Sorkin Teen Trip 2019

December 26, 2019 in Guest Post

This is the fourth week of the month. For Reflections Off the Bimah, the fourth week features thought leaders from throughout the Jewish world and beyond. These special posts give you the opportunity to consider important opinions you may not readily encounter. This week’s guest article comes from our very own Tali Moscowitz, who is currently in Israel with Hazzan Fradkin and 12 students who are participating in our annual Sorkin Teen Trip to Israel.

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“The universe is celebrated through acts.”
-Quote found on Tel Aviv Graffiti

Shalom from Israel! Hazzan Fradkin and I are currently here on the second annual Sorkin Teen Trip with 12 students from this year’s Religious School 10th grade confirmation class. This experience has been realized in part due to the incredible generosity of Beth El members. In just the last week, these teenagers have cultivated an understanding of the people, culture, sights, sounds, and tastes of Israel.

 

We started this trip with the idea of experiencing Israel through three values: commitment, resilience, and leadership. These were values beloved to Beth El’s past president, Jerry Sorkin z”l. However this trip is so much more than the themes and values we established when putting together the itinerary. We have watched the kids explore, relate, and connect with Israel and each other on a deep level.

I know that the teens look forward to returning to Beth El and sharing their memories and ideas about Israel with the younger kids in the Religious School and the rest of the congregation. I hope that you can join us on Shabbat, February 29, 2020 when some of the teens will be sharing their reflections about the trip during Shabbat morning services.