Blog 1: 23-24 February 2009
As I boarded the plane Monday afternoon, I expected to encounter rabbinic colleagues traveling to Jerusalem for the 120th gathering of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. For those of you who don’t know, the CCAR is the rabbinic body of the Reform movement, and every seven years, we assemble in ha’Aretz (literally, the Land (of Israel)). Anyway, as I made my way to my seat, I was not disappointed. Seated not far from me was my colleague Joel Mosbacher, a dear classmate in Israel during my first year of rabbinic school. We both also served congregations in Atlanta for a time and have become friends over the years. I was glad to share the journey back to Israel with an old friend.
Israel is like a magnet. The land and its people beckon Jews, Christians and Muslims to come forth from far and wide to witness Israel’s magic, to experience its complexity, to touch its antiquity, to taste its modernity. And, in spite of the probability of connecting with friends and colleagues on this particular El Al flight, it never ceases to amaze me when I bump into someone I know. Naturally, it is a lot more likely to encounter someone I know on a plane filled with only a few hundred passengers. But it’s not much different once I arrive in Israel. There always seems to be some random connection with a good friend who is there, too. I wonder what surprises lay in store. I will let you know. Lailah tov.
February 26, 2009 at 9:51 pm |
Thanks, Janice. I am blessed to be here. Thanks for checking in. Please remind people to check in. I hope you and yours are well. C.