June 26, 2009

 

Dear Friends,

 

Shabbat Shalom! Tomorrow we will read  Parashat Chukat, which describes interesting ways that the ancient Israelites purified themselves in order to become spiritually clean. Or Hadash is lucky as a community to have so many people coming to visit us in these hot summer months, which in turn makes us feel special and helps us to renew ourselves spiritually as well. Below you will find many examples of this from the past two weeks.

 

Also, personally, it has been a big week for the Nof family. Last night, our oldest daughter Yael graduated from the Leo Baeck High School in Haifa, and this coming Sunday it is my birthday (Another year passed by so fast!). Because of all these celebrations, I will not be in the office on Sunday, and will be returning on June 29^th. However, I encourage you all to stay in touch as always!

 

On Tuesday, June 16^th, Or Hadash welcomed Rabbi Rachel Greengrass, and members of Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, Florida. The group was inquisitive and energetic, and was a joy to spend time with. First, they sat down for an open discussion about Or Hadash’s mission and special projects, and to discuss Reform Judaism in Israel and America. Then the group enjoyed a tour of the synagogue and of course received Or Hadash souveniers to take home with them. We wish all of our new friends a pleasant trip in Israel, and as always, a safe flight home!

 

 

 

On Tuesday, June 23^rd, we were honored to host the family of Susan Anderer, who is current vice president of our very dear sister congregation-Beth David, in Gladwyne, PA. Malcolm, Elaine, Deborah, and Arielle came to spend the morning getting to know Or Hadash as a community, and learning about what it is like to be an Israeli Reform Jew, before joining us for a lovely lunch in the gallery room. Their trip was to commemorate both Arielle’s recent Bat Mitzvah ceremony, and Malcolm and Elaine’s 49^th wedding anniversary. We wish them all mazal tov!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the guidance of our new conversion counselor, Natasha Manoosevich, conversion and integration activities for new Russian immigrants are now in full swing for summer 2009 at Or Hadash. On Thursday, June 18th, a new group met for the first time to study Jewish history and learn Hebrew language. The lessons are meant to help new Russian immigrants become better acclimated to Israeli society. The group will meet weekly for the ten week course. We wish them all luck and success.

 

 

Also on June 18^th, Or Hadash held our annual general assembly meeting, where a new executive board was voted in, and other special news from the past year was shared in front of the community. This year’s meeting was a joyous occasion where the members of the community came together to celebrate a successful 2008-2009 year, and to share the will to continue working as hard as possible on our Jewish education, social action, and social justice projects-while remaining connected to our Reform Jewish brothers and sisters abroad.  The community also discussed at length the great appreciation they have for all of the donors who have helped to make all of these projects possible for us in past years.

 

We would like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Yuri Kilgerman, and Mirjam Jurmann on being reelected President and Vice President respectively. We would also like to congratulate Shlomit Berger, the board’s treasurer and Beni Fischer, the board’s recording secretary, who were also reelected for another term.

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, June 23^rd, Or Hadash Preschool staff, executive board members, and sisterhood members, met for the final time this year with Naomi Raz, the early childhood education coordinator of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism. The group meets every month during the school year to learn about how to properly integrate Reform Judaism into the preschool classroom. Members in attendance were: Shai Ibtzan, Jacqueline Zohar, Pnina Sohetzky, Sari Grimberg, and Ofer Feinbaum (Or Hadash Comptrollers). Or Hadash is dedicated to teaching Reform Judaism to all our children starting from an early age. Along with the IMPJ, we hope that this will only create a stronger movement for generations of Israelis to come.

 

On Thursday, June 25^th, Daniel S., another child from the Ahuzat Yeladim Boarding School in Haifa and the Wards of State Bnei Mitzvah program, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in a private ceremony at Or Hadash. The child, who’s face can not be shown in a photo for obvious reasons, was given an extension of one week, when he did not feel ready to participate in the ceremony with the other members of the group. However, he completed a lovely and just as emotional ceremony with the support of his classmates and the community. He was the 10^th child to successfully complete the program for the 2009 year.

 

*Can not show face of child for legal reasons.

 

Today, Friday June 26^th, Reut Zmirin will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah at Or Hadash. Reut is the daughter of the Or Hadash Hebrew bulletin Editor, Shalom Zmirin, and is a child who is very involved in the community. Then, on Saturday we will celebrate two additional Bnei Mitzvah ceremonies, bringing the weekly total to four. We wish all of our children a big Mazal Tov on this wonderful rite of passage.

 

 

Here at Or Hadash we are very excited to hold an interfaith panel event with Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clergy from the Boston area, and Haifa, this Monday, June 29th. The event was organized by Rabbi Eric Gurvis of Temple Shalom in Newton, MA, and Nancy Kaufman, the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (JCRC), and will also include representatives of the Boston-Haifa Partnership and important city-heads. It is our hope that this event will help to build a greater bond between different religious and ethnic groups in Haifa, and around the world, and promote coexistence in our great city.

 

Christian clergymen from the Boston area who will be in attendance are: Rev. Joel Anderle; Pastor Gerald E. Bell; Rev. John Buehrens; Rev. Caroline Edge; Rev. Arlene Hall; Rev. Hurmon Hamilton; Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond; Rev. Sylvia Johnson; Mr. David Lamarre-Vincent; Alexander Levering Kern; Rev. Roberto Miranda; Rabbi Carl M. Perkins; Rev. Dr. Wesley Robert; Rev. Jep Streit; Bishop Gilbert Thompson; Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias; Rev. Liz Walker; Rev. Dr. Marilyn Weekes; and Rev. Robert “Skip” Windsor.