By Michael Kuttner…
Who doesn’t relish the taste of home made Shabbat meals?
IDF soldiers on bases all over Israel receive meals from the military catering division. Nevertheless there is nothing quite the same as Shabbat food made by loving families. Given the multiplicities of ethnicities represented, the choices of food are extensive.
Every week huge quantities of Shabbat meals are lovingly prepared by volunteers and delivered to bases. This is what makes Israel so different from any other country.
A GERMAN GRANDSON’S JOURNEY
Listen to the moving testimony of a German grandson who rejected the legacy of his Nazi grandfather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYigyTWPJjo
AM ECHAD – ONE PEOPLE
Last Shabbat a unique event took place in Jerusalem.
Survivors of the Nova Festival pogrom gathered at one of Jerusalem’s top hotels and participated in a memorable Shabbat experience.
Many of the secular participants had never experienced a traditional Shabbat before. It is no exaggeration to say that this amazing 24 hours created an atmosphere of unity and solidarity which will stay with all participants forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-cD1pQVBNY
OUTREACH
Here is another outreach initiative which brings together religious and secular Israelis in order to create unity and tolerance among different sectors of society.
The media loves to highlight conflict and therefore it is vitally important to show that in fact there are many programmes creating tolerance and mutual respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCSe63Ag9ec
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel.
[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]
