Educational Experiences in Israel
On Monday, July 9, our NFTY in Israel group ended a long day in Jerusalem’s Old City with a visit to the Kotel, also called the Western Wall. We had learned from our group leaders of its rich history as the last part of the Second Temple to remain standing, as well as its spiritual value and symbolism to Jews across the world. We had been briefed about the differences between Orthodox and Reform Jews and the possible challenges that could result at the Wall. With all that in our minds, I could feel a sense of curiosity from the entire group as we were separated by gender at the security... Read More
It is not my place to tell Usumain Baraka’s story. It is not my place to recount how the Janjaweed attacked his village in Darfur when he was a child. How they killed his father and his older brother, and how Usumain fled while his home burned, not knowing whether he’d be reunited with the rest of his family or if they even were alive. I tell his story only so you will know that when Usumain arrived in Israel after four years of searching for a safe place to call home, he was desperately in need of a country that would open its arms to him. After learning about the Holocaust from a... Read More
Recently, I visited Israel as part of an intergenerational group of American Reform leaders, thanks to the hard work and generosity of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) and several partner organizations, including ARZENU, the WZO, and KKL. One day, we stopped at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv for a quick lunch. I found a vegetarian pasta stand and perused the menu. The person at the cash register, I presume because he noticed my kippah (yarmulke), kindly let me know the restaurant did not have a kashrut certificate (indicating the restaurant adheres to Jewish dietary... Read More
While I was in Israel as part of the 2018 Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) Wilkenfeld International Women’s Leadership Seminar, a group from ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) was touring there, as well. I was able to join their group for a day, themed “What Are We Talking about When We Talk about Settlements?” First, I invite you to think about what the words “settlement” and “West Bank” mean to you. I certainly had images in my mind. During this visit, I had the opportunity to interact with a number of individuals who choose to make their homes in settlements on the West Bank... Read More
Each semester, all URJ Heller High students participate in a Mock Knesset – a full-group, day-long activity that introduces the basics of how the Israeli government forms and operates. The Knesset, which literally means “gathering” or “assembly,” is the Israeli national legislature, responsible for passing the nation’s laws and electing its leaders. We learned all about how the government of Israel works. The State of Israel has a democratic government, and the government has a multiparty parliamentary system. There are 10 different parties represented in the Knesset. There is not a... Read More
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