Rabbi's Message

Though my Hartman Rabbinic Learning program was cancelled, Rachel and I decided to use our tickets to give what hizuk (strength) and support we could to friends and family during this difficult time.  I say “during” because, though there is a deep sense of relief after the Israeli and US strikes on the Iranian nuclear program, the war in Gaza continues, and 50 hostages remain in captivity.  Hopefully, there will be a ceasefire soon, the hostages can come home, and people can start putting their lives back together.  Still, there is a strange sense of normalcy here.  Just two weeks ago, ballistic missiles were being fired at Israel.  And now life goes on, and despite the exhaustion from the last 20 months, Israelis try to continue to work to build Herzl’s dream.  We saw an incredible example of this today when we visited our friend Rabbi Yoav Ende at Hanaton.  Rabbi Ende has been at TBS many times, and we have brought many groups to visit Hanaton.  It is a wonderful community in the Lower Galilee that strives to be a model of pluralism in Israel.  People of different political and religious beliefs, and different ideological backgrounds, live together in the community.  Rabbi Ende is the Founder and Head of the Hanaton Educational Center, that expands Hanaton’s vision with a Mechina Pre-Army program, educational programs for Israelis from around the country, a shared society program with surrounding Arab towns, and now also a Center for Lone Soldiers.  The pictures included below are of the construction of the new Lone Soldier Center, which will provide a home for people from outside of Israel who come to serve in the IDF.  It will give them a community of support, fellow Lone Soldiers to connect with, and a home, in the form of a dorm room and facilities, to make their own during their years of service.  I am proud that our TBS Am Yisrael Hai Fund has helped support this project, along with our South Jersey Federation.  It will be completed in September and will, along with its other programs, help make an even bigger positive difference for Israeli society.  This is just one of so many stories that I look forward to sharing with all of you when I return.  In the meantime, I wish all of you a happy 4th of July weekend back home.    

Shabbat Shalom.