Dear Friends,

Shabbat shalom.

Tomorrow will read parashat: Chayei Sarah, which signifies the end of life, of our patriarchs, Abraham and Sarah. It is our hope that we will all live long, healthy and dignified life, much like our ancestors Abraham and Sarah did.

As October is rapidly nearing its end and the US is hit by early winter storms, we in Israel had to deal with one more extremely hot day, which our lovely friend Brenda Epstein from congregation Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, Canada, says she special ordered, to welcome her on her first visit to Israel. 

1. A very successful interfaith youth delegation visit

On Sunday, Oct. 24^th, we said farewell to our good friends from the town of Falkensee, Germany, who spent 5 days with Or Hadash congregants in home hospitality. The youth delegation included 13 teens, ages 15-18, and 2 chaperons – our very good friends, the well known sculptor Ingo Wallmann and Sabine Waldner. The group experienced some very exciting and interesting tours around Haifa, as well as taking part in events that brought the Israeli and German youth closer together. On their first day of the visit, Tuesday, Oct. 19^th, the group participated in a special memorial service to commemorate the murder of Prime Minister Rabbin z”l.  Also participated in the evening’s discussion the Executive Director of the Reform Movement in Israel: Rabbi Gilad Kariv and Or Hadash President Dr. Yuri Kligerman.

Our friend Michael Schwannen translated the ceremony for the group.

The next day we took the group on a tour starting in Atlit, to show them the route European Jews took after the 2^ndWW, to be able to come to Israel.  The teens learned about the hardships and dangers the holocaust survivors experienced during the years after the war, until Israel became an independent state.

During their visit in Atlit the visitors toured a ma’apilim (illegal immigrant during the British Mandate period) ship and the manner in which those ships managed to get ashore.  Among other attractions the group visited the Druze village Daliat-El-Carmel where they experienced the warm, inviting and very tasty Druze hospitality.  A visit to the art colony Ein-Hod was followed by an evening BBQ at Haifa’s amazing beach.  Their last day was dedicated to touring Haifa and its many beautiful attractions like the Ba’hai gardens and the sculpture garden.

We hope our Falkensee friends had a good time and we are looking forward to seeing them again soon.

We would like to thank our Executive Director Mr. Ami Perlman, Dr. Roxana Reichman and Marina and Beni Firer-Frischer for their most appreciated help in organizing this successful visit. We would also like to thank Chana Tidhar and Michael Schwannen from Dialog, that made the connection and friendship between Or Hadash and Dialog Falkensee possible for the last five years. A special thank you note is sent to all our hosting families who opened their homes and hearts to the youth group.

youth.

In the picture: The Dialog youth group from Falkensee, Germany with Or Hadash youth.

2. Bar Mitzvah ceremony for disabled child

Yesterday, Thursday, Oct. 28^th, we had a very exciting day.  As you know, we have been connected for many years to the Hod school, which is a special school for severely disabled children. We celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvah for the children in Hod school and their families at the Or Hadash synagogue each year. The occasion is always accompanied by very deep heartfelt emotions. Yesterday we celebrated Bar Mitzvah to Reuben, who is a wonderful boy, very loved by his teachers, caregivers, classmates and of course by his family. The ceremony was very meaningful.

A report about the ceremony appeared in our local media.

We would like to thank Pnina Suchetzki, Vered Ivtzan and Yael Nof for their participation in the ceremony.

A full story of the ceremony can be found through Haifa’s journalist Shalom Zmirin who is the editor of Or Hadash’s weekly paper.

In the picture: Edgar is blessing Reuben, with his parents and younger sister on stage.

3. Brenda Epstein visiting from Montreal, Canada

The day was even more exciting thanks to our lovely and good friend Brenda Epstein, who came to visit us from congregation Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, Canada. We have been wonderful friend with Brenda for years and we invited her to take part in the Hod school Bar Mitzvah ceremony for Reuben.

After the Bar Mitzvah ceremony Brenda met Shalom Steinberg, a holocaust survivor who is being supported by or Hadash for the last 7 years.

After meeting Shalom, Brenda met Advocate Nicole Maor from IRAC, Who came to Or Hadash synagogue. Or Hadash is the Northern branch of IRAC in Israel.

For the rest of the afternoon I took Brenda on a tour in Haifa, showing her the beauty of our city.

In the picture: Brenda Epstein meets Shalom Steinberg in Edgar’s office

4. Congratulation to Rabbi Gabi Dagan

On Friday, Oct. 29^th we were very excited, driving up to Jerusalem for the ordination ceremony of our good friend Rabbi Gabi Dagan, from our sister congregation Ohel Abraham in Leo Beck school in Haifa. Or Hadash Executive Director Ami Perlman, Rabbi Ilana Baird from the new congregation in Haifa: Shirat Hayam Carmel and I, drove the 3 hours to Jerusalem to take part in this very exciting ceremony.  We had a lot of time to talk about many things on the way there and back.

5. Mazal Tov to our good friend Rabbi Buzzy Beifield

We would like to congratulate our good friend Rabbi Martin (Buzzy) Beifield from our sister congregation Beth Ahabah in Richmond, VA, on the baby naming ceremony of his grandson Yoav Chanan, which will take place on Nov. 12 in Moshav Charuv.

Buzzy’s son BG and his lovely wife Ilana, who live in Israel with their daughter Tamara, welcomed their son Yoav to the world on Yom Kipur this year. May Yoav Chanan be blessed with health, wisdom and love as he grows towards Torah, Chupa and Maasim Tovim.

6. A special concert for children at risk

On Wednesday, Oct. 27^th we hosted a special performance by Mrs. Eti Ben-Zaken who entertained our audience with folk songs and story telling.  All procedures from the concert go to benefit children at risk in Northern Israel.

7. Expecting overseas friends in November

We are looking forward to seeing some of our good friends in November:

Our good friend Harald Juettner from our sister congregation in Goettingen, Germany will spend a week in Israel, making us very happy to have him with us for about a week.

We are expecting Rabbi Mark Shook from Temple Israel in St. Louis and 16 of his congregants for Kabalat Shabbat and dinner on Nov. 19^th.

We are looking forward to have Professor Menachem Kellner, from the Dept. of Jewish History and Thought in Haifa University and a class of his students to visit us on Thursday, Nov` 25^th for a challenging lecture.

Our good friends Jeff & Judy Cohen will be staying with us for a day trip on Nov. 28^th.

Welcome to all our good friends, we love hosting you, please visit more often!

We are expecting many more friends in December and we`ll be happy to update you in our next newsletter.

8. An update about Mirjam Jurman:

Our vice president and very beloved congregant Mirjam has been moved from the Elisha rehabilitation center to Nof Hagefen rehabilitation institute, where she is being treated and cared for.  Mirjam’s strength is remarkable! We are praying and looking forward to her recovery, we miss her dearly.

We would also like to wish Refua Shlema to our friend and Or Hadash member: Chagit Kadevill.

Wishing you peaceful Shabbat,

In Friendship,

Edgar

Rabbi Dr. Edgar Nof
Or-Hadash Congregation
55 Hantke St. P.O. Box 3711
Haifa, 31036 Israel
Tel: 972-52-361-3983
Fax: 972-4-8343907
E-mail: overseas@or-hadash.org.il
www.or-hadash-haifa.org