ARZA

By Susan Fritsch Cohen The following poem was written by Susan Fritsch Cohen on a recent trip to Israel with Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation. Of the trip, Susan said, “Our congregational trip had a transformative effect on me — it solidified my connection with Israel and with the community I traveled with, and that inspired me [...]

By Rabbi Stacey Blank Today’s musings on Israeli society – the real, everyday Israeli society and not the headlines – are from two separate experiences I had officiating at a bat mitzvah and a bar mitzvah.

by Sharon Mann I am Israeli, a Reform Jew, and still a little American after 20 years of living in Israel. I feel that I can be me as a member of Emet VeShalom, a progressive, multi-cultural, warm and welcoming congregation in Nahariya.

By Rabbi Stacey Blank Last week, I was invited to speak before the “Ami-Chai” Pre-Army Preparation Course of the Zionist Council of Israel, based on Kibbutz Keramim. It is becoming more popular in Israel to delay the mandatory army service which begins at age 18 for one year and to participate in a Pre-Army Preparation [...]