March 6, 2009
Dear Friends,
Shabbat shalom! What a great week we had! It was wonderful to be in the CCAR convention in Jerusalem, celebrating 120 years of Reform Rabbinate. Joining 350 Reform rabbis from the States, along with my colleagues from Israel and other countries was amazing, and very moving. I had the chance to see and spend quality time with so many of my friends and colleagues, including: friends Rabbi Steven Bob of our sister congregation, Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL, and Rabbi Neal Gold of our sister congregation Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA; and Rabbi Danny Gottlieb of our sister congregation,Temple Kol Ami, in Thornhill, Ontario; Rabbi Bernard Mehlman and Rabbi Ronne Friedman of our sister congregation, Temple Israel in Boston; Rabbi Buzzy Beifield and his wifeInaof our sister congregation, Beth Ahavah in Richmond, VA; Rabbi Jonathan Stein and his wife Susan of our sister congregation Temple Shaaray Tefila in NYC; and Rabbi Doug Sagal of our sister congregation, Temple Emanu-El, in Westfield, NJ and Marla Feldman, the Director of the URJ joint commission on Social Action.
I had the chance to meet up again with Cantors Roy Einhorn or Temple Israel, and Jodi Suffrin of Temple Beth Elohim, in Wellesley, MA, and walk the streets of Jerusalem with them. And I walked in the new mall of the Mamila neighborhood in Jersualem, with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, of Just Congregations; And I met again with Rabbi Seth Limmer of Congregation B'nai Yisrael of Armonk NY, his wife Molly, and their two children. Lastly, I had the chance to meet with good friend Rabbi Danny Zemel of our sister congregation, Temple Micah in Washington, D.C, and his wife Louise, who also came to spend time with us in Haifa yesterday, March 5th.
The meetings and celebrations of the convention took place in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. I wish that one day we will be fortunate enough to have the CCAR convention in Haifa as well. Maybe if I pray, this can happen in the next seven years, and the CCAR can also take place in this beautiful city.
Of course we also had lots of guests and activites at Or Hadash. They are as follows:
1. Kibbutz Magan Michael-Banot Mitzvah Ceremony
On February 27th, 28 girls from the Kibbutz Magan Michael Middle School, celebrated their Banot Mitzvah with an elaborate yet individualized ceremony at Or Hadash. The ceremony included each individual girl reading from the Torah, alongside traditional prayers and meaningful dances pieces. Although this is the tenth year of the Banot Mitzvah program with Kibbutz Magan Michael, becoming a Bat Mitzvah is still a relatively new concept in modern Israeli society. For this reason, each year, the ceremony is much anticipated, and appreciated. As you can see, the beautiful pictures speak for themselves.
2. Visitors Friday February 27th
On Friday, February 27th, Or Hadash welcomed a group of 9 American Rabbis, all of whom who in Israel for the CCAR conference that took place last week. Of the Rabbis who came to participate in Or Hadash’s Kabbalat Shabbat services were: Rabbi Serena Fujita, Jewish Chaplain of Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA ; Rabbi Norman Klein of Sinai Temple, Champaign, IL; Rabbi Craig Marantz of Congregation Kol Haverim Glastonbury, CT; Rabbi Andy Busch of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Baltimore, MD ;Rabbi James Egolf of Beth David Reform Congregation, Gladwyne, PA; Rabbi Elaine Zecher of Temple Israel Boston, MA; Rabbi Joe Foreman of Or Chadash, The Reform Temple of Hunterdon County, Flemington, NJ; Rabbi Keith Stern of Temple Beth Avodah Newton Centre, MA; and Rabbi Devorah Lynn of Beth Sholom Temple Fredericksburg, VA.
Deborah and I had the pleasure of inviting half of the group over to our house after services to have a Shabbat meal together with our four children: Yael; Elior; Ariel; and Talia , all of whom behaved very nicely! (All of you parents out there who understand me can appreciate this accomplishment)
After services, the group then toured the Or Hadash bomb shelter and preschools, before returning home with their Or Hadash hosts for a Shabbat meal, and hospitality.
3. Interfaith Activities
Interfaith activities are something that has become increasingly important to Or Hadash in recent years. Residing in Haifa, I have come to realize the sheer importance of dialogue between the different cultures and religions that coexist in the city. For this reason I try my hardest to lead Or Hadash in participating in interfaith activities not just in times of war, but in times of peace as well.
This past week I once again had the pleasure to participate in a wonderful interfaith activity: The Focolare Christian-Jewish Symposium in Jerusalem. Furthermore, I was able to give a presentation alongside Friar Yousef and Mr. Tala'at, the Christian leader, and Muslim school principle that prayed together with Or Hadash and the Focolare at Stella Maris during the war in Gaza. The symposium only reiterated the lessons learned from our most recent interfaith connections. For this I am very grateful to the pluralistic atmosphere of our great city.
Following the symposium I also had the chance to participate in a film that the Focolare are producing in preparation for the expected arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Haifa later this month.
4. Hachitah School Group Bat Mitzvah
Yesterday March 5th, the girls of the Achitah School in the city of Zichron Yaakov, came to Or Hadash for their group Banot Mitzvah ceremony. The ceremony took place in Haifa, because our sister congregation in Zichron is currently in the process of completing their building. Therefore, we were more than happy to share our lovely synagogue, and host the ceremony here. The ceremony itself was an exciting combination of Torah, Jewish ethics, and performance art, as many Israeli ceremonies are. It was lead by my good friend and colleague, student Rabbi Dalia Tivon, as part of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) educational program, and was a joy to see.
5. Upcoming Visitors
Tonight, March 6th, we will welcome Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller, and a group of her congregants from Temple Beth Torah, Ventura, CA, for Kabbalat Shabbat services and dinner at Or Hadash. We are very excited to welcome our first time visitors to pray with us just a few days before the Purim holiday.
6. The weekly Torah Portion, and Upcoming Purim Holiday
This Saturday we will read the Torah portion “Etzaveh”. This portion starts with the Jewish people commanded to light the eternal light. So many people bring light to the activities and projects that we do at Or Hadash, and identify so much with our hopes and dreams. I would like to thank you all for this, and for helping to make Or Hadash a new light coming up from the Reform movement in Israel to join the beautiful lights of the Reform movement in America and all over the world.
Next week it will already be the celebration of Purim! I always look forward to Purim as it is truly a celebration at Or Hadash, and symbolizes the great will of the Jewish people to survive and keep on thriving. At Or Hadash the children are the focus of our Purim celebration, and our Preschools prepare for the event many weeks in advance. This year they will as always put on a performance for parents and community members, and will dress in the costumes that are abundantly sold in the supermarkets here.
Purim is a fun and light holiday for adults as well. I myself enjoy dressing up in costume, and enjoy the lightened atmosphere that this lends to the congregation and the staff.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and an early Purim Sameach (Freilcher Purim)!!
In Friendship,
Edgar