An Aspergers' Eye View of Israel Part 1

Neve Ilan

The statistics are the easy part: 24 Participants, 3 Israeli soldiers, 6 Madrichim, 1 Israeli tour guide, 1 Israeli Ethiopian Bus Driver and 1 Israeli medic, 10 days touring in Israel, two 11+ hour El Al airplane flights and one  wonderful and amazing experience for all of us.  On our birthright trip we visited all of the important Israel touch stones with just a few changes from other Birthright trips.  We stay  at only two different Kibbutzim first at the lovely Neve Ilan  and 2 nights up in the Galilee at Kibbutz Gonen.

Kibbutz Gonen

I think that on many birthright trips the participants become friends and bond in a significant way as they visit important historical sites in Israel.  This trip is designed to pull at your heart strings and to rejuvenate an interest not only in Israel but in Judaism.  Our participants worked very hard to learn one another's names, bond together as a group and keep up with the very busy schedule.  This trip is sponsored by Shorashim and United Synagogue and we began each day with T'fillot, services.  On our first day besides getting over our jet lag we visited Independence Hall where the state of Israel was declared by David Ben Gurion, Rabin's Square and then to a volunteer project where we picked sweet potatoes for Leket, Israel's national food bank.  That evening like other evenings we had a fun program and rested at the end of the day.

Picking sweet potatoes at Leket

Camels before the ride

Tuesday we visited the Jewish quarter of the Old City and certainly a highlight was visiting the Kotel, the western wall.  That afternoon we visited Shekel, which provides community services for people with disabilities.  Our participants appreciated not just visiting the center but meeting Israelis with Aspergers as well.  My group in particular had a very intense conversation about the struggles they have all faced having Aspergers especially interacting with peers at school or in the workplace.

Wednesday we had a wonderful day in the Darom, or South.  After the long ride We began with a visit with the Bedouins lunch and camel rides.  The food was tasty and the camel rides were fun.  We forged on to Masada and climbed to the top by the way of the Roman ramp, which is easier to climb than the snake path which is on the other side.  It was a beautiful day and we all made it up to the top and came back down by way of the cable car.

As I start preparing for Shabbat I can't believe that just yesterday I was in Jerusalem and last week celebrating Shabbat on Neve Ilan with group of extraordinary Taglit Birthright Shorashim Bus #287 participants.  After Shabbat more on our trip and the wonderful end to our trip.  Shabbat Shalom.

Masada

Not Just any Birthright Trip

We will eat falafel.

I leave to staff a Birthright trip, Sunday, December 22 for 10 days.  I love visiting Israel and taking people there for a first time experience.  This time I am on a special mission as my Birthright trip is for young adults with Aspergers. (Asperger syndrome is often considered a high functioning form of autism. It can lead to difficulty interacting socially, repeat behaviors, and clumsiness.) My middle son went on this same trip 2 years ago and had the time of his life.  Shorashim is the sponsor of this trip and has been for the past few years with different partner organizations.  The students this year as in the past are from all over the United States.  This trip is not unlike other Birthright trips, we see the same sites from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv to Safed but we don't move around as much; we have more staff and most of our time is programmed. We will eat falafel, ride camels and have a wonderful time.  I will know more in a few days and look forward to blogging my experiences.  

I find as a parent of a young Jewish adult on the spectrum and as an Educator in suburban Chicago that we don't offer many Jewish programs for this constituency. As a professional I am not proud of this fact but I do believe that in the future we will see more programs for students not on the spectrum. Even in my school every year I see more students on the spectrum who would benefit from long and short term Jewish experiences.  

I am looking forward to working with a dedicated staff and I know my group is excited and can't wait to land at Ben Gurion Airport Monday.  We will begin our journey and I know one thing for sure: it will be a memorable one.

Jonathan at the Kotel, with his Birthright Madrichim, Counselors

Not the natural order of things: A light gone out, Sammy Sommer Z'L

This is not the natural order of things, for parents to bury a child.   I was at Sammy Sommer's (Z"L) funeral with more than 1000 people as we said goodbye to Sammy and as we cried with Phyllis, Michael, David, Yael and Solly.  I was there with many Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, teachers, friends, congregants; this assembly was mighty and to behold it in person was to be in awe.  

Program booklet

Rabbi Steven Lowenstein began with a story from Rabbi Harold Kushner about a boy who was very late coming home from school.  Where was he?  He was with a friend whose brand new bicycle had broke.  His parents yelled at him and asked again what could he do to help?  He didn't know how to fix a bicycle, the boy responded, I helped him to cry.  

Inside program booklet

We were all there today to help the entire Sommer family and the circles of communities to grieve.  Phyllis and Michael are part of so many communities that in the first part of Rabbi Lowenstein's remarks which had been dictated by Phyllis, he thanked all of the different communities including:  Am Shalom Congregation and their staff, their children's schools, pre-schools, their temporary schools in Milwaukee, the hospital, the Ronald McDonald House and their camp, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute and too many more to list here.  

Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz's voice along with the voice and guitar of Adam Kahan gave all of us comfort as they sang Ozi v'izimrat Yah, Cantor Markowicz Adonai Roi, (23rd Pslam) and Adam closed with Chazak- be Strong by Dan Nichols and Lee Friedman.  

Rabbi Pamela Mandel told us that today was not a day we wanted to ever face.  We hoped and hoped it would not come. In Rabbi Lowenstein's eulogy which was eloquent, full of tears and some giggles he told us that soon after Sam relapsed this last time that the two of them had a conversation over lunch with french fries.  Sam asked, "Who will do my funeral?"  and Rabbi Lowenstein said he would.  Sam asked if there could be fireworks and party games.  Rabbi Lowenstein said we will see what we can do.  A few weeks ago the community came together again and gave Sammy fireworks which he saw and enjoyed.  Sammy was bright, he loved bugs and animals; he loved OSRUI and most of all he loved life.  

When the pall bearers were called up for this tiny casket my tears flowed harder if that is possible.  It is not in the natural order of life to watch Sammy's favorite friends, uncles, babysitters, principal, Rabbi friends, be called to be his pall bearers.  As they came forward I was broken.

As I got back to my office after the funeral my phone, email, Facebook were all beeping and going off.   I hope this paltry effort opens a window on to my perspective of saying goodbye to Sammy.   That is one reason I wanted to write this all down.  Another reason I write down here is for my mentor,Phyllis, Ima Bima  who gently guided me to blog and to start on social media. Phyllis and Michael's own blog for Superman Samuel has drawn so many people into their inner circle.  Many people feel connected and want to continue to help this family in this sad hour. Following the story is a natural out take of their beautiful blog to Sammy, which in turn is a tribute to the entire family.  

When I heard that Sam has breathed his last breath Friday night I broke my Shabbat rule and texted Phyllis and Michael, "I have no words, Baruch Dayan Haemet, (traditional response meaning "Blessed is the true Judge")  doesn't seem right. I love you." It is cold, snowy and dark in Chicago today; a light has gone out.  

Books, Book lists and Book Group

I have a book group at Lakeside Congregation and this week before we met I updated our  list of books and discovered we have read 33 books.  We have been meeting since December 2011  and it all started when a few woman asked if we could do an evening book group.  We read Jewish books and being transparent here some of the books I have read before I recommend them and some I have just researched.  

We have appreciated most of the books and others we have come to appreciate after we have had our group discussion.  I think one of my favorite book group meetings was  The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal.  The book is well written; not particularly easy to read and is a family memoir by British ceramicist Edmund De Waal who tells the story of his family the Ephrussi, once a very wealthy European Jewish banking dynasty, centered in Odessa, Vienna and Paris, and peers of the Rothschild family. The Ephrussis lost almost everything in 1938 when the Nazis "Aryanized" their property.

At this meeting we all brought a meaningful family heirloom and we saw some beautiful family objects and learned even more about one another.  We are able to share stories and get to learn about one another at all of our book groups.  We come from different backgrounds, some of us were not born in America, some of us are married, some divorced, some with children and grandchildren, some with empty nests and some with full nests. I find our groups to be a relaxing evening of talking, sharing ideas and discussing our lives through the books we have read together.  Our hosts are all gracious and gives us delicious treats and fun drinks.  

We are not the first  book group on the block but I am very proud of our duration and the dedication of our members.  I also want to give special thanks to my mentors all of them book club mavens: Rachel Kamin at NSS Beth El, Lori Sagarin at Temple Beth Israel and Rabbi Phyllis Sommer at Am Shalom.  They share their book lists,  their expertise and  their comments in person, on Goodreads and over the internet.  I can't thank them enough.  

I love books and asking everyone I know; "What is the latest book you have read?"  I love young adult books, books about Israel and even a good romance novel now and then.  Next time you see me tell me what you are reading; take a look at my Gfoodreads page and see what I am reading.  I challenged myself to read 40 books this year and I am on track to make it.  The trip to Israel will put me over the top I am sure.  What trip to Israel....read about it next week.

Lakeside Book Group List:

December 2, 2011    Books we have read so far, 12-2-11:

1.    Plot Against America: Philip Roth

2.    People of the Book: Geraldine Brooks

3.    Away: Amy Bloom

4.    Rashi’s daughters: Maggi Anton

5.    Septembers of Shiraz:  Dalia Sofer

6.    To Begin Again:  Rabbi Naomi Levy 

7.    Eli Weisel’s Rashi

8.    Day after Night: Anita Diament

9.    Girl from Foreign: Sadia Shephard (Memoir)

10. All other nights: Dara Horn

11. Invisible wall: Harry Bernstein (part of a trilogy and a Memoir)

12. The Year of Living Biblically: A.J. Jacobs

13. History of Love: Nicole Krauss

14. Pigeon and a boy: Meir Shelev

15. My Father’s Paradise: Ariel Sabar  (Memoir)

16. Stations West: Allison Amend

17. 19th Wife: David Ebershoff  

18. Mr. Rosenbloom Dreams in English by Natasha Solomon

19. The Invisible Bridge: Julie Orringer 

20. The Jew Store: Stella Suberman 

21. Drawing in the Dust: Zoe Klein  

22. Dovekeeper: Alice Hoffman

23. Love and Shame and Love: Peter Orner

24. In the Garden of the Beasts: Erik Larrsen

25. Midwife of Venice: Roberta Rich

26. Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots: Deborah Feldman  

27. 2013 Hare with the Amber Eyes: Edmund De Waal

28. Home in the Morning: Mary Glickman

29. 10,00 Lovers: Edit Ravel

30. Second Person Singular: Sayed Kashua,  

31. Wayward Moon: Janice Weiszman

       32. What we talk about when we talk about Anne Frank: Nathan Englander

       33. Sweet Dates of Basra: Jessica Jiji

      

2014

       34. 2014 My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner: A Family Memoir:  Meir Shelev

       35.  The List: Martin Fletcher

       36.  The Illusion of Separateness: Simon Van Booy

Retreat at OSRUI: Good for the Soul

Human bingo

Last weekend Lakeside and Or Shalom went on their annual Fall retreat to OSRUI with 5th and 6th graders.  (Or Shalom also had an adult retreat there at the same time).  We had 32 students, 5 Madrichim and 2 Educators and we had a wonderful time.  We started Friday night with a delicious Shabbat dinner, followed by T'filot and then a fun game of Human bingo (you would be surprised by the number of students who had been to Israel and/or could do the splits) and finished with a game of Gaga.

Felt B'samim for Havdavlah

Israeli Flag in icing and marshmallows

Gaga or Ga-ga (lit. "touch-touch") is a variant of dodgeball. The game combines dodging, striking, running and jumping with the object of hitting opponents with a ball below the knee while avoiding being hit. The game can be played by groups of individual players, teams and in one-on-one matches. The game may sometimes be referred to as "Israeli dodge-ball".

Funny Songs

Shabbat morning we had a fun Torah study and continued to learn about Israel's geography with giant maps, icing, candy and an Israel Jew-pardy game.

   There was more Gaga in the afternoon and even though it rained and we had to scuttle a few outdoor activities we had a fun weekend.

Giant Map of Israel

What I really enjoy about the weekend is talking with my students and just hanging out.  I enjoy reading young adult books and we always have time on Retreat to talk about what books everyone is reading and what movies are the hottest.  There is no substitute for eating, playing, and praying together for 48 hours to be able to get to know your students as well as  the Madrichim, counselors as well. Retreat is an opportunity to encourage our High school students both of whom are applying to be Madrichim at OSRUI this summer and give them a chance to lead all types of programs including Israeli dance, a mixer, arts and crafts, Gaga and even read Torah.   I believe it is powerful for our students to see an older boy read Torah, an older girl play games, and both Israeli dance; these are the best role models possible.  

I left early on Sunday morning to come back for Religious School.  When I left the buildings were surrounded by fog and  camp had an other worldly look.  I like to think that OSRUI is in the clouds somewhere and coming back to earth is never easy.

Soreff  Center in fog on November 3

#Throw Back Thursday and why do old pictures get more comments then interesting articles?

This week's #TBT

For the past  few weeks I have been posting pictures for Throw back Thursday.  I am always astonished how much interest these pictures always get.  I think that sometimes we forget how many different sets of friends we have on Facebook and how they interact with our different posts.  What is evident is that everyone enjoys a good picture.

I have most of the pictures I have taken in the past 6 years digitally on this computer.  I really need to get my even old pictures converted to digital and then I could quite the time on Throw back Thursdays.



I do enjoy all types of social media and I like spreading the word on new articles, tweets, books or whatever I come across on line.  I subscribe to a few different email blasts which help me find the newest and latest articles.  I like   ejewishphilanthropy and Tablet Magazine to name just two to get the latest on the Jewish world.


My twitter feed is also full of secular and Jewish sites.  It is not often that both my secular and Jewish feeds trend on the same topic and when they do converge it makes for an interesting twitter feed for me.

Well back to looking at social media, posting pictures and keeping up with our ever changing world.  Wait one more pictures for #TBT

Now Ethan coaches this Schechter team!

Who's coming through the "Door" at Lakeside?

The "Door"

Hayam Salomon

Hayam Salomon in Chicago

This year at Lakeside Congregation we have a door on the Bimah and every Sunday morning at 10:00 am when T'filah are scheduled to begin our Mad Scientist, AKA as Noah Whiteman, helps to bring a new character from American Jewish history through the door.  We began with Hayam Salomon, (Bill Goodman) who helped finance the Revolutionary War AND has a statue in Chicago at Wacker and Wabash with George Washington.    

We invite our guest to stay and pray with us; and those guests who have been from the 1700-1800's so far are very surprised to see that we pray with men and and women sitting together, have someone playing guitar and have a siddur in English and Hebrew. They are very pleased to see the future of American Jewry.  They are very happy to see that American Jewry is alive and well in 2013.

 After Hayam Salomon we went back even farther in time and brought back Asser Levy, (Michael Schaffer). Asser Levy was one of the first Jewish settlers of the Durch colony of New Amsterdam on Manhatten Island. He was also the first  Jew to own a house in the New World, to be a solider in the army and to the first Jewish Butcher.  You can see him with his butcher's apron below.

Asser Levy and our Mad Scientist

  Rebecca Gratz, (Emily Crane), was our next visiter and she  helped to establish the first Sunday school, for which all of my students were very thankful. At the age of 20 in 1801 she helped to found the Female Association for the Relief of Woman and Children in Reduced Circumstances.  Later on her family founded Gratz College which is still in Philadelphia today.  She was astonished to see me lead t'filot in pants but I think we won her over.

Before we our guest goes back into time to finish their important work they sign our door and we sing them back into time.  We have a wonderful song, composed and sung by our own Adam Kahan, Dor L'Dor (from generation to Generation and a pun on Door) We want to make sure all our guests get back in time to complete their work and make their mark on history.  We also put their picture on our website with a short biography to help us remember them.

Besides our students learning about Jewish history, this project is a wonderful way to include parents and congregants in a weekly project.  The costumes are simple and wigs or hats go a long way every week.   I plan on raiding the local Halloween stores early on November 1st this year.

Rebecca Gratz

This idea was originally the brain child of Anne Stein at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard.  This year Anne and I have shared this project and have a wonderful time planning together.  We are looking forward to a fun year of costumes, characters and congregants.