On February 5th, all the participants of the Israel trip visited a restaurant in Pittsburgh called The Forge which is known for its authentic Israeli cuisine and Italian pizza! While there, we learned how to make homemade falafel with fresh ingredients including…
Why are there three memorials to the murdered Israeli athletes in Munich’s Olympic Park? Because it took so long to get things right.
This Shabbat in Berlin was different. This Shabbat was an Oasis in Time and Space.
Change is slow, but it can take place. Both the Germany Close Up program and my visit to the East Side Gallery made that loud and clear.
While I came to Germany hoping to push myself out of my comfort zone, this Shabbat evening was a meaningful and surprising moment of recognition, comfort, and assurance.
One of the strongest experiences was walking through the Holocaust Memorial site with the field of Stelae.
Cacophony of voices during afternoon discussions – each exploring and questioning.
Feeling the eternal life that pulses through the earth has grounded me during this trip.
It, too, is a product of its time, emphasizing some of the suffering that took place there more than others
It is our jobs as witnesses and educators to make sure that people know the only difference between a weed and a flower is that someone decided it was a weed.
As I continue to grapple with the questions I am now left to figure out, I am grateful for the support of my wife and community through whom I am better able to understand myself, my identity and the history of this place.