Nisan/ April 2007 |
News from Community folks (happenings, questions, etc...) Shavuah Tov from Warsaw, PL! “For Lo, The winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing is come…” Let Freedom Ring! Let it ring from the seas and from the mountain tops, Each year at Passover, we are commanded to re-live the story of the Exodus, our freedom from Mitzrayim (Egypt), as if experiencing it for the first time. Traditionally, we relive this journey through the ritual experience of a Seder. “Through word and song, story and ritual, questions and more questions, tastes, smells, tears, and laughter, we will relive the story of our ancestors’ exodus and liberation. We tell the story not only to preserve the memory. We tell the story because Egypt is not only one physical place. The Exodus was not just one moment in time. We step into this story because it is both our story and the story of all people who have experienced oppression and liberation. When we recall the story of our oppression, we resolve to fight oppression everywhere. When we recall the story of our liberation, we renew our dream for freedom everywhere.” - A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah, edited by Rabbi Joy Levitt and Rabbi Michael Strassfeld As we travel this month and relive the story of Passover, let us recommit ourselves to the struggle it takes to be free. Let us face the challenges, huge life challenges that attack us in the night and in the day, and let us remind ourselves that we must keep fighting for the freedom of all people around the world. In this process, we must also ask: What is my inner Mitzrayim, my inner Egypt, the dark and narrow place that restricts me from experiencing my full, true, liberated self? How can I free myself from my inner Mitzrayim this season? Finally, some words of hope to usher in this time of long-awaited liberation: A Poem Praying: For Us Then and Them Right NowBy Judy Chicago, Jewish Feminist Artist May this Passover season, this Spring season grow with justice, peace and freedom for all. Go, go and be free! [ newsletter edited by Jordan Namerow ]  The Month of Nissan – A freedom month, a month of new beginning, a month of Liberation! Passover Resources What’s on the Seder Table? The third night Seder will be held at a central London venue. We have 50 spaces and imagine that they will go fast so please sign up asap, by emailing Nathan at Nathan@cantab.net. The evening will be full of alternative 3rd night activities run by interesting, dynamic, weird and wonderful people and will weblink with other seders across the world and promises to be very exciting. If you can not make it in person then very soon you will be able to access the podcast... Around thirty EuroJews travelled to Ireland for our tenth event, warmly hosted by the Dublin Progressive Jewish Community. Josh Edelman and his team from the Trinity College J-Soc did an excellent job in organising things, ably assisted by Beatrice Richman, Laura Evonne Steinman and David Moskovic. In fact, for the first time ever I (Nathan) was able to take a well-earned back-seat - and everything ran very NEXT EUROJEWS EVENT - IN BRUSSELS! If you would like to be a member of EuroJews please send and e-mail to Beatrice Richman beatricerichman@hotmail.com * If you would like to receive a reminder link to our monthly newsletter, please send an email to the following address, within the brackets: [eurojews-subscribe(at)eurojews.org] Members' Forum (see the link from http://www.eurojews.org/members.html)...a virtual space for our community to gather - room for online discussion, fun, announcements, recipes, learning - something we have been hoping to create for a long time is now finally with us! Discussion forum for EuroJews. Google Groups Information News from Community Folks (happenings, questions, etc...) Film Review from Jordan: Hi, Everyone! Last Thursday, Nathan and I saw a powerful documentary film called “Encounter Point.” This documentary is about Israelis and Palestinians coming together for the first time to have constructive and compassionate conversations; to learn about each other’s pain; to humanize their enemies; and to strive for peace. Many of the people featured in the film had experienced violence, some had committed violent acts, and others had lost their loved ones in suicide bombings or military attacks. And yet, they were able to look past the violence and heal themselves by striving for a deep sustainable peace. I was inspired by their courage and filled with hope. You don’t see any of this in the news, so it’s very important to see this film. Check out the “Encounter Point” website. The Facebook Shul
Shir Hatzafon Progressive Judaism in Denmark Tent Events: ‘tent’ night out Manchester thursday 29 march at 7:30pm join avivit and other young adults in manchester to see the play “kindertransport” at the lowry centre followed by a discussion in a pub over a drink (or two!) to book tickets please contact avivit on 07866 501 787 or a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org ‘tent’ service with jewish gay & lesbian group (jglg) Shabbat Service: friday 30 march at 7 pm at the montagu centre, 21 maple street, w1t 4be service followed by chavurah supper – please bring a dish of food to share contact: contact: anna on 07817 207625 or a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org ‘tent’ israel trip get ready and start saving for the exciting alternative israel trip experience the real israel with anna and avivit, july 12 – 22 kabbalat shabbat on the beach, spiritual retreat in the desert, volunteering with rabbis for human rights, nightlife and drag shows, dialogue with palestinians and settlers and other surprises would you like to organise a tent social event? if you have an idea for a night out in your city then let us know and we’ll advertise it to the mailing list and help you to make it happen. theatre, cinema, dinner, picnics, anything really? for full listings of ‘tent’ and other endorsed events, please see our website www.liberaljudaism.org. Monique Blake Outreach & Projects Administrator |
