Temple Emanu-El is very proud and excited about its first-ever congregational trip to Israel.
Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith lead nineteen folks on the trip, June 3rd to June 16th, consisting of nine days in Israel plus an optional three day extension to Jordan.

Major stops along the way included:

Israel

· Tel Aviv and Jaffa
· Caesarea, Haifa, Akko, and Rosh Hanikra
· Safed, the Golan, Tel Hai and
  the Banias Springs
· The Kinneret, Ramban's Grave, Tiberias, 
  Beit She'an, and Gilboa
· Several days touring Jerusalem
· Masada and the Dead Sea

Jordan

· Jerash
· Amman
· Wadi Moussa
· Petra
· Madaba and Mount Nebo

Henry S. Jacobs Camp is the Reform Jewish Movement’s summer camp serving the Deep South: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle. During the 2010 Summer session, six campers from Temple Emanu-El attended the full four week session, and two camplers attended the weekend "Taste of Camp" session. A camping experience is is a wonderful way for our kids to live and learn Jewishly for an extended period of time, and for members of our congregation in remote areas, camp is even more important to reinforce what the children learn both at home and in Religious School. 

Since 1970, Jacobs Camp has been providing a caring Jewish community that builds young people. The camp program has a profound impact on our campers. The opportunity to live as part of a close-knit community and develop new skills, assisted by a dynamic and enthusiastic staff, coupled with Jewish values and the development of one’s Jewish identity result in the experience of a lifetime! 

On Sunday, April 25th, a group of about 27 people from Temple Emanu-El and B'nai Israel in Panama City, FL caravanned to a Montgomery Biscuits baseball game against the Mississippi Braves. We had a delicious lunch at Jason's Deli and a great day at the ball park!

Yom Hashoah, or the Day of Remembrance, became an official holiday in 1953 when it was enacted into law by the Israeli Knesset.  It is to be commemorated every year on the 27^th of Nisan, a week after of the seventh day of Passover.  In Israel, all programs on the television and the radio relate to the Holocaust, and there is not public entertainment on Yom Hashoah.  At 11:00 am, a siren sounds for two minutes, and the country comes to a standstill for a communal silent devotion.  Outside of Israel, the day is usually commemorated with a solemn service at the synagogue.  

The Community Service for 2010 was held on Monday night, April 12^th at 7:00, and was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Our congregational member, Hy Wakstein, spoke about his experiences both during the Battle of the Bulge and in liberating the concentration camp at Buchenwald.  That was followed by a presentation by Amy Pruitt’s fifth grade class from Heard Magnet School.  The mantra of the Holocaust is Never Forget to prevent it from ever happening again. Our very special service reflected that ideal as the story will be transmitted l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.