Jerusalem is described in Tehillim (122:3) as a city that brings everyone together. It is literally true- walking the streets of Jerusalem, you will encounter people you haven’t seen in ages, or didn’t realize are in Israel. Sometimes, you meet people in Israel who are familiar to you, even if you never met them in person. Azi Rosenblum, CEO of Remsource, was in Israel with his family this week celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of his son. In a frozen yogurt store, he overheard a group of kids talking about Dallas, and he introduced himself. It was the eighth grade of Akiba Yavneh Academy, which included many Shaare members. Azi knows many of our members by name and by phone, but has never met any of us in the flesh (myself included!). He introduced himself, and then snapped this selfie, which he sent to me immediately (Azi is the one on the right).
Hakarat HaTov Corner
I am grateful to RIETS, my alma mater, who invited me to present a short talk to Rabbis who are just beginning their new positions. The subject was Shavuot programming, and I had the honor of speaking alongside Rabbi Yaakov Glasser of the Center for the Jewish Future and the Young Israel of Passaic/Clifton, and Rabbi Steven Miodownik of Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, New Jersey. I learned a lot from my colleagues, and I hope they can say the same. Stay tuned for exciting Shavuot programming at Shaare! Rabbi’s Recommendation
Shragee Gestetner was one of the 45 people who tragically died in Meron last year on Lag Ba’Omer. A promising singer who left his career to focus on his family and developing a business, he had made some other major changes in his spiritual and intellectual life not long before his death. This video is a deeply moving account of how his life had changed.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
