Dear Friends,

 

On Saturday July 11^th, we read Parashat Pinchas, where G-d gave Pinchas the covenant of Peace. Indeed peace-shalom, is a crucial blessing for all of us at anytime. Here in Israel, we are living in a relatively quiet time, where prospects of peace are once again optimistic. For this we are very thankful, as it has helped those living in Haifa to grow together as one community-through a now growing interfaith dialogue. We are also so lucky that even in these difficult financial times, so many of our friends from America are continuing to visit and support us at Or Hadash. Below you will find the details of our latest visitors and events.

 

 

This week Or Hadash saw many visiting friends from our sister congregations in the States. On Monday July 6^th, we welcomed a warm and lovely group from Temple Emanu- El in San Jose, CA. Led by Rabbi Dana Magat, the group spent time in the temple learning about our Tikkun Olam projects, and getting to know some of our most dedicated members. They were also able to visit our ongoing Moadonit for underprivileged children of single parent households, to say hi to the children of the community who are participating in this summer’s program.

 

 

On Tuesday, July 7^th, we gave a warm welcome to Terri and Jeffrey Goldberg of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA. The couple, who hail from one of our most generous and supportive sister congregations, were very interested to learn about our two congregation’s connection. They were particularly interested in learning about our Tikkun Olam, social action and social justice projects, as Jeffrey was the past social justice chair at Temple Isaiah. The couple also took the time to visit the children of our preschools, and the children of our moadonit summer program. Terri and Jeffrey are also great supporters of Israel, and currently have two children who are traveling here for the summer with the North America Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).

 

On Thursday, July 9^th, Or Hadash held a 5 hour Bar Mitzvah summer seminar class, where all of the children who have upcoming Bar Mitzvah ceremonies in the remainder of the 2009  year gathered together with their parents to take an intensive course on basic Jewish prayer and ritual. This introductory class consisted of 4 different lessons regarding the order of the Siddur, the differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Judaism in their basic practices, and the proper etiquette when handling Torah scrolls etc. The class is one of many more to come, and was a very special addition to our week here at Or Hadash. 

 

 

Yesterday evening, a very special meeting took place at Or Hadash Executive Director and Or Hadash Sisterhood President-Ami and Anat Perelman’s house. The meeting included 6 representatives of the Haifa Druze community, who sat with representatives of Or Hadash, to work on a Jewish-Druze interfaith dialogue. The Druze are a people of Arab decent, who reside mostly in Northern Israel, as well as Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. While the Druze religion is an offshoot of Islam, the men are required to complete compulsory service in the Israeli Defense Forces-and so share a close connection with the Jews of Israel. Still, it is very important to create dialogue between the two groups, so that we can grow to understand each other, and reside in our lovely city peacefully and happily. The meeting was just the beginning of a more in depth dialogue, that should help us accomplish these goals together not just in Haifa, but in Israeli society as a whole.

 

On July 30^th-August 2^nd, myself and my family, along with many participants from Or Hadash, will travel to Kibbutz Nes Amminim to participate in the Focolore Summer Convention. Or Hadash and the Catholic Focolore movement in Haifa have worked together for the past few years on interfaith events. Most recently we organized an interfaith prayer service for peace during the war in Gaza together, participated in Bible study classes at Or Hadash, and took part in an interfaith panel discussion and meal, also held at Or Hadash-which was sponsored by the JCRC, and included American and Israeli Christian and Muslim clergy. I also traveled to Jerusalem in February, to give a speech at the Focolore winter convention, alongside representatives of different faiths. Or Hadash members in attendance will be: President-Dr. Yuri Kilgerman; Vice President-Mirjam Jurmann; Earl Shugerman; and many others individuals from our executive board and congregation.

This Monday, July 13^th, I am scheduled to have a meeting with Rabbi Eric Gurvis of our sister congregation Temple Shalom in Newton, MA. Eric, who was one of the co-leaders of the JCRC interfaith panel event (mentioned above), is currently taking part in the summer learning program at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. There, I hope to not only connect with a good friend, but also hear his insight on the success of the JCRC interfaith trip-whose participants we saw here at Or Hadash on June 29^th. I look forward to hearing his positive insights on this matter.

 

 

On Monday morning, July 13^th, be in Jerusalem to officiate the Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Shapiro, daughter of Naomi and Adam Shapiro, of our sister congregation- Temple Beth David in Gladwyne, PA. The Shapiro’s, who have a lot of family in Israel, decided to travel to Jerusalem and more specifically, the Kotel (Wailing wall) for Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah ceremony. It makes me very happy to officiate such a joyous event, as Beth David and Or Hadash have shared a very special connection over the past 9 years. I am very excited to have the honor to participate tomorrow, and also to share with you all how it went in the coming days.