Chaverim Yekarim,

Shabbat Shalom.

1. This week the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy-Tour comedians gave a wonderful performance at Or Hadash. The tour includes Palestinian Ray Hanania, American-Israeli Charlie Waraday, African-American Jewish convert Aaron Freeman and Irish-Italian former Catholic Yisrael Campbell, who is now an Orthodox Jew who performs his routine in a traditional black hat and coat. The show is well known in Israel and abroad. Our members couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole show, which is good, since in Israel the media people constantly talk about a possible war in the summer. In my opinion the show was very funny. This is the first time in many years that such an event in English has taken place at Or Hadash, since our members are 98% Hebrew speakers.

2. As you know this week the Knesset elected Shimon Peres as the new Israeli President. Peres who was serially prone to losing elections, finally won this week to become the country's ninth president. It is worthy to mention that he never gave up. Him being 83 years old (very old for a newly elected president), did not deter him from running for presidency. The victory means that Mr Peres, will succeed Moshe Katsav, who suspended himself to defend likely charges, that he raped or sexually harassed four female employees. At Or Hadash elections are scheduled to take place at the beginning of July. Our Board is supposed to gather soon to prepare for the elections. It is time to thank Dr. Yuri Kligerman, our President and Miryam Yurman, our Vice President for the roles they have fulfilled. We hope they will be reelected for these roles in the coming elections.

3. This is the last week Bob Dorfman and Celia Shapiro, our good friends from Temple Micah, Washington D.C. will be with us. Bob and Celia have been wonderful friends of Or Hadash. They have helped us with our Moadonit (after-school program for children at-risk) and with our projects supporting immigrants from Ethiopia. They come to Israel each year for four months. Our Moadonit staff organized a special goodbye celebration for them.

4. Thursday, June 14th was a very busy day for us. In the morning we have rehearsal and tfilin for the B'nei Mitzvah of this Shabbat. In the afternoon Rabbi Jaime Aklepi and a group from Congregation Bet Breira from Miami came to visit us. We had such a busy day that they had to eat while I was performing a Bar Mitzvah for a child with speaking difficulties. In the evening our Program Director's wedding took place (I proudly officiated the wedding) at the "Pine Club" (a beautiful place located at the Carmel Forest close to Or Hadash). Our staff members sat together around one table. Some of us danced. It was very nice and communal. I have a feeling that Or Hadash is really an extended family.

5. My son, Elior's Bar Mitzvah will be August 17th. We are starting to get "prepared" for the event. Although I have performed over 2,000 ceremonies this one will be different and special. Elior is our second child, but is the first Bar Mitzvah in our immediate family ever in the land of Israel. I'm so excited!

Wishing you Shabbat Shalom.

Edgar