Stories

Amsterdam Beth was sitting on her bed in a hotel in Amsterdam looking at her tourist map. She had been sightseeing for days. She saw the Rembrandt house, the Van Gough museum and many of the other notable attractions. She … Continued

The first time I saw Reb Meir Schuster was in the Beis Medrash of the Beis Yosef (Nevardok) Yeshiva. This was in 1971 or ’72 when Reb Meir was learning in the Nevardok Kollel. I lived in the area and … Continued

Ariel was born and raised in Argentina. After studying at the University in Buenos Aires for three years, Ariel decided to spend his summer vacation backpacking through Europe. He travelled through Spain, Italy, France and Greece with friends he met … Continued

As  a kid, I was inspired by a magnificent Hebrew School Teacher but subsequently landed in an un-inspiring day school which left me in a rather intense love-hate relationship with Judaism. A brief summer Kibbutz stint, however, had me falling … Continued

Reb Meir worked at the Western Wall. That was his office. And I, hired by the American Peylim organization, was to be “the woman at the Wall”.  First, I just watched Reb Meir in action. I remember when he sidled … Continued

The US Centennial summer of 1976 turned out to be pivotal. The Sunday New York Times Magazine ran a story on Israel post-1973 with a full page cover photo of an Israeli soldier on the Golan Heights flanked by an … Continued

Here are a few glimpses into my relationship wtih Reb Meir: #1 – He knew just by looking at me.  Sure, I had been at Aish for a few months already but prayer was not a part of my life.  … Continued

It was February of 1977.  I was at the end of my second long stay in Israel.  I had been there for a year, 6 months on a kibbutz ulpan and 6 months working in a Communithy Center in Afula in … Continued

While still in school, Yocheved spent a semester in Israel on the Dawson Semester Program. She spent eight months on Kibbutz Gatton. With a full course load and working the fields,  she had a great time. Oh, there were a … Continued

A group of students, from the ulpan at Kibbutz Beit Hashita, was walking through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City looking for a place they could buy a siddur and a tallis.  A tall thin religious looking man with … Continued