This Shabbat was our first apart and while that made it a sad, sad day for Molly and Bess on Moshe Hess we still managed to push through and enjoy our respective Shabbats.  Bess, her classmate Josh and his fiance will be spending about one Friday a month at Kibbutz Gezer as their internship for the year.  Here are the Top Five of the first Gezer Shabbat:

1. Getting to pray with liberal Israeli Jews (it’s nice to be reminded they are out there)

2. Eating a delicious homecooked meal for 2.5 hours (straight)

3. Walking into a congregation as a songleader for the first time (luckily with a very talented and supportive teammate)

4. Actually arriving at our destination on time after a fighting through the Friday afternoon crowds at the central bus station

5. Smiling as the kids excitedly sang “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu” and led us in Motzi

Quick explanation of what we will be doing during the year: “Pinat Shorashim is a biblically themed, ecologically minded garden on Kibbutz Gezer that serves as an experiential educational center for Israelis and for tourists from abroad.  Student volunteers are involved in an innovative program with prisoners, which addresses Jewish values, issues of pluralism and ecology through the study of Jewish texts and group building.  The students also assist Rabbi Miri Gold of Kehilat Birkat Shalom at Kibbutz Gezer with Friday night services.”