What’s New | Focus on Israel | BJ and Israel | Israeli News | BJ Israeli Partners
In November 2009, 22 women from BJ embarked on a trip to celebrate Rabbi Chen Ben Or Tsfoni’s rabbinical ordination and to meet and learn more about our partners in Israel. See photos and read about the trip.
For those eager to support Israel’s environment and its people, Negev Nectars, a new business launched in October 2009, is bringing gourmet, sustainably produced foods—the kind that rarely make the trip over the Atlantic—to shareholders in the US.
Negev Nectars members will be sent olive oil, jams, chutneys, honey, dried herbs and other unique products in time for Hanukkah, Passover and Rosh Hashanah. Read more »
Enjoy the most recent Focus on Israel column from BJ’s weekly publication, Kol Jeshurun.
By Elenor Radzivilover
On my first BJ trip to Israel in 2000, I became acquainted with Hamidrasha, an educational organization whose mission includes developing opportunities for Israelis to participate in pluralistic Jewish life. To that end, Hamidrasha, with BJ’s support, started an experimental Kabbalat Shabbat service that year at Moshav Nahalal. No one knew what would happen, or who would attend. Fifty people came from the surrounding area, in addition to our BJ group. It was incredibly moving to be part of this spiritual activity in a very secular Israeli society.
I started travelling regularly to Israel, and whenever there was an opportunity to go for Shabbat to Nigun Halev, I did so, but the summer of 2008 was a real turning point. I spent the summer in Israel, and went every other Shabbat to Nigun Halev. I was welcomed so warmly, and started to know so many people, that much like I felt when I started going to BJ, I felt a need to join, and formalize my participation. I paid dues, but that was not the end of if. The next time I came, Beenie, a leader of the community, conducted a Kibbutz-style vote. While I will admit it was unanimous, I was finally an integral part of the congregation.
On our recent BJ delegation, I had the opportunity to go to Nigun Halev for a bar mitzvah in the Barnahor family, with whom I had developed a friendship over the past several years. Unbeknownst to me, fellow BJ’er Penny Dannenberg was also going to the Bar Mitzvah, and so we became a BJ contingent at Nigun Halev that Shabbat. Then, two weeks later, the entire BJ delegation spent Shabbat at Nigun Halev. There must have been 200 people there, a huge increase from our first Shabbat in 2000.
The highlight came for me, after Kiddush, when there was a planned “conversation” in which the BJ group was asked to sit on one side of the room and the Nigun Halev group on the other. I was overwhelmed by the idea that I belonged on both sides of the conversation, as a member of both Kehilot.
That Shabbat proved to me that joining Nigun Halev has expanded my relationship with Israel in a serious fashion: not only do I have real intimate connections with many people, I now also have a spiritual home when I travel l’ha’aretz.
Elenor Radzivilover, a lawyer, who has just received a Masters Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in Modern Jewish Studies, visits Israel regularly.
The “Focus on Israel” column is edited by Robin Fleischner, a Vice President of BJ’s Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of BJ’s Israel Steering Committee.
This Haaretz article discusses one of five developing liberal and innovative Israeli congregations inspired by BJ.
JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People has up-to-date information from Israel as well as in-depth analysis, background, resources and stories how Jews around the world are responding. They have a FREE daily e-mail briefing with the latest news and links to important stories in other media. They provide objective and accurate coverage, with no political or religious bias.
Haaretz is the Israeli independent daily newspaper with a broadly liberal outlook both on domestic issues and on international affairs. It has a journalistic staff of some 330 reporters, writers and editors. The paper is perhaps best known for its Op-ed page, where its senior columnists – among them some of Israel’s leading commentators and analysts – reflect on current events. It plays an important role in the shaping of public opinion and is read with care in government and decision-making circles.
Makom/Haraetz is the site for anyone who wants to be able to love Israel and get angry with Israel and appreciate Israel and critique Israel. It is a site where contemporary Israeli issues meet with timeless Jewish questions and the answers are open to you. No black and white answers, just full color conversation.
Nigun Halev was founded in 2000 by a dedicated group of visionaries, Jewish educators and residents of the Jezreel Valley who sought to create a framework for a meaningful expression of Jewish spirituality, aimed at addressing the needs of non-affiliated Jewish Israelis. It is unaffiliated regional congregation of its type in Israel, serving the Jezreel Valley and the Galilee. Drawing on Jewish sources throughout the ages – from traditional prayers to songs of the Zionist pioneers, the community has crafted its own “siddur”- prayer book and began to meet for regular Kabbalat Shabbat services. A core group of volunteers was formed to lead the services and organize the community and its activities. Over the years, Nigun Halev has grown in both numbers and in the diversity of activities. Today over 200 people ages 4 months to 80 years-old regularly attend Kabbalat Shabbat services and many dedicated volunteers serve on Nigun HaLev’s committees. The community is led by Shay Zarchi, Bini Talmi, and Chen Ben-Or Tsfoni.
Contact Information:
Email: nigunhalev@gmail.com for information and newsletter
Phone: Idit Segev 052-2008212
Beit Tefilah Israeli is a young and fast-growing, liberal and independent community in Tel Aviv, which offers a meaningful context and venue for Shabbat and holiday services, lifecycle events, and Jewish-Israeli Identity exploration for a broad range of Israelis who seek a place for its spiritual quest in prayer and activism in a communal and friendly environment. In its first two years of operation Beit Tefilah Israeli has gradually become a prominent feature in the world of Jewish culture in Tel Aviv, and in the everyday lives of its members. Beit Tefilah Israeli was launched in June 2004. It is run by two of its founders: Rani Jaeger (Chairman of the Board) and Esteban Gottfried (General Director), along with a lay leadership, an Advisory Board of prominent activists and a professional staff including community coordinator, a group of musicians, and children and youth instructors. Beit Tefilah Israeli has 90 family units who are members, an average of 100-150 people attending Shabbat Services, and more than 500 people connected to its activities in different levels of involvement. With more than 110 events and activities for 2007: Kabbalat Shabbat, Shacharit Shabbat , family-oriented services, Study groups, social action groups, holiday services and special activities, Bar/bat Mitzvot, Siddur publishing, CD production, hosting Israeli guests and communities from abroad.
Contact information:
9 Hamikzoa Street
Tel Aviv
Tel: 972-77-3003655
www.beit-tefilah.org
Kehilat Tiferet Shalom was founded by a group of olim, immigrants, who were looking for a synagogue here with the same kind of atmosphere as they had known before making aliyah. The founders – including Irving Kaplan, Maury Bodey and Bill Gross – were all leaders in their communities and their synagogues in America and had all enjoyed the experience of Camp Ramah. The congregation is comprised of people from many various backgrounds and nationalities, yet approximately two-thirds of us are native-born Israelis. The remaining one-third stem from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, England, South Africa, the United States and Yemen among others. They offer weekly adult study sessions and holiday celebration as well as a thriving weekly Shabbat celebration.
Contact Information:
Ramat Aviv
P.O. Box 17386
Tel Aviv
Kehilat Tiferet Shalom
Hochmat Halev was established in 2004 by a group of people who decided to expand their social and spiritual horizons by establishing a community of like minded people to confront basic questions that deal with their existence and their lives as Jews and citizens of the State of Israel. They have a core community of 20 active families and continue to grow. The community provides weekly adult learning, large holiday celebrations, and several annual Shabbat retreats. Hochmat Halev is also heavily involved in social action. They have several ongoing projects including welcoming new immigrants from Eastern Europe, working with the youth in the area and creating long term relationships with various other communities in Israel.
Contact Information:
3rd Reines Street
Ramat Hasharon 47277
http://h-halev.org/index.asp
Kehillat V’Ahavta, in the beautiful town of Zichron Ya’akov, with its famous wineries and vistas, began in 2003 from a core of eight enthusiastic and energetic families. They have grown to a congregation of over 80 member families with an additional 140 non-member families who attend various programs throughout the year. Some of their participants are native born Israelis and others are new and long time immigrants from all over the world. The community is led by Rabbi Elisha Wolfin. They offer a variety of events, Friday evening and Shabbat morning services, an active Beit Midrash (house of study), holiday celebrations, a successful B’nei mitzvah program and a range of Tikkun Olam programs.
Contact Information:
Kehillat V’Ahavta
P.O. Box 10060
Zichron Yaakov 30900
Email: veahavta@netvision.net.il
Phone: 050-4806400 (Aviva, director)