June 5, 2009

 

Dear Friends,

 

Shabbat Shalom! Another week has passed by very fast, and this Saturday we will already be reading Parashat Behalotvha. In this Torah portion we are commanded to light candles in order to elevate ourselves. At Or Hadash we try to “light candles” everyday by doing mitzvoth and carrying out our Tikkun Olam projects. Here are just a few candles that were lit this week:

 

 

Yesterday the Ahuzat Yeladim School children in our wards of State Bnei Mitzvah program participated in their final session before the big day on June 11^th. To end the 10 study sessions on a positive note, we prepared a Barbequed meal at the temple for them to enjoy, while going over the final details of the ceremony. The children are very excited about next week’s ceremony, which will show all of their hard work from the past few months.

June is a month with some very special birthdays at Or Hadash. First, Ami Perelman, our executive director turned a monumental 60 years old on June 2nd. To mark the occasion, the entire staff along with the Or Hadash preschools celebrated in our bomb shelter. There, Ami, dressed as a king, blew out the candles on his cake and enjoyed birthday songs sung by the children. Additionally, our vice president, Mirjam Jurmann, turned 65 today, June 5^th. We wish both of our great friends and members a very big mazal tov!

 

This morning was the first of many sessions that will take place in a Haifa recording studio, to make a new children’s CD of Jewish prayers and songs for the Or Hadash community. This is a project that involves many children in the community, and that Or Hadash takes great pride in, as it enriches our community, while at the same time building confidence and a sense of accomplishment in our children.

 

This month we are scheduled to meet with many many visitors! While many congregations and institutions wind down in the summer time, we are up and running as much if not more than we are during the rest of the year. This means that we are able to enjoy the company of many friends, and guests during this time. June visitors are: Rabbi Dan Levin and Cantor Lori Shapiro of Temple Beth El Boca Raton, with a large group of congregants on Tuesday, June 9; Richard Agler and family, of Temple Bnai Israel, Boca Raton on Wednesday, June 10; Anne Stein Director of Education at Etz Chaim with a group of congregants from Etz Chaim, Chicago, IL on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12; Rabbi Rachel Greengrass of Temple Beth Am of Pine Crest, NY on Tuesday, June 16; The Ecker Family, relatives of Susan Anderer, vice president of Temple Beth David in Gladwyne, PA, on Tuesday, June 23^rd; and Eric Gurvis of Temple Shalom in Newton, MA, with group of Christian ministers, on Monday, June 29^th.

 

 

Wishing you a pleasant and easy weekend!

 

In Friendship,

Edgar