About the Ride

Riding4Reform 2012, March 25-29! Where will we be and what will we see?

Our 2012 R4R journey will begin in the Haifa area. We will ride in the Carmel Mountains, through the beautiful scenery of the Carmel forests, surrounded by Druze villages. Views of the sea will be to the west and of the Emek Israel Valley to the east. On this day, we will experience the area that was affected by the terrible Carmel fire, first hand and will witness their renewal.

Our ride will continue south, through amazing views of natural and diverse beauty (the Maharal Valley, the Ofer Forest, the Horshan National Park, Ramot Menashe and Michmoret, one of the nicest beaches in Israel). Other places we will ride through include the Ben Shemen Mountains, the Ayalon Valley and parts of the Judea Mountains National Park. We will finish our journey riding around the Eitan Mountain, and climbing to Mevasseret Zion.

The 2012 ride will allow us to see congregations meet congregants from several Reform communities. These include the Ra’anana and Rosh HaAyin reform communities as well as the Kamatz congregation of Mevasseret Zion.

The 2012 ride provides a unique opportunity to experience Israel’s nature and people in a way tourist tours usually cannot. We will ride through areas and diverse nature that are usually not explored, viewing a different and a unique chapter in the Israeli story.

"The people, the terrain, the cause, and the organization… everything comes together to make for a wonderful experience." (Howie Goldsmith)

Wherever You Are - You Can Help!

As the riders explore the Carmel Mountains, the beautiful paths going south through the Sharon and Emek Chefer areas, and further south to the Judean hills, friends and supporters can play a vital part, even if they are unable to come to Israel.

 

Here are two ways that you can help:

Adopt-A-Rider:

This project allows supporters to virtually participate in the ride by adopting a rider who will keep them up-to-date on his/her progress during the ride. Groups or individuals will be "matched" with a suitable biker. This could be an exciting Tikkun Olam project for a religious school class, a sisterhood project, or a congregational activity. The cost of adopting one rider is $2,350.

Local Rides for Israel:

Another option is to organize a one-day ride for those who wish to support Reform programs and congregations in Israel but are unable to make the trip to Israel. Youth groups, families, and other supporters can sign up and raise per-mile donations from friends and their communities. An Israeli festival with snacks and music at the end of the ride can help get everyone involved.

"Without all of their support and encouragement, I would never have been able to do this." Rabbi Daniel Schwartz