Counting Time and Experiences: Lag B’Omer and the Yovel

 

May 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

 

On the evening of Monday, May 11^th, we celebrated the traditional holiday of Lag B’Omer. Lag B’Omer represents the 33^rd day of the “Omer”- the period of 49 days that bridge the Passover and Shavuot holidays. The Omer represents the time that the Israelites spent wandering in the desert after fleeing Egypt, and a time when crops must be left to grow without interference. In Israel, Lag B’Omer has come to be a holiday of late night bonfires, meant to symbolize the spirit of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Roman Empire that followed the destruction of the second Great Jewish Temple.

 

Following this spirited holiday, and with the lingering smell of burning wood in the air, we are already preparing for Shavuot at Or Hadash, and passing the days with many activities in the congregation.

 

Also, this week we at Or Hadash are very happy about the Pope’s visit to Israel, and more specifically, Haifa. As a congregation that deeply values interfaith dialogue, and has a long standing connection with the Catholic Focolare, this is a very exciting time for us.

 

Additionally, this Shabbat we will be reading Parashat B’Har Sinai. This Torah portion deals with the laws of Shnat HaYovel, or the year of Sabbatical and Jubilee. Shnat HaYovel is the counting of 50 years, upon which you are meant to celebrate an accomplishment or anniversary. This is very meaningful for Or Hadash as we are currently 45 years old, leaving just five years to go until our own celebration of the Yovel. I greatly look forward to this, and to all that will be in the coming 5 years, as it is our acts that sanctify the time.

1)  More Wards of States Bar Mitzvah Preparation

 

These past two weeks we have had many Bar Mitzvah ceremonies-Three last weekend, and another three coming up this weekend, while at the same time, we are preparing our 12 children of the Ahuzat Yeladim Boarding School for their big day in June. Each time I meet with the children, they open up and trust that much more, paving the way for a more successful program with each meeting. This past Thursday, May 14^th, the children gathered to have a home cooked meal at Or Hadash, and to spend more time practicing  individually with me, and learning more about Reform Judaism as a group. Myself, and all of our volunteers greatly look forward to seeing the final outcome, in the coming month.

I am pleased to report that this past week was one of several successful meetings with people that are very important to Reform Judaism in Haifa. One that took place on Sunday May 10^th, was with Danny Nishlis, head of radio Haifa, and the chairperson of the Boston-Haifa Connection, to which we are so wholly linked. I also had a very exciting meeting on Monday, May 11^th, with Rabbi Reuven Samuels. Rabbi Reuven was the founding rabbi of Or Hadash, and served the congregation from 1964-1971. Rabbi Moti Rotem then took over until 2000, when I started here. Rabbi Samuels and Rabbi Rotem have always been there to help and support me in any way possible, and we discussed how proud we are of our congregation’s growth and accomplishments over the years. 

 

On Wednesday the 13^th, I had the chance to spend some quality time with my fellow Progressive rabbis in Israel, at the MARAM meeting. The meeting took place at Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, which is the center for Progressive Judaism in the city.  As usual, it was lovely spending time with my Israeli colleagues and friends who are also fighting for Reform Judaism’s place in Israeli society in their personal and professional lives.

 

I am proud to announce that Or Hadash has instated a new Conversion specialist. Natasha is a Russian-Israeli, who is dedicated to helping non-Jewish immigrants convert to Reform Judaism, and therefore fulfill their dreams of practicing Judaism. Last year alone, Or Hadash ran a conversion course for over 30 participants. We hope that this year will be just as successful for Or Hadash’s dedicated converts, and for Natasha. We wish her and everyone involved good Luck!