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IN
THIS ISSUE:
CONGREGATION TO DEDICATE NEW FACILITY IN JAFFA
Congregation Beit Daniel
of north Tel Aviv will dedicate Mishkenot Daniel, an impressive new
culture/education center and guesthouse, at a ceremony on Sunday, June
18, at the site in Jaffa. Set to open in November, the center will have
60 rooms, as well as multi-purpose facilities and classrooms. There are
also plans for a synagogue. Gerard Daniel, a former president of the
World Union, and his wife Ruth, a former vice president, are the driving
force behind Beit Daniel, one of Israel's leading Progressive
congregations. They are also among the primary figures behind Mishkenot
Daniel's vision and funding. Among those scheduled to attend the
dedication are Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Tourism Minister Isaac
Herzog, Tel Aviv-Jaffa mayor Ron Huldai, and leaders of the World Union
and Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. Entertainment will be
provided by Israeli musician Shlomo Gronich and the Arab-Jewish Center
Choir. For further information on the ceremony, contact
office@beit-daniel.org.il.
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PROGRESSIVE RABBI HELPS ORGANIZE RUSSIA’S FIRST
LIMMUD CONFERENCE
The World Union's
Rabbi Nelly Shulman was among the organizers and workshop leaders of
Russia's first-ever Limmud Conference, held this past Sunday for
residents of Moscow and its environs. (The word limmud is Hebrew
for "study.") Like other Limmud conferences worldwide, the Russian
gathering was inspired by the five-day Limmud held each December in
England, which draws thousands of participants to a wide variety of
sessions led by hundreds of presenters from across the Jewish spectrum.
Among the guest presenters at the one-day gathering in Moscow (a full
five-day conference for all of Russia is being planned for March, 2007,
with Shulman again being on the organizing committee) were noted Israeli
Talmud scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, US historian Prof. Deborah
Lipstadt, World Jewish Conference governing board chairman Israel
Zinger, and Jewish Agency chairman Ze'ev Bielsky.
"It was spectacular!" says Shulman. "We had around 750 people, and my
session, 'Self-management in Jewish Tradition - How to Find Time to
Study,' was very well attended." Shulman
also organized an information booth for the Progressive movement.
"Including Reform rabbis in the Limmud's planning, and giving them a
floor at the conference, is very important to the development of
pluralistic Jewish life in Russia," she said.
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GERMAN YOUTH ATTEND JERUSALEM
SEMINAR, MEET ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS
Madrichim (counsellors) from the German
branch of Netzer Olami, the international Progressive Zionist youth
movement, travelled to Jerusalem just prior to Pesach to take part in a
leadership seminar at the World Union’s Anita Saltz International
Education Center. The three-day program included lectures, workshops
and field trips to such places as the Old City, Yad Vashem and Mea
Shearim. The youth also had time to interact with members of Noar Telem
(the Israeli branch of Netzer) and to be hosted by the youths’ families
over Shabbat. During the following week, the German and Israeli youth
participated in joint activities in the Galilee (see photo below).
Following a festive seder on the first night of the holiday, the
visitors took part in special programs organized by the Jewish Agency
and the Jewish National Fund. “The tremendous effort invested in making
this program come true was worth everything,” say Orly Kenig, Netzer’s
shlicha (emissary) to Germany, and Adi
Weichselbaum, youth director for the Union of Progressive Jews of
Germany (UPJ). “We see the great effect that such a seminar has on our
madrichim. It is another stage of development in their Jewish
identity, and also in their connection to Israel, which is crucial to
stronger ties between the UPJ’s members, families and youth, and the
Jewish homeland.”
According to Netzer director of
education Haim Shalom, Noar Telem is seeking to raise funds to send a
delegation of its members on a reciprocal visit to Germany.
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CLARIFICATION
The
Education Department of the Israel Movement for Progressive
Judaism coordinates and oversees the nationwide bat mitzvah program in
secular state schools that is conducted by numerous IMPJ-affiliated
congregations (see WUPJnews #210). A total of 35 classes took part in
the program this year, more than double last year’s number. “I had the
opportunity to witness one such bat mitzvah ceremony just two weeks ago
at Beit Daniel,” says IMPJ Education Committee chairperson Lori Stark,
referring to the Tel Aviv congregation that is one of the program’s
leading proponents. “The excitement of the young women, the respect of
their (male) classmates, and the pride of their parents and teachers
were electric. For me, to watch and hear the prayers said by the b’not
mitzvah in a Progressive synagogue in Israel was the realization of the
hard work, professionalism and partnership of both the IMPJ Education
Department's professional staff and our synagogues.”
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CONDOLENCES
The World Union mourns the
death of Gertrude Leibovic, mother of Menachem Leibovic, who served as
World Union director of operations for Israel and the FSU, was executive
director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and was
executive director of Beit Shmuel.
It also mourns the death
of Moshe Michael Itenberg, father of Naftali Itenberg, a long-time
member of its Jerusalem staff.
May their memories be for
a blessing
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