The old made new

5/20/19

            Rav Kook, the first chief rabbi of Israel, one spoke of “The old made new, and the new made holy.” It’s a beautiful phrase that resonates with spiritual meaning.

            After battling Jerusalem traffic we started our day with a visit to Yad L’Kashish, Lifeline for the Elderly. For the last 55 years, this unique organization has provided employment, compensation, and an array of meaningful benefits to individuals who immigrated to Israel as seniors. Employing more than 200 people, many of them Holocaust survivors and Ethiopian refugees, Yad L’Kashish has managed to care for some of Israel’s most vulnerable citizens by training them as artisans. The result is some of the most exceptionally joyful and inspiring Jewish art in all of Israel, the proceeds of which go directly to the bottom line of the organization. As we began our tour, the kids answered a few questions about how they relate to elderly people. It was heartwarming to see that they identify respect and curiosity as their primary feelings.

            From Yad L’Kashish we headed through the coastal plain south of Jerusalem to the archaeological site of Tel Moresha. There we had a chance to aid in the excavation of a series of caves from the Hasmonean Period (Maccabees). We had a couple of amazing finds today, including a completely intact, museum quality oil lamp, the handle of a jug used for ritual purposes, and many shards of pottery. The kids really enjoyed being the first people in 2,000 years to touch these items. There was a strong connection to the past, and a lot of enthusiasm for the work.

            At Latrun, Israel’s Tank Museum and Memorial to the fallen men of the Armored Corps, we learned about the central role that tanks and their crews have played in the defense of Israel. Our guide, Yishay, generously shared his knowledge as a former tank commander. He emphasized the deep bonds between the four men who operate a tank as well as the fact that the Israeli made Mercava Tank is one of the best in the world, and also one of the safest, prioritizing the lives of its crew above all else. While at Latrun we had a chance to see the amphitheater being set up for an evening concert featuring the iconic Israeli musician, Shlomo Artzi. There’s music everywhere in Israel.

            Last but not least, we revisited Ben Yehuda Street. By now you’d think the kids would be tired of visiting the same stores. But that’s not the case. They remained quite content to bounce about, finding new stores, new items, and new opportunities to interact with local Israelis.

            At its best, Israel is a country that takes the old and makes it new, takes the new and makes it holy. Today we experienced that first hand. There’s much we can learn from Israel in this respect, and the kids seem to have received the message.