Greetings once again from Greene Family Camp. The week is rapidly drawing to a close, and in a short while, we will welcome the Sabbath bride into our midst.
Yesterday we celebrated “Yom Yisrael,” Israel Day, a series of programs and activities which strengthened the campers’ and staff members’ connection with Israel. Of note, there are many Israelis on the camp’s staff.
The day was crucial to broadening our youth’s Jewish identities. They got to hear from Israelis themselves what it means to grow up in Israel and live in Israel. GFC’s campers and staff learned about the richness of what it means to be a Jew – beyond Oklahoma and Texas, beyond the United States, beyond the Diaspora.
“Judaism” and “Jewish” are incredibly difficult words to define. Aspects of these terms are based upon relationships and connections with Jews of all kinds. We can be Jewish and Caucasian with brown hair and brown eyes or blond hair and blue eyes; but we also can be Jewish and Black, Slavic, Russian, Asian, North African and Persian. At GFC, our youth experience a diversity of Jews, in a tiny town in Central Texas.
But incredibly, I learned yesterday that visiting Israelis learn there is a wide open Jewish world when they travel to GFC.
In a little over a year, we will have an opportunity to experience the wide open Jewish world by “going home” to the Promised Land.
We are in the early planning stages for a February mission, co-sponsored by Temple B’nai Israel, Emanuel Synagogue, federation and Chabad. The proposed dates are Feb. 6-14, 2008. Approximate cost will be $3,500 for airfare, hotels, travel, and most meals (This cost could go down, based upon number of participants.); in addition, participants will be asked to make a one-time pledge of any amount to the local federation.
I need to stress that the mission will be multi-tracked; there will be an array of offerings reflective of the diversity of Jewish expression in greater Oklahoma City. In other words, we will have the option – but not be required – to experience locales of Israel that are secular, Reform or ultra-Orthodox.
We have scheduled a pre-planning meeting for temple members on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 10:45 in the Blumenthal Wing. Please attend if you definitely want to participate in the mission or are on the fence and need additional information.
Shabbat Shalom!
