Chaverim Yekarim,

Shalom!

Now that the January Tu B'shvat celebrations are over and before we prepare for Purim activities in March we had the pleasure of hosting many friends visiting us from abroad.
Rabbi Amy Bernstein from Temple Israel in Duluth, MN arrived this week and she is staying with us for the next two months as part of her sabbatical. Her daughter Eliana (4) is going to be a student in our preschool and we are looking forward to learning from Rabbi Bernstein's wisdom.
Cantor Rachel and Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker, from our sister congregation, Mount Zion Temple of St. Paul, MN spend Shabbat "Mishpatim" with us. Rachel, who was the cantor in the last Biennial, marveled us with her talent and sweet voice while Adam delivered a beautiful Dvar Torah during Kabalat Shabbat (see attached). On Shabbat (while I was leading bar mitzvah ceremonies) Ami Perelman, our Temple Administrator showed them the beautiful sights of Haifa. I had the pleasure of having them in my home home for Shabbat afternoon and for Havdala.
Cantor Geoffrey Fine from Beth El Temple Center of Belmont, MA will be coming to spend the next week with us. So Or Hadash is enjoying great music lately!
On February 15, two groups are arriving at Or Hadash: Cantor Robin Joseph with a group from Temple Beth Shalom in New York and Beth Moscowitz with six families from Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills, CA.
On February 22 again two groups are coming: Rabbi Joseph Meszler with a group from Temple Sinai of Sharon, MA and Rabbi Jodi Seewald Smith with a group from Temple Chayai Shalom in North Eaton, MA.
In March many of our friends are coming to the CJP Mission among them Rabbi Eric Gurvis, Rabbi Lisa Eiduson, Jeff and Naomi Stonberg, Judith and Al Bernstein and many, many more. We are so excited that our friends from Boston are coming. 
A week ago we told you about another soccer game between Achmadi Muslim children and children from our Moadonit (after school program) in order to promote peace and understanding, but I believe that we did not send you a picture. So please see picture attached.
This week is the beginning of the month of Adar (this year there are 13 months in the Hebrew calendar). The tradition is that at the beginning of the twelfth month, Adar, we increase our joy. Purim this year will be in March, Adar Bet. February in Haifa is still rather cold, but the joy of Adar and visits of our friends from abroad warms our hearts.
Wishing you Shavua Tov, a good week and a month of joy, Hodesh Tov.

From Haifa,
Edgar