By Rabbi Rich Kirschen, Director of NFTY in Israel
This summer on NFTY in Israel, the power of watching hundreds of young adults begin a Jewish journey of a lifetime, is truly an experience in Heschelian awe (This concept is based on Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, whose writings often point out the power of wonder). However, as much as this summer is about “being in the moment,” and learning to savor all of the “little events” that make up this summer, this is also an important time to think about the future. NFTY in Israel is much more than the many different adventures that your children will encounter such as, climbing Masada, digging deep on an archaeological dig, swimming in the Red Sea, exploring Jerusalem, and discovering Tel Aviv. As I watch these young people travel through this country, I know that at times it can feel like mild sensory overload, but I also know that I am witnessing the seeds that we are planting for the Jewish future.
Many of you have invested significant resources both emotionally and materially to ensure that your teen was able to experience NFTY in Israel this summer. This of course is in keeping with one of our most important core Jewish values found in the Sh’mah prayer (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) that tells us “You will teach them diligently unto your children.” This quote is a clear reminder about the importance of passing on our understanding of Torah and the importance of being part of the Jewish people to the next generation.
There is also a beautiful story in the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit, page 23A) that explains why it is so important to teach our children Jewish traditions and Jewish values when they are young.
One day Honi was journeying on the road and he saw a man planting a carob tree.
He asked, “How long does it take [for this tree] to bear fruit?” The man replied: “Seventy years.”
Honi then further asked him: “Are you certain that you will live another seventy years?” The man replied: “I found [already grown] carob trees in the world; as my forefathers planted those for me so I too plant these for my children.”
All of us are Honi. By bringing these young adults to Israel this summer, we are in fact “planting carob trees” for the generations to come. It is not by accident that the Torah is called “the tree of life”. We all know that with all of the joy and with all of the wonder that means to be part of the Jewish people, our people will continue to encounter major challenges in the years to come. After sixty years in the Israel education travel business, NFTY in Israel knows that is our responsibility as Jewish educators to make sure that these young people will be prepared to navigate the world as both Jewish adults and Jewish leaders in the future.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
