Jewish novelist Anne Roiphe wrote, “We do have a contribution to make, and to do that we must hold on to our identity, to our place, to our Jewish souls from generation to generation. Israel is where the story began, and we need Israel, the central pillar of our house now.”
Our beloved land of Israel has played a significant and central role in the evolution of the Jewish people. Even when Jews did not inhabit the land of Israel, our people regarded it as a touchstone. It was more than simply a physical space; it was a spiritual oasis during times of oppression and exile. No Jewish text typifies this sentiment more than the Passover Haggadah, which concludes with a message of hope: Next Year in Jerusalem. As a Jew and a rabbi, I believe it is incumbent upon every Jew to make the sacred pilgrimage to our eternal homeland. My first trip to Israel opened my eyes and my heart to how Judaism could impact me as a person of the world. My commitment to social justice was inspired by the example our people set when they journeyed across the desert in hopes of reaching the Promised Land. The State of Israel was created so Jews did not have to live under foreign oppression – so we didn’t have to feel like strangers anymore.
This summer, more than 40 participants will join me in a life-changing journey to the State of Israel – many will arrive as strangers, all will return home with a transformative love for the Promised Land. We will walk the same land our ancestors traversed thousands of years ago, and come to know Israel as a living museum of the Jewish people. In the process, each of us will deepen our connection to the Jewish faith.
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