February 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
Shavua Tov. This past Shabbat we read Parashat Bo, the third Torah portion in the book of Exodus. It is very interesting that in this portion G-d sends Moses to speak to Pharoah, but instead of telling Moses to go (lech), he tells him to come (bo). While some interpretations say that Moses entered into Pharoah’s palace, another explanation that I like says that Moses came to G-d, and then they both went together to talk to Pharoah. Now, as I am writing to you, my dear friends from overseas, in the interest of coming together to stay connected through emails and visits, I would like to tell you about the activities that took place at Or Hadash this past week.
1. Group Kibbutz Bnei Mitzvah
Last week 62 students from the junior high school on Kibbutz Magan Michael- 28 of whom are girls- gathered at Or Hadash to practice for their group B’not Mitzvah ceremony (see the pictures below) that will take place at Or Hadash on February 27th. The ceremony is one that the Or Hadash community will treasure and celebrate with great joy, as we have during the past 10 consecutive years of this collaborative effort between Or Hadash and Kibbutz Magan Michael. Since the beginning of the century over 200 girls have had their Bat Mitzvah at Or Hadash!! This will make this group B’not mitzvah a very special event that will represent the spirit of the Reform movement in Haifa once again in 2009.
2. Bar Mitzvah of Indian Jewish Boy
Last week was a wonderful week of celebrations for many other young people, some of whom bring a unique sense of diversity to the community. Of these Bnei Mitzvah students, was a boy from a Jewish Indian family. It was the first time that Indian Jews (who were not from Cuchin) have come to Or Hadash, and it was the family’s first time in a Reform synagogue, as Indian Jews are typically very traditional.
However, this case is particularly touching. They came to Or Hadash from far away, because there are no Reform synagogues in the suburbs (Krayot). The Father had always been bothered by the fact that in the Indian orthodox synagogue, they do not allow women and men to sit together. Since the father wanted his son to respect his mother as an equal, and also so that she could take part in an egalitarian service, the family chose Or Hadash. They then brought their traditional relatives from all over to stay in Haifa for the ceremony, since they do not travel on Shabbat.
3. Bat Mitzvah Student from Hadera
Another special student who will become a Bat Mitzvah this weekend is a girl who has commuted throughout the Bat Mitzvah process 45 minutes each way from the city of Hadera, so that she can have her ceremony at Or Hadash. Zohar Yanin (12), has made the commute because there is no Reform synagogue in her city, and her family realizes the importance that this connection holds in a young person’s life. We wish her a mazal tov on her simcha!
4. Very Special Visitors From Abroad
In addition to Julie Vanek, Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning from Temple Shalom in Newton,MA, who will be with us until late February, Or Hadash welcomed last week our wonderful long time friends Cantors Roy Einhorn of Temple Israel in Boston, and Jodi Sufrin of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. We were so delighted to find out that my assistant Jessica participated in the Eisendrath International Exchange NFTY High School in Israel in 1999 with Roy and Jodi’s daughter Laura. In light of this discovery, Jessica enjoyed a lovely breakfast with them on Tuesday morning. Then, Roy, Jodi, and I took advantage of the pleasant winter weather, and spent time together walking on Haifa’s beautiful beach for three consecutive afternoons (Please see the pictures below). Roy and Jodi also made sure to stop by on Tuesday night to spend time with our support group of families of terror victims, as Julie Vanek did last week.
Also, Roy and Jodi lead our Preschool Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday, January 30th, and taught the children new songs from Temple Israel’s preschool, that they all enjoyed very much. (Our friend Helen Cohen who is the Principal of the preschool there is planning to a trip soon to Or Hadash as well.) This was followed by an exceptional Friday night service where different versions of Adom Olam were performed by the Cantors, and a special and unique Saturday night cantorial concert.
We would like to thank Roy and Jodi for a beautiful week, during which they came to us in the real spirit of Parashat Bo to come and celebrate Judaism, and being in Israel with us for an entire week.
5. Israeli Elections Coming Up
Also, on a different note I want to mention that I am glad that President Barack Obama has so far had a positive impact on the Israeli economy, and has seemingly stabilized our stock market for the time being. This has allowed us to breathe a small sigh. Meanwhile, in Israel we are excitedly getting ready for our own elections on February 10th.
6. Mazal Tov
We are happy to announce that Jessica Berman, our Overseas Coordinator and my assistant, has officially gotten engaged to now fiancé Eli Halfin. We are so happy for them and wish them a mazal tov and a long life together!
Wishing you all a shavua tov, and a very pleasant month of February.
In Friendship,
Edgar