Blog

After a particularly challenging year in the Jewish community, it was such a blessing for us to be able to take the month of July as a sabbatical to unwind and reinvigorate ourselves for the year to come. We are so grateful to Rabbi Shook for stepping in and caring so wonderfully for the TI community in our absence.

Rabbi Michael spent much of his sabbatical in Jerusalem at the Rabbinic Torah Seminar at the Hartman Institute. This program brings together Rabbis from all over the world to study together in an environment that’s part think tank, part yeshiva, and part professional development. This year was so different from years past, in that everyone, from the students to the faculty, was still deeply in shock at the changed society that exists in Israel today. The studies focused on the idea that the work of a shared society has never been more challenging or more important. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Min HaBe’erot program in Haifa, where Arab and Jewish teachers and educators work together to enhance understanding about the ‘other’ throughout the educational system. Rabbi Michael also had the chance to listen to amazing speakers from the newly launched Deraya leadership program for Palestinian Israeli university students.

Rabbi Amy’s sabbatical was perhaps a bit less exciting, but exactly what she needed. She took several road trips, read a ridiculous amount of books (averaging about one every two days), and made many, many batches of her mom's gazpacho. She was also delighted to spend her days with friends who she doesn’t get to see as much during the year, and share adventures with the kids once they got home from working at Camp Shook each day (and yes, it was very fun to have them go to work at TI and then head home to relax).

We’re happy to be back with you all and ready to start preparing for a new Jewish year! See you at Shabbat services tonight!

Enjoy these fun photos from our time off!