Preparation for Journey

Shalom Shalom!

Early in the morning on April 29th, I'm going to board a bus and ride to New Jersey with about 20 colleagues - ministers, rabbis, priests, and an imam. From New Jersey, we'll fly directly to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and commence on an Israel trip unlike any I've personally experienced. We will visit the sacred places that each of our separate traditions claims and explore the intersecting lines of meaning and holiness. We will learn what we share and what we don't. If we are truly engaged, we will most certainly have some disagreements as well as, I am sure, many moments of connection and understanding.

 I'm grateful to the Baltimore Jewish Council and the Institute for Christian Jewish Studies for inviting me and making this trip possible.

This blog will be my way of bringing all of you along on the wonderful journey.

As with any trip to Israel, our itinerary will be fluid, but for now I'm looking forward to:

Learning with my Paul Liptz, my always-engaging and widely knowledgable teach from HUC-JIR in Jerusalem

Visiting Yemin Orde Youth Aliyah village, serving the needs of immigrant youth.

Visiting Beit Hagefen Arab Jewish Community Center and learning from coexistance activists there.

Walking through Nazareth and learning about that important Christian holy site.

And that's all in the first 3 days of the trip!!! Check back here after April 29th to hear more about what we've learned, seen, and experienced.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi S-K