The Lessons to be Learned…
by Rina Liebeskind
Rina Liebeskind is the Education Director at Kol Ami Synagogue, traveling to Israel for an Educators’ Mission sponsored by the iCenter, the Jewish Education Project, and Shorashim. The goal of the mission is to show support to Israel by meeting with educators, hostage family members, and officials. While there, Rina will have the opportunity to volunteer and also tour some of the displaced community sites. As a visiting educator, Rina will bear witness to the events of October 7th and its aftermath and share her first-hand experience with learners back at home.
I’m still processing everything that I saw and heard while I was in Israel. In searching for the right message about lessons to be learned, I found a lot in common with the reflection that Rabbi Stacy Rigler, the Executive Director of the Association of the Reform Jewish Educator, wrote:
Educators across the world are trying to simultaneously articulate a philosophy of Israel education, reflect on their own beliefs around good, evil, and Jewish peoplehood, and work to develop an enduring understanding of Jewish education to impart to their students. This is a monumental task to both ask the questions and to try to answer them for ourselves, as individuals and leaders. Though we grasp the challenge, we will not abandon the pursuit.”
Israel and the Jewish people are inextricably linked; regardless of our individual or communal beliefs about the modern State of Israel, being a Jew in the 21st century requires engagement with and deep learning about the land of Israel.
October 7 is not an event that lives solely in the Arab/Israeli story; it launched a worldwide attack on Antisemitism. While I may have known this before our trip, hearing so many Israelis ask us about our experiences since October 7 clarified what this moment in time might come to mean in the future, and how it is currently shaping our present.
There is so much to share about the trip, but perhaps the biggest takeaway is to continue to educate, listen, process, and identify the needs of learners, families, and staff.
I want to end with a video clip by Ester Rada, a well know musician that shared her message of love and light with my group. When we were in Jerusalem.
The Beit Avi Chai new series called “Song of Hope” features Israeli composers and musicians who discuss the songs that have been a source of solace for them during these difficult days of war and trauma.
We were lucky to have a private show with Ester Rada, who shared with us her unique background of being an Orthodox Ethiopian Jew growing up in Israel. Her performance left us feeling hopeful and I hope you too will enjoy her beautiful message.