L' Shana Tovah
Keeping Connected
To Israel
In the five weeks that I spent tour-
s the month of Tishrei
ing Israel, I discovered my Jewish spir-
arrives, each Jewish family
it and learned more about myself than
begins, in their own way, to
I thought was possible. I grew as a
prepare themselves for the
teenager, as a member of a communi-
High Holy Days. Anticipating Rosh
ty, as a friend and, most importantly,
Hashanah, I recall the typical tradi-
as a Jew.
tions, services at our synagogue and
I now look at the new
the blowing of the shofar.
aspects of Judaism different-
The special round challah,
ly. I interpret my role in
honey cake, apples and
Temple Israel youth group
honey, and our closest family
differently, and I am taking
and friends around our din-
steps to reach out and help
ing room table, also come to
others. I would like to pray
mind. These are the associa-
not only for my family and
tions I've always made with
friends, but also for others
Rosh Hashanah, but not until
this year.
this year did I take a moment
One important thing I
to interpret the holiday on
KA TIE
learned was that the Jews have
my own, what this holiday
FELD MAN
been through rough times
actually means to me, as a
Spec ial to
together. We have come a
teenager of the 20th century.
The Jew ish News long way since the time of my
I know that when I go into
great-grandfathers. We are
the synagogue on Rosh
one, a group of people, believing in the
Hashanah this year, I want to thank
same God. On Rosh Hashanah, we will
God for the past year, and the good
all be praying with the same prayers,
health and happiness my family has
some of us here in Detroit, some in Tel
enjoyed. I want to wish the same for the
Aviv and Jerusalem, others on islands or
year to come as well, but I also feel a
New York.
new connection, one I must include in
We will recite the familiar prayers
my prayers. I must pray to strengthen
that our ancestors once said in Russia
and keep my connection to the Land of
and Poland, when celebrating Rosh
Israel alive during the next year.
Hashanah was not as easy as it is for
This past summer, I discovered my
us today.
Jewish identity through Teen Mission
Together, I want to make a differ-
2 Israel. On a bus with 39 other
ence in our community. I want to
teenagers, citizens of not only the
help a child less fortunate than myself,
United States but of Israel as well, I
to find the freedom of their religion,
toured and learned about our Holy
to experience a trip of a lifetime, learn
Land, the Land of Israel. I now have
what I learned, and discover herself as
this connection, the feelings inside,
I discovered myself. I want to send
the pictures I have taken and memo-
that child to Israel.
ries of the places I have been.
This year, I am going to temple to
The sounds of the Israeli national
pray not only for my family and
anthem as our El-Al flight touched the
friends, not only for the people who
holy ground, the view of the sunrise
may need a prayer, but for the Jewish
from the top of Masada, the taste of
people as a society, and for our land.
flalafel and schwarma, and the rough
The Land of Israel has been given to
feeling of the stone on the Kotel have
us, and we need to keep it alive and
all became part of my senses.
strong. We need to educate our future
This is not satisfying enough. I
on their past.
wish that during the next year, I can
As I dip my apple in honey this
touch the lives of soldiers fighting for
year, I will be doing so for a sweet
my country, help more of the home-
New Year for the Jewish people and
less in Jerusalem and keep my tie with
for our establishments, and our
the Holy Land strong.
accomplishments and for the accom-
plishments that lie ahead for us to
Katie Feldman is an 11th grader in
conquer in the upcoming year. L'shana
from Einstein Bros® I
Our warmest wishes to you
and your family for a year
of joy and peace.
A
the Temple Israel Religious School.
Tovah! ❑
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Detroit Jewish News
61