Dear Haverim,
Thank you for all of the refua shelema/get well wishes over the last 2 weeks. Ruti and I are now over our bout with Covid and, although Ruti is on crutches from a broken foot, we’re going to be leading services this Friday night, July 14 and we can’t wait to see you!
The Merage Israeli Executive Fellows program is one of our most significant opportunities to meet and greet the “best and the brightest” that Israel has to offer and this may be your last chance in 2023 to be with them.
It’s always exciting to hear about their professions – this group’s specialty is Food Tech - and they are on the cutting edge of their field. This Shabbat will be one of the most memorable of the year, not only because of dinner and services with the Merage Israeli Executive Fellows, but also because of our speaker, SDSU Professor Lawrence Baron who will speak on “Projecting Israel in Hollywood Films”. We’re going to learn about the changing image that Hollywood has created of Israelis and Jews and how that has greatly influenced how America and the world have understood and appreciated Israel. Especially during this time of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, Hollywood can be an important ally in diminishing hatred.
Ruti and I are looking forward to seeing you this Friday night and our congregation wants to be a loving host to these important Israelis who are already shaping the future of Israel in significant ways within Israel and throughout the world. They come to University Synagogue each year to learn about liberal American Judaism and to experience the kind of service that they can’t get in their home country. They also enjoy meeting us – American Jews and their families who care about Israel and want to see it thrive in peace and prosperity.
For your sake, for the sake of our congregation and for the sake of these incredible Israelis, please be with us. I also know that you will truly enjoy the film clips and information about Hollywood and Israel that Professor Baron is offering us.
Please don’t delay. We have to order dinners by tomorrow at noon. I look forward to seeing all of you.
Click here for the bios of our Merage Israeli Executive Fellows. Click here to learn more about this Friday night and to RSVP for dinner and/or services.
Shabbat Shalom in advance,
Rabbi Arnie Rachlis
