Truth is, lately we have been extremely busy at Or Hadash, we didn`t have time to write our Dear Friends Newsletter for the past couple of weeks. Please know it is very important for us to tell you about what is happening at Or Hadash. We draw much encouragement and strength from our friendship with you.
On Shabbat, March 12th, we read Parashat V’Yikra, which marks the beginning of the Book of Leviticus.
Rashi interprets Parashat V’Yikra as God turning to us, speaking to us before asking to perform a Mitzvah.
Similarly, we are turning to you, our dear friends, speaking to you, telling you about all that has happened in Or Hadash in the last few weeks.
Between January 1st and the end of March 2011, at Or Hadash Congregation we celebrated ceremonies for 25 B’nai Mitzvah and 23 B’not mitzvah. A total of 48 teens came up to the Torah at Or Hadash, and came into Jewish adulthood.
Each of the B’nai Mitzvah individually prepared with me for several months prior to the ceremony. If we look at it as a yearly rate, it’s an average of about 200 B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies a year, which makes us very happy.
After the second Lebanon war in 2006 we only had some 110-130 ceremonies per year. In 2011 we have seen again an increased demand for B’nai and B’not Mitzvah ceremonies.
1. Preparation for wards of state B’nai Mitzvah ceremony
On Feb. 24th we had our first meeting in one of our major Tikun Olam projects: a Bar Mitzvah ceremony for wards of state. The ceremony will happen at the end of May.
Or Hadash staff, volunteers and staff of Ahuzat Yeladim boarding school met for a few hours planning for the exciting event.
This is the 12th consecutive year Or Hadash is taking part in this highly important project, to help boys and girls celebrate one of the most significant days in their lives.
We would like to thank Neil and Diane Exter for their continued support in this project.
2. Additional adult classes at Or Hadash
On Feb. 24th, I opened up a new adult study class, teaching Torah Tropes (Cantillation). In class I teach correct chanting of the Torah. This class joins other classes I teach throughout the week: Talmud on Tuesday mornings, Ethics of our Fathers on Monday evening and endless B’nai Mitzvah lessons daily. In order to prepare a child for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, I personally teach each and every child an average of 10 lessons. With 2-3 Bar Mitzvahs each week, that’s about 1500 lessons a year!
3. Friends visiting
On Feb. 24th we had the pleasure of hosting Claire Ginsburg Goldstein and her daughter Shira from NJ, who brought with them bags of toys to be delivered to needy children and victims of the Carmel fire.
On Feb. 27th we had the honor and pleasure of hosting a delegation from ARZA led by ARZA Executive Director Rabbi Danny Allen. The delegation included: Barbara Kavadias, Director of Development, Marlene Dodinval, Central District Director, Jerry Krautman, Western District Director, David Leichman, Mifgash Coordinator and Anna Kislansky, Congregational Director of ARZA Israel.
After touring Or Hadash we sat in my office to discuss the challenges Reform congregations are facing both in Israel and the US, and how Or Hadash copes when facing challenges like war or a devastating fire occur. We have also discussed future programs and cooperation.
We also welcomed two overseas families who chose to celebrate their sons Bar Mitzvah in Israel: Steven Gottlieb and his son Joshua from Florida, and Peter Goldberg and his family will celebrate Samuel’s Bar Mitzvah in Israel in 2011. Mazal Tov to both families!
4. An amazing group of 23 girls celebrate their Bat Mitzvah
On Feb. 25th, 25 girls from Ma’aganim regional school celebrated their Bat Mizvah ceremony at Or Hadash. Although it is a group ceremony, I have coached each girl individually. The girls each made a personal Aliya L’Torah and each read her own Torah portion.
Needless to say this was an extremely exciting ceremony to all of us, one that we have been celebrating for 11 consecutive years and plan on doing for many years to come.
In the picture:
23 Bat Mitzvah girls during the ceremony. There were too many girls on the bima to fit in the picture.
5. Ilse Rigler z”l
On Feb. 25th I lead the funeral of our beloved friend Ilse Riger z”l. Ilse was one of the founding members of Or Hadash congregation. Ilse’s husband, David Rigler z”l, was the president of Or Hadash congregation from 1965 – 1994, almost 30 years!. Or Hadash congregants and I had been visiting Ilse on a regular basis in the retirement home where she was being cared for.
May her memory be blessed. We all miss her very much!!
6. The Israeli Reform Rabbis Council Convention
On March 9th and 10th I participated in Maram (The Israeli Reform Rabbis Council) convention in the Southern city of Arad.
It was an outstanding convention! We had a beautiful atmosphere of spirituality, of shared vision and cooperation. We discussed issues and matters of the utmost importance. One session dealt with relationships between Jews and Arabs, another dealt with thousands of Russian new immigrants and the principle of Patrilineal decent. . IRAC lawyers came to tell us about some politicians attempt to damage the law against racism. Needless to say, the convention was fascinating! I had the honor of leading the only prayer we had on Thursday morning.
I would like to send many compliments to the Rabbis organizing the convention this year: Rabbi Maya Leibowitz, Rabbi Galia Sadan and Rabbi Professor Yoki Amir.
At the end of the convention we drove to Masada, where we met the group of bike riders of the Reform Movement completing Ride-4-Reform tour. Among the riders I met my good friend Rabbi Andy Vogel from Temple Sinai in Brookline, MA and Rabbi Steven Engel from Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando, FL.
7. Visit to the Boston Area
I`m very excited about my upcoming visit to the Boston area from March 23rd to April 2nd. My hosts for the visit will be my very good friends and family-like: Don and Sandy Perrin. Among many cherished friends I plan to visit Rabbi Ronne Friedman and his wife Irene, Helen Cohen and Rabbi Bernard Mehlman from Temple Israel in Boston, Rabbi Greg Litcofsky, Deenah Bloomstone, Diane and Chester Black and friends from Temple Shir Tikvah, where I will give Shabbat sermon while Rabbi Neal Gold will do the same at Or Hadash. I will also visit Rabbi David Kudan at Temple Tiferet Israel in Malden, Rabbi Joel Sisenwine, Rabbi Rachel Saphire, Cantor Jodi Suffrin, Jeff and Naomi Stonberg, Al and Judy Bernstein from Temple Beth Elohim, Rabbi Howard Jaffe and many friends in Temple Isaiah in Lexington, including Neil and Diane Exter. Rabbi Jonathan Krauss fromBeth El Temple Center in Belmont, Rabbi Joseph Meszler at Temple Sinai in Sharon, Rabbi Eric Gurvis, Dr. Phyllis Scherr, Fred Cohen and other members from Temple Shalom in Newton
8. Many Overseas friends expected:
We are excited and looking forward to hosting Rabbi Andrew Busch, Ed Perl and a group of congregants from Baltimore Hebrew Congregation for a visit and lunch on March 15th. Our good friend Rabbi Joel Soffin with a group of 4 will join us for Tikun Olam project activity and dinner on March 14th.
On March 16th Or Hadash’s sisterhood will host a special evening for the international WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism). We are expecting a full synagogue of guests for this important event.
Rabbi Yitzhak and Shona Husbands-Hankin from Eugene, Oregon along with a group of 37 congregants will visit us on March 21st.
Rabbi Neal Gold, from Temple Shir Tikvah in Wayland will join us for Shabbat services and dinner on March 25th. Rabbi Gold will give the sermon at Or Hadash while I will give the sermon at Shir Tikvah that same Shabbat. This is a first time such an exchange is happening and both Rabbi Gold and I are pleased about this mutual beneficial event.
Wishing you Shavua Tov, a wonderful week!
In Friendship,
Edgar