• From the Editor's Table
• Heshvan and Renewal
• Foothold in Kiriat Gat
• Israel’s Treatment of Liberal Jews Monitored
• Noam Hike Through History
• Marom on Succot
• New Torah Inducted at Kehllat Sinai
• Fifth National Masorti Women’s Study Day
• Contact information
• Subscriptions and distribution

From the Editor's Table

I would like to apologize for the delay in producing this newsletter. With the advent of the New Year, much has taken place at the Maosrti Movement, as this e-newsle?tter will clearly show.

I would like to extend a 'Bruchim Habaim' to Hannah Meyers, who started working at the Masorti Foundation; to Rabbi Paul Arberman who is grant writing for the Masorti Movement and to Inbal Cohen in her new capacity working with volunteers in Israel.

Joe Brown
Editor, e-masorti

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Heshvan and Renewal

The Yamim Noraim are behind us. For the last month our shuls have been filled with people who are striving for a connection to God. And throughout the month of tishrei we have done this with the entire community -- in shul.   The Gemara states it succinctly , "Agra deKallah Duhka" (Brachot 6b) -- the greatness of the gathering is the crushing [of people gathered together].

Now, during the month of Heshvan, we are without holidays, and without the "crush of people." We can relax.   But Heshvan affords us an opportunity to search for a personal connection to God. This too is a month of renewal. We begin the rainy season in Israel. We read from the book of Breishit in Beit Knesset. We can focus on the seemingly more mundane Mitzvot. Hearing the Shofar sounded, waiving the four species - these are grand observances. But just reciting a bracha, donning Tefilin, taking a few moments to study a bit of Torah, showing an unexpected kindness to another - this can also bring us closer to God.

Abraham Joshua Heschel saw the Mitzvot as a means to holiness and to building our relationship with God.   May we take advantage of this break from the holidays, to put a bit of polish on our personal connection to God.

Rabbi Andy Sacks
Director, Religious Affairs Bureau

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Foothold in Kiriat Gat

A few months ago I wanted to give a Kiddush in memory of my late brother, but due to the treatment at a local Orthodox synagogue, the idea of starting Masorti congregation in Kiriat Gat was born. The Kiriat Gat office of "Ole" (the organization of South American Olim) embraced the idea warmly -- since there is no Spanish-speaking shul in Kiryat Gat to answer their needs.  The local Spanish-speaking community includes people who, although once active in Jewish communities, have not gone to services since making Aliya.

We’ve had to improvise a bit. The High Holidays were held in a big tent outside.  However, the feedback from the participants was extremely positive - they liked the services and the fact that sermons were in both Spanish and Hebrew.

We currently meet in a local WZO kindergarten for Shabbat services, and at least once a month for a lecture, Rosh Chodesh party or some other activity.   The name we have given the community is Ahavat Yisrael, symbolizing a caring and tolerant Jewish community.   We are now working on getting word out about the new community, since there are many who would join us but do not know we exist.   Luckily, here in Kiriat Gat, people are both thirsty for a Masorti community and are willing to help in building it.

Rabbi Eli Scheps
Kiriat Gat

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Israel’s Treatment of Liberal Jews Monitored

The JTA reported (Nov. 14) that the 2005 International Religious Freedom Report has expanded its criticisms of Israel’s treatment of non-Orthodox Jewish denominations, and placed Israel on notice that the United States is monitoring its treatment of other minorities.    
 
The chapter on “Israel and Occupied Territories” reports that  “problems continued to exist stemming from the unequal treatment of religious minorities, and from the State’s recognition of only Orthodox Jewish religious authorities in personal and some civil status matters concerning Jews.”   The report expanded its coverage to include the claims of non-Jewish spouses of Jewish immigrants; allegations of discriminatory funding in favor of Orthodox schools; and the state of efforts to legislate civil marriage.  Such cases of discrimination were well known to Masorti-Conservative and Reform Jews for in Israel for years, but previous reports hardly addressed them.

See also: U.S. human rights report watches Israel’s treatment of liberal Jews, JTA, Nov. 14, 2005

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NOAM Hike Through History

NOAM began the year on the right foot as more than 420 NOAM members hiked in the Carmel Mountain area on Hol HaMo'ed Succot. Half the group visited the Baron Rothschild's first agricultural settlements established in the 1880's in the area of Zichron Ya'akov, and learned of the Jewish underground NILI's activities there during WWI. Another group visited the Israel Electric Company's power station and visitors center, to learn about the history of electricity in Eretz Yisrael.

The second and third day were devoted to hiking the beautiful Mount Carmel. The campers hiked the deep canyons, learned about prehistoric human life in the Carmel caves. They also learned of the "Masada in the Carmel" plan of 1942, when the Nazi army was threatening to conquer the Middle East from British hands. The hike ended with a visit to the Yemin Orde Youth Village, named after the 1930's pro-Zionist British officer, Charles Orde Wingate.

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Marom on Succot

On the first day of Hol Hamoed Succot, Marom participated in the Panim Festival for Jewish Identity that took place in Ramat Efal. Marom workers and volunteers handed out information and answered questions about Marom and the Movement. Rabbis Tzvi Graetz and Tamar Elad-Applebaum led thirty-five people in Succot services and a study session- for many, their first spiritual and learning experience in a Masorti setting. This was the third year that Marom has participated in this important festival and every year it has helped us attract new members - many of whom remain active in our programs and those of the Masorti movement throughout the year.

On the fifth day of Hol Hamoed Succot, Marom held a "learning-hike" to the Elah Valley. Dr. Rafi Kasimov, a rabbinical student at Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, led the 15 participants in an enjoyable hike, learning about the religious and historical significance of the Bet Guvrin caves and the ancient Jewish settlement of Horvat Itari.

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New Torah Inducted at Kehllat Sinai

For many years Kehilat Sinai struggled with the question over what to do with three old and pasul (not kosher) Sifrei Torah it owned. It became evident that it would cost a great sum just to make these Sifrei Torah usable again. Last Rosh Hashanah, the community decided to launch a campaign to purchase a new Sefer Torah.

Just before the High Holidays this year, Kehillat Sinai welcomed a new Sefer Torah into the community. The ceremony for welcoming the new Torah was very emotional and exciting. The event was made all the more meaningful by the participation of singer and composer David Broza, whose son held his Bar Mitzvah at Kehillat Sinai. We ended the event with a joyous march to our synagogue, carrying our new Torah.

It is very exciting that the people of the community themselves did this on their own.  They set their goals, raised the money, and brought to completion the composiion of a new Sefer Torah.  It has brought the Kehillah much pride and happiness.

Rabbi Roberto Arbiv
Kehillat Sinai

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Fifth National Masorti Women’s Study Day

The central theme of the 5th National Masorti Women’s Study Day was “Fight for Justice.”   The 300 attendees, consisting of native Israelis, new immigrants and visitors from abroad, enjoyed the day studying in Hebrew and English with the talented staff of teachers.

Prof. Alice Shalvi took participants on a “virtual journey” of women’s rights, beginning in the Bible and leading up to the present day. Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin taught about stem-cell research in Jewish law, while Stacy and Dror Yehoshua, psychologist and Jewish educator respectively, spoke on the continuing injustice of prostitution, trafficking and abuse of women in Israel today.

Some women pored over Talmud texts with Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg and Dr. Sara Ben Moshe, while others learned to “Make your Shabbat Table Come Alive” with Judith Edelman-Green or about “Planning Projects to Build Just Communities” with Aviva Groen.  Prof. Alice Shalvi topped off the day with her plea for women to continue to study to be empowered to build a more just society.

The success of the Regional and the National Masorti Women’s Study days held this year is due to the planning by the “think tank” of women from the participating 50 Masorti kehilot throughout the country, directed by Diane Friedgut for the Women’s League for Masorti Judaism, with the cooperation of the Schechter Institute and the Masorti Movement.  For information about future events, e-mail the Women's League.

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Contact information

e-masorti is produced by the Development Department of the Masorti Movement in Israel.
13 Ben Yehuda Street, PO Box 7559, Jerusalem 91074 ISRAEL Web: www.masorti.org
Telephone: +972 (2) 624 6510 ext. 24  Fax: +972 (2) 624 6869  E-mail: development@masorti.org

Donations

Israel and all other countries: to the offices in Jerusalem (above).

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Subscriptions and distribution

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