Israel is on my mind - It looks like 2020 will be a big year for Kehillah members travelling to Israel. We have our group going in October (more later) plus at least two families that I know of have already made travel arrangements with Rabbi's assistance, and in one case, she is travelling with them to celebrate B'not Mitzvah in Israel. It would be fantastic if each and every member could experience at least one trip to Israel. That's impossible for obvious reasons, but the more our members experience Israel, the greater our bonds will be to both Israel and together in our Kehillah. I've often asked Israel travelers what they liked best about their visit. For some it was the history, for others it was the feeling that they were "home." I have to agree with both as Lynne and I felt strangely at home, and at ease, in a strange land. I had two additional favorites. One was incredible buffet breakfasts you simply have to see to believe, but what struck me the most were the young people of Israel. For the most part they were bright-eyed and full of purpose and joy.

 

One Friday evening we visited the Kotel (the Western Wall). The experience was surreal with the crush of the orthodox men dressed for Shabbat and the light rain and mist visible in the floodlights. It was a scene you could imagine in a Hollywood movie. It was our second visit to the Kotel, so I took a moment to take in the scene before offering my own prayers. You have to consciously insulate yourself from the commotion and noise of the prayers, some quite loud and in various languages. There were men of all ages including IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers praying. Some of the older men looked like they were out of central casting. All in all, it was quite a sight. As I was backing away from the Kotel, myself and two fellow travelers from Kehillah were pulled into a group of young men singing Lecha Dodi. Actually, they enveloped us and suddenly we were dancing and singing with them. It was, as they say, a moment to remember. From that moment on, I took notice of the young Israelis and found their spirit to be both remarkable and infectious.

 

Lynne and I are both looking forward to traveling to Israel with Rabbi next October. The itinerary is amazing, even if you've been to Israel before. We only have to fill six more spots, but it's important that we do so as early as possible. Some unique sites have limited capacity and must be reserved well in advance. You get the idea. If you have any interest or are unsure about the timing, cost, etc., let Rabbi know asap. The $250 deposit is refundable. Lynne and I held off travelling to Israel for years, primarily because of safety concerns. It sounds clichéd to say, but I felt safer in Israel than I do in most American cities.

 

One last thought - Rabbi and I had our first meeting with a congregant who took us up on our request to meet and discuss what they could do for and/or with Kehillah. It was an amazing meeting! We got to better know a congregant, their background and interests. The result was their offering to help in an area where we needed assistance and it fit perfectly with both their availability and expertise. It was a classic win-win. Please contact Rabbi or me. We're serious about these meetings and please note that these are not solicitation meetings. Yes, we're always interested in discussing financial contributions and our underwriting needs, both large and small, but we don't push it. If you are able to help us by underwriting a program in the $2,500 to $10,000 range, let us know. There are several possibilities.

See below for the complete Torah Talk schedule.