OJT E0: Liora Alschuler

To geo-locate me, Jewishly, I grew up in a WASPy suburb of Chicago, touched down in Pittsburgh for a couple years, then, at age 17, fled this country, my family, and lived in Israel for four and a half years, mostly in Jerusalem with the last year living in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, returning in December, 1972. These years colored my experience of Israel, and all who live there, and in an oblique way – since I don’t recall ever setting foot in a synagogue – broadened immensely my experience of being a Jew. Since returning, I have found it profoundly difficult to talk about Israel, about being a Jew, inside or outside the country, with just about anyone, no less with my fellow Jews. Until now, and now, while not always easy, I think it’s time. The three pillars that anchor my Jewish life today:• Chavurat ki-tov: a small group convened by Rabbi Dov Taylor who can bereached at [email protected]• Upper Valley Jewish Community/Kol Ha’Emek: “An eclectic, welcoming,egalitarian congregation providing Jewish spiritual, educational, social andcultural opportunities.”• Etz Hayyim: The only synagogue today in Crete, lovingly revived decades afterthe Nazi destruction of a 2000 years-old Jewish community.Photo: Liora, back then, with Haj Baidun