Letter to the Temple Beth Elohim Community prior to the journey

Dear Temple Beth Elohim Family,

At the conclusion of this coming Shabbat, Shara, Daphne and I will embark on a special trip. I am elated to have the opportunity to bring my wife and daughter to Israel, their first experience in the Holy Land. We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends in between site seeing ventures and my participation in the annual CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis – the professional organization for the Reform rabbinate in North America) conference. In total we will spend two weeks in Israel.

This is an extremely interesting time in history to travel to Israel. Israelis just finished voting in their general elections for the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament. Over the next days and/or weeks, Israeli politicians will be scrambling to form a new coalition government, and a new Prime Minister will emerge to assume leadership of the country. Though I have experienced other Israeli elections first hand, this one in particular is very significant as it will greatly influence the direction of the peace process following the most recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In addition, it will be interesting to see how Israel’s new government will interface with our new government her in the United States. There is a lot at stake, and I hope you join me in praying for the leadership of both of these/our countries. May they have the wisdom and the strength to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts within the region…

During the two weeks that we are separated from you, my plan is to keep a journal of our experiences and post them online to share with you as a blog. If you are interested, you can follow along by visiting rabbichurgelinisrael@blogspot.com. My goal is to log in and update the blog at least 3-4 times a week, though I am still uncertain as to internet availability for some of our trip. Regardless, I do plan to post stories, and hopefully some pictures, of our collective journeys as often as possible. Please feel free to post comments within the blog, and please participate in the surveys and other activities I hope to post online.

I am leaving the congregation in the sole pastoral care of Cantor Pilatsky while I am gone. Please take it easy on him. :)

I look forward to seeing you again next month! Until then, l’hitraot chaverim – see you later, my friends!

B’virkat shalom – with blessings of peace,

Rabbi Michael S. Churgel, RJE