Trees, Digs and Reform Judaism in Israel!

climbing down to our planting site at JNF Kennedy Forrest

Another glorious day in the Holy Land.  We started out at 8:30 for the John F. Kennedy memorial in one of the JNF forrest and planted saplings.  Our saplings will grow there for a few years and then be transferred to another site.  Most of the trees planted in JNF forrest are of the pine variety, but they need to plant additional types in order to stop diseases from spreading amongst the trees--we planted a type of oak.  

A prayer before planting

planting a tree to Honor Marion Mito! Go Team Marion!

After trees were planted we drove to an archeological site for a tour and learned how to dig for ancient relics.  On our ancient site, treasures from the Maccabean time had been found! Perhaps amongst the pottery pieces, animal bones, part of a wine jug and more that we found, one of us will have discovered a treasure!   As an aside, the owner of the Archeological Seminars, who hosted us, is the father of a school mate of mine from my Solomon Schechter days (see pictures below).  He stayed with us on the tour and helped us with the dig!  After the dig, some of us crawled through tunnels, others went on a tour of the caves and we all met up--dirty, covered in ancient dust and dried mud- and smiling. 

Learning how to use the digging tools.  oy. 

Gabi and Mr. Alpert of Archeological Seminars.  Look what they found!

Coming out of the Dig.  AKA Batman cave. 

Lunch was another falafel and schwarma place (like every other lunch!) and then we drove to the town of Mod’iin.  A newer community, Modiin was established in 1998 and it is half-way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  In Modiin, a town where the Maccabeas once lived, there is a reform synagogue, Yozma, and I am friendly with their pioneering and inspiring senior rabbi, Kinneret Shiryon.  Rabbi Shiryon spoke to us about Yozma--how they recently made history in Israel by becoming the first non-Orthodox community to receive a pre-fab building funded by the State.  This is a HUGE deal and the Yozma case about receiving funding  went all the way to the Supreme Court.  Before Yozma, only the orthodox religious institutions were given funding.  Today, because of Yozma’s successful court case, other liberal communities have been given funding and a small measure of equality has taken place.  Yozma began with a few pre-school classrooms 11 years ago in dilapidated temporary rooms and today, they have 6 classrooms, an elementary school and a great many caring partners activities, tikkun olam projects as well as worship services etc.  It was an inspiration to meet with Kinneret and we hope to forge a new, strong relationship between our two congregations.  

Rabbi Kinneret showing us the monumental plaque that notes funds were provided by the State to build the institution, 

Listening to R' Kinneret share the YOZMA story.  

Friends.

We arrived back at the hotel around 4:30 and said good-bye to our wonderful driver, Shaul.  Lucy and Nathan each hugged him and Nathan said loudly “I will never forget you, Shaul” We all agree.  

Lila Tov from Jerusalem!