Working With B’nei Anusim in Lisbon
"Masorti Olami has begun building bridges with the Anusim (Crypto-Jews) community in Lisbon. Rabbi Joe Wernik met with the group in May and Rabbi Chaim Weiner, Director of the European Beit Din, also visited in order to meet the group and build an appropriate curriculum to guide them in their studies. The community has officially registered as "Comunidade Judaica Masorti Beit Israel", the first non-Orthodox kehillah in Portugal.
Studying with the Harlows
Rabbi Jules Harlow (standing second from left)
Navah Harlow (sitting third from left)
|
Rabbi Jules and Navah Harlow traveled to Lisbon in September to teach this special group of individuals. Their visit was made possible by funding from the World Zionist Organization Pluralistic Religious Services allocation.
Below are excerpts from a letter sent from the Harlows to Rabbi Joe Wernik, Executive vice-president of Masorti Olami:
Dear Joe,
When you asked us to go to Lisbon in September to meet with, teach, and assess the needs of this community, we had no idea what to expect. We now thank you for having given us the privilege of spending twelve days with this group of people who are passionate in their desire to become Jews halakhically. It was a truly inspiring experience.
We arrived on a Tuesday morning, to be greeted at the airport by Marco Moreyra, the interim chairman of this community, and his wife Anabela. After getting installed in our hotel, we met over lunch with them and several other members of the community, to plan for the coming days.
The members meet in space rented from an Ashkenazi synagogue, Ohel Yaakov, in a dilapidated building that certainly would be condemned by U.S. standards. After climbing a rickety staircase in a dimly lit hallway, we entered the modest space on the second floor. It is spotless. The group recently had painted the interior rooms, which they use.
One room is a Beit Knesset with seating to accommodate 25–30. The aron kodesh (ark) contains seven or eight Sifrei Torah that are the property of Ohel Yaakov Congregation, Members of that congregation brought them from Eastern Europe as they fled the Shoah. Although Ohel Yaakov congregation has dwindled to only a few people, they are still incorporated. The children and grandchildren of the founders have a deep emotional attachment to “the concept” of the congregation. We were told that they hold services there only two times a year, one of which is Kol Nidrei.
There are also a kitchen, a bathroom, and a center room with a large table that they use as a Beit Midrash. This is where we held our classes.
There was great excitement when we met on the first night at 7:00 PM. After appropriate introductions and a short conversation, Jules outlined what he hoped to accomplish with them during the next two weeks. They were like sponges, ready to absorb everything. Notebooks were opened, pencils poised.
And so we began our twelve days with this remarkable group. They came every evening even though they work or attend classes during the day. Some of them had to travel over one hour each way. We studied from 7:00 to 10:00, and sometimes till 10:30 or 11:00 p.m….
They describe themselves as “survivors ---survivors of the Inquisition”. Each one has a story to tell, and we heard them over the course of our meetings with them. Each story is different but each has a common theme, and that is an almost mystical connection to Judaism that links them to their ancestors during the time of the Inquisition. They consider themselves to be Jews, but understand that they must go through a conversion process in order to be accepted halakhically.
After three nights of intense learning together and candid, sometimes painful, conversations, we felt that we truly had come together almost as a family. That feeling was borne out on Friday night.
Jules had been teaching from the prayer book, starting with kriat sh’ma and its blessings, emphasizing structure and themes as well as specific content, what they mean and “how to pray.” They wanted to know details, asking, for example, “When do we stand? Why? When do we bow? How?”
On Friday night, Jules told them that he would daven first, by himself since they did not comprise a minyan, not being Jews. They respected that. He then led them in a learner’s service, including explanations and instructions. Also, they could interrupt with questions.
We taught them traditional melodies, and to our pleasant surprise they could join in with the Hebrew of Yedid Nefesh, L’kha Dodi, and Hodu Ladonai, Yigdal, and Adon Olam. We also taught a Carlebach melody for one of the Kabbalat Shabbat psalms, shiru ladonai shir chadash. They really got into it when, after we had sung it, Navah spontaneously led everyone in a line dance through the rooms of their space and then back to the Beit Knesset. They were enraptured.
The communal potluck dinner was the first time they had ever eaten together as a community. Several of the women brought vegetarian dishes that they had prepared at home. We presented them with a challah cover that we had brought as a gift to them.
They were very moved by this, declaring that this was the beginning of their collection of ritual objects. There is one bakery in Lisbon that bakes challah every Friday under the hashgakhah of the Orthodox rabbi.
Jules made Kiddush (we had brought along a Kiddush cup.) This was followed by n’tilat yadayim and hamotzi. They knew about all of this, and in fact, some of them include them in their meals at their homes. However, they didn’t know a melody for Kiddush, or why we don’t talk before hamotzi after n’tilat yadayim¸ why we shake salt on the challah, why there are two challot, why we remove knives before Birkhat Hamazon. They were mesmerized. They always wanted to know more. Navah told them that in our home no one gets dessert without singing zemirot. She taught some easy tunes and they all participated with enthusiasm.
At the conclusion of the meal, they all implored, “Can we do this again next Shabbat?” We were delighted, and the following Friday night was even more special, because they anticipated what was coming with great joy.
When we met for Havdalah they were proud that they had the words on a printed card, and that many of them knew the words. They never had heard it chanted before. We suggested that the lights be turned out, and we sang Eliyahu Hanavi with them. We stood in a circle by candlelight and taught them how to sing shavua tov. It was truly very moving, to experience havdalah through their eyes. After havdalah they asked us to write the words of Eliyahu Hanavi on their chalkboard. They loved singing it.
As a reward for the first week of intense learning we decided to invite them to be our guests for an evening out together Saturday night. They suggested Fado music and a fish dinner. What fun we had and what shared memories we created together.
We suggested that they take a day off on Sunday. They vehemently refused. “As long as you are here, we have an opportunity to learn so much.” And so after a late night out, we re-convened the next day at 5:00 PM for our three-hour session. Since it was Sunday they didn’t have to go to work and could meet earlier. The tempo of the following week was the same as the first. Each night we met for three to three and one half hours.
Jules began to teach themes and structure for the liturgy of the Yamim Noraim. He emphasized the section of Selichot on Yom Kippur as well as the shlosh esreh middot. We decided together that after havdalah the next Saturday night we would daven together at a Selichot service. And so it was. When we parted that final night, the group promised that they would continue to meet for Kabbalat Shabbat and Havdalah. But, they asked, “How can we do it without you?” We said we would make a tape that would guide them in the service, with the melodies and instructions. Then they added, “but please include all of the songs you taught us and the melody for Birkhat Hamazon, Havdalah, and Eliyahu Hanavi. “ We promised to do all of that, and told them that we would give them an exam on our next visit. They said that they would make CD’s from our tape to distribute to each member of the community, and that they would all study hard to be ready for the exam. (We sent them the tape shortly after our return to New York.) We left Lisbon the following morning at 6:00 AM. It was hard to leave them.
They are all waiting to convert and are delighted that the Masorti Olami movement has taken their cause to heart. They told of many people coming through Lisbon who listened to their stories and never bothered to contact them again. We promised them that this would not happen with us. We said that a commitment has been made to assist them on their road to becoming Jews…
B'vracha,
Rabbi Jules and Navah Harlow
editor's note: The Harlows will be returning to Lisbon in December to continue their teaching. We thank Rabbi Adrian Gottfried from Comunidade Shalom in Sao Paulo, Brazil for sending Portuguese/Hebrew siddurim to the kehillah. The congregation is in need of tallitot and tefillin as well as other ritual objects. If you would like to make a donation, please contact our office: mail@masortiolami.org
Back
to top
High Holidays 5766 in Alicante, Spain
By Rabbi Carlos A. Tapiero
Below are excerpts from Rabbi Tapiero's report on his visit to Alicante for the High Holidays. His visit was made possible through support from the WZO Pluralistic Religious Services allocation.
For the second year in a row I had the enormous pleasure and honor to lead the High Holidays services (and the Shabbat in between) at the Beit Shalom Alicante City Masorti Congregation – which formally joined the Masorti Movement last year, before Rosh Hashanah 5765. The community is most heterogeneous: although it was founded by newly arrived immigrants to Spain from South America (who are still the majority numerically and in the Board), today Beth Shalom includes members from all over Europe (Spain, France, Russia, the Netherlands and Great Britain), Africa (Morocco and Tunis), Israel, USA and Canada.
The community leadership has an outstanding vision, and is deeply committed to Jewish continuity and Zionism, values that lead each and every activity they organize… The community was created to fill a spiritual and physical need, some kind of answer to the survival of their families' Judaism and the preservation of the Jewish frameworks they came from in their countries of origin…
Their story is one of success: since last year Beth Shalom became recognized as a City Community by the Jewish Federation of Spanish Communities – being today the Jewish Community of the City of Alicante, which comprises Beit Shalom and any other Jewish cultural organization Beth Shalom decides to create. This recognition had immediate consequences in terms of government support: through the Spanish Jewish Federation, Beth Shalom received a budget that helped them growing according to their own planning. Of the many important developments that happened during the last Hebrew year, one is especially important: just one day before Rosh Hashanah, the Community opened their own synagogue - a rented apartment where with their own hands they built an aron kodesh (ark) and a table for Torah reading, They bought the equipment and furnishings for the various rooms. I had the privilege and the unmerited honor to lead the Chanukat Beit HaKnesset (dedication), on the day I arrived in Alicante, in a ceremony that brought everyone into tears of joy and accomplishment.
The Board has been also successful raising money for their activities throughout the year, and, especially, to build and furnish the synagogue for the High Holidays.
The general effervescence for this accomplishment brought immediate results: the President of the small Jewish Community of Murcia (about 100 km from Alicante) brought and lent – indefinitely – a Torah scroll and joined the Alicante Community together with two more families. Families from Benidorm, Torrevieja, Almer?a, San Juan (all them small and middle-size cities that surround Alicante) also joined the community…
In this framework, the services of HaYamim HaNoraim came as the pinnacle and the culmination of a process that took a little more than a year, and that is already bringing its fruits…The highlights of this year services were two (although I should emphasize the high attendance and participation to all services): the Se'udat Rosh Hashanah – an extraordinary fancy Rosh Hashanah dinner – and the Tashlich ceremony. The Seu'dah had an attendance of some 70 people (out of them, 26 youngsters between the ages of 16 to 21!) and had all the traditional Sephardic blessings (with its explanations) for each item, kiddush, Jewish traditional songs, and Birkat Hamazon…The atmosphere was one of celebration and joy, comradeship and brotherhood, and everyone was eager to hear every tale, comment, explanation I shared on that occasion. The whole event took about 4 hours with the general feeling of satisfaction and happiness.
After mincha of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, a crowd composed by students, children and adults walked together to the Mediterranean cost (15 minutes walk) for tashlich. For many, it was the first time in their life that they participated in the prophet Micha’s "invitation" to throw our sins to the waters. It was quite moving for many of us – and fascinating for the children, who "saw" how the fishes "took" our sins with them , and became, also, some kind of ecumenical gathering: because we were in a public place, many bystanders joined us to hear the explanations of the ceremony.
During the nearly two weeks I shared with these impressive people, many activities took place, including tefillot, lessons, community meals, meeting with youth, havdalah and meeting with the board.
Members of the board, including Armando Azubel, Ricardo Belilios and Alfredo Golfarb, together with Diana Nielander, Candy Rubio and Moshe Good, are leading the important growth of the community. In the many formal and informal meetings we had during my visit, we started outlining a complete working plan for this Hebrew year…
Conclusion: The Beit Shalom Board proved that they can be creative and that they are hard workers, creating a Masorti Community which is slowly but steadily growing…They are deeply thankful to Masorti Olami for the help and support.
…The Conservative Movement has a chance of building new kehillot in Spain, and by doing so, helping the new immigrants that belonged to the Conservative Movement in the Diaspora and also bringing to the Movement many others that have lived for decades in Spain and who had no answers from the Orthodox Jewish Spanish Communities… I believe we should do our best to expand our activities there, especially knowing the Jewish immigration to the country will continue growing.
Back
to top
Kehillat "Marom" Moscow
By Marik Stern
(Editor’s note: Marik Stern, a veteran NOAM Israel educator, will become the next Masorti / MERCAZ shaliach to North America in February 2006. His visit to Moscow was made possible by funding from a WZO Pluralistic Religious Services allocation.)
The Marom community of Moscow was established by Alex Kolganov (z"l) in 2002. The community registered as a religious group and made contact with Masorti Olami. Unfortunately, in June 2005 Kolganov had a severe allergy attack and passed away at age 30. His life partner, Maria (Masha) Kopelian wanted to continue Kolganov’s vision and took over the community’s leadership.
I was sent to Moscow from September 27 to October 6 in order to assist the kehillah in learning about the high holidays, organize Rosh Hashanah events and help the community plan their future activities and programs. Although there are approximately a half million Jews in Moscow, there are no Conservative rabbis or synagogues in the city at this time. The "Marom" community is the only group of people that are identifying themselves with our movement.
There are approximately 60 members in the community between 25 to 50 years old. Their knowledge in Judaism is very basic; a few know some Hebrew, but most are eager to learn more and to practice regularly the traditional customs. There is strong group connection among the members and they enjoy spending time together.
The community’s activities include regular Shabbat and holiday events. In addition, they plan cultural and social events, such as “krav maga” lessons (a form of Israeli martial art), hikes in the countryside, etc. The community members have also participated in international educational seminars organized by Marom Olami and in local inter-ethnic cooperation seminars.
The community has scarce financial and physical resources. Until Rosh Hashanah the group had no permanent place for their activities. Fortunately, Masha succeeded in finding a very comfortable space in the residence of a local Jewish welfare organization called “Hessed” which has offered to house their activities at this time without any charge.
On Friday night I joined the community in their Kabbalat Shabbat program. The event took place at one of the member’s apartment in a far suburb of Moscow. Some 30 people squeezed into the small, two room apartment. We lit Shabbat candles and I led the Maariv and Kabbalat Shabbat prayers and said the kiddush. In between, one of the members delivered a drasha about the Parshat Shavua. Afterwards there was a modest dinner and we sang Jewish/Hebrew songs together. I was very excited by the genuine and enthusiastic atmosphere that evolved during the evening. People had a real desire to practice the Jewish traditions together.
We also celebrated Rosh Hashana together in the new space at the “Hessed” residence. Close to 40 people attended the Rosh Hashana seder dinner and we learned the special blessings of the seder. I gave a short explanation about the holiday and its traditions. After dinner, there was a performance of a Jewish girls' choir that sang Hebrew and Yiddish songs. The event was very joyful.
I see a great potential in the development of the Moscow "Marom" community. The community has a strong social basis and a genuine will to expand their traditional and cultural activities. In order to help the community develop, they need financial support and a Conservative religious mentor to help them learn Hebrew, synagogue skills, Judaism and Masorti ideology.
To find out more about what you can do to help Kehillat “Marom” Moscow, please contact us at mail@masortiolami.org
Back
to top
Torah Dedication in Masorti Almere, Netherlands
Reported by Sandra Blankstein, Masorti Almere
The dedication of our new Sefer Torah took place on Simchat Torah during a special service in which 80 people participated, including the mayor of the city of Weesp, Mrs. Hofkamp. Speakers included Mayor Hofkamp, Alex Waterman, chairman of Masorti Netherlands, and Bernhard Cohen, chairman of Masorti Almere/Weesp. It was a very joyful event. Following the dedication, a small reception took place and everyone had a chance to speak informally to each other.
On this occasion the board of Masorti Netherlands took the opportunity to bestow Bernhard Cohen with the title Honorary President of Masorti Netherlands because of Mr. Cohen’s dedication and hard work to establish the Masorti Movement in the Netherlands.
We appreciate the efforts of Eytan Hammerman from Masorti Olami in helping us to secure the Torah through the Save the Torah Foundation.
Back
to top
Kehilat Nitzan Melbourne
Kehilat Nitzan Melbourne
Gabbi Fields from Melbourne completed her second year of rabbinical studies at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. While back in Melbourne during the summer break at UJ, Gabbi was busy organizing activities for our teens including working with the Sudanese refugees who have fled southern Sudan over the past two years. Gabbi organized a special afternoon with a group of young Sudanese refugees and ten young members of Kehilat Nitzan, which included playing basketball and making jewelry. We also organized gifts for each Sudanese child. It was a wonderful achievement for Gabbi and our kehillah. Gabbi also runs spirituality workshops and programs for the 20-30 year olds in the kehillah.
|
|
Special activity for Kehilat Nitzan teens with Sudanese refugees |
We are pleased to announce that Rabbi Ehud Bandel will be arriving in Melbourne in January to become the first full-time rabbi of Kehilat Nitzan. We are eagerly awaiting his arrival with his family and we look forward to continued growth in our kehillah.
Back
to top
