It is such a privilege to be here in Yerushalayim!
This is the completion of a journey that began 5 summers ago!
I had a sabbatical coming that I could not find a way to take. Three months to renew my rabbinate and refresh my learning – had been included in my contract and I found people very encouraging – but comments went something like this: “Oh rabbi, I know how much you will benefit from some time to recharge your batteries, but --- make sure you are here for my son’s wedding…or my daughter’s bat mitzvah!” And then I discovered the Rabbinic Leadership Institute at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem that offers a variety of learning opportunities for rabbis of all denominations from all over the world with some of the finest scholars in Judaism. So I came on my vacation in the summer of 2006 for two weeks to check out their RTI – Rabbinic Training Institute which is open every summer to hundreds of rabbis from around the globe. I fell in love – with the learning, the place, the people and I applied to their prestigious Fellowship program that accepts an elite group of 27 or so rabbis once every three years to an intense program of study and fellowship.
And then in the summer of 2007 I began a three year journey that brought me to Jerusalem every July for three years. In addition I came for one week in February and on 22 Mondays I participated in video conference learning from my office – where all 27 of us joined form our offices with our teachers in Jerusalem. The timing fit perfectly into my schedule and the rhythm of my life at Beth Sholom. And, now this summer we came to participate in a tekes siyyum – a graduation ceremony where we would be awarded the title of Senior Fellows of the Hartman Institute. It was a moving ceremony that included Natan Sharansky as the honored speaker. I was proud to be chosen as a speaker to present comments on behalf of our class of 27 rabbis. I have taken the liberty to post my address on our tbsroslyn youtube site – you can access it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EozAVNrweGI.
We have also been busy with our usual regimen of study here at Hartman that begins early on the morning and continues till late at night. This year the theme is: Engaging Israel: Jewish Values & the Dilemmas of Nationhood.
We are wrestling with the issues that confront all of us who care about Israel and the challenges she faces in a hostile world. We study and argue over the meaning of Israel, the challenges of Israel and the unique relationship and responsibilities that we have as American Jews.
Our courses include: Legal and Moral Dilemmas in Countering Terrorism: An Insider’s View taught by Tal Becker an International Associate at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a member of the Hartman Institute's Engaging Israel Project. From 2006-2009 he served as senior policy advisor to Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs and was a lead negotiator in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Annapolis peace process. He has represented Israel in a wide variety of bilateral and multilateral negotiations, and served as director of the International Law Department at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, as counsel to Israel's UN Mission in New York, and as an international law expert in the Military Advocate General's Corps of the Israel Defense Forces. We have studied with Rachel Korazim, David Hartman, Michah Goodman – an incredible young scholar who is doing remarkable things here in Israel. We have discussed such issues like: The Value of Peoplehood, The Question of Sovereignty – that go to the very core of what this place is and what it is trying to be. 
While study is most of what I am doing here we are also here in Jerusalem, catching up with old friends – soaking in the sights and sounds of this remarkable city. Last night we went to the opening of the Jerusalem Film Festival which featured an incredible French Film- La Rafle – about the roundup of Jews in Paris in 1942. It is a powerful movie but was even more remarkable to watch it while sitting in the midst of thousands of other Israelis – outdoors under a beautiful clear and cool Jerusalem night at Sultan’s Pool outside the walls of the Old City. One of the special moments was when they introduced the producer, writer and some of the actors – and the screenwriter explained how they felt about screening this movie in Jerusalem – and how everything in the story was true with the exception of one conversation she felt she needed to add. At a poignant moment, right before the Jews were herded onto the trains that would take them to their deaths – there is a brief conversation between two of the leading actors over where their salvation will come from. One suggests that Jewish salvation will come from the communist revolution, “Ah a Bolshevik!” says the other. And then he replies that what we need is our own country, where Jews can defend themselves! “Ah a Zionist,” says the other. But to watch that movie, in this place – surrounded by thousands of Jews who had built a country – a place where Jews could defend themselves. Well, it was truly a remarkable movie. When that very sad movie was over, we were in Israel. So many had died – and we were alive, in Jerusalem – in a vital and vibrant country – truly remarkable. Tonight is Shabbat. Nothing in the world better than Shabbat in Yerushalayim.
The plan is to take a walk after dinner – to visit the Hasidic shuls in Meah Shearim – to “tisch hop” -- go from one Rebbe Tisch to another. These get togethers take place late (near midnight) on Shabbat – when the Hasidim gather to be near their particular rebbe – to learn from him but more importantly to imbibe his presence. It should be quite an experience – hundreds (thousands?) of Hasidim in a room with their revered rebbe – singing, dancing. I will be sure to let you know how it goes.
Until then – warm wishes of Shabbat Shalom from Edy and me from Jerusalem!
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