POM Presentation to the Board, May 2019 Our Congregation hosted a - PDF document

POM Presentation to the Board, May 2019 Our Congregation hosted a unit of discharged Elite combat soldiers for a week of therapy during the week of March 31st to April 7th. This was a unique experience for our shul, which allowed for several benefits For the Host Families • New member (Lisa Nerman) joined the shul specifically because of this program. Heard about it when she came for Kaddish • Families that otherwise would not be involved with the shul, felt connected. I have attached a facebook post from Maya Roth, below • Experience extended to several younger members of congregants who do not get involved with the shul on a regular basis, but who attended events throughout the • Jennifer Inspektor • Benjamin Gottesman • Schneeweiss Kids • Created a sense of Hevruta/Komuna that developed closer tied between the congregants who have more shared experiences For the Shul • Shabbat Dinner and shabbat service created an atmosphere of close connection to Israel. • I received countless accounts of how deeply moved the attendees were during prayer, and One in seeing the soldiers singing and dancing arm in arm…and seeing Cantor Stein on Eshhar’s shoulders was a priceless experience! • Congregants who came had the opportunity to connect with the soldiers during the Friday night dinner and share experiences, I received many comments from congregants who felt this created a di ff erent reason to come to shul for a shabbat dinner (O ff enenheims, children and parents, Galets, Steiner, Factor) • Several congregants approached me on Shabbat asking how they can support future initiatives (some expressed they would have contributed financially had there been an opportunity to do so - which was regrettably not allowed) Learning Opportunities • Survey sent to host families and board members received varying results. Overall everyone supports the idea that Adath should have programing that links us to Israel. • For the host families, POM provided this vehicle, for the board not so much. As many as 50% of board members rated the Shabbat services as n/a suggesting lack of attendance, so the opportunity to engage was missed • There were several suggestions on how to improve our shabbat services as well as how to restructure (if possible) the week with the soldiers. • Overall most people were in favor of POM as long as it did not take away too many resources from the board, but rather become funded in parallel/separately from shul budgets. Finally, I want to leave everyone with an image that struck me during POM. As those of you who were there for shabbat know, Linda Reisman did a wonderful job in setting up the room, as per my vision, to recreate Israel. It was done beautifully with trees that resembled “shekidia- porachat” Almond trees blooming. If Judaism is the root of our tree of life, and the synagogue becomes the trunk that upholds our judaism, then the various programs we have at Adath become the branches, and the relationships that develop through these programs become the leaves that breathe life into all

we do. POM allowed us to develop solid branches and many many wonderful leaves and flowers to add to our “Etz Chayim”. Next Steps Assess if POM is a fit for Adath Israel. If so, need to find • Budget • Ability to fundraise/solicit from members of the congregation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A Facebook post from Maya Roth Our family went on a magical journey over the past week and I am finding it incredibly hard to find the right words to do it justice. Adath Israel Congregation hosted its first Peace of Mind Canada program - where a unit of released Israeli Defense Force soldiers travel together to a community outside of Israel to process their service individually and collectively. Given my professional role, I appreciated the pragmatic power of this Program: 1) that distance in time and space from service can foster meaningful healing; 2) the group miliea of this program would facilitate deep growth due to the bond of army brotherhood; and 3) that the view that communities outside of Israel have of IDF soldiers as heroes can ameliorate the ache that service can bring. What I didn't predict was the multilayered and profound impact that participation in this Program would on each member of my family. I am really speechless and emotional. The impact was felt at an individual, family, community and country level, and probably many other ways in between. Each of my kids quickly bonded with the two released soldiers that we hosted, and were deeply a ff ected by the time together. Our family collectively connected with the larger family of this amazing elite infantry unit and their lived experience. Our community embraced each of the 19 visitors and they became a part of us, as we became a part of them. We also connected with members of our community who we had never met before because of our shared love of our 19 visitors. Finally, the strength of the relationship between Israel and Canada was solidified further for all of us. The word magic feels too simple and yet apt all at once. A couple highlights - the quiet conversations and deep connections over dinner, in pubs and while driving; chopstick lessons; a first hockey game for our visitors and the impact it had on Zach; Nathan's inquiry about whether the "big boys" where at home each day on the way home from day care; the love that quickly developed between Kayla and our one guest; the mutual passion for music that was shared between Hannah and our other guest; the look on Zach's face when he was gifted with the unit hat of one of our guests; the excitement of Hebrew coming to life in our home; and the sad quiet that came tonight as we missed our two guests who became our family. What transcended all of these memories and the connection that built so quickly, are life lessons for each member of our family: 1) amazing things happen when you open yourself and your home to others; 2) generosity can result in getting more out of the act than what you give; 3) being a part of something bigger than yourself and your family brings meaning; 4) community membership is essential for continuity and connection with the past and future; and 5) the value of doing with the flow ... this one comes a bit harder for me but I am committed to trying it!!

We all shed tears this morning and this afternoon when we bid our guests farewell. Thankfully we are committed to staying connected and will reunite in Israel. The greatest testament to this Program, to this week and to our particular guests is the unanimous "Yes" that rang through our home when I asked if a) my family enjoyed the experience; and b) if my family wanted to participate in another Program in the future. Thank you Felicia Gopin and Belinda Schneeweiss for bringing this experience into our lives!! I also want to thank Lee Roth and my kids for agreeing without hesitation when I suggested that we participate!! Our POM Egoz Unit during Yom Ha’Atzmaut