A few weeks ago, those traveling with me began receiving weekly Shabbat readings to prepare them for the emotional and spiritual journey that is so quickly approaching. In addition, just last week, I sent each traveling household a 2-CD set of wonderful Israeli music to also help then to further solidify that bond with with Eretz Yisrael.
Perhaps they might write in an comment about these readings and the music....
Rabbi Astrachan
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
This year in Jerusalem!
With great excitement, we are t-minus 106 days until departure...
At 3:55pm, on November 30, 2010, I will have the remarkable joy of taking off for Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) with a small number of travelers from my congregation in York, PA. At this moment, there are 13 of us signed up to go...but we could be as high as 19, or even 21, with a few folks who are still seriously considering joining us.
This will be my 11th trip to Israel -- the 2nd congregational tour I have led -- and my first with this community. Each has been so memorable -- from my first in 1979, when I was surprise by my father's group one night, celebrating my birthday in the lobby of our hotel, to my last, in 2007, with a group of my own from my former congregation in New York.
Many of us have vacationed, traveled, journeyed, etc... but there is NOTHING that compares to walking the streets of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Old Jaffa. Nothing is quite like the ancient Arab marketplace, with its unique and powerful aromas. And there is no way to adequately describe the brilliant and magical way that the sun sets over the horizon on the Mediterranean beach in Tel Aviv. Some things just have to be seen to be believed.
And it doesn't matter how many times one has visited these places...each time is as breathtaking as the very first time.
I hope, through this blog, you will journey with our group. We will do our very best to share our experiences with you so you can enjoy our sacred pilgrimage almost as much as us.
We look forward to hearing from you along the way, as well. Postings will be shared with the group each morning (or as often as possible).
May you each have the opportunity to travel to Jerusalem...often. We are so very much looking forward to ours.
Faithfully,
Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan
Temple Beth Israel
York, PA
At 3:55pm, on November 30, 2010, I will have the remarkable joy of taking off for Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) with a small number of travelers from my congregation in York, PA. At this moment, there are 13 of us signed up to go...but we could be as high as 19, or even 21, with a few folks who are still seriously considering joining us.
This will be my 11th trip to Israel -- the 2nd congregational tour I have led -- and my first with this community. Each has been so memorable -- from my first in 1979, when I was surprise by my father's group one night, celebrating my birthday in the lobby of our hotel, to my last, in 2007, with a group of my own from my former congregation in New York.
Many of us have vacationed, traveled, journeyed, etc... but there is NOTHING that compares to walking the streets of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Old Jaffa. Nothing is quite like the ancient Arab marketplace, with its unique and powerful aromas. And there is no way to adequately describe the brilliant and magical way that the sun sets over the horizon on the Mediterranean beach in Tel Aviv. Some things just have to be seen to be believed.
And it doesn't matter how many times one has visited these places...each time is as breathtaking as the very first time.
I hope, through this blog, you will journey with our group. We will do our very best to share our experiences with you so you can enjoy our sacred pilgrimage almost as much as us.
We look forward to hearing from you along the way, as well. Postings will be shared with the group each morning (or as often as possible).
May you each have the opportunity to travel to Jerusalem...often. We are so very much looking forward to ours.
Faithfully,
Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan
Temple Beth Israel
York, PA
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