Riding4Reform

co-sponsored by ARZA Canada

Three Seas Bike Ride in Israel Raises over $110,000 for the Israeli Reform Movement in 2007

by Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel, Director, Canadian Council for Reform Judaism and ARZA Canada

Last year, for a fourth year in a row, I was privileged to participate in the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism's (IMPJ) Riding4Reform bike ride to raise much needed funds for their programs across Israel. (Canada might have the smallest number of participants on the ride, but every year, we raise the most funds out of everyone! All the funds go to support the Reform Movement in Israel.). I did the ride with my Team ARZA Canada Harvey Zimmerman and Sandra Montague, both members of Temple Sinai in Toronto.

The March ride was called the Three Seas Ride. The route began in Jerusalem, descended to the Dead Sea, made its way back north to the Sea of Galilee, and then we finished in Haifa, overlooking the Mediterranean. Over the 5-day long ride, we covered approximately 220 miles, much of it off-road. What an amazing way to discover the country: in March all the wild flowers are in bloom and we passed through bright red fields that were blanketed with red poppies, we rode through lush green farms and hills, we churned our way up steep mountains and hills inspired to continue by the breath-taking views surrounding us below.

One of the goals for the year along with fundraising was to meet with Reform congregations in the north who had been affected by the war with Lebanon last summer. We met with the communities of Carmiel and Haifa and heard from them what it was like to keep a community going while Katusha rockets flew overhead.

We were joined on the ride last year by 6 young future leaders of the Israeli Reform movement: participants in this years Mechina program (prepatory) program. These are young adults who are in between high school and the army who take a year to study and do volunteer work and learn how to become better community leaders. One of our evening programs was led by them, as they explained to us the nature of what they were doing and why they chose to participate in this type of program for which they receive no army or university credit just life experience.

Last year saw the largest number of riders: 55 altogether, including HUC-JIR students, rabbis, cantors, riders from the Reform Movement in Israel, Canada and the US.

I do the ride on a tandem mountain bike with the treasurer of the IMPJ, David Benninga, he's been my riding partner for 3 of the 4 years now and we make a great team!

Last year was Harvey and Sandra's first year participating on Riding4Reform and they loved it! Here are some photos of the 3 of us:
teamarzacanada2007_02_thumb

This coming year, March 23-27, 2008, Harvey, Sandra and I will be joined on the ride by an ever-growing Team ARZA Canada: Adam Roberts, from Temple Emanu-El in Toronto; Elliot Goldenberg and Ada Sinacore from Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom in Montreal and hopefully, others!

The ride is a wonderful way to see and experience Israel like you have never seen it before. It's a wonderful way to make new friends and to get to know the Israeli Reform Movement, its struggles, hopes and dreams in a much more in-depth way. And as one of our riders, Michael Loftus, (from our Reform congregation in Mevasseret Zion) says: Riding for charity meant that by the end of the week, every part of the body is engaged, from the eyes to the thighs, and most importantly, the heart.

If you love cycling and if you love Israel (or would like to get to know Israel better!), I hope you will consider joining us this coming March! For more information about Riding4Reform, please e-mail me; or visit the Riding4Reform website.

2007 Ride Photo Gallery