Israel 2014- Post Partum (Final Post)

5/21/14

Aside from a slight delay in our departure from Philly, our travel from Tel Aviv to Atlanta went incredibly smoothly. It was hard to say goodbye to Israel, and especially to our new friends—our amazing guides, Yishai and Eran, our medics, Chen and Amit, and our bus drivers, Moti and Moody, but we are all ready to see our families once again (except for David A. who stayed in Tel Aviv for a few extra days with family friends).

Our last day in Israel was iconic. We started with our annual tree planting ceremony at Neot Kedumim. Before planting our trees we were encouraged to take a moment to think about who our tree would be dedicated to. After planting, we had a chance to share. We heard about inspirational grandparents, and great grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and others—some dead and some living. All alive in our hearts. 

Shuk HaCarmel, Tel Aviv’s central marketplace, and Nachalot Binyamin, it’s adjacent artist’s market, were the perfect site for our last pizur meal and shopping spree. As promised, Shuk HaCarmel had everything we’d seen in previous markets and more. If you’re having trouble getting your child to open and up and share about the Israel trip—pizur meals and shopping adventures are a great place to start as these are universally enjoyable and often the times when fun stories and memories take place.

Blessedly, we had late checkout from our hotel, allowing us to officially wash the dirt and grime of both Neot Kedumim and Tel Aviv off before commencing our epic travel back to the States. After packing and showering we walked to a well- known and delicious restaurant in Tel Aviv’s Yemenite Quarter: “Maganda.” By the time we got to Maganda they’d already laid out an incredible spread including every kind of Middle Eastern dip, falafel, tabouleh and more. We decided that the kids should be allowed to enjoy the fresh squeezed juice and enjoyed watching them dive into the platters of chicken and beef that followed. It was also fun watching them visit with the few locals who were interspersed among our group.

Tel Aviv’s Yemenite Quarter is a really special place. Nearly every inch of every wall is covered with some kind of mural or graffiti (or both). As we walked to the bus we passed a wall that was covered in multicolored hearts. Stenciled on the wall were the words, “It's not perfect, but it’s all yours.”

I can’t think of a better message to the The Davis Academy graduating class of 2014 than this. All of us, at one time or another, has strived for perfection and fallen short. I think that’s because, as human beings, we aren’t meant to be “perfect.” I think we’re meant to be “human.” Our imperfection stems from and is a reflection of our humanity, and our humanity is informed by the imperfection we encounter in ourselves, in one another, and in our world. Instead of striving for perfection, maybe we should be striving for ownership—for the recognition that, no matter what, at the end of the day, “it's all (y)ours.” With ownership comes the recognition that we are powerful, that we can make a difference, that we can leave a legacy—albeit an imperfect and human one.

For the last two weeks The Davis Academy class of 2014 has been “all ours.” We’ve laughed, cried, prayed, argued, sung, whispered, danced and climbed. I don’t think we could ask for any greater imperfection than this. Once again, Israel has proven herself to be a great teacher, and all of the kids have proven themselves to be great students. We asked them to bring passion, curiosity, a big appetite, and deep questions—the stuff of humanity. And they did. As for what they’re bringing back home—that’s the surprise that we all get to look forward to in the upcoming days, weeks, and years.

Israel 2014-- "Tel" "Aviv" Edition

5/19/14

The name “Tel Aviv” is a nod to Theodor Herzl’s iconic book, Altneuland (“The Old New Land”). “Tel” refers to an ancient archeological site, while “Aviv” means “Spring.” When taken together, the words “Tel Aviv” capture perfectly the tensions that define the city, the country, and the Jewish people more generally. 

We started our day with a visit to Rabin Square.  While standing at the very spot where Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1994 we listened to the personal recollections of our tour guide. To this day the fact that Rabin was assassinated by a fellow Jew continues to cut deeply into the soul of every Israeli and every Jew, with the exception of the few extremists who consider the murderer to be a hero. Rabin’s story is the story of a man who fought as a soldier his entire life and eventually became a soldier in the war for peace. We ended up in a discussion of the BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction). Though it’s not an easy topic we seized the opportunity to make sure that our kids understand that the “Israel” that they will encounter on college campuses, and possibly even in high school, is not the real Israel. When they encounter anti-Israel sentiment we want them to remember Yitzhak Rabin, but even more we want them to remember the children at the Hagar School in Beersheva, our Muslim bus driver, “Moody,” who loves Israel and calls it his home, and the many other daily truths that show how foolish and misguided the BDS movement really is.

From Rabin Square we travelled back in time to the 1940s and the struggle for the formation of the State of Israel. The Palmach Museum brings this complicated period of Jewish history to life via a multimedia experience that focuses on the story of a small group of young Jews who lived at that time and whose successes and losses are evocative of what actually happened. All of our kids enjoyed the creativity of the museum and many found the story of the Palmach to be inspirational.

If Rabin Square is recent history, and the Palmach slighty less recent, swimming the Mediterranean Sea is timeless. After lunch we had a few hours to enjoy the cool water and splash around with the thousands of Israelis and tourists that camp out on the pristine beaches every day. This year the lifeguard took a particular interest in our group. Using the loud speaker he told us all to have a good time, summoned us back when we swam too far, and told us when it was time to get out and enjoy an ice cream treat. As per usual, the kids wanted more time to enjoy the beach. As we still had several more stops ahead of us we weren’t able to grant their request. Wanting more time, making the most of our time, appreciating the time we have—it’s amazing how a simple day at the beach can evoke these universal themes.

We returned from the beach with the intention of showering before heading to the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled and the ancient city of Jaffa. We now know what happens when 71 kids try to shower at once—the water stops flowing. Gathering in the lobby we encountered kids in varying states of cleanliness, each with a different story about how the water crisis affected them.

The Israel Sports Center for the Disabled—which has benefited from the generosity of a number of our kids and families—is a truly special place. We learn a lot about a society by how it cares for its vulnerable populations. To be physically or mentally disabled in Israel is a real struggle. On the long list of things that make Israel an incredible country, accessibility isn’t one of them. At the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled we met people who have dedicated their lives to helping people with disabilities be precisely that—people with disabilities, rather than disabled people. One of the young men that spoke to us from his wheelchair recounted how he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Another guide, a young mother, shared how her life changed when she was in an accident and how she managed to relearn how to “skateboard” while being bound to her wheelchair. It turns out that we all face challenges and disabilities of varying degrees. Without minimizing the true adversity that so many people face on a daily basis, we had a chance to contemplate the power that resides within each of us regardless (or possibly because of) our circumstances.

Spending a few hours in Jaffa it’s easy to understand why there’s at least 4,000 years of human history there. Jaffa was the point of arrival for many of the early Jewish settlers. Today it’s a beautiful port city that summons the artist within each of us. We wandered the ancient alleys, enjoyed the quiet, and had dinner there. We even had a chance to shop.

Tonight we had our “closing circle.” We gathered on the roof of our hotel and took a few moments to reflect on the 2014 Israel trip. Listening to the kids speak, it was clear that each of them will find their own balance of “Tel Aviv.” For some, Judaism will be more about the “Tel”—honoring tradition, studying our rich history, and so on. For others it will be more about the “Aviv”—the constant relevance of Judaism, Judaism’s impact on the world around us, and the potential for personal and communal growth and renewal. Hopefully this Israel trip will help each of us strike a greater balance between these two different entry points into Judaism. The truth is that they are a mutually reinforcing tension that is built into the fabric of what it means to be a Jew. Now that our kids have really experienced Israel they’ll be able to weigh in on this conversation in ways that they never could have before.

Israel 2014-- The End is in Sight

5/18/14

First and foremost, happy birthday to Sienna G. We celebrated her birthday in style as today happens to be Lag B’Omer (the 33^rd day of the Omer). Sienna’s personal celebration joined forces with the entire country which views Lag B’Omer as a day for celebration and a break from the more reflective and in some ways restrictive period of the Omer. Tonight we visited the Ayalon Institute—a place where members of the Israeli resistance forces secretly produced munitions that not only aided their fight at the British during the British Mandate Period, but also during the War for Independence. After touring the underground factory and learning about the incredible sacrifices that individuals made while serving there, we had a falafel dinner and traditional Lag B’Omer bonfire. There we wished Sienna a happy birthday and enjoyed a special treat— personalized Coca Cola bottles with each of our Hebrew names. Jenna H. and her mom worked very hard to pull of this surprise and everyone was very happy to have their first and only soda of the trip!

The day’s other main activity was a visit to the Nili School in Zichron Yaakov. Over the course of their 8^th grade year Davis and Nili students have been getting to know one another via email, class projects, video conferences and YouTube videos. Our fabulous Hebrew teachers have coordinated the entire effort. Today we finally met our Nili counterparts face to face both at their school and then at the oldest synagogue in Zichron Yaakov. Among the many highlights were singing “Kol Yisrael” together as well as exchanging gifts—your child will come home with a NIli School T-shirt that is signed by their Nili buddy. The Nili kids were very sad to see us go, and the 7^th grade students there made their teachers promise that they would have a chance to meet next year’s group of Davis kids.  Our kids enjoyed the experience, and some of them felt like true celebrities as random NIli kids asked to take pictures with them, shake their hands, or even get a hug. While the visit was a bit chaotic at times, the spirit and the sense of Klal Yisrael (Jewish peoplehood) made it all worthwhile.  Pizur lunch in Zichron Yaakov is like stepping into a small European hillside town for a few hours. Cafes and art vendors line the pedestrian street, a cool breeze blows, and the kids at leisurely at sit down restaurants. Here's a video of the kids singing "Kol Yisrael." It's not the most rocking version of the song because we sang it right at the beginning before the kids were really comfortable with one another, but it shows you the Nili School's community and facilities and provides a glimpse of many of the kids...

Now most of the kids are in their rooms watching a very exciting basketball game—Maccabi Tel Aviv versus Real Madrid in what appears to tbe the final or the semi final of the European Basketball league. As many of our kids have expressed disappointment with the NBA lately, maybe they’ll adopt Maccabi Tel Aviv as their new team!

Was today one of those days that alters the course of human history? Probaly not, but it was a day that forced our kids out of their comfort zone, helped them make connections with kids who are both totally similar and completely different from them, and also gave them a chance to observe how Israelis celebrate Lag B’Omer. There’s a good chance that today was the best day of the trip for at least some of the kids—particularly those that felt a strong connection to the “buddies” at the Nili school. Overall it was a good transition from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and we are ready to make the most of out our last two days here in Israel.

Currently Maccabi Tel Aviv is trailing by two points with 10 minutes left in the 4^th quarter. If they win then Tel Aviv is going to erupt with joy. But don’t worry, we’ll be tucked in and well on our way to sleep by then!

Rabbi Micah

Israel 2014-- Our Last Shabbat!

 5/17/14

Today we celebrated Shabbat in Jerusalem. Our day began and ended with kehillah (“community”). Attending Shabbat morning services in Jerusalem is actually a bit more complicated than it sounds. Though there are hundreds, if not thousands, of synagogues, many of them aren’t able or interested in welcoming a group of our size. Beyond the logistical challenges associated with finding a congregation that can accommodate our group we face a spiritual challenge— it’s equally possible that our kids will feel like strangers as it is that they will feel at home.

At Davis we try our hardest to make sure that our kids can walk into any synagogue in the world and feel like they know what’s going on and are able to participate in meaningful ways.  The richness of Jewish prayer and the countless idiosyncrasies associated with it leave many adults feeling slightly uneasy at synagogue—even their home synagogue sometimes. The same is true for kids, but for different reasons. Primarily, they simply haven’t had enough exposure to the diversity of Jewish life. For that reason it’s important to prepare the kids in advance—to remind them that they are guests, that there will be much that is familiar but much that is new, and that they are there primarily as Jews seeking a community for Shabbat worship but also as anthropologists, to try and understand the synagogue community.

Today we attended services at the Conservative Yeshiva. For those who know Jerusalem it’s located in Kikar Tzarfat (“French Square”). By coincidence, the rabbi of the congregation, Adam Frank, is the brother of a Davis parent. Unfortunately he is currently in the States. But even in his absence, and for some slightly complicated reasons, we had a very special and meaningful Shabbat morning service.

In recent months a troubling phenomenon has been taking place across Israel. It’s called Tag Mahir (“Price Tag”).  It’s basically a loosely connected group of ultra orthodox Jews who vandalize different sites that they find objectionable—churches, mosques, and, unfortunately, the synagogue we attended today. To my knowledge, this synagogue is the first Jewish site to be vandalized by this group. The vandalizing included a swastika. Therefore, last night, hundreds of Jews from all different backgrounds gathered at the synagogue as show of solidarity. Today, the synagogue was much less crowded (in fact we helped make the minyan) but the hurt and outrage of the tag mahir incident was still very fresh in the minds of the congregants and the rabbi. During his drash the rabbi shared what had happened and he emphasized the fact that, as Jews, we are stronger together. The strength of one Jewish community need not come at the expense of the strength of another Jewish community. We also witnessed an older woman reading Torah for the first time—an adult bat mitzvah if you will.  Along with these important lessons, we also got to support Mr. Barry, Ian L., and Val L. as they recited the aliyot blessings. Overall it was a great experience and an important one.

Our time at the Israel Museum included lunch and a tour of some of the basic exhibits. We took our annual picture at  the Ahava Sculpture though we had to stand at quite a distance since the plaza itself was closed. By the end of the Israel Museum visit it was clear that our kids were ready for menucha (“rest”)—one of the greatest gifts of Shabbat.

We set out toward the famous Jerusalem windmill in the early evening. There we gave the kids a chance to continue to reflective conversation from the day before. Instead of studying a quote from Albert Einstein we discussed the simple statement, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” Our sharing led us down the path of thinking about the questions we ask, the questions that our asked of us, our openness to change and growth, and our fears about what the future might hold. As with last night there were tears of laughter and sadness. Once again we emerged as a more cohesive group by virtue of our honest sharing.

Havdallah followed on the heels of the discussion. We found a beautiful garden overlooking the old city. While singing our Havdallah blessings, a shipment of 30+ pizzas (and some gluten free options) arrived for dinner. We had a picnic, and then made our way to Mamilla Street (Jerusalem’s rodeo drive). The kids enjoyed watching Jerusalem bid farewell to Shabbat and then we attend the David Citadel Light Show—an absolute must see if you’re ever in Jerusalem. We got back to the hotel very late in the evening and all crammed into the elevators. If you've ever wondered what 12+ Davis kids in a tiny elevator looks like here's a glimpse...

Based on the spiritual check ins the main thing that the kids have discovered is that they are blessed to be a part of The Davis Academy kehillah. As they stand on the threshold of inevitable change they are able to achieve the perspective necessary to know what a gift you have given them by entrusting Davis to partner with you in helping them reach their fullest potential. One student observed that the strength of our community lies in our collective individuality. Jason Z. shared that the community he found at Davis was stronger than the community he’d found anywhere else in his life. The ability to recognize blessings while we are enjoying them is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and one another. Tonight our kids demonstrated that they are able to recognize how blessed they truly are. Sharing in the collective sense of blessing brought us all even closer as we bid farewell to our last Shabbat in Israel.  

Israel 2014-- Digging Deeper Edition

5/16/14

The following is a poem written by Mitchell A. this evening just before Shabbat that he read aloud in front of the entire class at a reflective session at the Menorah in front of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). It is published here with his permission.

I Am a Man of Life

I am not a man of religion,

I am not a man of fiction,

I am not a man of myth,

I am not a man of fact,

I am not a man of history.

I am a man of life.

But life is weird.

Life is made up

Of all these things.

History becomes fact,

Fact becomes fiction,

Fiction becomes myth,

Myth becomes religion.

Then all those factors live

In harmony and war

All at once.

All until there is only ash.

Then history rises from that ash

And the cycle continues.

Just as life does.

I could stop writing now, but I feel like I have to try to answer the question— what is it about the human spirit that enables us to create such beautiful poetry?

Friday is a crazy day in Jerusalem. Thousands of Muslims ascend the Temple Mount to offer their prayers, Jews hustle and bustle to prepare for Shabbat, tourists squeeze in a few extra visits before the entire city takes a day of rest and renewal. Today we contributed to the craziness of Jerusalem by participating in an archeological dig and going on a culinary tour of Machane Yehudah—Jerusalem’s central market place.

Approximately 10 years ago an illegal building project was undertaken at the Temple Mount. In order to create a entrance to one of the Mosques there, thousands of pounds of debris were removed from the Temple Mount. Rather than consulting with archeologists the debris was removed without any foresight or concern for preservation. It was rescued by a group of archeologists who recognized the irreparable loss that would’ve occurred if the debris had simply been discarded. As we sifted through buckets of debris we found artifacts dating from the First Temple Period (approximately 800-500 BCE) all the way through the modern era. We found two coins, the dates of which we don’t yet know, as well as many pieces of pottery, animal bones, and mosaic tiles. We literally sifted through history. Did one of us uncover an artifact that would turn fiction into myth? What about myth into religion? We made history rise from that ash.

After reviewing the day’s key archeological discoveries and washing up we headed to Machane Yehudah. Machane Yehudah is such a multisensory, multicultural, vibrant place it’s virtually impossible to describe. This year we were privileged to receive tickets that allowed (and required) us to try food or drink from 6 of the hundreds of vendors in the marketplace. We tasted food and drink unlike anything we’ve ever had before. And we loved it. All of us. Stuffing grape leaves into our mouths, olive oil dripping onto our shoes—you might say we were all “men of life.” The one thing that unites the chaotic bustle of Machane Yehudah is that everyone there is trying to feed his or her family. In that respect, Machane Yehudah just might be one of Jerusalem’s holiest sites.

After a few hours rest we set out for our first Shabbat in Jerusalem and the last Shabbat of our trip. Shabbat in Jerusalem means slowing down, digging deep, connecting, and opening our hearts and minds to the possibility that our spirit has something to teach us and something to offer the world.

To help get us into the spirit of Shabbat we decided to have our first “Spiritual Check In” of the trip. Spiritual Check Ins are opportunities to cultivate the reflective aspect of the Israel trip. Our spiritual check in this evening was literally miraculous. Here’s why…

The Menorah opposite the Knesset is one of the most visited sites in Jerusalem. We’re never been able to stay at the Menorah for very long because there are constantly groups lining up to see it. Tonight we were able to sit at the foot of the Menorah for the entire duration of our spiritual check in—45 minutes. Our tour guides were literally in shock that our session remained undisturbed. Just as we began to “close” the spiritual check in a group of tourists arrived. It’s as if an invisible barrier had been erected to protect the sacred sharing that took place tonight—sharing that broke down some of the remaining barriers among the grade and lead to many tears, laughs, and insights.

Aside from Mitchell’s poem I’m not at liberty to share the contents of the spiritual check in. Confidentiality is part of the protocol. But what I can tell you is that we used a quote attributed to Albert Einstein as our starting off point. The quote was, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” It really got the kids thinking. After briefly discussing the quote we gave the kids individual time to reflect. They could write, contemplate, or do whatever they wanted with the time we gave them. When they returned to the group they were welcome to share or not, depending on how their heart moved them. The most important part of the sharing is that it was meant to help the sharer arrive at greater clarity for themselves, to listen to what Parker Palmer calls, “The Inner Teacher.” For that reason we asked kids to focus on active listening and not to clap or respond in any other way to what was shared. Mitchell was the first to share. When we heard his poem it was clear that the spiritual check in was going to be a profound point of connection for the kids. As I said, there was much laughter, many tears, and a strong desire to continue to conversation at a later time.

Having grown even closer through mutual sharing we headed to the Kotel for what ended up being a remarkable Shabbat. The outcome of the courageous struggles of the Women of the Wall is that there is a new section of the Kotel called, “Ezrat Yisrael.” At “Ezrat Yisrael” women and men are allowed to pray together. That’s exactly what we did. Our ruach was so inspiring that others came to join us. As we sung and stamped our feet, the platform beneath us was literally shaking. At multiple points during our song session/ Shabbat service we all traded places to stand next to different people. At the end we sang the Mishebeirach and also recited Mourner’s Kaddish. I made sure to impress upon the kids that the tefilah we experienced at Ezrat Yisrael, and the Torah that our children carry in their hearts as is as legitimate as what they would experience when we ascended to the main Kotel plaza where men and women continue to be segregated. In the past I’ve felt a slight tinge of envy that the Orthodox prayer services had more ruach than our own. Don’t get me wrong, I am a proud and devoted liberal Jew. For the first time, tonight, I felt that our prayer experience actually had greater beauty, integrity, ruach, and impact than what was taking place at the main Kotel. Our kids got to experience both, so it’s up to them to decide.

Last but not least, we had a delicious dinner. We wished Sam B. a happy birthday once more and even gave him a few more random gifts (I forgot to mention that his friends bought him all sorts of random chazerai at Machane Yehudah such as bathroom soap dispensers, high heels, a book in Greek, and other random items from the flea market section). I presented him with a gift from the school—a keychain size version of the Book of Psalms. In presenting it to him, right after the conclusion of our spiritual check in, I reminded everyone that the Book of Psalms gives voice to many of the emotions that were shared during the check in—joy, sadness, confusion, yearning, regret, hope, humility, pride and more. I told Sam that I prayed that he and all of us would experience the deep humanity that was felt by the Psalmist.

If the Hebrew cannon hadn’t been sealed thousands of years ago I’d make a strong argument for adding Mitchell’s poem to it. Perhaps it will appear in a book of poetry one day, or as a creative reading in a siddur. The power of having our spiritual check in at the foot of the Menorah is that it allowed us to join our personal stories with the communal stories of the Jewish people. The Menorah granted legitimacy to our various narratives by serving as a silent witness from our Jewish past. It was truly a fitting place for our check in because, after all, “life is made up of all these things.”

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Micah