Yozma's School

Over the years Temple Sinai has had a connection with Kehilat Yozma, the Reform congregation in Modi'in. We have had three members of that synagogue visit and speak to us including the founding rabbi, Kinneret Shiryon and their new president Yuval Newman, Ron Newmaan's cousin. On a number of our trips to Israel our congregants have worshiped at Yozma and even enjoyed home hospitality from its congregants. Over the years I have personally supported Kehilat Yozma along with Rabbi Miri Gold's congregation Kehilat Birkat Shalom. Rabbi Gold was this past year's Sinai's Scholar in Residence when she related her ongoing case in the Israeli Supreme Court to receive a government salary like orthodox rabbis, who are community rabbis. I encourage others to support these two congregations as well.
Last week I visited the school connected with Kehilat Yozma in Modi'in. The congregation was started by Rabbi Shiryon with the idea that if you create an outstanding educational program people will want to affiliate. Through their school affiliation many Israelis would be introduced to Reform Judaism and the congregation itself. For a number of years the congregation ran an extensive pre-school and kindergarten program. For most of that time the pre-school prefab buildings, known as “caravanim”, were the location used for worship services. On Fridays the school materials were stored on the sides of one of the classrooms and adult chairs were set up along with an Aron Kodesh. Now after a triumphant court case the congregation has a small building that is used as a synagogue and offices, as well as the pre-school pre-fabs and a school building designated by the Ministry of Education.
At present the school has classes from the 1st to the 4th grades. Each year, a new grade is added, after the initial single class of first grade in 2006-2007. Presently there are 2 classes each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades plus one 4th grade. Over the years the school has moved to different buildings depending on available rooms and designation by the Ministry of Education. Next year they school will again be required to depart the present structure in Maccabim. Maccabim is a small community united along with Re'ut with the municipality of Modi'in. This wandering Jew syndrome for the school is very difficult for both the staff and families. The situation does not allow them to create a neighborhood school so that most parents must drive their children each day. The families come from all over Modi'in and I believe that is why the ministry moves this and other special schools like Yozma to different facilities, since special schools draw students from a large number of neighborhoods.
One of Yozma's rabbis who is also the school's rabbi, Nir Barkin has been a friend for the past 6 years. I met him during Noam's first year at HUC rabbinical school in Jerusalem. At the time of my visit he was out of the country at the CCAR convention in San Francisco and suggested that I contact Yozma's executive director, Yossi Aud, who had been the director of the school. Nir said I would enjoy what he described as the only “Jewish” school around.
Even though the school now has a new principal, Navah, Yossi happily agreed to give me a tour of the school. He is extremely proud of what they have created. He repeatedly referred to the development of the inner spirit, the “ruach p'nimi” of each individual child. This inner spirit process allows the children to appreciate the world around them, and the society, and also helps them develop a connection to God.
Unlike other schools in Israel the teachers arrive at 7:15 a.m. to be in their classrooms to greet the early arriving students beginning at 7:30. This was contrary to what I observed in other schools where the students arrive to the classrooms before the teachers arrive. At Yozma's school the teachers pay special attention to every pupil as he or she arrives trying to notice and comment on something about them or ask them personally how things are going each day. Yossi also told me that from the start Rabbi Barkin, as school rabbi, has been an integral part of the school. From the beginning Nir, in fact, had the first office in the school facility. He does not only come to teach Jewish subjects or lead ceremonies or prayers. He is totally integrated into the program, knows about the students and spends a good deal of time in the school each day. When I heard about Nir's role in the school, I thought this was unique but I later learned that the rabbi at Netiv Zevulun acts in a similar manner. However Rabbi Barkin as well as Rabbi Shiryon are part of a team that sets direction for the school incorporating educational and religious values.
Yossi was especially proud of the school's arts and music programs. He described them with passion. The art projects foster the students' abilities to pay attention and appreciate the world around them. The focus moves from the computer screen and TV to the beauty of this earth. He conducts woodworking classes. Each grade fashions different items. For example, in 1st grade the students each work with a small piece of wood that are all combined to make an Aron Kodesh, a Holy Ark. This Ark accompanies the class through their years at the school. I asked what will be done with the Ark when the students graduate. He told me they will deal with that situation in the future since the oldest class of 4th graders has a way to go before graduating from high school. In 2nd grade they make book stands, the 3rd grade stools and the 4th grade class is now making a clock. Yossi said of the latter project: the clock is to help them focus on their own inner clocks.
I was thrilled with this visit. It made me proud that the Reform community has been creating a school that fosters the inner spiritual development of each child along with the more standard educational goals. The students seem quite happy as I visited each and every class. One 2nd grade class was acting out the Biblical story of Pesach and the students were not only hearing the story but becoming part of it. Their Jewish heritage is integral to the entire educational experience. Yozma is also a model for us in our American Reform religious schools.

Returning to the Classroom

When a teacher requests whether or not I can come another hour to teach my lesson to other students after she heard me earlier in the morning, I believe it is indicative of the positive reaction I have received in the schools. When principals invite me back it is a sign that things are going well. But more so, at the end of classes when students come to me to continue asking questions about Rochester or even about my personal story I feel most rewarded for my efforts. At Modi'in's Purim parade, called the Adloyada, at which I participated in costume and marched with Temple Sinai's matched school, Idanim, students from one of the other schools came up to me and asked why I wasn't marching with them. Given this feedback I feel I have made connections and helped to strengthen our educational bridge.
During the past week I returned to Idanim, visited the only school in the country directly connected with a Reform congregation(v. upcoming Yozma School blog), was invited into an Orthodox school and by chance had Shabbat dinner with a student who had heard me in his class. All of these occurrences coming only a week before I am returning to the US, reinforced my feelings of accomplishment this year.
The final visit to Idanim felt like a return to my home base. Not only has Aviva Dvir, the principal of the school and Jan's counterpart in the Educational Bridge on the Modi'in side been a support and facilitator in my teaching but she is also a dear friend. In fact this past Shabbat afternoon I went with her, her husband Amos, and her daughter Or to meet her son Omri, his wife Hila and their baby Matan in Abu Ghosh, an Israeli Arab town for a hummus lunch at one of the two “Abu Shukri, number 1, the Original” restaurants there. After lunch we went to a local bakery for unbelievable baklawa and kenafe, another sweet Arab pastry. Then we visited a community and high observation area called Har Adar, Mount Adar. It was not named after our educator Ilan Adar but was so named because the British, in the time of the mandate set up radar installations there due to its strategic position. So Har Radar became Har Adar. From there one can see jerusalem, Ramallah, Modi'in and if it was clear enough all the way to the Mediterranean. Our final stop of the day was an orchid greenhouse at Kibbutz Ma'ale Hahamisha which contains an area to bring an ailing plant that is not blooming for rehab. That area is called the Orchid Pension (a type of hotel).
When I arrive at Idanim I am now known to the guard at the door (all Israeli schools have guard sat their entrances), the office staff, the building superintendent (called Av habayit, House father), most of the teachers and many students. Aviva even tells classes that I am not really a guest any more but I am part of the staff.
This last visit was supposed to be for two classes; one 6th grade about American Jewry and one 5th grade about the Abayudaya in Uganda. As I finished the second class Aviva asked if I would be willing to visit another 6th grade class because the teacher who was in my first lesson wanted me to meet with her own class. I found the one year difference between the 5th and 6th graders to make a huge difference. However the students still felt I really didn't look like a rabbi. At the conclusion of the day a few girls came to me and asked me if I would be returning and why don't I stay in Israel. What a positive note to finish my time at Idanim.
At Shabbat dinner this past week one of the Idanim students along with his parents were guests at my Aunt's home. At first the boy did not recognize me but when he did he was pleased and we talked about my visit to his class. He remembered many of the things I spoke of in my presentation. He told me and his parents that he enjoyed the class. However, he was quite surprised when my discussion with his father who is a journalist and writes for The Jerusalem Post was about politics. I guess he did not think rabbis or teachers discuss politics.
The day after I was at Idanim I was invited to visit an Orthodox school, Netiv Zevulun. In the education system the government supports both secular schools as well as those that are Orthodox or what they refer to as a government Torah schools. The principal Menachem Fisher and the assistant principal Shoshi Fishbein participated in two previous delegations of Modi'in teachers to Rochester. I considered my invitation a major triumph for a number of reasons. First, it seems that other Orthodox schools, even the “modern” Orthodox ones like Netiv Zevulun are more hesitant to make the connection with the overall partnership. Second, I had misconceptions about how a Reform rabbi would be accepted in an Orthodox school. I must say with tremendous pleasure that I was not only greeted with warmth and respect but was introduced by Menachem and Shoshi as a Reform rabbi from Rochester who was there to teach them about our Jewish community and lifestyle. There was no hesitation in allowing the students to know that there are other streams of Judaism, and I believe the streams were all given legitimacy by the way I was welcomed. Third, I had already heard in one of the secular schools a parent was concerned that a Reform rabbi was coming to talk. I imagine Menachem might have received even more comments and perhaps criticism when parents learned of my visit.
I don't know if I would get such a welcome in other Orthodox schools. Netiv Zevulun is clearly Orthodox but I have noticed mothers wearing pants who bring and pick up their kids. The assistant principal Shoshi does not cover her hair. Add to that their school rabbi, Motti Fishfried who has no beard, was wearing a blue shirt with no black coat and plays basketball with the students. Stereotypes are immediately shattered.
When I ask my opening question of whether or not I look like a rabbi in the secular schools their answer is usually negative. My beard is not long enough and I don't wear rabbi's clothing, meaning a black suit and white shirt, are two of the reasons I most often hear. Those secular students who have little contact with rabbis don't understand that we come in many varieties. The Orthodox students at Netiv Zevulun noticed I did not have tzitzit (which Motti did have) but I was wearing a kippah and they thought nothing of my relatively short beard and regular everyday clothing. This reaffirms the idea that those within any group see and understand the nuances and differences while those outside looking in often tend to group everything together and paint a less nuanced broad stroked picture.
I taught two classes of boys who were put together in one room. They had a lot of questions about ritual practice and kashrut. They were interested in the reasons Reform and Conservative Jews in the U.S. practice Judaism differently. They wanted to know if there were enough places to buy kosher food in Rochester. I never detected any negativity when I explained how Reform Jews and I in particular do things they would never think of doing, such as driving to services on Shabbat and holidays, although one boy wanted to know why I don't start a synagogue near my home in Webster.
The girls have one very large class of 40 students. After Menachem left the room I was the only male and since I was talking to all females I had to use the feminine plural forms in Hebrew. I asked them to excuse my grammar because I had never before taught a class of only girls. They were interested in what our students do as B'not Mitzvah. One girl asked if they wore tallitot and kippot. I explained that was an option for us for the girls but also for the boys. They then asked if the girls wore boys' clothing and if they dressed nicely for Shabbat and holidays. I told them that when girls become bat mitzvah they usually wear dresses or skirts but when they wear pants they are not boys' styles and are specifically for girls. Both classes also asked me why we celebrate two seders for Pesach.
After class Menachem and Shoshi proudly gave me haggadot the school had printed that contained explanations and teachings written and gathered from traditional sources by the students and put together by Rabbi Fishfried. It is a lovely edition and looks professionally done. Menachem was also proud to point out that when any adult enters a class all the students rise to honor them. I have to say again I felt truly honored by my visit to Netiv Zevulun.

A Return to the Kibbutz; A Return to Purim

This past weekend I made my second trip down to my brother's kibbutz, Nir Yitzhak. I suggested to him that we meet in Tel Aviv Thursday evening to enjoy a good meal at top notch restaurant. So we headed off to Jaffa which is united with Tel Aviv under the one municipality.
I had been reading about a place called the Yoezer Wine Bar and Rob was able to get us a reservation for Thursday evening for 8pm. It is just off the street facing the famous clock tower which was built in the center of Jaffa in Turkish times to commemorate the 50 year jubilee of Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1906. The restaurant is housed in a building which is an old structure with thick stone walls and many arches. Much of the stone is covered in a plaster. The inside of the restaurant is rustic looking with wooden tables and mismatched chairs most likely purchased in the surrounding flea market and antique or junk stalls.
Yoezer is called a wine bar because of its extensive wine list but unlike other wine bars they only have a limited number of wines by the glass to taste and no sampling of small amounts on the menu. However they have a fine French and Italian menu centering on meat. I would not recommend this place to Jan or other vegetarians. We shared a charcuterie dinner for two which featured a variety of smoked meats, sausages and pates (enough said). Of course we ordered an appropriate bottle of wine to accompany the food. Because of the enormous amount of food we were unable to finish the main course and uncharacteristically skipped dessert.
Surprisingly the restaurant was not crowded. We came early but we did not leave until almost 10 pm. That might still be too early for a Thursday night in the Tel Aviv area. Thursday has become the beginning of the weekend and has become a time for socializing and going out. We also surmised that economic issues may have come into play since this is not an inexpensive eatery. Yet, we do know that many other fine restaurants are often full and are difficult to get reservations. In any case, we were delighted to patronize this restaurant. From there we drove south to the kibbutz.
On Friday evening and Saturday the kibbutz planned to celebrate a belated Purim. First I learned was that in general, on this kibbutz and on many others Purim, and some holidays are often celebrated on the Shabbat after the holy day itself. I don't believe that is the case for the Pesach seder or Yom Kippur or Rosh HaShanah. I also think they celebrate Israeli Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom HaAtzma'ut on the actual days. Since Purim this year was on a Saturday night -Sunday the party was planned for the following Friday and the children's activities for the next day. Sadly, there was a death on the kibbutz a couple of days before the celebrations so they postponed everything for another week. So, with Purim actually on February 27-28, the kibbutz's celebration was finally held on March 12-13. Again this was another example of Purim being a month long celebration (v. earlier blog) and not simply a single day.
Due to the Purim party for all adults 18 and older, the kibbutz did not serve its Friday night dinner. My brother and I ate “Shabbat” dinner at his place with my nephew and niece. Afterwards, we went over to the dining hall for the party after 11:00 pm (already past my bedtime). The room was elaborately decorated, including a stage for a performance, a large screen, a bar and soft drink area and strobe lights. Materials from the kibbutz's polymer netting company, Polysack, were used for much of the decorations. We entered to the sound of blaring music with a deeply resonating bass track and a crowded dance floor. Later we watched skits and a video. They were clearly silly. The audience laughed but I missed most of it because I couldn't understand it, hear clearly or know the inside aspects of the jokes. The music began again and we lasted a short while more before returning home.
The celebration for the children the next day in the afternoon: Huge blowup climbing contraptions on the soccer field and a tower with four bungy chord seats and trampolines on the ground for kids to be strapped into harnesses and bounce high into the air. These amusements were brought in through an entertainment company and varied by age groups. Off to the side the youth sold ice cream, cold drinks, cotton candy, etc. The prices seemed a bit high for the kibbutz but there was a sign which declared that the profits were going to fight diabetes.
That evening at 6:30there was a show for the children again in the dining hall. We did not go to see it but Rob said that the people on the kibbutz who prepare it are quite professional and it is always standing room only. At both of these children's activities outsiders are invited from the surrounding area. The one missing Purim custom due to the delay of the celebration were the costumes for the kids. There is usually a parade of all the children in their costumes. On the previous night some of the adults at their party did wear costumes.
On Saturday evening I returned to Modi'in. On the way my brother, his daughter and I drove the 45 minutes to Ashkelon to eat dinner at a restaurant called Meat Me. It was only a so-so place with Israeli grilled meats and salads. At one point during the meal we looked around at all four of the other occupied tables people were smoking. It is against the law to smoke in restaurants in Israel, but this is Israel, so not only did they smoke but the waiter brought over ashtrays. From there it was a trip of two bus rides, one to Tel Aviv and the second back to Modi'in. I think Purim has finally concluded.

Recent Political Tension

To make an understatement Israel is a place of political tension and struggles. Most of my posts have not been political because the reality of daily life takes precedent - schools, parks, B'nei Mitzvah and ecological concerns that Israelis face every day. But politics and the struggle with the Palestinians is always present in peoples' minds. In this posting I will share some of the recent issues that are in the forefront right now. They mostly are connected to Jerusalem and and the road to Modi'in. Some have reached the American media. I have compiled these thoughts before the visit of Vice President Biden (that's another story).
First there is Silwan, a neighborhood outside the walls of the Old City that was completely in Arab hands before the 1967 Six Day War. Some Israelis claim that at one time many Jews lived in that area. Yemenite Jews settled there at the end of the 19th century but left after the Arab uprisings in the late 1930's. Some right wing Jewish groups have begun to enter this neighborhood and claim property there over recent decades.
Most likely as a response to the required demolition of a Jewish building in Silwan that was built and inhabited by these Jewish settlers, Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat declared that another archaeological park would be built in this neighborhood. The first park is the archaeological work done on “The City of David” which was the early settlement in the time of King David before the Temple was built and the city expanded. To make this second park 20 Arab homes would need to be destroyed. This would serve as a symbolic reaction to the demolition of the Jewish building. Although the city officials said they would provide other housing for the displaced families there was still a protest against this park. The Palestinian residents desire to stay in their present dwellings and hold little trust that the promises will be fulfilled in an appropriate manner. The national government finally intervened halting the proposed project for the moment.
Those in support of the park said it would be to the benefit of all the local residents. However the City of David park (in reality an archaeological site) has brought almost no benefit to the local Arabs in the area. The Palestinians see this as another attempt by Israel to displace them from their homes and land. One of the arguments against such displacement and attempts to reclaim pre-1948 Jewish owned properties in Arab neighborhoods is that it opens the door for displaced Palestinians who might have claims on their own pre-1948 holdings too. The Palestinians also have a great mistrust of the Israeli government concerning housing and this is not simply paranoia.
Recently a second point of tension between Israel and the Palestinians was a declaration by Israel to make the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the grave of Rachel in Bethlehem into national Jewish heritage sites. To many people this is no big deal. These are important sites and religious shrines for Jews. In a recent discussion with a friend we spoke about the reality that it might not even matter if these are in fact the exact locations of the historical shrines. If for thousands of years the faithful have believed that this is the spot, then, in and of itself the spot has important meaning and sacredness.
The Palestinians are saying that by making such a designation of these place Israel is trying to deny the Palestinian legitimacy and connection if not ownership of places and land they think of as theirs. On one hand Palestinians might be using this as an excuse to protest against their view of the “evil” Israel. On the other hand they may have appropriate apprehension. There have been riots in Hebron and on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where again rock throwing from the upper level has been stopped by police intervention. One has to wonder if Israel is simply stating what it believes to be legitimate designations of important places or if it is in fact trying to take greater control of these areas. In Hebron the Tomb of the Patriarchs is considered holy to both Judaism and Islam and is shared as a sacred shrine. We also know that at times the Palestinians and other Arabs have denied Jews permission to visit their religious sites and have made claims such as denying that the Holy Temple ever existed on the site of the Temple Mount. Please understand that even when I point out negative behavior by Israel I am in no way denying negative behavior by Palestinians and other Arabs.
A third point of conflict in Jerusalem that has brought tension between Israel and the Palestinians involves a neighborhood called Sheikh Jarrah. A short time ago two Palestinian families were evicted from their dwellings because the property was previously owned in pre-state 1948 by Jews. As I mentioned above this claim can cause Israel further problems of earlier Arab ownership of many now Jewishly owned land and buildings. The game has not been played evenly. This is a quote about the situation.
“The asymmetric legal situation in Israel, through the Absentee Property Law, makes it possible for Jews to return to property that was owned by Jews before 1948 — while Palestinian property return is completely impossible. This is both unjust and unwise. In Sheikh Jarrah, this has resulted in Palestinian refugees, originally housed in the neighborhood by the Jordanian government after 1948, becoming refugees a second time. Of course, unlike the settlers forcing the Palestinians out of their homes, the Palestinians cannot return to the homes they owned before 1948 — not in Jaffa, nor in West Jerusalem or anywhere else.”
Two weeks ago on the news it was reported that in one of the recovered Jewish inhabited buildings the right wing settlers had a Purim party. Caught in a recording they were singing the praises of Dr. Baruch Goldstein who brutally shot and murdered Arab worshipers in the Tomb of the Patriarchs at Purim time in 1994. Their song of praise called these murder victims terrorists although at the time their only crime was praying in the mosque at the tomb. I was physically revolted to hear these words of praise for a Jewish mass murderer.
On Saturday evening, March 6, a rally was held in Sheikh Jarrah where a few thousand Palestinians and “Leftist” Jews protested the incursion of Jewish settlers into the traditionally Arab neighborhood. One should realize that in Israel in many communities and neighborhoods it would be impossible for Arabs to buy a home. Former Knesset member Avraham Burg wrote, “Once justice dwelled here. Now the settlers do...”
My final point regarding recent tensions between the Palestinians and Israel focuses on route 443. This is the road I often take to and from Modi'in when I go to Jerusalem. Most of the road is in the territories built on land taken from the locals. Originally this road was promised as an improvement for both Israelis and Palestinians. During the second Intifada there was stone throwing and even shooting at Israeli cars on this road. Now there are many sections with protective walls and fences to insure safety for the cars. However Palestinians are now barred from using this road on their appropriated land. The case has been to the courts that declared in the near future the road must be also open to Palestinian traffic.
Recently a flashing ad appeared on Jpost.com (the Jerusalem Post website) from a group called Shurat HaDin, “Israel Law Center,” advocating barring terrorists, Hamas and PLO from 443. This group is trying to gain support to overturn the ruling of the court. This and the above controversies continue to make trusting a difficult idea for the Palestinians. On the other side Israelis feel that every time they have given something to the Palestinians they get slapped in the face so that their level of trust is also nonexistent. There is little hope among those with whom I talk to that the newest possibility of indirect negotiations, here called “proximity” talks, will bear any fruit. With that said, we must continue to hope, pray and act in ways that will improve the future.

Hava and Adam Ecological Farm

The other day Yisrael, the ecology educator at Idanim school, took me to see the Hava and Adam (Eve and Adam) Ecological Farm here in Modi'in. It was the second day of the Purim break and schools were closed which allowed him the time to give me a tour. Yisrael was on the Modi'in teacher delegation to Rochester this past December and we had some wonderful chats about a number of things including my presentation of Reform Judaism. He is a deep thinker who wants to teach ecological practices in a manner that can easily be understood and adopted.
Having come off a number of days of heavy rain, we met on a cloudy morning that proved to be day with only a few light showers. Still, it was cool and breezy. He greeted me by reflecting how wonderful the rainy weather has been. His view is that of a concerned Israeli who knows the importance of rain as opposed to a tourist or vacationer who is seeking the beautiful sunshine and what we refer to as “pleasant conditions.” The news reports are that Israel has received an increased amount of rain this season helping to raise the level of the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) but not nearly enough to offset years of below average amounts of rain. In our prayer book there is a line in the second paragraph of the Tefillah which we refer to as the Gevurot. This line prays for rain from the time of Sukkot until Pesach and for dew from Pesach to Sukkot. Such a prayer being said outside of the land of Israel connects us to the cycle of nature that is needed in Israel. In Rochester the words would have little practical meaning. However if we think about why they were included in the traditional prayers every day of the week we might connect ourselves with matters of life giving forces in nature in the historic homeland of our people. It is as true now as it was for our ancestors when this prayer insertion was adopted.
The ecological farm is on the outskirts but within the city limits of Modi'in. Off to one side of it is a Jewish National Fund forest which is not part of Modi'in. On the other side are recently plowed fields which are now given to a farming company but eventually will turn into the main road from Modi'in to the number 1 highway which connects Tel Aviv with Jerusalem.
The founder of the farm, Yitzik, started teaching environmental education in the Modi'in schools. When he started the farm he brought on other people to do the education in the school. Now many if not all the elementary schools (I know nothing of the programs in the high schools) have environmental educators and designated spaces (ecological gardens) in their facility. Yisrael works in the school and also on the farm.
At the farm there were a number of buildings that were constructed in simple “green” methods. Some use walls made of mud and wood. They in fact reminded me of the mud brick homes I saw in Uganda. These were the same methods as our ancestors used in Egypt.
One house was very colorful because of the different weaving that is done there, and used for some of the decorations. Yisrael explained how they use a number of different materials for insulation in the walls. Also various substances are used in the weaving. Right now there is an open porch and he told me they were going to close it off which will be better protection from varying weather conditions.
There was a large plot of land that was divided up into multiple plots. Families, both young and less young, come and work their own plot in this community garden. The staff help to teach them how to do organic farming. There are water collecting systems for irrigation; they produce their own electricity from solar energy and occasionally a generator; and they make great use of compost. He explained how they are even able to compost and transform human waste from the latrine eventually into clean compost. That was something I was totally in the dark about and it amazed me. All around the farm there are diverse plantings and various animals.
In one corner of the farm they have erected dome structures where international students, mostly North Americans come for a long term experience in Israel. It is under the auspices of a program called Masa, which enables young Jewish adults to spend a semester or a year in over 150 different programs in Israel. They live, learn and work on the farm residing in these simple structures. [By the way if interested 18-30 year olds can look into Masa through the Jewish Agency. The website is masaisrael.org]
The final area Yisrael showed me was set up with three ovens which require neither electricity, natural gas nor other petroleum based fuel. The experience at the farm was an eye opener for many “green” possibilities that are within our reach.

Purim Israeli Style

One of my favorite holidays is Purim. I love the fun of planning a costume and a theme for our Megillah reading and service. It is a treat to see the students, teachers and even some other adults in their creative costumes. The celebration often occurs both on the day of Purim itself with an extra dose of joy on the nearest Sunday at Hebrew school. Well folks, you ain't seen nothing until you experience Purim in Israel.
I was sharing with Aviva Dvir, the principal of Idanim, our match school, how the Israeli schools seem to have a week full of celebrations. Her response was that it is more like a month. The preparations and planning is not only for what costume you will wear but how to carry out a theme for the parade and preparing the shelach manot baskets. Every student in school brings a shelach manot package to class on one designated day and then they pick numbers to give it to classmates. On Purim day itself it seemed that every second or third person I saw on the street was also carrying a basket to give to someone else.
On a day when I was teaching during the week before Purim everyone had come to school in pajamas, even the teachers. Another day everyone wore red. It sounds better in Hebrew because Red Day is Yom Adom. I actually heard one teacher explaining why she doesn't wear red or a certain red shirt because it is the color of a specific football (soccer) team. I can't imagine team colors determining one's choice of clothing [NOT!]. Well maybe I can. Each school determines for itself different themes or activities for the week before Purim.
There is also a day for a parade for the entire city. This year the Purim parade scheduled for this past Friday was postponed due to heavy storms and thunder until next Friday. At the schools I was already seeing major art projects that had been worked on by students and teachers for their delegation in the parade. Only one grade per school actually marches in the parade. Other students participate through clubs and organizations to which they belong. And it seems the everyone else lines the street to watch the parade.
This year I attended the reading of Megillat Esther by the Reform congregation YOZMA. The reading was held at the city's cultural arts center. It was announced at the synagogue and on signs around the city to call either someone from the synagogue or the ticket office at the arts center to reserve free tickets. At Friday night Shabbat services Rabbi Nir Barkin, one of the two rabbis serving YOZMA, told me that not only had they filled the 600 seat auditorium but they actually had requests for 1200 tickets. This is a big coup for YOZMA and Reform Judaism in general in Modi'in.
As an aside the Shabbat service on Friday night was lovely. My cousin Natan and his daughter Noam accompanied the singing on their guitars. Natan, who was a NFTY song leader years ago at both the Kutz and Eisner camps had his first chance to play in a Jewish setting when I was a rabbi in Pearl River, NY and I invited him to play from the bima. At this past service he introduced my son Noam's new “Ma Tovu” from Noam''s new album to the congregation. It was nice to hear his song in this setting and the congregation responded to it quite well.
Before the megillah reading on Saturday night the YOZMA organized a carnival with games and refreshments for the kids outside and in the lobby of the center. The youth group, here called Telem,, helped out as do our youth groups here at Sinai. The carnival is called a “Purimon.” combining the word Purim with the word “rimon,” which means pomegranate. The parade is called an “Adloyada” which means “until you don't know.” This refers to the obligation in the Talmud to drink until you don't know the difference between blessed is Mordecai and cursed is Haman.” At the Megillah reading they also hired actors to perform the story in a very humorous way.

There are also fun activity days held at the various schools. These too are called Purimon. In addition, there was a two day break from school - Purim and the day after.
I should mention that unlike Chanukah when in Israel the main holiday food is sufganiyot the fried donuts and not latkes, on Purim the hamantaschen rule here also. All last week extra stalls were set up at the mall to sell packaged shelach manot, costumes, masks, funny hats and lots of hamantaschen. In addition everyone goes to parties; some for kids and others for adults. My brother told me that at his kibbutz they even cancel the regular Friday night dinner, which is often the nicest meal of the week, for their Purim celebration.
In the Ha'Aretz newspaper there was an article announcing the selling of advertising through projected signs onto the Kotel. Even though I found this to be an atrocious idea as an American where we sell advertising on our sacred shrines, stadiums, I could almost believe it. A company like Coca Cola would pay per block of stone for each advertisement. They reported that the experiment was a coke sign and the local vendors claimed it increased sales. Finally at the bottom of the article it was written, “Chag Purim Samayach,” Happy Purim! I discussed this with a few people and at first people did not realize that this was a joke in the spirit of the holiday. Chag Purim Samayach!

Teaching and Learning

My main goal in Israel this year was to supplement the curriculum “Friends From Across the Sea” which is taught in the Modi'in schools in the 5th grade. Because of the Partnership 2000 (P2K) relationship between Rochester and Modi'in the school system has added the study of diaspora Jewry to the curriculum. Modi'in was recently cited by Natan Sharansky, who is presently the director of the Jewish Agency, as a leader in promoting understanding of diaspora Jewry through this curriculum. The other night I attended a meeting the partnership committee here in Modi'in where I witnessed how very proud t hey were of this recognition. They realize that by understanding diaspora Jewry they are in fact strengthening their own identities as Jews and not simply Israelis.
A number of years ago before the department of education in Modi'in officially added this area of study to address what Israelis knew or did not know about the Jews around the world, the discussion was already in the public domain. Even if most Israelis believed that Jews belong in Israel and should make aliyah to fulfill their full identity they could not deny the importance of the diaspora community and its many positive gifts to Jewish and world culture. My goal is to personalize some of the studies in the classrooms by comparing life in Rochester and the US with life in Israel.
So far I have been at 5 different schools and have spoken to more than 15 classes. The schools and the classes I have visited have had different “feels” to them based on the varied personalities of the principals and teachers. The tone of a school is generally set by the principal. An Israeli friend pointed out to me a difference she observed in American schools where her children attended for 2 years and Israeli schools. In the US the teacher is hosting the students in his or her classroom. The teacher arrives before the students and is there to greet them upon their entrance. The student is thereby entering the domain of the teacher. Too often here in Israel in the classes I visited the teachers would come in after the students and on more than one occasion were late. An unruly atmosphere was already created and now the teacher had the difficult task of changing the momentum. It was explained to me that because there are many specific subject teachers it is the teachers who move and not the students. One technique used by some teachers is to require the students to stand quietly when the teacher arrives and then greet each other. To me this is less a way of showing respect , i.e. standing to honor someone, than it is a way to change the atmosphere in the room. Yet to my eye it does not seem to alter the energy level of the students.
My lessons so far have centered on the lives and realities of Jews who reside in America. Even a idea of not having only Jews in a class is new for the students here. Being a minority is something they do not face on a regular basis. Modi'in unlike some other cities in Israel is almost an entirely Jewish city with a minuscule non-Jewish presence among the residents. I try to convey realities about Jewish life in Rochester as having to affiliate with a synagogue simply for purposes of Jewish identity along with good relations with non-Jewish neighbors and family.
On short exercise I do is to compare what our two flags symbolize for each of us. The Israeli flag contains both the Magen David (what we refer to as a Jewish star) and the two blue stripes of the tallit. One girl creatively described that as symbolizing Israel walking through the split sea in the story of the Exodus. I explain that while that is the Israeli flag it also has meaning to Jews who are not Israelis. When the Israeli students describe the American flag they know of the stars (5 pointed) and stripes. More often than not they tell me that our flag has 51 stars. This was repeated so often I almost doubted my own knowledge of 50 stars representing 50 states. One boy even knew that some people have jokingly referred to Israel as our 51st state.
In a later blog I will reflect further on these classroom experiences.