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April 24, 2009
Canadians ride for Reform
Temple Sholom assistant rabbi cycles in Israel to raise funds.
RABBI DANIEL MIKELBERG
I thought that I had seen a good many of the sites that Israel has to offer. I was mistaken. I now know that, by bike, there is so much more to take in.
My father, Dr. Fred Mikelberg, and I recently returned from an amazing Israel adventure. We participated in the sixth annual Riding 4 Reform Bike-a-thon on behalf of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). Over five days, we cycled 255 kilometres. Our journey took us to the snowy hills of Mount Hermon, a descent to the Kinneret Sea, an ascent through the forests leading to Safed and, finally, a cross-country sprint to Tivon (near Haifa). I have never physically worked so hard – and it felt great.
The makeup of our greater team may have differed somewhat from the Tour de France, yet we were just as committed and determined to complete the task at hand. Half our group was Israeli, the other half from North America (plus one Australian). We had among us eight rabbis, two rabbinical students and two cantorial students. The age of our participants ranged from 18-65 years young. While we were not professional athletes, we shared a "professional" passion for Israel and for the Reform movement (known as the Progressive movement in Israel). Team Canada (10 strong out of the group of 32), also known as the Maple Leaf Minyan, raised more than $40,000 for the IMPJ.
In our week of cycling together, we learned a great deal about the valuable work of the IMPJ. Its mission is to integrate progressive manifestations of Jewish faith and culture into mainstream Israeli society. We had the opportunity to visit three Reform synagogues. Each is thriving, offering Israelis a new way to identify with their Judaism. In total, there are now 25 Reform congregations in Israel.
Seven of the bikers on the trip were students in the Reform Mechina. Mechina is a one-year experience available to high school graduates before they enter military service. These students spend a year putting Jewish values into practise with community service. It was truly refreshing to get to know the next generation of sabras in the Reform movement.
On the trip, we were told stories of Reform's legal triumphs, as the movement aspires to gain recognition from the Israeli government, a recognition long overdue. It was truly inspiring to be able to bike and achieve something tangible in support of an additional and important religious voice in Israel. I am very grateful to the many Vancouverites who sponsored my bike ride.
On a more personal note, I took great pride in proving to myself that I could develop the skill to travel by bike for five days across the challenging terrain of my beloved Israel. This was no easy feat, but the sense of accomplishment made it all worthwhile. This adventure also served as a reminder of Israel's beauty and holiness. It was especially eye opening to bike Israel's borders, taking in firsthand her proximity to her neighbors and to so appreciate her vulnerability. We all left Israel, as always, feeling a sense of awe as well as hope. If we could climb these magnificent hills, as a Jewish nation, we too can aspire to one day soon finding a path to peace.
Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg is the assistant rabbi at Temple Sholom Synagogue.
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