Maayane Or in Nice Dedicates New Home

On Sunday, February 4 (16 Shvat 5767) Kehilat Maayane Or in Nice, France dedicated its new synagogue building.  Rabbi Chaim Weiner, Director of the European Beit Din and Masorti Europe, reported that over 300 people attended the dedication, including wide representation from the Jewish and local non-Jewish community. Rabbi Weiner writes, “It was a real milestone in the growth of the community and something that certainly put Masorti solidly on the map.”

Maayane Or had been renting space since it was founded ten years ago. The kehillah’s growth and development is contributed to its dedicated lay leaders, talented rabbi, Rabbi Yeshaya Dalsace, and to the guidance of Rabbi Charles Simon, Executive Director of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, who was instrumental in Maayane Or’s creation.

Rabbi Yechaya Dalsace speaking at dedication

For the first four years Kabbalat Shabbat services were regularly led by dedicated lay leaders including Ariane Sotto and Eric El Kaim. Drashot (sermons) were given by Sergio Wax, Jo?le Karchen, Marie Anne Meyer, and Joanna Kubar. Kubar, President of Maayane Or from 2001-2006, states, “Without the dedication of members and their skills there would simply not be a Masorti community in Nice.”

At the beginning, the congregation was served by visiting rabbis from the Jewish Theological Seminary including Rabbi Jennifer Tobenstein. Rabbi Yeshaya Dalsace, a native of France and a graduate of the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem (now called the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary) has served the congregation since 2001. His dedication, enthusiasm and vision has helped the congregation develop to where it is today.

Director of Masorti Europe Rabbi Chaim Weiner (in beige jacket) sitting next to Rabbi Charles Simon (Director Federation of Jewish Men's Club) at dedication

Sergio Wax, first president of Maayane Or, adds, “Maayanne Or owes its existence not to individuals, whatever merit each of us may have, but to some truly miraculous coincidences that allowed us to develop in spite of abandons and schisms, now happily forgotten; to the invaluable help and support of the Masorti / Conservative Movement, above all Rabbi Charles Simon, and finally to the collective work of those who, from the very beginning, believed in what they were trying to build and resisted adversities. Without worshippers no congregation exists. No individual is better than any other. Each congregant is equally responsible for our success and is the stone on which we shall build our future. Our future has no names, but deeds.”

Maayane Or is one of three Conservative congregations in France. The other two kehillot, Adath Shalom West and Adath Shalom Est, are located in Paris. A new group is now forming in Aix en Provence (see article below). Maayane Or is active in the development of the Masorti Europe Regional Council.

For more information about Maayane Or visit  www.massorti-nice.com or contact massorti@wanadoo.fr

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By David Itkin, Massorti Aix en Provence

A small group of interested people gathered at a variety of events held in the last few months in the name of Massorti Aix en Provence.

After an initial round table with Rabbi Dalsace in June 2006, an association was officially registered with the authorities in September 2006 and since then we have held a few events with the support of the cultural centre linked to the established synagogue in Aix.

Events included a conference with Rabbi Dalsace (rabbi of Maayane Or in Nice), a successful and cozy Shabbat dinner with nearly 80 people, a guided visit of “Jewish Aix” , a lecture on Israel / Palestinian / International peace negotiations with Professor Benhayoun and a Torah study evening with Professor Robberechts.

We keep up regular contact with Masorti kehillot in Paris and Nice and publish a monthly newsletter in French to keep everyone informed.

On January 26 (Parshat Bo) we had our first full Shabbat with Rabbi Dalsace and his wife and children who came to Aix to lead a service on Friday evening followed by our second Shabbat dinner, and on Saturday a regular service followed by lunch and discussions. There was a great spirit and plenty of encouragement. We enjoyed a spiritual and moving service, learning about the Shabbat and the meaning of the prayers. The beautiful singing of the parsha, led by our local friend and experienced reader Edouard was enjoyed by all. An Israeli woman and employee of the Isreali Consul,  Zivi,  also sang beautifully and added that special and appreciated Massorti “female voice” to the Shabbat. The large group of youngsters enjoyed themselves, meeting new friends and playing together with the two experienced scout leaders who were specially on hand to help. A big thank you to Rabbi Dalsace and his family for spending the weekend with us and, of course, thanks to Maayne Or for sharing him with us.

Our short term plans are to continue a mix of social events interspersed with religious services, increasing our numbers, collecting funds locally, nationally and internationally.  Our long term plans are to have enough people to warrant a part-time rabbi, a small synagogue and centre for children incorporating a library, Talmud Torah as well as study groups.

We hope with our determination and the superb support given by Nice and Paris that in the years to come we’ll manage to develop a small community in Aix that Masorti will be proud of.

For more information, contact David Itkin at: massorti@free.fr

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By Gafna Foltynova, Coordinator of Masorti Czech Republic

We had a very successful weekend with multiple events that took place on February 2-4, Tu B’shvat and Shabbat Shira. We hosted close to 30 representatives of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Although we had only two days to prepare for their visit (it was very last minute due to a change in the group’s itinerary), the community did a tremendous job pulling together all the necessary preparations. The Conference participants joined us for a lovely and welcoming Tu B’Shvat Kabbalat Shabbat as well as a multi-denominational Bejt Simcha (Reform) and Masorti Shacharit in the Pinkas Synagogue led by Rabbi Ron Hoffberg with wonderful Torah reading for “Shabbat Shira” with Rabbi Dushinsky.

On Sunday, February 4th  members of our kehillah along with Rabbi Ron Hoffberg visited elderly people in the Charles Jordan Old Age home. The elderly people were obviously excited by our members who spent time talking to them, listening to their stories and singing with them. It was incredibly important for them that a rabbi came to visit them. We were all touched by the effect our visit had on the residents and we left with a warm feeling of having done something valuable for the clients of the old age home. We made the decision to turn these visits into a monthly event and are planning to return next around Purim time.

 
Another exciting event that took place in February was our Challah baking workshop when we uncovered Mariana’s special challah secret. The delicious products of the workshop were tasted at Kabbalat Shabbat the next day.

Multi-talented Rabbi Ron Hoffberg adds challah baking to his skills.

Please visit our kehillah’s new web site www.masorti.cz, created by members Jakub Pizinger and Martin Ho??nek. We wish to thank them for their effort provided as a service to our community. A huge yasher koach! The English version of the web shall appear shortly.

If you are planning to visit Prague, please let us know. Write to info@masorti.cz

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The Midreshet Yerushalayim Masorti Educational Cultural Center, established one year ago in January 2006, endeavors to facilitate the revival of Jewish communal life in Kiev through educational programming.  Diana Gold is the Director of community programs at the Center. Some 150 people per week, young and old, attend the following  activities offered at the Center (usually given weekly): Family Sunday school, Marom Student Movement (twice weekly for discussions on contemporary Jewish topics), Jewish Drama club, Hebrew Ulpan (beginners and advanced, twice weekly), Jewish Song club, Israeli Dance club, Jewish Literature and Poetry Club (monthly), Beit-Midrash (on the weekly Torah portion), Kabbalat Shabbat, Havdalah ceremony, Movie club (a Jewish cinemateque following Havdalah), and Holiday Arts and Crafts Workshops.

This year, several new programs are being offered including a workshop on Jewish tradition for parents and toddlers, Jewish Studies classes on an academic level for Sunday school instructors and community members, a Young Couples Club where newlyweds (or soon-to-be-married couples) learn what is a Jewish home and a Jewish family, interfaith educational discussions on the Holocaust Seminars for Catholic and Jewish high-school and college students as well as Staff Training Seminars. Two Shabbatonim (retreats) for high school youth and young adults are taking place in March and include experiencing a Shabbat together, discussions and informal educational activities.  

The Midreshet Yerushalayim ArmonCommunity Sunday School at the Center focuses  on Jewish history and tradition, and is geared to all family members. Presently 95 people attend. Informal activities include family Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations, bar/bat-mitzvah ceremonies, and celebrations of Jewish holidays (recently, a Tu B’Shvat Seder was held). Participants study Jewish texts, Jewish values, Jewish songs and dances, and Jewish literature. The school principal is Julia Ardo.

Midreshet Yerushalyim is affiliated with the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and sponsors Jewish education in the Ukraine and Hungary and for Russian speaking Jews in Israel. Midreshet Yerushalayim and Masorti Olami cooperate on developing and supporting religious and informal educational programs in Ukraine.

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