Israel

Al Kol Eleh – Mature Love – Rabbi Joshua Caruso on Erev Rosh Hashanah 2014

Posted on September 26, 2014

This blog post on “If Not Now, When?” the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, contains the Rosh Hashanah Sermon by Rabbi Joshua Caruso at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in the Contemporary Evening Service. We encourage you to make comments below, and to share this post by email with your friends, or to social Continue Reading »

Od Lo Avda Tikvatenu: Why We Cannot Lose Hope – Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk, Rosh Hashanah 2014

Posted on September 24, 2014

This  blog post on “If Not Now, When?” the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is adapted from the Rosh Hashanah sermon shared by Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, OH on September 24, 2014, at the Congregational Service. We encourage you to share this post with friends by email Continue Reading »

Why Judaism? Questions And Answers On Jewish Faith – Rabbi Joshua Caruso

Posted on September 6, 2014

This blog post on “If Not Now, When?” the interactive blog of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is excerpted from the presentation shared at Shabbat Worship on Friday, September 5, 2014 by Rabbi Joshua Caruso. As the text of Rabbi Caruso’s presentation describes, we encourage questions, responses and for you to share the text of this Continue Reading »

Wednesday, December 25th: Beit She’an Meet-Up

Posted on December 27, 2013

Cleveland has a “sister city” in Israel named Beit She’an. It’s in northern Israel, and before our trip we video-Skyped with the families we would meet there. We had an absolutely amazing experience Wednesday, and the whole community welcomed us with open arms. Language was not a barrier – “family” and “community” is language enough! Continue Reading »

Wednesday, December 25th: Havat HaShomer

Posted on December 26, 2013

Reflections on the first half of our day, from the Jacobs/Mersack Family: Marc, Melinda, Isaiah, Eli, and Kiva. ——————————- Yesterday, we visited Havat HaShomer, an IDF army base that trains disadvantaged youth and provides them with extra training and remedial education. In Israel, there is a strong correlation between military service and success in careers Continue Reading »

First Full Day, Part II: Archaeological Seminars – “Digging” Israel

Posted on December 25, 2013

After lunch, we headed to the National Park of Beit Guvrin, where the ruins of Maresha are. Maresha was an important city in the area of Judah during the First Temple period, and during the time of the Maccabean revolt. We spent time with Archaeological Seminars: Dig for a Day, which is an organization that Continue Reading »

More Pictures from Day 1

Posted on December 25, 2013

More pictures from Independence Hall, Tel-Aviv/Yaffo, and the Ayalon Institute

First Full Day, Part I: Independence Hall and the Ayalon Institute

Posted on December 24, 2013

WHEW! A very full, but wonderful day. We started out bright and early, which was made easier by the insane breakfast buffet at the Dan Hotel. A ton of fresh vegetables, 10 different kinds of cheeses, 8 different kinds of fish and enough bread to feed a small army bolstered us for the busy day Continue Reading »

We’ve Arrived!

Posted on December 23, 2013

We’re here! Our first night in Tel-Aviv was great. Our fabulous guides, Uri and Shari met us at the airport and escorted us to our hotel (the Dan Tel-Aviv). We met as a group on the Tayelet (Promenade on the beach), and said a collective “Shehecheyanu” thanking God that we have reached this moment. We Continue Reading »

Yearnings: Jerusalem & the Onset of Teen Rebellion

Posted on July 3, 2013

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, we also wept, when we remembered Zion.”           Tehillim (Psalms) Chapter 137, line 1 It is the one year anniversary of my first trip to Israel, and I have Jerusalem on my mind.  I am drawn back to the Tehillim (Psalms), as I have been Continue Reading »