22 Elul 5785/September 15, 2025

Rabbi Stephen Wise

I was in Israel with my wife this summer, and despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the threat of missile attacks, the country was vibrant and full of life. People often asked us why we chose to vacation there during such a tense time. Our answer was simple: Why not? Israel is our homeland. We wanted to witness the reality firsthand, support the local economy, and help in any way we could. We were struck by the resilience and spirit of everyday life. In Be’er Sheva, we joined our twin congregation Ramot Shalom for Tisha B’Av. After prayers, we reflected on the tragedies of Jewish history—the destruction of the Temples—and couldn’t help but draw parallels to today. Then it was senseless hatred among fellow Jews that led to our downfall.  Today, conflict continues though we are not powerless and will not be exiled from our homeland ever again.  We ended our trip with two incredible concerts, two different sides of Israel reflecting two parallel realities. The first was HaKeves HaShisha Asar (“The Sixteenth Sheep”), a beloved children’s album from 1978 brought to life by iconic Israeli musicians. The sing-along felt like a warm embrace across generations, a crowd filled with peaceniks. The next night, we saw Omer Adam—Israel’s pop sensation. He called out to Israel to continue to fight until Hamas is defeated to applause and cheers.  No one has all the answers despite everyone having an opinion, but surrounded by thousands of fans singing and dancing under the night sky, we felt the enduring pulse of Israel’s vibrant culture.