Reflections on My Trip to Israel
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Photo Credit: Based on photo by Mendy Hochtman / Flash90
I’m on my way back to Chicago. Unfortunately I don’t think I will be able to post anything today except for this short note. I left Israel shortly after Yom Tov Sheni ended. I will not be arriving in Chicago until Wednesday afternoon.
It was great spending Yom Tov with my son, daughter in law, and 7 Israeli grandchildren.
Ramat Bet Shemesh A is a great place to visit and to live. I met all kinds of people there on all sides of the Hashkafic spectrum and every single one of them welcomed me as if I were one of their own.
Despite some of my early negative observations – it still seemed like there was a tremendous sense of Achdus in many respects. The Shul I davened at was very Charedi and yet a great number of regular attendees there are Dati Leumi – Kipa Seruga, no jacket or hat. Even an occasional Israeli solider in full uniform can be found catching a Minyan there. All are welcome.
There are Hashkafic differences that have led to some of the things I described in an earlier post. But at the same time there is what I just now described. Hard to explain it but that’s the way it seems to be there.
I guess if you avoid talking Hashkafa or politics with your ideological opponents, you can get along marvelously. Is that enough? Not sure.
Gotta go. Next new post: Thursday.
Visit Emes Ve-Emunah.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Harry Maryles runs the blog "Emes Ve-Emunah" which focuses on current events and issues that effect the Jewish world in general and Orthodoxy in particular. It discuses Hashkafa and news events of the day - from a Centrist perspctive and a philosphy of Torah U'Mada. He can be reached at hmaryles@yahoo.com.
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I hope your next post follows up on this. I personally felt your early observations missed the actual reality that is Israel.
“I guess if you avoid talking Hashkafa or politics with your ideological opponents, you can get along marvelously.”.
So, Harry, ignorance is bliss? Yes, as long as you “avoid talking Hashkafa or politice with your ideological opponents” wherewith they would become aware of your leftist, Obama Islamic supporting views, one could get the impression, however unreal it may be, that “there was a tremendous sense of Achdus” in your visit to Israel.
I am sure that if you were to follow the teachings of Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik, this fleeting sense of “Achdus” that you had would become a real everyday important part of your life. If you would try it, I am sure you would like it.