Amid Tel Aviv’s sirens, mission accomplished, return delayed

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Mark Greenspan has been spiritual leader of the Oceanside Jewish Center for over 15 years, and is considered “unofficial rabbi” of the Friedberg Jewish Center. Last week, while vacationing in New England with his wife Marilyn, he heard about a solidarity mission to Israel by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly in the wake of the renewed hostilities. He immediately decided to join the mission, and shared his story with the Oceanside Herald.

This is his first report, written upon arrival in Israel on July 20.

We are flying at 33,000 feet, about the same altitude as the Malaysian plane that was shot down. I am among a group of Conservative rabbis flying to Israel to visit border communities upon which missiles are falling daily. Crazy —absolutely. I am certain that our planners will do everything to keep us out of harm’s way but how much can they do to cheat fate or warfare?

The decision to visit Israel came about in the last five or six days. Marilyn and I were in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a brief vacation. With every stop we were checking the news on our iPhones to learn what was happening in Israel, and around the world for that matter. Things have gone from bad to worse with the downing of a jetliner and the escalating hostilities in Israel. We felt helpless. And then a notification came from the Rabbinical Assembly of an “emergency mission” to Israel. I knew immediately that I had to go; I was already feeling bad about not being able to visit Israel this summer. Now there was a need to stand with the Israelis.

Am I selfish to go at a time like this? What difference will my presence make? We want to believe that the people of Israel need our solidarity in times of crisis but, honestly, do they really need our presence?

I am feeling a bit like a distant relative who rushes to the bedside of his aunt or uncle when they are critically ill. I would rather see them when they are healthy, and they would rather see me when all is well.

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