NEWS&VIEWS
QUOTABLE In Print Palestinian UN Move Endangers Peace “[We] resolve to condemn the Palestinian Authority for the unilateral decision to seek upgraded status at the United Nations as counterproductive to the cause of peace….” —Joint URJ-CCAR statement issued in December 2012, after the U.N. General Assembly voted 138–9 to recognize Palestine as a “non-member observer state.” The two organizations also called on Israel to halt plans for expansion of settlements in the West Bank E1 area, stating that it “makes progress toward peace far more challenging.”
Righting the NRA “The time has come for the National Rifle Association and its members to put our nation’s children and their ‘right to life and liberty’ ahead of the right they claim to own weapons that serve no purpose other than to maximize human casualties.” —Central Conference of American Rabbis statement, December 2012
Abracadabra Revealed “How many times have we heard the TV magicians and playing children use the famous incantation ‘ABRACADABRA’? But how many of us recognize its ancient Aramaic/Hebrew origins? The word contains both ‘Bara,’ meaning ‘to create,’ and ‘Dabar,’ meaning ‘to speak,’ literally translating as ‘I create through what I speak,’ or ‘May what I say come to be.’” —Elliot Cohen, founder of a new Progressive Jewish meditation chavurah, Ohr Menorah, in Manchester, England
B’rit Milah Alternatives “I am by no means advocating the abolition of the ancient rite of circumcision. I continue to recommend b’rit milah, by a mohel or mohelet, on the eighth day….
ACTION Smart Strategies for Facility Savings morning, and some people attend both. In Newburgh, New York, Temple Kol Yisrael is now engaged in a $3.5 Beth Jacob (tbjnewburgh.org) was million dollar capital campaign to renostruggling to pay to repair a leaky roof vate, expand, and “green” its facility, and faulty heating system. Thinking which will include adding a social hall practically and communally, TBJ and a multileaders began purpose room talking with for JCC activineighboring ties that can Jewish institualso be contions. Soon, verted into a TBJ and the prayer space. Newburgh JewEventually, ish Community Levy says, Center decided “We anticipate to sell their that our facility buildings and will house both move into the the Jewish building owned SANCTUARY, TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI, SEATTLE. Federation and by CongregaJewish Family tion Agudas Services offices, and provide meeting Israel, which was now too large for the space for organizations such as the JewConservative congregation’s declining membership. In January 2012, all three ish War Veterans and Hadassah.” Levy also takes pride in “the intaninstitutions formed the corporation gible benefits from bringing the com“Kol Yisrael,” meaning both “voice of munity together under one roof. We’re the Jewish people,” and “all of Israel.” The three will share one Jewish campus trying to create one Jewish community. Already, Kol Yisrael has hosted comand pay rent to Kol Yisrael.” munity-wide celebrations for Chanu“Before we created Kol Yisrael, each of the three entities paid for build- kah, Purim, and Sukkot. There is an excitement around the facility—it is ing maintenance, utilities, phone serfull of people and events, full of life.” vice, and insurance; each employed its own support staff; and each spent ♦♦♦ funds on landscaping and snow-plowIn March 2012, 900-household ing,” says Kol Yisrael President Alan Seidman. “Now we will share our staff Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, New Jersey (tsti.org) became and split most of those costs three the first Reform synagogue in the U.S. ways. Temple Beth Jacob has already realized about 30% savings on its over- to achieve certification from GreenFaith, a national organization connectall cost of operations, and we anticiing religious communities to environpate increased savings as we continue mental leadership. Inspired by a URJ to streamline operations.” TBJ Immediate Past President Susan meeting about GreenFaith partnerships, Phil and Sue Hoch of TSTI’s Levy (photo #1; see previous page) explains that “This is not a merger: each “Green Team” excitedly brought the program to Rabbi Dan Cohen, who synagogue has its own rabbi, and its embraced the idea, and then to TSTI’s own services. Yet, we list all events and Board, to commit to transforming the activities on a single calendar.” As there is only one large sanctuary, TBJ holds its congregation into an environmentally conscious place to learn and worship. Shabbat service on Friday nights, AguThe congregation had previously das Israel holds its service on Saturday reform judaism
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