Shabbat Shalom

by Rabbi Jon Adland

Aug. 6, 2010, Reeh (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17), 26 Av 5770

It seems like such a long time since I’ve sent you a message, and so much has taken place in my life. Most of it is good and that is what I will focus on. At the end of June, Sandy and I led a trip to Israel that was filled with seeing new sites and exhibits, as well as visiting familiar and special places. Our wonderful guide, Doron, took us on a journey through Israel tying together Jewish history from long ago to the history of modern Israel and present-day realities.

It was wonderful for me to watch the trip’s participants see and react to places such as Masada and the Western Wall. It was exciting to see those that went on the trip embrace the holiness and excitement of Jerusalem. It was fun to watch people become experts on hummus, schwarma and falafel. Oh yeah, by the way, it was incredibly hot. Hot was what Indianapolis had in common with Israel. The only difference is that here it also rains. Regardless of the heat, I can’t wait to return to Israel. Sandy and I hope to go back some time this winter. We’ve never been there together without a tour. We want to wake up and leisurely stroll the streets, eat lunch at a neighborhood place, go to the beach, visit northern Israel, and just enjoy the country without waking up to catch an 8 a.m. bus.

Since returning from Israel, I’ve been blessed to do two things. The last week of July, I took my yearly weeklong class at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Ind. Marc and Susie, his wife, run the school, but over the years they have become friends with Sandy and me as well. Marc is one of the most optimistic people I have ever met and makes every person who attends the school feel as if they can do anything with their hands and wood. (I am proof that anyone can achieve.) My class this year was on veneering, and I actually learned how to do veneering, which is pretty cool. We will see where it takes me. Mostly my time at Marc Adams is therapeutic. I don’t think about anything but the class. I focus on the task at hand and when I come home, I think about tomorrow’s project. It is certainly a great way to clear the mind from anything else going on in life.

The week before and the week after the class, I was working at GUCI helping the middle-aged unit, Gezah (entering 7th and 8th graders), build a new, smaller sized beit tefillah (chapel) back in the woods. I was thrilled to be working outside every afternoon for a couple of hours in 90+ degree heat. We finished that project on Wednesday, and the unit had a dedication of the beit tefillah yesterday. It was nice to see a new, meditative place come alive at camp. Those youth who worked hard to build this holy space will return to it year after year. Maybe they might just sit down and think about this glorious world they live in and the opportunities to continue to make this world a special place.

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