Parashat Emor-Celebrating Holidays
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow we will read Parashat Emor, which includes a discussion about celebrating the holidays of the Torah as a holy people and holy nation. In this bi-weekly newsletter, we want to tell you about some of the recent holidays that we have celebrated here at Or Hadash.
Following a very spiritual Yom HaAtzmaut, when we as a Jewish people celebrated Israel’s 61 years, we at Or Hadash were very content to move onto the encroaching Summer season here in Haifa. Thinking about all that we have accomplished here in our young Jewish State, in a mere 61 years is mind baffling, and inspiring. What other countries were and are as technologically advanced and modern as ours is after such a short period of time as an independent state? Israel, with the help of Jews everywhere, and especially in America-both in the present and the past, has become a success story which we are all very proud to be a part of.
Last Shabbat’s Torah portions were Aharei Mot-Kedoshim. These portions deal with great eternal moral lessons, such as not taking advantage of those around us, and conversely to help and love those around us. In Or Hadash we put emphasis on the famous Biblical verse says it all, “And you loved your friend like yourself”, and you embody within yourself the essence of how to be holy. In the spirit of 61 years of our independent state, we together pray for peace. A long awaited peace will only come when everyone of us will decide first of all to make peace within themselves with our families, and with our communities.
Peace will only come to us and to the entire world by this route. Following the same path, love will also flow: First from a feeling of peace within oneself, and then onto others. After all, it is with this with this internal peace- “Yourself”, that we can come to do great mitzvoth-“And you loved your friend”, which those who hold the feeling of love close to themselves will have no problem to do for those around them. Holding these values close, I believe that we will succeed in living in the State of Israel with a feeling of ethical and supreme holiness as its norm, and with the profound feeling of the rising spirit of love, and peace around us.
These are lessons that even the most moral of people must be reminded of every once in awhile. Therefore I think it fitting, after all this time of reflection and celebration, that we, the Jewish people, are brought back to the basics of what makes everyday life wonderful for us all.
1. Reflections of Or Hadash Board Member, Dr. Jesse Lachter on Visiting Lecturer Yossi Sarid (Former Israeli Minister of Education)
“The first lecturer in our new series of adult education at Or Hadash, which took place last Saturday, May 2nd, was decorated politician and writer, Yossi Sarid. Sarid, who is known for being a smary-aleck, was a member and eventually head of the Meretz political party, a long-term member of the highest committee in Israel for security and external affairs, and most recently, has become an established novelist and writer.
At the lecture Sarid spoke about his books, his new career as a writer, and current trends in the media and politics. He also spoke of his greatest influences, both popular and personal.
Accordingly, we felt very privileged at Or Hadash to be able to host a major thinker of our times, such as Sarid. While controversial in many of his opinions, Sarid has walked the halls of power in Israel, and gave us a peek into his rarely viewed world. Overall, it was a good shared experience for Or Hadash members, and all those who were in attendance representing the diverse community of Haifa.”
2. Yom HaZikaron Remembrance Day Ceremony
On the evening of Monday, April 27th, Or Hadash commemorated Israel’s fallen soldiers and innocent victims of terror attacks at an elaborate ceremony which took place in our synagogue. The ceremony was lead and performed by our youth group and community volunteers. During the ceremony, tribute was paid to those who have given their lives for Israel’s existence, and protection through music, poetry, and film. As is the tradition, this time of reflection and tribute came just before the next day’s widespread celebration of Israel’s independence. (See Pictures).
3. Preschool Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration
On Tuesday, April 28th, the Or Hadash preschools all gathered in our courtyard for their annual Yom Atzmaut celebration-which was my favorite of the week! There, the 65 children sang Israeli songs for the staff and cheered along with their teachers. Myself, and Ami Perelman also participated by singing playing songs on the guitar, and waving our Israeli flag for passersby to see and enjoy.
4. Yom HaAtzmaut Guests
Also last Tuesday, April 28th, we were delighted to welcome new friends Brian Grodman, and his daughter, Talia to our community for a morning visit. Brian and Talia are family of one of our past members, Steffi Herrnstadt (z’l), and Brian is the nephew of Jerry Haas, who is one of our overseas members. They were wonderful company, and are very dedicated Zionists. It was lovely, as always, to make a new connection with a new friend, especially one who is so committed to Israel, and to the Reform community.
5. Sunrise Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration
Again this year, we celebrated Yom HaAtzmaut with our traditional sunrise ceremony. On the morning of Wednesday, April 29th, Or Hadash members, staff, and friends, all rose before 5am to pray together at Defense Hill in Haifa, and to enjoy the first sunrise of Israel’s 61st year. There we also sang together, and concluded the service with a ceremonious blowing of the shofar.
Like the ancient Israelites, the sound of the ram’s horn let all those around know that a great change had occurred, and that this was no ordinary day by any means. We sang the songs of Israel’s pioneers, and enjoyed a modern Israeli tradition, barbequing. It was the end of a tiring week of activity and celebration at Or Hadash, nevertheless, it was a very worthwhile and spiritual experience.
6. Sunday, May 3rd Guests
On Sunday, May 3rd, we were very lucky to have two groups of lovely guests here at Or Hadash. The first were friends from our sister congregation, Beth David in Gladwyne PA, Ed and Susan Hoffman. Ed and Susan brought smiles to the faces of our Preschool children, as they helped us to celebrate the coming of the new week in our weekly Preschool Havdallah ceremony. I then enjoyed a lovely afternoon with Susan and Ed traveling around Haifa, and another Tuesday morning with them. Susan and Ed were also in attendance at our previous Kabbalat Shabbat services, and participated as part of our interfaith Bible study group. Needless to say, they added much to our great community, in such a short amount of time.
Our second guests were relatives of our good friends, Paul and Denny Finesilver. Sam Lazar visited us Sunday afternoon, to learn about the Or Hadash community, and to send their love from our loyal and long time friends Paul and Denny.
7. MARAM Progressive Rabbinical Council Meeting
On Wednesday, May 5th, I had the honor of speaking in front of the MARAM council for Progressive Rabbis in Israel, about my experiences working with older people in the community. As I see it, the elderly serve a great purpose in the community, and help us to keep an important link to our past. It was very important for me to get a friendly perspective from my Israeli colleagues on this subject, and to see how similar issues affect us all in the work that we do in our communities. Overall, it was a fulfilling and very interesting experience.
In summary, we had a very productive two weeks of celebrating and activities with visitors and members, here at Or Hadash, and we wish you all a peaceful Shabbat Shalom from Haifa.
Sincerely Yours,
Rabbi Edgar Nof