Olami MasortiAnnual Review 2009

World Council of Conservative / Masorti – מסורתי עולמי Consejo Mundial de Sinagogas Conservadoras Conseil Mondial de Synagogues Massorti Reviewing 2009 – Tzvi In this Annual Review, we present you with a Welcome messages Page 2 & 3 MERCAZ Highlights Page 12 Graetz, Executive Director taste of what has been done by individuals, Regional News: AMLAT Page 4 & 5 MAROM Highlights Page 13 Masorti and MERCAZ Olami by communities, by national movements, Regional News: Europe Page 6 & 7 NOAM Highlights Page 14 by our regions and by our movement’s

Contents: Monthly highlights Page 8 & 9 Chaggim Page 15 Reviewing the past year is like a Cheshbon headquarters. Our , and Around the world Page 10 Staff team update Page 15 Nefesh for our own movement. Have we lay people are the ones making it happen - they are the secret glue that binds all of In the press Page 11 done well ? Are we reaching our goals ? Are we getting more to connect, to this into what’s called a movement. observe, to study and to do? As you read through this review, I I believe that the phenomena hope you will enjoy the interesting of Jewish communities around and inspiring local stories from In the past year, I have Dear Friends, the world is a true miracle. our kehillot, and appreciate the had the pleasure of As a partner with For 2,000 years, Jews have powerful transmission of our visiting many Masorti Masorti Olami in the practiced their in so tradition. kehillot around the work of the World many different languages, I want to thank all the dedicated world, and have been Zionist Organization, cultures and costumes that it staff and lay people of Masorti struck by the inspiring way in which Masorti the and Keren is hard to believe we are still Olami, MERCAZ Olami and kehillot rose to the economic challenges of Kayemeth LeYisrael, MERCAZ Olami one people. So, what is the MAROM Olami who have who the past year. Even in these harder times, works on behalf of Conservative/Masorti glue that holds us to our Judaism ? I believe done a phenomenal job throughout the Masorti Olami succeeded in maintaining Jews throughout the world. We partner that keeping our traditions alive through the year. May we continue to grow and all of our core programs around the world. together to create a Zionist agenda for special approach of Masorti Judaism is the influence more and more. We achieved this by focusing our efforts, our Movement and to assist Masorti Jews secret to Jewish continuity and prosperity more than ever before, on funding and to create synagogues, schools, youth groups throughout the Diaspora. Kol Tuv, Tzvi fundraising, and are already seeing positive and adult education opportunities which signs of improvement. In the coming year our have significant impact upon their lives and priorities will continue to be the economic, the well-being of their community. Upcoming events practical and spiritual support that we As we prepare for the Zionist Congress in provide for our youth, our kehillot and (June 15-17, 2010), I urge us to be regions everywhere. involved in our local Zionist Federations and Thursday, December 10th, I am very proud that in May we finally support the work of our MERCAZ chapters in to the Nation Award. Go to 2009 : Masorti Olami Annual launched our new website, which is now the countries in which we live. Only through www.masortievent.org to see the Evening of Tribute the premier resource for finding Masorti/ a strong representation at the Congress can , at Park Avenue virtual journal for the event. conservative kehillot around the globe, we achieve our goals in , , Manhattan, NY. This Rabbi Friday, March 5th to Sunday, as well as having regular news updates in creating a tolerant form of Judaism and year, we will be honoring Jules & Navah Harlow March 7th, 2010 : Masorti about our Masorti world. To date we have in ensuring a strong Zionist component to with Rabbi Mordecai Waxman Europe Conference in London, UK had more than 55,000 page views from our lives. the more than 13,000 visitors in 139 countries, May we go from strength to strength, and Memorial Rabbinic and Community – “Hayeenu KeCholmim – we will Nancy showing real interest in our work. may the work of our hands be blessed. Leadership Award; be as dreamers - The strengths Abramson B’shalom, Rabbi Vernon Kurtz with the Hiddur of Masorti Judaism in European Alan H. Silberman President, MERCAZ Olami Award; and Mr. Michael Jewish Communities and vision  President, Masorti Olami Abadi with Sherut L'Am Service of the future.

 Regional News: AMLAT (Latin America) Nofim Leadership Institute opens in Chile Marom and Masorti AMLAT (Latin America) opened the Nofim Leadership Institute in Regional meeting in Bogota, Columbia Santiago, Chile in August 2009. Nofim is a community-wide leadership training program In May, 2009 representatives of Masorti kehillot from around Central and South which will focus on teaching and training future America came together in Bogota, Columbia for the second regional meeting of Masorti leaders of the Jewish community. Sessions communities in Central & South America. In addition to Bogota, participants came from will be practical, theoretical and spiritual, Cali (Colombia), Guadalajara (Mexico), Quito (Ecuador) and Lima (Peru). The meeting giving participants a wide skill-set for their focused on dilemmas of lay-leadership, management models and engaging volunteers in the current and future leadership work in the kehillot, as well as issues of the regional movement. Ariel Blufstein, Executive Director of community. Masorti AMLAT and Yoel Schvartz, Continental Masorti shaliach, led National Va’ad HaKehillot in Chile sessions on strengthening the In August, 2009 the Jewish community of Chile organized a Communities of the Provinces identity and vision of the Masorti meeting - a national gathering for representatives of communal organizations from all around movement in the region. Scholar- Chile. Representatives in-residence, Dr. Daniel Fainstein, came to Viña del Mar Vice-Chancellor of the Hebrew from Masorti kehillot University of Mexico, made a in Santiago, Iquique, presentation about the origin and La Serena, Valparaíso, evolution of Masorti Judaism. Viña del Mar, Chillan, Los Angeles, Concepción, Temuco, Community Campaigns Valdivia, Osorno and Throughout the year, Masorti AMLAT has run a variety of Puerto Montt. recruitment and publicity campaigns for events, festivals New for Or Israel, and celebrations in the different countries around the Members of the Or Israel kehillah in Buenos Aires, region. Graduate rabbis from the Seminario Rabinico under the guidance of Seminario student and Latinoamericano Marshall T. Meyer in Buenos Aires Shaliach Tzibur Diego Vovchuk, undertook assisted in producing content and the challenge of creating their own siddur materials for these in Hebrew, Spanish and in transliteration. campaigns, making Thanks to funding from the World Zionist them engaging and Organization, the kehillah, which successful. celebrates its 100th anniversary in Ma’akela vaKehila 2010, was able to produce the siddur – 1st choral festival in Argentina which was introduced during the FEDECC in Argentina organized Ma’akela vaKehila, its first High Holidays. Kehillah members ever Choral Festival, which took place in Buenos Aires on Patricia and Jorge Fojgiel shared November 5th, 2009. More than 200 people attended the a copy of the siddur with Masorti concert at the AMIA building to hear choirs from the Achdut Olami staff during a trip to Israel  Israel, Amichai, Beit Hillel, Beit Israel, Dr. Herzl and Lehavat in September 2009. Chaim Masorti kehillot in the city.  Regional News: Europe Social Action Exchange – MAROM Budapest with Jerusalem and New York 1 year volunteers to Germany from Ramah USA Masorti MAROM members in Budapest are involved in a 3 city exchange In October 2009, Masorti Germany started its first cycle of a volunteer program in which program that aims to educate participants in Jewish values of social graduates from in the USA travel to Berlin, Germany for a year. The first justice, while at the same time involving them in practical volunteer work volunteers, Ruth Storch, Julie Edelman and Ben Sattin, and cultural dialogue with American and Israeli Jewish students. This will spend their time working in the Masorti kindergarten, two year program started in Budapest in November 2009, and includes Jewish primary school, Jewish high school, and at the Masorti bi-weekly study sessions in Budapest, followed by a week-long visit to synagogue in Berlin. They will also periodically travel to Jerusalem in January 2010, and New York in January 2011. Students smaller Masorti communities in other parts of the country. from Jerusalem and New York will visit Budapest in May 2010. Seven Masorti conversions France & UK youth in Ukraine exchanges On August 9th a special session Masorti kehillot in Paris of the Masorti Europe Bet Din was and the London area are convened in Munkatch, Ukraine to engaged in a youth exchange complete the conversion process program for 13 to 18 year of 7 candidates. Rabbis Reuven olds. In November 2009 the Resnick, Shlomo Zacharow and British youngsters went to Chaim Weiner (Director of the Paris, with their new French European Masorti Bet Din) were friends coming to the UK assisted by student rabbi and in December. This program Masorti Olami Schorsch Fellow, will further strengthen European Masorti Beit Din Reuven (Roma) Stamov. After studying hard over the connections between rabbis and the graduates of the the past 2 years, the candidates participated in one Masorti communities in the conversion course final seminar, individual interviews, and immersion in UK and France. the mikvah, a closing ceremony and celebrations. Jewish tours of Portugal 3rd Masorti wedding Members of Kehillat Beit Israel in Lisbon in Netherlands have participated in several tours of Michael Zvi & Erna Poolman, Judiarias (Jewish neighborhoods) in Lisbon active members of the Almere/ and other nearby parts of Portugal to Weesp kehillah, married at the become more acquainted with their history end of August 2009, in the third and heritage and in order to be able to Masorti wedding to have taken lead groups who come to visit. They have place in the Netherlands. visited Jewish neighborhoods in Lisbon, and sites where historians believe that synagogues existed until the end of the 15th Century. They also visited Cabeço  de Vide, a village in Southern Portugal which once had a thriving Jewish community, but suffered badly during the Portuguese Inquisition. 

Masorti

world May September The Great Synagogue, Stockholm joined The European Masorti Beit Din, directed by monthly Masorti Europe. Completed in 1870, it is the Rabbi Chaim Weiner, was convened for the highlights largest synagogue in Sweden, and has fully first time in Paris, France. egalitarian services in a Masorti style. January 2009 Masorti European leadership seminar - 25 representatives from 9 different countries came together in Budapest. The program November 2008 for the weekend included meeting MAROM October Picture on left: Masorti kehillah Adat Shalom activists at the Siraly café, and spending Masorti Olami sponsored the visits of rabbis in Paris celebrated 20 years. Founded by only Shabbat with Dor Chadash, Hungary’s only to Masorti communities throughout Europe 12 families, the kehillah now boasts nearly Masorti kehillah. June for the High Holidays. Rabbi Carlos Tapiero EAJL (the European Academy for Jewish 500 families amongst its members. February lead services at Congregation Beth Shalom Picture on right: Masorti Olami’s annual Liturgy) launched by the Masorti movement in Alicante, Spain. Other communities with The UK’s newest Masorti community, in Stoke Evening of Tribute took place on November visited Spain for Shabbat at Congregation visiting rabbis or cantors included Valencia, Newington, London held their first shabbaton 2nd with a concert and reception at the Bet El in Madrid, and a seminar at Kehillat Spain; Aix en Provence, France; Almere, in early February. More than 40 people also Park Avenue Synagogue in New York Aviv in Valencia. Netherlands; and Kiev, Ukraine. attended a Megillah reading during Purim. City. 2008 honorees were Dr. Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor Emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary; Rabbi David H. Lincoln, recently retired senior rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York; and Chazzan Alberto Mizrahi, cantor of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago. November July 22 representatives from kehillot across March More than 90 people came to Masorti kehillah Europe came together in Berlin for a Bet El Madrid On March 29th, Kehilat Nitzan in Melbourne, , for the first cross-communal weekend seminar. They spent Shabbat at Australia celebrated its 10th anniversary. The conference for both Orthodox and Masorti the Oranienburgerstrasse Synagogue in Berlin kehillah marked the occasion with a special members of the city’s Jewish community. lead by Rabbi Gesa Ederberg. The seminar celebration. included sessions on battling anti-Semitism, engaging volunteers and building future December April growth within the kehillot and the region. Recently formed, Masorti Spain held its Yom HaShoah veHaGvu’rah was marked first national activity on December 27th in Argentina by Masorti members who 3rd annual Masorti AMLAT Conference took in Alicante. 75 members from Masorti participated in the community-wide place in Lima, Peru. Masorti rabbis, lay- kehillot in Madrid, Valencia and Alicante memorial service attended by over 1,300 August leaders and community activists from all celebrated Chanukah together. Visiting JTS people. MAROM coordinator, Ezequiel For 5 days in early August, almost 80 people over the region gathered to debate and  rabbinical student Juan Mejia helped lead Herszage spoke about the role of youth in from all over the Ukraine attended the 5th discuss the challenges of Masorti Judaism celebrations. remembering the Shoah. Masorti Family Camp in Kiev. in the 21st century.  News from Information. They work hard in the battle In the press around the against intolerance, racism and prejudice. world They were involved in the Durban II Counter- conference in New York New building for Kehillat Nitzan, in April. Melbourne Kehillat Nitzan is constructing a multi- purpose synagogue building on land Gloria Landy & Judy Horowitz protest against donated to them. The synagogue will Ahmadinejad’s speech to the UN accommodate up to 700 congregants, and will be ready for next Rosh Hashanah. US National Public Radio (NPR) First Masorti Shaliach to Beijing, China JTA published a story about the broadcasted a story about revival Ada Schwarzapel and her husband Elad, Jews of Uganda and their relief work with of kibbutz life in Israel, including at spent a year in Beijing China, working for local victims of famine. The Abayudaya, Masorti kibbutz Hannaton. Read the the Jewish community. under the leadership of Conservative script or listen to their story online. This is the first time a Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, are affiliated Masorti shaliach has with Masorti Olami. been sent to Kehillat Beijing. Ada, who Architect’s 3D model for the sanctuary grew up in Ramah camps and has led Family Club, Moscow USY programs, studied Chinese at the MAROM-Moscow has seen great success Hebrew University in Jerusalem. this year in The Australian Jewish News its Family Masorti Olami helps kehillot in India after highlighted the Masorti kehillah in Club project, terror attacks Melbourne and the chavurah in Sydney p rov i d i n g When coordinated terrorist attacks killed the in a feature length article. social and Chabad rabbi, his wife, and 186 others in Israel-based website for Spanish speaking c u l t u r a l Mumbai, India in November 2008, India’s Jews, Aurora, covered the campaign by activities for Jewish community was understandably FEDECC (The Federation of Masorti Jewish families of all ages in Moscow. concerned. The shock of the attacks only communities) in Argentina to bring attention Activities include a lecture series, festival and further highlighted the need for improved to kidnapped solider, Gilad Shalit. holiday programs, picnics with educational security at the 6 Masorti programming and outings to museums, kehillot in Mumbai, New exhibitions and theatre events. Delhi, Alibaug and Ahemadabad. Masorti Read all these articles in full, Gloria & Judy are true UN Advocates Olami started a Masorti and see many others in our JTA’s wandering , Ben Harris, visited Throughout the past year, Gloria Landy India fund, and was able In The Press section at : MAROM Budapest’s Siraly Café, and and Judy Horowitz have represented to help provide some of www.masortiworld.org/ published a 5 minute video article about Masorti Olami in the NGO forum of the 11 the required equipment molami/inthepress his visit, and how much he enjoyed United Nation’s Department of Public to secure and monitor these buildings. Budapest’s Jewish hangout. 10 MERCAZ MAROM highlights highlights

MERCAZ Olami and Masorti Olami with the help MAROM AMLAT Seminar in Chile of Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael and World Zionist MAROM AMLAT (Latin America) representatives from Organization sponsored an educational CD about Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay met in Chile in Judaism and the Environment. The disc presents the the middle of November, 2009 for an intense 3 days Masorti position on the importance of environmental leadership seminar. conservation and contains useful activity ideas and resources, especially focusing on the environmental MAROM Long-Term programs in Israel MAROM AMLAT seminar work of the KKL in Israel. Please go to http://more. in Chile masortiworld.org/environment/index.html to see 2009 has been a very successful year for MAROM the full CD online. long-term programs in Israel, with a total of 50 participants arriving on programs from Argentina, Masorti reps at the Israeli Embassy Yom Ha’atzma’ut Brazil, Chile and Uruguay at the start of the year. party The program included leadership training at the NOAM, MAROM, Masorti AMLAT and FEDECC Machon LeMadrichim, Jewish study, volunteering in representatives were invited to the annual Yom development towns and for some a Holocaust themed Ha’atzma’ut cocktail hosted by the Israeli Embassy in trip to Poland. Masorti kehillah Bet El in Mexico was Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Masorti delegation was extremely successful in recruiting 26 participants for amongst the largest from all of the different communal the Lech Lecha program which started in September organizations and movements. 2009, and NOAM in the UK sent five people to its Drachim program. MAROM is expecting more than Some of the 2009 SHnat Va’ad HaPoel, June 2009 75 participants from AMLAT on long-term Israel MAROM particiants from AMLAT MERCAZ and Masorti Olami representatives from programs in 2010. around the world took part in meetings of the Zionist General Council (Va’ad HaPoel) of the World Zionist The 36th World Zionist For more information about all of MAROM’s Organization. Masorti Congress in Jerusalem, programs in Israel, please go to: delegates also met with Israel will be Sunday, www.masortiworld.org/marom/israel_programs and Opposition June 13th to Thursday, leader, Tzipi Livni. June 17th, 2010. Congress delegates New MERCAZ chapter! MAROM Europe moves forward will come from all over The Masorti Kehilat Nitzan the world to 5 days of MAROM Europe recently appointed Eszter Susan as in Melbourne together with intense dialogue and the regional coordinator for the rapidly expanding the Masorti chavurah in debate about issues regional network. An activist in MAROM Budapest, Eszter Susan at MAROM Sydney joined forces to Budapest's Siraly Cafe MERCAZ and Masorti Olami pertinent to the future Eszter will take on the role of increasing cooperation Delegates at the Va’ad HaPoel. start a MERCAZ Australia of in Israel and and joint activities within the region, which includes a Andres Kan and Daniel Kohn chapter in December 13 from Argentina; Gloria Cohen the Diaspora. local MAROM coordinators seminar, which will take and Janet Tobin from the USA 2008. place in Paris in December. 12 NOAM-Ramah Camp around the world Chagim highlights News from our team of professionals

This past year, over 3,000 children and month program that included meeting Israeli The Masorti Jewish In September, Rabbi communities in Argentina). teenagers attended the world-wide network NOAM members. Close to 700 NOAM community of Alicante, Yeshaya Dalsace finished We wish him the best of luck of Ramah NOAM style summer camps in members aged 11 to 15 attended the two Spain celebrated Tu BiShvat 9 years of service to the in these challenging roles. Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Argentina (Camp other NOAM camps this past summer, which by planting 6 trees in the Ma’ayane Or congregation Elise system), UK and Ukraine, many of took place in Wales and France. Palmgarden park, followed in Nice, France. Rabbi In August, Judy which were supported by Masorti Olami. by a Tu BiShvat seder and Dalsace is now the rabbi of Gray retired The Camp Ramah Yachad summer camp meal in the synagogue. newly formed kehillah, Dor after 8 years In NOAM Argentina, over 1,500 young was held at the end of July in Munkatch Vador, in East Paris. Rabbi of service to people and more than 300 volunteer staff in Western Ukraine. This year almost 180 Dalsace will continue working Masorti Olami, were involved in 10 different summer camps children participated in the 12 day camp, with the Masorti kehillah in and was an integral part in December 2008 and January 2009. with a staff team of 12 local madrichim Marseille, France, and taking of building the strength and All camps focused on educational themes (counselors) who grew up in the Masorti his position in Nice, is soon-to- vibrancy of the world-wide making Masorti Judaism relevant to the Movement in Ukraine. be-ordained David Touboul. movement. Marcus Frieze lives of the young people who attended. In A native of Nice, David is the new Projects and The Darkei NOAM leadership training the next summer session (December 2009 studied at the Schechter Communications Manager. program started its 7th year of activities in and January 2010) NOAM will celebrate Ma’ayane Or in Nice, Institute of Rabbinical Studies Also new to the Jerusalem Argentina, in early 2009. This year, more its 10th anniversary, and expects strong France celebrated Purim in the Masorti Olami Schorsch team is Galit Wittman, who than 150 students from 12 different Masorti participation from across its 16 branches with a masquerade costume Fellowship program. joins as Office Manager. in Argentina. Kehillot will take part in the two year party, treasure hunt for program which trains madrichim (counselors) NOAM youth, dinner and of The next team of three NOAM in the UK sent more than 120 young for the NOAM youth movement. course Megillah reading. Masorti shlichim to go to people to Israel in summer 2009 on a one- Bialik College, Melbourne Masorti Kehillah NCI in NOAM Argentina Summer will be Neva Karni from Montevideo, Uruguay held camp Rehovot, Leetal Vaknin from its second "Succot Urbano" Ashkelon and Ori Yavor from (City Succot) Succot carnival David Touboul’s installation Hertzliya. Neva and Leetal for all ages. The event, which ceremony at Ma’ayane Or, Nice will arrive in February 2010, was attended by more than In March, Ariel and Ori will join in the middle 800 people from the entire Blufstein took of next year. The shlichim will Camp Ramah Yachad, Jewish community, ended with Ukraine up the position work at and also volunteer at a rock concert, and went on of Executive Kehillat Nitzan. into the early hours. Director of Masorti AMLAT. Ariel joins the Masorti AMLAT NOAM UK Israel Tour team with a great deal of experience as Executive Director of FEDECC (The 15 Federation of Masorti NOAM UK Summer camp 14 Visit our website at Our world-wide professional staff www.masortiworld.org Executive Director Masorti Olami – the primary resource for information & MERCAZ Olami about Masorti/Conservative kehillot Rabbi Tzvi Graetz around the world. Masorti Europe Director Rabbi Chaim Weiner Executive Director Masorti AMLAT Ariel Blufstein Masorti AMLAT Shaliach Jerusalem Office Yoel Schvartz Masorti Olami Masorti UK Shaliach 18 Ha’Uman Street, Jerusalem 93420 Israel Reli Israeli Tel: +972-2-624-7106 MAROM Olami Director Fax: +972-2-624-7677 Avigail Ben Aryeh Email : [email protected] Projects & Communications Marcus Frieze New York office Finances & Administration World Council of Conservative/ Hana Hoffman Masorti Synagogues NY Office Coordinator 3080 Broadway, New York, Patricia Vaturi Neiman NY 10027 USA Tel: 1-212-280-6039 Jerusalem Office Manager Fax: 212-678-5321 Galit Wittman Email: [email protected] Our world-wide leadership Masorti Olami President Alan H. Silberman Masorti Olami acknowledges major funding MERCAZ Olami President from the World Zionist Organization, Keren Rabbi Vernon Kurtz Kayemeth LeYisrael and Jewish Agency for Masorti Olami Past President Israel, and significant faithful support from Rabbi Alan Silverstein Elise Lipsey Educational Fund, The Kekst Family Masorti Olami Senior Vice Presidents Foundation, The Ned and Jane Gladstein Family Dr. David Breakstone Foundation, Diane & Howard Wohl Family Janet Tobin Foundation, The Eugene and Gloria Landy Family Ned Gladstein Foundation, Rabbi Benjamin Z. Kreitman, and Masorti Europe President the Gimprich Family Foundation. Gill Caplin Masorti AMLAT President Content Editor : Marcus Frieze Mario Grunebaum ([email protected]) Masorti Olami Special Liaison to Europe Graphic Design : Osnat Ganor Rabbi Charles Simon Print : Chen Press, Jerusalem Masorti Olami Special Liaison to Front Cover pictures: (Main) EAJL seminar in AMLAT Madrid, Spain; Rosh Hashanah seminar in Aix- Michael Abadi en-Provence, France; Shnat MAROM participants MAROM Olami Chairman from AMLAT in Israel; Masorti Europe gathering Doron Rubin in Nice, France; MAROM Budapest leaders; NOAM summer camp in Argentina. 16