blogs/rabbi-joshua-hoffman

We have a plan. We've prepared carefully, and each detail is falling seamlessly into place as 33 of the 49 travelers on this year's family trip meet in the Bradley Terminal at LAX. El Al airlines security is the among the finest in the world. They may seem disorganized, they may seem incompetent when an angry traveler screams at the ticket agent, but when you present yourself and the confidence and recognition that is simply communicated by their expert team puts you at ease. It was miraculous that our group was fully checked in and ready to pass through security a full two hours before our flight was intended to take off.

If the confidence in security, or the ease and rapidity with which we passed through the scanners didn't ensure a safe flight, upon seeing that Israeli consul general in Los Angeles Jacob Dayan was on our flight our trouble free travel to Israel was guaranteed. It didn't hurt that comedienne, Sarah Silverman, was on the flight too!

And it was that easy. A long flight, especially for this rabbi and his three young children, but an easy and safe flight nonetheless.

There is no way to fully describe the moment when a plane touches down in Israel. It begins with the views of impressive growth in the Tel Aviv area and the sweeping landscape surrounding the airport. The moment the plane touches down there is extended clapping and a song usually breaks out. We joined the chorus of Heiveinu Shalom Aleichem as the clapping continued until the plan slowed down to a calm taxi.

With little difficulty and a very fast moving baggage carousel we prepared to meet the bus and begin our adventure! We were greeted with love by our dear friends, Avery and Sharon Greenberg, in the terminal and we met up with just about the rest of our VBS friends who will be touring with us for the next nine days. On our trip we are so fortunate to have with us Ayra Donay, son of VBS members Karmel and Tina Donay, to help move our group through the tour. We were also fortunate to have another valley native and friend in Lihi Rabanov, daughter of Yossi ad Mickie Rabanov, working for us here in Israel, to ensure all our plans are implemented out without a hitch.

Our first stop was a place called Kfar Kedem.   Kfar means village, and Kedem is a word laden with multiple meanings, usually referring to the east, or to a first, like a sunrise (coming from the east). The bus ride took us up through the middle of the country, where very quickly we had the opportunity to see the separation fence - and in certain places a wall -between Israel and the Palestinian territories. As moments of the ride revealed, the distance between the two is extremely close. And it also revealed to so many of us how vibrant and thriving the Palestinian territories also looked! Our tour guide, Keren, a cheerful and calm native Israeli, resisted the political conversation for the time being as we simply marveled at the lush landscape and thriving development of the State of Israel while our 90minute journey northward began.

Kfar Kedem was an excellent beginning to our tour. Set just across the valley of the city of Tzippori, the ancient city where the great rabbi and codifier of the Mishnah, Yehuda HaNasi, lived, our experience began by winding back the clock to ancient Israel at the turn of the common era (year zero). We were met by Amir, a jolly man who wove his personal story of teaching in Solomon Schecter day schools in Chicago and Memphis to his passion for bringing groups like us back in time to when people rode on donkeys and had to make their own food. And so we did! Our donkey ride was a big departure from amply air conditioned 53 seat private bus. With a wink and a sense of humor you should only get in Israel (Okey donkey... Instead of Okey dokey...hmmm that's the best he could do?), we paired up and took a 30 minutes walk with donkeys. It was everything you would expect, and more. The donkeys don't respond to English commands as you would imagine, but it doesn't make it easier to work with an animal that has earned it's place in the dictionary of pejorative terms for a reason! (I fully admit I have no love loss for the cute creatures since my youngest daughter Elizabeth fell off her donkey...twice!)

We were brought further into the ways and customs of our ancestors as we were invited to milk a goat and learn how cheese is made, as well as learn how ancient israelites harvested wheat and baked pita bread. We all had our turn at the pita and were treated to some delicious dips and a sumptuous meal to begin our journey together. Our last family to arrive, the Prices, joined us just in time to finish our meal and board the bus for our hour long drive to the kibbutz where we will be staying for the next three nights.

Exhausted and exhilarated we left Kfar Kedem and recited the Shechehyanu prayer together. We know there will be so many more moments to bless ahead of us, but the first of our firsts was simply perfect.