Approximately 1,700 young Jewish adults from around the world attended Birthright Israel’s main summer event at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater. Attendees included Miriam Adelson; Birthright Israel International CEO Gidi Mark; and Meir Shamir, chairman of the organization’s Israeli board of directors. The event marked the peak of Birthright Israel’s summer season, during which approximately 15,000 young Jews from 34 countries are visiting Israel for educational trips, volunteer opportunities and fellowship programs.
Against the backdrop of escalating security threats in recent weeks and a sharp decline in tourism to Israel, thousands of participants chose to travel to Israel with Birthright Israel, experience the country firsthand and see the reality beyond the headlines.
The festive evening brought together young Jewish adults from around the world for an immersive Israeli cultural experience, culminating in performances by Itay Galo, Netta Barzilai and Eden Golan.
Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland, Florida has welcomed Rabbi Cookie Lea Olshein as interim rabbi, beginning a new chapter for the Reform congregation following Rabbi Bradd Boxman’s 17 years of leadership. She will lead Kol Tikvah through a year of reflection and transition as the congregation prepares to identify its next long-term spiritual leader.
Olshein brings nearly two decades of rabbinic leadership and currently serves as a vice president and executive committee member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). She previously led Temple Israel of West Palm Beach, where she became the first woman to lead an established congregation in Palm Beach County, and before entering the rabbinate spent more than a decade as a civil litigation attorney.
“I believe every new beginning carries the possibility of something extraordinary,” Olshein said. “Throughout the coming year, I look forward to exploring new ideas together, honoring the traditions that define Kol Tikvah while creating opportunities to learn, grow, and discover what will help this community flourish for generations to come. My hope is that this journey will be filled with inspiration, celebration, and transformation.”
On Aug. 16, approximately 20 Jewish young professionals—all of them alumni or current participants of Jewish Federation Los Angeles’ Rautenberg New Leaders Project (NLP)—turned out for a morning hike.
Held at Fryman Canyon in Studio City, the Sunday outing was an opportunity for NLPers to get some exercise while schmoozing with others who have experienced the unique civic leadership-oriented program offered by Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
For more than 30 years, the L.A. Federation’s NLP initiative has provided training and professional development to elevate the next class of outstanding Jewish civic leaders in Los Angeles. Current participants of the program attend monthly events and become engaged in the most pressing issues facing the city, including transportation, homelessness and legislative efforts to combat antisemitism. Alumni remain active in the program as well, with many of them attending events to serve as mentors for the current cohort.
At Sunday’s optional get-together, the NLP hikers met up at the bottom of the Fryman trail, gave brief intros about themselves, and then set off on the uphill trek. About halfway through the 2.7-mile hike, they veered off the main path and climbed stairs to the TreePeople campus, where they learned about water conversation efforts, rainwater capture and other greening solutions for our drought-stricken city.
Undeterred by the hot weather, the group then returned to the main trail and continued hiking. After arriving where they began at the main parking area, everyone said their goodbyes. Not a bad way to kick off a Sunday.
