At Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, a steadfast commitment to Israel is a big part of its approach to Judaism and everyday life. Rabbi Steven Lindemann said that, soon after he arrived in 1992, the synagogue created a program that exemplified this, and has since been emulated by a number of other shuls both locally and nationally.
“We initiated the program called ‘The Confirmation Class Trip to Israel,’ which we began in 1993 or 1994,” he said. “We made a determination that there is no way that a child’s Jewish education is complete without an experience in Israel. And age 15, at the confirmation age, seemed like a very good age at which to do it.”
For the more than 400 kids who are enrolled in the shul’s early childhood center, religious school and confirmation classes, learning — about Israel or anything else — at Temple Beth Sholom isn’t just something that happens in the classroom.
“We have an interest in making education not just academic but experiential, and we incorporate that into our programing with the way we celebrate holidays and have classes and are engaged in services,” Lindemann said. “Although we taught about Israel and had Israeli teachers on the staff, we didn’t have a trip to Israel specifically for teens, and we felt that without that, there was something missing.”
The board of the synagogue agreed, and decided to go a step further than just sanctioning the trip: They subsidized it so that kids of all economic backgrounds could attend. Eventually, the Gift of Israel program was founded.
Rabbi Micah Peltz, who is also a member of the clergy at Temple Beth Sholom, said that the synagogue has rallied around Israel these last few years.
“We [ran] two synagogue missions to Israel within the first year after Oct. 7. I personally have gone to Israel five or six times since Oct. 7, and each time I go, I’m writing updates from there and sharing stories,” Peltz said. “We’ve created an Israel Chai fund that has raised tens of thousands of dollars that have gone directly to help support organizations and people in Israel, and also help bolster our educational programs for Israel.”
The synagogue has altered its Israel programming and education to better fit the moment, too. Right now, congregants have a lot of questions and tough feelings to confront about the world’s only Jewish state. The clergy and other decisionmakers at Temple Beth Sholom are there for them.
“We updated those curricula as a way to help our teens learn to navigate their relationship with Israel and build a strong relationship with Israel, and prepare them for college and beyond,” Peltz said. “There’s a lot of individual conversations that take place as people have questions or concerns or worries about Israel, or about the civilians of Gaza, and we do our best to try and help [explain] it for people pastorally, and at the same time continue to be strong advocates for Israel here in our own community.”
While the big picture might be stressful at the moment, there are also bright spots. Lindemann said that, this time of year, when adults and children return to the hallways of the synagogue, is wonderful.
“Seeing everybody together and seeing the connections that they feel to each other, and literally feeling them as they raise their voices in some of the signature prayers of the holiday, is very inspiring,” he said.
Also coming later this fall is a talk with the famed author and journalist Mitch Albom, who grew up attending Temple Beth Sholom. Anytime he releases a new book, he comes to the synagogue on his initial book tour. Peltz said he is glad to have him.
“It’s a homecoming, and he can see old friends. We can all have a chance to reconnect and to learn from him,” Peltz said.
