children Alli, Tamara and CJ. Howard was brought into a separate room by the passport control authorities at Ben-Gurion Airport for questioning. I doubt he was there more than a minute or two before he convinced the authorities that they must be looking for another man with the same name. Of course, by the time he was relaeased, his kids were saying he had been "detained." As in so many other situations, Howard emerged with a smile.

Monday: Desert Jeep Exploration

2007-02-20T14:30:00.000-05:00

We stopped briefly in a grocery store to secure provisions for lunch, and then headed to the visitor center of the Ramon Crater, where we boarded two jeeps for off-roading through the crater. Our jeep guide, Adam, explained that this is one of only seven similarly formed craters in the world, the other six being also in Israel or in the northern Sinai Peninsula. And in fact geologists around the world have taken to using the Hebrew word--machtesh--to describe this phenomenon, rather than crater.

From the floor of the crater, we could see the different layers of sedimentary rock and the vivid colors they reveal. We could also see how, on those very rare days when it does rain, the water flows and accumulates. There was no rain in the forcast this day, but when there is, visitors have to be very careful about flash floods. Sometimes the Negev will receive three years' worth of rain in one day.

We could also see past mining sites, all of which have been shut down since the Machtesh Ramon had been designated as a nature preserve.

Monday: Camel Caravan

2007-02-20T14:22:00.000-05:00

We awoke in our inn at Mitzpe Ramon and drove a half hour into the desert to a camel farm where we--what else?-- took a group ride on a camel caravan. There was a fair amount of screaming, from the humans upon boarding and alighting from the camels, and from one cantankerous dromedary who decided to vent his frustration by breying for most of the half-hour ride. CJ did such a good immitation of the camel sounds, that for a while I thought the camel might have been imitating him.

Each of the camels held two passengers, but they are trained to stand as soon as they feel weight on their backs. The key, then, is for both passengers to land in the saddle at exactly the same time. Poor timing could have worse results. Thankfully our timing was good and the camels were cooperative.

The caravan gave us some spectacular views of the desert, including looking north to Sde Boker and west to the site of a small 2000-year-old cistern that we had briefly explored the day before. We returned to the camel farm with all of our limbs intact, though a few sore tushies were to be expected. It was on to our next desert adventure.

Meet Judith

2007-02-19T15:53:00.000-05:00

Judith, another return customer, is on her fifth trip to Israel. There are two amazing things about Judith. One is the fact that she is such an active Temple member. She is involved in choir, adult ed, ritual committee, and is also a B'nai Mitzvah tutor. The other is that she seems to retain everything she has learned and can supplement the other guiding to the people sitting near her on the bus. Judith has brought so much life to Temple Emeth activities, and this trip is no different.

Sunday: The Negev Desert and Ben-Gurion's Grave

2007-02-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

After a stop for lunch, we went to Sde Boker, site of the kibbutz that David Ben-Gurion joined in retirement in an effort to encourage young pioneers to settle the desert. Ben-Gurion saw the future of Israel as being rooted in settlement in the desert. He hoped that there would be cities, industry and mining in the desert. Few share that vision today, seeing instead the fragile ecosystem that must be preserved.

Nonetheless, because of his love for the desert, Ben-Gurion and his wife Paula are buried at Sde Boker. We visited their graves, but much more impressive was the view of a desert canyon that lies to the south and east of the grave site.

Sunday: The Air Force Museum

2007-02-19T15:39:00.000-05:00

By the time we were finished a Rabin Square, our bus had a new starter, and most of the luggage had been loaded from the substitute bus onto our bus. We left the hustle and bustle of Tel Aviv on a Sunday morning and headed toward the desert. Our first stop...the Israeli Air Force Museum outside of Beer Sheva.

The museum, adjacent to the training base for IAF pilots, has an indoor display and an outdoor display. The indoor display talks about the training, the equipment, the values and the history of the IAF. The outdoor section has a few planes that we could sit in, and dozens more that represent the history of Israel's military aviation hardware. We could see the progression in the technology and the relationship with the various foreign countries that have aviation industries, primarily France and the United States.

Our visit concluded by boarding the Boeing 707 that was used on the raid on Entebbe in July of 1976. On board (we at last had the chance to sit in first class) we watched a video about how the air force works and the values it seeks to promote. I found it fascinating that it has the highest ratio of enemy planes shot down to Israeli planes shot down in military aviation history.

Meet Diane

2007-02-19T15:34:00.000-05:00

Since the trip was conceived, I wanted this to be an intergenerational trip, but the addition of Diane makes this a multigenerational trip. Diane, better known to us as Grammy is Allison, CJ and Tamara's grandmother. She is 83 years young and is having a great time. Not only does she get to spend nine straight days with her family, but she gets to see Israel for the first time. She commented to me that Israel is much more beautiful than she expected and she is so glad to be here. We're glad to have you too!

Sunday: Yitzhak Rabin Square

2007-02-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

By the time we left Independence Hall, a substitute bus was waiting for us with our luggage on it. It took us to Yitzhak Rabin Square. Before we entered the square, our guide Muki let us in on a little secret: while he keeps strictly to the schedule when someone wants to make a shopping detour, he suddenly becomes more flexible when someone suggests a coffee break. That's exactly what happened, and the group descended upon the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf shop around the corner from the square. The staff was not equipped for such a big group, and what should have taken 10 minutes took about 30. Nonetheless, with coffee in hand we went to Yitzhak Rabin Square where, on November 4, 1995, Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist, Yigal Amir.

The area has several different tributes. There is a timeline of Rabin's life, a copy of the speech he gave just before he was shot (though we couldn't read it because of construcion in the area). Photographs of the grief that followed, including memorial candles that were lit across the country and the bloodstained copy of "Song of Peace" that had been in his breast pocket when he was shot, align the opposite wall. There are markings in the pavement where Rabin, his security detail and the murderer stood at the moment the shots were fired. And most moving of all is the relief sculpture built into the ground that represents an earthquake in Israeli society.

Muki and I were both there the night of the assassination, and we each shared our experience of the evening and the grief that followed.

Meet Donna

2007-02-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

Why on earth would anyone who didn't belong to Temple Emeth want to come on our Israel trip? In Donna's case, it's because Vicky's enthusiasm was contagious. Donna, a member of the congregation where Vicky used to be the executive director, has remained a close friend, even since Vicky started a new job last year. It hasn't taken Donna very long to fit in. Crack a few jokes, ask some questions the guide could never answer, and have fun--that's all it takes. I, of course, am on my best behavior around Donna because I want only good things to get back to her rabbi, a respected member of the New Jersey rabbinic community.

Meet Vicky

2007-02-19T15:15:00.000-05:00

Vicky considered our first trip such a transformative experience that she was the first person to sign up for this trip almost a year ago. Vicky is passionate about Judaism. She has worked as outreach director for our regional office of the Reform movement, and has served as executive director of two prominent Reform synagogues. She is also the chair of the Israel/ARZA committee of Temple Emeth. To call her enthusiastic about this trip would be an understatement, and I believe her excitement is contagious.

Sunday: What can go wrong...and right

2007-02-19T15:09:00.000-05:00

Though the whole group was checked out and ready to load the bus on time, the bus wasn't there. We soon learned that the bus didn't start, and with the help of Muki and the Jerusalem office, we were able to improvise our transportation for the morning.

Another Reform synagogue group, North Country Synagogue from Glen Cove, Long Island, gave us a ride to our first stop, Independence Hall. The building is most famous for being the place where David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence on May 14, 1948 at 4:00 p.m. But we learned much more, including the fact that it had once been the home of Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of Tel Aviv, and that he later had it converted to the Tel Aviv art museum, which it was on May 14.

We spent about an hour there, concluding our visit by hearing Ben-Gurion's voice as it was recorded on that day, the presiding rabbi leading Shehechianu, and, of course, the singing of Hatikva. Several in the room were in tears reenacting this momentus day in the life of the Jewish people.

Saturday: Havdallah on the Beach

2007-02-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

After a rest time following the visit to Jaffa, we gathered at 6:00 p.m. and went together to a corner of the promenade overlooking the beach and celebrated Havdallah, the ceremony that concludes Shabbat. The multi-wicked candle shone brightly in the outdoors, and there was something special about doing this on the beach.

Following Havdallah, most of the group walked north for about 10 minutes and had dinner at Mike's place, a "bar and grill" that caters to Americans. The mood was upbeat, to say the least. When dinner was over, some of us called it a night and others went for more activity on Dizengoff Street, the main shopping drag in Tel Aviv.

Saturday: Old Jaffa

2007-02-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

Though few people use it, the official name of the city is Tel Aviv-Jaffa. We saw the Tel Aviv half on Friday, so it was now time to see the Jaffa half. Jaffa was the place where the prophet Jonah got on his ship to escape the service of God. The town erected a fountain in the shape of a whale to commemorate the story. Jaffa, like most ancient cities still in existence, has a complicated and varied history. What stood out to me, though, was the fact that this city is holy to Christians, but not to Muslims or Jews. And at every period of history, Jaffa retained its importance because of its port. We got really lucky with the weather, as you can see from the photos. It was sunny and near 60 degrees. What was the temperature in New Jersey?

Meet CJ

2007-02-18T14:10:00.000-05:00

CJ is the first one to ask a question of any guide that dares to stand in front of our group and attempt to teach us something. He talks a mile a minute, so I understand about half of what he says at any given time. For me, I suppose, talking to CJ and talking to an Israeli in Hebrew have about the same comprehension rate. CJ learned recently that I am a fan of the NBC sitcom “Scrubs.” But my fondness for the show pales in comparison to his ability to quote lines and scenes from the show. At least that’s what I think he’s doing. I sat next to CJ at dinner last night. Our interactions consisted mainly of talking about Scrubs, his teaching me about the dangerous chemical reaction when you put Mentos candies in Coca-Cola, and his trying to pick my pocket.

Saturday: Services at Beit Daniel

2007-02-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

It seems we couldn’t have picked a busier day to visit Beit Daniel, Israel’s largest Reform congregation. This Shabbat had two special qualities. It was Shabbat Shekalim, when the half-shekel tax was recalled with a special Maftir and Haftarah reading, and it was also Shabbat Mevarchim, when we say a blessing for the beginning of a new month. In this case it was the month of Adar, which starts on Sunday and Monday. Not only that, but there was a Bar Mitzvah and an Auf Ruf (blessing for a bride and groom). All through this long service, though, the rabbi and cantor led the prayers in a way that was accessible and welcoming to two separate groups of strangers: us, the American tourists; and all of the secular Israelis who, in witnessing these s’machot, were attending a Reform service for the first time. We even got the first aliyah together as a group.

There were several cultural differences between these services and ours at Temple Emeth. To me the most notable was the fact that the rabbi endured, and at one point even encouraged, applause for the honorees on the bimah. Our German roots at Temple Emeth run too deep to condone such behavior in our sanctuary.

Meet IdaJean

2007-02-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

IdaJean has been a member of Temple Emeth only for a few months, but it is already hard to find an activity she isn’t involved in. She is in the adult B’nai Mitzvah class, sings in the choir, and frequently attends services (occupying a seat in the coveted back row). Evidently, IdaJean (PLEASE don’t call her “Ida”), who left her husband and daughter at home to come on this trip, is the family photographer, so she is in very few photos. This, then, is a rare photographic sighting.

Friday: Our Own Little Music Service

2007-02-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

Figuring correctly that we would be pretty exhausted from such a long flight followed by an equally long day of touring, I planned for an informal service for our group in the hotel. We used the Temple’s music service siddur, not because it was the third Friday of the month (which it was), but because the books were easy to pack in my luggage. There was great spirit to the service, but my favorite part was when we took the advice of Rabbi Golan from last month’s meeting and said our blessings for being in the land of Israel. Indeed, the group understood the true privilege it was to be here together.

Meet Tamara

2007-02-18T13:53:00.000-05:00

Eleven-year-old Tamara is predictable in a few ways. First, she will always want the person with the camera to take two or three pictures of her in the same pose, just to ensure that she can choose which one she likes best. And since Saturday morning, she has been on a quest to earn Bat Mitzvah credit for attending the Shabbat morning service at the Reform synagogue in Tel Aviv. (Perhaps it was a mistake to give her credit for Friday night.) After seeing the high number of stray cats living on the streets of Israel, Tamara is now considering starting an organization to help them.

Friday: Seeing Tel Aviv

2007-02-18T13:41:00.000-05:00

From the Ayalon Institute, we went to Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel, which is also the cultural and economic center of the country. We went to the Azrieli shopping mall and towers. Our visit started with a trip to the 49th floor where we could see Tel Aviv in every direction. This picture faces to the southwest with the old city of Jaffa in the background.

Then we were released for 90 minutes of free time in the mall. I knew that we had a hearty band of shoppers on the trip, but I didn’t know exactly how hearty until they started asking about “anchor stores” and checking out the way the merchandise was displayed in the windows.
I was content at first to just check out the eating options at the food court, but then I remembered my wife’s request: some nice jewelry to compensate her for 10 long days without me. I even found a store that exclusively sells the work of her favorite Israeli designer, Michal Negrin. What did I get for her? I can’t tell you before she sees it herself, but Elinor, Donna and Judith all gave their nod of approval before I completed the purchase.

Meet Allison

2007-02-17T15:29:00.000-05:00

Allison is in the unique position of being on her second trip to Israel in about six weeks. In December, she went on a teen trip sponsored by the Jewish Student Union in Bergen County. Now, she is the only kid her age on our trip.

Alli has studied Hebrew, so unlike most American tourists, she understands a lot of what the Israelis around her are saying.

Alli has a rare but entertaining talent: under virtually any circumstances she can get her younger brother and sister to start quarreling with one another, often without realizing that she was the instigator. Good clean fun for long bus rides.

Meet Ilene

2007-02-17T15:09:00.000-05:00

I will try to give you a little background on each member of our group. It makes perfect sense to start with Ilene, since she is the chairwoman of the group, who worked with me on choosing the travel agency and creating the itinerary. Ilene, pictured here in front of the harbor in Old Jaffa, was on the last trip. She is the Executive Director at a Conservative synagogue in Bergen County, where she learns about Judaism from a whole different perspective. Her love of Israel and her take-charge attitude have prompted her to declare that the Adult B'nai Mitzvah class, of which she is a member, will now have its ceremony in Tel Aviv. She even solicited and received the permission of the Rabbi of Beit Daniel. Sorry, Ilene, the next Temple trip to Israel will not be until my daughter is old enough to appreciate it.

Friday: Rechovot

2007-02-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

They served us breakfast on the plane, but with a full day of touring ahead, and most of us operating on 3 hours of interrupted sleep, I thought it best to stop at a cafe on the way to our first site. I ordered a tomato and mozarella sandwich and a capuccino. (Lucky for me my credit card worked the first time; at that point I didn't have any sheckles.)

From second breakfast, we went to the Ayalon Institute in Rehovot, a town once known for its vast citrus groves, which is now almost completely developed. The Ayalon Institute is not an institute at all, but a training farm for prospective kibbutz leaders where a secret bullet factory operated beneath the laundry for three years, from 1945-48. In this time, 40 workers (all volunteers from the Haganah) worked in a noisy basement doing an important but very dangerous task--making sure that the Jews in Palestine had enough ammunition to defend themselves against both the Arabs and the British.

Our guide told us the elaborate ways they had of maintaining the project's secrecy, as anyone involved in making munitions was subject to imprisonment or execution by the British. These included a secret entrance, down a 25-foot long ladder under the laundry machine (seen here), removing metal filings from one's shoes, clothes and hair daily, and making the commitment not to tell anyone, not even one's spouse.

In the end, these brave young people were able to make 2.25 million bullets which were eventually used in the War of Independence. That they did so without being caught and without having an accident in their cramped workspace is a miracle, just one of many we will learn about on this trip.

Meet the Group

2007-02-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

This is how we looked when we arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport after our 10-hour flight. From left, Howard, CJ, Vicky, Diane, Frances, Tamara, Ilene, IdaJean, Judith, Donna, Allison, and Elinor. Read more about our cast of characters in future posts.