Temple Adas Shalom is making a strong effort to further its connection to Israel with programming bringing in Israelis and other advocates for the country to share a breadth of experiences and culture.
The congregation heard from a 22-year-old Israeli soldier who was discharged from her army service during an event with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces on May 15.
The congregation was able to learn about the work that FIDF does for soldiers in the Israeli army and how those efforts make the lives of service members easier.
“It was amazing, and it was a very rewarding experience, and we made a decision that we really want to be one of the congregations who’s constantly supportive of Friends of the IDF,” said Rabbi Meeka Simerly, Adas Shalom’s rabbi.
Simerly said that the soldier told the congregation that after her service, she felt such a strong affinity to FIDF and its work that she went to the Israeli Embassy to visit the U.S. and speak with communities.
Simerly said that a week prior on May 9, the congregation had celebrated Israel during a dinner event called its Am Yisrael Chai Celebration, part of an ongoing effort to connect congregants.
That has been a large focus of the programming at Adas Shalom, and it has been even more of a focal point since Simerly returned from a trip to Israel earlier this year where she took part in the Amplify Israel program.
“We have been basically exploring different parts of what it means to be connected with Israel from the diaspora. It’s one of the most debilitating feelings to be so far away from Israel, and we strive to support and be helpful,” Simerly said.
Simerly said that connection is vital since the congregation is made up of proud Zionists who might not agree with every single decision that the Israeli government makes, but will always support the country and its existence as the Jewish homeland.
And while there was so much going on this year that they weren’t able to plan a celebration, Simerly said that spirit is encouraging them to think about planning events for Jerusalem Day in the future.
“We all know that Israel is a homeland that will accept every Jewish person, no questions asked, and that is the main reason why we need to continue to amplify Israel, to support Israel with everything we’ve got. And so, this past year was about providing events and programs in support of different Israeli events,” Simerly said.
As for other future programming, Simerly said that the congregation has a growing relationship with FIDF and that it would love to be involved with the organization more often for other events.
But the main goal the congregation has is scheduling a trip to Israel for the people to see Israel, its people and its culture firsthand.
“A bigger plan is to take the congregation for a trip to Israel, probably in early 2026 or in the summer of 2026. [The plan] is to really let people know what Israel is really about. It’s not just about the wars, it’s not just about the military, it’s really one of the happiest countries in the world,” Simerly said.
Simerly said that Israel was ranked one of the world’s happiest countries and added that the overall happiness of the citizens has stayed resilient even after Oct. 7 and consistent missile attacks from other countries.
That joy is what Simerly wants congregants to be able to understand and experience for themselves to deepen the connection they feel to Israel and its people.
“Because I’m an Israeli, I want to take my congregational family to travel in Israel and see all these things that really create the average Israeli life,” Simerly said.
