Why I Love Teaching at URJ Heller High

by David Alon

“David, you should really teach this stuff. Seriously, this should be your job somehow, to teach people about Israel.”

Those were the words of my good friend Ora back in 2004, not long after we had made aliyah and were studying together in Hebrew ulpan. It was true, I always had a passion for learning about Israel and going on tiyulim around the country. It seemed to make sense to me that everything I learned about Jewish history could surely be applied to the modern Jewish state. Indeed, every time I would bring up another parallel lesson from history, she would recite the same line again, “David, you should teach this stuff!”

I should be so lucky, I thought, to find a way to teach others my love for Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael.

Now in my second decade as a Jewish history teacher at URJ Heller High, I can honestly say that those words have come true. Heller High is as much a part of me as I am part of the school. I feel extremely grateful that I have found something so rewarding that I look forward to everyday. Reflecting on the goals and challenges during my time at our school, I’ve come up with five good reasons why I love my job so much:

1.  The Students

The best advice I ever got as an educator is, "You don't teach the material, you teach the students."  Nothing could be more true about the teacher-student relationship at Heller High.  We always strive to build a personal realtionship with our students, both in and out of the classroom.  In fact, I make a point of having lunch with each student during the first week so I get to know them as individuals, and not just as pupils in a classroom.  Heller students are certainly curious about Israel and Jewish identity, I often find myself talking about these things on our busrides or while on a hike.  This comfort level let's students know that we are here for them as mentors and they can come by our office anytime to chat.  When I see their maturity and inquisitiveness, I know that I have to challenge myself to come up with the most creative lesson plan possible.  Because of this relationship, I know that I will never give up on a student no matter what kind of challenges they have.  I can't say enough how rewarding it is to stay in touch with students as they continue on their journey after Heller High.  My former students tell me about how they themselves have become leaders and educators in their community, and use some of the lesson plans from Heller in their own lives.  Just this past year I was invited to speak virtually at one of my former student's college graduation party.  When students come back to Israel on subsequent visits, they always give me a call and try to meet up with me.  It is certainly an honor and a privilege to get to know so many amazing teens who have successfully challenged themselves by coming to Heller High.

2. Kibbutz Tzuba

For anyone who has seen the long hallways of lockers in public school, the Heller High campus at Kibbutz Tzuba is like an academic paradise. I try my best to experience Heller through the eyes of the students; I can just imagine what they feel when standing on their balconies and looking out at the Judean hills where our history unfolded in Biblical times. Tzuba itself is an archaeological wonder that as a teacher I try my best to take advantage of. Instead of reading about the Cave of the Patriachs in class, we hike, Bible in hand, to a burial cave at Tzuba from the First Temple period.  My colleague Talia Jacobson likes to take us to an ancient wine press and have us stomp bare feet on grapes to see how it works!  The view from on top of Tel Tzuba gives a panoramic lookout to Jerusalem and the surrounding villages. On Yom HaZicharon, Israel’s memorial day, it is possible to see from Tzuba the traffic on Highway 1 come to a complete stop as sirens go off around the country in a show of national remembrance.  I keep my bike at work, and I always enjoy riding through Tzuba’s vineyards where I am reminded of the blessing that Jacob bestows on his son Judah in the Book of Genesis, “You shall be blessed to wash your clothes in the blood of grapes.” All of this right in our backyard! How lucky I am to be able to work in such a spectacular setting.

3. My Amazing Colleagues

In many ways the people that you work with day-in and day-out become like a second family. This couldn’t be more true of Heller High. For years I’ve had the good fortune of being part of a team of talented and committed educators who give their all to make our school a success. I have sat together with my fellow teachers in the dining hall discussing idealistically how to solve all of the problems in the world, and to ensure the Jewish future. We are constantly bouncing ideas off of each other, constantly asking one another, “How was your class today, what did you discuss in class today?” This positive atmosphere comes from our principal Rabbi Loren Sykes and vice-principal David Solomon who are always there to give us guidance, and also give us the freedom to develop our own individual teaching styles and lesson plans. As a faculty, we support each other and challenge each other to be the best educators we can be. Having the opportunity to work with such dynamic and caring people is definitely one of the things I enjoy the most about my job.

4. Hebrew

One of my students recently remarked to me that learning Hebrew at Heller High is “not like sitting in my Spanish class back at home.” Heller is committed to teaching Hebrew as an essential component of one’s Jewish identity. Sima Miller, our Hebrew Ulpan Coordinator, continues to stress that the Hebrew program is “Ivrit academit v’kef” עברית אקדמית וכיף, meaning there’s a focus on correct grammar and usage, but at the same time the lessons are infused with fun activities and interactions. For example, the Hebrew teachers take the students during class time to a cafe to teach how to order in Hebrew. How do I know that the students love their Hebrew teachers so much? Well, usually the first question I ask them each morning is “How was your Hebrew class today?”, to which I get a chorus of enthusiastic answers about how much they are learning and how they adore the Hebrew teachers. Beyond the fun and excitement of the classroom, Heller students ultimately come to realize that Hebrew is indeed essential to one’s Jewish identity, and that the Hebrew language is a key factor in their interaction with Israel and Israeli society.

5. Masa To Poland

I have guided 24 trips to Poland as a member of the Heller faculty, and I can honestly say it never gets old. In my discussions with  students at the end of the semester, I often hear that the Masa מסע (journey) to Poland was the most impactful experience that they had during the semester. Many Israeli schools and organizations also go on Jewish heritage tours of Poland, but one of the criticisms of these trips is that the entire focus is on Holocaust education. On our Heller Masa to Poland, there is an equal emphasis on life and the thriving Jewish life that existed in Poland for centuries. To only visit concentration camps and ignore the kehilot would be a disservice to the memory of Polish Jewry. For me personally, my favorite day during the whole trip is the day spent in the Jewish quarter of Krakow exploring the amazing synagogues that have been restored and are a testament to the outstanding achievements of this great community. I also find that the Masa to Poland is the best opportunity I have as a teacher to get to know my students better on an individual level. It is impossible to find the right words to describe the emotions of the students at the moment that we land back in Israel having gone through this incredibly intense and meaningful week in Poland.

6. The Jewish History Curriculum

I am often asked, “How are you able to teach the same material over and over again each semester?” To which I reply, “you teach the students, not the material.” The greatest challenge that I have as Jewish history teacher at Heller High is to consistently make the material exciting and relatable. One of the first things I emphasize from day one is that the goal of the Jewish History class is not to teach history for the sake of learning history, but rather to build and strengthen Jewish identity. In fact, all three academic components at Heller (Hebrew, Jewish History, and general studies) have the same end-goal, namely strengthening Jewish identity. When it comes to teaching, I am reminded of a quote that my 10th grade history teacher used to recite:

“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.”

To that end, I try to avoid just lecturing all the time. The Jewish history class is worthwhile because it is designed to be engaging with discussions and activities that stimulate participation. I judge the success of a lesson not on how much material I cover, but rather on how engaged the students in class are. Clearly though, the most inspiring aspect of Heller High’s Jewish History class is that a great deal of it is taught not in the classroom, but outside in Eretz Yisrael. The tiyulim טיולים (field trips) bring history to life in such a vivid manner that I often hear the students talking about which one was their favorite and what they took away from it. I see my job as a Jewish History teacher as Avodat Kodesh עבודת קודש (holy work). There’s nothing more important and meaningful than educating the next generation of Jewish leaders. I know that imparting knowledge about Israel and Jewish peoplehood to these pupils is giving them the necessary tools to perpetuate Jewish life. Being in the classroom and discussing these issues is one of the times when I feel most alive. I love being a Jewish History teacher at URJ Heller High because I never feel complacent. I feel that I learn the students as much as they learn from me.

Ein Kerem 

by Kayla Pressman 11th grade Fairfield, Connecticut

The Church of the Visitation in Ein Kerem

Another great day out in Jerusalem to see the Ein Kerem Churches. Everyone rolled out of bed early Friday morning ready to stand in a ח. We were all dressed modestly and respectfully preparing ourselves to see John the Baptist’s said-to-be birthplace and Mary’s spring. It was a beautiful sunny day out and we climbed up many many stairs to finally get to this beautiful church. We walked around, learning about John the Baptist and how interesting his childhood was. I have been to churches in the past but never during mass. Fortunately, our class got to witness a mass and experience another religion in its truth.

As we walked around the Church of the Visitation in Ein Kerem, I noticed on the large outside many frames with different languages on them. I had always known that Christianity was practiced on a global scale, but I had never stopped to think about just how accepting that really makes it. This was a pretty powerful and eye opening thought. All of these languages together on one wall. My friends and I slowly walked down to see how many languages we could recognize. 

 Learning about another religion that you personally do not practice is important for understanding that religion and deepening your understanding of your own. In many ways Judaism and Christianity are closely related. As I learned about Jesus and John the Baptist, I learned about Judaism and the importance of accepting religions not your own. As my classmates and I stood in the back of the Church mass, I learned about their way of having services. They spoke Latin and some prayed while resting on their knees. Learning about Christianity was fascinating and strengthened my ideals and reminded me of why I’m Jewish. As loving and accepting Christianity can be, it grew from our traditions that I look forward to pursuing, both while I’m here at Tzuba and when I return home.

Gadna:  Experiencing the IDF

by Sasha Pullman              11th grade         Southern California

After a day of Jewish History class and a meeting with Rabbi Rick Jacobs on the kibbutz, we left for a 2-hour bus ride south to Sde Boker. It was pouring rain the entire way, and I watched out the window as the landscape turned from grassy fields to dry deserts. When we pulled in to the army base, I was nowhere near sure what to expect. In the weeks prior, I was constantly being told to stay positive and smile, which was reason enough to be scared. We were immediately rushed to put our things down, grab our hats and water, and run over to the basketball court. I was told to stand in achshev, a position that now feels very natural due to constant repetition. It was done with our feet together in a V-shape, and our left foot must be touching our water bottle. Our hands also had to be behind our backs in a diamond. Every part was very crucial, as the resulting punishment for not being in the exact position was pushups.

The Semalet, or the Sergeant came to our lines and randomly assigned us to one mefakedet, or commander who was the leader of our team of fourteen girls. We went to our tents and I was struck by how serious everything already was. We got our clothes which were a pair of pants, a button-down shirt, and an army liner. What the tents looked like when they were rolled up during the day. It began to pour as we were getting ready and our tent filled with water. It was an interesting way to start the week. We got our mattresses and made our beds. The tent was extremely cramped, not exactly a place I wanted to be spending most of my time. We practiced getting into a chet, and standing in achshev. Anytime we finished a break or meal we had to be in this position at a certain time.

The first night was somewhat rough. Many people did not like the amount of rules we had to follow or the living situation. We were also in very close quarters and had no personal space. Nevertheless, we made it through the night. Me and my friends in our uniforms one morning. The next day we began to talk about weapons. It was difficult talking about guns in a military context. I think many of us previously viewed guns only as a source of violence, not protection, and it was evident that ideas about firearms are very different in the U.S. than in Israel. It was interesting talking to our Mefakedet and explaining to her that guns were a source of fear and mourning for a lot of us. The state of gun violence in America is one that I am sensitive to, and it was very hard for me to view guns outside of that context. When we went to the shooting range, I was surprised at how much the sound of gunshots had scared me even though it was in a safe and highly controlled environment. I think this experience brought out the issue of gun violence in America and compared the difference in culture very well. Many people expressed that it was difficult as well, and it was very interesting to see how people viewed the experience of shooting a gun when they are such as source of anxiety and polarization in America at the moment. I also came to the understanding, however, that they are a vital source of protection, and extremely important in protecting the land of Israel. This is what the shooting range looked like.  Everyone was lying down in the position we learned the day before.

I learned many things, though being somewhat uncomfortable. I learned to appreciate the comfort that I do have, and take advantage of experiences like this one, and embrace what is unfamiliar. I also came to the understanding of the importance of the IDF to many Israelis. The fact that many of them spend multiple years of their lives following orders and giving up some freedom and individuality in order to protect their country. It is very admirable, and I grew to appreciate the system much more through this experience.

We learned about the difference between a national army and a professional army and understood the pros of a national army. It heightens national identity and connects almost all citizens. It also highlights the importance of protecting the country and being active in the nation. This seemed to be very important since Israel is a small and somewhat new country surrounded by conflict and the national army helps to aid citizens in uniting themselves and creating a national feeling.

A big highlight of the experience was kitchen duty. A wonderful four hours of cleaning the dining hall and kitchen after lunch on Tuesday. It was most definitely a time of bonding and plentiful complaining. It was also, however, very satisfying to have cleaned up after every person who ate lunch that day, and I understood the importance of working together to complete tasks. Some of us putting dishes away after eating In the end, we had the chance to meet with our Mefakdot, and they were all full of so much joy and laughter, even though the entire week they had to remain serious and impersonal. By the end, I learned to embrace the uncomfortable, and appreciate the amount of comfort I possess regularly. I also was able to learn how to view uncomfortable experiences as privileges since I gained so much knowledge from this week. Most importantly, I learned to have a greater respect for the Israeli Defence Forces, and I admire the passion that many have to protect Eretz Yisrael.

Ancient Burial Cave at Tzuba

by Yoni Spiliopoulos 11th grade Raleigh NC

an agricultural terrace at Kibbutz Tzuba where the ancient burial cave is located

Today was another fantastic day at Kibbutz Tzuba. We went on another tiyul during Jewish History class to learn about an ancient burial cave that relates to chapter 23 of the Book of Genesis. Getting out of the classroom and experiencing the Jewish history is an amazing opportunity to not only get out of the classroom but get a true hands on experience. For this specific tiyul we didn't even need to leave the kibbutz, all we had to do was walk 15 minutes up a little hill and there we are at a burial cave on our very own campus that we get to live on for the next 4 months. Kibbutz Tzuba has so much rich history and interesting facts about it the burial cave is only scratching the surface. Kibbutz Tzuba has several places where they grow different kinds of fruits, ancient terraces and places where people used to step on grapes to make wine. But this time we saw 1 of 27 ancient burial caves that are located around all of Tzuba.

The ancient burial cave we visited was in a little hole that you had to climb through. Once we got inside you see a hollow room with 2 bed like sructures where people were buried and on the left there was another room for more bodies to be buried. Right underneath each bed for the people to lay once dead there was a hollow hole where people could go back and put the bones in there after the bodies decomposed. We visited the cave while studying chapter 23 of Genesis because in this part of the Bible Avraham buys a cave for 400 silver shekels which he paid for in full and this then starts the official ownership of the land of Israel. Even though, according to the Bible God gave us the land of Israel, when Avraham bought the cave, it was now legally official. Since the Jewish people do not get cremated, a burial cave was helpful to properly honor and respect those who have passed. Not only is the cave the first legal ownership of Israel but this is where Avraham buried Sarah. Plus all the patriarchs and matriarchs were henceforth buried in there in Hevron.

I believe that using the Tanakh as an accurate way to learn about our history as a people, but other than that the Tanakh is not a resourceful way to study modern history or US history. 

my classmate Jack inside a ~2700 year Jewish burial cave at Tzuba

Avraham bought a cave for silver and he paid the full price and this starts the true ownership of the land even though God gave us this land, Avraham signed a deal and bought the cave and the surrounding land and he eventually was buried in that cave and Jewish people don't get cremated when they die so this was also a way to respect our dead because Sarah dies in chapter 23 of Genesis.

a view of the neighboring village of Ein Rafa next to Kibbutz Tzuba

the agricultural fields and orchards of Kibbutz Tzuba

Tel Gezer

by Ava Levinson 10th grade Natick MA

This morning was our first real tiyul at Tel Gezer!! This did mean waking up at 6:15, but it was 100% worth it! When we first arrived at the site, it was beautiful. There were so many green fields, and the view was amazing - you could see everything from where you were standing. We are halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, by the village Karmei Yosef.

This is me on the left, and my friend Sasha on the right. Isn’t the view amazing?!!

One of the first topics we talked about was what is a Tel, because we are at Tel Gezer. David explained it in a really cool way using snacks. Unfortunately I do not have snacks to show you, so here is an explanation, without the yummy snacks :)


If you go back about 5000 years ago, you will be in the Copper Age, and back then, there was a civilization. They had created these structures right where we were, and the civilization started to thrive. Then during the Early Bronze age, they built the first cities. Not too big, but big enough to be an urban settlement.  They thrived for roughly 1000 years until a new civilization came around, and they conquered them. All the buildings that the civilization had created were destroyed but still, the material(pottery) was still there. Then centurey’s later, a new group came. They thrived, and then they also were conquered. Now, we have the remains of two different civilizations. Then a new civilization comes. They build all these structures, and they thrive for about 1000 years , but even then, they still get conquered. Finally, a new really successful civilization came along, and they made these huge walls, and they build on top of all the other civilizations. But sadly, they also get crushed too. Long story short, 4000 years later, we have archeologists, and they see that we weren’t just standing on a hill, but it is actually a  Tel. An archaeological Tel is an artificial hill or mound made up of many layers of civilization on top of each other. Archaeologists find each layer of pottery, and that tells us when villages and civilizations were around. At the site, we found thinner and thicker pieces of pottery. More recently in histiory, there was an Arab village called Gezer. Depending on the material the civilizations used for pottery, you can see all the layers and who came first, and the archaeologists can tell what year it was from. An example we used to describe this was breaking a wafer cookie(it was very yummy). When you bite into it, you can see the different chocolate layers, and the wafer layers. This was what a Tel looked like. There are actually 26 layers of civilizations at Tel Gezer. Isn't that amazing?

My initial impression of the Canaanite people was how successful they were. One of the cool sites, and creations of the Canaanite people we saw at Tel Gezer, was an ancient water system. The Canaanites at Gezer built a shaft that penetrates below the water table and therefore fills up with water. The water flowing in the lower level gets trapped by the impermeable upper level, creating a reservoir. As the water flows downward with no outlet, pressure builds. This is also all sedimentary limestone rock. When you go lower down, you get a different stone, chalk. The water can’t seep through, and the water collects in a basin. The flora we could see around, is an indication of where the water was. The Canaanites were very smart, and they knew where the water sources were. They would dig down 40 meters. The iron age Israelite water system is built on the Canaaite system 1000 years ealier. There 3 cities with similar water systems are Gezer, Megido, and Hazor. These are the 3 Canaanite cities.

David taught us the four D’s: Drink, Dinner,  Dollars, and Defense. The first key ingredient to a civilization is a water source, and the Canaanites were very good at finding water sources, and making them, like the Aquifer. The second D id dinner, as in agriculture. Around Tel Gezer, you can see that there is a lot of flat land. This was flat arable land, which means really good fertile soil in the coastal plain.   This was very good for growing and harvesting food and crops. Next was dollars, and trade routes. Trade routes were very important because they helped exchange goods and provide the community with an economy. Lastly, is defense, as in walls and towers. An example of this would be the Canaanite tower. This tower was part of the Middle Bronze Age. It protected the area of the city gate. It was 16m wide, made of large stone blocks. It was the largest Canaanite tower ever to be found.

Chalutzim Tiyul

by Ashley Vasquez-Cruz, 11th grade, California

My classmates and I recently traveled to the Northern part of Israel. There we learned more about how the chalutzim חלוצים, zionist pioneers, designed a new life in Eretz Yisrael. The chalutzim believed that it was time to stop being in the galut (exile) and decided to take matters into their own hands. They had decided that the era in which the Jews waited in exile for the Messiah to make things better was over. People took action towards establishing a community in which they and their future generations could enjoy. One example of this was changing the perceived image of the Jewish, which became known as the “new Jew”. This ideology was changing the original fragile religious man into the opposite which consisted of him being strong, tan and a hard working pioneer. It wasn’t an easy task to accomplish but with hard work and dedication they were successful. 

 First Aliyah

The First Aliyah was between 1882-1903. Their main goal was to establish agricultural settlements called moshavot and build a home for their future generations. This meant that the days of studying Torah all day were over, if they wanted to have a home they had to build it themselves. This is where the image of the ‘new Jew”came in the days where men where skinny and pale were in the past.  The “new jew” was expected to be strong and tan since he was working the land all day. There were other challenges as well. A severe drought decimated their agriculture and prevented the Jews from being able to pay taxes to the Turk, leading them into be in debt to the JCA, Jewish Colonization Association. I think that the chalutzim ideologically did accomplish their goal never the less. They changed the image of a Jew into “the pioneer”, they also stopped being in galut (exile) both literally and figuratively. However, they lacked having personal connection with the land since they often paid the local Arabs to work the land for them.

Image of the New Jew on display at the Kfar Tavor Aliyah Museum

Second Aliyah

The Second Aliyah was between 1904-1914, only ten years of immigration. Up to 35,000 people immigrated to Israel, most who were Russian Jews. The cause of the mass immigration of Jewish Russians was the Kishinev Pogrom. This pogrom in southern Russia killed many Jews, a number of women were raped and dozens of houses were damaged. The young Jewish immigrants coming from Europe, as individuals or in small groups, were inspired by Socialist and Zionist ideals: to create a new Jew and a utopian Jewish society in the Land of Israel. Deganya was the first Kibbutz founded, as well as the first Zionist socialist collective farm. The nearby Kinneret courtyard (Hatzar Kinneret) was in charge of teaching the young immigrants how to work the land. The motivation that these young immigrants had was impressive. Most of them had never done hard labor in their life, but their desire to have a home drove them to do whatever it took to finally establish themselves in Israel. I definitely think that the second aliyah was a success.  Without a doubt the second aliyah was easier than the first in a sense that they banded together into a collective. Also the first socialist kibbutz was founded, making it easier to work as a team. The second aliyah chalutzim also took pride in doing their own labor which gave them a connection with the land, and ultimately a home in Eretz Israel.

Cultural Zionsim Tiyul:  Tel Aviv

by Shay Orentlicher,       10th grade,        Indianapolis

Amidst the layers of graffiti on the walls of Tel Aviv, there is a quote repeated in several places that says, “אם אשכחך ירושלים, זה בגלל ת״א.” This translates to “If I forget thee, Oh  Jerusalem, it’s because of you, Tel Aviv". This play on the Biblical verse about remembering Jerusalem is a concise summary of Tel Aviv’s role in Israel: the cultural center has shifted from Jerusalem and its ancient Biblical roots to the magnetic appeal of the modern Tel Aviv. But how did a city founded in the early 20^th century manage to supersede the importance of Jerusalem in the eyes of so many Israelis? The answer to this lies in the reason it was created: cultural Zionism.

"If I Forget Thee Oh Jerusalem, It's Because of you, Tel Aviv"

When we went to Tel Aviv for our tiyul, the city’s energy was all around us. What’s unique about Tel Aviv is that it is an undeniably Jewish city. There’s Hebrew everywhere, and the cultural references are often Biblical in nature. As it turns out, this was the goal of the founders. Tel Aviv is the product of cultural Zionism, which wanted to tackle the problem of assimilation by creating a center of Jewish culture in the land of Israel. Led by people like Ahad Ha’Am (Asher Ginsberg) and Hebrew language pioneer Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the cultural Zionist movement placed a heavy focus on the revival of the Hebrew language. In Tel Aviv, they wanted to create a modern Hebrew-speaking Jewish city. People caught speaking Yiddish, Ladino, or other languages by the “Hebrew police” were given cards that said “עברי דבר עברית,” or “Jews speak Hebrew.” The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, the country’s first Hebrew high school, was established in Tel Aviv. Through creating a city where Hebrew was the spoken language, the founders of Tel Aviv succeeded in creating a city with a distinct Jewish culture.

street art in south Tel Aviv's Florentine neighborhood

As someone who visited Tel Aviv decades after its creation, it’s difficult for me to look at the Hebrew road signs and hear the people around me speaking in Hebrew to grasp how truly impressive the act of reviving the Hebrew language was. For 2000 years, Hebrew was a language used solely for prayer and Torah study. Through the determination of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and the creation of institutions like the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, the language was revived. It took so much work, and it paid off. When I walked around Tel Aviv, the language I heard was Hebrew. The music people played was sung in Hebrew, the graffiti was written in Hebrew, and the restaurant menus were in Hebrew. Going to Tel Aviv is the easiest way to see the success of cultural Zionism: all around us was evidence that a Jewish culture had emerged. It was the perfect amalgamation of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrachi, and uniquely Israeli aspects of culture blending together to make a Jewish city.

street art on a school in sotu Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is one of my favorite places in the world and learning about how it became the cultural center of Israel on our tiyul deepened my appreciation of it and helped me understand part of the reason why I love it so much. I love being in a place where the tiniest aspect of its culture is undeniably Jewish. Tel Aviv now is very different from the city with the Hebrew police that it once was inthe 1920s, but that just shows how successful the founders were. The culture has evolved with the times and remained exceptionally Jewish. It’s a beautiful experience to see the fruits of the labor of the cultural Zionists while having a nice day in the city.