Yeshiva of Flatbush Chesed-Achdut Mission to Israel Previewed on JM in the AM

JM and the AM. So I uh I mentioned that um Rabbi Goldwer's words a are a perfect intro to our conversation with Rab Dr. David Herzburg. Um there really two points we've been making. One is we've got to thank and pay tribute to Herzburg and those who along with him have arranged this incredible student journey to Israel. And secondly, as we always say, we need to encourage more schools, more synagogues, more groups, more organizations to set up these incredible visits to Israel. They are lifechanging. The students who are on them will will completely transform their attitude toward Israel, toward aliyah, toward the Jewish people and its future in the state of Israel. That's our belief, and we know we're right. All right. Dr. David Herzburg, our good friend, is not only the uh the director of our uh amazing Jewish histories, Jewish history series uh that are on on a weekly basis and they have been playing to critical acclaim, especially his series on the six- day war. In addition, he's director of the Lavine family Shawah Institute at the Yeshiva Flapper Herzburg. A pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Thank you so much, Nama. Good morning. So, you're totally aboard with me on these two purposes on this on this two-pronged approach. Number one, the students, parents, those who are with you, your colleagues who put all this together need to be recognized. And in addition to that, we need to continue uh encouraging schools and schools and groups from around this country and around the world to keep getting to Israel as soon as possible. >> 100% absolutely more important than ever. And this particular student mission which was actually the Shivila Flatbush Kessa mission headed by our very own Rabbi Besser and one of our parents and alumni Susan Franco which has actually been going on for over 20 years since the uh second inifatada. Um we have 50 students going next week for vacation to under their leadership. >> Now you said to me and it starts January the 13th folks. So, you told me off the air that these students essentially have a choice. I mean, they and their parents essentially have a choice. Uh, go to the beach for vacation, spend a week in Panama, um, take advantage of all that the New York City area has to offer, et, etc., etc., etc. And yet, with all of those possibilities, you're sitting with record-breaking numbers for this journey to Israel. Explain, Rabbi Herzburg. the the kids and the the parents are are just great. You know, this is again the uh the connection to and which comes from the school and their teachers and the under again the inspiration leadership of Rabbi Besser. These kids just want to do and you know, yes, they're going with a lot of their friends. They're going to have a really good time. But yeah, they they have the choice to be going to uh other places. This is their intercession. this is their vacation and um you know not that they're not gonna have fun and they're gonna eat well at the inbound though. Trust me, they're gonna we're gonna >> I get I I get that. But frankly, a lot of families, you know, take advantage of that at other times of the year. So, the fact that they're adding a trip is is really nice. And you know what the pressure is? There's always pressure among parents and students uh to find, you know, a new exotic place to explore. So, the fact that they've chosen Israel, I think, is really cool. Look, some of their friends and you know are packing bathing suits and these kids are packing winter coats for vacation. >> That's great. All right, Dr. David Herzburg with us live via telephone. It is amazing and I guess this is one of the reasons why you have record-breaking numbers in addition to the and we've seen them in action. We've met our Besser on the January trips in Israel. So, we've seen them in action all different things they do and of course it's part of what you have planned between the 13th and the 21st of January actual real projects. Then in addition to that you have included so many visits to army bases uh visits and Sudat Shabbat with lone soldiers and really a lot of different har which I don't know if that would be included in a regular trip years ago. Now of course it's so important because we've lost so many of our dear soldiers you know in recent times. I mean you've really incorporated two or three different types of trips into one trip. Um yes to that and you know there's not like like on the itinerary that you that you're looking at uh there's really not a minute wasted you know from early in the morning to late at night you know the kids are >> involved in things whether it's to you know kids with special needs or our bases or the hospitals. Um it's really from early in the morning to late at night they're involved in different things and part of the idea is that it gives the kids different opportunities to find out where their calling is, what their task is. Um there's something for everybody to find themselves. Everyone has to be willing to get out of their comfort zone, but there's something for everybody to find what they're really good at. And that's part of the idea behind this multivarious uh the different opportunities that are going to be on this trip. >> And by the way, there are components to this trip that are that are not really easy for some high schoolers. I mean the visit to the state road police station not not the easiest of visits, especially as you consider what happened on the spot as one stands there and visiting Telosome the pediatric unit and the unit with injured soldiers. again, you know, not not always the most comfortable experiences. So, you're really taking students, many of them, not all of them, but many of them, out of their comfort zone and introducing them to really serious efforts and really, you know, serious visitations uh in terms of, you know, Go ahead. I'm sorry. >> No, 100%. And like Rabbi Bess when he spoke to the kids said, look, everyone's going to find their their part. No one's going to necessarily be, you know, great at everything. And then that's not the point, right? But everyone has to be willing to get out of their comfort zone. >> Look, um there's a reason why this uh this annual event has been so successful and we should point out that during the war, this was more than an annual event. You guys were arranging trips whenever possible. The Yeshiva Flapush William S. Lavine Family Shawah Institute has their January Akus mission from January the 13th through January the 22nd. The itinerary is unbelievable. I mean, we touched on some of it this morning, but if you see this whole thing, it's amazing. And those of you out there who are part of schools, whatever grades, the older grades, elementary school, high school, etc., part of synagogues, clubs, and groups, organizations, that want advice on how to put together a trip like this and what to include on a trip like this. Uh because my Herzburg, you've established all the connections. Now people can just take advantage of those connections and easily you know start to arrange meetings and visits right >> absolutely we have our connections other schools have theirs and as I've you know told you you know said before on the air on the air one of the most beautiful things in terms of aus is every organization in every school and every sh interact no one's hiding no one's keeping this is my connection it's just about I'm a and I'm >> all right uh we've offered this before I have no idea if anybody ever took advantage. But Rabbi Herzburg has again um graciously offered to speak to anybody in the categories that I just mentioned, school leadership, synagogue leadership, organizational leadership to discuss putting together a trip like this to Israel. This is a soldout uh most people ever, most participation ever, a trip to Israel and it includes so many amazing things, so many different tracks. Uh we can't do anything other than highly recommend emulating it. Rabbi Herzburg, the easiest email address for people to make contact with you would be >> uh derzburg that's with a t one word derzburg at flatbush.org. >> Simple as that. Kavode, what can I say? You deserve all the credit and your colleagues of course share that credit with you and I really do hope that this spurs other people on to to connect and to really establish a strong connection uh between us in the diaspora and the Holy Land. and I look forward to your review afterwards because some of the things you're doing seem remarkable >> looking forward. Thank you so much and feel better. >> I appreciate that. Thank you very much. I told Arammy I'm dragging today. I'm trying to get from that 70% to 100%. Just ain't working yet. But we'll see what happens. Maybe something will inspire me to uh to remarkably uh make some progress. Big Gar by Herzburg. Big G everybody. Yeshiva Flapbush. Send our best. Dash Kam as you go on this important Atos mission from the 13th through the 22nd of January. And again, take advantage of our Herzburg's offer. They do a lot of really special things. They do a lot of cool stuff and they want others to do those things as well. They're not keeping it a secret. They want everyone to participate.