As I write this column I am also finishing packing to leave for Israel in a few days. I lived in Israel in the 70s for two academic years. While I often return on missions for a short week, this is only the third time I will be visiting, touring and living for 12 days in our Holy Land.

In many ways, Israel is a kind of second home for me. Israel is always growing and changing and, yet, so much of the history never changes. When I return to places filled with my personal experience, it returns me to my roots. It was during my first year of study in Israel in the early 70s that I discovered that rabbis were “human beings” and that maybe there was a possibility that I could be a rabbi. And later, during my Junior Year of Rabbinical School, while also teaching in Israel, I grappled seriously with whether I should be a rabbi in Israel or in the United States. In 1979, I had a great time leading teens from Camp Ramah on a 7 week tour up and down the entire map of Israel. In 1987, I led a wonderful congregation trip for my first synagogue.

My love of Israel is on so many levels:

History–to see the sites where so much of early Jewish history occurred, where Rabbinic Judaism was created 2000 years ago, and now to see the chapters of our people’s story created in the last century is truly incredible.

Spirituality–there is a special feel to Israel. It’s in the rocks, in the trees, in the cities, but most of all in the people.

Community–For me Israel is a great experiment in melding Judaism with modernity. There is no one answer to this question. From the secular to the religious fundamentalist, Israel lives in the 21^st century and at the same time lives the history and values of nearly four millennia of the Jewish understanding of life. I love how the country slows and breathes on Shabbat and holidays in a way that is never organic in the US. Whether you go to shul or to the beach, Shabbat is a different day in Israel. I miss walking the streets of Jerusalem on Purim when every kid is out in costume. And I remember how much nicer Hanukkah is – when it is just a minor holiday. The Jewish calendar is natural when you live in Israel.

It is also wondrous how Jews of every race, ethnicity and heritage can be part of one polity with all the traditional Jewish yelling and screaming at family. It is a place where every kid speaks Hebrew fluently, knows the Bible (probably better than Americans know US History) and knows how hard it can be to be a Jew. Since my first time in Israel in 1972, I have seen a country always at war with its neighbors, but always placing the needs of its children as the first priority after survival. Israel is far from perfect, but it is a special, holy place which we all need to experience for our own spirituality.

I will be talking about my trip on Friday, May 2 at services and again at Lunch & Learn on May 28.

I remind everyone that the Washington, D.C. celebration of Israel’s 60^th Birthday will be on Sunday, June 1 on the Mall. There will be activities and entertainment for all ages.