Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by
Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
At 72 years,
I am Israel!

Our students on Sunday last tasted Israel from many levels, in honor of Her 72 years young birthday. As we hopped on the Egged bus, we glimpse tasted her food, means of transportation, her three Seas, her people, her capital, her folk dancing, and innovations. We watched how a country of 3000 years of tradition, has revived to modernization alongside tradition, and how diversity of an immigrant population demonstrates a myriad of talents that every Jew and gentile can be proud of. 

Israel’s reality brings forth a considerable investment in the IDF and other security measures. Monetary budgeting, as a result, has led the country to develop her people as assets. The faces of Israel are many, as is their nurtured version of “ I am Israel ”. Talents, visages, diversity and teamwork have elevated Israel’s success in many fields, and especially in Her way to victory against the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, Israel is leading in the road to recovery. Her young students are (as of now) returning to the first three grades of elementary and preschool this coming Sunday, and convicted prisoners are returning to their cells behind bars (they were temporarily sent home following safer health measures).

I refer to the strict measures Israel took in Her journey to seek recovery, protect her people, and act as an  Or L'goyim , a light to the nations. I remember, it started with the Prime Minster of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu , who used psychology to inform his citizens of the severity of the contagion. At that very moment, everyone, almost, returned home, even convicts who were sharing prison cells. In a blink of an eye, highways closed, residents were barred from leaving their towns, parachutes flew in the air ensuring laws were enforced, secret service type cellular apps were automatically installed on cellphones with whereabouts of COVID-19 carriers and infected individuals, and in a mere thirteen days, medical professionals and scientists invented ventilators and used top notch artificial intelligence to study the virus. It was (and is) a strategic powerhouse of professionals, together with the surprisingly attuned Israeli, who acted in unity. 

Israelis have been known historically, to produce tears of sorrow, and joy, and sweat, simultaneously. As do they painfully lament on Yom Hazikaron, a day commemorated for fallen soldiers, so do they cry tears of joy at Israel’s consequent Yom Ha’atzmaut, Day of Independence. As we think about Israel’s 72 years, the COVID-19 experience has proved no different to Israelis. A whirlwind of emotions covered the Land from the moment of Bibi’s initial psychological speech, together with the President, Reuven Rivlin ’s words of hope to the Nation. The faces of Israel changed from fear of loneliness of seniors, anxiety of not having enough food, chagrin at not seeing loved ones during Passover, sorrow of losing a Holocaust survivor and not to old age, to hopeful tears of joy as a sure and lasting recovery of the Land is pending to be, oh please Gd, tomorrow announced. 

Shabbat Shalom,
- Gal Kessler Rohs , Education Director
Story time for Shabbat with the lovely Miss Doris this afternoon
Useful Resources and other reading material
(A glimpse of David Ben-Gurion moments before he declared Israel's independence, May 1948. Source: Frank Shershel,  Government Press Office — in  Israel .)

Upcoming Community events
Mental Health webinars
Temple Beth David 's own Dr. Bill Saltzman, and Dr. Lisa Blum, will be conversing with our community members for best and positive practices of how to cope in these trying times. 
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This is a two part (and later more) series geared both towards adults, and parents of Temple Beth David Religious School, and all parents of quarantined children. Zoom link will be posted on our website. 
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For information, mental health consultancy, a pick me up chat and call, or more with regards to "Help Us Heal", please contact our Rabbi, Rabbi Lachtman . 
Shabbat Shalom and see you once, or twice, or thrice, or more, this weekend!