by Deborah Silverthorn

Special to DJW

The Dallas Area Torah Association, DATA, will sponsor a solidarity trip to Israel June 16-23. The fare of $1900 includes round-trip airfare from Dallas, lodging at the King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem and most meals, for the fourth such trip for the organization.

"We are very happy to be going," said Rabbi Bentzi Epstein, director and one of the founders of DATA. "We canceled the trip last year, due to the heightened situation and involvement in the intifada, and while things are not better at this time, we have decided to go ahead as this is perhaps the most important time of all for us to be there."

The trip will be based in Jerusalem, will include visits with victims of terrorism, touring many areas and Shabbat in the Old City. "We will be hosted by a number of families for Shabbat," said Epstein, "and we have arranged for a number of well-respected religious authorities to address our group. It is sure to be a meaningful and educational Shabbat for all."

The DATA mission trip is not a fundraising trip or a political one. The fee paid by participants covers the exact cost of the trip. "The greatest goal for this exhibition is to help foster Jewish pride and to expand our own faith and Jewish feeling," said Epstein. "There truly can be no better time to go."

The DATA mission trip is not a fundraising trip or a political one. The fee paid by participants covers the exact cost of the trip. "The greatest goal for this exhibition is to help foster Jewish pride and to expand our own faith and Jewish feeling," said Epstein. "There truly can be no better time to go."

That sentiment is echoed by participant Dr. Larry Shafron who is looking forward to the trip, which will be his fourth. "The last time I went was with my wife Jackie and for the most part Israel was a happy place enjoying peace and prosperity," said Shafron. "Now the country is in dire straits and in need of help that we must give. In the Torah, one of the commandments is 'don't stand by, while your brother's blood is being spilled.' I can't just stand by and whatever it means to anyone there for us to be there, I am looking forward to sharing that."

"I believe in what DATA offers," agreed Hoppenstein, who is on the board of directors of DATA and who, like Shafron, regularly attends classes at the Forest Lane center. "This is a group of rabbis who teach incredible lessons and who bring the Torah to life. To be with them, in the land of Israel, ensures that I will take away some incredible insight." The last trip to Israel for Hoppenstein was in 1998 for his daughter Rachel's bat mitzvah, so he indeed expects a different kind of visit.

DATA began in 1992 with four rabbis and now, with seven full-time rabbis, services more than 300 people a week in a variety of classes and discussion groups, and sends more than 700 people a weekly Torah portion by e-mail or fax that includes an inspirational thought.

To contact DATA to sign up to join the tour, or for other information, call (214) 987-3282 or visit their website at .