Liana was a young mom of two, at the height of her career, when she was invited, along with a group of women in her community, to attend a JWRP trip through J-Inspire, a program of Aish Hatorah that encourages and motivates religious people to invite less-connected Jews in their communities to join them on trips to Israel.
Although Liana had never before experienced a Shabbat meal or kept the Jewish holidays, her children were growing older. She wanted to give them a taste of their heritage, to have them grow up with a strong Jewish identity.
That trip, spearheaded by Shulamith Zakutinsky of J-Inspire, turned out to be life-altering, in more ways than one. After an incredible, inspiration-packed week, during which she made new friends and learned so much about herself, a horrific accident occurred.
On the final day of the trip, when she was already packed to go back home, Liana got caught under the wheel of a speeding bus. She sustained serious injuries in the accident, and the doctors didn’t think she would survive. Liana remained in the hospital for weeks, racked with pain and unable to move, dress or feed herself. But during her extended—and miraculous—recovery, Liana learned of the power of the Jewish heart, and how we are truly one family.
“People came to visit me from all over Israel, spending time at my bedside, encouraging me when I was in pain and cheering me on as I made progress,” Liana recalled.
Upon her arrival in New York and a stint in rehab, Liana made the commitment to keep Shabbat each week and to make her kitchen kosher, bringing so much joy and meaning into her life. At her beloved son’s bar mitzvah, hosted by her newly found J-Inspire sisters and friends and the extended community, Liana expressed her gratitude to the women of Aish, her sisters, with her in both pain and joy.
Liana, who addressed a crowd of over 1,000 at the 18th annual HaTorah Partner’s Conference, was one of the many heroes and heroines of Aish, the men, women and children who have turned their lives around and are now passing the baton by teaching and inspiring others.
The weekend conference included many inspirational speakers, good food and entertainment. Rav David Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, was introduced by Rabbi Yaakov Meyer, the director of Aish HaTorah of Denver and a tireless organizer of the stellar program. Simultaneously, Rachel Burg, the dynamic director of Camp Dina, spoke passionately to a roomful of women about mindful mothering and how to raise our children as individuals.
The Friday night dinner was a true example of the diversity and beauty of our nation. The 1,000-plus participants were spread over four dining rooms, assigned to specific seats. There was a roomful of Aish Hasbara members (activists in training), along with their teachers; J-Inspire groups, who, under the auspices of Project Inspire, are learning and growing; and many graduates of Ilana Cowland’s highly successful Jewel groups, as well as prominent lay leaders. There was an entire dining room of secular and religious partners from J-Inspire communities in the tri-state area and Toronto, sharing and discussing what they had learned and absorbed through the weekend, in keeping with Aish HaTorah’s goal.
At the keynote session, Rabbi Yossie Friedman, COO of Aish HaTorah, and managing director of Project Inspire, introduced Dr. Stuart Hytman, who, along with his wife, Andrea, is the true heart and soul behind Aish. An intense night of breakout sessions, including Rap with the Rabbis and the stimulating question and answer session, was well worth staying awake until past midnight.
At the following day’s keynote session, introduced by Allen Isaac Gross, convention chairman, Rabbi Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of South Africa and founder of the Worldwide Shabbat Project, delivered a moving talk on making shabbat relevant.
Rabbi Chaim Sampson, founding director of Project Inspire, chaired an intense session where Project Inspire participants discussed the incredible impact of reaching out, inviting Shabbat guests or just smiling and showing an interest in our fellow Jews’ lives.
The climax of the weekend was the Saturday night keynote, where Rabbi Steven Burg, the dynamic director general of Aish HaTorah, presented an update of how Aish has blossomed all over the world.
“Every single Jew must have the opportunity to learn Torah and Aish HaTorah is that flame to reach everyone around the world, to reach Jews who don’t know about their heritage,” exclaimed Rabbi Burg. “It is not complicated to be a Jew. It’s about getting close to God, and He gave us the Torah as a tool to get close to Him.”
The Sunday keynote session featured Justice Richard Bernstein, an Orthodox, blind judge whose journey of courage and faith was profiled on Aish.com, setting an example of perseverance despite the odds. Justice Bernstein, an avid athlete and proud Jew, has never allowed his disability to limit or hinder his growth, achieving great things with sheer willpower.
As the weekend drew to a close, attendees felt both inspired and empowered, filled with the desire to reach out to their brothers and sisters who live in their midst and make their mark on Jewish continuity.
As Rabbi Burg noted, “It doesn’t matter if you are religious or not, if you think you are the greatest Jew in the world or think you are the worst Jew in the world, you have what to give, and you have to give it.”
By S. Gottlieb
