There is something wonderfully quiet and cozy about a rainy Shabbat in Jerusalem. After days of full schedules, early mornings, long bus rides, and emotionally powerful encounters, the gray skies and steady rain seemed to give us permission to slow down, catch our breath, and simply take it all in.
We spent our final Shabbat in Israel in a variety of ways. Some of us took full advantage of the opportunity to sleep in (12 hours!!), while others enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Some ventured to the Israel Museum to stand before the extraordinary Dead Sea Scrolls, connecting with Jewish history in a way that is difficult to put into words. Others made their way to the Old City for a walking tour, wandering through its ancient streets and familiar, yet always remarkable, corners. Different experiences, but all of them offering one more opportunity to soak up the feeling of being in Jerusalem.
As we boarded our bus and headed to Kiryat Moshe for our final dinner together, we took some time to reflect on what we would carry home from this trip. What moments had imprinted themselves most deeply? What would we remember long after the suitcases were unpacked and we were back in Nashville?
The answers were as varied as the people on the bus, but certain moments came up again and again. Hearing Koby share his experiences from the Gaza envelope. Spending time with the soldiers at the Erez crossing base, sharing pizza and salad, asking questions, laughing, and getting to know the young men and women who carry such enormous responsibility. Seeing the breathtaking beauty of this country, while also beginning to appreciate its extraordinary complexity. The conversations, the landscapes, the history, the food, the unexpected moments, and the relationships that developed along the way.
And perhaps most importantly, there was a growing sense that Israel belongs to each of us. Not just as a place we visit, or a country we read about, or an idea we debate from thousands of miles away, but as a place with which we have a personal connection. We have walked its streets, listened to its people, encountered its challenges, celebrated its beauty, and made memories here. We leave with a deeper sense of ownership, responsibility, and connection to this complicated, extraordinary Jewish homeland.
We also found ourselves talking about the next time. Because that's what happens when you come to Israel. You start thinking about when you can return, what you still want to see, whom you want to visit, and what new experiences await. Israel has a way of getting under your skin. You leave, but a part of you stays here, and another part of you is already planning your return.
As we bring this trip to a close, I am struck by how special it has been to experience Israel together. For the second time, Congregation Micah and Sherith Israel have partnered to bring Nashville Jews to Israel, led by Rabbi Saul Strosberg and me. There is something particularly meaningful about sharing this journey across congregations, building friendships, learning together, and creating a community of people who will return home with a shared set of memories and experiences.
We came to Israel as a group of travelers. We leave as something more: people connected by the places we visited, the stories we heard, the people we met, and the emotions we shared. We have laughed together, learned together, worried together, celebrated together, and, at times, simply sat quietly and absorbed the magnitude of where we were.
Late tonight, we board our flights back to Nashville and return to the rhythms of our everyday lives. There will be work emails, meetings, laundry, grocery shopping, and all the familiar responsibilities waiting for us. But I hope we return a little different than when we left. I hope we return with a greater appreciation for Israel and the Jewish people, a deeper understanding of the stories that shape this place, a renewed sense of our own connection to our Jewish identity, and a commitment to remain engaged with all that happens here.
Most of all, I hope we remember that the relationship we have with Israel doesn't end when the plane takes off. In many ways, it is only the beginning.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey, to Rabbi Saul, my awesome colleague, to our incredible guide, Avi Solomon, and to the many Israelis who welcomed us, shared their stories, and reminded us why this place matters so much.
L'hitraot, Israel. Until we meet again. ❤️