I
finished my bike ride with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. What a
great time! Roughly 250km from the Carmel Mountain to Jerusalem. Amazing
terrain, a wonderful group of travelers, and a very worthwhile cause. There is
no way to summarize the trip here but I would like to post the blessing/prayer/reflection
I offered at our closing ceremony. On our last night, I collected quotes and
thoughts from everyone in response to the question: "When you think of the
trip, is there a word or a quote that sticks with you?" I then took
everyone's words and reflections on their chosen word/quote and threaded them
together. Here is what emerged:
This
ride has been far more than just 250km from the Carmel to Mevasseret. It has
been about soup and sandwiches. It has been about personal challenges. It has
been about Israel and its future. It has been about and for the IMPJ. This has
been a ride of rocks and sand, of eshkoliyot and pomeliyot, shkeidim and
ofanayim. We blessed God for the fruit and the Creation that was all around us.
We saw God in the setting sun by the Sea and in eyes of our fellow riders as we
read the morning traveller's prayer. We faced tough moments every day but they
pale in comparison to the challenges the 30 reform congregations here face on a
regular basis.
We
have learned what congregations like Beit Daniel and Bavat Ayin are doing to
create meaningful Judaism for Israelis. We have been inspired and humbled by
the work and creativity of Lotem, Tom, and Matan and their fellow Mechina
participants who live in a Reform Jewish context to prepare not just for the
Army, but for life.
We
have learned that when you fall down, the best thing to do is to get back on
the bike and ride. And when you are in the sand, lean back. And when your chain
gets stuck, use your fingers to fix the problem, even though they will get
greasy.
Avi
taught us that Israel is the best place to ride but what most people don't
realize is how difficult the Israeli terrain is. Though meant in the context of
biking, if you look at that teaching in the context of developing Reform
Judaism, Avi gave us a beautiful quote for inspiring us to work diligently with
the Reform movement here. "Israel is the best place to ride but what most
people don't realize is how difficult the Israeli terrain is." And when
Arnon told us, "this is only for advanced riders," he said a
mouthful. Whether we physically rode every kilometer, we are all advanced
riders when it comes to promoting Progressive Judaism.
It
has been remarkable that this many people of such a variety of skills made it
so far. And we were able to accomplish what we did because Hadas told us,
"It's a ride, not a race." And so we took care of one another. We can
take pride in being part of a group that is so friendly, helpful, and
considerate. We take pride in ourselves, whether we were from Team Canada or
elsewhere in North America. We take pride in the accomplishments of the IMPJ,
filled with hope from what we have learned and know that we are helping in some
capacity.
With
each meter and each climb, the love and support of our sponsors gave us
encouragement and the ability to keep the pedals turning or our feet walking.
May
we come to embrace the ascent as well as the descent and see the Divine in all
we meet along the way. And when we think we have nothing left in us, just
remember this ride, our friends we have made along the way, and recall what
Rabbi Oded Mazor taught us in his drash: the light on the altar would never be
extinguished as long as people gave it fire. The fire, light and warmth of
Torah, of friendship, of Judaism is in our hands. May we use it wisely.
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