ISRAEL

Israel at 61

For Israel's 61st BJ has organized a month long series of Israel related events leading up to Yom Ha'Atzmaut on April 28.

News & Information

Haaretz in English.

JTA The Global News Service of the Jewish People. Their special section on the crisis in Israel not only has up-to-date information from Israel but also 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.
ARE YOU HUGGING AND WRESTLING WITH ISRAEL? This site is 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.

Join the conversation -- http://makom.haaretz.com

Focus on Israel Features

BJ and Israel

Lighting Candles in the Holy City of Tel Aviv

BJ Goes to Israel makes headlines in Haaretz when members of B'nai Jeshurun and join the Israeli congregations of Tiferet Shalom, Kol Haneshama, and Ve'ahavta at Beit Lessin for the lighting of the sixth Hanukkah candle.

Welcoming a Secular Sabbath

This Haaretz article discusses one of five developing liberal and innovative Israeli congregations inspired by BJ. During our December trip to Israel, we will be celebrating Kabbalat Shabbat in Tel Aviv together with members of these five Israeli congregations:

Beit Tefilah in Tel Aviv
Kehilat Teferet Shalom in Ramat Aviv
Hochmat Halev in Ramat Hasharon
V'ahavta in Zichron Yaakov
and Nigun Halev, Hamidrasha's congregation in Nahalal.

BJ Israeli Partners

Nigun Halev

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
Web site under construction! Should be up and running soon.

Beit Tefilah Israeli - Tel Aviv

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 - Tel Aviv

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
www.tiferetshalom.org

Hochmat Halev - outside Tel Aviv

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, Zichron Ya'akov

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)
Web site under construction! Should be up and running soon.