Neighbors: Judilee Sterne

In 2008, Judilee Sterne and her husband, Harold, signed up to take a trip to the Holy Land along with members of Temple Emanu-El. But a market crash caused everyone to delay the trip. Harold Sterne told his wife that if the opportunity for such a trip ever came about again, they should take their family to Israel. When Rabbi Brenner Glickman mentioned a second attempt at the trip in 2011, the members of the congregation were ready.

Unfortunately, Harold Sterne did not get a chance to see Israel; he died in October 2010. But Sterne honored her husband’s suggestion and proposed the 10-day pilgrimage to her five children and nine grandchildren. Ten of Sterne’s family members signed on for the trip that also included 19 temple members and five members of Glickman’s family.

Sterne’s “mini-group,” along with the rest of the Temple Emanu-El travelers, visited a 1940s ammunitions factory that had been hidden under a kibbutz that specialized in raising animals, making baked goods and providing laundry services. They climbed down two stories into ancient digs, they saw Herod’s Temple and palace on the Mediterranean, and they even took a cruise along the Sea of Galilee.

“It was like taking a boat ride on the Ohio River, only they were playing songs all in Hebrew,” Sterne said.
Sterne’s grandson, Gabriel, 11, bought his tallit (prayer shawl) for his upcoming bar mitzvah while family members explored the Jewish market in Old Jerusalem.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was a visit to the Dead Sea.

“You had to have a partner go in with you so you could get up when you wanted to stop floating because it was really hard to put your feet down,” Sterne said.

But, the religious trip wasn’t all sightseeing. While in the Holy Land, the group also did service work through nonprofits; they planted pistachio and almond trees through the Jewish National Fund and harvested tomatoes to give to more than 100 families through Project Leket. A synagogue in Tel Aviv connected Sterne’s family with another family from its congregation to share a Shabbat dinner in their home.

The group also visited an Arab village while in the company of Rabbi Asher Ackerman, with Rabbis for Human Rights. They got off the tour bus to listen to residents talk about the problems they face in Jerusalem. And, although her own opinions on the conflict remained the same, she was intrigued to hear their concerns about the land issues between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Growing up and attending Hebrew school, Sterne had studied the area, but she was still fascinated by the architecture and landscape of Israel.

“When I went to Greece, I enjoyed seeing the things I had studied about, but it wasn’t the same feeling,” Sterne said. “It wasn’t mine. Not that (Israel) is my home and I am not planning to make aliyah, (moving to Israel) but it is the home of my people.”

She took 636 photos during the 10-day trip. She’s making a list of what each photo is and where it was taken.

Sterne says many Jewish people feel they should make a trip to the Holy Land at least once in their lifetime. The family members who accompanied her all experienced it for the first time. But, with so much more to see, it may not be their last.

“It wonderful to see how thrilled and excited they were about everything,” Sterne said. “We really didn’t have enough time and would like to go back, maybe instead of (Sarasota) for winter break, we will go back to Israel and rent a house.”