Wedding Album

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An appropriate farewell- for now...

Shabbat Shalom U’Moadim L’Simcha.

A few weeks ago, Rabbi Daniel Gordis published an article in the Jerusalem Post where he claimed that today’s American Rabbinical students have anti-Zionist attitudes. He cited a few examples:

·      One student, in Jerusalem for the year, celebrated one of his birthday parties at a bar in Ramallah where anti-Israel slogans were posted on the walls.

·      A young Rabbi refuses to stand for the “Prayer for Israel.”

·      Another student asked for suggestions for a new Tallit that was NOT “Made in Israel”

·      And a North American rabbinical school asked for its students to submit things that they wanted to remember this Yom Hazikaron including losses on both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

After reading this piece on the zionist (or anti-zionist) attitudes of Rabbinical students, I think that it is important to point out that it is certainly not the majority of students who feel that way. I for one, love studying, living, and wrestling with what it means to be in Israel- but never have I questioned the right of Israel to exist nor have I ever regretted that there is an Israel.

A week and a half ago, I had the opportunity to sit at a table with Rabbi Danny Gordis and almost 20 other Conservative Rabbinical Students. In a respectful conversation, we spoke about what it means to be a supporter of Israel and how today is a very different world than that in which our parents were raised but how in no way does that make us anti-zionist. Danny Gordis shared that his earliest memory of Israel was watching his parents pace in the kitchen while Walter Cronkite was in the TV during the Yom Kippur War. I thought about mine–watching the handshake of Rabin, Arafat and Clinton on a small TV set in my 6^th grade classroom. We are from very different generations. His point was clear, Rabbi Gordis felt that rabbis, especially those in the US, should be open supporters of Israel, that we should promote, defend, and fight for the existence and survival of the JEWISH STATE.

The conversation lasted over two hours. Towards the end of meeting, I turned to Rabbi Gordis and asked him the following question: I am a fourth year rabbinical student in New York City and I am here in Israel for a second year, studying and completing my Masters Degree at an Israeli institution. Five months ago, I married an Israeli in Jerusalem yet our chuppah is not recognized by the Rabbanut. You call for us to defend and promote a Jewish state but Jewish for whom? I too struggle with what it means to have a relationship with Israel- not in terms of the legitimacy of the country to exist as you seem to indicate, but more strongly, what it means to be a future Masotri/Conservative rabbi in Israel and especially as a woman.

He took a few other questions and never really touched on mine. I would like to share more of my thoughts on the matter.

On Pesach, we are commanded to remember and tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. We read about Moses leading the nation out of slavery, to freedom. We read that the nation was in a rush that they could not bake bread and yet they still had time to gather jewelry and weapons before exiting from Egypt.

Sometimes it feels like not much has changed since then. B'nei Yisrael in Israel is still in a rush. They push, they yell and they have a sense of entitlement. And they are armed. Maybe this is due to the threat of an attack or the mandatory draft but they still carry weapons.

So what has changed? On Pesach, the holiday when we celebrate our getting our independence and freedom, we also read the book of Shir Hashirim. While I don’t appreciate the “Orthodox” translation and interpretation of Shir Hashirim as being a love story between God and his nation, Israel, it certainly does make me think about my own relationship with Israel and about the Jewish people's relationship with Israel.

How can we/I have a Shir Hashirim relationship- one of unconditional love- with such a complicated country? Although I already consider Israel a home, Ari and I are hoping to make Israel our home within the next 10 years. What does that mean for me? Just as I struggle on a regular basis with my relationship with God and with Judaism, I embrace the struggle with Israel and understand that engaging in a struggle is healthy. I hope that I, we and she grow together.

Just as I am not always happy or proud nor do I always support the decisions and actions of the USA, I sometimes feel the same way about Israel; but I never question whether the USA should exist, nor do I raise the same question about Israel. I study about the history of the land, of Zionism and I work on the future. And I make it one of my loves. As my mother would occasionally tell me as I was a precocious child; I will always love you but I don't like you so much right now.

This year I volunteered in a Masorti Kehillah in Jerusalem. The same issues that concern North American Conservative communities are the same ones that this Israeli Masorti community faced. Increasing the level of Kavana, attracting new members, and struggling with defining its place among the other movements. I have spent this year working with them on increasing the level of spirituality felt in services through teaching about the prayers and new tunes, on making the community more welcoming, and with administrative tasks such as revamping the way in which leaders and Torah readers are found.

Israel also has some gifts for me. As a soon-to-be rabbi, I want to bring a sense of all encompassing Judaism to any community where I serve. I want the members of the congregation to know what the holidays and Shabbat fell like, what they taste like, what they sound like. I love that I have had the opportunity in Israel to get that sense of that for myself. Israel is a country where the holidays are felt, where the smells and sounds on the street are both Biblical and modern. Shabbat is special, not only because there are different prayers in synagogue, but because it is tangible. Pesach is a national holiday where all the supermarkets cover whole sections of food, where each neighborhood in Jerusalem has its own koshering station, and where the nation goes to parks and trails to celebrate the festival of spring.

Around the same time that I was watching the Oslo Accords on TV, I remember being taught that "Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze BaZeh," that we are all responsible for each other. I have tried to hold to it. I try to emulate that huge responsibility, but it goes belond Tzedakah. It goes to living, teaching, learning, doing, embracing, celebrating, and struggling with Judaism. It is about studying Torah, history, halakha, etc. It is about engaging others and sharing this learning relationship that is Judaism and guiding them to form their own connections, relationships, and sense of responsibility to Jews, Judaism, and Israel.

I am grateful for these opportunities to love Israel and appreciate Israel. I hope to return soon to be part of her future.

Purim 5771

On Purim we are told that everything is switched and that certainly is holding true for this purim...

Since seeing the Lion King in London a couple of months ago, I had grand plans to dress like Rafiki for purim. I have this brown sweater and a frumpy skirt. Ari has a stick (long piece of bamboo). My hair is also short enough to spike. I figured that I had everything that I needed...and then I looked at a photo online and decided that I what I had, would not cut it. Plus Ari did not know what he was going to be.

So here was another Purim where I am planning a "costume" in the 30 minutes before heading to megillah reading. What were we? "Matching". We wore leggings under shorts with sneakers, long sleeve shirts under "going out" tank tops and I spiked our hair.

So there we were- "matching" even though nothing that we were wearing matched. We matched eachother...cue sappy music.

We went to shul and both participated in the megillah reading (ironically we both played the parts of women in the interactive megilla reading) and handed out over 40 mishloach manot.

We walked home in the rain talking about how we might order a pizza for dinner, and on the way upstairs, stopped at our landlord's apartment to drop off some mishloach manot. (The landlord stories are for a different time and not in a written forum.) They were thankful and invited us in for a cup of wine. We went upstairs, changed out of our matching outfits and went downstairs for a l'chayim. The glass of wine turned into motzei which turned into dinner.

Apparently once a year (because it is so labor intensive), the landlord's wife makes a special buchari dish of beef dumplings. We each were served two helpings- one with a garlic tomato sauce and the second in a bowl of clear broth with vegetables. YUM! They now have 5 kids- the baby was born about 2 months ago and the kids were getting a bit wild. The three middle ones put music on and started to dance, skip and cartwheel around the house.

Then came this song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5vaoaRbFs4 (you should watch it to the end)
This has been a favorite of mine and Ari's since we discovered the video on youtube. And I knew that it was popular- I mean with over 44,000 hits, it has to be a "hit" but besides youtube videos, I had never heard anyone sing it. Until tonight! We got a full blown concert. Of course we could not help but sing along. I think that we made their night and that was before Ari told them how he was related to Yaakov Shwekey. It was almost like the KBH was singing!

I have a feeling that the kids might try escaping and we might get visitors....or they will start yelling over the wall on our porch.

Happy Purim!

A diverse Israel

I am currently sitting at a cafe, mentally trying to focus on completing a good part of on of my thesis drafts and I have to take a break to appreciate "Israel."

Ari and I came to Cafe Masaryk for breakfast, using one of the coupons that Ari bought before leaving the army. We had a delicious breakfast and even better company. After the meal, Ari left to go home and I stayed to write.

Shortly after Ari left, in walked three individuals with a big box. The two women (about 35 and 55) and a man (about 55) sat down at a table not too far away. They ordered and then pulled out of the box about 20 bras of various styles and colors, all on hangers, and started to talk about them. At one point the two older ones were feeling the lace on a blue one and then the guy started to test the elastic on the sides. Thankfully it did not take too long for their order to come and they put the bras away.

At the table next to them is sitting two religious women with wigs. I look up from my Rabbinic Literature and hear a "is this too opaque?" followed immediately by a "Baruch Hashem" from the other conversation.

Oh, Israel!

A Plague on your Kiddush!

This week, Ari and I, despite feeling like we have a plague with all of the coughing in our home, are hosting a parasha themed kiddush at shul. What does that mean? There are 7 plagues mentioned in this week's parasha (Vayera) and we have them all covered. Hope you enjoy!

 Blood ( Tomato juice)

 Frogs (Guacamole)

 Lice (Sesame noodles, with sesame seeds)

 Wild beasts (Zebra cookies)

 Boils (Thumprint cookies with cherry filling)

 Cattle Sickness (Cottage Cheese)

 Hail (Gum Balls)

Wedding!

 photos on the Tayelet the morning of the chuppah.

 Fellman family (Back row: [Grandpa] Meme Yarhi, Adam, Benny, Dan, Tesita, Ari, Aviva, Michal, Nathan, Sophie, Shahar, Talya. Front row: Yahav, Meitar, Shira, Matan)

 A boy in the Kremer family! (Devora, Ari, Aviva, Hannah)

 All siblings...in age order! (Adam, Devora, Benny, Hannah, Ari, Aviva, Nathan, Sophie)

 The beautiful Ketubbah, made by Abba.

 The beautiful Chuppah, made by Emah.

 Before the ceremony began, I recited a speacial prayer written for brides.

 Ari confirmed that I was neither Leah nor Rachel and veiled me.

 Standing under the chuppah. Ari is wearing his new Tallit (awedding gift from his now wife).

 More under the chuppah.

 Dancing

 Go Eagles!

 Taking a quick rest and then back to the dancing.

 Dancing with my husband.

 Bubbee and Zaydee are in "Heaven" and nearly dancing cheek to cheek.

 Thanks to Sophie for the t-shirts.

 Amazing cake made by Tesita. Thank you!

 Glad to give Uncle Bob a reason to finally come to Israel. YAY!

Please also feel free to check out the following youtube links for video from parts of the wedding:

Family photo op
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOZflbjN7k

Ari enters the Hupa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoJH4Dg5INU

Aviva arrives the Hupa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM-dnG-vUTg

Ari puts the ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEWS6LLAaOo

Ari breaks the glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnVO83QYPF

Happy wedding dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHV0vNIyozk

Meme dances with the couple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JTwa44aPC4

New Beginnings

Welcome back to the musings and adventures of Aviva Kremer (soon to be Fellman). In a few hours I will head to Newark on my way back to Israel. I welcome you to once again join me on my journey.

I have a feeling that this will be another amazingly wonderful year.

-Aviva