"Family Portrait" on IDF Base in Hebron |
With Rav Avigdor Nebensal |
Lighting Shabbat Candles at The Kotel |
On our last day, we toured the religious neighborhoods of Old Jerusalem with Rabbi Benjy Levine, grandson of the Tzadik of Jerusalem, Reb Aryeh Levin.
Rabbi Benjy Levine captivating the audience |
He delighted us with tales of growing up with his famed grandfather - the colorful characters and poignant stories that are the legacy of his family. We brought toiletries and other basic necessities to the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Base where we honored the memory of the lone soldiers (soldiers from outside of Israel who serve in the IDF) who gave their lives fighting for the State of Israel, and met some of the brave young men and women who serve under the lone soldier status today. Finally, we had lunch with David Sprung - a veteran of the Six Day War who shared with us what it was like to be among the first few soldiers to liberate Jerusalem.
Needless to say, the last leg of this trip was packed with learning, emotion and meaning. There are so many things I could say about these last few days, but there is one thought, one simple but beautiful idea, that came up over and over again in every program and with every speaker: the Jewish people as a family.
ONLY IN ISRAEL
Rabbi Ari Berman asked us "Why do you think Israelis are so happy despite the constant stress they are under?". He explained that this happiness results from a sense of freedom and uninhibited self expression that can only come from the comfort of living amongst "family." Israelis, he argued, despite their many differences and problems, consider each other "mispacha" (family). He shared with us a series of hilarious and touching "only in Israel" stories that illustrate just how deeply this family connection runs.
One time when lost and attempting to get to a hospital, a friend of Rabbi Ari stopped a man on the street to ask for directions. The directions proved complicated, so without hesitation the man said "open your door," and he got in the car. Turn by turn he guided Rabbi Ari's friend to where he needed to go. The driver assumed that the man probably had to go somewhere close to the hospital, so was using this as a convenient ride. The helper then answered his cell phone and apologized to his friend on the other line for being late: "Sorry, I'm on the other side of town, I had to help someone get to the hospital. I'll make my way back over soon."
Only in Israel.
Rabbi Ari's many stories sparked a discussion amongst the group, and the rest of the day participants excitedly shared their similar experiences.
One participant shared a story from her time living in Tel Aviv. It was her first time in Israel for Yom Kippur and she did not realize how early everything shuts down. When in a cab on her way back to the city late afternoon, erev Yom Kippur, her driver asked if she was prepared for the holiday - did she have groceries to prepare a meal before and after the fast, because nothing would be open... She did not. Her driver took her to the one store in all of Tel Aviv that was still open. The line was of course around the corner. He turned the meter off and waited for her while she did her last minute shopping, then brought her home, free of charge.
Only in Israel.
Another MJE participant on our trip, his first time in Israel, explained that he lost his sunglasses on the first day during a hike. He went to try and buy a new pair on the kibbutz where we were staying, but they did not have any. The store clerk took the sunglasses off his own face and said "here, take mine."
Only in Israel.
I shared with the group my own story, from a trip to Israel with my wife Jill and our newborn Yosef, many years ago. We were shopping in the very religious part of Jerusalem, in the section of Meah Shearim, when Yosef started crying - he was hungry. I ducked into the closest shop, a small dusty Jewish bookstore and asked the owner if he knew of a place my wife could nurse. In Hebrew the Chasid sitting behind the counter asked me: "she needs this now"? Hearing our son wailing at the top of his lungs I smiled and answered: "Yes!". He said there was nowhere else to go and immediately started asking the customers looking around his store to leave. He then handed me a large ring of keys and showed me how to lock the door of the store after he too would leave. Before he did so he pulled up a chair for Jill and poured her a glass of water and said: "it's clean" and then left the store. I locked him out his store and after about 15 minutes we were finished and I let him back in. By that time I had I had a number of items sitting on his counter which I was going to purchase from him as a way of saying thanks but he wouldn't allow it. This Chasid said that he had just performed a "chesed" for a fellow Jew and if that chesed were to remain pure and holy he could not receive anything in return. I picked up a pair of Tzitzit and said: "but I need a pair anyway!" He proceeded to show me another store where they sell such items. I left the store with nothing other than the extraordinary love of a fellow Jew.
The "Only in Israel" stories are endless, but they all illustrate the same point - to be in Israel is to be amongst family. **Please share yours in the comments section!**
THE CALL OF DUTY
One of the songs our group sang many times, taken from the Mishna in Pirkei Avot, in the Ethics of our Sages reads the following:
Lo alecha ligmor, v'lo ata ben chorin lehibatel mimena
Soldier on Base in Hebron |
When we met with the soldiers in Hebron and the lone soldiers in Jerusalem, we were reminded of this all important teaching - for each of us to do our part. At the same age most American teens are heading off to college to study and party, Israelis and volunteers from abroad are putting on a uniform to protect the land and people of Israel.
Soldier on Base in Hebron |
Saying a Prayer for our Soldiers |
When we asked a lone soldier why he chose to give up some of his best years and join the IDF, he answered "It wasn't a question, or a choice. I knew I had to protect my family."
A Lone Soldier explains his motivations for joining the IDF. A plaque for Mikey Levin can be seen in the background. |
My Sons Praying at The Wall |
Every family has its differences. Every family fights. But as Rabbi Benjy Levine reminded us, echoing the spirit of his saintly grandfather, these differences must be worked out with respect, tolerance and love.
What do you do when your mother insults you, or your son disrespects you? How do you rise above, be the bigger person, and work things out from a place of love and respect?
There are of course many strategies for dealing with family turmoil, but when it comes to the family of Israel I think the best antidote to tension and intolerance is Jewish pride.
David Sprung, our last speaker on the trip, was among the soldiers who liberated Jerusalem in 1967. He recounted what it was like to come across the Kotel for the first time, covered in garbage since the Jordanians used it as a garbage dump:
"It was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen," he explained, "something came over us, secular and religious Jews alike, and we couldn't help but run and kiss it. Haredi Jews, who just a day before didn't recognize the State of Israel, came up to us soldiers and kissed our lapels crying 'thank you'. For once, there was no secular or religious, no conservative, no reform, no Ashkenazi, no Sephardic - there was but one Jewish heartbeat."
The Whole "Mishpucha" |
PARTICIPANT OF THE DAY
Profession: Director of Supply Chain Management for the NYC School Food & Nutrition Division
# trips to Israel (including this): 1!!!
Jewish Background/ affiliation: Conservative/ Cultural
In her words...
How did you get on this trip?
I was determined to go to Israel this year. It was actually one of the resolutions I had made with myself for the new year. For the past 8 or 9 years it has been a huge desire for me to visit Israel, connect with my people, my culture and my history. It was so important for me to go on this journey, but more importantly to go with the right people. People that shared my interests, a group I felt I could also learn from. I was familiar with Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) and attended a few events years ago, but decided to reconnect when I heard about an Israeli heritage trip. I met with Rabbi Jonathon Feldman and decided to attend his weekly classes/talks. I found these sessions to be very insightful and really enjoyed and looked forward to these "Tuesday Talks".
I was determined to go to Israel this year. It was actually one of the resolutions I had made with myself for the new year. For the past 8 or 9 years it has been a huge desire for me to visit Israel, connect with my people, my culture and my history. It was so important for me to go on this journey, but more importantly to go with the right people. People that shared my interests, a group I felt I could also learn from. I was familiar with Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) and attended a few events years ago, but decided to reconnect when I heard about an Israeli heritage trip. I met with Rabbi Jonathon Feldman and decided to attend his weekly classes/talks. I found these sessions to be very insightful and really enjoyed and looked forward to these "Tuesday Talks".
What are your brief reflections on the day (or the trip overall)?
This is extremely difficult for me to express in just a short paragraph, but here I go. What I will say is that what I took from this experience has been so incredibly meaningful and special to me. I wholeheartedly loved every moment from hiking at Gamla, visiting the Golan Heights, Amuka, Hevron, spending time with the Israeli soldiers, to driving through the tunnel singing "Oseh Shalom" and seeing the beauty of Jerusalem for the very first time. The feelings I have experienced on this trip have been overwhelmingly emotional and I am so grateful for this wonderful experience. Toda Rabah to MJE! Until next time...
This is extremely difficult for me to express in just a short paragraph, but here I go. What I will say is that what I took from this experience has been so incredibly meaningful and special to me. I wholeheartedly loved every moment from hiking at Gamla, visiting the Golan Heights, Amuka, Hevron, spending time with the Israeli soldiers, to driving through the tunnel singing "Oseh Shalom" and seeing the beauty of Jerusalem for the very first time. The feelings I have experienced on this trip have been overwhelmingly emotional and I am so grateful for this wonderful experience. Toda Rabah to MJE! Until next time...
I own a pair of juggling sticks!