Ascenters Say

I want to tell you that "Soul Trek Hiking Adventures 2008" was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had. You are all wonderful people with warm open hearts, and I enjoyed every single moment. Thank you again. I hope you will post some of the many photos you snapped during the hikes.

Yael Dayan, Holon, Israel

Ascent replies:

Yael, thanks for taking the trouble to let us know. Some (10) of the photos now appear on this website, and many more (40) in our Facebook. We look forward to your next visit.

(an excerpt - for full letter, click here)

This experience of revealing my self through finding my personal pattern in the Torah was both amazing and frightening. When you see it written in the living Torah no longer can you put it aside. You now know that you are who and why you are because of The Holy One, Blessed Be He. I am still shaking from this revelation. There is nothing in this world I could ever do to thank you for this revelation.

I think that every Jew that comes to the Ascent should be able to benefit from this Personal Torah Code experience.

Daniel Posner, Crispin, Golan Heights

Ascent replies:

They can; all they have to do is request. It can be done via telephone and email too, but for that we request payment.

Hi Rabbi BigMo,
Every couple years I reconnect with you - best way of you remembering me was that on Chanukah 1999 we were swinging each other while dancing and your shoulder went through the glass door! Still one of best Shabboses of my life. Since those days and becoming more religious, after spending nearly 2 years at a yeshiva in Yerushalayim, I moved to Toronto and am now blessed with an incredible wife and 3 kids.
Jason Lapidus, Toronto

The Shavuot 2008 seminar was outstanding!
1. The all night study sessions wereinsightful and personally meaningful.
2. The group meals and the 'farbrengens' were delightful, especially Rabbi Leiter's spontaneous speech.
3. Osher Cohen did a great job leading the singing and dancing.
4. Participating in a Shavuot dinner with a local family made the festival more personal. I had dinner with Shlomo and Shira-Yehudit Glilman and their family. Please give them my regards.

Yosef Koelner, South Florida

Thank you for the gift of Ascent - A special "non-threatening" place where people of all ages and walks of life can come together to learn and grow.

Andee Goldman, Netanya/Nevada

I wanted to thank all of you that made my couple of days amazing. The experience in Zefat was one of the most unbelievable, unforgettable and meaningful moments I will never forget. I can say that the time I spent in Ascent made me understand how Judaism, Torah and commitment to being Jewish is important. I can honestly say I didn't have much knowledge of what it is to be a Jew. Now I believe the time spent here transformed me and my understanding of Judaism and what responsibilities I have as a Jewish woman.

I will continue in my journey of finding out more about Judaism. I plan to go to classes and learn Torah. So thanks to everyone that works and participates in Ascent. You/they made me understand and feel pride for being a part of an amazing, special and blessed family (being Jewish). Thank You; G-d be with you.

Faina Mekibel, Moscow

We've thoroughly enjoyed our time here. As reform Jews, too often we're a bit intimidated by "the guys in black." We've always known that we are really Jewish brothers and sisters, but now we've also experienced first-hand what menschen they are!

Ascent was wonderful! I met very interesting people and a lot of my questions were answered. Now I want to learn more about my Judaism and grow with it  The mikveh tour also really inspired me to learn more. Everything, from your hikes to the lessons, is great.

I would have liked more time with the Shabbat host families because they were so nice

After being in Israel for two months, I came to Tsfat for a short visit. I soon found it impossible to leave and instead of spending just one night at Ascent, I stayed one more night and one more night.....The hospitality and friendship I was shown are uniquely special. I found so many opportunities to learn and observe Judaism. In fact, I kept Shabbat here for the first time since being in Israel. I took back with me many  precious memories and new perspectives.

Mark and I met at ASCENT's Day of the Ari Kabbalah seminar, got engaged at the Sukkot program, and were married in Montreal in December. There should be more places like ASCENT!

Your stories are good- sometimes great- but why not make up a really great one. You have imagination- right ?

I laughed and laughed at the Forty Days and Forty Nights story! It was so good! How wonderful that an audio section had been put up on the site!
Rachel

When I receive my copy of Ascent Quarterly, and other mailings from you, it transcends the distance between here and my spiritual home, Tsfat. I regain my faith in myself and others, knowing that there is a community that thinks, feels and lives in a place that surely must be the closest I have come to the center of conviction in Jewish faith. Thank you for personifying this conviction.

I'm not even religious. But that doesn't stop me from thinking. I thought, "What's with the booths?" Looked up sukkot on Google, and there was your website with an answer!
neil

Your wonderful lesson about Lag B'Omer teaches me how is important to consider my neighbor, and to speak well about others.
ezra

Thank you so much for your masterpieces, the stories you send me are the highlight of my week.
Daniel Y. Kaye, Sydney Australia

I make 8 copies of your stories every Shabbat and distribute them among everyone at our table and everyone reads one paragraph. Everyone really enjoys them. Keep up the good work.
Gershon Wachtel, Toronto

I am writing to let you know that I appreciate what you have been doing with your website and e-mail lists. The fact that you are making the information available in a choice of formats makes it possible for everyone to receive the stories and Torah explanations, as well as updates on the activities you have at Ascent.  As an Accessibility Consultant whose concept is Holistic Environment and being that I happen to be blind, it gives me a good feeling to have choices as to how I can read information on the web. You have done something here with great honor and I want you to know that I greatly respect and appreciate your efforts. You are making a wider population including blind people aware of the Torah portions in a modern and sometimes difficult medium. You set a great example to others by your actions.

Wonderful stories! Made even more so by the fact that they are true.
Andrea Hyatt

Thank you for sending these stories. It makes me cry to know that there are still some incredibly wonderful Jewish souls in this world. Like yourself.
Naomi

I checked out your web page. It's really great! You've sure come a long way since I helped you a little with DBASE 3 back in 1987!

I am writing a story about my experiences there for the New Yorker magazine. I would like to quote the lovely description of Tsfat on your website. I am writing the story in a way that conveys the love that connects us all — when we're open to and respectful of the differences - the diversity — that adds so much flavor to the stew! Rather than letting the differences divide us.

My  family and I are coming to Israel for a year and want to start our year (next summer) with an Ulpan. I read your website and am interested in learning more about Summer Ulpan possibilities.

Great looking site! I like your idea of weekly subscriptions. I have one suggestion, you should have an opening page with the picture from the covers of your magazine as a large opening graphic. I also think that some of the photo's you have are great and should be shown in smaller sizes on the opening page. They could also be made into links to their respective topics. Oh yea, did you also consider putting a map of how to get to Ascent from within Tsfat on the site?

ASCENT was an exhilarating experience. I met a lot of new people and learned a lot about my heritage. I would highly recommend ASCENT to anyone visiting Israel and exploring their Judaism.

I think your place is fantastic. It provides great access to a holy and peaceful city.

About eight years ago I and some friends (one of whom happens to now be my wife of seven years) stayed at Ascent for Shabbat. We were extremely excited by the whole experience.To this day, Hindy and I still talk about how spiritually uplifting it was sitting on the balcony at night and looking at the stars.

I was amazed by the energy at this learning center. After two days, I had barely seen Tsfat as I spent the majority of my time attending the classes, having long discussions with several learned Rabbis, and exploring the excellent library. Ascent welcomed me like family. I was extremely moved by this atmosphere. Throughout the week, I met numerous Jewish guests from around the world, and we shared our experiences both inside and outside the classroom. So I know that others were also deeply moved at Ascent.

I had an especially memorable time in Tzfat, including touring and hiking in the Galil & Golan. I'm not a very observant Jew, but I learned so much with you that I wish I had an opportunity to find out more. In Israel it seemed part of the norm.

I learned more at ASCENT than in four years at university!

My time there is among my greatest memories. I hung a picture of the sunset over Mt. Meron over my bed. I am now trying to keep that feeling here in Texas, but there is nothing quite like Shabbos on your balcony, singing Lecha Dodi as the sun sets. Thank you for your warm southern hospitality inNorthern Israel.

I was at one of your Saturday night Music Fests. It was impressively organized and thoroughly enjoyable. I congratulate everyone involved on doing a really first-class job!

Israel to me meant working on a kibbutz. I came to a six-month kibbutz ulpan and study program and must admit I was disappointed. The people on the kibbutz seemed antagonistic to Judaism, and some of them knew even less about it than I had learned in Sunday school. Once I went to Tsfat for a day and sat in on a program hosted by ASCENT. As a Zionist, I had always felt that the religious people were ruining Israel, but then I saw how they were also interested in building Israel, but in their own way. I came back for a Shabbat a few months later and now feel that religious people can and should work together with everyone else to build a stronger Israel.

I have spent many hours telling stories and passing on the knowledge I learned from everyone at ASCENT. My mother cries as she listens. In Tsfat, I found my Jewish heritage, knowledge, religion, and true friends. I really appreciate you all welcoming me into your families.

If it wasn't for ASCENT, my husband, Avi, and I wouldn't have discovered ourselves Jewishly and probably wouldn't even be with Judaism at all.

Do your remember a skinny hairy guy, just arrived from India, who stayed for several days last August? ....I am writing from Jerusalem where I am studying at a yeshiva. Thanks for helping me.

I brought my husband, Harvey, to ASCENT because while I really had gotten into Judaism after we made aliyah, he was deadset against it. I wanted them to convince him that Judaism was the only way. I can't say that they completely succeeded (or even that they tried -- it's very relaxed there), but he did agree to go to some classes locally after spending a weekend in Tsfat with ASCENT. I would recommend ASCENT as a great place for beginners or people who don't know anything about Judaism and even if they don't want to know anything about Judaism.

We stayed at the Jerusalem Plaza for a few days and we stayed at Ascent for a few days; Ascent was better!

I cannot put into words the appreciation for the time, warmth and the care lavished upon myself and my friends on those special few days that we shared with you. Everyone made us feel part of the family, from the friendly smile at the reception, the discussions late in the evening, to the classes in the morning. Our visit to Ascent was as refreshing as an oasis in the dessert.
Robert Leach, Ilford, England

I came to Ascent for Succot & Simchat Torah, and had an incredible, stimulating experience. One of biblical proportions, in some ways.