July 24th, 2009
Dear Friends,
Shabbat Shalom! Tomorrow we will read from the Torah the beginning of the book of Dvarim (Deuteronemy). In this book there are three long speeches that Moses makes to prepare the Children of Israel for entrance into the land of Israel. These speeches recount sometimes with a new interpretation what is written in the previous four books of the Torah. I feel that our weekly newsletter is similar to this, since we recount what has happened in the past week, so that we can cherish the good moments with our friends abroad, and also prepare ourselves for future experiences.
This coming Wednesday will be the commemoration of Tisha B’Av- A day of mourning that marks the destruction of the Great Temple in Jerusalem. Our sages tell us that the Temple was destroyed because of needless hate (sinat hinam). I believe that the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and the world to have “needless love” (ahavat hinam), to help make this world a better place for all of us to live. At Or Hadash, we have a lot of needless love for all of our friends and visitors.
Now I hope that you will enjoy the short update of events and meetings that happened this last week at Or Hadash.
1) Weekend with Addie Lerner and Deena Kimmel
This past weekend, my family and I opened up our home to two extraordinary young women, who are members of our sister congregation, Temple Shalom of Newton, MA, and who are the daughters of both Henry and Phyllis Lerner, and Ken and Delores Kimmel. The girls, who are studying Hebrew language in Jerusalem this summer, came to spend time with us, as we have with them in the past through many youth delegation trips to America, as well as congregation visits to or Hadash from our sister synagogue.
During the weekend, the girls joined my family and I for services at Or Hadash, a lovely Shabbat dinner in my home with my family, and a tour around Haifa, which included seeing the famous Bahaii Gardens, and walking on the beautiful Haifa beach. We hope to spend many more weekends hosting the girls, who have come to feel like part of our family in the coming weeks.
2) Meeting with Accomplished Professor Chemi Ben Noon
On Sunday, July 20th, I had the distinct pleasure to sit with Professor Chemi Ben Noon, of Shaarei Mishpat Law School in Ramat HaSharon, Israel. Chemi, is currently working on an educational project headed by renowned and outstanding Israeli educator, Professor Moshe Kaspi of Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Chemi is the author of many books and articles, and Moshe is the winner of many literary accolades from the Israeli government. Together with Or Hadash, they are now teaming up to work on a project called Kol Eitar, “The fruits of 50 years of continued Jewish education in Israel”, which aims to create a “new person” for a new age. I am honored to be a part of such a distinguished project, that is so important for our modern society.
3) Meeting with Daniel May
On July 18th-21st, I was able to spend some quality time with Daniel May of Just Congregations. Daniel is the assistant to Rabbi Jonah Pesner, who founded this outstanding project of the URJ. Just Congregations teaches Reform synagogues about social action, and delegates awards to those congregations who show exemplary work in this field. Daniel and I had a wonderful lunch together discussing the importance of social justice and Tikkun Olam in our lives.
4) Physicians for Reform Judaism
Or Hadash is now working on a new initiative to connect Reform Jewish Physicians, and others who are connected to the Reform movement and Reform world of values, from around the world. This new project, is being spear headed by Dr. Yishai Lachter, and has the blessing of Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), as well as the encouragement of Jan Katzew, Head of education a the URJ. The listserv is meant to bring Reform Jewish professionals closer together to discuss Torah and daily life from a medical point of view.
On this note, we would like to ask all of you who are interested to get in contact with either Yishai: ramila@netvision.net.il, or Jessica, our Overseas Coordinator:overseas@or-hadash.org.il. Those of you who are of another profession should also feel free to get involved in this project, whether you are lawyers, businessmen, or even rabbis like me! The listserv is expected to eventually become an official Reform Jewish outlet in the months to come.
5) Or Hadash Pilots
Last Shabbat, I had the pleasure to bless two young men (18 yrs old) who had their Bar Mitzvah at Or Hadash five years ago, and are now enlisting into the Israeli Air Force for their military service. It brings us a lot of pride, to know that our graduates are going on to serve in such distinguished branches of the IDF. To us, this means that the message of Zionism and loyal citizenship is being carried on in our students. We wish our pilots the best of luck in the years ahead of them.
We are now getting excited to attend the Focolore Summer Convention in the coming week. For this reason, we will not have a newsletter next week, and will resume again in two weeks. For all of us it is the first time participating in a three day-learning and praying experience with not only Christians, but also members of the Druze and Muslim faiths.
I am also very excited to announce that our third music CD, “A New Light in Zion-A New Song in Haifa: Israeli and American Reform Songs” has now been printed. Since our preschool children participated on the project by singing on the last track, they were the first to receive copies. I would like say a big thank you to Cantor Roy Einhorn of Temple Israel, Boston, and Cantor Jodi Suffrin of Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley, MA, as well as Rabbi Eric Gurvis of Temple Shalom in Newton,for shaping our Kabbalat Shabbat service, and for taking part in the making of this CD. I would also like to thank our good friends at Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA for sponsoring our CD, and for making this all possible.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom for this week and next week! Also to those of you fasting on Tisha B’Av, I wish you a “tzom kal”
In Friendship,
Edgar