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As time went by, my grandparents passed away, and my father sat in front, sometimes in our home, sometimes in my Aunt’s home. More years went by, and as the youngest, I kept asking the same questions every year in the same dinner. I could always rest on the table, and thanks to my cousin and aunt we always could count on the chicken soup.
In those days my questions were:
The fixed ideas of the child and the questions of the teenager jump around in my memory like a recently filmed movie, and are the perfect memories of the Pesach celebration.
I wish you all a happy Pesach together with your families.
Eduardo Keibel
Translated by David and Olga Feingold
YOUNG CONGREGATION OUTSIDE JERUSALEM RECEIVES
LAND, TORAH:
The local council of Tzur
Hadassah, a new residential community southwest of Jerusalem, recently
provided a plot of land to Kehillat Tzur Hadassah, a three-and-a-half year-old
congregation affiliated with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
(IMPJ). The congregation purchased a prefabricated structure it is now
using for services and other activities. The understanding is that the
land will eventually be used for a permanent structure. In addition, the
congregation has received a Sefer Torah that was donated by Ann and Lenny
Robinowitz (of Temple Shalom in Succasunna, New Jersey) in honor of their
grandson's bar mitzvah. Rabbi Ada Zavidov is spiritual leader for the 45
families associated with the congregation. Kehillat Tzur Hadassah has a
Web site, which can be found at http://www.geocities/tzurhad.
YOUNG ADULTS MARK WOMEN'S DAY IN HAIFA:
The Young Adults' Forum of
the IMPJ, along with the community center at Haifa's Leo Baeck educational
complex and a number of women's groups, sponsored a happening this week
to mark International Women's Day. The event included workshops on women's
health, feminism in Judaism, and more. It was capped with a performance
by standup comedian Nurit Hadar Fuerstein titled "Pulsa Dinurit" which
dealt with the status of women in Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox society.
"International Women's Day goes almost unnoticed in Israel," says Young
Adults' Forum coordinator Na'ama Dafni, "and we sought to give it a higher
profile in a way that's relevant to Judaism and Tikkun Olam." The Forum's
activities are designed to bring post-army-age Israelis closer to Judaism
and Jewish culture.
INFORMAL RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE BEIT MIDRASH OPERATING
IN TWO ISRAELI CITIES:
The IMPJ has instituted weekly
Torah study classes for Russian speakers in Ashdod and Netanya, two areas
with high concentrations of immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU).
(See WUPJnews #66 for more on the Israeli Movement's Russian-language congregation
in Ashdod.) Both programs have approximately 10 students, who meet for
an hour and a half each week to study Torah and discuss the weekly portion....
IMMIGRANT CANTOR BRINGS "LOST" MUSIC FROM PALE
OF SETTLEMENT:
Some 2,000 items from a virtually
priceless collection of Jewish music - which is still officially "off-limits"
to Israeli scholars - are now in Israel on microfiche, thanks to Cantor
Mila Mendelson of the Progressive congregation in Netanya. The collection
was compiled in the early 20th century as part of the Jewish Ethnographic
Expedition, which aimed to document the folkways of the Pale of Settlement.
The musical component was "lost" until 1996, when researchers at the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem learned that it was being stored at the Science
Academy of Kiev. So far, Ukrainian authorities have refused to allow the
researchers even to photocopy the material. Enter Mila Mendelson, a Ukrainian-born
musician and theater artist. Prior to making aliya in 1997, Mendelson managed
to photograph some 2,000 items from the collection during the course of
a year of research on Jewish theater and musical sources. After arriving
in Israel, she made contact with Rabbi Mira Raz of Congregation Netan-Ya,
and soon became the congregation's cantor. The Israel Movement for Progressive
Judaism helped underwrite the cost of developing the microfiche film, and
Prof. Eli Schleifer, who teaches cantorial students at HUC-JIR/Jerusalem
and has followed the Israeli efforts to gain access to the Kiev collection,
says Mendelson "does not know how important and rare the material is that
she has at home."
MEET THE WORLD UNION'S MINSK-BASED RABBI, NELLY
SHULMAN:
St. Petersburg native Nelly
(Kogan) Shulman was ordained at Leo Baeck College in London in July, 1999
- the first Russian rabbi to be ordained there. She is now the spiritual
leader of Congregation Simcha in Minsk, where she served as a student rabbi-in-residence
on behalf of the World Union. She is also considered the Chief Rabbi of
the Progressive Movement of Belarus. While the 29-year-old Shulman says
the Progressive Jews of Belarus tend to be older (with many of the younger
Jews from the country's mostly small, provincial cities and towns having
left for Israel or elsewhere), Belarus's Progressive youth movement is
considered the be the strongest in the FSU. One of her goals is to establish
a youth retreat center to impart Progressive Jewish values. Another goal
is to establish a daily pre-school program for toddlers. Her dream, however,
is to be given a building for use as a synagogue. "Not a single congregation
in Belarus owns its building," she says. "When you have your own building,
you are on the map."
JOINT APPEAL UNDERWAY IN AUSTRALIA:
Australia's annual United
Israel Appeal (UIA)/Progressive Jewish Trust campaign got underway last
month with a speaking tour "down under" by Rabbi Joel Oseran, World Union
Director of International Development and Program. The joint appeal allows
Progressive Jews to earmark their UIA contributions for use by the Progressive
Movement for the absorption of immigrants in Israel, or by the World Union
for its programs in Belarus.... On his way to Australia, Oseran met with
leaders of the United Jewish Congregation in Hong Kong, which for the second
year is running a campaign to support the World Union's work in Israel
and the FSU.
WUPJnews
29 March 2001 * 5 Nisan 5761
For the first time in its 75 year history, the World Union for Progressive Judaism convened its biennial international convention in the United States. The WUPJ's 30th International Convention, which took place in Washington, D.C., March 14-18, brought together over 300 delegates from five continents. Program co-chairs were Ruth Cohen and Dolores Wilkenfeld. Jerry Tanenbaum served as chair of the local arrangements committee. The convention theme, "The WUPJ at 75: Achievements and Challenges," highlighted the unique history of Progressive Judaism during its formative period in Western Europe, and showcased the pioneering efforts of the Movement in Israel, the former Soviet Union (FSU), Germany, and other parts of the world.
Acknowledging the fact that the convention was taking place for the first time in America, many speakers focused on the unparalleled growth and unique nature of Reform Judaism in the U.S. The delicate relationship between American Reform Judaism and Progressive-Liberal Movements worldwide was also explored, leading to the caution that the American "powerhouse" must never impose its will on the international movement, even though the lion's share of funding for the WUPJ comes from American sources. The convention certainly benefited from presentations by a large number of outstanding leaders of American Reform Jewry, adding to the overall appreciation of the American Movement's depth and quality.
Another theme that was dominant in convention presentations was the centrality of Israel for our worldwide Movement. Speakers acknowledged the tremendous rate of progress of the Israeli Progressive Movement, even as the need to continue the struggle for religious rights for all Jewish streams in Israel was reinforced. The convention adopted a resolution that not only wished the new Sharon government well, but pressed it to support religious pluralism and rights for all Jewish streams.
A critical problem facing a number of World Union constituent countries is the acute shortage of rabbis to fill congregational vacancies. Rabbinical positions remain unfilled in Australia, Europe, the FSU, Israel, South Africa, Latin America, South America and North America. Some measures are already being taken to address this challenge (e.g., the Geiger College in Germany, the project for rabbinical studies in the FSU, and others), but all agree that the World Union must take an active role in providing creative solutions for this most fundamental issue facing our worldwide Movement.
The convention program included a number of small group break-out sessions on issues of critical importance to our constituencies - issues such as Jewish Education, advances in Jewish liturgy, social action, outreach and inclusion to special populations, the revitalization of synagogue music, and others. And for the first time in recent memory, there was an active young adult delegation comprising young leaders from throughout the world; the World Union Governing Body went on record in support of strengthening the critical place of young leadership within the WUPJ.
In addition to acknowledging the WUPJ at 75, the convention also recognized the 125th anniversary of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and the important, mutually supportive relationship that has developed over the years between it and the World Union. Another special event was the convention tribute to the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) at a luncheon gathering titled "Empowering Women." Through the generosity of WRJ, rabbinical students at HUC-JIR and the Leo Baeck College have benefited from academic scholarships. In addition, WUPJ educational projects worldwide are assisted by WRJ.
Delegates celebrated Shabbat evening with members of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, and Shabbat morning at a most special convention service using a new, multi-language service booklet edited especially for the occasion. The service was unique as well in that all Torah readers were lay leaders. At a chilly but heart-warming outdoor Havdalah ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, delegates heard the story of Jewish life in Washington, D.C. (A post-convention visit to the Museum of the Holocaust afforded delegates the opportunity to experience one of the world's most important memorials to the Shoah.)
The convention closed with tributes to outgoing World Union President Austin Beutel, for six outstanding years of leadership, and to incoming President Ruth Cohen. Adding to the historical component of the convention, Mrs. Cohen becomes the first Israeli, and only the second women, to serve as World Union President.
The newly ratified Executive Board of the World Union is as follows:
Note: The text of major convention
addresses will be posted on the WUPJ website: <http://wupj.org>.
________________________________________________________________________
Passover is coming and the Sisterhood will take a break and meet on Monday, May 16th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Synagogue. Would like to plan a Hospitality Tea to include the new women members. Please attend this important Sisterhood Board meeting.
Thanks again to you all,
Bonnie Fischer
In order to participate in this program, the perspective participant is interviewed individually, as well as asked to put into writing his reasons for wanting to study Judaism. Each individual case is studied and discussed by a commission of five members: two from the Ritual Committee, two from the Education Committee, and a representative of the Board of Directors of the Congregation. Often, the commission seeks the advise and guidance of our rabbinical mentors. Of utmost concern is the sincerity, seriousness and willingness of the individual to learn and participate in the life of Judaism. Upon acceptance into the program, the individual is made to understand that their is no contractual agreement. He is undergoing a program of study which may or may not lead to conversion. We can help people on their path towards learning; only a Rabbi can convert someone. The individuals pay for these classes, and often, in their own way, strive to support the synagogue as they can, whether it is by bringing food for the Oneg Shabbat, helping to build a sukkah, making private donations to the building fund.
Just as in the Talmudic story of Shammai and Hillel, we have many who come to us seeking spiritual guidance. And as the non-Jew in the above quote from the Talmud, perhaps they ask in the wrong way, in a way to which we aren’t familiar, with strange words. It is not always easy to share with those who ask with different words. It is not always easy to treat others with the same respect which we hope to receive. Historically, it is almost understandable that some Jews respond warily to someone from a different background, but we are living in Costa Rica in the 21st century. And what we do speaks for who we are -- we teach by doing, by the way we live. If we wish to teach respect, we must live it, with action, not merely words.
The tradition teaches that all human beings are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and are therefore equal. "All men, regardless of race, religion, or nationality are equally God’s children, equally precious in His sight, equally entitled to justice and mercy at the hands of their fellows. Except by virtue of character and conduct, no man is better than any other." Rabbi Milton Steinberg in his book Basic Judaism reminds us: "Anyone may become a Jew; but no one has to do so in order to be saved, whether in this world or the next. The Tradition rules explicitly: ‘The righteous of all peoples have their share in the world to come’."
The Hebrew word Keruv means "to draw near those who are far." Keruv as mitzvah is seen throughout the Tradition and Literature of Judaism:
It isn’t always easy to share something we love with strangers. We are told to provide the stranger with sustenance -- with food and with clothing, and most importantly, with the sustenance of Torah, and in so doing we are brought closer to God.
A church school supervisor
asked little Johnny during Bible class who broke down the walls of Jericho.
Little Johnny said, "I don't know, but it sure wasn't me!"
The supervisor, taken aback
by this lack of basic Bible knowledge, went to the school principal and
related the whole incident.
The principal said, "Look,
I know little Johnny and his entire family very well and can vouch for
them. If little Johnny said that he did not do it, then I believe that
it is the truth."
Even more appalled with the
principal's lack of Bible knowledge, the inspector went to the regional
Head of Education and related the whole story.
After listening to the supervisor's
story, he said, "I can't see why you are making such a big deal out of
this; we'll get three quotations and get the darn wall fixed."
What does it mean?
Draw a line under the English word or phrase
in column at right, which means the same thing as the Hebrew word.
| Haggadah | A story – exodus – freedom |
| Song of Songs | A nut game – One Kid – a book in the Bible |
| Pesach | Crisis – Let my people go! – Passover |
| Omer | Measure – gallon – barley |
| Chomets | Salted – leaven – pumpernickel |
| Matso | Cracker – unleavened bread – clean |
| B’dikas chomets
|
Passover dishes – housecleaning – search for leaven |
| K’oro | Passover plate – nuts – salt water |
| Elijah | Forerunner of the Messiah – wandering Jew – beggar |
| Afikomon | Matso softened in water – dessert – prize |
| Mitzvo | Beginning of the month – good deed – kindness |
| Addir Hu Megillah – | Who Knows One? – God of Might |
| Nison | Month in which Pesach comes – spring – nuts |
| Charoses | Pharaoh – a Passover symbol – parsley |
| Ma Nishtano | A prayer for dew – four questions – pilgrimage |
| Avodim Hoyinu | We were slaves – counting the omer – praise |