Another year

It seems that at this time of year everyone is coming up with their top ten lists-movies, songs, events.

Did you ever consider coming up with your own top ten lists? Would they include family milestones-births, marriages, bar/bat mitzvahs? Vacations?Finding a job?A new home?Being promoted?

We all have different criteria for determining what we would consider as our own top ten. Mine would include a big birthday this past year, visiting Russia for the first time and experiencing the regeneration of Jewish life there, spending the summer in Israel, and number one would be becoming a grandfather for the first time.

It would probably be a lot of fun for families to get together before the end of 2011 to develop their own top ten list. What a great way to remember those things we consider to be the most important events of our year and to keep a permanent record of our top ten events.

I hope that all of you will end this year on a very happy note and begin 2012 in the same way!

December

The Chanukah-Christmas dilemma is upon us. This year Chanukah actually coincides with Christmas. For a very interesting article on how one family deals with this issue I would direct you to the December issue of our emagazine www.jewishcentralvoice.com

We will also be celebrating Chanukah this year by devoting one night's gift to Beit Singer, a home for at risk children in our Partnership2Gether region of Afula/Gilboa. This project in partnership with Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah, Temple Emanuel, B'nai Shalom Temple Sinai and the Worcester JCC will officially kick off at the family Chanukah Havdallah Happening at B'nai Shalom on Dec 17 from 6-8 PM.

There will be lots happening in our community over the next few weeks in celebration of Chanukah..check out www.jewishcentral.org for all the great info.

A Time To Give Thanks

With our fall holidays now over, we turn to one that all Americans celebrate regardless of religion or ethnicity - Thanksgiving.

There will be many of us travelling to be with family and friends. With families spread all over the country it is nice when everyone has the time off to come together and celebrate as one.

Airports will be busy, the roads will be packed and we will wonder why are we enduring this ordeal, only to be reminded what is on the other side. There have been many movies made about the trials and tribulations of family reunions at Thanksgiving. In spite of the angst, hurt feelings, unsaid sentiments, hidden emotions and family tensions, most of those movies end happily with an understanding that we all do the best that we can and that we need to do our best to tolerate one another and work out unresolved issues.

Even if we have to wait until next Thanksgiving.

Safe travels, feast on that big juicy turkey (or facsimile), and enjoy your friends and family...

Visiting Israel

What a trip!

I have just recently returned from a Federation trip to Israel. What a joy to spend a week with fellow community members exploring and rediscovering the new and modern Israel while visiting newly uncovered archaelogical sites throughout the country.

With all of Israel's many security and social challenges, it is still remarkable to learn about the tremendous strides being made by this small country in the arts, culture, technology, and medicine.

We ate at amazing restaurants where the food was plentiful and delicious. Breakfasts are always a treat. Fresh fruit, vegetables served with a variety of breads and cheeses.

One of the most important elements of a successful mission is the guide.And we had an outstanding guide. Yona Lefetsh moved from the world of High Tech to the world of showing visitors all that Israel has to offer.

We were briefed on security issues, the social challenges that Israel faces and had a very enlightening explanation of the differences between our political system and Israel's. Prior to our visit to Israel's Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, we were priveleged to hear some personal recollections of a child of survivors who now works at Yad Vashem.

We spent the better part of a day in our sister communities of Afula/Gilboa and visited several programs that our Federation funds, and were hosted for dinner by friends from Afula/Gilboa.

We returned home excited and inspired with a much better understanding of Israel and the important role it plays in our Jewish identity and well being.

Join us in 2 years when we will going once again as a community to Israel...and ask our mission returnees to better understand how meaningful and important this trip was.

The Power of Women

Last Tuesday the Federation held its annual meeting. Natalie Rudolph was elected president. Natalie becomes the second woman president of the Federation. Nancy Leavitt, who now lives in Gloucester served as president from 1984-1987.

We cannot underestimate the role that women have played in the development of our community. It is indeed an honor to once again have a woman leading our community.

On our list of events on www.jewishcentral.org, you will note that a Federation woman's event is being held this Thursday Sept 22. This luncheon will feature Dr. Shira Sanders, who oversees the Womans Empowerment Center in Afula our sister community in Israel. This program is funded by our Federation.

Once again you will be able to see how the power of women makes a huge difference in the lives of so many.

Here we go

Yikes! It's September. Where did the summer go?

Our last long weekend of the summer is upon us.

As the summer transitions to the fall, our level of activity grows exponentially. It seems that we are all awakened from a short nap, only to be refreshed and reinvigorated to start the rest of the day.

So many exciting things to look forward to and so many issues to debate and discuss.

New Rabbis at our congregations, Consul General of Israel to New England Shai Bazak speaking at the Federation annual meeting on Sept 13 a week before a vote on Palestinian statehood goes before the United Nations General Assembly, a mission to Israel from Oct 23-31, the final planning for a new community religious school to start operations in the fall of 2012, a new community wide adult educational program to be unveiled during the High Holidays, Torathon at a new location, Rabbi Daniel Gordis kicking off our Cotton Leadership program in November, a new community singing group, and so much more...

Take a deep breath...enjoy the end of the summer, and gear up for what promises to be an amazing fall and winter in our Jewish Community of Central Massachusetts.

Back from Israel

I have returned from an 8 week Sabbatical in Israel. I have shared some of my experiences with you in my weekly fedmail and will have a lengthy article in the upcoming September issue of our emagazine JewishCentral Voice.

Israel continues to be a fascinating country, where the beautiful Tel Aviv beaches compete with the beauty of the Negev desert and the Hills of Galilee. For a small country one wonders at the diversity of landscape and the geographical differences....beaches and desert, plains and mountainous regions, major metropolitan areas and communal villages.

One hears so much about this tiny country-its politics, its economy, its people. Yet so few have visited it to truly understand it.

Join us at the end of October as we experience Israel in all its many facets. For complete details check out our website www.jewishcentralmass.org

Summertime in Israel

Summers in Israel are hot. The only way to escape the heat is to spend some time at the beach, preferably in the morning when the sun is not as scorching and there seems to be a nice breeze or relax in the cool air of an air conditioned apartment store or restaurant.

The beaches are packed with tourists and Sabras, especially on Fridays, when most Israelis don't work or on Shabbat when everyone is off.

This week, Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv is hosting the European sand volleyball championship which is bringing more people to the beach. The beaches in Tel Aviv while busy are clean, and beautiful. The 13 kilometer boardwalk that stretches from the old port in North Tel Aviv to Old Jaffa in the south is full of joggers, walkers, and cyclists, once again proving that in spite of the hot and humid weather, there are still some pretty strong resilient Israelis.

Several weeks ago while dining at a restaurant at one of the many Tel Aviv beaches, closer to Old Jaffa, we were surprised to see a group of Arab women in full regalia, from head to toe wading and completely dunking themselves in the Mediterranean Sea.

There husbands of course with no such dress restrictions were swimming separately in the water.

Youth Village and School, Kadoori

The youth village and school, Kadoori, located in the Lower Galilee was the institution that Yitzchak Rabin graduated from. In the lobby of the currently being renovated original building, the report card of the tragically assassinated prime minister was on display. I am happy to report that his behavior received an excellent grade.

There is much to describe about the school which world ORT has adopted and is being transformed into a "smart school" where technology is part and parcel of the interactive learning environment. But I want to talk about the 15 Eritrean refugees that have been rescued from detention centers and are now being taught and nurtured at Kadoori.

These youngsters escaped the war and bloodshed in Eritrea to seek refuge in a country that they had heard about that could become a safe haven for them and a place where they could find work in order to send money to their impoverished families in Eritrea. These refugees are not Jewish, and enter the country illegally. Along the way to Israel, they faced many hurdles, and near death incidents. They bribed their way across the border between Egypt and Israel and most are placed in detention centers until the government can figure out what to with them.

Here comes the magic of Israel. The director of Kadoori goes to these detention centers in the Negev and personally signs for a select number of these refugees and brings them to the school. Because they are personally guaranteed by the director, they are allowed to come under his tutelage and guardianship. They receive room, board and an education. Most of these young refugees want to travel to Tel Aviv to work in order to send money back to their families, but Hillel, the school director ' s philosophy is that providing real opportunities for these kids will be more important to them and their families in the long run. This refugee issue is one of the myriad of the many issues that Israel faces. How can a country as small and as besieged as Israel is, cope with illegal immigrants who are not Jewish, potentially flooding the country. Yet as a country founded to be a safe haven for Jews, how can it be insensitive to the needs of those in the world who are facing such intolerable circumstances in countries like Eritrea. I asked this group sitting around a table in an impromptu moment: Why Israel?

Their answer was swift and to the point. Israel is a good place, where people are treated well and where we can find jobs. In Egypt we would be killed.

Imagine that the only alternative these teenagers had was Israel.

I do not mean to diminish the ongoing issue that this illegal migration to Israel could cause. But in this one instance, the moral and ethical decision to rescue these Eritrean young men from detention is truly a remarkable glimpse of what the unofficial Israel is all about.

Bad weather

Last week, Western Massachusetts suffered a traumatic experience when tornadoes touched down in several locations, including downtown Springfield. For the most part, the Jewish institutions were spared damage. However the building which houses the Harold Grinspoon Foundation was hit. Luckily all those working there were unharmed.

We have absolutely no control over natural disasters. There have been too many this year. Floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis have wreaked havoc in so many parts of the world.

It brings into focus the need to take charge of what we have control over. Do we make the right decisions? Are we considerate of others? Do we take into account what really matters in life? Do we take the time to say thank you? Do we really appreciate the good things we have?

It's never too late to ask and answer those questions.

Over the next few weeks I will be blogging from Israel. Hope you take the time to read them.

Netanyahu and Obama

This week will an interesting one.

Prime Minister Netanyahu meeting with President Obama at the White House, major speeches by Obama and Netanyahu before 10,000 delegates to the AIPAC policy conference, and a joint session of Congress being addressed by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

All this follows the major Middle East foreign policy address given by President Obama on Thursday.

What will be the results of all these meetings? We will see...but it will be interesting!

Post Passover Blues

Are any of you suffering from post Passover blues?

Probably not....after all as much as we might like matzah, it does get a bit tedious.

Yet, aren't we lucky...onion matzah, whole wheat matzah, chocolate covered matzah, egg matzah, vegetable matzah crackers, and so many different varieties- yet it's still matzah.

Now that we are past Passover, the community moves into high gear. The next 6 weeks are filled with events, programs, annual meetings, not to mention all the graduations that so many of you will experience.

Take a look at our community calendar at www.jewishcentralmass.org and join in the fun. There is something for everyone and if not, let me know...and we'll see what we can find together.

Change is in the air!

Looks like we will actually experience spring later on next week. Temperatures are expected to reach into the 70's. To say it's about time, would be redundant!

With the spring of 2011 upon us, it is time to think about the changes that will take place this summer and fall in our religious community.

Three rabbis will be leaving their congregations: Rabbi Larry Milder of Congregation B'nai Shalom, Rabbi Seth Bernstein of Temple Sinai and Rabbi Joel Pitkowsky of Congregation Beth Israel. Different circumstances for all three have precipitated career moves and changes. Their service to their congregations and the community has been much appreciated. They all have brought their unique talents and approaches to their congregations and all will be missed.

Several people have wondered out loud that this seemingly mass exodus of community Rabbis speaks to the further erosion of our Jewish community. This could not be further from the truth. It is indeed coincidental that these three Rabbis will be leaving at the same time. Lest one think that we will not have skilled talented and motivational religious leaders this fall, let me assure you that both B'nai Shalom and Temple Sinai have already hired interim Rabbis for the coming year, and Beth Israel is in the midst of its search.

By the fall of 2012, all three congregations are planning to have on board their full time permanent rabbis to lead their respective congregations. New personalities bring new ideas and approaches.

Yes, it is always somewhat disconcerting to say good bye to those who have been our spiritual leaders. But in Hebrew we say L'hitraot: not good-bye, but see you again!

Afula Part 2 and Passover

Jews worldwide will usher in Passover with a seder on Monday evening.

Of all the Jewish holidays, the Passover seder is the most widely celebrated event in the Jewish calendar. Probably because its message is one of freedom-we were freed from slavery and this struggle is used as an example of how peoples around the world still need to struggle for their freedom.

Seders will be conducted in formal settings, informally in as many places as one could imagine and in countless creative ways to meet the needs of the seder participants.

This whole thing started when Joseph sojourned to Egypt. Initially welcomed, Joseph and his cohorts flourished, but as guests sometimes do, they overstayed their welcome, and their hosts became somewhat agitated.

Eventually the Egyptians turned on those Israelites and their journey to Freedom is memorialized in the Passover seder.

The freed slaves were promised a land flowing of milk and honey, but once having arrived, realized that such was not the case. Much work had to be done to reclaim the land and make it prosper.

Even today there is still much to do. The Gilboa region has embarked on one novel approach:

While in Israel, we visited Sha'ar Hagilboa, a new ski site and tourism complex in the Gilboa region. The Gilboa ski as it is called is located on the northern slope of Mt. Gilboa and allows visitors to ski on an intriguing slope that offers a beautiful view of the Gilboa scenery. The Gilboa is mentioned in the bible in the Book of Samuel. On the Gilboa, David said in his Lamentation to Jonathan: "Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is viley cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil".

Standing on Mt Gilboa overlooking the Jezreel Valley where so many Biblical stories occurred, our Jewish history came alive. And combined with the new tourist attractions in the region created a sense that our present is truly interconnected with our past. The modernity of a man made ski resort on the Gilboa where David roamed is truly a remarkable experience.

The struggles for freedom are not over...in the Afula/Gilboa region, immigrants from Ethiopia are learning how to be free...Arab and Jewish Israelis are struggling to learn about one another...

But at this Passover season, we celebrate the freedoms we have here and in Israel, and the freedoms that we all hope for, for all peoples.

Visit to Afula Part 1

Whenever I travel to Israel and Israelis ask me where in the country I will be spending most of my time and I respond: "Afula", they look at me quizically and ask "why".

I suppose that I could answer that in a national poll asking the question where can you eat the best falafel, Afula's Melech Falafel was named the number 1 falafel stand in the country.

I suppose I could also answer that the best garinim, or sunflower seeds are grown in the Afula/Gilboa area and that the freshest and best tasting cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds can be purchased at the nut stand next to Melech Falafel.

Or I could repond that the Gilboa region in which Afula is situated is one of the most picturesque areas of the country which boasts many tourist attractions, including the very recently opened ski slopes.

But the real reason why 11 participants from our Southern New England Consortium (SNEC) were in Afula was for an historic meeting between members of our American steering committee and our Israeli counterparts. We were there for a planning retreat to discuss, deliberate and come to terms on what we needed to do to make our partnership more meaningful and stronger.

Gone are the days when we in America were looked upon as the rich uncle who doled out financial favors to its poor cousins. Yes, it is true that the gap between the haves and the have nots in Israel is growing wider, and that we will most certainly continue to fund certain program and projects that help to narrow that gap, but a true partnership is not based on one side giving while the other takes. And our Israeli friends stated over and over again that we need to develop more people to people exchanges so that we Jews here can better understand Israeli Jews and vice versa. One of the most successful programs to accomplish this is our young emissary program, and although it is the biggest and well known program that is offered here, it is not and cannot be the only one.

Over the next few weeks I will fill you in what we did, what we hope to accomplish and how all of us can help strengthen the connections between our 2 regions.

Join Us in Israel this Fall

With so much going on in the world, many of us still have a hard time understanding how Israel copes with all the new realities facing it:

-changing political environment in the Arab world

-existential threats from Iran

-ongoing stalemate with the Palestinians

-ongoing efforts to integrate the newest wave of Ethiopian immigrants

-the efforts to portray Israel as a pariah nation by conducting a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against it

In spite of all of the above, we also are amazed at the innovations that Israel has created:

-technological advances that far outstrip any country of its size

-new cultural expressions that are innovative and cutting edge

-new approaches to create educational and social opportunities for the underpriveleged

-the cultural center of the Jewish people.

We want all of you to experience the new Israel this fall by learning, viewing, discussing, touring,socializing and interacting with all the parts that make up the new Israel.

Mark October 23-31 2011 on your calendar for an Israel experience you will remember for a lifetime.

The New Israel

Last Sunday, I attended Israel Education Day, where over 80 people heard from Dexter Van Zile speak about the BDS campaign.

Dexter is a Christian media specialist who works for CAMERA, a media watchdog that monitors reporting from the Middle East.

He emphasized the human rights abuses that the Christian minorities, women, gays and other populations experience in the Arab world, and highlighted the scant attention that is paid to those injustices. Yet, Israel is the one country in the Middle East where women are equal, gays serve in the military, and Christian minorities as are all minorities treated fairly and equally.

We also heard from two other speakers about the technological and medical advances that Israel has given to the world...a treasure that no other country its size or population has come close to.

I would like to invite you to see what they are were talking about when we visit Israel from Oct 23-31, 2011.

Get a true picture of what is really happening...from a political, economic, cultural and security point of view.

Experience the New Israel.

Free Speech?

Our Supreme Court has issued its opinion:It is ok to shout obscenities and slurs at the funerals of fallen soldiers as long as the screaming is done from public spaces.

At the same time as this ruling is being issued, the French government is prosecuting John Galliano, the top designer at the House of Dior for allegedly making anti-Semitic slurs at two women who were not Jewish. He could face up to 6 months in jail and be fined up to $31,000.

Does anyone see the irony in this?

Speech is not free-it comes with a price tag. Just ask those kids in school who are bullied incessantly with insults and put-downs. What about those bosses who bully their employees, and create an environment of anxiety and hostility.

We have always understood the impact that bullying has on its victims; yet it took the deaths and suicides of bullying victims for our society to take notice and implement consequences to those acts.

Speech is not free in those instances, so what makes hurling slurs ok if they are done by a different group to a different audience.

I guess then it's ok for Holocaust deniers to have a legitimate claim to spew their venom in our country. Yet in Germany it is illegal...and France prosecutes those who are found to be uttering anti-Semitic insults.

There are limits to "free" speech. And we put ourselves in terrible danger if we do not realize that there are boundaries to everything we do.

Weather

OK...looks like the groundhog might be right after all...our snow is melting, the rain is falling, the temperatutes are a little warmer...hey a guy can hope, can't he?

The weather is always the common denominator...easy to discuss, non-controversial, something everyone can talk about and have a non controversial opinion about.


So unlike so many other topics: religion, politics, money.

Yet there is so much to talk about that we need to talk about but choose not to, because it easier not to.

Almost everyone has an opinion about how our community operates. And we would love to hear what you think-the good the bad and the ugly. Lets open up that topic and see what you have to say.

Communication

Who would have thought that facebook, smartphones, tweeting and the internet would be having such a profound effect on how nations are being altered. The Arab world is in turmoil as these new immediate ways of communicating have taken over. Information is free flowing and uncensored. For populations that have never known freedom, this is truly a revolution.

Locally, we are trying to communicate through our social networking site www.jewishcentral.org

Hopefully this is just the beginning. Communication must be swift, immediate and meaningful.

Any suggestions....let us know!

Middle East Uncertainty

It's never easy to decipher developments in the Middle East.

Cetrainly, one thing is certain and should be very evident to all, including all of Israel's detractors in the world:

The only true democracy in the Middle East is Israel.

We might all have our opinions on how the Israeli electoral system works. We might have concerns about how a small group can influence political decisions in a widely diverse politic. We might vehemently support or oppose political, social and religious decisions made by the Israeli Knesset or Parliament. But one thing remains perfectly evident: Israel is the beacon of democracy and freedom in the entire Middle East. Freedom of the press,freedom of assembly, active opposition parties, an unencumbered judiciary are all hallmarks of Israel's democracy.

Political leaders are brought to trial and judged based on evidence...A flourishing human rights infrastructure guards against real and/or perceived injustices: Arab and Jew alike.

As I watch developments unfold in Egypt, I am ambivalent. It makes me angry that the Egyptian government does not understand that the movement towards freedom stems from the frustration that most Egyptians have felt since Gamel Abdul Nasser was president. He led Egypt into a disastrous war with Israel which became known as the 6 day war.

His successor, Anwar Sadat saw the ills of his predecessor's way and realized that the enemy was not Israel and was bold enough to sign the first Arab peace treaty with Israel. How triumphant he was upon his arrival in Israel and how jubilant was the entire Israeli nation. Yet, the peace treaty was his ultimate undoing and he was assassinated. Hosni Mubarak took over and declared martial law, ruling with emergency powers until this day. In spite of the cold peace that has existed between Israel and Egypt over the past 30 years, Mubarak has had it both ways: maintaining important links with the Israeli politic, while keeping the flames of anger and animosity towards Israel alive in their hearts.

One can only hope that when Mubarak is finally gone, Israel will not be blamed for his reign or accused of keeping him in power,and by extension subjugating the will and freedom of the Egyptian people. One would hope that a 7,000 year civilization will finally come to terms with how they can continue to be at peace with Israel. I unfortunately am not holding my breath.

Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

Are you about as fed up as I am about our snowfall this winter?

I get the "but you're from Canada" reaction all the time when we talk about the snow.

Yes (ay) I know...but everyome seems to forget that before I moved to Worcester 10 years ago, I worked at the Federations in Louisville KY. and Tampa Florida, not known for their below zero temperatures and their huge seasonal snowfalls.

Having grown up in that winter wonderland of Montreal, I do remember huge storms....going for my drivers license with my father and getting stuck in a snowstorm on the way back home and having to leave the car at the side of the road because of the extreme snow and returning the next day to pick up the car...waiting at the bus stop with a small pathway for the bus to pass, and watching one bus after the other pass us by because they were too full to allow anyone else on....

I do remember one snow storm in Louisville however. The only snowplow that the city owned broke down the first time it went out to clear the streets.

We were not plowed out for 4 days...and the city stopped functioning for a week.

At least here, we know that the snow will fall, schools will be closed and work will be temporarily halted only to be followed up with a quick and efficient clean-up.

So , let it snow, let it snow, let it snow......somewhere else!

Another Wake Up Call

What a terrible tragedy!

The nation is shocked by another senseless act of violence.

I have communicated our community's condolences to the Jewish community in Tucson through my colleague and friend at the Tucson Jewish Federation Stu Mellon.

Stu's wife had actually, at one time, worked for Congressman Giffords.

Things are getting too out of hand...too many senseless acts of violence.

We also mourn the death of Jewish singer song writer Debbie Friedman..Debbie revolutionized contemporary Jewish folk singing and composed many of the tunes of our liturgy that are used today.

Every day we have is precious....no point in holding grudges, being overly stressed, forgetting what's important in life....life is way too short.

Communication

Although there are numerous new ways of communicating with one another, there still seems to be a problem communicating community news to our constituents.

There is so much going on in our community, but getting the message out in this media savvy world still seems to be a difficult task.

One of the ways we hope to overcome this is by creating an e-magazine which will highlight events, news and personalities in the Jewish community of Central MA.

Our first issue will be available soon....your suggestions about content would be greatly appreciated. I hope that this vehicle together with jewishcentral.org, and our community websites including jewishcentralmass.org will continue to provide the news and information that will help you to become connected to community.