How does one spend one's first last day in Israel? It's an interesting question. But unlike many Jewish questions, in this case, the answer is even more interesting than the question.
The group said goodbye to Ramat Rachel with relatively minimal chaos and duress. So far as we know, everyone's souvenirs are accounted for. I will say that the minute the group left, the facilities crew here began patching and painting our hallway walls. I don't think we did that much damage!
Before leaving Jerusalem we paid a visit to Yad L'kashish. If you've been to Yad L'kashish you know that it is a place that overwhelms with charm, humanity, inspiration, and creativity. A 501c3 devoted to providing meaningful employment for elderly Israelis. Many of these Israelis are immigrants, Holocaust survivors, and other vulnerable populations within Israel. Each is taught a craft and given the opportunity to create various types of arts and crafts for sale to support the organization which in turn cares for the basic needs of the employees. Wandering through the different workshops, the faces of the artisans light up as they share their work, inquire about our kids, and otherwise enjoy the interaction. Yad L'kashish begs the question: why aren't there thousands of more organizations that follow this model? Dignity is at the heart of their work. In terms of itinerary choices, we could have visited another holy site before leaving town, but this was and always has been our preferred choice. It is a site that we, and so many others, consider truly holy. Ask your kids about the people. At Yad L'kashish, but also everyone we met.
Our trip came full circle with a return to Jaffa for lunch and then a visit to the Carmel Shuk in Tel Aviv. Less than two weeks ago, both of these places were largely unknown to our kids. Today they returned there as if to old familiar haunts. Whether they know it or not, Israel is now home. Having engaged all their senses, powerful memories have been made and sealed. They'll never read an Israel related headline the same way again. And in ways that are harder to tease out but nonetheless real, we have changed Israel as well. We have shown Israel what our Jewish world looks and feels like. We've given them a glimpse into our, and therefore their, future.
Our Big Trip has a tradition of reflecting as a group before we leave. Simple questions meant to trigger memories, summon stories, and help the kids say aloud what happened and even more significantly, what it means to them in this moment. Today's reflection bodes well for further unpacking around dinner tables, in car rides home, and as you eavesdrop on your kids as they catch up with their friends. Just own it already!!!
Our final banquet was at Maganda, a Yemenite restaurant in the heart of Tel Aviv. The kids sat down to a feast of unprecedented proportions. So much so that many assumed the meal was done before the main course appeared. The only downside is that they've got to fasten their seatbelts for the plane ride home.
Are they ready to leave? Yes. Are they ready to leave? No. Israel teaches us all that two contradictory truths not only can, but sometimes must exist in the very same heart. Are they leaving tonight? (For the most part) yes. Are they leaving tonight? In some very real and palpable way, no. Each of us funny, awkward, bipedal, language speaking, homo sapiens is a mixture of body and soul. We know that. And since we know that, we also know that sometimes our bodies and our souls are in harmony. And sometimes they're at war. It's a love hate affair to put it mildly. This evening, both body and soul will ascend and begin a journey home. Whether that journey is one and the same for each child, or for each body and soul, that's not for us to say.
To have returned again to Israel carrying the tremendous weight of the pandemic and our world more generally on our backs. That is something we will never forget. Even more importantly, it is something we will forever remember.
We live in a crazy world. Prior to coming on this trip I joked (to myself) about how y'all would react if I showed up to the departure ceremony wearing a shirt that said, "Relax, nothing is under control." Can you imagine? But you've seen the slogan before, right? It's funny because, on some level, it's true. The list of uncontrollables is awesome and long. It's a humbling list to put it mildly. The list of controllables? Not as long, and humbling in a different way.
In that spirit. There are many things I can't tell you. And many things that we don't know. But one thing is for certain. Whether in body or in soul, and hopefully in both at once. We will return again.
Rabbi Micah, Jerusalem, 5/17/22
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