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Our last newsletter went out while events were still enthusiastically manifesting around us. Therefore, we are now going to tell you about some very special and exciting events that took place in the last couple of weeks.
1. On Friday morning, Oct. 28th, we planted a very special new tree in the beautiful biblical garden Sandy and Don Perrin donated to Or Hadash four years ago. The new tree was a gift from our sister congregation Temple Shir Tikvah of Wayland, MA, symbolizing the enduring relationship between our two congregations as part of Shir Tikvah’s Mitzvah Day.
The planting ceremony was supposed to have happened simultaneously both in Haifa and Wayland, however, it turned out weather had a different plan… while we planted the beautiful oak tree in Haifa, our dear friends in Wayland were dealing with a massive and very early nor’eastern which postponed their apricot tree planting by over a week.
It all came out to a good end eventually and the two beautiful trees are now planted and lovingly cared for by good friends in Wayland, MA and in Haifa, Israel.
May our beautiful friendship grow and flourish for many years to come and may we all enjoy the fruits of our newly planted apricot and oak.
Here are the links to the youtube videos of both planting ceremonies:
Temple Shir Tikvah:
Congregation Or Hadash:
2. The same Friday morning, Oct. 28th we welcomed almost a hundred 2nd graders and their families from the Reali Elementary School in Ahuza, for their Torah Ceremony. We hosted around 300 people at our synagogue for the exciting event where 95 children received their first Torah book.
This is the 10th consecutive time I`m celebrating the receiving of the Torah ceremony with the Reali School and I must say, it is always touching me very deeply to see eager and excited seven year olds accepting the Book of Genesis.
On Nov. 4th we hosted another Torah Ceremony, this time for 2nd graders from the Reali Hadar Elementary School. Dr. Marina Firrer and Zohar Kisler, our board members, beautifully performed the Torah Ceremony, again in front of an eager and excited crowed of around 100 children and their families, all together around 300 people. I would like to thank Marina and Zohar from the bottom of my heart for their most appreciated help.
In the pictures: Very excited Reali School 2nd graders singing, dancing and accepting the Torah in a beautiful ceremony.
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3. As reported in our previous newsletter, on Friday, Oct. 28th we welcomed Rabbi Steven Fuchs, WUPJ President and his wife Vickie to Or Hadash. Steven and Vickie honored us with participating in our Shabbat services, followed by Shabbat dinner at my home with my family. It was such a pleasure hosting Steven and Vickie and spending quality time with them!
On Shabbat morning Steven gave a beautiful sermon to Or Hadash congregants. After services Steven and Vickie were hosted for lunch by our board member Dr. Roxana Reichman. For Shabbat morning services on Shabbat, October 29th, we also had the pleasure and honor of hosting Rabbi David Lillienthal who is the Dean of the rabbinical college in the Netherlands. Rabbi Uri Temal who is a good friend and former Rabbi of the Reform congregation in Australia honored us with his presence at services as well.
In the picture: Rabbi Steven and Vickie Fuchs, Rabbi Lilienthal and Rabbi Temal at Shabbat services.
4. On Nov. 1st we held our Tikun Olam committee meeting where we discussed multiple activities and ongoing projects. The meeting was lead by Amit Eshed, our social action committee chairman. We deliberated about 20 various social justice projects we would like to activate in 2012. On top of existing, ongoing projects we added projects that include helping the blind population in Haifa, establishing a club for retired singles and a unique project to encourage leadership of poor students at Haifa University.
5. We had plans to meet with our dear friend Rabbi Joel Soffin on Nov. 2nd. Unfortunately the plan was canceled at the last moment. We would like to send Rabbi Soffin our love and blessings and thank him for his long lasting and cherished friendship. We are looking forward to the next time we meet. Rabbi Soffin has been generously helping Or Hadash projects of Tikun Olam, among them was his most appreciated help to Kibbutz Beit Oren post the Carmel fire last December. Rabbi Soffin’s foundation “Jewish Helping Hands” is involved in helping various projects throughout Israel.
6. On Thursday, November 3rd, we celebrated a very special Bar Mitzvah at Or Hadash for a disabled boy from the Hod School. On the first significantly rainy day of the season, Hod School teachers, caregivers and class-mates gathered at Or Hadash to celebrate this meaningful event. The boy’s parents and older brother were very excited and were grateful beyond words to everyone who made this day possible. The ceremony was extremely touching. The parents put the Talith on the boy who sat in his wheel-chair, his father and brother read from the Torah and his mother never left his side, holding his hand and speaking to him throughout the ceremony.
In the pictures: Left: Hod School teachers, caregivers and classmates at Or Hadash synagogue. Right: H.’s parents put the Talith on him.
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Here is a translated copy of a Thank You letter we received from the Hod School principals:
Dear Rabbi Nof,
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude
For celebrating H.A’s Bar Mitzvah Ceremony
We are filled with appreciation and thanks, each and every time you lead and officiate
B’nai Mitzvah ceremony for our special needs students.
We are grateful to you for that.
The ceremonies are always pleasant, sensitive and filled with endless love for the child and his/her family.
Your willingness to bestow so much love leaves us in awe each and every time.
May you go from strength to strength and may you continue to do great Mitzvahs.
All we have left to say is thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
We wish you good health and strength.
May God bless you,
Hannah Peles Hagit Visel
Hod DayCare center Manager Hod School Principle
7. Also that week I had the pleasure of meeting Hartmut G. Bomhoff while visiting Mrs. Gretel Marom, who is 98 years old and the great granddaughter of Abraham Geiger (founder of the reform movement in Germany in 1840). Hartmut G. Bomhoff is the Dean of the Abraham Geiger College- a new rabbinical college in Berlin. It was very interesting to speak with Hartmut and hear about the Jewish life in modern Berlin, Germany. We are looking forward to the opportunity of establishing closer relationship with the Jewish students in Berlin.
8. On Shabbat, Nov. 5th, after two Bar Mitzvah ceremonies, one for an Israeli boy, another for a new immigrant from Russia, we welcomed a German youth delegation from Bonn, Germany. The teens who are all musicians came to Or Hadash to learn about Judaism. It was a very meaningful visit since Or Hadash is very interested in creating friendships and relationship with German Jews on all levels. As a token of gratitude the German youth surprised us with a spontaneous concert which was amazing! We had so much fun listening to these gifted and extremely talented teens. We asked them to come back and play for us in a properly organized concert for Or Hadash congregants and friends and we are looking forward to hosting them again.
In the pictures: Left: German youth from Bonn, Germany, examine a Torah scroll. Right: German youth play a spontaneous concert at Or Hadash synagogue.
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9. On Sunday, Nov. 6th, I was invited to lecture at Einstein Elementary School about the Mezuzah, its customs, laws and significance. The lecture is a part of the group B’not mitzvah preparations I do in various schools around Haifa.
In the picture: Lecturing about the Mezuzah to elementary school children.
10. On Tuesday, Nov. 8th, we held a memorial ceremony for Itzchak Rabin z”l, former Israel’s prime minister who was murdered in 1995.
May his memory be blessed. The ceremony was organized by Anat Zohar, Or Hadash congregant, with the participation of Or Hadash’s choir – Shir Hadash and the conductor Doron Tovim. Our youth prepared and beautifully lead the ceremony.
In the pictures: Or Hadash youth and choir – Shir Hadash, in a memorial ceremony for Yitzchak Rabbin z”l.
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11. This morning I was invited to the Open School in Haifa to perform Kabalat Shabbat service for the kids. All in all I can happily tell you we have a significant increase in requests for B’nai and B’not Mitzvah ceremonies at Or Hadash. During the 9 weeks of November and December we have 22 B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies scheduled. That means officiating between 2-3 ceremonies each week.
In the pictures: Kabalat Shabbat for 2nd graders at the Open School in Haifa.
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12. This week we celebrated a very special birthday for Mr. Shalom Shtamberg, a holocaust survivor who is kindly being helped by friends and donors of Or Hadash.
Mr. Shtamberg turned 86 years old.
I promised Shalom to personally bake him a cake when he turns 90 years old. Mind you dear friends, this is my second culinary promise, as I promised Mrs. Gretel Marom who is 98.5 years old to bake her a special cake when she turns 100 years old. Now, I know there are some mighty cooks and bakers among our friends, so could you please send me some special cake recipes in order for me to practice for a while before actually having to deliver?
Thank you very much upfront! J
In the picture: Mr. Shalom Shtamberg turned 86 years old this week.
We are expecting the months of November and December to be filled with various activities. Stay tuned, we will keep reporting about it in our next newsletter.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom,
In Friendship,
Edgar
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Updates |
| | 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. |
| | Getting Ready for Hanukah |
Dec. 16th, 2011
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow we will read Parashat Vayeshev, which opens the third part of the book of Genesis, which consists of the four parashot (Torah portions) of Joseph’s stories in Egypt. In other words, in the second part of the book we hear the stories of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel and Lea and now we begin to hear the stories about the children of Jacob - Israel.
Joseph was a righteous man who was committed to telling the truth to his family even though they found it difficult to hear and relate to his dreams.
I believe a true leader should always speak his mind even when truth is not easy to accept and people are not always willing to hear it.
Fortunately, we only have good news to tell you about at Or Hadash. We apologize for the delay in sending out our newsletter, it has been yet another extremely hectic month with three B’nai Mitzvah celebrations each week, so many activities and as much as we tried we simply didn`t get to putting everything in writing until now.
And now we will tell you about our last few weeks of many activities at Or Hadash: |
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