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The Ohio Jewish Chronicle
Serving Columbus and the Central Ohio
Jewish Community since 1922
VOLUME 70
NUMBER 41
OCTOBER 1, 1992
4 TISHREI 5753
'DEVOTED TO AMERICAN AND JEWISH IDEALS
r
Wm. Schottenstein elected
Agudas Achim president
page 2
Federation Annual Meeting
Sunday, Oct. 4,
to kick of f 93 Campaign
"i\B '..•'  : •   .       B   '•    ■ P*ge2
Kalmanson to speak
m Hadassah dinner
page 3
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page 4
In The Chronicle
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'jk The News .i\.„......v................... •..»» 18
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New Generation , 22, 23
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COMMUNITY FEATURE
CJF Mission to Israel experiences the 'miracle'
By Ina Horwitz
At a time in world history
when crucial peace talks between Israel and its Arab
neighbors are taking place,
238 members of the Columbus
Jewish Federation's Israel '92
"Experience the Miracle" Mission have taken their own
stand by becoming good-will
ambassadors for their families,
friends and community. From
Sept. 13-21, participants of all
ages and backgrounds (about
80 percent being first timers)
went together to see for themselves the uniqueness of the
State of Israel.
While each has brought
home individual memories,
collectively they have returned with feelings of pride, a
renewed sense of their Judaism and a oneness with their
homeland. They also have
gained a better understanding'
of what Israel is all about and
how Columbus Jewish community commitments are
working to help the country
grow stronger, both economically and defensively.
The 8-day itinerary was
packed with encounters from
every facet of Israeli society.
Day 1: History was made
even before; the plane carrying
the participants left the
ground; the largest Ohio mission group of its kind boarded
the first ever El Al 747 jumbo
jet to land in Columbus.
All four of the mission co-
chairs, Robert H. Schottenstein, Kenneth B. Gold, Marcy
Gross and Daniel J. Kayne,
shared the belief that the mission would dramatically and
positively impact each participant's life and the quality of
Jewish life in Columbus for
many years to come.
Day 2: From the moment
mission-goers stepped foot on
Israeli soil at 8 a.m. on Sept.
14 until the time they boarded
the El Al plane at 1 a.m. on
Sept. 21, their emotions encompassed a broad spectrum
as they moved rapidly from
one experience to the next.
The group's first stop was
Latrun, a memorial to Israeli
tank battles, a key defensive
spot on the road between Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem in 1948
and 1967.
"As we stand on this site, we
can together remember how
we have survived through the
ages, including the Inquisition
and the Holocaust, due in
large part because of what
happened here," said Robert
Schottenstein.
After Brigadier General
(Dr.) Meir Pail gave a presentation to the group, he added,
"While our army rates among
the world's best, I am for
peace," a comment repeated
often during the trip.
Later, the mission toured
the Old City of Jerusalem with
the first of three stops at the
Western Wall.
, Said Wendy Galen, "For
the very first time, what many
of us had only, seen in pictures,
we could now reach out and
touch. It was truly exhilarating."
The Kotel, a remnant of the
Holy Temple and a place of,
gathering for diverse people
of differing religious backgrounds, deeply affected many
in the delegation. Although it
no longer is called the "Wailing Wall," some openly wept
as they touched its stones.
"I rarely cry, but I cried like
a baby as I stood there:, knowing that for 2000 years it's
been the most religious place
in the world," said a mission
member.
After checking into Hotel
Laromme, Jerusalem, the
group heard refusenik Yuli
Edelstein speak about "The
New Wave of Aliyah Changing the Israeli Character."
Day 3: Among the day's activities were visits to absorption centers, the Tel Nof air-
force base, the Diaspora
Museum on the campus of Tel
Aviv University and Colum
bus' Project Renewal community of Jesse Cohen.
The highlight of the day
came early, however, as the
delegation listened to a breakfast presentation by Israeli
Foreign Minister Shimon
Peres, who told the crowd:
"You have come at a time in
the life of our country where
you, as Jews, can help in rebuilding the destiny of our
Jewish- state."
Said a member of the delegation, Chuck Shenk, "It was
impressive to hear (Peres)
speak. His context was meaningful and being number two
in the country, what he said
carries weight."
Day 4: Another sunny morning began with a trip to one of
Israel's archaeological wonders — Masada, where the
scroll of Ezekial's "Dry "Bones"
was recently unearthed. It was
the message that the 960 Jewish men, women arid children
who fought off the Romans
from 70-73A.D. and then
killed themselves rather than
lose their freedom, wanted to...
leave behind as a modern day
time capsule.   *
After swimming —■ or floating — in the Dead Sea, the
mission went to Gush EtzionV
an area along the West Bank,
to watch a video presentation
and hear the settlers' views.
Day 5: In the ntorning, mission members heard a presentationby Hersh Goodman,
editor of the Jerusalem Report
magazine. Goodman, who,
made aliyah in 1965, called
the settlers of Gush Etzion the
true pioneers of Israel, yet said
he didn't believe Israelis want;
to be occupiers.
"What is more important is
that all people have dignity
and live in peace together," he
told the crowd.
From there, some mission
members visited Tefen, an industrial park near the Lebanese border, where the seventh richest man in Israel, Stef
Wertheimer, spoke about his
vision for Israel's economic
future.
Later, the entire group
heard from Mike Ginsberg,
37, in charge of security in the
region at Kibbutz Misgav Am"
on the Lebanese border.
; Mission participant, Howard Handler, noted, "I thought
Mike Ginsberg was intense,
Zionistic and good for the
country. But I also agreed with
Jerusalem Report editor that
Israel cannot put off making
peace in the region."
Day 6: After spending a
night on a Kibbutz, the group
toured the Golan Heights
where people stood just 200
yards from the U.N. neutral
zone, separating Syria and Israel. Damascus suburbs could
almost be seen in the far distance.
A luncheon cruise on Lake
Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) fol-*
lowed. That evening Shabbat
was celebrated with prayers,
dancing and music provided
by the I.D.F. Choir.
Day 7: During this evening,
groups enjoyed dinners and
hospitality at private homes of
Israelis.
At one home, a mother told
the story of her son, who after
serving time in the Israeli
army, went abroad. He cried
when he left and he cried when
he came back but didn't explain why to anyone. Later,
when he was asked, he said "It
wasn't the places, for both
places were beautiful. It wasn't
the people, because both people were wonderful. I cried because tears are the only way
you can express Israel."
Day 8: The last day began
with a presentation by Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek. The
major since 1965, he said Israel still has an uphill battle and
a long struggle ahead of her.
Referring to the mission, he
stated, "Your being here
strengthens-us."
A visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum
See MISSION pg. S
M