A Visit to Tel Aviv

I notice that I want to start each blog by saying what an incredible day it was. I guess that means the entire trip is incredible! Today was a day celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is the oldest Hebrew city founded in the modern era. All of the rabbis began the day by bussing over to Tel Aviv. The name Tel Aviv literally means “Hill of Spring,” or “Spring Hill,” just like ours in Pasco County. Yet it really symbolizes much more. A Tel is an archaeological mound, where layers of civilizations are built on top of previous layers, creating an immense treasure trove of history about several different civilizations at once. It represents the “old.” Aviv means Spring, the season of rebirth, renewal and freedom. It represents the “new.” Together then, they represent Old and New. This is the fulfillment of Zionist thinker Theodore Herzl’s dream. He wrote the novel “Altneuland” in 1902, describing a modern Jewish city blossoming with the talents of Jews from around the world. Altneuland means “Old New Land,” and was translated into Hebrew as Tel Aviv.
We met with members of the IMPJ, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and MARAM, the Israel Reform rabbinic organization. I went with three other American rabbis (and one spouse) to meet with Rabbi Orna, a Reform rabbi based in Ramat Hasharon. She took us on a tour of the ancient port city of Yaffo (Jaffa) as we walked to a café owned by a Jewish woman and Arab man. We discussed some of the challenges she faces as a liberal rabbi in Israel not recognized by the religious authorities and her personal path to the rabbinate. We rejoined the conference for lunch at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel, a hostel and conference center which serves as a center for Liberal / Reform Judaism in Yaffo. We were greeted by Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv and a great friend and ally of the Reform movement. From there it was off to tour unique parts of Tel Aviv and Yaffo. I was assigned to a group called “Our Bread and Butter.” Together we toured the old city of Yaffo once again. This time, however, the tour was about the importance of bread as a form of sustenance, financial measures, and its role in religious life. The trip included a stop at Aboulafia bakery, an incredible bakery that has been in business consistently since 1879. We climbed to the top of the port, and enjoyed some incredible views.












Perhaps the most moving experience of the entire trip was our next stop. The entire conference went to Na LaGa’at, a center for aiding those who are deaf, blind, or both. We visited a café run by 20 members of the deaf community. Though we did not have time to go, Na Laga’at includes a restaurant called “Blackout.” The entire wait staff is blind. Because they need no light to see what they are serving, there AREN’T ANY. The entire restaurant is in the dark. But the highlight of the visit was a show put on by 11 members of the community. Called “Not By Bread Alone,” the deaf/blind / deaf-blind actors and actresses put on a show in which they shared their dreams and hopes through music and interpreters, all while kneading and preparing bread. The show concluded with the entire audience “singing” along with the cast in Israeli Sign Language. We were invited to the stage to speak with the actors through simple sign language or their interpreters, and to taste the delicious bread baked on stage a well.
After that, we had the night free in Tel Aviv. I joined colleagues from Miami, Naples, and Washington D.C. on Dizengoff Street before heading back to the hotel.
Like I said, what an incredible day. Tomorrow we prepare to celebrate Shabbat here and around the world, so I wish you a Shabbat Shalom.