Rabbi Loren Sykes

We joined Women of the Wall (WoW) for what were supposed to be services celebrated at the Kotel, the Western Wall. Unfortunately, rather than an experience in entry to sacred space, our students experienced what it means to be denied entry to sacred space.

Through the DREAM ISRAEL program, students can access various levels of grant funding toward their semester at URJ Heller High while learning about the act of tzedakah by fundraising for approved philanthropic causes in Israel.

While evaluating my role in handling the situation, I found that the leadership skills I acquired over the years in different organizations and settings served me well in dealing with COVID-19. Most of these skills were learned as a camp counselor.

How do we teach the full story while fostering a love for our homeland? I learned about Israel in a “crush-like” way, as a “perfect Israel,” a place where everything was good, right and just. I was not introduced to the “real” Israel, a place with imperfections. The Israel as “crush” approach worked for me. Ultimately, I moved from crush on to deep love with to moving to Israel.