February 19, 2009

Dear Friends,

 

Shavua Tov! On Saturday we read Parashat Mishpatim, which includes many ancient laws that share a common background with Mesopotamian culture, (for example the laws of Hamurabi) but for us as Jews represent the ethics and laws of our sacred Torah.  I believe that there is common denominator among these laws which exalt the eternal values of the Torah. That is on one hand to make justice (tzedek), while on the other to have mercy and compassion for the weak (tzedakah). These two complementary Jewish values guide our mission at Or Hadash everyday.

 

I also want to tell you that at Or Hadash we had two very special weeks this month. Since it was President’s Day in America, many of our friends had vacation time, and were able to pay us a visit. Below you will find all the details of our friends’ visits.

 

I wish you all a great week.

 

In Friendship,

Edgar 

 

Last Monday, February 9^th, myself, Ami Perelman-our Temple Administrator, and Or Hadash overseas coordinator, Jessica Berman, traveled to the Ironi Hay High School, (near Carmel center in Haifa) to give a Tu B’Shvat lecture to the students there. Since secular Israelis tend to not know much about the holiday of Tu B’Shvat, I always find it refreshing to go and share holiday activities with the students, and to honor those students who have done a Bar Mitzvah ceremony with us at Or Hadash in the past. 

 

After the lecture, we were given a tour of the school’s outside memorial for past students who were fallen soldiers and victims of terror. It was disheartening to be reminded several past students who are honored there that were very close to us at Or Hadash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Israeli general election day, February 10^th, we had the distinct pleasure of hosting Arthur and Judy Sharenow, current members, and past president of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA. Arthur, Judy, Or Hadash Overseas Coordinator, Jessica, and I first took a driving tour of Haifa on a very beautiful, yet stormy day (Arthur and Judy brought the New England weather with them, including hail!). We then enjoyed a hearty lunch which included freshly baked breads and treats, followed by a tour of the synagogue and an engaging conversation. The Sharenows are just one example of the wonderful connections that we have made over the past few years especially with the Boston Reform Jewish community. We look forward to having the good company and friendship of many more visitors from the Boston area in the coming months and years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, Or Hadash board member Dr. Jesse Lachter, represented Israeli Reform Jewry at The Beutel Seminar, which took place at the Anita Saltz International Education Center in Jerusalem.   The Beutel seminar, is a prestigious ten day symposium where Progressive Jewish leaders from around the world come together to study Biblical texts, history, participate in discourse surrounding current events and issues affecting Progressive Jewry, and learn new leadership skills.

 

One visitor, who came to visit Or Hadash alongside Jesse following the conference, was Terry Boyd of Temple David in Perth Australia. Terry shared with us her background, and her experience at the conference, and was given the honor of having a special aliyah to the Torah at Or Hadash on Saturday, February 14^th.

 

On Friday February 13^th, two groups helped to bring the spirit of American Reform Judaism to Or Hadash. One of these groups was the teen delegation from Temple Beth El of Sudbury, MA who was joined by the educator of the Hugim School of Haifa, with whom they have had a shared a connection over the last several years. The teenagers were a very nice addition to our Kabbalat Shabbat services, especially following the Or Hadash youth delegation to Boston in October, which included many similar experiences for our children.

 

Another light in the service on Friday the 13^th, was Cantor Rica Timman, accompanied by a large group of congregants from Temple Beth El of North Valley, NJ. Cantor Rica brought with her the gift of her beautiful voice, and gave us the immense pleasuring of singing with us on the Bima. Temple Beth El, NJ then enjoyed a Friday night meal together with Or Hadash members in the Temple, followed by a thoughtful discussion on Reform Judaism in Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, February 14^th, members of the Cape Cod Synagogue in Hyannis, MA spent Valentine’s day with us at a heartfelt Saturday morning service. The service, which was also the Bar Mitzvah of a young boy in the congregation, captured the loving spirit of the “holiday”, and brought us closer to a new group of Massachusetts Jews.

 

 

Last week we had lovely visitors to host every day of the week!

 

On Sunday, February 15^th, we enjoyed the company of Rabbi Eric Gurvis of Temple Shalom in Newton, MA, for the second time since Chanukah. We also spent some quality time with Eric’s wife, Laura Kizner Gurvis, and their son, Jacob, as we all enjoyed two meals together, and a good chat in my office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also on Sunday afternoon we welcomed Rabbi Linda Joseph, Regional Director of the URJ Southeast Council, and a group of congregants from South Eastern congregations for a leisurely afternoon talk and a homemade falafel lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Monday, February 16^th, we enjoyed another talk, and an evening meal in the Or Hadash bomb shelter, together with Rabbi Debbie Bravo of Temple Emanu-El in Edison, NJ and her congregants, and Andrea Zola of Washington Hebrew Congregation. 

 

Debbie was so kind as to help Claire Ginsburg Goldstein, a member of Congregation Beth Israel in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and a devoted charity worker, to help victims in terror and children at risk in Israel by transporting many bags filled with stuffed animals.

 

For this very kind gesture, we would like to thank Claire, and Debbie, as well as all who helped by collecting the stuffed animals in America. They will be passed out in the near future to children of the poor Hadar neighborhood in Haifa, Ethiopian immigrant children, and also children at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, February 17th, were able to sit down for a Shabbat style meal with the always encouraging and positive Rabbi Howard Jaffe, of Temple Isiaiah in Lexington, MA, and Helen Cohen, and a group of Jewish educators from Temple Israel in Boston. Over the meal, we welcomed our delightful first time visitors from Temple Israel, and reminisced with long time friend Howard, alongside his wife Eileen and their children Nathaniel and Talia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Rabbi Morris Barzilai and members of Sinai Free Synagogue Visit

 

On Wednesday, February 18^th, Or Hadash members and staff sat down to a homemade kosher sushi dinner with Rabbi Morris Barzilai, and members of the Sinai free Synagogue, in Mt.Vernon, NY. Following this unique and delicious meal, we took time to get to know another wonderful group personally, while applauding their enthusiasm, for the State of Israel, and for Reform Judaism as a whole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, February 19^th, Jeanne Traxler, an Or Hadash overseas member and educator from Brookline, MA, came to spend time with the preschool children of Or Hadash about dancing. Jeanne has a long standing connection to Israel, and to teaching future generations of Jews, which was evident in her great enthusiasm. The children welcomed the scheduled change, and enjoyed their time with Jeanne immense

 

 

 

 

 

On the morning of Friday, February 20^th, we had the joy of spending time with Rabbi Seth Limmer, and families from Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk, NY. Here, the group met with our Darfurian refugee family, and learned about Or Hadash’s many Tikkun Olam projects. The group then joined our Preschool children and congregants, for our weekly Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony downstairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later that evening, we welcomed Rabbi Alice Dubinsky, with congregants of Congregation Bet Ha’Am, from South Portland, ME, and Rabbi Fred Reiner and Sherry Levy Reiner with congregants from Temple Sinai of Washington, D.C, for Kabbalat Shabbat services, and Friday night dinner at the temple. All of our Friday groups came to us with a caring smile, and for that we were very grateful and touched.

 

 

 

 

 

On 22-23, I will join the Focolare Christian movement in participating in the 3^rd annual Jewish-Christian Symposium in Jerusalem. The symposium will feature many important elements including touring Yad VaShem together as an interfaith group, creating important interfaith discourse, and studying Bible together. I will also be giving a presentation on my experience at the interfaith prayer service held during the war with Gaza in Haifa.

 

This conference is just one more step in a positive direction that binds people of all religions through common experiences and dialogue. It is also another stepping stone in our long standing relationship with the Focolare movement, with whom we planned our interfaith prayer service for peace during the last war, and with whom we participate in Bible study sessions once each month at Or Hadash.

 

The long awaited Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) 120^th Annual convention is fast approaching, and will take place February 24^th-March 1^st 2009. This is a special conference for me in particular, as this is the one time of the year that I am able to see many of my American friends and colleagues at one time, and in one place. As you can imagine, this combined with the chance to gain more knowledge about Judaism, is a very exciting notion for me, and will hopefully make for a very enjoyable experience. I am so looking forward to seeing all of my colleagues in just a few days!

 

 

This coming Friday night I am pleased to welcome 13 of my esteemed colleagues to Or Hadash to spend Kabbalat Shabbat with us here in Haifa. 

 

They are: Rabbi Stacey Blank of Kehillat Darchei Noam in Ramat HaSharon, Israel; Rabbi Serena Fujita, Jewish Champlain of Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, PA; Rabbi Norman Klein of Sinai Temple, in Champaign, IL; Rabbi Gary Pokras of Temple Judea of Bucks County, in Doylston, PA; Rabbi Craig Marantz of Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, CT; Rabbi Andy Busch of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, in Baltimore, MD; Rabbi James Egolf, of Beth David Reform Synagogue in Gladwyne, PA; Rabbi Elaine Zecher of Temple Israel in Boston, Rabbi James Glaizer of Temple Sinai, in South Burlington, VT; Rabbi Dana Magat of Temple Emanu-El, in San Jose, CA; Rabbi Keith Stern of Temple Beth Avodah, in Newton Centre, MA; Rabbi Devorah Lynn of Beth Sholom Temple, in Fredericksburg, VA; and last but not least, Rabbi Heidi Cohen or Temple Beth Sholom, in Santa Ana, CA.

 

I look forward to seeing so many bright and talented individuals together here for Kabbalat Shabbat services in the coming week!