By now many of you are back together with the family and friends who supported you up until the ride. For those of you who rode and are at home reading this, the stories you can share will far surpass any blog entry or afterthought about the mountains climbed and the experiences shared. For those of you who supported someone, all I can say is...you should be so proud of them and you should know that every rider paved a way that he/she has so much right to be proud of.
The ride came to a close with a final stretch from Tzippori to Haifa, with a stop for breakfast at a place that is perhaps only reachable by bike. The riders enjoyed one last meal and then climbed one last mountain to Or Chadash congregation where the ride culminated and every participant was able to enjoy the feeling of satistfaction that overshadowed the soreness and exhaustion felt after such a long week.
Here are a few words shared with the riders before they departed breakfast for that final stretch to Haifa. It was a great week and one that no one will soon forget...kol ha'kvod to all who participated and everyone who supported the participants.
For every situation we find ourselves in, there is both an immediate focus and a larger context in which our experience fits into. I would be willing to bet that at the beginning of this week’s ride, many of you were thinking about how to get from one mile to the next…from one day to the next…and how to break down the overwhelming challenge of biking 5 days straight and finishing 220 miles into increments that seemed reasonable so as not to psyche yourself out by looking at it as one giant clump. Each day was a new start, each rest and relaxation stop served as a break to make the mileage attainable and the road traveled seem more easy to trek. But, as we sit here this morning, it is my hope that as you draw near to the finish line, the big picture of all that you have accomplished this week begins to flood the mind and this ride is no longer broken down into bits and pieces but the awesome feeling of accomplishment that comes with today’s finish will combine all 5 days and 220 miles of focus, effort and of course, that odor that is pleasing to God and probably has become quite familiar to each of you over these challenging days.
The parsha that we read this week in Leviticus focuses on the laws of sacrifice, but as we move into this new book of our story, we see a shift in the larger picture for which our people’s history and tradition continue to emerge. Many commentators believe that the Torah should have, in fact, started with the book of Leviticus. After all, if the Torah is really a law book and a blueprint for the way in which we are to live as Jews, than it is highly appropriate to think that the book of Leviticus, which embodies a majority of the laws revealed in the Torah, would come at the beginning of our written story. In Genesis and Exodus we see a detailed narrative of creation, the stories of our matriarchs and patriarchs and the Jewish people leaving the land of Egypt and wandering into the desert without clear direction as to where they will end up. As we enter the book of Leviticus, we see a change from this folklore story to detailed descriptions of the way the Jewish people are to live and the laws that they are to abide by. The Israelite people build for themselves a Meeting Tent and we also begin to see the centralization of a community, even though they are still wandering in the desert without clear direction as to where and when they will stop and reach the Promised Land.
There is a larger picture to everything that we do. The laws of sacrifice that are outlined for the Israelite people in this week’s parsha provide a detailed account of how individual are to act and the obligations of the community to offer sacrifices to God, but exists as just one small part of many other laws and rules that the Israelites are to follow in order to be pleasing to God in a larger framework. As we move from measuring our distance in the small increments of mile to mile and rest stop to rest stop to the larger picture of crossing the Promised finish line and accomplishing a week long ride we should also put into context the larger picture for why we have come together this week.
The State of Israel is the homeland for the Jewish people. Our history here dates back thousands of years and the recognition of Israel as a homeland for the Jews in the modern world is approaching its 60th year of existence. As a people that have constantly had to grow, change and adapt to the outside world, now we have a homeland established for our people, in which we must also continue to grow, change and adapt our efforts to make all facets of Judaism thrive within the borders of Eretz Yisrael.
We are North Americans and Israelis here together. We are doctors, Rabbis, students, and kibbutzniks. We each have our own challenges and strengths that we bring to our lives and have brought to our time together this week. I believe that over the course of this week, whether over a beer at the end of a hard day or on a walk break taken half way up Har Tur’an I believe that each of us have found many ways in which we relate to one another and commonalities we share but one thing unites us all…each one of us is committed to seeing Progressive Jewish communities and education thrive in the Jewish homeland that you have just taken by bike.
This week you have sweated and climbed mountains as a way of showing just how much you are committed to Israel and to Progressive Judaism being a part of the fabric of Israel. Beyond that, you have engaged the communities from which you come in pulling funds that will help to support Progressive Jewish communities already in existence here and help to give birth to new ones, to encourage native Israelis to enter in to rabbinate as Rabbis Reformi, to further Progressive Jewish education and to continue to strengthen the statement that there is more than one way to be Jewish and that Progressive Judaism can be alive in our Jewish homeland just as it has soared in communities B’hutz ha’ aretz. You have not only committed yourself physically to this task, you have brought together the communities you will soon return to with every community that each person here represents, to make a difference for our homeland and our people.
There’s a small picture that we look at when we need to focus. We break down large tasks into smaller components so that we can make them manageable to tackle and prevent ourselves from drowning in the anxiety of a project to large to accomplish in one fell swoop. After living for almost a year in Israel, as a first year rabbinic student, I am aware that the task of introducing Progressive Judaism into Israeli life and finding ways to make it relevant and important to a people are different here then outside of Israeli. Where we are challenged at home for people to formulate community in order to also feel Jewish culturally and to feel connected to other Jews, here Progressive Judaism serves to provide options to grow religiously and spiritually within the Jewish homeland in a way that mirrors the egalitarian and progressive lifestyle that penetrates most of Israeli life, even if every day Israelis have the unique pleasure of living in an overall Jewish society. We must break down the big picture and find ways in which we take small, but significant steps, towards accomplishing such an awesome task.
But, the big picture is important. It provides framework and it provides momentum. A day long bike ride from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea would have felt only marginally as gratifying had it not been coupled with four more days of riding and two other bodies of water visited after the fact. As you make your final descent into Haifa and take in the awesome feeling of accomplishment that is about to overwhelm the soreness and exhaustion your bodies undoubtedly feel, consider the role you play in helping to shape our Jewish homeland. Those of you who live in Israel are making an incredible statement by aligning yourselves with the Progressive Jewish movement here in Israel. You are pioneers helping to create space within Eretz Yisrael that says there is, in fact, a place and a need for Progressive Jewish communities to exist and to grow. And, for those of you who will travel back to your homes and communities outside of Israel when this ride is over, you have spent 5 unforgettable days riding alongside our Israeli sisters and brothers, strengthening the relationship of a Jewish people that is international and that is committed to a homeland that /exists for the entire Jewish people.
Those who defend the order of the Torah as we know it, argue that if the Torah had started with the book of Leviticus the story of the Jewish people would have lacked the necessary framework in which we would then understand the laws introduced in this book. Genesis and Exodus therefore exist to draw the larger picture for why the laws given in Leviticus are important and to create a sense of responsibility to a history and tradition that is more than just law, but is about a people on a shared journey.
Each day of this week now blends into the big picture with a finish line just on the horizon. /This journey also blends into a larger journey that encompasses generations of Jewish people, committed and passionate to bringing about change and living their lives in order to see Judaism remain vibrant and alive. You have trekked the land f oour people and of our heritage, while at the same time constantly affirming your commitment to Progressive Jewish life, both in the communities from which you come and in Eretz Yisrael. I commend you riders, not just for what you have given of yourself physically and emotionally this /week. I commend you for engaging in the big picture of Progressive Judaism and your commitment to Am Yisrael Chai (the people of Israel).
Jessica Y. Gross
HUC Rabbinic Student
Friday, March 23, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Today's Ride
Day - 4 - the hardest day.
Today was nearly impossible for me. I hadn't trained before the ride due to my work on thesis & recital. Overall, it was a hard day - perhaps harder than the climb to Jerusalem (which we've done for the past two years on this ride). We ascended Mt. Turan, an incredible off-road climb at a very steep angle. It was after this climb that I had achieved my goals. All of the stress and all of the hard work during this academic year had come to fruition. I had conquered the mountain and I was on cloud-9.
Tomorrow we climb up to Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa for our final ceremony. We are very excited and can't wait to come home and show you all of our photos.
Thanks, (with a sore tushi)
Ross Wolman
Today was nearly impossible for me. I hadn't trained before the ride due to my work on thesis & recital. Overall, it was a hard day - perhaps harder than the climb to Jerusalem (which we've done for the past two years on this ride). We ascended Mt. Turan, an incredible off-road climb at a very steep angle. It was after this climb that I had achieved my goals. All of the stress and all of the hard work during this academic year had come to fruition. I had conquered the mountain and I was on cloud-9.
Tomorrow we climb up to Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa for our final ceremony. We are very excited and can't wait to come home and show you all of our photos.
Thanks, (with a sore tushi)
Ross Wolman
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Day 2 and 3 - Adam Martain
There was no internet access at Kibbutz Nir David so you are getting 2 for the price of 1.
Riding4Reform: Day 2 – Monday 19 March
Got up today at 6:45 so that we could eat and stretch by 8:15. We left the northern shores of the Dead Sea and started riding north towards our 2nd “sea”. The ride was totally on-road covering flats and rolling hills. Our destination at was Kibbutz Nir David which is cut by the waters of the Amal River. The Kibbutz is just north of the city of Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley which has been on the trade route to the East since the earliest times. The area that we went through was a contrast of desert corridors and cultivated fields.
I’ve held of from telling people (especially mum and the grandmas) the exact route, but if you look at a map and trace from Jerusalem to the northern tip of the Dead Sea and then up to Nir David you will understand why we had a police and army escort for most of the time. The drivers are much better in Judea and Samaria/The West Bank/the Occupied Territories!
Today we over doubled our distance and went 100 kilometres (about 60 miles), it was mainly uphill and north which is up anyway! We were also met along the way by both other members of the Mechina (where some of the money raised will help) and a few HUC students.
Go to www.riding4reform.org to read other riders BLOGS and see pictures.
Riding4Reform: Day 3 – Tuesday 20 March
Due to the English weather Israel has been getting recently today’s route had to be changed as the original one was too muddy. The route took us north from Kibbutz Nir David to the shores of Lake Kinneret, our 2nd “sea” (the Sea of Galilee). The army kindly opened up their paths for us and we cycled along the boarder with Jordan, being careful not to cycle on their “intruder traps”.
We negotiated a series of undulating hills and valleys crossing the Yisakhar River and the mountains of the same name. Lake Kinneret (the only natural freshwater lake in Israel and therefore one of the many ‘issues’ in any peace process) is located in the northern part of the Dead Sea rift in the Afro-Syrian rift valley. Luckily this isn’t as active as the San Fernando Valley, although it does move Syria 1 cm away each year, possibly an answer to that peace process!
After what has been 3 hard days of cycling we are off to relax in the Chamei Tiveria spa, on the shores of the lake and recharge our batteries for tomorrow which will be the hardest day.
Went back down to a more sensible distance of 65 kilometres (about 41 miles) but climbed 900 meters.
Go to www.riding4reform.org to read other riders BLOGS and see pictures.
Riding4Reform: Day 2 – Monday 19 March
Got up today at 6:45 so that we could eat and stretch by 8:15. We left the northern shores of the Dead Sea and started riding north towards our 2nd “sea”. The ride was totally on-road covering flats and rolling hills. Our destination at was Kibbutz Nir David which is cut by the waters of the Amal River. The Kibbutz is just north of the city of Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley which has been on the trade route to the East since the earliest times. The area that we went through was a contrast of desert corridors and cultivated fields.
I’ve held of from telling people (especially mum and the grandmas) the exact route, but if you look at a map and trace from Jerusalem to the northern tip of the Dead Sea and then up to Nir David you will understand why we had a police and army escort for most of the time. The drivers are much better in Judea and Samaria/The West Bank/the Occupied Territories!
Today we over doubled our distance and went 100 kilometres (about 60 miles), it was mainly uphill and north which is up anyway! We were also met along the way by both other members of the Mechina (where some of the money raised will help) and a few HUC students.
Go to www.riding4reform.org to read other riders BLOGS and see pictures.
Riding4Reform: Day 3 – Tuesday 20 March
Due to the English weather Israel has been getting recently today’s route had to be changed as the original one was too muddy. The route took us north from Kibbutz Nir David to the shores of Lake Kinneret, our 2nd “sea” (the Sea of Galilee). The army kindly opened up their paths for us and we cycled along the boarder with Jordan, being careful not to cycle on their “intruder traps”.
We negotiated a series of undulating hills and valleys crossing the Yisakhar River and the mountains of the same name. Lake Kinneret (the only natural freshwater lake in Israel and therefore one of the many ‘issues’ in any peace process) is located in the northern part of the Dead Sea rift in the Afro-Syrian rift valley. Luckily this isn’t as active as the San Fernando Valley, although it does move Syria 1 cm away each year, possibly an answer to that peace process!
After what has been 3 hard days of cycling we are off to relax in the Chamei Tiveria spa, on the shores of the lake and recharge our batteries for tomorrow which will be the hardest day.
Went back down to a more sensible distance of 65 kilometres (about 41 miles) but climbed 900 meters.
Go to www.riding4reform.org to read other riders BLOGS and see pictures.
3rd day recap
Day three of the ride, not as sore as I thought I'd be. It's been an incredible trip. Speeding down (relatively speaking) the highway and offroad muddy trail to the Dead Sea, watching desert changing to rolling green hills, riding through poppy fiels, cilantro fields`and the Jordan river (my wet shoes can verify that), we've travelled more than 200 km on our own steam. Today we rode along the Jordanian border on a path usually used only by the military, and some of our riders may have left some tracks that might be perceived as runaway Jordanians. We'll see how that goes over. Also, a note of advice for the future rider. If you start to get really tired all of a sudden and it only gets worse, before you assume that you're sick, check your tire - I rode on a flat for more than an hour today. That was tons of fun. Overall though, I'm impressed with everyone on this trip, as we have all accomplished something incredible, and hopefully, we will continue to do so tomorrow with our ride up a cliff and several mountains beyond.
Aaron Miller's Words of Biking Wisdom
What an incredible ride! I have visited Israel 5 or so times, have lived here for almost a year, and have traveled all over the country since I have gotten here, but there is no better way to see the country than to bike all over. This has been a wonderful trip, and, without question, the best experience of my year in Israel so far. There is nothing like being encouraged to skip class to go bikeriding. Yesterday, Lauren (my wife) and Catherine (a very close friend) and two other friends from came to the kibbutz where we were staying last night and took me completely by surprise. It was great seeing them, and Lauren has definitely won the "Amazing Wife" award for her surprise visit. Oh, and for my words of wisdom:
#1. Just because you have been bikeriding for 3 hours straight does not mean 3 bowls of soup for lunch is a good idea.
#2. There is nothing wrong with wearing bike shorts in public spaces
#3. If you ride through a river on your bike, you have to go fast or you will get stuck in the river. If you ride fast through the river, you will get water all over your face. What does this mean? Riding through a river means that water will end up all over your face.
I don't have much time because there are other people waiting to write, but this is an unforgettable experience and I hope everyone at home is doing well.
Aaron
#1. Just because you have been bikeriding for 3 hours straight does not mean 3 bowls of soup for lunch is a good idea.
#2. There is nothing wrong with wearing bike shorts in public spaces
#3. If you ride through a river on your bike, you have to go fast or you will get stuck in the river. If you ride fast through the river, you will get water all over your face. What does this mean? Riding through a river means that water will end up all over your face.
I don't have much time because there are other people waiting to write, but this is an unforgettable experience and I hope everyone at home is doing well.
Aaron
What a day!
We did 46k on Sunday 98K on Monday and 54K today and most importantly hit our second sea, one more to go. Today was such a fantastic day! We changed our path up to Tiberias because of muddy roads and I am very grateful for it. Our new path went up this beautiful road that had such gorgeous views. I don't think I have see anything like it before. It was a lot of fun going from a dry environment with very little life around the Dead Sea to the incredibly lush greens all around us today. The photo and video page hasn't been update since last year but hopefully once it does you'll get to see some of what we went past. Anyway, we are all looking forward to the Turkish baths and dinner soon, and I'll let someone else type now.
Take care,
Philip Bazeley
Take care,
Philip Bazeley
Monday, March 19, 2007
Day 2 - All is well, except the computer
Just a short note to let you know that all is well. We arrived in Bet Sha'an this afternoon around 4 pm. All 54 riders are doing great. Today they headed north along the Jordanian/Israeli border. The timing of this year's rainfall allowed for the landscape to be dressed with wildflowers of red, yellow, orange and purple. Over the course of 7.5 hours the bikers covered about 68 miles of moderate terrain, although a gradual uphill that by the end of the day made completion all the more satisfying.
Unfortunately, the only injury we are dealing with right now is that of the computer that allows us to connect to internet when there is none, like our current location. We have a new charger on its way form Jerusalem tomorrow so we will be able to allowf or multiple riders and stories to be shared. Thanks for bearing with us, and know that a broken charger is better than anything else being broken.
All is well, spirits are high and everyone is rearing to go for day three...
Unfortunately, the only injury we are dealing with right now is that of the computer that allows us to connect to internet when there is none, like our current location. We have a new charger on its way form Jerusalem tomorrow so we will be able to allowf or multiple riders and stories to be shared. Thanks for bearing with us, and know that a broken charger is better than anything else being broken.
All is well, spirits are high and everyone is rearing to go for day three...
D'var Torah - Monday morning
This week is about many new things. I am under the impression that for many people here it is the first time that you have taken on such a large physical challenge. In order to accomplish this 220 mile tour of Israel by bike over the course of 5 full days, I believe that a lot of firsts lead up to this moment: the first feelings of what its like to sit on a bicycle seat for multiple hours at a time, the first time you've arrived at the Dead Sea not having traveled by car or bus, the first sore muscles, and the first surge of adrenalin that will ultimately last until we arrive in Haifa on Thursday morning and push you through the difficult moments when your body is tired. For some, this is the first time you are fundraising in conjunction with such a great physical challenge or even fundraising at all and for others, this may be a familiar place and activity, but with opportunities to meet someone for the first time that after spending this time together may become a lifelong friend and partner in supporting Progressive Judaism here in Eretz Yisrael.
It's a time of firsts in the Torah as well, as this week we read the first portion from the book of Leviticus and how appropriate that this first parsha, Vayikrah, is about sacrifice. The Israelite people are still living in transition, but now that they have constructed a Mishkan this becomes the central location for Jewish ritual to take place. Vayikrah discusses both individual and communal sacrifice, the types of sacrifices that are to be made and the procedures for which they are offered up, plus when a person and/or community is obligated to make a sacrifice and when it is optional. The ritual of sacrifice is explicitly defined and outlined in this week's parsha and remained at the center of Jewish worship until the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE. After the destruction of the 2nd temple and the end of sacrifical worship we see Jewish communities in every generation redefine what it means to give an offering to God and how the spirit of sacrifice and its affirmation of commitment manifests itself in our daily lives.
Today, how do we look at these laws of sacrifice, given to the Israelite people while they were still wandering the desert and find any parallel to our lives in the 21st century. Well, for one, the phrase that repeats itself more times than any other phrase in this week's parsha and I believe is most relevant to the journey we are on this week discusses this mandatory criteria for which an offering is to be presented to God. It must be:
ליהוה ניחוח-ריח אשה עולה (Oh-la ee-sheh ray-ach nee-cho-ach l'adonai): "an offering of pleasing odor to Adonai." In fact, this phrase can be found repeated almost word for word in 8 different places of this week's parsha. We no longer engage in the type of sacrifice outlined in this week's Torah portion but just as the concept of עבודה changed from sacrificial worship to that of prayer-filled worship after the destruction of the Temple, so too does the concept of what it means to offer up a sacrifice. Now, it's early and I am willing to bet that many of you have showered since yesterday's ride and dip in the Dead Sea and perhaps right about now you are feeling pretty fresh. I'd like to offer that each of you are making an incredible sacrifice this week and though you may smell fresh and have lathered on an extra layer of deodorant this morning, I am willing to bet that by the time we reach our resting place tonight each of you will embody your own ריח (rey-ach) or odor that matched up with the incredible cause you ride for this week, must surely be pleasing in the eyes of God.
Sacrifice can mean that of a religious offering, but its Latin derivative literally defines sacrifice as sacer facere, which means "to make sacred", a term that is also used metaphorically to describe selfless good deeds done for others. In Hebrew, קרנן, the root, ק,ר,נ, means "to come close", and עלה means "elevation". These are two words we use to define sacrifice in the Torah. As you ponder the day ahead, consider the change that will be affected here in Israel by the sacer facere, corban and olah, you are making this week and by the fundraising that you have done in your communities for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism.
You have come from near and far to be part of a community that will wander throughout Eretz Yisrael this week, similar to the wandering of the Israelite people when they received the laws of sacrifice from God and the instructions for how they were to offer such sacrifices in a manner that would be pleasing to God. Together you will journey through this beautiful land of our ancestors, all the while knowing that the personal sacrifices and the challenges that you have risen to in order to accomplish this awesome week help to ensure that our Jewish homeland in the 21 st century has a strong presence of Progressive Judaism as part of its fabric.
As we travel throughout this week, take the time to appreciate the many years that our tradition spans and how the spirit of change breathes within the Progressive Judaism we live today. We are together, as one kehillah , constantly in movement, and we continue to find Torah relevant to our lives and ways in which we connect ourselves to our people l'dor v'dor..from generation to generation. We each make our own personal and communal sacrifice as an affirmation of our faith in Adonai and commitment to Judaism and Israel. As you take in the beautiful scenery of Eretz Yisrael and the added sacredness of the work we do together this week, even at its most challenging moments, keep in the forefront of your mind that at the end of each day, you will feel it in your heart, and in your legs, and in your seats and you will surely offer yourself up as an offering of pleasing odor to God,.
--
Jessica Y. Gross
Rabbinic Student
It's a time of firsts in the Torah as well, as this week we read the first portion from the book of Leviticus and how appropriate that this first parsha, Vayikrah, is about sacrifice. The Israelite people are still living in transition, but now that they have constructed a Mishkan this becomes the central location for Jewish ritual to take place. Vayikrah discusses both individual and communal sacrifice, the types of sacrifices that are to be made and the procedures for which they are offered up, plus when a person and/or community is obligated to make a sacrifice and when it is optional. The ritual of sacrifice is explicitly defined and outlined in this week's parsha and remained at the center of Jewish worship until the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE. After the destruction of the 2nd temple and the end of sacrifical worship we see Jewish communities in every generation redefine what it means to give an offering to God and how the spirit of sacrifice and its affirmation of commitment manifests itself in our daily lives.
Today, how do we look at these laws of sacrifice, given to the Israelite people while they were still wandering the desert and find any parallel to our lives in the 21st century. Well, for one, the phrase that repeats itself more times than any other phrase in this week's parsha and I believe is most relevant to the journey we are on this week discusses this mandatory criteria for which an offering is to be presented to God. It must be:
ליהוה ניחוח-ריח אשה עולה (Oh-la ee-sheh ray-ach nee-cho-ach l'adonai): "an offering of pleasing odor to Adonai." In fact, this phrase can be found repeated almost word for word in 8 different places of this week's parsha. We no longer engage in the type of sacrifice outlined in this week's Torah portion but just as the concept of עבודה changed from sacrificial worship to that of prayer-filled worship after the destruction of the Temple, so too does the concept of what it means to offer up a sacrifice. Now, it's early and I am willing to bet that many of you have showered since yesterday's ride and dip in the Dead Sea and perhaps right about now you are feeling pretty fresh. I'd like to offer that each of you are making an incredible sacrifice this week and though you may smell fresh and have lathered on an extra layer of deodorant this morning, I am willing to bet that by the time we reach our resting place tonight each of you will embody your own ריח (rey-ach) or odor that matched up with the incredible cause you ride for this week, must surely be pleasing in the eyes of God.
Sacrifice can mean that of a religious offering, but its Latin derivative literally defines sacrifice as sacer facere, which means "to make sacred", a term that is also used metaphorically to describe selfless good deeds done for others. In Hebrew, קרנן, the root, ק,ר,נ, means "to come close", and עלה means "elevation". These are two words we use to define sacrifice in the Torah. As you ponder the day ahead, consider the change that will be affected here in Israel by the sacer facere, corban and olah, you are making this week and by the fundraising that you have done in your communities for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism.
You have come from near and far to be part of a community that will wander throughout Eretz Yisrael this week, similar to the wandering of the Israelite people when they received the laws of sacrifice from God and the instructions for how they were to offer such sacrifices in a manner that would be pleasing to God. Together you will journey through this beautiful land of our ancestors, all the while knowing that the personal sacrifices and the challenges that you have risen to in order to accomplish this awesome week help to ensure that our Jewish homeland in the 21 st century has a strong presence of Progressive Judaism as part of its fabric.
As we travel throughout this week, take the time to appreciate the many years that our tradition spans and how the spirit of change breathes within the Progressive Judaism we live today. We are together, as one kehillah , constantly in movement, and we continue to find Torah relevant to our lives and ways in which we connect ourselves to our people l'dor v'dor..from generation to generation. We each make our own personal and communal sacrifice as an affirmation of our faith in Adonai and commitment to Judaism and Israel. As you take in the beautiful scenery of Eretz Yisrael and the added sacredness of the work we do together this week, even at its most challenging moments, keep in the forefront of your mind that at the end of each day, you will feel it in your heart, and in your legs, and in your seats and you will surely offer yourself up as an offering of pleasing odor to God,.
--
Jessica Y. Gross
Rabbinic Student
Sunday, March 18, 2007
CRJ Riders Day 1
Our intrepid CRJ riders, Steve, Cliff and Alex began their 5 day journey today on a cold but clear morning in Jerusalem. After a few days of aclimation in Jerusalem where the CRJ riders experienced a very rare post Purim snow shower as well as a major weather system bring much needed rain.
The ride started with a very steep decent out of Jerusalem on the way to our first desination, the Qumran Caves where 2000 year old scrolls were found in 1947 by an accidental discovery. We had a very interesting tour of the cave area.
This was followed by a quick stop at the Dead Sea beach Neveh Midbar. The water was cool but a few of the riders floated, many more watched from afar.
The ride today included about 10 miles of off road with some fairly steep decents and hills, many covered with loose rock. The scenery was spectacular with views of the Judean Desert. This is a very special place in Israel and one that few people see.
We had a great dinner at our nightly lodgings at the Almog Kibutz.
We are off on day 2 at 8:15 AM tomorrow. More later....
The ride started with a very steep decent out of Jerusalem on the way to our first desination, the Qumran Caves where 2000 year old scrolls were found in 1947 by an accidental discovery. We had a very interesting tour of the cave area.
This was followed by a quick stop at the Dead Sea beach Neveh Midbar. The water was cool but a few of the riders floated, many more watched from afar.
The ride today included about 10 miles of off road with some fairly steep decents and hills, many covered with loose rock. The scenery was spectacular with views of the Judean Desert. This is a very special place in Israel and one that few people see.
We had a great dinner at our nightly lodgings at the Almog Kibutz.
We are off on day 2 at 8:15 AM tomorrow. More later....
Me, My Day, and the Donkey
It was a long day, entirely enthralling, memorable, and altogether exhausting. All of that said, I'm going to post in the form of a list in that this is about all I have the energy for right now, at 9:32pm, at Kibbutz Almog, just outside of the world famous Dead Sea. I biked forty of the most thrilling miles imaginable today. Here are some of the details. I...
- awoke at 5:45 to complete darkness
- met the remaining 55 members of the Ride at the Hebrew Union College, everyone groggy but upbeat as well, ready to finally begin
- assumed my seat at the opening ceremony before some 300 members of the WUPJ and many others on hand
- finally took to the bike, to singing, and cheers, and a Jerusalem sky wide and blue and waiting
- rode past the Old City, focusing at once on the beginning of the Ride, those on their way back from Shacharit morning prayers, kids on their way into kindergarten, the cabs zipping past
- rode through East Jerusalem, the stares and congratulations as strong and heartwarming as ever, proving once again that people will forget differences and boundaries when given reason and motivation to do so, even something as simple as a bike ride
- made my way into the expanse that is the long dusty trail down toward the Dead Sea, winding, sandy, undulating, with vicious uphills, and even more vicious and harrowing descents
- found myself so far removed from the Jerusalem metropolis in mere moments, suddenly passing not cabs or pedestrians, by wild camels, donkeys, an occasional bedouin with his flock
- attempted to dodge one of these stray donkeys on a rather narrow pass and at the same moment attempted to turn a rather sharp corner, sending me and my bike some ten feet down the path, leaving me with my first wound of the excursion - and a good wound at that
- enjoyed a slow picnic lunch of soup and tuna sandwiches, our bikes scattered about us, already feeling like we'd known each other for years
- stopped in at the Qumran Caves, sight of the Dead Sea Scroll findings, for a brief tour and walk
- stopped in at the Dead Sea for a quick break
- chatted with people from Boston, Philadelphia, Jerusalem, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Houston, and Leipzig, Germany
- arrived after our forty mile day at our kibbutz for the evening and there enjoyed dinner, a conversation with the group to de-brief and process, more mixers, a presentation by representatives of the IMPJ
- wrote up my day and re-lived it once more, appreciating it all the more so.
Thinking of everyone!
Ben
p.s. Happy Birthday Mom!
- awoke at 5:45 to complete darkness
- met the remaining 55 members of the Ride at the Hebrew Union College, everyone groggy but upbeat as well, ready to finally begin
- assumed my seat at the opening ceremony before some 300 members of the WUPJ and many others on hand
- finally took to the bike, to singing, and cheers, and a Jerusalem sky wide and blue and waiting
- rode past the Old City, focusing at once on the beginning of the Ride, those on their way back from Shacharit morning prayers, kids on their way into kindergarten, the cabs zipping past
- rode through East Jerusalem, the stares and congratulations as strong and heartwarming as ever, proving once again that people will forget differences and boundaries when given reason and motivation to do so, even something as simple as a bike ride
- made my way into the expanse that is the long dusty trail down toward the Dead Sea, winding, sandy, undulating, with vicious uphills, and even more vicious and harrowing descents
- found myself so far removed from the Jerusalem metropolis in mere moments, suddenly passing not cabs or pedestrians, by wild camels, donkeys, an occasional bedouin with his flock
- attempted to dodge one of these stray donkeys on a rather narrow pass and at the same moment attempted to turn a rather sharp corner, sending me and my bike some ten feet down the path, leaving me with my first wound of the excursion - and a good wound at that
- enjoyed a slow picnic lunch of soup and tuna sandwiches, our bikes scattered about us, already feeling like we'd known each other for years
- stopped in at the Qumran Caves, sight of the Dead Sea Scroll findings, for a brief tour and walk
- stopped in at the Dead Sea for a quick break
- chatted with people from Boston, Philadelphia, Jerusalem, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Houston, and Leipzig, Germany
- arrived after our forty mile day at our kibbutz for the evening and there enjoyed dinner, a conversation with the group to de-brief and process, more mixers, a presentation by representatives of the IMPJ
- wrote up my day and re-lived it once more, appreciating it all the more so.
Thinking of everyone!
Ben
p.s. Happy Birthday Mom!
The 1st day was glorious. Alison, our team Rosen coach, calmed our nerves and help ed us with all the pre-ride preparations. I road out of Jerusalem with Tal and Anna. The wind made it cold but in the sun you warmed up. The elevation on the map was mostly downhill so I was suprised with all the uphill elevations. It was challenging. We quickly got off the road and were on trails with very steep downgrades and no guardrails. I took lots of pictures because the vistas were great but scary. I had to walk up some of the steep hills, but the hardest part was braking on the downgrades. I was tired but proud of my accomplishments of the day. I should have brought my feelings faces! The equipment Tal brought worked excellently. No blisters on my hands and while my rear is tired from sitting, I could be much worse without the padded shorts. The lesson for day 1 was compliments help make the hills more tolerable. Sound familiar.
Howard S. Rosen
Howard S. Rosen
Day 1
Although it began quite early and was considerably more difficult than I had anticipated, the first day was wonderful. My rental bicycle was a dream compared with the bicycle I "trained" on and I started out quite energized. The first stretch of riding was a deep downward slope through a tunnel and circling around hills towards sea level and the camel that always waits for motorists there. After breaking into the sightline with Dead Sea, we veared of towards nowhere and the beautiful bare hills that border the water. Some time later we turned off-road and coasted over incredibly fun stretch of terrain. Along the way I shared a moment with a lonely donkey, carrying saddel bags who met my eyes as I passed as if to say "What's your business here?" After stopping for lunch and seeing the ruins at Qumeran, we took a short stop at the Dead Sea. I, knowing the pain of the water, did not go in, and found a puppy to play with who sat in my lap and fell asleep while its mother watched closely. We ended our riding day with an unbelievably bumpy, elbow shaking ride towards our spa hostel (lacking spa) and I look forward to a night of very deep sleep.
-Ben Alexander
-Ben Alexander
Israel is amazing
I have been here since September yet I am constantly amazed with how beautiful Israel is. The bike ride was fantastic and the off road biking was amazing. I have never done anything like this before. And to wrap things up I was able to go swimming in the Dead Sea for the first time ever. Hopefully I'll still be feeling great by Thursday.
~Philip Bazeley
~Philip Bazeley
Thursday, March 15, 2007
And...another ride begins
We've remained connected to last year's ride, but it with great enthusiasm and pleasure that I welcome reader's to join us on a journey for the 4th Annual Riding4Reform. We hope that you will join on a journey, as we take Israel by bike, March 18 - 22, 2007.
54 Riders from Israel and North America are descending upon Jerusalem, as we speak, getting ready to mount their bikes for a 5 day ride that will cover 221 miles of Eretz Yisrael while all along the way raising monday to support the Progressive Jewish movement in Israel. The dollars raised from this ride will go to support Progressive Judaism, communities and education in the Jewish homeland and will help to make a statement that within the fabric of this country, there needs to exist different ways to express Judaism and to be a Jew in the 21st century.
Each day we will update this blog with thoughts from the riders, an overview of the road travelled for the day and any other thoughts and pictures we might be able to share as we bring you along with us. Please show your support by checking in on the riders and hearing their experience along the way.
These 5 days are sure to be exciting and challenging. There is an incredible group of people coming together to ride as a team in support of Progressive Judaism. We hope you will be our cheerleaders along the way.
54 Riders from Israel and North America are descending upon Jerusalem, as we speak, getting ready to mount their bikes for a 5 day ride that will cover 221 miles of Eretz Yisrael while all along the way raising monday to support the Progressive Jewish movement in Israel. The dollars raised from this ride will go to support Progressive Judaism, communities and education in the Jewish homeland and will help to make a statement that within the fabric of this country, there needs to exist different ways to express Judaism and to be a Jew in the 21st century.
Each day we will update this blog with thoughts from the riders, an overview of the road travelled for the day and any other thoughts and pictures we might be able to share as we bring you along with us. Please show your support by checking in on the riders and hearing their experience along the way.
These 5 days are sure to be exciting and challenging. There is an incredible group of people coming together to ride as a team in support of Progressive Judaism. We hope you will be our cheerleaders along the way.
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