THE 2010 ISRAEL TRIP BLOG

The 2010 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.

Sunday and Monday, June 6-7

Temple Emanu-El travelers began the day at DFW on Sunday, June 6 departing on a scheduled Continental to Newark for 3:15 p.m. However, as usual with travel these days, we were delayed due to some weather issues in Newark and did not leave for two hours. Excited to get to Tel Aviv at 10:50 p.m., we departed at 12:30 a.m. The delays did not change the excitement of the 35 travelers (including 6 young people) and we arrived in Tel Aviv at 6:30 p.m. Israel time with everyone smiling and excited to begin their journey.

We went through passport control, had no lost luggage, were met by are ARZA World guide, Zvi Levran, and headed to check in at the Carlton Hotel, overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean, just in time to see a magnificent sunset over the ocean. We were Jews from Dallas watching the sun fall below the ocean and realizing we had come to the land of the Jewish people.

We began together at a welcome dinner at Bedolina, an Italian style restaurant, sitting on the shores overlooking the Mediterranean and walked along the Tel Aviv Beach Promenade. All were exhausted and exhilarated as our guide gave us an overview of what our trip would be like for the next 9 days.

Tuesday, June 8

We boarded our bus early and headed to visit Independence Hall, site of David Ben Gurion’s monumental proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948. We learned the history of the site and why the speech was held there and not in Jerusalem.

We walked and learned more about Tel Aviv and then headed to The Jaffa Institute to do Zedek work there. The Jaffa Institute is a social service organization that educates, feeds and aids children and families in poverty. The children come from broken homes, abuse, drugs, and all the same issues we face in the US. Half of us packed food boxes and the other half delivered them to families in Jaffa. We then took some time to visit the Nachalat Binyamin artists’ area. The day ended with a wonderful performance, “Not by Bread Alone”, a unique production performed by Nalaga’at Deaf-Blind Theater Company and dinner in the wonderful many restaurants in Tel Aviv.

Wednesday, June 9

We boarded our bus early and headed to a tour of Caesarea, one of the Israel’s most important cities during the Roman Empire. Created by Herod the Great, this magnificent location facing the Mediterranean became a model constructed city and led to years of trade and prosperity. Our guide, Zvi, took us through the time line of all the historical periods that have ruled Israel.

We walked into the Herodian theater, which is an area of two divergent times in the lives of Jews. We were entertained by our two volunteer Thespians, David Rothbart and Joan Becker, who created the scene of how the religious Jews of Caesarea struggled with maintaining their Jewish identity while at the same time assimilated into the Roman society. Our struggles seem to be the same today as American Jews. We then walked through the newly excavated hippodrome, palace and bathhouse and explored the 900 year-old crusader city built on the same site.

We then traveled up to the Carmel Mountains to visit a Druse village where we were welcomed to a beautiful lunch and conversation in this secret religious society in Israel. The Druse people are Israeli citizens with all the rights of citizenship and serve in the army. They do not marry outside the sect and remain true to their culture.

Our last stop on Wednesday was a stop in Safed, studying the mystic beliefs of the Zohar, visited the synagogues and studied with Rabbi Stern and Rabbi Kasten. Using text and writings by Daniel Mott, the Zohar, and Talmud, we discussed how we can bring light to ourselves well in others in order to bring light to the world every day.

Thursday, June 10

We spent the night in Kfar Blum in the upper Galilee to begin Thursday by climbing in Jeeps to the Golan Heights. We walked in the footsteps of the IDF soldiers and visited the bunkers used during the Six Day War and learned the complexity of the beauty of the Golan.

Next stop was to walk through the beautifully Tel Dan Nature Reserve located on the largest tributary of the Jordan River. We studied how the area was written in the Bible, the importance of what was found in the archeology findings such as a Bema, and how the values of law and structure were found in the digs.

The day was filled with learning and fun as we toured the Dekarina Chocolate Craft Center and everyone learned the art of chocolate-making by making their own chocolate goodies! Chocolate led to rafting down the Jordan River. It doesn’t get much better than that!

June 11, 2010

We left Kfar Blum and traveled to the Kinneret Cemetery to learn how the Zionist pioneers settled in Palestine, the struggles faced and how of the 30,000 who came only 6,000 remained because life was so very difficult.

The Kinneret Cemetery is one of the most beautiful and peaceful sites situated along the Kinneret, which is the main water source for Israelis. Water is a major political and economic issue for this country and when you see how much the water level is down you realize what they are facing in the future. We took time for everyone to have some personal reflective moments to write, think or just wander on their own in the cemetery. Not too many dry eyes returned to the bus.

Before we reached the cemetery, we learned some important information while in the Galilee and drove through Tiberius, learning of some of the spots where Jesus walked, lived and brought his followers. Additionally, we learned that Maimonides is buried in Tiberius.

Then it was on to ascend to Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate and to stop at Mount Scopus to say Shehechiyanu together, enjoy some Shabbat music and even be part of the usual Shabbat traffic making its way to Jerusalem for Shabbat.

We then had the experience of walking through Machaneh Yehuda Market, to taste, push, smell and go nuts in a frenzy of pre-Shabbat food shopping. Our guide insisted we purchase the best chocolate ruggulah ever, and he was so very right! As you can tell no one is going hungry on this trip.

We were welcomed for Kabbalat at Shabbat at Kehillat Yozma in Modi’in for a wonderful warm and welcoming service and each Temple Emanu-El traveler was hosted by families from the congregation for dinner in their homes. When we all returned to the bus, the conversations and stories by everyone were amazing.

Reflections from Alice Barnett

“Next year in Jerusalem” - the familiar words that conclude every Seder - finally came true for me yesterday: We reached Jerusalem It was a thrill to see the old city from Mount Scopus before entering it and spending the next few days when we will explore the sites.

Last night, however, we got to explore what it is like to live in Israel as a Reform Jew as we were welcomed in to the homes of Israelis from one of the reform synagogues in the country. It was a wonderful way to learn how progressive Jews live in a country where the ultra Orthodox controls the religious aspects of life. It was a great way to connect with families living in a country with constant threat of war and terrorism - and to see that notwithstanding all the complexities of life in Israel, life is normal and they, like us, are busy trying to provide the best possible for their children.

Saturday, June 12
Shabbat in Jerusalem. We began Shabbat by walking to the Jerusalem campus at HUC and sharing a wonderful experience, led by a first year rabbinic from South American and a student cantor who had only been in Israel for three weeks. We were joined by many international members of the Progressive Movement in Israel. Shabbat provided many of us an opportunity for study, read, walk and tour as we walked through the hidden treasures of Jerusalem through the neighborhoods of and rooftops of the Old City.

Following the tour we attended a lecture with Professor Gadi Wolfsfeld of Hebrew University, who gave us an overview of the complicated political realities of this country and how difficult the issues continue for working to bring peace to this region. Following the lecture, we moved to a setting to in the park to celebrate Havdalah together overlooking the city, smelling the spices of Jerusalem and tasting the sweetness of all Jerusalem offers.

Sunday, June 13

We began the morning with learning from an old friend of Temple Emanu-El and Dallas, Dr. Paul Liptz. Paul provided us an excellent lecture on Israel Society in 2010 providing us a perfect picture of the many groups that make up this country. Paul is a wonderful story teller and gave us a unique perspective on life here.

We then proceeded to the City of David in the old city, viewing all the newest excavations, which have redefined the origins of Jerusalem. Many of us then experienced wading through the 2,600year-old Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel in the Kidron Valley. It was an amazing experience walking through the cold water and dark tunnel that has been discovered under the City of David.

Following the water tunnel excursion, we studied Bible in many of the important sites that have been uncovered ending with visit to the Western Wall and the underground tunnel visit. (Of course there was indeed plenty of time for shopping in the Cardo.)

Monday, June 14

Today the Temple Emanu-El Israel community was blessed to be part of the Bar Mitzvah of Jackson Rothbart. Jackson led us in a beautiful service that was held on the rooftop at HUC overlooking the Old City. He read the Torah portion beautifully, engaged us in the meaning of his portion and gave his comments of how the trip and having his Bar Mitzvah in Israel has impacted his life. Every traveler learned not only the meaning of the portion, but the meaning of being 13 and walking in the footsteps of thousands of Jews who had walked before us.

Following a beautiful Bar Mitzvah lunch at the Tavlin restaurant, which is an organic spice farm located in the Eshtraol forest, we all took part in an active dig at the Beit Guvrin caves, and uncovered pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2,300 years ago. The biggest find, which is very rare, was made by Howard Freed, who uncovered a completely unbroken pottery container. Not only were we excited, the archeologists at the dig were thrilled.

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Tuesday, June 15

Memories for the Future: Before leaving to visit Yad Vashem, we were taught by Dr. Salmi Barmore, on “Memory of the Holocaust in Contemporary Israeli Society.” He gave us a good overview on how to view the “new” museum, what to look for and how to understand the story and the impact the Holocaust has had on Israel.

The guided tour included the Avenue of the Righteous, the new Historical Museum and The Children’s Memorial. While the travelers visited the memorial site, several of the younger children visited the Jerusalem Zoo.

The evening was a visit to Genesis Lane, a Biblical style encampment in the Judean Desert, experiencing the hospitality that Abraham taught us by providing food and shelter in an open tent. We traveled to the tents on camels, which was a true experience in history.

Following dinner, we all participated in a wedding vow renewal between Craig and Dawn Budner, with several of the travelers holding a tallit hoopa over their heads and their three children reading the wedding blessings in English as Rabbi Stern chanted them in Hebrew.

Wednesday, June 16 Our final day in Israel

We awoke very early in the day to get to the desert and to visit the Dead Sea Basin. Our morning began with a visit to Masada, Herod’s mountain palace and the site of the Jewish Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. We toured the site with a renewed awakening of the story and leaving Masada with questions regarding the true story of what happened on that mountain.

We left Masada and moved to hike at Ein Gedi Nature Preserve and to climb up to the Nahal David, the freshwater spring and waterfall, which was a welcome relief from the heat of the desert. We then moved to the Dead Sea where the travelers floated in the salty water and enjoyed the medicinal salty waters which they say had healing powers for the skin.

We returned to the hotel in Jerusalem for some last minute shopping and to enjoy our last dinner together at the Chakra restaurant “food made with love” and to provide our last opportunity to share our thoughts and reflections of our ten days together.

Reflections from Marcia Grossfeld

The travelers on the trip continually asked me why I keep coming back to Israel. My answers are easy: it is like coming home to visit family, to walk the paths of layers of civilization, to hear the real story of how the Israelis remember the Holocaust, to see the importance of Tiberius to both Christians and Jews, to see diversity of every color and culture, to view grave markings of the earliest pioneers, to gaze at the sun sets over the valley where Abraham traveled, to watch a husband and wife renew their marriage vows and bring full circle to their Jewish family; to watch a father weep as his son chants Torah in the setting overlooking Jerusalem; and to sit on the beach of the Mediterranean and dream for peace in the future of this beautiful country.

I will continue to return to Israel - my family, my history and the land I love.