Teen Mission
2008
A vision of Shabbat in lerusalPm
Photos by Debbie Hill/Courtesy Jewish Federation
Left: Shayna Stillman, 16, of Shaarey Zedek; Den! Ambrose, 16, of Temple Israel; Nicole Green, 17, and Rebecca Sternberg, 16, both of Shaarey Zedek, pause on the way to the Kabbalat
Shabbat service on the southern steps of the Western Wall inside the Old City of Jerusalem. Right: Rabbi Eric Yanoff of Shaarey Zedek leads a song during the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
D
oing nothing at all during any
given Saturday from the time
I wake up until sunset is not
something that comes naturally to me as a
way to celebrate Shabbat. However, Teen
Mission's first Shabbat in Israel has taught
me that this experience can be incredible.
Walking around anywhere, knowing that
the majority of the people you see are hav-
ing the same experience with family and
friends, is an inspiration. Through this, I
have begun to understand what a magnifi-
cent place this land really is.
At home in West Bloomfield, I rarely do
anything like this on Shabbat. Yet being in
Israel, our Promised Land, I now understand
how lucky I am to be a part of the Jewish
community. As they have been for genera-
tions before me, Israel and Jewish traditions
will be the strength of our people.
When my parents originally decided
to send me on Federation's Teen Mission
2008, I was nervous and apprehensive.
I was not sure about my personal Jewish
expression and was not sure I wanted to
explore my Jewish identity further. Most
simply stated, I did not want to go! As I
discovered that some of my friends were
coming, I felt slightly more comfortable.
Now that the counting down to depar-
tare has passed, and we are in the Holy
Land, everything has shifted in my mind
and my Jewish soul. Until now, Israel and
my Jewish heritage were only part of the
puzzle of my life. Knowledge of Israel was
just another place in the reservoir of my
Jewish religious school experience. Noth-
ing prepared me for what I now have seen
and felt.
From the moment I walked off the
plane and continuing through Shabbat,
I have discovered that Israel is beautiful.
Israel is an incredible country. Israel is
HOME.
As I write these words I am sitting on
teen2teen staff •
a mountain overlooking the city of Jeru-
salem. It is impossible to fully understand
what I am feeling without being here. This
place makes me feel honored to be Jewish
and lucky to have Israel in my life.
Mom and Dad: Thank you for knowing
what is best for me. Thank you for giving
me Israel. Thank you for giving me Shab-
bat. SHABBAT SHALOM!
Emily Weisman, 17, fives in
West Bloomfield and attends
Temple Israel. TMO8 spent its
first Shabbat In Jerusalem
July 5
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