The Spiral Staircase of the “Israel Center”

Co-written with Ava Kleinman, Chair of the Legow Israel Program Center

As we start again from Bereshit, the cycle of Torah reading, it is important to remember that the Torah portions are not just an annual repetition of the same old texts. Our sages taught us that with each reading we discover new layers, interpretations, and meanings to the ancient words. We are actually building new floors on foundations that were laid down for us by our ancestors.

Rabbi Avraham Isaac Hacohen Kook, renowned scholar, spiritual leader, and the first chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel is famous for his saying: “Renewing the old and sanctifying the new.”

A lot of ink has been spilled over the years about the constant, universal need for change, the limited ability to do it, and the risk that always comes with it. Rabbi Kook was smart, experienced, and enough of a visionary to understand that change for the sake of change is not sufficient. The only way to successfully move forward is to “sanctify the new” and make it a base for seeking yet a higher level in history. The best method to conduct this constructive progress is to periodically seek renewal, and the inspiration which it brings. The most effective way to renew is to do it layer by layer and not to destroy the base, which itself was built upon previous layers of renewal. It is like climbing on a spiral staircase that is carefully going around, sometimes in a slightly different direction, but always heading up.

The Shlichut (Israeli emissary) program, a collaboration between UJC MetroWest and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is by definition doing exactly that. UJC MetroWest is blessed to have a group of talented, experienced, and enthusiastic Israelis who come to serve as Shlichim (emissaries) in our community for a set period of time, between a year and few years each. They run Israel programming with an ambitious goal: to educate about the value of the extended Jewish community and the power of the Israel connections. They bring their own authentic flavor of Israel to MetroWest through culture, art, visitors, and encounters. They send hundreds of youngsters to experience Israel. They blanket the community in a highly visible way – in our schools, synagogues, and other community venues. Above all, they are Israelis – living and showcasing their homeland. They are always fresh, enthusiastic, and creative. They work around the clock. They come up with tons of ideas, and are full of positive energies. They move and shake the community up the spiral of Israel connections.

UJC MetroWest is the national leader among North American communities in this regard. Over the years we were able to develop a model of “Mishlachat” (a delegation of Shlichim), which includes combinations of pre-army youngsters who are deferring their army service for a year to serve the Jewish people through our community (the “Rishonim”), post-army volunteer Shlichim, a Youth Shaliach who works with teens and young adults, as well as an Executive Shaliach, who supervises the team and directs the many programs administered by the Israel Program Center. So by definition this structure brings a constant renewal atmosphere into our community life. Every Shaliach is different and each brings with him/her their own personal and professional style and experience. But since change for the sake of change is not enough, and in order to follow Rabbi Kook’s advice, we make sure that we build our renewal process layer by layer. The Shlichut is like a relay race. It requires continuous teamwork. The Shlichim are passing the baton from one to the other over the years, and the achievements are accumulating.

To make sure that the incoming Shlichim will be as ready as possible to start their holy and intense work in the community immediately upon arrival, we screen, train, and accompany them in the most professional way. There is not much time for the traditional “learning curve” once they are in New Jersey. It is not always easy, especially for the Rishonim. The cultural differences, the foreign working environment, the distance from home, friends, and family are all challenges that our Israeli delegation constantly face. Yet in spite of this, the added value of having the Israeli Shlichim in our community is amazing and the impact is huge.

In this period of the Jewish New Year, in the spirit of renewal, and the tradition of transition, please meet our new MetroWest Mishlachat and take advantage of their time with us. We encourage you to reach out to them, to discuss what Israel means to you and your family, to offer up which Israel-focused activities and programs you would like to see our Federation undertake, and just to enjoy getting to know them. If you would like to be more pro-active in this area, please consider joining our Israel Program Center committee, our Partnership 2000 committee, which is partnered with the Ofakim/Merchavim region in the Negev, our Religious Pluralism committee, which is dedicated to encouraging diversity and Jewish identity in Israel, or our Israel and Overseas committee. Each of these committees focuses on MetroWest’s personal bonds, the “living bridges,” with Israel and Israelis. If you want to be part of that bridge, please reach out to us.

Hi. I am Noga Maliniak, the Executive Shlicha and the Director of the Legow Family Israel Program Center. I am here to make sure that Israel remains in the heart of our community during my service and thereafter.

Please contact me at nmaliniak@ujcnj.org.

Hi, I'm Daphna Yizrael from Tel Aviv. I’m the Youth Shlicha, and currently live with my husband Zvi in South Orange. I am here to help connect the next generation to Israel and to the community.

Please contact me at dyizrael@ujcnj.org.

Amitai Hi, I'm Amitai Edri from Rishon LeZion. I am one of the three pre-army Rishonim. I currently live with my host family in Mountain Lakes, and I am proud to bring Israel to the following Jewish organizations: Kushner Academy, Hebrew Academy of Morris County, Morristown Jewish Center, Temple B’nai Abraham, and Tzofim- Israeli Scouts. Please contact me at aedri@ujcnj.org.

Michal Hi, I'm Michal Kfir from Ra'anana. I am one of the three pre-army Rishonim. I currently live in with my host family in North Caldwell, and I am proud to bring Israel to the following Jewish organizations: Solomon Schechter Lower School, Pine B rook Jewish Center, Temple Beth Am, Congregation Agudath Israel, Congregation Shomrei Emunnah , and Temple Shalom of West Essex. I am one of the three pre-army Rishonim. Please contact me at mkfir@ujcnj.org.

Hi, I'm Gal Dafadi from Rishon LeZion. I am one of the three pre-army Rishonim. I currently live in with my host family in Livingston, and I am proud to bring Israel to the following Jewish organizations: Solomon Schechter Upper School, Temple Beth Shalom, Temple B’nai Or, and Tz ofim- Israeli Scouts. Please contact me at gdafadi@ujcnj.org.