The Chabad on Campus Kinus conference of 5784/2024 ended with a closing banquet on Sunday night, climaxing 5 days of bus trips, visits, talks, meals and farbrengens. I (Mendel speaking here) stayed on a few extra days to savor a little more Israel and to see alumni, and visit family.
MONDAY MORNING AT THE TEL-AVIV MINYAN
My uncle “Itche” is my mother’s youngest brother, and always had a certain youthfulness to him. He and wife Esther and their family are one of the special group of Shluchim envoys the Rebbe sent to Israel in the mid 1970’s, not necessarily to open Chabad Houses (though quite a few did) but to support and encourage Jewish communities in the land of Israel. Uncle Itche works in the jewelry business in Ramat Gan at the Bursah, he has an established highly regarded firm, but his real heart and soul has always been Chabad work (years ago he’d volunteer nights at the Chabad Airport booth). Aunt Esther is a lecturer and teacher and is especially regarded in the field of Taharat HaMishpacha, Mikvah and personal family matters. In more recent years, already grandparents, in their 60’s, when most people don’t try new ventures, Uncle Itche and Aunt Esther opened a new Chabad House on Jabotinsky Street in the heart of northern Tel Aviv, near Kikar HaMedinah, hardly a religious bastion.
On Monday morning, my first “extension day” in Israel, my brother Shmuly and I went with Uncle Itche to his Chabad House synagogue. People trickled in and we had a solid Minyan by the time we got to the Barchu after the Song at the Sea. One participant was a French Jew who does computer programming in Israel, another was a scholarly businessman, there was an old man who was helped in saying Kaddish by a younger fellow. It was an interesting mix of people. The best part was watching Uncle Itche rush to greet each person at the door as they came in, warmly and personally. Cousin Shezy lives nearby in the neighborhood, and works with his father at the Chabad House. Later as we were wrapping up Esther came in to do a womens class at the Chabad, a nice group of women had gathered, and Uncle Itche was insistent that we be as quiet as possible in respect for the class.
THE DAUGHTERS ARRIVE
One of the nicest arrangements of these “Extension Days” was for Chani and Sara to coordinate with me, to join me Monday through Wednesday, as they began their Israeli trip, and I conclude mine. These few days of overlap were incredibly special, wonderful memorable and enjoyable times together. They flew in Monday morning, we met up upon my return from the synagogue at Uncle Itche and Aunt Esther’s house in Tel-Aviv.
TOWERING VIEW OF TEL-AVIV
Our first visit was to Rothschild Boulevard, one of Tel Aviv’s trendiest, most beautiful streets, where an alumni friend Ronn has an high-rise apartment, more than 30 floors up! We sat out on the half-walled glass-walled balcony, overlooking the vast expanse of Tel Aviv, a birds-eyes view from the bright sky! The views were gorgeous and the girls loved it. We sat down to discuss campus life, Israel, the challenges and opportunities of the times we live in. We caught up on the Chabad on Campus conference and my takeaways.
Ronn is an old friend of Rami Davidian, who selflessly risked his life to save hundreds of stranded and wounded Israelis on October 7th. At the Nova Festival site, Chabad on Campus arranged for us to hear from Oren Laufer, Rami’s son-in-law, who did the same on that fateful day. Ronn knows Oren as well, and we had a meaningful conversation about what we learn from (ordinary but extraordinary) people like that.
TEL-AVIV REUNION AT THE PORT
From that high-rise view, we went down to the Tel Aviv Old Port area, which is now full of shops and eateries and a big expansive wooden boardwalk. There’s a breeze from the water, smell of sea salt, and a hot hot day. We made up to meet alumni at Cafe Cafe, an eatery right along the water.
We had 3 UAlbany alumni friends join us for lunch at Cafe Cafe: AJ T., Aaron M. and Ari S. One is learning in Israel, two made aliyah, one just came out of army service in the north. We had lots to catch up about, their most unusual year in Israel, (Jewish) life in Tel-Aviv, updating about life back at UAlbany and the challenges and opportunities this year, and stuff about their families and ours. It’s really nice to see how alumni develop, blossom, create new circles and opportunities, and represent and connect us with Israel!
An extra special treat was that Raizy’s sister Nechama Dina was in town (as her husband Rabbi Sholom Ber had a week of Kosher meetings for the OK in Israel) so she joined us as well. ND is one of the closest of Raizy’s sisters to us, geographically and in terms of visiting and involvement, so she knows our students and alumni well, many know her, too. She also teaches in NJ a similar demographic to many of our students at Shabbos House, so she can very much relate.
REUNION IN BEIT SHEMESH
From our long enjoyable lunch we got ourselves ready and just in time caught the train from Savidor Central Station to Beit Shemesh. It so happens that we have at least 3 alumni families living at one level of Beit Shemesh or another, so it was a good place to meet up, and alumnus Chaim (’03?) and his family was gracious to have us stay over and also host the reunion for other alumni families to join. We got to see Tamar (’00), meet her husband and two of her children, and Ben L. (’04). Chaim ordered in pizza, there was lots to catch up and share. Tamar’s husband is an electrician, so we shared some electrical metaphors, Ben/Binyamin is teaching Talmud Sukkah (among other writing, editing, and studying endeavors) so we talked about that, it was a special time to see and connect and – nachas. Lots of nachas!
Chaim’s oldest stays over in Yeshiva all week, but his second son came in late and we got to catch up, too. His youngest three are adorable and we had a good time with them. His wife was away for the week, and Chaim and his oldest daughter held down the fort! We davened Maariv in a local Shul (there are so many!) and even that one Shul had digital signage saying what time and in which room each Minyan would be!
After Shul, we were exhausted after the long day and all the travel and we just conked out and probably the best and longest night of sleep since coming to Israel for the Kinus the prior Wednesday!