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SHEVAT / February 2007 |
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News from Community folks (happenings, questions, etc...)
special for Tu B'Shevat - Tikkun of Tu B'Shevat Tu B’Shvat Seder Celebrate Tu B'Shevat and honor the fruits of the Earth by hosting your own Tu B'Shevat Seder. Click here for a great Tu B'Shevat Seder resource.
Shavuah Tov! May you have a good week, a week of peace; may gladness reign, and joy increase! I’m a little late this month to send out the on-line newsletter. That is because my aunt had a very severe stroke and is not responding much to the outside world. I went back to the States for almost two weeks to be with family and friends and, of course, my aunt. Why am I telling you this? Because it is the month of Shevat, the month of Trees. Here in Europe, it is sort of hard to think about it being a tree birthday month when all of the trees are mostly bare with no leaves or colour. But here is what is going on: inside, each of those trees is hard at work. They are waking up and moving all of their juices around, preparing themselves to show their amazing glory and to produce their special gifts. This month, my hope is that all of us who are struggling will take comfort in knowing that our exteriors do not always reveal the strength and beauty of our inner work. As Spring approaches, we are working very hard to allow our true essences to shine through. Like our brother and sister trees, soon we will blossom and share our fruits, our comfort, and our strength with our friends, families, and communities. As we mark this period of renewal in our own lives, we can also contribute to the renewal of the earth by planting a tree in Israel -- http://www.jnf.org/site/PageServer May this cold month bring us time to center ourselves in the midst of bareness and give us hope for new life, new ideas, and new energy to begin again soon. Shalom from Warsaw, Laura Evonne Steinman If you have information that you would like to go in the Feb/March Newsletter, please send to: handinhandarts@gmail.com (note: new e-mail address) [ newsletter edited by Jordan Namerow ]
The New Month The Month of Shevat Watch a short Video about Protecting the Earth http://www.aish1.com/videos/aishTubishvatShow.swf
Tzadik KatamarThe righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, Grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord they shall flourish in the courts of our God, bearing new fruits in old age still full of sap and still green, to declare that the Lord is upright, my rock in whom there is no wrong. From Psalm 92
The Themes for Shevat are: * Trees and Nature * Miracles Large and Small Holidays in Shevat are: * Tu B'Shevat The month of Shevat is the eleventh month in the Jewish calendar. Typically, Shevat falls between the months of January and February. There is but one holiday that falls during this month--Tu B'Shevat. It means the "Fifteenth of Shevat". The Hebrew letters of the first name, tov and vov, equal 15 and it is on the 15th day of Shevat (February 4, 2007) that we celebrate the holiday. Probably no other observance/celebration of a Jewish holiday has changed as much over the centuries as has that of Tu B'Shevat. This holiday has changed from being a national "tax day" for tree produce to a day of celebration -- of trees, of Israel, and of nature. Shevat comes in the middle of winter. In much of the United States, this means below freezing temperatures and possibly snow-covered lands. In Israel, the heart of winter is much wetter, but only somewhat colder than during the rest of the year. Shevat is the rainy season in Israel (and the Zodiac sign for this month is the water carrier). It is the time when trees begin to form buds that will eventually blossom and lead to the growth of fruit. And so, it was that our rabbis at the time of Second Temple decreed that the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat would be called the New Year of Trees. It was really more of a New Year for the tax collector. It was the date used to determine how much a person's tithe would be. Farmers and landowners were to give one tenth of their trees' produce. After the destruction of the Second Temple, the holiday was forgotten for centuries. Without a Temple, tithing could not take place. Over a thousand years would pass before the holiday would re-emerge in Jewish life. Resurrected by the Kabbalists who moved to the hills of Tzvat in Israel in the 1500s, Shevat became a celebration of the gift of trees and abundance of God's gifts of nature. http://www.jccathisnewmonth.org/5764/Shevat/shevat.asp
We think of you as (a) part of EuroJews and (b) a young leader in your own community. It is not an exhaustive list, but is being sent to progressive young leaders in 20 countries. With your help and support, we would like to organise a "EuroJews Summer Camp", from August 6th-12th 2007. AIMS: The Summer Camp will be focused on three areas: * Education * Tikkun Olam (Improving the World) * Fun Education - Many EuroJews have said that they would like to learn more Jewish things. The programme is open to suggestions, but is planned to include daily Hebrew classes, Prayer, Textual Study and Jewish Philosophy. Tikkun Olam - Depending on the location, projects would include Cemetery Restoration Work, meeting local communities, working with disadvantaged groups (again, ideas are very welcome). Fun - Meeting each other, interacting, singing and dancing, hiking, kayaking, outdoor pursuits, theatre... WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: (i) Do you like the IDEA, and do you want you and your group to be part of this in August? We need to receive feedback, so that we can be sure to make the camp a success. (ii) Currently we are looking for a VENUE. Somewhere that can hold between 40-80 people, perhaps to take over a hotel or hostel, or mansion or castle...we have started to look in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Germany...but if you know a good venue, we would be very interested to know too! (iii) PRICE - We were thinking to aim for a budget of 300 euros for the week (plus transport). Is this affordable? Does anyone want to have a go at FUND-RAISING? Please please PLEASE REPLY by FEBRUARY 1st, so that we know who is IN and who is NOT, and who would like to HELP ORGANISE! With best wishes, Nathan, nathan@eurojews.org ** EuroJews In Dublin! ** 9-12 MARCH 2007 Come and join EuroJews in Ireland, for what will be our tenth and most westerly trip! The weekend will include Shabbat services with the Trinity College J-Soc and the Dublin Progressive Jewish Community, a wide range of workshops, a tour of the city and the Jewish Museum, a visit to local beauty spot Bray, and plenty of opportunity to sample the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique country. The Jewish community in Dublin is small but historic, and the country often provided the last glimpse of Europe for Jews on their way to New York! 140 euros without Bray (+ 20 membership) 150 euros with Bray (+ 20 membership) 80 euros without hostel or Bray (+ 20 membership) 90 euros without hostel with Bray (+ 20 membership) before February10th 2007. The price includes 3 nights hostel accommodation, entertainment and some food. For more details or to book your place, please contact Beatrice Richman (beatrice@eurojews.org) David.Moskovic@gmail.com has invited you to join the EuroJews group with this message: Dear All, In Paris, it was suggested we set up a new easy-to-use EuroJews discussion forum...so voila! It should be possible for everyone to upload photos, post messages and create information pages. Here is the group's description: Discussion forum for EuroJews. A virtual community for young-ish European-ish Progressive-ish Jew-ish people. www.EuroJews.org ---------------------- Google Groups Information ---------------------- You can accept this invitation by clicking the following URL: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/eurojews/sub?s=VAel-AgAAADMDhbQRsL87s1TN4WTV1cg&hl=en-GB Access to the group on the web requires a Google Account. If you don't have a Google Account set up yet, you'll first need to create an account before you can access the group. You can create an account at: 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! If there are any problems viewing the site please contact makopolok(at)rediffmail.com News from Community Folks (happenings, questions, etc...) NEW JEWISH GROUP FORMING in ROME: We are forming a chavurah which welcomes progressive, liberal Jews of all nationalities, ex-pats or Italians, and their non-Jewish partners, spouses, or friends. The goal is to build a community of like-minded individuals. How this community develops will depend on the needs, interests, and talents of the participants. Please feel free to email this to others you know who might be interested. Shalom, Helen CantorL2@aol.com EuroJews CD’s: They will be for sale in Paris, so yet another reason to come! Price about 10-15Euros. EuroJews Late Bar/Bat Mitzvah Project _ Have you had a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, or are you one of many EuroJews who, for one reason or another, missed out? It is never too late. We are planning an intensive learning programme leading, if appropriate, to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Please get in touch if you are interested in this, either as a student or as a teacher. Contact: Nathan EuroJews _Jewish/Moslem Dialogue Project. Fed up with negative and stereotypical journalism, from all sides? Anyone interested in participating in a EuroJews/Moslems interfaith project should get in touch. Let's break down some barriers. Contact: Nathan THIS WEEK IN LONDON: ‘Unravelling Israel’ -- a five week course where experts will examine the political & religious strands that shape debate about Israel. Starting Monday, January 29, 2007 at 7pm at the Montagu Centre 21 maple street, w1t 4be Week 4: Jewish moral values in Israeli life with Dr. Jonathan Rynhold of Bar-Ilan University £10 per session; concessions available Contact Judy for details or to book on j.thwaites@liberaljudaism.org or 020 7631 9824 ‘Tent’ B’Ivrit -- a Kabbalat Shabbat experience conducted exclusively in hebrew and led by our young adult worker, Avivit, and our Shlicha (emissary from Israel), Noa. Friday 2 February at 7pm at the montagu centre,21 maple street,w1t 4be contact: avivit on 07866 501 787 or a.katzil@liberaljudaism.org ‘Tent’ service in manchester with aaron goldstein Friday 2 February at 7 pm at the unitarian chapel, cross street, manchester m2 1nl please bring food to share after the service contact: aaron on 07764 192 696 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: ‘tent’ at the montagu centre friday 9 february at 7 pm at the montagu centre, 21 maple street, w1t 4be service followed by meal at local restaurant contact: anna on 07817 207 625 or a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org ‘tent’ at ljs at 28 st john’s wood road, nw8 7ha friday 23 february at 6:45 pm contact: anna on 07817 207 625 or a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org check out this website link to read about 'tent' and the autumn getaway weekend http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/2105_tent_connects_jews.htm to hear about all our events through email contact: anna on 07817 207625 or a.gerrard@liberaljudaism.org or monique on m.blake@liberaljudaism.org for full listings of ‘tent’ and other endorsed events, please see our website www.liberaljudaism.org. Monique Blake Outreach & Projects Administrator Liberal Judaism The Montagu Centre 21 Maple Street London W1T 4BE T: 020 7631-9826 E: m.blake@liberaljudaism.org Visit our website: www.liberaljudaism.org Arachim IV Jewish Education in a Multicultural Europe Frankfurt -18-21 March 2007 REGISTRATION OPEN !!!! http://www.arachim.ecjc.org/
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