Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Dear Ma Nishma Subscriber,

I'm happy to deliver to your email doorstep the latest issue of Ma Nishma ("What's Happening?"), featuring news and events from JRF.

Now everyone can subscribe to Ma Nishma. Register at the JRF website at http://jrf.org/user/register then click "Manage your JRF e-newsletter subscriptions" at the top left of the home page to subscribe.

Newsletter editors and webmasters: Please reprint stories and announcements from this issue for a JRF News page in your congregational newsletter and on your website.

REGISTER NOW for the 42nd JRF Convention
Transformative Judaism for the 21st Century

November 13-16, 2008
Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers
Beautiful Boston Harbor

Come and experience the largest gathering of Reconstructionists in North America for four enriching days of learning, building connections, and sharing best practices to strengthen and grow our Reconstructionist communities.

Get all the details and register now at www.jrf.org/convention.

Photo: Greater Boston Convention & Visitor's Bureau.

Rabbi Mark KramPlease join us in extending a warm welcome to Rabbi Mark Kram, who became the new spiritual leader of Temple Beth Or in Miami, FL, on July 1, 2008.

In announcing the agreement with Rabbi Kram, Larry Goodman, President of Temple Beth Or, expressed the sentiments of the Congregation: “We are thrilled to welcome into our spiritual community an individual who has been such an integral part of the Greater Miami community for so many years and who has been a source of education, inspiration and comfort to so many of us.”

JRF endorses and joins national interfaith coalition "Fighting Poverty With Faith: A Week of Action", September 10-16, 2008

WHAT WILL THE CANDIDATES DO IN THEIR FIRST 100 DAYS
TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA?

From September 10-16, 2008 people of faith across the country will be mobilizing their communities to ask their local, state and national candidates what they will do to address the pressing issues of poverty and opportunity in America in their first 100 days in office.

In communities across the country, people of faith will be calling and writing the candidates, holding forums to discuss these issues with civic and political leadership, engaging in interfaith community service to aid those in need in their communities, and otherwise highlighting the need for increased leadership on these issues.

Rabbi Brant Rosen in RwandaRabbi Brant Rosen of JRF's Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, IL is currently in Africa. And he's blogging from there. Here is an excerpt:

We talked about the ways the Rwandan experience is both similar and markedly different than the Jewish one. Obviously the wounds here are very fresh; and unlike the Jews of Europe, the goverment is committed to bringing all aspects of Rwandan society back together in one extremely small country.

Whether this will succeed over the long term or not is an open question. One woman who joined our conversation expressed her doubts - saying that while the political reconciliation is important, much of the underlying pain and hatred continues to simmer under the surface. How many generations does it take for this kind of pain to dissipate in a community? The Jewish people hav been learning this for some time - Rwanda is struggling with the tragic question as well.

Our final visit was a heartbreaking tour of Kigali’s Public Hospital. More on this in my next post…

Read more on Brant's blog.

Read more about JRF Service Learning Resources

What a wonderful day we had today! The sun shone brightly, the blue of the sky was perfect, and the voices of our community rose together as we opened Summer 2008 on the Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus of Camp JRF. It was a pleasure to see the smiles as old friends reconnected and new friendships began to form. Campers from the United States and Israel joined us as we began another wonderful summer of Reconstructionist camping.

The United Jewish Federation has joined with federations throughout North America to launch a relief effort for victims of the natural disasters, including floods and tornadoes, that have wreaked havoc in the central United States since mid-May.

The effort, to be coordinated through the UJF's national organization, United Jewish Communities, will raise funds to help victims in the Jewish and general populations, with funds going to local communities that have been affected by natural disasters. No administrative costs will be deducted from funds raised.

Donations can be made payable to the UJF/Central U.S. Disaster Relief Fund by check to the United Jewish Federation, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213 or by clicking the "Click to Give" image above.

A crucial election day is only months away. At stake are vital political, economic and moral issues of concern to all Americans, in addition to issues of special concern to American Jews.

During the next four years, there will be important debates about the way our government does business. Legislation on significant issues such as health care, foreign aid, civil rights and support for Israel is likely to be considered by the next Congress and Administration. In addition, over the next four years, the President and Senate will confirm judges who will make crucial decisions affecting our lives. With the stakes so high, we must work to reverse the trend toward declining percentages of voters.

As Jews and American citizens we have an obligation to participate in the elections to ensure that our country's policies at the local, state and national levels reflect our commitment to social justice. Every vote counts and plays a defining role in setting policy agendas. It is our civic duty to register promptly, educate ourselves about the critical issues and VOTE!

The Get Out the Vote 2008 Guide attached to this article, provides you with tools, resources and information to help your congregation or community plan a successful voter engagement effort in advance of Election Day.

Congregation Beth Hatikvah's Adult B'nai Mitzvah ClassCongregation Beth Hatikvah of Summit, NJ, celebrated its first Adult B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, March 8, 2008 in a joyous service with Rabbi Amy Joy Small.

Guests, family and members celebrated at a festive luncheon given by the congregation. The class studied for two years in preparation for this important day.

In the photo, standing from left, are Carol Sussman-Skalka, Leslie Weber, Arleen Soldati and Connie Seligman. Seated from the left, are Katia Segre Cohen, Rabbi Amy Joy Small, and Gary DeBode.

For the first time ever, Congregation Bnai Keshet in Montclair, NJ, held its summer retreat at Camp JRF, the camp of the Reconstructionist movement, in South Sterling, Pennsylvania, and it couldn’t have been better received. Over 80 BK congregants enjoyed the scenic, wooded grounds, the balance of recreation and hidur-mitzvah-themed programming, and the peaceful spirituality of the Memorial Day weekend spent with the BK community.

Highlights of the weekend included t’fillot by the lake, the instant choir on Shabbat morning, an in-depth story discussion, thought-provoking Torah study, a mosaic craft activity, a blazing campfire with s’mores, spirited games of baseball and basketball, surprisingly tasty food, and a wrap-up program that got us all thinking (see sidebar). For the many kids under 13 who attended, the clear highlights were discovering a love for ga-ga (an Israeli ball game), tie-dying T-shirts, and finding dozens of furry caterpillars just about everywhere. Everyone is saying "Next year in South Sterling!"

More than a dozen national Jewish agencies, including the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, have issued a joint statement strongly criticizing a Presbyterian Church (USA) document that replaces a PCUSA critique of anti-Jewish bias, issued just one month prior. The revised document, according to the Jewish statement, “is infused with the very bias that the original statement condemned.” The Jewish agencies note “with profound hurt” that the “new season of mutual understanding and dialogue” called for by the 2006 Presbyterian General Assembly “has indeed not yet arrived.” The 2008 Presbyterian Church General Assembly opened this week in San Jose, California.

The full statement follows. That statement together with a letter to the Presbyterian Church from leaders of the Reconstructionist, Reform, and Conservative movements are attached to this story.

Submitted by Rabbi Amy Joy Small

June Walker with her husband Barrett and Rabbi Amy Joy SmallOn June 4, 2008, June Walker was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Haifa. The immediate past president of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, June is Chairperson of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and a member of JRF affiliate Congregation Beth Hatikvah in Summit, NJ. Rabbi Amy Joy Small accompanied June and her husband Barrett to Israel for the ceremony. An article on Ms. Walker's honor appeared in a recent edition of The New Jersey Jewish News, attached to this story.

When I was growing up in the '60s and '70s, I wasn't fully conscious of how much I was impacted by the absolute dearth of female role models available to young Jewish girls like me. But it certainly did impact me. In part, we are all products of our environment and culture at its moment in time. Many aspiring Jewish feminists like myself, even before we could claim the feminist mantle, fought hard to become educated, to achieve positions of leadership that opened access for us to contribute to the world in powerful ways. Many of us adored Golda Meir, a beloved leader of our people, a world leader who was also our "Jewish grandma."

Shir Hadash and community members plant a garden.A special tikkun olam project of Milwaukee's Congregation Shir Hadash on June 1st drew approximately 75 people working side by side to plant a community garden at the Children's Outing Association's (COA) Goldin Center at 2320 W. Burleigh St. This is one of the poorest and most crime-ridden areas in the city. The project involved community residents as well as volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life from Shir Hadash, Milwaukee’s Reconstructionist congregation. People of all ages came together to plant a community garden and to beautify the grounds of the Center.

This week, as we prepare ourselves for receiving the Torah anew on Shavuot, we travel across the congregational system, from schools to shuls, and then back again...

Included in this week's omer teachings, among other things, we learn the importance of reflection while you pursue social justice, potential suggested ingredients for successful synagogue tikkun olam programs, and discover many education related tikkun olam resources.

In Brachot 63b, the Babylonian Talmud states that the Torah can only be acquired in partnership, while in community with others.

Therefore, this week's omer packet features some of JRF's many collaborative partnerships and formal external affiliations with other organizations, including The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, The Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations, The Informed Meetings Exchange (INMEX), The International Association for Religious Freedom, The International Jewish Social Justice Network, The Jewish Coalition Responding to HIV/AIDS in Africa , The Jewish Council on Public Affairs (JCPA), The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, Mazon – A Jewish Response to Hunger , The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Secure Communities Network, and The World Union for Progressive Judaism.