I think you are right. Israel has what a lot people are seeking. A real community with a culture that has existed for thousands of years and a religion that you can choose to a part of 100% or only when it suits.
The Jews reclaiming its land after 2,000 years is a miracle to be celebrated by all.
This was a heart-warming read! Not the bits about Israel-ignorance, but your insights that yes, we still have all the things other people have thrown away, thinking they were being so clever and post-modern and are now wandering around the world, spiritually at least, looking for a replacement. Thank you for giving me another reason to love us. Am Yisrael Chai!
99.99% YES to this whole piece! But not quite 100%… as a Jewish Mainer, I can say that Maine has had a small but thriving (and growing) Jewish community long before—and still here after— 1912. Jews were certainly not kicked out of Maine in 1912, and as a lifelong Mainer, that’s a fact worth getting correct. In fact, my congregation was founded in 1917. Yes, there is a guy running for Senate with a Nazi tattoo, but he’s a knucklehead, and there are lots and lots of “Good Mainers” who uphold and support Maine’s 28,000 Jews. The Jewish population in Maine in 1910 was roughly 10,000, so we’re still here and we’re doing just fine. In fact, our local JCA sent a delegation of us to Israel just two weeks ago and we deeply enjoyed eating the perfect food, as you accurately noted.
What a wonderful essay !!!!!!!.....and it's so true we have all these rituals and meditation too.....Your new friends should visit you in Israel.......in spite of EVERYTHING, is one of the. HAPPIEST countries in the world !!!!!!!!!.Am Israel Chai.......
Vacationing while Jewish can be “interesting.” I’m glad that you realized that we have it all as Jews, and they do resent that. I wrote about an incident I experienced on vacation, close to home, here in California:
I think you are right. Israel has what a lot people are seeking. A real community with a culture that has existed for thousands of years and a religion that you can choose to a part of 100% or only when it suits.
The Jews reclaiming its land after 2,000 years is a miracle to be celebrated by all.
This was good writing.
This was a heart-warming read! Not the bits about Israel-ignorance, but your insights that yes, we still have all the things other people have thrown away, thinking they were being so clever and post-modern and are now wandering around the world, spiritually at least, looking for a replacement. Thank you for giving me another reason to love us. Am Yisrael Chai!
Fantastic article. I hope your new friends do visit. The world should visit. People need to see the facts, truth, love and diversity in Israel. 🙏🥰❤️🌺
99.99% YES to this whole piece! But not quite 100%… as a Jewish Mainer, I can say that Maine has had a small but thriving (and growing) Jewish community long before—and still here after— 1912. Jews were certainly not kicked out of Maine in 1912, and as a lifelong Mainer, that’s a fact worth getting correct. In fact, my congregation was founded in 1917. Yes, there is a guy running for Senate with a Nazi tattoo, but he’s a knucklehead, and there are lots and lots of “Good Mainers” who uphold and support Maine’s 28,000 Jews. The Jewish population in Maine in 1910 was roughly 10,000, so we’re still here and we’re doing just fine. In fact, our local JCA sent a delegation of us to Israel just two weeks ago and we deeply enjoyed eating the perfect food, as you accurately noted.
Brava for schooling your retreat in an equitable way and for enlightening them. I love your writing!
What a wonderful essay !!!!!!!.....and it's so true we have all these rituals and meditation too.....Your new friends should visit you in Israel.......in spite of EVERYTHING, is one of the. HAPPIEST countries in the world !!!!!!!!!.Am Israel Chai.......
Beautiful Hana. I hope to share coffee and challah with you and let you know your humor is fantastic. It would certainly be wasted on the Irish. LOL
I loved this piece!!!
Vacationing while Jewish can be “interesting.” I’m glad that you realized that we have it all as Jews, and they do resent that. I wrote about an incident I experienced on vacation, close to home, here in California:
https://joshuanamm.substack.com/p/nazis-in-the-jacuzzi
This was really good. (Major improvement from your last article for this site.)