Rosanne Selfon

Editors' Note: WRJ released a statement on this prayer service. Hello again from Israel and, in particular, from Jerusalem. Today was simply an experience almost too profound to articulate. We were awakened by our 5:30 a.m. wake-up call so we could have a cup of coffee, a quick bite of breakfast, and be on the bus by 6:20 a.m. We headed toward the old city's Dung Gate. Some of us were more than a little nervous given the Haredim posters calling for a significant turnout to dispute our praying wearing tallitot at the Kotel. What if they threw chairs at us or elbowed us or spit at us? What if we did get detained? Despite the intimidation, most of the women on our trip decided this was a moment in history... it was time to make our 1913 matriarchs who marched for suffrage proud of values we continue to uphold.

Yesterday six of the group headed from their plane to Rosh Hanikra at the Lebanese border. Following their cable car ride to the sea, they then learned about the caves cut out by the British. They headed back to Tel Aviv but not before having lunch at the Tishbi Winery, which include a wine and chocolate tasting.There isn’t a better combination–this should become its own food group!

I have discovered the fountain of youth… attend NFTY Convention! Our kids are AMAZING!  They come in all shapes and sizes, wear crazy clothes, and cling to each other like window stickers. They love being Jewish! They celebrate Shabbat with joy and exuberance. They pray and worship with reverence and intent. They sing and dance to Jewish music as if they are at a rock concert. They listen with respect; they confer with sincerity.  They get it—all of ‘it’ and always with a Jewish heart and soul.

Do you remember when you counted the days until Hanukkah arrived? I can still picture my mom polishing the traditional brass lion menorah and buying new candles from our Temple Sisterhood. I was allowed to select just the perfect candles, sometimes placed in order by colors and sometimes chosen to simply be bright and happy. Mom's latkes were the best ever; she made hundreds for the religious school’s Hanukkah party and was called "The Latke Lady."