| | | March 6, 2010 | 20 Adar 5770 | Candle-Lighting: 5:48 pm / Havdalah 6:49 pm
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| | | Congregation Netivot Shalom E-Newsletter | | | | | Quick links to our community & events! | | | | Shabbat Service Schedule | - 9:00: Torah Study with Nitzhia Shaked in the library
- 9:30: Shabbat Service in the Sanctuary
- Childcare for children under 5 is available every Shabbat from 10am-1pm
- 10:00 - Rimmonim - Shabbat program for K-2nd graders and their parents: All are welcome to Rimmonim today for tefillah (10:30 upstairs) with a Torah story, intergenerational learning (11:15) about the middah of shmirat ha'lashon, and adult learning (11:45) also on the middah led by Lee Bearson. Please join us!
- 11:00-12:30: A New Netivot Shalom Shabbat Morning Minyan: Hava NaRisha, a once-a-month minyan devoted to creating an additional Netivot Shalom davening experience in which children are encouraged to participate actively in leading the Tefilot. Berkeley School "Depot" - front room next door to the shul.
Parashat Ki Tissa - Exodus 33:12 - 34:35
Shabbat Parah
Bat Mitzvah of Michella Ore
Psukei D'Zimra - Milt Greenstein
Shacharit - Brenda Goldstein
Torah Service - Michella Ore
Calling Gabbai - Diane Bernbaum
Pointing Gabbai - Joel Gerwein
Torah Leiners - Ben Krefetz, Jerry Berkman, Sa'adia Massarano, Joel Gerwein
Haftorah - Michella Ore
Drash - Michella Ore
Musaf - Joel Gerwein
Birkat Hamazon - TBA
Board Representative - Ben Krefetz
Kiddush Sponsored by: Eugene Berg, Jerry Berkman & Carolyn Koestel, Diane & Ed Bernbaum, Cathy Bolding & Joe Meresman, Art & Sheila Braufman, Robin Braverman, Marcia Brooks, Rabbi Menachem & Liz Creditor, Carol & Jim Cunradi, Lee Feinstein, George & Toby Gidal, Mina & Jack Gobler, Debby Graudenz & Rom Rosenblum, Milt and Marge Greenstein, Herb Klar, Michael Ore, June & Bob Safran, Claire Sherman & Ed Anisman, Rachel Schorr, Helen Schneider, David Stein & Bill Stewart in honor of Michella Ore's Bat Mitzvah. Mazal tov to Michella and her family!
After-Kiddush Program: Another Great Sage: Matt West discusses Abraham Joshua Heschel -- 20th Century Prophet.
Approximately 1:15 PM in the library.
7:30 pm: Danny Matt: Zohar Shiur (final Shiur for the year) | |  | | Refuah Shleimah and Yahrzeits |
A Complete Healing to: Susan Cakars, Laura Kamil Hall, Leah Hellner, Selma Klett, Cristofer Lix, Joyce Mack, Jerry Rosenbloom, Marti Rosenzweig, Lois Silverstein, Susan Stanfield, Helen Stern, Emma Tankel, Lila Wahrhaftig, Yehudah ben Rachel, Sheindel Rivkah bat Libi, Pesach Yehuda ben Avraham v'Malka, Aaron Velvel ben Leah Breina and Yehudit Miryam bat Bashya.
Yahrzeits this week include: Claire Abrahams, Marjorie Alper, Ralph Dubin, Robert Finegold, Robert C. Fite, Laurette Goldberg,, Jerome Grossman, Clarence Kaufman, Frieda Kittner, Mira Kon, Rose Lowsky, Esther P. Matthews, Rachel Press, Pearl Pripstein, Bernice Rifas, Sara Lee Rosenfeld, Morris Rothstein, Ruth Schwartz Banen, Ben Shuchat, Carl Slater.
| | Thank you! | | A huge thank you to Milt Greenstein and his noble assistant, Burt Dorman, on the construction of shelves inside the sanctuary closet for our new Machzorim! | | | March Events
| MARCH 7, 9:30AM: SHACHARIT MINYAN AT NETIVOT SHALOM.
It will be preceded by a pre-minyan learning session from 9 - 9:30 AM that Rabbi Creditor will conduct on Rambam's Hilchot Tefillah/Laws of Prayer. Rambam (Maimonides) wrote "Laws of Jewish Prayer", a volume of his comprehensive Mishnah Torah so communities could study Jewish tradition together. This preparation for the Minyan, will be based on the original text in the Hebrew with English translation. Services will be followed by breakfast thanks to Alice Webber and Stephen Tobias and at
10:30 AM: Elad Ziv, M.D. will discuss "Genetics of Jewish Populations". Geneticists have learned from population genetics about the history of human populations. Utilizing these concepts, Elad will discuss what they tell us about the history of Jewish populations and also the genetic risk of breast cancer susceptibility. Elad was born in Israel and grew up in New York City. After receiving a B.S. in Biology from Yale, he received his M.D. at UCSF. He is now an Associate Professor at UCSF conducting studies on the genetic risk of breast cancer susceptibility.
MARCH 7 -MIDRASHA IN BERKELEY HAS A GIFT FOR YOU. ACTUALLY, TWO GIFTS!
Gift Number One: On Sunday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m., at Congregation Beth El: Midrasha invites you to join us, free of charge, to see "Freedom Song" presented by Beit T'Shuvah in Los Angeles, the only residential treatment program for people in recovery in the United States that integrates Jewish traditions and spirituality, a 12-Step program and traditional psychotherapy. "Freedom Song" is a musical play, but more than a play. Using contemporary music, Freedom Song juxtaposes personal stories of internal conflict and family dysfunction with the story of Passover. The play not only draws parallels between being a slave in Egypt and being a slave to your addiction, but forces audiences of all ages to take a look at themselves instead of pointing the finger at everyone else. It highlights the historic universality of the struggle to free oneself from external oppression and internal bondage. Midrasha is inviting the entire community to share the morning with us. The performance will be followed by a conversation between the cast members and the audience.
Gift Number Two: We would also like to invite you to join us for our annual "Midrasha Seudah" which will be held on Sunday, March 14, at 5 p.m. at Congregation Netivot Shalom. Our speaker is Frances Dinkelspiel, the author of Towers of Gold: Isaias Hellman, Banking, and the Role Jews Played in the Development of California. But don't just come for the speaker, come for the food and wine, which will be delicious, or for the jazz guitar in the background with Howard Barkan, or for the introductory remarks by alumna Rachel Finkelstein, Class of 2004. There's something for everyone. Tickets can be purchased from the Midrasha office, 843-4667. Please let us know by March 1 if you can be with us.
MARCH 10: PESACH PREP, A SIMPLE HOW-TO: SEE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW IN "ALL ABOUT PESACH" BLOCK.
MARCH 13, SATURDAY, 8:00PM: PSALM ENCHANTED EVENING
KOL TRUAH JEWISH CHOIR OF THE EAST BAY, Conducted by Cantor Pamela Sawyer
A celebration of Psalms, Featuring musical settings by Rossi, Lewandowski, Gerovitsch, McFerrin, and more! Rabbi Gordon Freeman's exquisite artwork based on the Psalms will be on exhibit in the social hall. For more information e-mail cantorpam@mac.com. Tickets available at the door--sliding scale $10-36.
MARCH 14, SUNDAY, 10:30-NOON: V'ZOT YISRAEL GROUP SPONSORING Consul General of Israel, MR. AKIVA TOR, SPEAKING ABOUT"DIVERSITY IN ISRAELI SOCIETY" The Honorable Mr. Akiva Tor, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region will speak about "Diversity, Innovation and Politics in Israel Today". Mr. Tor has served as World Jewish Affairs Adviser to the President of Israel, as Director of the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, as Deputy Director for Palestinian Affairs in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the Press and Information Attache in the Israeli Embassy in The Hague. He is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, holds an MA degree from Hebrew University in Jewish political thought and a BA from Columbia University in general philosophy. Mr. Tor has written and lectured extensively on Jewish values in the foreign policy of Israel and on ethical considerations in international relations. He served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces and is an infantry captain in the IDF reserves. MARCH 20 - SAVE THE DATE: THIS YEAR'S MIDRASHA/JCHS SHABBAT
If you are a teen, start thinking about how you would want to participate in the service - leyn Torah or haftorah, have an aliyah, lead davening, deliver the drash. Details will be coming in February, so for now, just make sure you keep the date free on your calendars. And parents, we'll be telling you as well how you can help with the kiddush. Stay tuned.
MARCH 20th - 29th: JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL - 25th SEASON !!
Great music! Come share our simcha!
www.jewishmusicfestival.org - 510-848-0237 x 119 or pick up a brochure in the synagogue lobby. Concerts at JCC E. Bay, and Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley.
MARCH 21-23, 2010: TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR THE ANNUAL AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCEAn opportunity to join more than 6,000 of American pro-Israel activists to hear from presidents and prime ministers, policy makers, and Middle East scholars about the issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. This year Tony Blair, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be among the presenters. To learn more or to register for this year's AIPAC Policy Conference, please visit www.aipac.org/PC2010 or contact Emily Blanck (415-989-4140 x 6155) if you are interested in joining Netivot Shalom's delegation to Washington, DC.
MARCH 24 -Oakland Hebrew Day School celebrates its Chai Anniversary at the Gala 2010 honoring Rabbi Judah Dardik and presenting Netivot Shalom's very own Efrat Simhi-Aloni with the Excellence in Education Award. The Gala Committee is looking for past and current photos and updates on what the Alum of OHDS are doing today. Please email any information or questions to Danielle Elkins, Gala Chair, at zazuelkins@comcast.net or Patti Schneider, Development Director at OHDS, at pschneider@ohds.org or 510-531-8600 ext. 19.
New ON-LINE REGISTRATION at http://ohdsgala2010.eventbrite.com! Register now until March 24 and receive an early registration special. Gala 2010 promises to be an elegant evening at OHDS's very own Upper Campus, Sunday, April 25, reception 5:00 dinner and program 6:00. To further support our school, place aTribute or Business Ad in the Gala 2010 Journal by contacting Patti Schneider or Danielle Elkins.
MARCH 27 - May 11: THROUGH THE OMER: LET US COUNT THE DAYS
1:15 - after Kiddush; Thurs. Apr. 1, 8, Tues. Apr. 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11: 7:30
Through an 8 part class, we will use the 49 days of the Omer period to frame our own journeys of self discovery and personal realization. By exploring and discussing the Sephiot, the mystical divine attributes that are a focus of the counting of the Omer, we will both encounter new understandings of God and also our own inner powers. This class does not assume any background in Kabbalah or Hebrew reading and will include text study, compassionate listening, journal writing, and exploring how the Omer period and the Jewish community can be powerful tools in becoming the people we want to become.
| | ALL ABOUT PESACH! | MARCH 10, 7:30-9PM: Pesach Prep - a Simple How-To! With Rabbi Menachem Creditor -- FREE!
The traditions surrounding the holiday of Pesach are both fun and challenging at times. During this short conversation, Rabbi Creditor will present traditional and modern guidelines for the ritual and emotional experiences of Pesach. This class is beginner-friendly, and all texts will be available in English translation. Registration is required, and materials will be distributed electronically in advance of the class. Please register by March 8 with Rachel at office@netivotshalom.org. Mark your calendars for two wonderful Passover Programs!
Tuesday March 31st 5:30 - 7:00 pmKids Seder (Parents welcome too!) led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Janet Harris at Netivot Shalom Tuesday March 31st 7:00 - 10:30 pmSecond Night Congregational Seder led by Rabbi Shalom Bochner at Netivot Shalom Childcare will be provided More details and registration information will be available shortly.
CNS Preschool Annual Fundraiser - Seder Table Toppings It's not too soon to start thinking about preparations for Passover. Simplify your Seder with a Seder Table Toppings Package. The standard package includes enough consumable products for one large-size seder (approx 20 people) or two medium-size seders (10 people each). The deluxe package includes enough for 2 large seders (20 people each). Packages without perishable items can also be shipped. All packages will include some surprises inspired by our CNS preschool kids. Proceeds will support the CNS Preschool Scholarship Fund. An online order form will be available soon but please let us know if you are interested by emailing us at sedertabletoppings@gmail.com. Seder Matching
Do you have room at your seder table for guests? OR Are you someone who would like an invitation to a seder?
Please contact Robin Braverman at 925-979-1998 or email her at rivkah48@sbcglobal.net for seder matching. The sooner we know who has room at a seder table and who would like an invitation, the easier it will be to match people up. | April Events and Beyond
| APRIL 20: 5:30 - 9:00PM: CELEBRATE ISRAEL AT 62! CONGREGATION BETH EL
Children's Activities and Story-telling!
Speakers! Israeli Sing-A-Long! Entertainment! Israeli Dancing!
Kosher Israeli Food available for purchase!
Admission is free. For more information: 510.318.6453.
Sponsors include Chochmat HaLev, Cong. Beth El, Cong. Beth Israel, Cong. Netivot Shalom, JCRC/East Bay, Kehilla Community Synagogue & the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 7:30PM:A CONVERSATION WITH NEAL BASCOMB, AUTHOR OF HUNTING EICHMANN, presented by The Jewish Federation of the East Bay's Israel Center and Congregation Netivot Shalom.
Congregation Netivot Shalom
1316 University Avenue, Berkeley
The hunt for, capture, and trial of Adolf Eichmann set the bar for how we treat war criminals today. In Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi,New York Times best-selling author Neal Bascomb offers the first complete account of one of the most important, influential spy missions in history - the operation to catch Eichmann, architect of the mass murder of Europe's Jews, and bring him to justice .
Alternating between Eichmann on the run and his pursuers closing in on his trail, Hunting Eichmann follows the Nazi as he escapes two American POW camps, hides out in the mountains, slips out of Europe on the ratlines, and builds an anonymous life in Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, concentration camp survivor Simon Wiesenthal's persistent search for Eichmann gradually evolves into an international manhunt that includes an insistent West German prosecutor, a blind Argentinean Jew and a budding, ragtag spy agency called the Mossad.
As a result of Bascomb's investigations, Hunting Eichmannreveals key details about the Mossad operation that have never before been published and provides new information on how Eichmann was able to remain free for fifteen years. Presented in a pulse-pounding, hour-by-hour account, this fully documented, finely nuanced history offers the intrigues of a detective story and the thrills of great spy fiction. And it comes at just the right time, as 2010 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Eichmann's capture.
Admission is free. For more information: 510.318.6453 or riva@jfed.org.
MAY 6, 7:30PM: CALLING ALL JEWISH SPOKEN WORD PERFORMERS!
We invite your submissions for "...and it was revealed: an evening of spoken word, a celebration of epiphanies and fervent fruition" as Jewish performance artists share their original spoken word pieces, stories, songs and poetry. The event, part of a series of spoken word happenings (see the recent J article - http://bit.ly/berkeleyword), will be held on Thursday, May 6 at 7:30 pm at Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley. If selected, performers agree to participate in a one hour "playshop" evening in April. (The playshop will provide a supportive environment for receiving feedback on performance and content.) Jewish content is optional, however, profanity and explicit language and divisive political content would not be appropriate for this event. To apply to be featured, please send to safranimate@gmail.com before March 28:
1) Your proposed spoken word piece (poetry, prose, story, song/rap)
2) Your bio (75 words or less - can be very casual)
3) Your phone number
Piece should:
-- Focus on a colorful personal story and designed to move, inspire/provide insight
-- Be no more than 5 minutes long when performed (please time it before submitting)
-- Lend itself to live performance (dramatic is good)
-- Roughly relate to the topic: "...and it was revealed" (epiphanies and fervent fruition). MAY17, 7:30-9:00: The Ten Dvarim ("Commandments"): the Foundation of Jewish Law, taught by Nitzhia Shaked Class meets on 5/17, 5/24, 5/31, 6/07, 6/21, and 6/28 (six Mondays) We begin by considering the nature and importance of the Ten Dvarim ("Commandments"), taken together, as the foundation of Jewish Law. Our focus then shifts to an in-depth text study of the separate Dvarim in Exodus and Deuteronomy, analyzing some challenging rabbinic and modern ideas on the content of each. Fee: $60 to $120 (sliding scale). For more information, stephen.tobias@gmail.com or 510-654-4561. | | Adult Learning Opportunities | Intermediate Talmud Class: Masechet Berachot (The Tractate of Blessings) facilitated by Rabbi Shalom Bochner. Thursdays, 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm, Netivot Shalom Library. Come explore the early roots of the Siddur, Jewish Prayer, and delightful tangents of everything including the kitchen sink! (and it's free!)
La'asok Haftarah Class: This class will continue every Wednesday at 1-2pm in the Library with Rabbi Creditor and Rabbi Bochner. Join us for a discussion of interesting sections and highlights of the weekly Torah portion.
LITURGY IN DEPTH: How do I make this foreign genre accessible for me?
What does it say? What does it mean? What does it mean for me?
Second Mondays in the Spring of 2010, Taught by Rabbi Stuart Kelman, 7:30-9 pm
*March 8: Going to Bed Each Night: Better than Leno or Letterman! Shma al hamita!
*April 12: New Liturgical Developments for New and Older Holydays: Hallel; al hanisim and miracles!
*May 11: Refuah: Healing and asking for healing.*June 14: Lev Shalem: The new Conservative Mahzor - some thoughts and some specific prayers.
New Adult Learning Class with Rabbi Shalom Bochner - The 7 weeks of the Omer between the second day of Passover and Shavuot have many historical explanations and lessons. Among these is an understanding that these are days of spiritual purification and emotional alignment. Through an 8-part class, we will use the 49 days of the Omer period to frame our own journeys of self-discovery and personal realization. By exploring and discussing the Sephiot, the mystical divine attributes that are a focus of the counting of the Omer, we will both encounter new understandings of God and also our own inner powers. This class does not assume any background in Kabbalah or Hebrew reading and will include text study, compassionate listening, journal writing, and exploring how the Omer period and the Jewish community can be powerful tools in becoming the people we want to become. Below is the schedule beginning with After Kiddush Learning:
Saturday March 27th - After Kiddush Learning 1:15 pm "What is the Omer? Why do we count these days? How do we count these days?"
Thursday April 1, 7:30 pm "First Week of the Omer: Loving Kindness"
Thursday April 8, 7:30 pm "Second Week of the Omer: Boundary Setting / Inner Strength"
Tuesday April 13, 7:30 pm "Third Week of the Omer: Balance"
Tuesday April 20, 7:30 pm "Fourth Week of the Omer: Endurance"
Tuesday April 27, 7:30 pm "Fifth Week of the Omer: Being Present"
Tuesday May 4, 7:30 pm "Sixth Week of the Omer: Foundational Strength"
Tuesday May, 7:30 pm "Seventh Week of the Omer: Grounding Spirituality in the Physical"
To register for the class, please e-mail: Rachel Schorr at office@netivotshalom.org. Class Fee: $40 - $120 (sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds) For more information, please e-mail me at education@netivotshalom.org
| | Miscellaneous Information and Community News | | Rosenheimer Campership Application - It's that time of year again - scholarships to Jewish Summer Camp through the Rosenheimer Camp Fund are now available to children of Netivot Shalom members. Applications may be requested via the website by clicking on this link: Campership Applications . Time is of the essence. Applications must be dropped off at the Netivot Shalom office by Purim, which is February 28th. Applications may also be faxed to the office 510-549-9448 or emailed to education@netivotshalom.org. Campership awards will be announced within 2 weeks after that date.
This Summer: Ramah Outdoor Adventure! This summer, the National Ramah Commission is opening a one of a kind Jewish outdoor adventure camp in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains called Ramah Outdoor Adventure (www.ramahoutdoors.org). This camp will combine 60+ years of Ramah camping experience with the best of outdoor adventure activities including horseback riding, climbing and rafting. Students from throughout the United States who are entering grades 6-10 in September 2010 (and are not currently enrolled in a Ramah camp) are invited to apply to become part of the opening cohort of campers. The camp is located 90 miles from Denver in Pike National Forest on the 360 acre Ramah in the Rockies ranch! During its inaugural summer, Ramah Outdoor Adventure will be offering 1, 2 & 4-week options. Green and Just Celebrations Guide!
The Guide promotes purchasing in line with ethical values, for the Jewish community and beyond.
The Guide provides resources for local families to incorporate values of social justice and sustainability into any event. From union-made wines to eco-kosher caterers, carpools to carbon offsets, we've got the suggestions to infuse any life-cycle celebration with joy and Jewish values. Find it online at http://pjagreenandjust.weebly.com. Community Events - Thursday March 11, 7:00 pm at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., SF. A Community-wide Conversation with J Street's national founder and Director, Jeremy Ben-Ami RSVP http://jstreet.org/sfmarchevent (where you can indicate if you need or can provide a carpool.) Come learn more about J Street, an address for Pro-Israel, pro-peace activism. * Please note that this is not a program of the JCCSF and the views expressed are those of J-Street alone.
Tuesday, April 19, 7:00-9:00 PM: Community-Wide Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration at Beth El, 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley.
Sunday, May 2, 2010 Lag B'Omer: Picnic at Laurel Group Picnic Area in Tilden Regional Park. Go down South Park Drive from Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Laurel Group Picnic Area is on the left. | | Committee Activities and Events/Click for Updates |  From Social Action:
Next opportunity to cook at the Dorothy Day men's shelter is this Sunday, March 7th, from 5-8pm. For information or to participate, contact Ellen at dd@netivotshalom.org.
Next Knetivot Knits is Sunday, March 14th at noon at Netivot Shalom. Knit for a cause! All ages and levels welcome. TAMALES FOR JUSTICE: Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action will be selling delicious homemade tamales this Sunday to support participation in March For America - a rally in DC at the end of this month in support of immigration reform. The sale takes place from 10am to 1pm outside St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison. Stop by!
From the Progressive Jewish Alliance: PJA Bay Area Launches New Green Jobs Campaign! PJA Bay Area has joined the Oakland Climate Action Coalition, a vibrant community coalition spearheaded by national "green jobs" leader Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. Through this Coalition, we will advocate for the City of Oakland to adopt an Energy & Climate Action Plan in summer 2010 that creates local green-collar jobs and promotes environmental justice: cleaner air, affordable public transit, and access to healthy food options. The focus of our work will be to galvanize the Jewish community to know about and take action on these issues, in Oakland and beyond. Get involved!
Join our Economic Justice Working Group - roll up your sleeves for sustainability and justice! Email schurch@pjalliance to get involved.
 From Job Networking: Job Seekers: We meet every Thursday from 10:00 am to 11:30 am to network, offer each other support, etc. Our meetings are held in Netivot Shalom's Library. Meetings are open to all job seekers. If you have any related questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Norma Kaufman (normakauf@comcast.net)  From Community Building: The 1st Annual Menschen Challah Baking and Ping Pong Night!
Learn to knead, braid, and bake fantastic loaves
and play ping pong on Tuesday March 16th from 7 to 9:30 PM in the Netivot Shalom Social Hall and Kitchen. Resident challah-baking maven: David Stein. There will be a nominal charge for challah dough, drinks and snacks. Please RSVP to Michael Meltzer at mpmeltzer@comcast.net
Mitzvah Milers: If you are a cyclist, contact Dan Siegel at community@netivotshalom.org to get on the Mitzvah Milers Cycling Club email list and receive info about the casual and event rides of this Netivot Shalom led group. The club's premier event is the Waves to Wine MS Ride on Sunday, September 26, 2010, when the Mitzvah
Milers will again enjoying the beauty of the Marin coast and Sonoma vineyards, while raising over $240,000 to date to fight MS! $350 fundraising minimum. Routes of 50 or 75 miles. Free team jersey to new participants.
From V'Zot Yisrael: Sunday, March 14, 10:30 AM: The Honorable Akiva Tor, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region will speak about "Diversity, Innovation and Politics in Israel Today". See article in "March" block above. April 18, 2010 10:00 AM - Noon: In celebration of Israel's 62nd birthday Rabbi Hanan Alexander will discuss "Israel and its Critics: Toward a Mature Zionism" This talk will focus on Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. We will discuss the fundamental right of Jews to define themselves as a national culture, with its own national language, and sovereign in its own land, provided that the basic rights of all citizens are recognized under its sovereignty. We will also consider tensions between the preference that the State of Israel shows to Jews on the one hand and the possibility of granting equal rights to all citizens on the other, including Arab or Palestinian Israelis. Rabbi Alexander is Richard and Rhoda Goldman Visiting Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California and Professor of Philosophy of Education at the University of Haifa where he heads the Center for Jewish Education. Refreshments will be available at 9:45, the talk will start promptly at 10:00. | Shabbat Shalom! Congregation Netivot Shalom | | | | | | | | |
