Masorti Olami

September, 2003 – Elul, 5763 By Judy Dvorak Gray New Year Message from Rabbi Alan Silverstein, President of World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues – Masorti Olami Dear Friends, As we conclude 5763, it is time to reflect upon all of the sacred work which we have achieved during the past year. We have substantially grown the Masorti World Movement in Europe, the FSU, Latin America, Africa and Asia. We have welcomed numerous additional kehillot into our ranks. We have delivered Sifrei Torah, Siddurim, and Humashim to emerging congregations. We have been privileged to expand the number of rabbinical students training for pulpits in these Diaspora communities. We have increased the breadth of our MAROM (young adult leadership), NOAM (youth movement) and RAMAH campimg activities in more than a dozen countries. We have had the joy of watching the impact of our Masorti Volunteer Corp delegates capably serving and inspiring those they serve. We have welcomed many Jews By Choice into the ranks of Am Yisrael We have organized numerous Birthright Israel trips for young men and women from many lands. We have visited and built friendships across the globe. We have witnessed the launching of the Masorti Lehrhaus in Berlin, the welcoming of the first alumnus of JTS' Project Judaica into rabbinic training, the growth of the Pedagogium of the Budapest Seminary, and offered hizzuk to the Seminario in Buenos Aires. And we have done much more. In 5764 may we be privileged to further this avodat kodesh in health, joy and fulfillment. Shana tova u'metukah, Rabbi Alan Silverstein, Ph.D. ________________________________________ Camp NOAM Argentina Reported by Daniela Kuzis Yakin, shlicha to Argentina and the leadership of NOAM Argentina We are excited to report that we are working very hard on the logistics and programming for our summer camp which will take place from December 20th to December 29th at camps which are located near the Atlantic coast, about 5 hours from Buenos Aires. Camp NOAM Argentina is a special moment for each chaver/a because the Jewish tradition and culture are the foundation of the camp experience. In this unique and welcoming movement, made up of 17 different Conservative kehillot, campers and counselors are challenged to grow personally and spiritually in everything they do. This experience creates indelible impressions that build Jewish identity and instill Jewish pride. We are planning – like we do every year- a quality Jewish camp, not simply a camp where Jews congregate. As everyone knows Camp NOAM is one of the three principle means of instilling Jewish identification and affiliation in our young members. (The other two are trips to Israel and our Zionist and Jewish informal education). This summer close to 2,000 campers and 400 staff members will participate in the different programs at camp. Hopefully it will be a big success! ________________________________________ Editor's Note: World Council Board of Director member Gloria Landy provides outstanding leadership for the World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues as a representative of an NGO (non-governmental organization) in the anti-Israel environment of the United Nations. We are indebted to her as well as to co-chair, Judy Horowitz, for their important contribution. World Council Board Member Participates in Successful UN Conference Board member, Gloria Landy, represented World Council of Conservative/ Masorti Synagogues at the 56th Annual Department of Public Information/Non Government Organizations Conference entitled “Human Security and Dignity: Fulfilling the Promise of the United Nations” which took place on September 8-10. The Conference represents a forum at which civil society and the United Nations can examine human security and dignity in their broader aspects, beyond national, military definitions. Over 2000 people were in attendance. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, Jan Kavan, President of the Fifty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Chair of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations with Civil Society are among the dignitaries who addressed the opening sesion of the conference. The closing session feautred Sadako Ogata, Co-Chair of the Commission on Human Security and former United Nations High Commsion for Refugess. Additional information about the conference including the text of speeches can be found at: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/56conf.htm Gloria Landy served as chairperson of the Registration Committee and as a member of the Planning Committee for the conference. Gloria writes, “We had a very successful workshop put on by Hadassah, and an excellent and successful one put on by Jewish National Fund about water, this being the UN year of water. The JNF was instrumental in delivering two beautiful arrangements of flowers from Israel which flanked our dais on Tuesday and Wednesday and which appeared prominently as part of our closing wine and cheese tasting party on the Esplanade of the UN.” Judy Horowitz was part of the reception committee and also one of the co-chairs of a session where attendees gathered together to share their thoughts on the conference. ________________________________________ French Sim Shalom Siddur The first copies of the French edition of the siddur Sim Shalom have been distributed to Kehillat Maayane Or in Nice. Other copies will be distributed to Masorti kehillot in Nancy and Paris later this month. The siddur includes Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv services, along with Friday night home rituals. This is the second installment of the siddur; the first included mincha and ma’ariv b’chol. Special thanks and yasher koach to Rabbis Lenny Cahan, Rivon Krygier, Yeshaya Dalsace, Aubrey Glazer and Chuck Simon who have been instrumental in making this siddur possible. ________________________________________ Bar Mitzvah Eli GrossmanTwins with Camp Ramah Yachad, Ukraine Eli Grossman is an eighth grade student at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, New Jersey. Like many kids his age, Eli enjoys basketball, hip-hop dancing, video games, and Instant Messaging his friends. However, Eli is far from a typical thirteen year old. Thanks to Eli’s efforts, the campers at Camp Ramah Yachad in Ukraine received t-shirts with the camp logo this summer. Eli became a Bar Mitzvah on September 13th at Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck, New Jersey. When searching for a Bar Mitzvah project, he wanted to find something to which he felt personally connected. A camper for three summers at Camp Ramah Berkshires and previously, for six summers at Ramah Nyack, Eli is a strong advocate of Jewish camping. Eli’s parents, Adina Avery-Grossman and Harman Grossman (also Ramah Berkshires alumni), explain the reason behind the twinning project. “Eli loves camp and wishes it were 10 months of the year. We talked about the fact that in places like the Ukraine there is a great need to help Jewish kids learn more about Judaism in a fun, hands-on way. Eli liked the idea of helping to support this effort in some way. Coincidentally, Eli’s great-grandparents were from Kiev. Great-grandfather Eliezer, for whom Eli is named, lived in the outskirts of Kiev before fleeing to the U.S. in the early 1900’s.” Eli donated $1,500 for the t-shirt project. A portion of the money he received as gifts, but the rest of the funds were earned from babysitting. The campers and staff at Camp Ramah Yachad were touched by Eli’s concern and generosity. Gila Katz, director of Camp Ramah Yachad, sent Eli a tallit that was made by Ramah Yachad campers to show their appreciation. Eli looks forward to continuing his connection with the camp by becoming pen pals with Ramah Yachad campers this year. He hopes one day to visit the camp in Ukraine. We’re sure his great-grandparents would be very proud. Mazal Tov Eli and thank you! A personal connection with Masorti Jews around the world can be especially meaningful to our youth. We are happy to share other suggestions for Bar/Bat Mitzvah twinning projects. For ideas, please be in touch with our office: mail@masortiolami.org Camp Ramah Yachad is sponsored by Midreshet Yerushalyim (of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies), the Ben Teitel Charitable Trust, the Jewish Agency and Masorti Olami. ________________________________________ Todah Rabbah to 5763 Chayl Masorti Volunteers A special thank you to our very special Chayl Masorti volunteers for 5763: Jordan Litt, served as Marom fieldworker to Assembly of Masorti Synagogues (AMS), United Kingdom. Jordan worked with university students, provided educational programs, organized Shabbat dinners for students and served as the liasion between the universities and kehillot. Rebecca and Eytan Hammerman served Congragation Bet El in Madrid, Spain. Thanks to their efforts, the kehillah flourished. Eytan and Rebecca were involved in helping new members from Argentina adjust to their new home, teaching Hebrew, t’fillah, organizing family programs and in starting NOAM (youth group) and Marom (young adults) and more. Carmiel Frutkoff, Rebecca Sullum and Tamar Ettun are completing their shlichut to Melbourne, Australia in November. They are an integral part of the informal Jewish education program at Bialik College and share their talents with Kehillat Nitzan as well. We wish these special Chayl Masorti volunteers success in their endeavors and look forward to their contribution as future leaders of the Masorti Movement! Shalom from Tokyo--Irasshai! Rabbi Henri Noach, a graduate of the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies and a member of the Rabbinical Assembly, is currently serving as rabbi of the Jewish Community of Tokyo, Japan. This is the only synagogue in Tokyo and it provides for the religious, educational, and social needs of its members who are from all religious streams. Rabbinical Assembly members Rabbi Marvin Tokayer and Rabbi Jim Lebeau have also served this community in the past. You can learn more about the Jewish community of Tokyo on their web site: www.jccjapan.or.jp Find a kosher mini-market or a kosher fish list for sushi! Especially interesting reading is Rabbi Noach’s message on “Zionism as a Jewish Religious Value: The Meaning of Repentance on a National Scale”. This article, the first in a new series of articles by Rabbi Noach, is to be published by Myrtos in Japanese translation. Just think…an Israeli Conservative rabbi writing about Zionism from Tokyo with a translation to Japanese…Herzl would be very proud! ________________________________________ New Year – New Kehillah—Almere, Netherlands “Joodse Gemeenschap Flevoland”, our new kehillah in Almere, Netherlands is grateful for the assistance it has received by members of the Masorti movement to help them organize for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Rabbi Joe Wernik met with Mr. Bernhard Cohen and Mr. Maurice Krant, two members of the Almere Jewish community, in August and discussed their needs for the high holidays. Masorti Olami helped to arrange machzorim and a Sefer Torah for our new affiliates. Rabbi Stephen Weiss and members from Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Pepper Pike, Ohio generously supplied machzorim as a gift to the young kehillah. Rabbi Chaim Weiner and members of New London Synagogue lent a Torah to Almere for the high holidays. Mr. S. Bernhard Cohen, chairman of the kehillah, wrote the following to the two congregations: “We want to thank you very much for the tremendous help in starting our kehillah in Almere Holland. In our brand new city, 25 years old with about 160,000 inhabitants, we have about 60 Jewish people who are willing to build up a Kehillah. Our city is fast growing with about 3000 new houses every year, and we hope our Kehillah will grow with it. During our first service on the first day of Rosh Hashana, our chazan will a say a Mi Sheberach for your kehillah… We wish all of you a Shana tova and Chatima tova— Yours sincerely, Bernhard Cohen, Chairman (For more information, visit the kehillah web site: http://www.jgf.almerenet.nl ) ________________________________________ Shana Tova from Prague Rabbi Ron Hoffberg from Masorti Czech Republic reported an excellent turnout for Rosh Hashanah services in Prague Masorti/Conservative Community. The first evening of Rosh Hashanah was followed by a community dinner enjoyed by all. The community also got together for a tashlich ceremony on the second day of Rosh Hashanah joined by Marom Prague members. The community is looking forward to being together again on Yom Kippur. ________________________________________ Masorti in the News: Spanish Rebirth Rebecca and Eytan Hammerman returned to the U.S. this summer from serving as Chayl Masorti volunteers in Congregation Bet El in Madrid, Spain last year. Below is a letter that they wrote to the editor of the Jewish Times in response to an article printed on August 8. Spanish Rebirth We wholly sympathized with editorial intern Danny Jacobs' Aug. 8 column "Ham and Chips," recounting his family visit to the Iberian Peninsula. Indeed, American visitors to Spain are immediately struck by the amount of chazer for sale in every supermercado, cervecer"a and bodega. While Spain, cuisine aside, is known for a rich Jewish past, current developments in its small Jewish community are nothing short of historic. Unfortunately, Mr. Jacobs and his family missed witnessing the historical return of many hundreds of Jewish families to the Iberian Peninsula. As the economy of Argentina collapsed, many thousands of families decided to go to Israel, the United States and even pig-loving Spain. In Madrid, Congregaci°n Bet El, a Masorti (Conservative) synagogue, has absorbed more than 100 Argentine families. While this fledgling community cannot begin to re-create the strong Jewish environment from which these families have come, they are doing their best. Hebrew classes, youth groups, programming for young couples and psychological counseling are offered, free of charge, to new immigrants. Having spent this past year in Spain, volunteering on behalf of the Masorti movement, we were pleased to greet Jews from around the world as they saw the burgeoning (re)growth of the Spanish Jewish community. Mr. Jacobs and family would be most welcome on their next trip to Spain. Eytan and Rebecca Hammerman Washington, D.C. ________________________________________ The Spirit of Young Leadership: Camp NOAM UK Editor’s note: Although we are in the midst of Tishrei holidays and the summer seems like it was a long time ago, I felt it was still worthwhile to include this letter from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg about his experiences with the staff at Camp NOAM UK in July. Dear Community, At the beginning of the week I went up to the Peak District to participate for a day in NOAM's pre-camp...Pre-camp is where NOAM leaders do their final, detailed planning of the Jewish content of the various camps, including which texts to teach and what songs to sing. But it is at the same time much more than that: It is a serious and sustained opportunity for over sixty young leaders in the Masorti Movement to engage intensely with their Judaism. Under the leadership of NOAM's professional team Rachel Sklan, Claudia Waller and Nick Shlagman, with the support of many others and with huge enthusiasm, this is exactly what they did. There was passionate debate about essential Jewish issues, intense and sharp engagement with Jewish texts, and melody and fervour in prayer. There was a great respect for Jewish knowledge. Everything was conducted in an atmosphere of inclusion, encouragement and very good humour. At the session which summed up the pre-camp, one person after another spoke of how wonderful the Shabbat had been and of what the most important moments were for them. Rachel Sklan, Mazkirah of NOAM, said that beyond everything there was a sense of the love that NOAM generated. Rabbi Joel Levy wept as he tried to get out the words that Judaism is not taught but caught; he wept because he really understood the depth of achievement represented by that pre-camp. Here are the engagement, passion and love from which our young people, and all of us, will catch the spirit of Judaism. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg Marom 5764 Marom activities for 5764 are just getting off the ground. This year Marom activities will take place in Argentina, Chile, Czech Republic, England, France, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Spain, Ukraine and Uruguay. We look forward to hearing about Marom activities and reporting them to you during the year. For more information about Marom, contact Udi Givon, Director of Marom Olami at maromorg@zahav.net.il ________________________________________ First Oleh Chadash (new immigrant) of 5764 Marom, Masorti Olami and MERCAZ Olami are proud to welcome Roman Stamrov, our very first oleh chadash of this new year. Roman arrived in Israel on the eve of Rosh Hashana and will begin his absorption at a mercaz klita (absorption center) in Jerusalem. Roman was born in Simferopol, Ukraine in 1974 and studied at Sevastopol State Technical University. From 1997 to 1999 he studied at the Reform Machon. Prior to making aliyah, Roman worked in Simferopol as a coordinator of communal work. Roman participated in Marom seminars and was a counselor at Camp Ramah Yachad Ukraine for the past two summers. This year he will learn Hebrew in an intensive ulpan and study at Midreshet Yerushalayim at Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. His goal is to study for the rabbinate and help to serve our Masorti kehillot in Ukraine. We wish Roman a smooth absorption in Israel – Baruch Ha’ba! ________________________________________ Hachshara Bet El Mexico A group of fourteen high school graduates from Bet El, Mexico City arrived in Israel in August for a six month program called “Hachshara Bet El”. In addition to volunteering on Kibbutz Kinneret in the Galilee and participating in the Israel Defense Force “Marva” program, the group is participating in a number of seminars arranged by Marom. The first took place on Shabbat Nitzavim, Sept. 19-20 in Jerusalem. Rabbi Claudia Kreinman, rabbi of NOAM Israel, taught about the meaning and significance of the high holidays. Shabbat included a walk to the Kotel. The next seminar will take place this week in Eilat. The connection to Marom and the Hachshara program was initiated by Rabbi Leonel Levy, assistant rabbi of Bet El. Sebastian Oswoski is the program’s coordinator. ________________________________________ “KELIM” – UK Marom Members Learn Tools to Study by Clare Hedwat, Marom Coordinator UK Seven participants enjoyed a brilliant program at the Conservative yeshiva in Jerusalem for a month of study and orientation around Israel. For the first week, students learned with Rabbi Joel Levy, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Matt Plen and Dina Pinner on the subject of “forgiveness and reconciliation.” We also had an evening ulpan at various caf?s and had everyone go through the frightening ordeal of ordering in Hebrew. Following this, students enjoyed study at the yeshiva, including Talmud study, chumash and an intense morning Ulpan. The program also included a trip to Neve Shalom, the Jewish Palestinian village, which gave the participants much to think about. It also included fun touring such as a visit to “Mini-Israel”. Additionally, students paid a visit to “Elul”, an institution that attempts to bring together secular and religious Jews to learn the same texts. Our Kelim participants greatly enjoyed being in Israel and the experience of learning and living in Jerusalem. ________________________________________ NOAM Bogrim Seminar in Israel by Avigail Ben Aryeh, Masorti shlicha to UK On June 22nd, 25 NOAM Bogrim departed London Heathrow for a Zionism seminar in Israel. The group arrived in Jerusalem at 6:30 in the morning where we said Shahecheyanu overlooking the Old City. Our time in Jerusalem was inspiring. We internalized the atmosphere in Jerusalem through our visit to the Kotel and to the new tourist centre at the Southern Wall excavations. We took an evening walk through Rechavia with Matt Plen and had a wonderful time at Beit Ticho with NOAM Bogrim who made aliyah. We intensely discussed Zionism and what it means to us and to Diaspora and triggered ourselves with a visit to Ein Karem Hadassah hospital to talk about the hospital’s very unique relationship with the Arab community and the staff’s frustration and difficulties with the constant care of patients from the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem. Our days were full and engaging and then we took the long and familiar drive down to the beloved Kibbutz Ketura where the rest of our seminar took place. At Keturah, we were involved in internal NOAM conversations about our Pillar of Zionism within the movement and as well as some hiking in the Arava. The conversations were very worthwhile, provocative and intense and on the whole, the seminar moved everyone! We spent our last evening drumming in a Bedouin tent. We were all relaxed in the warmth of the desert air and had the most phenomenal mouth-watering meal, which is always a positive way to end! We thank Marom Olami and the Hagshama Department of the WZO for all the support in order to make this seminar happen – TODAH! Masorti Olami Board of Directors to Meet November 10 in Jerusalem In conjunction with the Zionist General Council (Vaad Ha’poel) of the World Zionist Organization, Jewish Agency Assembly, UJC General Assembly and Board of Governors that will all take place in November in Jerusalem, there will be a meeting of the Board of Directors of World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues—Masorti Olami— on Monday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. If you are interested in attending, please contact our office: mail@masortiolami.org For information about Vaad Ha’poel and the JAFI Assembly, visit our web site: http://www.masortiworld.com/mercaz/vaad-hapoel.htm ________________________________________ European Rabbinical Assembly Meeting in Hungary The European Rabbinical Assembly will meet in Budapest, Hungary from Monday, December 8 to Wednesday, December 10. For more information and a schedule of events, please contact Rabbi Joel Meyers: jmeyers@rabbinicalassembly.org ________________________________________ Join the World Wide Wrap on February 1 Have you wrapped lately? Masorti Olami joins the Federation of Jewish Mens’ Clubs participating in the World Wide Wrap. The World Wide Wrap, now entering its fourth year, is a project initiated by the FJMC in order to promote tefillin awarness and usage. Last year, more than 30,000 people representing nearly 400 congregations across the globe in Conservative/Masorti congregations registered on line and participated in this program. This year the World Wide Wrap will take place on February 1, 2004. Congregations are encouraged to twin with one another for this event. For further information go to the website: http://www.worldwidewrap.org (the website includes a Spanish translation) ________________________________________ Assembly of Masorti Synagogues (UK) “Continuing the Quest” November 23 The next session in the “Continuing the Quest” seminar will take place on Sunday, November 23, from 2:15 to 6:00 p.m. at New North London Synagogue, The Manor House, 80 East End Road, London. The seminar, entitled "Must I…….?" , will focus on the obligations of a Masorti Jew. The program promises to be an exciting one featuring an afternoon of discussion and debate with keynote lecture by Rabbi Professor Elliot Dorff, Rector and Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism, Los Angeles. The afternoon will include workshops on Disability, Kashrut and Mikveh, led by our rabbis and other educators of our movement. ________________________________________ NOAM UK Conference in Israel in December NOAM UK has arranged to hold their annual Veida (conference) in Israel which will take place from December 17-25. This is a very exciting development confirming NOAM UK’s support for Israel. The NOAM team have been busy organizing the logistics and we look forward to seeing them in Jerusalem.