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IN
THIS ISSUE:
HAIFA
CONGREGATION RECOGNIZED FOR ASSISTING NEW IMMIGRANTS
The Jewish Agency recently presented a certificate of recognition to
Congregation Or Hadash in Haifa for its work with new immigrants. The
award specifically cites the congregation, an affiliate of the Israel
Movement for Progressive Judaism, for its “Babayit B'yahad (Home
Together)” program, which is geared toward olim who come to
Israel alone. “Or Hadash functions as their family and we invite them
to take part in events with us,” says Rabbi Edgar Nof, the
congregation’s spiritual leader. “Some of the people in the program are
soldiers…we maintain contact with them on a regular basis and try to
help them with their needs.”
Similar to many congregations affiliated with the Progressive movement
in Israel, Or Hadash actively reaches out to new immigrants. “Many
olim need the help of volunteer organizations to become accustomed
to Jewish life in Israel,” says Nof. “We took upon ourselves the
important mission of absorbing [them] by teaching them Hebrew as well as
Jewish and Israeli heritage, [and by helping the non-Jews among them
convert] to Judaism.” Receiving the award on behalf of Or Hadash was
Hila Hadasin (see photo below), the congregation’s conversion
coordinator, who also works with olim.
Hila Hadasin (center, with certificate)
receives Jewish Agency award on behalf of Haifa congregation
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KAPUSTIN
INSTALLED IN KHARKOV
Rabbi Misha Kapustin was formally installed as the Progressive rabbi of
Kharkov in eastern Ukraine during a special ceremony held there last
month. Leading the ceremony were Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny, Progressive
rabbi of Ukraine, and Rabbi Andrew Goldstein of London's Northwood and
Pinner Liberal Synagogue, where Kapustin interned while studying for the
rabbinate at Leo Baeck College-Centre for Jewish Education. He was
ordained last July. NPLS is now twinned with Kapustin's congregation
and Goldstein was joined at the ceremony by 27 of his congregants, who
spent a total of 12 days visiting Kharkov and Progressive communities in
the Crimea.
To mark the installation, Goldstein presented Kapustin with a "portable
synagogue," originally a US army chaplain's kit that had been used on a
recently-closed base near London. The kit consists of a Torah scroll,
ark and candlesticks, and will come in handy as Kapustin assists
Dukhovny in ministering to other Progressive congregations in Ukraine
and Crimea.
Back in Kharkov, the Progressive congregation is fighting for possession
of a building that had been used as a synagogue prior to the 1917
Russian revolution. A district court awarded the congregation title to
the structure, but its current tenants, with apparent backing by local
government officials, are refusing to leave. According to
Kapustin, the congregation would be willing to share the building
with other Jewish organizations in town, making it "not just a
synagogue, but a home for the many Jews of Kharkov."
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SCANDINAVIAN CONGREGATION THRIVES WITHIN WORLD UNION FAMILY
"Things are going not so badly," writes Chairperson Hetty Kviat in a
recent newsletter of Copenhagen's Congregation Shir Hatzafon – with a
level of understatement that she calls typical of western Denmark. "In
the last year we added 26 new members from all the Nordic countries
except Iceland, new [visiting] rabbis, new musicians to accompany our
worship services, a new chairperson and two new board members. We have
added a chagim (holiday) committee, which arranges all our
religious events, and a cultural committee. We now have our own aron
kodesh (holy ark) with a beautiful backdrop, and a new siddur
is well underway."
Since its establishment five years ago, Shir Hatzafon has been growing
at a steady pace, thanks in part to its links with the World Union and
the "outside Progressive world." These links include close ties with
the World Union's European Region - and a personal relationship with its
former chairman, Dr. Leo Hepner, who has become something of a
congregational mentor and undertakes an annual visit to lead prayers,
study sessions and other activities (see photo below). There is also
its relationship with Dr. Stefan Rokem, an Israeli academic who spent
2005 on sabbatical at a Danish university. The former chairman of a
highly successful Progressive congregation back home – Congregation
Mevasseret in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion – Rokem spent his
year in Copenhagen as an informal advisor to Shir Hatzafon's board of
directors. He also helped the congregation develop its new siddur
and led Shabbat services on a regular basis (see WUPJnews #129).
According to Kviat, Shir Hatzafon does not plan to rest on its laurels.
"In the coming year," the congregation chairperson says, "the board has
decided to concentrate on two areas: increasing cultural activity and
acquiring the financial means to have a full-time rabbi and our own
building, a goal requiring long-term planning." As it does with all
Progressive congregations seeking guidance and assistance, the World
Union will continue to be there for Shir Hatzafon.
Dr. Leo Hepner (right, on far side)
leads an adult study group at Shir Hatzafon
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