Rabbis’ Message: Dispatch from Israel: January 13, 2024
For the weeks over winter break, the Ben-Shoshan family traveled in Israel in order to achieve our second-eldest, Aidan’s, goal of becoming a b’mitzvah at a place with “Roman ruins and an epic hike”. He was thrilled to hike to the top of Masada with a little Sephardi Torah strapped to his back and then read that Torah while overlooking the Dead Sea during Hanukkah. While our family looks forward to celebrating with you (last Shabbat at TBY and this coming Shabbat at NTHC!), this trip has also given Rabbi Lauren a chance to catch up with a few friends around the country.
Recently, as the evening cooled, I walked with my friend, Lauren Joseph, an American born immigrant to the State of Israel. Lauren and I worked together when we were in our twenties, helping to run different aspects of youth trips for North American teens throughout the land of Israel, before each of us settled there (at least for a while). When we were younger, Lauren then went on to work for an organization that helped connect the sometimes isolated southern Bedouin communities to the larger Israeli society. Lauren was mentored by the late, great Vivian Silver, a renowned peace activist who was murdered on October 7th.
Like many old friends catching up, after we covered how the kids are growing, we attempted to solve all the Jewish world’s problems in a single walk (naturally). We talked about culture and complaints, about government and our love of democracy. We chatted about the protests and Israel’s promise to keep every single one of its citizens safe and its tragic failures in the past 18 months to do so. We worried over the backsliding of freedoms and educational systems both here and there. Lauren reminded me that, years ago, when she worked for the Israeli Religious Action Center, many of these same causes remain relevant today. The twin requirements of maintaining basic safety and building a country driven by its most positive and productive democratic ideals remains the forefront of all of its citizens’ concerns. Our conversation brought to mind a paraphrased verse from Ecclesiastes 2:12, “I realized that the only worthwhile thing there is, is to enjoy oneself and do what good we can in our lifetime.” Choosing how to cultivate our joy and which good we want to do in our lifetime is heavy and holy, a burdensome gift. Despite what it means to be a part of this moment in this cycle of Jewish history, we are obligated and utterly blessed to make space for the good we are able to do in our lifetime. It is my prayer that we are able to move forward, towards a secure peace, civil justice for all, comprehensive and meaningful education, and gemilut-chasadim, acts of kindness within and between our communities, as best we can achieve it.
There is so much work to be done and to re-do, yet it all remains worthwhile.
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