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At Or Hadash we are in the midst of recovering and rebuilding from the Carmel fire, we are helping the Druze community of Ossafia and Kibbutz Beit Oren, yet we keep in mind that now is a time of more joy.
Indeed this year we have 2 months of Adar, since it’s a leap year and Purim is still 45 days away (in the middle of second Adar) but as far as we are concerned the joy is already here.
1. TELEM Youth Activity
Our youth director Neta Kligerman has been working very hard in recent weeks on bringing on new ideas, new activities and upgrading our youth activities, with great success!
On Shabbat, Neta organized an unusual educational program for the youth. The program is called “The Values of Israeliness and Zionism”. Participants of the program were a very diverse group which included boys and girls from fifth to ninth grade. The counselors and guides are high school seniors.
The program was divided into three different workshops, each dealt with a different aspect of “Israeliness and Zionism”.
One group dealt with the question of “Who is an Israeli”, another dealt with the question of “What is an ideal Israeli” and the last group dealt with the question of “Israeliness versus Zionism”. All three groups included children of various ages, discussing the question at hand for 30 minutes and then rotating with the following question for another 30 minutes. That way all children had the opportunity to discuss all three questions and then share with their friends in the other groups.
It was a fascinating and extremely enriching program. We would like to thank our good friends Howard and Rona Perley for their constant support of our youth activities.
2. Assistance to the Carmel fire victims in Kibbutz Beit Oren
On Monday, Jan. 24th we took Susan and Stacy Golboro to visit Kibbutz Beit Oren and bring gifts sent to us by Marilyn Stern from Temple Isaiah and Clair Ginsburg from NJ to deliver to the children of Beit Oren and the Druze village Ossafia.
As you can see in the pictures, there was no end to the kid’s joy!
Prior to bringing toys to the children we met with Emee from Kibbutz Beit Oren, who’s house and ceramic studio were completely consumed by the Carmel fire. We have been in constant contact with Emee since the devastating events of the fire. Thanks to many of our wonderful friends, Emee’s son Yiftach will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah at Or Hadash next month.
We are also trying to help Emee rebuild her ceramic studio.
In the pictures: Susan and Stacy Golboro visiting what used to be Emee’s very successful ceramic studio
3. Group Bat Mitzvah ceremony for Ma’aganim Regional school
On Tuesday, Jan. 25th we welcomed a group of Bnot Mitzvah from Ma’aganim school which is a regional school for the Kibbutzim around Haifa. It has become a tradition at Or Hadash to celebrate a group Bat Mitzvah ceremony for the school girls for 11 years so far.
Ma’aganim school children come to Or Hadash for Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons prior to the ceremony. Each of the girls receives individual studies and preparation for the ceremony, each gets her own recording and book. Next week 25 girls will read from the Torah one after another. It is such an honor and pleasure for all of us and a great message to the Israeli society.
In the picture: Ma’aganim school children in class at Or Hadash
4. Continuing Preschool Activities
On Friday, Jan. 28th, as on every Friday morning, we welcomed Shabbat with our preschools. It is such a pleasure celebrating with our kids, they love singing Shabbat songs and playing along.
In the picture: Our preschool children playing Aba shel Shabbat (father of Shabbat) and Ima shel Shabbat (Mother of Shabbat) having the honor of making a Kidush with our preschool manager Chani Pachmani.
5. Meeting Rabbi Eric Gurvis
On Wednesday, Feb. 2nd, I drove to Jerusalem to meet my good friend Rabbi Eric Gurvis who is visiting Israel with a group of colleagues to participate in the Hartman institute
for an excellent Jewish study program. Rabbi Gurvis and a group of Temple Shalom from Newton visited Or Hadash in December. In Jerusalem I also had the pleasure to meet two other friends and colleagues; Rabbi Jonathan Hecht from Temple Chaverim and Rabbi Michael Feshbach from Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase.
6. Four B’nai/Bnot Mizvah in one Shabbat
On the first Shabbat in February we are going to have 4 B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies! On Friday, Feb. 4th we are celebrating a Bat Mitzvah during Kabalat Shabbat. On Shabbat, we are celebrating a Bar Mitzvah at 10.00 AM, a Bat Mitzvah at 12.30 PM and another Bar Mitzvah at 3.00 PM. We keep it balanced J
We are thrilled to have four different families all celebrating in one day.
7. Parashat Teruma
I would like to thank our cherished friends, both in Israel and overseas, who are contributing and donating to the success of Or Hadash. Your kindness, generosity and contribution is lifting all of us spiritually, allowing us to help and support one another. We are ever so grateful to each and every one of you.
Wishing you a very joyous and wonderful week,
In Friendship,
Edgar
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Updates |
| | Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Talia’s Bat Mitzvah |
Dear Friends,
Shalom!
Last week found us in the midst of commemorating significant days between Holocaust Memorial Day and Israel’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims.
As in previous years, our Holocaust Memorial service was led by Or Hadash youth.
Mor Freund, our youth coordinator, led a beautiful and heartfelt ceremony with participating congregants and many guests who filled our synagogue.
The week ended with celebrating Israel’s Independence Day and our country’s joyous 64th birthday.
To welcome Yom Ha’Atzmaut we held a unique ceremony called Ayelet Ha’Shahar which we have been celebrating at Or Hadash for the past 12 consecutive years. The ceremony, held out in nature, begins with a prayer at 4:30 AM, ending at sunrise with blowing the shofar.
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| | How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together |
February, 2012
Dear Friends,
Shavua Tov,
Last Shabbat we read Parashat Yitro, including the Ten Commandments. It is always elating and very moving to see a whole congregation arise to read the Ten Commandments, as though we are on Mt. Sinai.
I am very proud to belong to the Jewish People who have bequeathed such inspiring values to mankind. |
| | Friends from America at Or Hadash, Bat Mitzvah group ceremony, Interfaith activities |
January 2012
Dear Friends,
Hodesh Tov, A Good Month!
The new secular year 2012 got off to a great start for Or Hadash. Although it has been very cold in Haifa the last few of weeks, it doesn`t compare to what our East Coast friends are experiencing in America these days. |
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