You Don’t Get It Till You Have Been There

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, RJE | Rosh Hashanah 5780

Since coming to Temple Kol Ami more than 8 years ago, I have been privileged to be a part of your lives, both collectively and individually, in times of joy and sorrow, celebrations and milestones. And now, having completed 13 years in the rabbinate (5 years in Dallas and 8 years here), this was my “Bar Mitzvah” summer. And I am thankful to all of you, my congregational family, and the Board of Trustees, for giving me my first Sabbatical in my rabbinic career during the months of June and July.

The term “sabbatical,” related to the word Shabbat (time of rest), refers to a leave from normal responsibilities. Its roots come from the Torah when God instructs Moses on Mount Sinai that the Israelites are to work the fields for six years and on the seventh year the land will have a Shabbat, a complete rest. Typically taken by rabbis around the world after each seven years of service to the community, a sabbatical allows a rabbi to rest, study and experience new facets of Jewish spirituality and learning. It serves to rejuvenate a rabbi’s internal resources for the dual purposes of providing more knowledge for sermons and synagogue activities and creating an invaluable period of spiritual rejuvenation and professional rabbinic renewal. Not to mention invaluable time spent with my family. I chose to take every moment of that time and spend it in Israel.

Since 1992, I have visited Israel 11 times for a combined total of 2 years of my life living in this beautiful country. But this past summer was the first trip with my family. Why? Because I love Israel. And I wanted to share that love and experience with my family. Israel provides me with a unique sense of belonging. And I wanted my family to see and feel that as well.

Unlike the four different Temple Kol Ami “first-timer” trips I have led since 2011, where we stay in hotels, eat buffet breakfasts and travel on a preset course; my family and I stayed in an apartment, which gave us an entirely unique perspective on Israel. After the initial excitement, and required ‘sight-seeing’ locations, we settled in and became part of the people and land for 2 months.

It was the fact that we could participate in the ordinary day to day activities that was meaningful to me. For example, going to the grocery store on the corner to buy the food for our children, having coffee at our favorite café, or standing in a long line on Friday morning to buy the freshest baked challah for Shabbat. (Let’s be clear, standing in line at Chompie’s for challah just isn’t the same thing). It literally feels different when you are in Israel. There is something special about breathing in the air of Jerusalem when the breeze blows daily. And nothing beats the beauty of “Jewish time” as Shabbat enters the city and life slows to a crawl to relax, reflect and EVERYONE reJEWenates weekly.

While we were there, during the first month, with 4 kids in tow, Rachel and I rented a minivan and covered the country from the northernmost borders where we hiked into the caves at Rosh Hanikra on the border with Lebanon, to making sand castles on the beaches near Ashkelon. We visited a kangaroo petting park, a gift to Israel from Australia, near Tiberius, and we planted trees as a family in the JNF forest, which was recently ravaged by fire and needed a lot of rehabilitation.

In Jerusalem, I took my eldest son, Ezra, to Yad Vashem, where we walked through the halls and looked at the display cases and saw the simple, human objects that Jews carried with them into the ghettoes and camps – crumpled photographs, broken dolls, thimbles, forks, combs, a tiny home-made mezuzah, a child’s flag for Simchat Torah with the blue Star of David. I watched as HE watched for the first time, Nazi films of Jews getting on the trains, and remarkable home movies taken by American Jews in the 1930s who went to Europe to visit their relatives – a montage of film spread over an entire wall, a silent panorama of Jewish life in villages, towns and cities. The film ends with the haunting sight of men, women and children waving goodbye to their relatives from America.

I remember Ezra asking me, why? Why would people do this to other people? And like those that came before me, I could only hug him for there is no good answer. But I do know that important and meaningful seeds were planted, fertilized and will grow from this experience.

While I was in Israel this summer, a group of families from Temple Kol Ami, came for 10 days, many whom were celebrating Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at the Western Wall/the Kotel with me. One important memory I recall was going to Pantry Packers with them, a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers to pack non-perishable household foods like pasta and other necessities for the hungry and less fortunate in Israel. We packed over 600 of these boxes and stamped them with Temple Kol Ami of Scottsdale on the labels! We didn’t feed everyone in Israel that was hungry. But we tried.

Every day this summer, as we lived in Jerusalem, Rachel and I marveled and commented on the variety and beauty of the stones: blocks of pale Jerusalem stone that shines gold in the afternoon sunlight; hillsides surrounding the city studded with rocks and abandoned tanks from the 1948 war, when Jerusalem was under siege by Jordan; piles of rock in the Old City, left by the Romans when they smashed and burned the holy temple in the year 70. We looked at the stones of the Western Wall, which somehow, mysteriously, has green plants growing out of it; and we toured under the Western Wall which has an excavated tunnel, where the Wall now extends for many hundreds of feet. We walked on the very cobblestone streets where Jewish pilgrims walked 2000 years ago; we saw the stone arches and stone steps where they climbed up to the Temple Mount to make their offerings. We stood in the Cardo and I picked up my daughters so they could look down to bedrock and see the stone foundations of a house from the time of the First Temple, destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6th century B.C.E.

We shared Shabbat with a Reform congregation in Jerusalem; and visited the Roman and Crusader ruins in Caesarea and ancient synagogue mosaic floors in the Galilee; and numerous falafel and shawarma stands. Numerous. One of my proud moments as a father was to watch my son, who does not eat anything unless it is chicken fingers or cheese pizza, eventually, reluctantly, give in and tried Shawarma. And then demand, for every meal afterwards, while in Israel, that we eat Shawarma. (I USED to love Shawarma.)

One of my favorite things to do was constantly point out the billboard signs to my wife, Rachel, and giggle as to how clever the Hebrew marketing puns were often teasing

biblical references with the latest new phone service or marvel at seeing a parked camel in a row of parked cars. Or, better, noticing a Yahrtzeit candle vending machine, or wall graffiti that says, “Remember to Keep Shabbat.” One of the most “pinch-me-I-can’t-believe-I’m-here” moments was in a restaurant in Jerusalem when I (and everyone else) heard something smash and EVERYONE yelled “Mazel Tov!”

As I recall my time in Israel this summer with you, I am aware that I have jumped back and forth in time and space because that is what it is like when you are there – a constant layering of past and present, each era existing vividly and simultaneously in your consciousness. To me, the falafel stands, and the noisy, chaotic talk shows, and the seemingly constant election posters, and the stubborn, indestructible graffiti on the walls of stone which read: Am Yisrael Chai…that is Israel!

Let’s be honest: did Rachel and I get annoyed when someone nearly knocked us over in the street or mall, or when others walked onto the elevator before we could get off with our stroller or, most annoyingly, invent parking spots that were clearly not there? Of course! If you ask my kids how we responded in those daily instances, they’d tell you we’d yell in unison: “It’s Israel.” After all, where else in the world are there signs on the public buses quoting the Bible, “Before the elderly you shall rise.” (Leviticus 19:32), reminding people to give their seat to the elderly? Where else are streets named after ancient prophets and modern-day poets? Israel is extraordinary, simply because it is. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to have had this quality time with my wife and children.

Throughout July, with my kids safely tucked away at camp, and my wife taking a few hours to be alone, I was able to study at the Hartman Institute. One of my favorite texts comes from the prophets who declared, “If I forget thee O Jerusalem may my right hand lose its strength.” This message, of reigniting our passion for Israel and battling to keep apathy at bay, is critically important AND not easy to do anymore. Many of us are tired of the conflict in Israel with the Palestinians all together- we want normalcy no matter the cost. Some might feel it is hopeless – see the struggle as a stalemate, a fight that could go on forever.

It should be clear to all of us – however – that this fight cannot go on forever, because even as we win… we lose. Because Israel cannot fight forever. And it cannot afford to lose. It has really only one option, one hope – to convince the world – that it is worthy.

We obviously share that hope, but it will remain a mere hope if we as Jews don’t also share the responsibility to make it a reality. Israel’s very presence, its miraculous existence would seem reason enough to support her, but that is not the case for many of us.

That great voice of Jewish morality, Elie Wiesel, observed that the world is divided into three kinds of people: 10% who are BAD: abusive, cruel, and evil to others. 10% who are genuinely GOOD, seeking to make the world a better place. AND the remaining 80% who WANT to be GOOD — but are silent. They commit what he and our tradition call the greatest sin of all: the sin of indifference.

A recent study asked American Jews whether the destruction of Israel would be a personal tragedy for them. Among American Jews 65 and older 80% said that Israel’s destruction would be a personal tragedy in their lives. Given many people in that group lived through WWII, that’s not a surprising statistic. What is more shocking to me is that among those 35 and younger – 50% are indifferent about Israel. The most charitable thing I can say is that they now take Israel’s survival for granted.

The prophet declares, “If I forget thee O Jerusalem may my right hand lose its strength.” Have we forgotten, are we forgetting, are we growing indifferent?

It is becoming clear that the root cause of this indifference is a Jewish obsession with victimhood. For far too long, Jews have relied on the horrific images of the holocaust to be the beginning, middle and end of the argument for why the world should unconditionally support Israel. Seeing Israel only through the lens of victimhood, lies at the heart of why Zionism is dying among Young American Jews – particularly Reform Jews.

It is critical that we remind those who may feel some apathy that Israel is not weak; in fact it is extremely powerful. Indeed it is the exertion of that power that causes Israel’s enemies to re-cast the Jewish State in a new light, proclaiming Israel as a villain and bully.

These enemies want to de-legitimize Israel – to turn it into a pariah state, to equate Israel’s security situation with apartheid, its settlements and cities with colonialism. Musicians cancel concerts in Israel, universities argue for divestment, and Israeli products are taken off store shelves. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, and yet she is vilified among totalitarian regimes. Where is the voice of reason that calls out the hypocrisy of this dynamic?

Israel can’t afford to keep on fighting and winning and it can’t afford to lose even once. With respect to the horrors of our past, Israel cannot rely solely on victimhood to win over its enemies, and it cannot afford to alienate young American Jews as it tries to maintain the status quo.

So, should being a supporter of Israel be complicated? Should Israel be the light unto the nations, holding ethical values up as its highest ideals? Or should Israel, when the desperate need arises, do whatever is necessary to survive? Do you view Israel as a reason for Jews to stand up proudly, or do you find yourself struggling to defend her?

To be a Jew is to be pulled simultaneously in opposing, yet equally truthful directions, or at least to recognize the validity of these divergent positions. To be a Jew is to never abandon Israel. Our tradition summons us to engage with Israel even when it hurts. We are one people– American and Israeli Jews, with one glorious heritage that impels us to pursue justice.

“If I forget thee O Jerusalem may my right hand lose its strength.”

Let us pledge, in this New Year, when we are taking account of all of our actions that will not be indifferent to Israel; that we will not forget Jerusalem.

Let this New Year bring a new and fresh look for all of us in our indifference to Israel. This year, Temple Kol Ami will have more opportunities for learning with speakers; so that we can become more versed on the issues in Israel. This new year, let’s read the news, directly from Israel from Haaretz or Jerusalem Post or Times of Israel. This year, join an Israel advocacy group, like AIPAC, where politics are not the central concern rather that we align ourselves as supporters of Israel and confront the ignorance and bias in our communities and workplaces. We will use our hands, our heads, our hearts, and our voices to convince our friends, our children, our co-workers not to be indifferent to Israel regardless of what our political preference may be or thoughts on any one politician. The benefits to both nations are real and tangible and pro-Israel organizations need our help.

You also have a voice in the on-going conversation taking place in the world today between Diaspora and Israeli Jews. Established by Theodor Herzl in 1897, the Zionist Congress (as it was originally known) was the legislative body of the Zionist Organization (ZO), a non-governmental entity that promotes Zionism. Today, the two bodies are known respectively as the World Zionist Congress (WZC) and the World Zionist Organization (WZO).

The WZC, also known as the Parliament of the Jewish People, comprises 500 delegates and meets in Jerusalem every five years. It enables delegates to exert ideological influence on both Israeli society and the global Jewish agenda, as well as allocate financial and other resources to various organizations – including the Reform Movement – in Israel.

The 38th World Zionist Congress is scheduled to meet in Jerusalem in 2020; the elections to determine the size of the various delegations that will attend are scheduled to be held from January 21 to March 11, 2020. All voting will be completed online and will be accessible from mobile devices. It is a simple process and will take only a few minutes.  I will let you know more details as we get closer.

Currently, the United States has 145 delegates in the World Zionist Congress, the largest single delegation outside Israel. Thanks to a robust turnout in the 2015 elections, 56 of the 145 delegates (39 percent) represent the Reform Movement and, as a result, have been able to ensure that more than $4 million a year ($20 million over five years) is being directed to the Israeli Reform Movement. By comparison, the Israeli government annually provides nearly 4 billion NIS ($1.1 billion) to Orthodox and Haredi institutions in Israel.

A strong election turnout among North America’s Reform Jews and our supporters and allies will ensure that financial resources will continue to flow to our Israeli movement – including Reform congregations and institutions. It also will allow us to fill leadership positions in some of Israel’s national institutions, including the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF).

A leadership role in KKL-JNF will enable us to ensure that decisions about government and public spending over the Green Line, including land purchases, reflect the Reform Movement’s values and positions. Only in this way can we continue to build a democratic society in Israel that truly reflects the Jewish values we hold dear: pluralism, equality, economic justice, and peace. 

What’s more, because JAFI and the WZO support programs of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, high voter turnout will prove beneficial for WUPJ congregations and for Netzer Olami and Tamar, which offer programming for Progressive Jewish youth and young adults in communities around the world.

And maybe, most importantly, just possibly, the best way to stand with Israel, to defend our legacy, to show our support, and effectively advocate for Israel is to experience her for yourself.

Like the age-old line: “you just don’t get it until you’ve been there.” Imagine spending Shabbat in Jerusalem. Walking the same ancient stones that are now part of the modern streets – realizing that King David, the prophet Isaiah, and assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin walked the same paths. In Israel, Shabbat is a spiritual experience and a communal experience unlike anywhere else. In my Israel experience, when I would leave the supermarket on Friday afternoon, my arms heavy with wine, flowers and a challah – what a joy it was when everyone I met greeted me with a warm Shabbat Shalom. I truly felt Shabbat enter my soul.

Temple Kol Ami will go back to Israel on an organized trip in Summer 2021. But if the opportunity to go sooner comes up, please go! Explore Birthright. Consider sending your child on NFTY, Alexander Muss or even the Big Trip. Explore Bar/Bat Mitzvahs opportunities in Israel. By being there and seeing it for yourself, you combat the indifference, your actions are supportive, and, maybe, just maybe, you fall in love with Israel!? Let me know if you are thinking of going in 2021 and what that would entail.

On this Rosh Hashanah, may we each make a New Year’s Resolution to find the courage to fight our indifference, defend our people and our homeland, even as we demand that Jews everywhere stand up for equal rights and peace. For then, even as we fight for security, we will be walking toward peace. Adonai oz l’amo yitein; Adonai yivarech et amo va’shalom – May God grant strength unto our people; may God bless our people, and all people, with peace.

RABBI JEREMY SCHNEIDER, RJE