Hadassah Greater Detroit’s Journey to Israel Sparks New Leadership
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How my trip to Israel changed my life forever.Before I went to Israel, I identified as a cultural Reform Jew who supported Israel, but I lacked a deep understanding of its people, history and political complexities.
AsIwasgrowingup,myconnectiontoJudaismwasshapedbytraditionratherthanfirsthandexperience.Jewishholidayswerealwaysaboutthefood(symbolic,ofcourse)servedalongsideacolorfulcastofrelatives,mostofwhomhavesincedeparted,leavingmewithcherishedmemories,endlessstoriesandafirmbeliefthatsomedishes,suchasthegreenJelloinafishmold,shouldhavebeenlaidtorestwiththem.
OnceIhadafamilyofmyown,IbeganexploringJudaismmoredeeply.ImadesureweattendedHighHolidayservicesasafamily,andmychildrenreceivedaformalJewisheducation.Inadditiontocaringformyfamily,Iwasteachingspecialeducationatthelocalhighschool.Iretiredeightyearsago,unsureofwhatIwantedtodonext.
WhenafriendledmetoHadassah,itwaslikealightbulbwentoffinmyhead.Hadassah,withitsZionistmissionofhelpingthepeopleofIsrael,becam
