Goodbye to the Desert, Hello Tel Aviv

Ancient roots and Modern commitment:

One of the most important archaeological sites in Israel is Tel Arad, outside of the Negev city, Arad, where we have spent Shabbat in the warm hospitality of the city and our sister congregation Shira Hadasha.

Tel Arad:

This enormous site spans centuries of human habitation.  In the valleys and caves of the region, early bronze age habitation is clear. By the 10th-8th centuries before the common area, during the early Israelite monarchies, the city of Arad is large and fortified.  Within one finds a temple structure with Canaanite relics as well as the earliest example of the "House of God" terms using the unique Hebrew name for God Y-H-V-H. Was this site a mix of theological beliefs, representing an early time before monotheism had completed its ascendancy in Israelite society? One thing is certain: Israelites, believers in Y-H-V-H, echoing the early temple in Jerusalem, lived here for several centuries during Biblical times.

This is not a surprise, as the Torah's memory of its earliest history is down south: in and around Beer Sheva. Here Abraham and Sarah settled, Isaac and Rebecca married, and Jacob returned to dwell with his wives Rachel and Leah.  All lived in the south of modern Israel, not Jerusalem, nor the North. 

                                

While in the isolated and comfortable parking lot of Tel Arad, we talked about the missiles being fired by the dozen daily at Israel in the south and along the coast.  We were about to turn west towards Beer Sheva and for the next four days we would be certain to hear the air raid warning sirens, and need to move to safe places and bomb shelters.  This is an important part of being in Israel and loving Israel.  This is simply what we must do, and I am so proud of my congregation for facing it without fear or hesitation.  We learned how to be safe, and had a practice drill for leaving a bus in an open area, and remaining calmly on the ground for the time necessary to let the danger pass.

Perfect practice drill!! Way to go, folks.

Ne'ot Kedumim:

We said Good-bye to the desert and turned north, to Neot Kedumim outside of Modin, along the Tel-Aviv-Jerusalem highway.  Here we enjoyed a picnic lunch under the shade of an enormous carob tree, surrounded by the biblical plants and spices of our land.

  Pomegranite

                                                   Olive      

                                                                    

  Fruit of the vine

And of course, we participated in a prayer for God's blessing on the land and a symbolic tree planting ceremony thanks to the Jewish National Fund.

                                                   

                                                       

                                                       

Tel Aviv:

We travelled on to Tel Aviv, and checked into our hotel. I had not been in my room 5 minutes when we heard the sirens blow.  Calmly we went to the bomb shelter, as I marked the time on my watch.  In Tel Aviv you have 90 seconds to get to safety - quite a long time, really.

At 65 seconds we found our way into the shelter, sat down, and talked about our day.  5 minutes later the all clear sounded, and we returned to our room.  Turning on the news, we learned that two missiles fell in the streets of Ashkelon to our south and two others headed to Tel Aviv were destroyed by the Iron Dome anti-missile system which the Obama administration has always supported aggressively. No one was hurt. Just as we practiced, and done without surprise or anxiety.

Iron dome anti-missile system in action over Tel Aviv.

After a seaside swim in the pool, we had a wonderful dinner out together, enjoying Israeli appetizers, chicken skewers and shared thoughts about Arad, Israel and our own community.  Israel trips are magical in how they change people's attitudes and understanding of both Israel and our own relationships. To watch the new friendships and respect grow between members of B'nai Shalom who didn't know each other just a few short months ago is intensely gratifying for a rabbi. As we enter our last few days here, I know that my hopes are already fulfilled for each of them.

Tomorrow we return to the past in Ceasaria, Atlit and Zikhron Ya'akov, among other stops. We will see the story of the first modern Jewish settlement of Israel, and return to our question of Zionism.  What is Zionism at all, and what is it in our day? At a time when terrorists daily shoot missiles at our cities, we must know who and what we are if we are to face them.  Only from a deep understanding of our place in the Zionist dream, and its worth, can we know for sure that the sacrifices are small compared to the achievements that we are privileged to see happening every day in this remarkable country.

...more tomorrow...

Rabbi Robert L. Tobin

Shabbat in Congregation Shira Hadasha in Arad:

Wow!  What a Shabbat we had today.  [Sorry, but no pictures of course!]

Last night we walked 10 minutes from the hotel to Shira Hadasha, our Masorti sister synagogue in Arad.  Together with about 15 members of the shul, we sand the songs of Kabbalat Shabbat and walked back to the Hotel for dinner.  

After another huge Israeli Hotel meal, we sat in a circle as one combined community, tossing a ball back and forth with the person catching taking a few minutes to talk about themselves.  What wonderful stories!  The people of Israel, all touched by the Shoah and the wars, are a fascinating mix of cultures, countries and visions. We quickly warmed up to each other, and were laughing and teasing, or solemn and supportive, as people lives were shared.  We stayed late into the evening, cherishing the special nature of this time.

In the morning everyone came to synagogue, and many of our members took aliyot to the Torah in Israel.  Our own Noel Meltzer was the Maftir, and led the shacharit service.  As Rafi Freeman, one of the leaders of Shira Hadasha told us, the phone call to God here is a local call.  It sure did feel like it. I gave a sermon about the daughter's of Tzloph'chad and how the rabbinical tradition unabashedly declares them to be wise women, torah scholars, and prophets.  The education of Jewish women at the highest level of Jewish learning is ancient, natural and good.

After lunch, we had free time in the pool or for a nap.  In the mid afternoon, friends of Francesca Peckman and Ken Krauss  came from a kibbutz to visit us.  Real kibbutz life still exists in Israel, but it is hard as the younger generation has tended to move away. Nevertheless, the hard work and idealism of these now middle aged veterans of Israel is another testament to the spirit of Israel and the care for the common good that the culture is based upon.

A Pirkei Avot study, minchah and seudah shlishit followed, and in the evening we were treated to the highlight event of our time in Arad.  Mayor Tali Ploskov came "for 10 minutes" and stayed 45 minutes with us.  An immigrant from Moldova, she started as a maid in a Dead Sea hotel, and today is the Mayor of Arad.  Only in Israel! When asked about the future of Shira Hadasha, she said clearly and deliberately: you will always have a physical place in Arad.  

We then heard a moving presentation from the director of Ethiopian absorption here in Arad, and from an Ethiopian Jewish rabbi who came here and now leads his community's synagogue.  Once again, the stories we've heard a shadows of the reality when you meet the real people. Thanks to the generosity of a NJ donor, they have a beautiful synagogue, and thanks to Shira Hadasha's Rafi Freeman the local Arad community created a strong non-profit to aid the families as they integrated into Israeli life. When asked if he had advice for Shira Hadasha, this Orthodox rabbi responded: I am ready to help you anytime.  An open mind, pluralistic outlook that comes from personal relationships and understanding.  It was a very encouraging evening all around!

This relationship between B'nai Shalom and Shira Hadasha is now very real.  Each of us were touched by the other, and we are members of this synagogue here.  We have new friends and family now in Arad. And they were particularly grateful not only for our support and our memberships in their community, but in our commitment to be here "at this time, despite the situation."  Our steadfast presence here does more than tell them that they are not alone:  It proves it.

Tomorrow we are in the outdoors, with a jeep tour of the desert, an exploration of Tel Arad, and picnic and hiking in the JNF's Ne'ot Kedumim, as we say goodbye to the south for now and turn to the center of the country for our last few days.

Shavu'a Tov from Israel,

Rabbi Tobin