Masorti Olami

YOM HAATZMAUT SHABATON - Third Visit by Rabbi Juan Mejía.

It was with great joy that we celebrated Yom Haatzmaut, the  61st anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, in our community dressed in appropriate festivity attire. Over the weekend we also had the honor of receiving the continued support of FJMC and the third visit of Rabbi Juan Mejia from the USA, who always takes the opportunity to share lots of information and teachings with us.
We started the Shabaton with  Kabalat Shabat officiated by Rabbi Mejia, with whom we also had a great community Kiddush, which ended with the Birkat Hamazon. 
Rejoiced with this visit, our Synagogue demonstrated its appreciation with a large attendance and  a Minian of male members during   Kabalat Shabat. 
Due to the absence of a Minian for Shacharit, the Rabbi addressed the T'fila and explained the Parashat Hashavua with the Chumash.
During the Seudá  the Rabbi elaborated on various religious themes, Halacha and current issues, imparting a lot of topic content and knowledge. 
On Saturday night, the Community provided a wonderful feast for Yom Haatzmaut - at no cost - which was a very significant financial investment from the community funds. This festivity was attended by more than 60 people. 
After Havdala, where Rabbi Mejia had special help from many children, we heard the words of the President of the Community, and then we sang with great emotion the  Hatikva while the Yeladeinu children entered the classroom in a single file carrying candles and flags of Israel. We then let the music play and danced Israeli dances, and we even had a raffle of a beautiful jewel as the prize.
Our thanks go to those who organized this event with their ability, creativity, work, tenacity and good will, which made the event a total success. We like to mention particularly Patricia Winner and her kind husband Alejandro, who decorated the event hall with Israeli flags and bicolor balloons, and impressed us with a beautiful and large sculpture made of blue and white balloons in the form of the number 61. Also to Alain, who diligently took care of every detail in installing the music system and then playing Israeli music.

Our thanks go to our members and friends for their assistance, both at the Synagogue and the event hall, which made possible this beautiful celebration. 
And last but not least, our most sincere and respectful gratitude to Rabbi Juan Mejia, who put many hours of flight time for a very short stay in Alicante, to Rabbi Charles Simon and the FJMC, which without them this beautiful and instructive Shabaton would not have been successful.