Jerusalem, February 2, 2011

I am sitting in the airport in Tel Aviv waiting to board an airplane for home after spending a week in Jerusalem studying at the Hartman Institute. Many flights to the US have been canceled because of bad weather in the mid-west, but it looks like mine is a go.

It has been an incredible week of learning with colleagues and from master teachers, of staying tuned to CNN to keep up with the latest developments in Egypt, and walking the streets of Jerusalem. The sharing with colleagues has been amazing, and some of the classes we have had in these past few days have been incredibly exciting, inspiring, and insightful. There are brilliant teachers here, and what they give to us is amazing. You will be benefitting from all I learn in the coming weeks and months. Our curriculum was based this past week on the ethics of various Jewish holidays—Shabbat, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Shavuot. We also studied Israel with all its contemporary challenges. This past Monday one of our teachers, Micah Goodman, presented a new way to think about the themes, archetypes, and origins of the story of the Exodus. It was one of the most insightful classes I have ever attended.

And of course Israel is always interesting politically. The big news here is what is happening in Egypt, which seems to have taken everyone by surprise. No one knows how it will turn out, or how it will affect Israel. The border between Israel and Egypt in the Sinai is long, and much of Israel’s foreign policy in the past few years has depended on a good relationship with Egypt. There are always interesting internal struggles within the country too. But no matter what happens, Israelis go on with business as usual and everything seems safe and very normal.

What I love to do most in Jerusalem is walk. Every time I come I spend as much time as I can exploring the city. This afternoon I was in the Old City where I went to the Wall. Sometimes I have ambivalent feelings about the Wall, but this afternoon it seemed the right place for me to be. I prayed for all in our community who need strength and healing prayers, and took time just to be in that space. I can’t go to the Old City without visiting my friends in the shuk (the market), and naturally doing a little shopping!

I look forward to getting home and sharing with you my time in this special place.