August 14, 2009

 

 

For the past month, Or Hadash had been very much alive with the sounds of children. Over the course of this summer’s Moadonit Kayitz at Or Hadash, almost 50 underprivileged children had the chance to enjoy their summer to the fullest. Each week, the children were introduced to a different topic on which the programming was based. This year’s topics included: Space; Ecology; Mythology; and Countries Around the world. In addition to learning, and taking part in many different arts and crafts projects, the children also enjoyed playing in their very own pool in the Or Hadash courtyard twice a week. Other exciting events included several ice cream parties, and a sleep over with all the children at the Synagogue. This year’s camp, which was run by Neta Kilgerman, left all of us here with countless positive memories, and certainly made a lasting impression on the children. We hope that this tradition-Which started three years ago with the help of our generous friends from Lexington, MA, and Philadelphia-will only continue to grow in the years to come.

 

This week, I met with rabbinical intern at Or Hadash of the past two years, Gadi Raviv. Gadi is originally from Kibbutz Yagur (About 20 minutes drive from our shul), and while I have been mentoring him for these two years we have also become good friends. Gadi is now becoming the Rabbi at Congregation Yedid Nefesh in Carmiel. We are very proud of his great achievement, and we are especially thrilled that he has chosen to be the rabbi at our sister congregation to the North. All of Or Hadash wishes Gadi the best of luck in his new position! In the picture below, Gadi is sitting with Rabbi Alona Lisita (sp) of HUC-Jersualem.

 

 

 

3. Friends from German Jewry- Harald Juettner Visit

Harald Juettner, the head of the Progressive synagogue in Gottingham, Germany, and his friend Moti Levy came again to visit Or Hadash, on Wednesday, August 12^th. Harald periodically visits us in Haifa, as he has a daughter who currently lives in Israel with her husband and children. I was pleased to catch up with Harald, and to hear that his community is considering naming their newly renovated synagogue “Or Hadash”, just like us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Rabbinical Student Heidi Hoover Visit

Another Rabbinical student who prayed with us at Or Hadash last Friday, and who visited on August 13^th, was Heidi Hoover. Heidi is currently a rabbinical student at The Academy for Jewish Religion in New York, and is participating in a summer ulpan at the University of Haifa. I’m glad that Heidi spent a lovely Kabbalat Shabbat with us, and was also able to sit down with me for a nice chat yesterday afternoon.

 

On Tuesday, August 11^th, my son Ariel celebrated his 12^th birthday with a pre Bar Mitzvah family outting. To make the day extra special, I took the day off from work (Yes it is true, I do have days for myself!), and the entire family went out to spend some quality time together at a game center in the North. Below you will see pictures of the great day that we shared together as a family, playing pool, and video games.

 

Yesterday, August 12^th, we had the first girl Ethiopian immigrant start her studies to become a Bat Mitzvah at Or Hadash. This is a very important moment for Or Hadash, as the general Jewish Ethiopian community tends to have more conservative Jewish practices on a whole. In the past we have had only about 10 Bnei Mitzvah ceremonies for new Ethiopian immigrants, but they were always very joyous occasions. Now we will also have the privilege to have a Bat Mitzvah for this lovely young lady. Needless to say, I am very excited to start teaching this smart and beautiful girl about this important rite of passage in our tradition.

 

 

I am very excited to announce two upcoming youth delegations- The first is a delegation of 15 Or Hadash youth and one chaperone will be to Germany from August 17^th-27^th. The second is a group of Or Hadash youth, lead by me, to the United States from October 25^th-November 5^th of this year. The delegation to Germany will be the second Israeli group from Or Hadash to travel to Germany, lead by Or Hadash member-Dr. Roxana Recihman, and our Executive Director-Ami Pereman- to meet with their fellow youth from the dialogue exchange. 

 

The delegation of Or Hadash youth to the States, will be our seventh youth trip to America since the year 2000. Once there, we will visit some of our sister congregations in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. The trip will surely be a memorable experience for all participants as it has very much been in years past.