Travel to Israel with WHC

REGISTER BY JANUARY 21

In our Mishkan Tfilah prayerbook, we read the words: “Pray as if everything depended on God. Act as if everything depended on you.” During the past nearly 100 days, we have joined our voices in prayer for peace in Israel and Gaza. And now we have an opportunity to act on those prayers by traveling together to Israel to demonstrate our support while also continuing to focus on our commitment to peace for Israel and her neighbors.

Please consider joining me and my friends and colleagues, Rabbi Amy Schwartzman & Cantor Sydney Michaeli from Temple Rodef Shalom, on a special trip to Israel from February 14-22.

Highlights of the trip include:

• Meeting with Israeli leaders on the geo-political situation
• Meeting with Israelis and Palestinians who continue in their efforts for peace and co-existence
• Conversations with former hostages
• Introductions to organizations doing innovative work since October 7
• Support for displaced families from the south of Israel
• Volunteer work, including harvesting
• Visiting Yad B’Yad, the Jewish-Palestinian shared school system
• Connecting with our twin congregation, Or Hadash, and supporting them in their efforts

REGISTER BY JANUARY 21

I imagine a future conversation with a younger generation of Jews, perhaps my own grandchildren, who may ask me about this time: What was it like for you? What did you do to help, to understand, to bring about change? This opportunity to travel to Israel and support our Jewish family with members of our WHC community will be one of the things I will be proud to share. I hope to share that I acted on my commitment to Israel by going to meet Israelis impacted by the events of October 7 and physically demonstrate our support; I will share that I went so that I might better understand the trauma of this sacred place; that I met with Jews and Palestinians who are continuing to work for peace; that I volunteered; that I encouraged my Israeli family to think about what a better future might be.

We are working on scheduling a Zoom call for those who are interested. In the meantime, please feel free to be in touch with any questions.

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