There are many lovely spots to see in the world. Some are man made and others are natural. Israel, however, is one of those spots that somehow seems to have a transformative nature to it. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many times I visit there, I always come away with a new way of looking at the Jewish world.
Fortunately, on this visit, the shul decided to sponsor my participation in the Executive Seminar at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. It was an intensive 5 day program that focused on the topic of Rabbi Akiva, one of the foremost scholars who lived between the years of 50-135 CE. Not only did we grapple with original texts from the Talmud and Midrash, we worked with some of the best Torah scholars in Jerusalem. Each day we experienced 3 new teachers who led us through our studies about romance, repentence, revolt, mysticism, and martyrdom. During each class a topic was introduced, key questions were posed, and we given the opportunity to work with a study buddy in order to try to figure out what we believed were the key learnings from the text. Working with a new partner each time I not only learned about the texts, but also about the lives and Jewish communities of each partner. Many were shocked to know that I had come from Lincoln, Nebraska to participate. I guess Lincoln just isn't on the Jewish radar screen! Yet, what I learned is that it doesn't matter what community one hails from, because being Jewish creates an automatic sense of connectedness. Whether the participants were from South America, Britain, the United States, France, or Israel, we could sit together, learn from one another, and feel the bonds of being part of the Jewish people.
So that may not seem earth shattering, but it was quite exhilarating. So was visiting antiquities in Caesaria, Tzippori, Horvat E'thri, and Jerusalem. I always find it fascinating to visit ruins in general, to see how others lived long ago, but it is a transforming experience when those ruins tell about the cultures of those who tried to destroy the Jews and show the adaptations Jews made in order to preserve their core values and Judaism. Somehow I felt like was walking through a time warp. We Jews here in Lincoln are not threatened with physical extinction, but we are worried about how to preserve a thriving Jewish presence in Lincoln as our numbers dwindle. I believe some of the answers can be found by viewing those ruins! They remind us that the secret of Jewish survival is the ability to see beyond one's challenges or even one's "tortured" history!
Another aspect of reality that constantly rears its head when I'm in Israel, is the question of the unity of the Jewish people. I happened to be studying there during the week when we read parashot Mattot-Maassei which ask the key question, "Is your brother going to fight and you're going to stay in comfort?" It is also hard not to be in Jerusalem and hear of conflicts between secular and religious Jews, between those making laws in the Knesset and Jewish leaders in the U.S. about conversions outside of Israel that will or won't be accepted by the State. It is impossible to go to a coffee house and not discuss the threats of surrounding peoples who don't want Israel to exist. It is also hard not to think about how Israel as a Jewish State does provide safe-haven to Jews world-wide and to hear young Jews talk about how their support for Israel is linked to her political decision making.
Being in Israel always makes think about my core values. What do I believe matters in my life? When I express myself Jewishly, can I remain open to other means of religious expression that do not fit my own personality? What makes me proud of being a Jew with a homeland and history that is finally within my reach to visit? What can I learn there that I can take back to Lincoln and share with others? And finally, what is it about Israel that continues to make me feel connected to her even when I am home among friends and family members in the community which has nurtured me since my birth? Oddly enough, a trip to Israel doesn't end upon catching a plane home. Its effect is long-lasting. It is my hope that more of us in Lincoln will be able to catch a glimpse of Israel not just through the news. I do believe the benefits of just visiting there will have a positive effect on Jewish life in America in general and in our Jewish community in Lincoln.
Shabbat Shalom.
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