Colleagues Write

Following are some of the comments regarding our previous Leadership Seminars

Dear friends,
I am delighted to tell you that I used the award/stipend that I received, from my educators' award, for the MOFET JTEC & Soul Train program - a program that suited my needs perfectly. I certainly recommend this program to other Grinspoon-Steinhardt Winners.
To an article on this experience …

Courtney Krieger, Akron, OH.

A Message from our Board President
It was Friday night in the mountaintop town of Tzfat, in northern Israel's Upper Galilee. From our hotel, we walked a block to the tiny Synagogue. We were early. Chairs sat in rows inside, outside, and down the alley. We entered the women's section and stood in back. A woman motioned us, insisting we take seats in front. Across our chairs lay a ribbon saying "Reserved" and a Hebrew prayer book. She brought us Siddurim with one side in English.
The curtain in front of us lent an airy and mystical feel to our view. Through its intricate lace and embroidery, we saw a dreamy picture of men gathering in the other part of our room: A sea of white shirts, dark heads topped with Kippot, and boys sitting on fathers' shoulders. The rabbi spoke in Hebrew, then English. As the place filled, the songs began in earnest, starting slow and controlled, soft and sweet, as if the assembly were going through warm-up in anticipation of an exercise. The vision of these men, 100 by now, packing more densely into the tiny sanctuary, added to the chaos and excitement of that Synagogue, that alleyway, these people, streaming into a room that felt already full to capacity, in the humidity and dim evening light, jumbling together yet noticeably courteous, sharing, peaceful.
The blessings continued, familiar lyrics that congregations worldwide were reciting on this day. The women leaned over to sing with children who inexplicably were not restless. The men held up their sons and sang with them. I sat or stood in awe as the room filled and the sound lifted, volume rising but never shrill, and the ancient words echoed louder amid people stomping, swaying, celebrating. Then the throng of men through the curtain shifted, imperceptibly at first. They moved gradually from the center, their voices continuing in praise. In slow motion blur, the crowd in that tiny half room drifted sideways like a sleepy dream taking shape. Now they moved faster around the Bimah, stepping, swaying, dancing, singing, while harmony filled the mountainside and got more boisterous, rising and increasing , but always, always beautiful. They sang; we sang amongst the women; the children laughed and danced. When they ran out of verses, they chanted, coming ever back to the chorus, repeating the prayer until we were caught up in it like part of an intoxicating mix. It was mesmerizing, incredible, and holy truly the "Joy of Shabbat." The music went on, people marking the beat, boys whirling and singing and laughing, the rabbi varying tempo to reflect the words, and the Jews in the building and on the street worshipping together in a unique and holy way that seemed (I feared) possible only in Israel.
As the crowd dispersed, calm and happy, I wished Steve and our sons had shared this blessed experience. I thought of Rabbi Dan and the joy he brings to our own Shabbat, with its unique friendships and meaning. Our services are a little more laid back, I suppose. The key is to celebrate Shabbat with generosity of spirit and love of Torah..
L’Shalom - Sandy Berenter

Once again, thank you for an exciting and unusual educational experience. We had an opportunity to see Israel in a way not possible to most from our isolated locations. I, for one, feel I better know Israel and more accurately understand Israelis, whether they are visiting or living here. Congratulations to The MOFET Institute and Soul Train for a job well done!
I would be honored to be included in planning future activities. I would certainly attempt to participate by email, and as I hope to be able to visit Israel once or twice a year, I would try to plan those visits around any meetings, if given plenty of advance notice.
BINYAMIN

We are starting Hebrew classes with the congregation next Monday evening, and thereafter every Monday, and for the first 2 lessons we will give them what we have learnt at the MOFET Institute. Could you please let us know when and where we must search the website to get to the other lessons.
We are also planning adult education discussions to be held once a month. We are working out a timetable of what to do when. Love to you from
CLIFFORD AND JOAN

Thank you for all your effort and hard work in helping to make our seminar a successful, worthwhile experience. Yours affectionately
Ruth Feigenbaum