From Marvin Rosenblum

I'm so very grateful to all of you for permitting me, as an interloper and MetroWest greenhorn, to join the Pluralism sub-committee's Israeli mission.

The memories will be everlasting; the companionship and rapport enjoyable, and the education fulfilling.

Individual plaudits go to:

1) Amir, for being the stoical Israeli shepherd,

2) Mandy, for being so responsive and organized,

3) Arthur, for having endured we woeful secularists,

4) Jane, for her humanity and smile despite proselytizing reconstructionism ,

5) Ava, for her Israeli cultural and knowledge of Hebrew,

6) Sandy, for his commanding presence and his derriere as a bus isle obstruction,

7) Rosalyn, for being the worrisome Jewish mother,

8) Joyce, for her commitment to the cause and camaraderie,

9) Ellen, for the spark, the catalyst, the leader that only Ellen could be,

10) Hannahila, for her experience, knowledge, uncanny intuition and leadership,

11) Marty, for being the "grumpy sage" who could not see Judaic Humanism as part of the main stream but evidenced its characteristics in his understanding of humanity and pluralism and who even beat me with physical prowess,

12) Dan, after whom the word "mensch" was coined,

13) Barbara, whose infectous smile and gregarious nature belied her expansive vocabulary, and who nurtured the team as a genteel farewell hostess,

14) Gary, whose romaticism overshadowed the facade of an erstwhile pragmatist, and whose individualized writings cataloged a week of accomplishment for all of us.

I'm proud to know y'all.

Marvin