November 27, 2023
Kislev 5784
Dear Congregational Family,
As I wrote to you before Thanksgiving, I have never been prouder to be your rabbi as I have been since October 7. The way we have stepped up in our community to both support Israel and fight antisemitism here at home has been inspiring.
I also said in that same letter that more action would be needed. And so, with great pride, I write to you today to announce a congregational solidarity trip to Israel. I had told you when I returned from Israel three weeks ago, that we would travel together, and it is now time to do so. Israel wants us there as emissaries. Israel wants us there to help lift her spirits. Israel wants us there to bear witness. Israel wants us there to take action to do our part in helping Israeli society progress on this challenging path.
This will be a short mission filled with sacred work. We don’t have a full itinerary yet. But here is what we can tell you thus far:
- Depart Saturday night, January 20; arrive in Israel on Sunday afternoon January 21
- Depart Israel early Friday morning, January 26; arrive in Newark the same morning.
Two nights in Tel Aviv; two nights in Jerusalem
Activities will include:
- Visit with IDF Soldiers
- Meeting with Member of Knesset
- Meeting with a top Newspaper commentator
- Visit the Gaza Envelope to hear and see firsthand what happened on October 7
- Visit with families of Israeli hostages.
- Visit with our sister Kibbutz Erez to hear how they are coping in their temporary site since they have been evacuated.
- Meet with local mayors in the South to hear how they are leading their communities since October 7.
- Volunteer projects including harvesting crops that must be tended to because of lack of personnel; as well as packing food, and clothing for soldiers and impacted citizens.
- Meet with Israeli families who had to send at least one of their family members to defend their country while leaving their loved ones at home.
- Touring impacted towns of the South to survey the damage done on October 7.
The situation is obviously fluid, so as the situation changes, the itinerary will as well. But I assure you, it will all be adapted to remain relevant. There will be more to come.
Land costs for this mission will be between $2,500-$3,000. Please note that because of the quick nature of planning this mission, we are asking all participants to make their own flight arrangements.
Our suggestion is that you book the following flights:
January 20 – Depart Newark on El Al #026 at 9:50 p.m.
January 26 – Depart Tel Aviv on El Al #027 at 1:00 a.m.
As of now, only El Al is flying to Israel, but that can change. Once you make your flight arrangements, please let us know.
If you prefer to use the travel agent who works with Joel and Isram, her name is Tonya Story and she can be reached at: tonyas@travelerschoice.com.
We will only be filling one bus with this trip, so we ask if you are inclined to sign up, that you call Barbara Cooke in my Study at 973-671-6627 or email her at bcooke@tbj.org ASAP and send in a $750 deposit. Your deposit with hold your spot and our partners (our dear friend, Joel Rosenfeld at ISRAM) in Israel will have a website ready for an official sign up by the end of this week.
We will absolutely and obviously take all safety precautions and will never go anyplace at all that is overtly unsafe.
I am proud to announce that Debbie Evans will be Chairing this trip and is available to help you navigate the process.
This will be an incredibly special mission at an incredibly vital time in our history.
We look forward to travelling with you.
In warmth and solidarity,
Matt
