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And now we will tell you about our last few weeks of many activities at Or Hadash:
1. On Wednesday, Nov. 16th we had our monthly gathering with members of the Christian-Catholic Focolare group where we continue study and discuss the Bible together as well as engage in an interfaith dialogue regarding the importance of “Love thy neighbor” on a personal, familial, communal and national level.
2. On Nov. 15th and 16th we hosted two groups of bereaved mothers of terror victims and fallen IDF soldiers at Or Hadash. We have been working with bereaved mothers for the past seven years. The two groups of bereaved mothers from Haifa and Northern Israel count almost 40 mothers. The spiritual support bereaved mothers are receiving at Or Hadash is made possible thanks to the generous help of our friends overseas.
3. On Nov. 17th we hosted attorney Nicole Maor from IRAC, from our Movement’s Legal Aid Center helping new immigrants. Nicole periodically comes to Or Hadash in order to help new immigrants who live in Haifa and the Northern part of Israel. Nicole’s help to new immigrants is beyond appreciated and you can clearly see it in people’s face when they line up outside the office waiting to speak with her.
4. Dr. Anat Freund visited us on Thursday, Nov. 17th. We had the opportunity to go over and discuss some of our Tikun Olam Social Action programs. Dr. Anat Freund is Senior Lecturer at the School of Social Work in the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences at Haifa University. Anat, in addition to being one of our cherished volunteers also helps us review some of the strengths and weaknesses in the various Tikun Olam projects. Her assistance is highly valued and always helps us tremendously.
5. On Sunday, Nov. 20th, I visited David Yelin Elementary School as part of our teachings of their 6th graders who will become B’nai Mitzvah. This time I lectured the kids about the significance of the Mezuzah, its meanings and customs and taught them about Tefilin as well. These lectures are part of a yearly program which will end with a special group Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Or Hadash.
6. On Nov. 24th we had a very productive and pleasant meeting with Leora Ezrachi-Vered who is the National Director of the Israeli Reform Jewish Youth Movement. Dr. Marina Firrer and Architect Zohar Kisler – Or Hadash board members participated in the meeting. We discussed various topics related to our youth activities, at Or Hadash.
In the picture: Leora Ezrachi-Vered, Dr. Marina Firrer and Architect Zohar Kisler in my office.
7. On Shabbat, Nov. 26th we had the honor and pleasure of celebrating a festive Bat Mitzvah for Julia Green, a congregant from our sister congregation Beth David in Gladwyn, PA. Marla Green-Didio, her husband and four children came to Israel and celebrated Julia’s special day in the beautiful Louis Promenade in Haifa. Julia beautiful read her Torah portion. It was a pleasure spending such a significant event with beloved overseas friends. Mazal Tov Julia!
8. On Nov. 29th we had the pleasure of meeting old friends from the Netherlands. Rabbi Marianne van Praag, the senior rabbi of the Dutch Congregation for Progressive Judaism in Amsterdam and ARZA – Nederland’s chairman - Samu de Leeuw, lead a group of Dutch congregants from all over Holland in a week’s visit to Israel. Since the group did not stop in Haifa this time our Overseas Coordinator, Nofi Barak and our Conversion Coordinator, Natasha Manosevitz, met the group in the city of Acre, where Samu and Marianne handed us a most generous and appreciated donation for our Tikun Olam activities.
We would like to thank our Dutch friends for their friendship, their kindness and generosity and we hope to see them back in Israel and at Or Hadash soon!
In the Picture: ARZA – Nederland’s chairman - Samu de Leeuw, Rabbi Marianne van Praag and Rosa Van Der Wieken handing Or Hadash’s Conversion Coordinator, Natasha Manosevitz, a generous donation from ARZA-Netherlands Congregants.
9. Also on Nov. 29th Amit Eshed, our Social Action Chairperson, Moshe Guttman, our Treasurer and I drove to Migdal Or – the Israeli Center for Rehabilitation to meet with Executive Director, Arik Raz who is a good friend of Or Hadash and the Lyons Family. We discussed a new Tikun Olam project where Or Hadash will help blind people in Haifa and its suburbs.
10. On Shabbat, Dec. 2nd and 3rd, we were delighted to host two groups of 10th graders from the Reali High School for Shabbat services. The Reali High School is one of the best and most reputable high schools in Israel. The teen’s participation is part of preparation for their visit to US East coast congregations, as part of the Boston-Haifa connection.
The group attending Friday night service was honored with an invitation to stand on the bimah during the blessings and later joined Or Hadash’s youth in the prayer. The second group participating in Shabbat morning services was honored with Aliya L’Torah.
The visit concluded with the teens participating in the Kidush along with Or Hadash’s congregants in the synagogue. It was wonderful to have the Reali teens with us. We hope to see them back soon and hear all about their experience in America.
In the picture: Reali High School 10th graders on the bima at Or Hadash during Shabbat services.
11. Also on Shabbat, Dec. 3rd, Or Hadash congregants and guests had the pleasure of listening to Prof. Yoram Bargal, Or Hadash’s Chairman, give the sermon. Prof. Bargal and his wife, Dr. Brurya Bargal recently came back from touring remote parts of India. In his sermon Yoram spoke about Jacob’s spirituality and the connection to present day’s spirituality in Israel and India.
12. On Dec. 12th I was invited to Kibbutz Sdot-Yam (near Caesarea) to teach the B’nai Mitzvah group. It was a very interesting interaction between the Israeli Reform Judaism I presented and their secular Judaism. We all enjoyed it.
13. On Dec. 14th we had another meeting with the Focolare group which as always was remarkably enriching. This time we discussed the connection between the Bible and the New Testament.
14. Yesterday, Dec. 15th we welcomed to our sanctuary a group of 3rd graders from the David Yelin Elementary School for a pre-Hanukah activity. Or Hadash will host around 20 activities and parties for various group in our congregation.
15. This morning I visited David Yelin Elementary School to sing Hanukah songs with the students. Later on I participated in the Matza terror victims’ memorial service. In mid morning I returned to Or Hadash to celebrate Kabalat Shabbat with 60 families of our preschools.
16. We are looking forward to hosting Ken and Bertha Litvack tonight, Dec. 16th, for Shabbat services. The Litvacks are cherished friends from Congregation B’nai Israel of Boca Raton, FL, visiting Israel for a few weeks.
17. Throughout the month of December we are celebrating three B’nai and B’not Mitzvah each week. We would like to wish Mazal Tov to the 12 B’nai and B’not Mitzvah celebrating their special day at Or Hadash. We apologize for not mentioning all their names.
Since Chanukah is just around the corner, we would like to take the opportunity and wish you a very happy and sweet Chanukah!! Eat lots of Latkes!
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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