What a whirlwind of a summer it has been! I was privileged to attend the Rabbinic Torah Seminar at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and engage in 10 days of profoundly impactful learning, together with some 150 colleagues from the United States, Israel, and Europe. We explored the last 100 years of Jewish history, based on key dates that have shaped the modern Israel: 1917 – the Balfour Declaration was signed, 1947 – the UN voted on partition plan, and 1967 – the 6 Day War occurred. I was greatly impressed by the faculty of Shalom Hartman and have expanded and deepened my knowledge and understanding of the narratives that surround the modern Jewish state. 
I am delighted to announce that I will be offering the Hartman ‘iEngage: Israel’s Milestones and Their Meanings’ course this year at Temple Emanuel. It explores the pivotal events of 1917, 1947, and 1967 as key moments when Zionism unleashed new thinking about the meaning of Jewishness for generations to come. This iEngage series grapples with the different ideas and values that shape the meaning of modern Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity today. Together we will engage in a new values-based discourse about Israel, including topics such as nationhood, land, Sovereignty, Jerusalem, Occupation and Moral Red Lines. You can read more about the course and the schedule here, and registration is now open – I hope that many of TE members use this wonderful opportunity to engage in serious learning and conversation. The course will be taught on Sunday mornings and will begin on October 15th.
This is the year we mark the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel, and there will be multiple occasions to celebrate, to learn, and to engage with Israel in this coming year at TE. I am delighted to share with you that Julian Resnick, a master educator and travel guide (who guided our journey through Spain this year), will be leading the TE trip to Israel next summer, July 15-26, 2018. More details, including cost and program highlights will be available soon, but please mark your calendars now for this exciting TE Travels opportunity!
Last but not least, I am honored to share with all of you that I have been accepted into the Masters in Sacred Theology program at Yale Divinity school. I will pursue this program part-time over the course of the next two years as part of my sabbatical, deepening my knowledge and skills. I am extremely grateful to Temple Emanuel for this wonderful opportunity, and I cannot wait to begin my classes!
I wish you all Shanah Tovah, a Happy New Year 5778, and may it be filled with a joy of learning for all of us!