From the President

Impressions from Israel

I don’t mean to “preach to the choir”, but our family’s first experience in Israel was extraordinarily moving. Since August 30, our 26 year old son Jacob has been living in Kiryat Shmona in the far North of Israel, 3 miles from the border with Lebanon. He is there with “Pathways to Israel”, the community service arm of MASA. He will return to Milwaukee on February 1, but we miss him and wanted to take the opportunity to see him in the context of his special adventure in Israel.

Reenie, our 27 year old daughter Deborah and I flew to Tel Aviv on December 22. Our oldest daughter Becca and her husband Chris joined us a few days later. We met up with Jake and others in his youth group of 40 enthusiastic kids. Quite honestly, I did not grow up with any attachment to Israel, and I was not excited to make the trip, except for the fact that I wanted
to see our son. However, what we experienced has more than changed my personal mindset about Israel.

A close non-Jewish friend of mine wrote to me to say, “Okay, tell me the one thing that impressed you the most about Israel.” I couldn’t do it. I could not pick just one thing. I told him at best, I needed to cite three things that struck me:

• The variety of the physical landscape within an area not larger than Wisconsin: It goes from the seemingly barren lands of the Negev Desert falling off to the shores of the Dead Sea to the lush tops of the Golan Heights overlooking the Kinneret, surrounded by some of the richest lands in the world for growing dates, olives, many kinds of fruits, vegetables and more. It is alive, and prolific in the healthy foods it produces.
• The richness and depth of the history. For thousands of years this land has been fought over and claimed by many nations and peoples. All shed blood to capture this unique land, which carries with it so much importance to the region and to the Abrahamic faith communities throughout the world
• The character of the people: Jews, Muslims, Christians and others. Each believes in their own rights and cultures to the depth of their souls. It is both visible and palpable.

Had my friend allowed me to mention other things that made an impression on me, I would have shared with him the emotions I felt at Masada, Yad VaShem and the experience of standing in a key Syrian bunker at Tel Fahker in the Golan, a seemingly impenetrable battle site which our Israel Defense Forces ultimately conquered to help close the 1967 war. Then there was the spirit one feels as you walk through the tunnels formed by old stone walls of Yaffo and, of course, the omni presence of fellow Jews, although I was also struck by the scarcity of synagogues as we know them here.

For me, I traveled to Israel somewhat disinterested. I returned enthusiastic and ready to return to explore more. My experience at the Kinneret and the Golan Heights helped me to understand the ultimate importance of controlling those critical lands. What I had questioned before, I now better understand.

As I participated in our recent Shabbat services, I realized that Reenie and I returned with a new and special appreciation for Israel. And, that we also came back with a new perspective and appreciation for our own very special Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun.

Warmest regards,
Gary Kavalar