11/14/17: A Time to Study…A Time to Remember…A Time to Celebrate

Posted 11/14/17

A Time to Study…A Time to Remember…A Time to Celebrate

On Wednesday, November 8, I had the opportunity to study at the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center for Conservative Judaism. In the morning, there was a wonderful class, The Living Siddur, taught by Rabbi Sid Slivko, examining the different Nuschaot (formulations) of the blessings of the T’filah – differences of prayers among the Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Yemenite communities.

In the afternoon, I studied at the Center’s Conservative Yeshiva, where Rabbi Joel Levy, the head of the Yeshiva, taught also about the T’filah – his class dealt with source texts for the opening blessing (the Avot v’Imhot blessing) of the T’filah. There were many students studying from all over the world, and it was quite engaging.

On Friday morning, Debra and I visited my grandfather, Leo Argand’s, kever (grave) at the Eretz HaChayim cemetery in Bet Shemesh, about 20 miles outside of Jerusalem. My grandfather and grandmother, Leo and Annabelle Argand, made aliyah to Israel in 1970, after they retired from owning a clothing store in South Orange, New Jersey. They lived in Jerusalem on Tchernichovsky street for 13 years until my grandfather died in 1983. It was a beautiful, sunny day as we remembered my Grandpa Leo, and I recited the memorial prayer, El Malei Rachamim, at his gravesite.

On Shabbat eve, we headed to Rosh HaAyin (just outside of Tel Aviv) for Shabbat dinner at the home of Rakefet and Ariel Ginsberg. Some of you may remember that they were Shlichim in Milwaukee a number of years ago. They are doing really well, and their children, Itamar, Amitai and Evyatar are all grown up! We wee also blessed to have Ros Roucher and Rabbi Phil Nadel with us at the dinner with two of their daughters, Hannah and Ruby. The meal was delicious and the company fantastic!

Looking forward to more adventures,

David and Debra