Page 92 - issue
P. 92
ETZ CHAIM Jen Kaplan’s Story the Dead Sea – and continue to Jordan
CELEBRATES As told to Talia Raun and Egypt. Instead, I wound up at Neve
Yerushalayim seminary on my second
YEARS OF Igrew up completely secular. I always day in Yerushalayim, learned there for
JEWISH knew I was Jewish – we went to shul six weeks, then stayed through the
on the High Holidays or for some- chagim.
40JOURNEYS one’s bar or bat mitzvah – but I had
In the past four decades, my wife and I, no concept of kosher or Shabbos. I An Aish family, Rabbi Yaakov and
together with the staff of Etz Chaim, decided to go to Israel by myself Nili Couzens, connected me with the
have met hundreds of wonderful Jews after backpacking with my college Discovery program, and I had my first
involved in their Jewish journeys. I roommates all over Europe. I was just Friday night dinner at their home. I lit
would like to share their stories. You going to spend a few days – Masada, candles on time, walked to shul, heard
might know some of these special Jews Kiddush, and heard Torah at their
who changed the direction of their table. I was very, very moved.
lives and their families to become clos-
er to the Jewish community, to Torah, In Israel I was in awe on a regular
and to HashemASHEM.. Read and basis. So this was Judaism! Everything
enjoy. Shlomo Porter had meaning!
I was getting ready to return to
Baltimore. I was coming back on fire
but with no idea how to keep this feel-
ing alive. That’s when I heard about an
organization called Etz Chaim and
Rabbi Porter. Etz Chaim paired me
with an Orthodox woman who could
answer my questions, shmooze with
me, and help keep me inspired.
Rebecca Spero became an anchor for
me. We met weekly, and she listened to
my concerns, answered my questions
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
CELEBRATES As told to Talia Raun and Egypt. Instead, I wound up at Neve
Yerushalayim seminary on my second
YEARS OF Igrew up completely secular. I always day in Yerushalayim, learned there for
JEWISH knew I was Jewish – we went to shul six weeks, then stayed through the
on the High Holidays or for some- chagim.
40JOURNEYS one’s bar or bat mitzvah – but I had
In the past four decades, my wife and I, no concept of kosher or Shabbos. I An Aish family, Rabbi Yaakov and
together with the staff of Etz Chaim, decided to go to Israel by myself Nili Couzens, connected me with the
have met hundreds of wonderful Jews after backpacking with my college Discovery program, and I had my first
involved in their Jewish journeys. I roommates all over Europe. I was just Friday night dinner at their home. I lit
would like to share their stories. You going to spend a few days – Masada, candles on time, walked to shul, heard
might know some of these special Jews Kiddush, and heard Torah at their
who changed the direction of their table. I was very, very moved.
lives and their families to become clos-
er to the Jewish community, to Torah, In Israel I was in awe on a regular
and to HashemASHEM.. Read and basis. So this was Judaism! Everything
enjoy. Shlomo Porter had meaning!
I was getting ready to return to
Baltimore. I was coming back on fire
but with no idea how to keep this feel-
ing alive. That’s when I heard about an
organization called Etz Chaim and
Rabbi Porter. Etz Chaim paired me
with an Orthodox woman who could
answer my questions, shmooze with
me, and help keep me inspired.
Rebecca Spero became an anchor for
me. We met weekly, and she listened to
my concerns, answered my questions
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
