In the spirit of V’nahafoch hu, Mishpacha contributors share the axioms they were sure of…until they weren’t
As told to Yael Schuster
Kosher airline meals were reserved. Bus drivers had their routes down pat. Hotels braced for impact. And 15 Jewish college students from across the US were on the final countdown until their grand adventure, a tour of the Holy Land.
Then with just seven days to go, thanks to Omicron, it was over before it began. But these kids’ neshamos were ripe for connection; how could I just abandon them to their hollow dorm rooms?
I called my brother Raphael, who conducts tours across the globe. “Think you can work your magic and arrange a tour of Poland for us in seven days?” And miraculously, he did.
But I faced a dilemma. Our Israel trip was rescheduled for the summer, and everyone coming to Poland planned to join the Israel trip as well. My approach to kiruv has always been one of logical progression — first convince them of the basics: G-d exists, Torah is from G-d at Sinai, it doesn’t conflict with science. These kids are studying advanced science and philosophy, and step one is to meet them where they’re at. Jumping into Torah before the groundwork is in place would be nonsensical — why would someone care about the way to build a succah if they don’t believe in G-d?
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