Chaverim Yekarim,
 
Shavua Tov,
 
Shalom from Haifa. Or Hadash isn't taking any vacation this summer.
 
1. On Monday, July 30th, Tu Be'av (the 15th of Av is Lovers' Day in Israel) there was a very special atmosphere at Or Hadash. Our building was decorated with balloons and we gave a white rose to every visitor as a symbol of love. Our members were invited to folk dancing and dozens came.
 
2. That evening, eight guests from the Greater Boston Area came to Or Hadash for dinner, among them were friends from our sister congregations, Beth Sholom in Needham and Beth El in Sudbury.  They were participants in the "Follow Me to Israel" project, touring youth projects in Haifa.  When they return to Boston, they will be able to recommend these projects in their congregations so their youth will participate in the "Passport to Israel" programs.
 
3. On Tuesday, July 31st, a "historical" meeting took place at Or Hadash. Representatives of the eight Reform congregations in northern Israel came to Or Hadash to talk and seek ways of cooperating. We explored possible initiatives and some excellent ideas were proposed. The meeting was coordinated by Ofer Shemer, Head of Congregational Life of the IMPJ.
 
 4. On Wednesday, August 1st we met with social workers from the Haifa Welfare Department regarding projects to help Ethiopian immigrants. They gave us information about the many projects they handle. Since they are organizing a one-day event for 150 families at the end of August, they asked for Or Hadash's help.

The two social workers are in charge of a project named Gamla which brings together volunteers and children who are new immigrants from Ethiopia. The project is based upon volunteers who maintain a warm and personal relationship with children. Or Hadash is well known in the field of social welfare for our commitment to Social Action and Tikkun Olam. Of course we agreed to help as much as we can. Many Or Hadash members participate in these programs.

There are many heart-warming examples of the wonderful relationships between volunteers and children. For instance, an orphan who had a "tutoring" relationship with a couple- they virtually became a family. Even though the boy has grown up and lives in a boarding-school, he maintains a close relationship with the couple.
 
5. On Thursday, August 2nd we had another very interesting meeting. Two young ladies, who work for the JDS (Joint Distribution Committee) on a project aiding the unemployed, came to Or Hadash. The JDS tries to integrate the private and industrial sector in Israel, implementing projects to help new immigrants, at-risk youth and the unemployed. The JDS does not run these projects directly, rather through other organizations. The two women who came to meet me are involved with the Haifa Tevet project helping the unemployed find jobs. People who participate in this project go through a one month long workshop to acquire skills that will help them find a job (computer skills, interviewing skills, working on their strengths and weaknesses). They receive coaching. There is a 90% success rate for this program. The purpose of our meeting is cooperation between Tevet and Or Hadash, or in other words filling in the gap for the people we help. People who participate in Tevet's workshop could also greatly benefit from other services that Or Hadash could provide them (bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies, our preschools or moadonit program). Or Hadash could also send people to the workshop. Some of the people we maintain contact with, are unemployed and could use support in this field. So it is a mutually beneficial program.
 
6. As the High Holidays approach we have begun collecting food for the needy. Twice a year (Pesach and the High Holidays) we collect food for needy families in Haifa in the name of Asaf Shtayer, z"l. We receive lists of needy families from the Haifa Municipality (95% of these families are new olim from Ethiopia). A truck delivers supplies to Or Hadash, where volunteers are in charge organizing these supplies into packages. Then the boxes containing many basic food supplies and wine for the holiday, are delivered to needy families. Since this year, we celebrate the holidays relatively early (last year Rosh Hashanah was late September), we are already gearing up for this project.
 
 7. Yesterday morning, Rabbi Shimon Paskow and his daughter, Rabbi Michele Paskow visited Or Hadash with a group of 40 people from Temple Etz Haim, Thousand Oaks, CA. It was an exciting visit. Next Friday (August 10), a group of educators from the Greater Boston Area is coming to Or Hadash for Kabalat Shabbat and dinner. As we mentioned in our last update it will also be an Ecological Shabbat at Or Hadash, so it should be very interesting.
 
Wishing you all a good week and a nice summer.
 
Edgar