After Shabbat and Sunday morning I prepared for Shavuot services (the 50th day of the Omer and what we are counting towards) with Confirmation Class. The kids are great and very excited. I'm looking forward to it. Please come out to celebrate Shavuot and support the students, 7:30 PM June 7. We'll include Yizkor so you have the chance to say kaddish for close relatives.
One thing I noticed among our Confirmation class is that none of them will be going to Israel this summer. The cost is the thing. Let me remind everyone that while NFTY in Israel is my suggested trip, I have two other really good options that are much less money and Federation has very generous scholarships. As we count the days to receiving Torah once again at Sinai, we need to teach our students and the parents of our children to count the days until our 16 year olds go to Israel. It is a crucial part of a young Jew's education and must become part of what is expected. Is it expensive? Yes. But so is college and we save for that. We need to see Israel not as a vacation but as a significant experience that helps our children "confirm" they will be proud and strong members of the Jewish people. And it's a lot of fun. Fun and meaningful. The perfect combination.
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