Dear Friends,
It is truly an honour to be serving Beth Tzedec during our 70th anniversary year. As early as morning minyan begins, I still wake up every single day excited to do God’s work, whether it be preaching, teaching, supporting or comforting, in our vibrant and flourishing community.
In honour of our 70th anniversary, we are delighted to announce that Beth Tzedec is offering two very different trips to Israel.
We will host an info night about both trips on Sunday, March 23. To register, click here>>
On August 7-14, I will lead a trip that travels from Jerusalem, up north and then back down the coast as far as Tel Aviv, ending in Modiin. Highlights include time in the shuk, the new National Library, the Old City and Shabbat in Jerusalem. There will be volunteer opportunities, time in Tzfat, the De Karina Chocolate Factory, visiting Save A Child’s Heart, a water hike, and a night dining and walking by the Kineret. We will be spending time with the rabbi of released hostage Romi Gonen, Rabbi Natatlie Lastreger, who was a Tanenbaum Fellow, and is the current president of the Israel Rabbinical Assembly. We will spend time eating with and exploring the Ethiopian and Druze communities. Almost every day we will learn from a different fascinating Israeli woman or group of women. We will be on the go, staying in Jerusalem, up north at Kibbutz Nof Ginossar and in Haifa. This trip is designed for all adults, not just for women.
The next trip is on October 20-26. Jumping into Israel with Reb Steve is no ordinary tour—it’s a deep dive into the heart and soul of the country. Over six whirlwind days, we’ll explore Israel’s history, politics, and resilience, meeting locals, hearing firsthand accounts, and getting our hands dirty with meaningful volunteer work. We’ll start by grounding ourselves at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People and meeting with those affected by October 7, then journey to Sderot and the Nova festival site to witness the scars of recent events. Politics take center stage at the Knesset, where we’ll engage with Israeli lawmakers before unwinding with a whisky tasting and a conversation on the Haredi draft. We’ll get a feel for the land—literally—through agricultural volunteering before welcoming Shabbat in Jerusalem, where Rabbi Anat Hoffman will guide us in prayer at Azarat Yisrael (The Egalitarian Kotel). A final day of reflection with the World Zionist Organization, leaders on the impact of the recent Congress, and a meeting with President Herzog (TBD) will tie together the threads of our journey before we head home, deeply moved and inspired.
You can extend on either end for both of these trips.
Visiting Israel is a building block of Jewish identity. We can understand Israel better and differently when we are physically there. When we go to Israel with a synagogue group, we strengthen our bonds not only to the land but also to Israelis and especially strongly with the people whom we travel with. Also, the shopping and the food is amazing! The March 2024 Israel Mission group still meets monthly, as we make our way through Saul Singer and Dan Senor’s book The Genius of Israel. But really, the group just wants to be together, as it brings us back to the magical experience we had.
While your rabbis love Toronto and we love the Beth Tzedec community, we are the best versions of ourselves when we are in Israel. Trust me. Or join us and witness it for yourself!
When asked when he was going next to Israel, my Uncle Herbz”l would say he was going on “the first”. When asked the first of what, he would say the first chance he gets. Let this August or October be “the first” for you. While the number of times Reb Steve has been to Israel surpasses my frequency, I subscribe to my uncle’s philosophy. Let this August or October be “the first” for you.
We hope as many of you as possible will join us, either in August or October or both!
Please register and join us for the information meeting or reach out to either of us directly. To register, click here>>
I hope you had a joyous Purim,
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Fryer Bodzin
