Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Shalom! Friday morning we spent some time in Tel Aviv, marveling at the rain still! It was great to be in Tel Aviv for the brief time we were. This year marks the city's centennial year. In 1909 Tel Aviv became the first modern city in this area. Land was given out as plots of sand, and in short order Tel Aviv became a booming city. It's name is taken from the translation of Herzl's book Old -NewLand, with Tel being an ancient archaeological hill , and Aviv meaning spring, mixing the old with the new.
We made our way to Independence Hall where Israel was born 1948.
Independence Hall represents the message of Israel- the declaration of independence of a Jewish state in the land of Israel is: You have an address - all the Jews around the world. All the displaced Jews from the war. You have a home. A place where Jews can defend Jews in freedom. You have an address. It was a moving place to begin our touring.

We then made our way to machon Ayalon in Rehovot. I have never been here before, so the place and the story was new to me. The now-preserved historical site was, in 1945 and prior, a kibbutz where new immigrants, halutzim or pioneers, would come in order to learn the basics of farming agriculture and the like. These people who made Aliyah, who escaped or survived the holocaust did not know the first thing about how to live on a kibbutz, so they came to learn. While there, from 1945-48, a small hanful of volunteers were asked to do a dangerous job- they made ammunition for the Jews who were defending the homes, lives, and property of pre-state Israelis. In a secret bunker, beneath the laundry and bakery, volunteers carefully cast, stretched &molded bullets to help the fighters protect and defend the soon-to-be state and it's people. In three years, in secret, these brave people made over two million bullets- any one if which could have caused an explosion and killed them all. Once independence was declared, the factory came out of hiding and the workers returned to kibbutz life, secure in the truth that their courage enabled Israel to survive.
Before shabbat we made our way into Jerusalem and the sun came out, allowing us to see the beauty of our city of gold. Some of us made our way to the reform synagogue, Kol Haneshama, and some went to the Western Wall for services. Those of us who went to Kol Haneshama enjoyed the serenity of the melodies sung, no instruments save the voices in the congregation. We ran into Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz, who recently came and spoke at the Temple as well.
After services in our respective places, we joined together as one family for Shabbat dinner. As we looked around the table, Martha Goldner, quoting a scholar she and Fred had learned with, asked us to refect on three things from that day: something that made surprised you, something that touched you, and something that inspired you. Some people shared their refections out loud and some are still marinating. Rabbi Saul mentioned that our trip to Machon Ayalon fit all three categories, and I could not agree more. How surprising, touching, and inspiring was that story of ordinary young people making such an extraordinary difference.
What a beautiful way to begin Shabbat and the last night of Chanukah, with good food, powerful memories, and exceptional company.



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