The 2009
Israel Experience
Thank you for joining us on our exciting journey to Israel with Rabbi David Stern and Rabbi Nancy Kasten.
We will be adding updates throughout our days here in Israel.
Monday, May 4
We were greeted by our special touring bus as we arrived at the airport on Monday, May 4.
Our first stop was the city of Modi’in, which is a young, thriving modern community. The stop included a trip of changing dollars to shekels and a time to stretch our legs after a long trip over the ocean.
Tuesday, May 5
Our morning began with Dr. Raviv Schwartz of Tel Aviv University. Dr. Schwartz spoke regarding Tel Aviv’s 100 year anniversary, which she is celebrating this year. His lecture titled, “From Sand Dunes to Skyscrapers and Everything in Between”, painted a picture of how the city of Tel Aviv began, how it citizens have created the changing culture of the city and what we should look for as we tour this city by the sea.
Our wonderful Muki Jankelowitz leading us on our walking of Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city, where we visited important historical sites, including Jaffa, Independence Hall, where David Ben Gurion signed the Proclamation of the State of Israel, and the cemetery, Trumpledor, where many of the founding visionaries and builders including Meir Dizengoff and Haim Nachman Bialik are buried.
Needless to say, wonderful food, great conversation, lots of walking, and inspiring learning have made the first two days a terrific experience.
Wednesday, May 6
What a wonderful day!
The travelers awoke early to get the luggage to the bus for departure from Tel Aviv traveling to Tiberius. Before our departure we were visited by Yossi Alpher, a well respected scholar on the Middle East. His topic titled, “Israel’s Strategic Position in the Middle East” was one of the most thought provoking teachings many of the travelers had ever heard. He broadened our awareness of the complexity of the situation and the increasing concern over Iran’s nuclear capability and the increasing interest in the upcoming meetings between Netanyahu and Obama. Many of us did not want to leave the lecture.
We traveled along the Trans-Israel Highway for a view of the Security Barrier to visit the Tishbi Winery. We toured the winery and learned the art of wine making in Israel and the intricacies of making wine kosher wine. At the end of the tour, we enjoyed a wonderful wine tasting and discovered kosher wine is not the wine we used to remember at Passover. Next stop, the artist village of Ein Hod where we visited with some of the 66 artists who exhibit there.
We then traveled a little farther north to the town of Zichron Ya’acov, the first communities established by the early Zionist pioneers. We learned that the Aaronson family was instrumental in bringing new farming techniques to the area and the family was involved with keeping the area safe during the siege of the Turks. This beautiful town was filled with restaurants, bakeries and jewelry stores. The travelers did find time to leave e a few shekels with the merchants.
We ended our evening with dinner overlooking the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius with a meal of St. Peter’s fish.
Thursday, May 7
Our first stop was Zippori, the well-developed excavations and reconstruction of the city where great rabbis worked on codifying the Mishna. As we sat on the stone benches of the ancient theater, Rabbi Stern taught from Talmud text that brought about a great discussion.
Our day was dedicated to programs involved in our Partnership area including the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya, and the Gaaton Dance Troupe, where we were entertained by some of the dancers. We also visited the Akko ORT Darski School, where we met with TriWizard students and teachers, Arabs and Jews, who curriculum focuses on dialogue among Arab, Jewish and American students.
You can see the comments from a few of our travelers below.
"Visiting the Western Galilee Hospital with a capacity for about 400 patients, underground, in emergency situations, learning about Arab, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian and other hospital staffers, working together; hand-in-hand; healing and helping; was memorably moving for me. Building relationships one at a time, one life, one soul, one world: it starts with one!"
--Peggy Papert
"At Zippori, we experienced the world of the great rabbi’s and saw excavations there which enhanced our understanding of the history of our people. In Akko, we observed a Jewish-Arab dialogue among teenagers at a high school that has a goal of increasing understanding among different cultures – in many respects, Akko’s perspective on Tikkun Olam."
-- Larry Ginsburg
" The experience of visiting with the students of the TriWizard program in Akko today was heart-warming. The young high school students of Arab and Jewish backgrounds are interested in learning from one another, giving a small bit of hope that kids like these can influence others –peers from their own region as well as those from far away. It opens the possibility that world peace might come about in future generations. Via the internet and email, these students’ lives are now linked to teens in the US, each group is grappling for understanding the lives of others and learning that life’s goals are so much alike --- peace, love, fun, good jobs --- all the same, no different. This movement and others like it must be initiated and continued."
-- Kathy Freeman
Friday, May 8
Dreams, Perspectives & Jewish Continuity
We leaved Tiberias and traveled to the Kinneret Cemetery learning about some of the early Zionist pioneers who are buried there. The setting of the cemetery is beautiful, sitting just on the shore of Sea of Galilee. We heard stories of the lives of these pioneers including Rachel the Poet, Ber Borochov, and Naomi Shemer. These were names that were unfamiliar to most of us, but their stories of strength and fortitude in spite of adversity during the early 1900’s brought tears to many of us.
We drove through the Jordan Rift Valley, traveling through some of the West Bank, close to the Jordan border, passing some settlement towns and Bedouin tents. It was a real look at the difference between living in the past and modernity.
After a brief stop, we traveled to Jerusalem, stopping at Mt. Scopus to say shehechiyanu. The term Aliyah means going up. As we moved upward to the Mount, we learned to see Jerusalem not with only our eyes, but with our hearts.
After changing for Shabbat, we went to our sister congregation, Birkat Shalom were we learned of the founding of Pinat Shorashim from the founding director, David Leichman, participated in services led by the rabbi, Rabbi Miri Gold, and then shared Shabbat dinner with members of their congregation and Olim (immigrants) from several South American countries. One member of their congregation, Ernan Lopez, who is working with Rabbi Gold to help the Olim that have immigrated to Israel from the Spanish speaking countries, touched our hearts with his thanks for our help and donations which have meant so much to all of them. He made us keenly aware that no matter where we are that we are really are one people, a family of Jewish continuity.
Saturday, May 9
Shabbat morning was spent at the Hebrew Union College campus in Jerusalem where services were led by student rabbis and cantors. The young cantorial student was amazing! Following services we walked to the Old City where we were joined by Rabbi David Wilfond where were studied Psalms together as we walked along the outer levels of the old city. He taught us that Jerusalem means the “city of Peace” but its name conjures up images of pairs; i.e. heaven and earth, God and man, holy and secular, and those who are here and those who are not here. One of our stops was over looking the Mount of Olives where millions are buried as far back as the son of King David through Yitzhak Rabin.
The traditional day of rest ended with a beautiful Havdalah ceremony in a garden overlooking the walls of the City. Many of the travelers shared the insights of what the past five days meant to them and how they will bring back these experiences.
I view our trip as framed by mosaics which started in classic Israeli tradition with a contradiction. This contradiction consists with depicting the history of Tel Aviv, Israel's modern city, using a magnificent tile mural that employs the mosaic art form developed millenniums ago. We then journeyed back over 1700 years and saw the contradiction of a mosaic floor with the story of Dionysus the god of wine and his worship in the midst of Jewish biblical history at Zippori. Yet, the most interesting mosaic and continuing with the contrasting styles is that of the Israeli people. We see the granite strength of the military intermeshed with the sharp angles of the Orthodox or the rounded edges of the Sabra co-existing with Arabs in the same frame of art.
Where do I fit in this mosaic as an American Jew?
This is why I return to Israel.
-- Chuck Tilis:
Shabbat in Jerusalem
Walking in the steps of those who went long before me; learning about everyday life in Jerusalem present; knowing what is required to keep the flames burning -- L’dor V’dor -- these were the lessons for me on this truly special Shabbat.
-- May Sebel
Monday, May 11
The group visited the Davidson Archaeological Park and saw the architectural plans of the Temple presented in "Life During the Time of the Temple." The technology enabled the group to see and follow the development of this ancient site. We did more studying as we visited the Southern Wall, learning that the alternating sizes of the stairs were to prevent anyone from rushing to the top. Praying at the Southern Wall was a moving experience for many. From there, we walked through the Herodian Mansions and saw amazing evidence of the homes of the Cohanim, showing us what life was like for those considered important in early Jerusalem. Later we traveled back to Tel Aviv to learn about the Hotline for Migrant Workers, working hard to care for the refugees without status in Israel, who are from unstable African countries, including those who have suffered by being victims of human trafficking. At the visit we met a young man from Darfur, Ismail, who has opened a small computer store where he offers computer lessons to others, so they may have an opportunity to succeed as he has.
Tuesday, May 12
Our day began with an excellent discussion by Professor Reuven Hazan of the Political Science Dept. of Hebrew University. His topic, " Israel: A Land of Political Mayhem and Amazing Creativity" was terrific. This was followed by a walk to visit the studio of David Moss. Our group was one of the first participants in his dream to connect the arts and spirituality of Israel. We divided into groups and had two sessions: one, which combined text study and spirituality, making reference to the Gates to Jerusalem from Biblical quotes and the modern re-taking of Jerusalem, and the other was a hevruta opportunity about the positive attributes of people, related to poetry and art. We had some time to browse through the lovely galleries in the area, before walking back through a lovely neighborhood, rich in history and highlighted by a windmill built by philanthropist Moses Montefiore. Our trip ended with time for shopping, packing and sharing stories at our final dinner at Darna. Our wonderful meal was a moving experience where our guide and our rabbis encouraged us to bring this amazing experience back as teachers to at home.
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