with Rabbi Doug Kahn
Why Do Jewish People Have Such a Deep Connection to Israel?
 |
| The Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. |
In this column, various Bay Area experts will respond to your questions about family life and relationships between people of different faiths. If you have a question for our experts, please email us at bridges@sfjcf.org.
Editors note: Israel celebrates 60 years of independence in May. There are commemorative events taking place in JCCs and congregations throughout the Bay Area (some are listed in the Bridges calendar). Visit www.IsraelintheBay.org for more information.
Israel runs through our prayers, our holidays, our traditions, and our sense of peoplehood. It has been the spiritual center of Jewish life for 4,000 years and is central to many holidays. For example, Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt to Israel and Shavuot, the receipt of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Sukkot recalls the booth-like structures which sheltered the Jews when they wandered in the desert, and Chanukah the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem... [continued]
A Michigan Yankee in Israel's Court
By Jim Keen
(This story has been reprinted with permission from www.interfaithfamily.com)
 I am an American. I was born and raised here in Michigan, USA. My wife, Bonnie, was born in Massachusetts, USA. Like me, she has lived in this country all of her life. She is 100% American. At least, that's what I thought.
It turns out that she has a strong allegiance to another country--Israel. Since our interfaith relationship started back in 1986, I have slowly learned that Bonnie's Judaism has given her a complex set of patriotic values that are devoted to the United States and the Jewish state in the Middle East... [continued]
|
