Y'he ratzon milfanecha, "May it be Your will, oh G-d, and G-d of our anscestors, to lead us to peace, embrace our footsteps toward peace and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness and peace. . ."These were the words that open the "Travelers Prayer" which enveloped our adventurers. Standing infront of the open ark, wrapped in a tallit from Israel, we felt the warm embrace of our congregation sending us off on our Israel adventure.
Over the past two Friday nights our group recieved a blessing in the synagogue. It let us know that we are traveling not just for ourselves, but for our whole congregation.
This is the second trip I have led since becoming senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Portland. In the Winter of 2007, having just arrived, I led a "leadership mission" which was intended to connect us to Reform institutions in Israel and gage the aftermath of the Lebenon war.
This trip is getting back to our roots. It was created as a "family trip" and opportunity to connect to the land, the people, our heritiage and each other. I am thrilled to see the particiants from 5 families: Tom and Sue Desmond (who are already in Israel); Roger, Phyllis, Aaron and Adam Finger, Andrew Kaplan and Valerie Thom and their children Alex and Simon; Bill June and Susan Graber and their daughter Rachel June Graber; Richard and Jill Rubinstein and their daughters Katherine and Jennifer and Richard's mother Deanne Rubinstein.
Our flight from Portland to Atlanta leaves in just a few hours and then from Atlanta to Tel Aviv. We are excited to begin our journey: across the world and to ourselves.
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