I have asked Ines to reprint in this bulletin the full letter of the Rabbi and the response that the Reform Movement gave (see page 8). But I want to take issue with one of his statements: "....It's reforms (referring to the Reform Movement) have resulted in a cancellation almost of all laws, traditions, rituals of Orthodox Judaism.... All other elements of the Laws of Moses have become outdated and have lost the value presently. The general... laws, based on Torah, have hopelessly become outdated."
We, in B'nei Israel, are a Reform, Liberal Congregation. What have we being doing in B'nei Israel these last few months to deserve the title of a Jewish organization?
Here is a partial list.
We have welcome two persons into the Jewish faith. These Jews by Choice will now have to follow their own conscience in fulfilling the mitzvot of the faith they joined. In B'nei Israel we have a ten month "Introduction to Judaism" course which gives those considering entering Judaism a complete education not only on Holidays, Jewish History and Jewish traditions, but also on Jewish values. Through our Keruv (Outreach) Program hands on experiences on living Judaism are provided. Prior to conversion our candidates to enter Judaism have to face a Bet Din and go to the mikvah. Rabbi Aaron Peller from Panama has come to preside over the procedures and he is a tough but also a very compassionate teacher. Conversions are not "easy" in B'nei Israel. Our candidates have to study, but once they make a decision to join us and they are qualified to do it, we give them our full support as was commanded to us in the Torah.
We rejoiced with bride and groom in a beautiful ceremony which joined Max and Eunice Ramos.
We witnessed the B'nei Mitzvah of one young woman and one young man and we are preparing one girl and three boys to go through the process in the coming months. The road for these youngsters to make alyah is a long one; many years of Hebrew School have prepared them; many sacrifices form their families have helped them get there. I am working with Erika Keibel on her Bat Mitzvah preparation. She is studying, she wants to go through the process. She will make us all proud. When she chanted her maftir for me during a rehearsal, I sat at the back of the Synagogue and told her that I had to hear her without a microphone. I couldn't believe her spirit, she was loud and clear and she is a true example of all our boys and girls. When they get to the bimah they bring with them the work of the dedicated teachers of our Jennifer Sossin Hebrew School. And it's a work that teaches Torah and Jewish values to our kids.
We saw a Youth Group struggling to take shape. Our young adults go to different schools in Costa Rica. When asked why they participated in Youth Group activities, they invariably answered that this was their way to relate to Jews, to keep their identity. They do not always come to the meetings very enthusiastically ; I am sure parents have to push them, but the fact that they want "to belong" and continue identifying themselves with their traditions is good enough for me.
We presented a program on "Life in the Shtetl" which reminded us of the history of our people, not only of the great thinkers and scholars, but of the simple, common people that preserved Judaism for us.
We worked hard planning the remodeling of our Temple. Some of our members have the professional skills that allow them to lead this project. We have been blessed with their generosity and efforts. The study of Torah will be done in proper surroundings in our Congregation very soon.
We have celebrated every Festivity in the Jewish calendar. We have planted the trees, sounded the rashamim, read the megillot, eaten the matzah, read the Haggadah, and are now preparing for the High Holydays. Last week, under the guidance of Cantor Linda Shivers, we chanted the Lamentations on Tisha B'Av. We did it in Hebrew and in Spanish for everyone to understand what was said. In all observances we have had good participation of our members.
Finally, every week, we celebrate Shabbat. Going to the Synagogue on Fridays is a priority in the lives of many of us. Every Friday I marvel at the dedication of the service leaders who do their best to lead us in worship. Our service leaders do not have professional qualifications, they are not rabbis, but they surely carry out their duties with grace and feeling.
We, in Reform Judaism, leave to the individual the way to establish communication with God. We are free to choose how we relate. But our relationship is always based on our interpretation of Torah and traditions. We do teach Torah, we follow Torah.
This article is not a justification of Reform Judaism. It is a statement of the pride with which we live our Jewish lives. In this little Congregation of Central America, Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, you will find a love for Torah, and a love for tradition.
Sincerely,
Hilda ten Brink
President
Recently, one of the over 20 Reform congregations in Ukraine requested that the government transfer a local abandoned synagogue to their control. In accordance with a 1992 Ukrainian law, which provides for the restitution of properties belonging to religious communities seized during Soviet rule, the Reform community can rightly appeal for this property. The ultra-Orthodox chief rabbi of Ukraine, Yaakov Bleich, in response to the Reform community's request, wrote a letter to the government discouraging the government from transferring the synagogue to the Progressive community. The letter (translated below) sharply criticizes Reform Judaism calling it, "an undemanding religion," and goes on to read that the Reform movement's intention to acquire synagogues is "(looked on) with great carefulness."
We urge you to write a letter, to the organizations below, expressing your disappointment that a rabbi - who presumes to represent the wider Jewish community - would speak so ill of fellow Jews to a foreign government. Furthermore, express your demand for an apology and a retraction.
Please read the letter we have already sent out, and, as always, we encourage you to send us a copy of your letter (ARZA/WORLD UNION, North America, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10016).
In the past, our efforts have made a difference.
Only we can protect and defend the rights of Reform Jews around the world
and ensure the future of Judaism.
| Jewish Agency for Israel
P.O.Box 92 - 91000 Jerusalem, Israel fax : 011-972-2-625-2352 Sallai Meridor, Chairman of Executive |
National Conference on Soviet Jewry
1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW - Suite 501 Washington D.C. 20036 fax : (202) 898-0822 Denis C. Braham, Chairman Howard Sachs, President Mark Levin, Executive Director |
| United Jewish Communities
111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 11E New York, NY 10011 fax : (212) 284-6835 Charles Bronfman, Chairman of the Board Joel D. Tauber, Chairman, Executive Committee Stephen D. Solender, Acting President Carole A. Solomon, Campaign Chairperson |
Joint Distribution Committee
711 Third Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10017 fax : (212) 370-5467 Ambassador Milton A. Wolf, Chairman of the Board Mr. Jonathan W. Kolker, President Mr. Michael Schneider, Executive Vice President |
On your search concerning activity on Ukraine of communities of Progressive (Reform) Judaism and their rights on the right for heritage on cult structures and the properties which at one time belonged to Jewish communities I have to inform the following :
Reform Judaism, as the doctrine for the first time appeared in Germany in the beginning of the 19-century. Its reforms have resulted in a cancellation almost of all laws, traditions, rituals of Orthodox Judaism. The credo of reformists : the essence of Judaism is a worship to Uniform and General G-d. All other elements of the Laws of Moses have become outdated and have lost the value presently. The general (common) laws, based on Torah, have hopelessly become outdated. Proceeding from such positions, there was produced the undemanding religion, which released a Jew from all rituals of the inconveniences and constructed the luxurious temples and became underlined by western influence - both in character and language.
It is understandable, that Orthodox Jews perceive this innovation very painfully, and especially the Jews of the former Soviet Union, who lived with beliefs of the grandfathers for centuries. So, the activity of the Reform Community in Moscow has resulted in a deep crisis and a split among the Jewish communities in Russia. Now their activity is forbidden, but the problems remained. It is necessary to note that in the State of Israel the activity of the Reform rabbi's officially is not recognized yet. On the territory of Ukraine, except for the Western regions, reform communities appeared only at the end of the 80th of our century. Therefore, we cannot speak about their right for heritage for former Synagogues and others buildings of the cult property, which belonged to the Jewish communities of Ukraine. All these structures were constructed for money of Orthodox communities and belonged to them before nationalization and during the Communist regime's anti-religious struggle. Between Orthodox and Reform movements in Ukraine they support now something, similar to the diplomatic world. But the reformist's intention to apply for Synagogues and cult property of the Jewish communities are excepted by us with a great carefulness. Proceeding from experience of the majority of the countries of the world and considering a specific mood of the Orthodox Jews of Ukraine, it is possible to predict, that it will result in undesirable conflicts among the Jewish religious communities of Ukraine.
Yaakov Dov Bleich
Chief Rabbi of Kiev and Ukraine
The Reform movement was taken aback and deeply disappointed by the letter of Ukrainian "Chief Rabbi", Yaacov Bleich, to the Council of Ministers of the Crimea Republic, antagonistic to the Progressive Movement. As disturbing as our internal Jewish disputes might be, we find it particularly offensive, and contrary to the Jewish spirit, that a Jew - let alone someone who presumes to represent the wider Jewish community - would speak so ill of fellow Jews to a foreign government.
The Progressive movement is the largest organized element of Judaism in the former Soviet Union and we continue to grow at a dramatic pace. With all due respect to Rabbi Bleich, much of the future of the Jewish people in the FSU depends upon the Progressive movement. We are playing a major role in revitalizing Jewish life. We have over 20 congregations in Ukraine alone, and more than 50 in the former Soviet Union servicing large segments of the Jewish community.
Perhaps you can convey to Rabbi Bleich our movement's deep pain and disappointment. We expect from him an apology and a retraction. Furthermore, we would like to begin a dialogue with you as to how we can work together to support the progressive movement in the FSU, which is crucial to Jewish continuity there....
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch
Executive Director of ARZA/WORLD
UNION, North America
Ukraine chief rabbi Ya'acov Bleich had sought to prevent the building's transfer by calling Progressive Judaism an "undemanding religion" whose members worship in "luxurious temples" in a letter to Crimean officials....
The synagogue building had been used as a warehouse
during Communist rule. A 1992 Ukrainian law provides for the restitution
of religious community property that had been seized by the Soviets.
CACHIVACHES SALE
Sunday, August 1st, 1999
Marvin Sossin's garage
We need everything: clothes, shoes, books,
magazines, anything that you no longer need...
Please take it to Alicia Familier's as soon as possible. Or since
it is TODAY, take it to Marvin's garage NOW!!!!
Thank you very much.
MANY THANKS to the families that sponsored the Oneg Shabbat during these last few months:
The Jewish world was stunned today by a National Bored of Rabbis announcement that all synagogues in the United States would shut their doors forever, sometime before the end of 1999.
After centuries of conflict among the various forms of Judaism and the frequent formation of new breakaway synagogues, a combination of technologies has finally resolved the interdenominational bickering and made it possible for all Jews to be satisfied by having their very own synagogues located in an Internet chat room accessed from their home. Because chatting in shul has become commonplace across the religious spectrum, there is already a base of experience for the new concept, and most individuals are not expected to feel any difference. Although many issues divided Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Egalitarian, Chabad, Satmar, Young Israel, Aguda, Ashkenaz, Sfard, and many others, the one point that all agreed on was the need for the synagogue to reflect their own personal viewpoint and for all members to follow their mode of observance. As these modes became increasingly fragmented, even within each movement, the only way to achieve harmony was to let each Jew run his or her own shul.
Two technological achievements are responsible for making this ancient dream a reality: the universal availability of the Internet and the perfection of voice recognition. As a result, beginning in the year 2000, all Jews will be able to connect to their own chat room on the Internet, and by using voice recognition, each will be president of his or her virtual shul.
The replacement of the synagogue will solve many problems: the need for a minyan, separate seating, and the height of a mechitza. Congregants will be spared membership dues, and without a regular weekly kiddush to attend, fitness is expected to reach an all-time high. A few thorny issues remain to be settled, and one is why no firm date was announced by the Bored. One issue is the use of the computer microphone on Shabbat. The Reform have no problem with it. Conservatives are expected to accept it, arguing that it is no different from leaving the microphone in their synagogue on before Shabbat. For the Orthodox, it will take some more work, but the need for individual shuls has become so acute in recent years that, with a few possible exceptions, the bulk of Orthodoxy is expected to go along. Another problem is what to do with all the suddenly unemployed rabbis, but with the expansion of Internet use, there should be plenty of jobs available as technical support representatives. Still unsolved is how to find an acceptable substitute for kiddush clubs.
Contributed by Gonzalo Vega
Taken from <http://www.win.virtualjerusalem.com/refer>
So, if we think about it, we can save the Building
Fund money and get hardware upgrades for everyone... Think about it!
Gonzalo Vega
<GVega@galileo.acer.co.cr>
A THANK YOU NOTE for Gilberto Araya, who donated a subscription to the newspaper "Linea Directa" and the "Aurora" magazine, published monthly in Spanish in Israel.
A WARM WELCOME to our new members Guy Nae and the Liebembuk family. Jonathan Liebembuk will be having his Bar Mitzvah next September at B'nei Israel.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Losk family. Daniel Losk, son of David and Rosario Losk, graduated with a double major (economics and politics) "cum laude" from Brandeis University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, last May 23. Beginning in September, Daniel will work as a research assistant with Dove Associates, a management consulting company located in Boston.
MAZEL TOV to our new member Guy Nae and to Tatiana Velazquez on their upcoming marriage. Congratulations !
MAZEL TOV to the Waltersdorfer family on
the birth of a new baby boy, Jonathan. We hope to have you all with
us very soon.
CACHIVACHE
SALE : Today!!!
First Sunday of September,
as always in Marvin's garage.
Clean
up your closets and bring us everything you no longer need. B'nei Israel
will be happy to receive it ! If not for today, for our next
Cachivache Sale.
Bulletin B'nei Israel Congregation
Editor: Inés Baum
August 1999