| SAVE THE DATE! |
Wednesday, March 17
6pm METNY Synagogue Leadership Conference
Israel Center of Conservative Judaism
Fresh Meadows, NY
More information to follow.
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METNY on the Web!
www.uscj.org/metny
Follow METNY on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/MetnyUSCJ 
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Want to get the word out on your shul program?
Post it on the METNY Community Calendar!
Please email Jordana Bickel at bickel@uscj.org with the details of the program and we will post it on the METNY Website calendar.
Check out the calendar here
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"Fieldtrip Idea for Your Synagogue"
New York offers a plethora of exciting, educational opportunities for your synagogue, religious school, Hazak group and youth group. METNY is committed to showcasing local exhibits and attractions that will enhance your synagogue offerings.
A new exhibit just opened at the American Museum of Natural History about the trade route known as "the Silk Road. " From the second century BCE to the end of the fourteenth century CE, a great trade route originated from Xian (China) in the east and ended at the Mediterranean in the west, linking China with the Roman Empire. This ancient route not only circulated goods, but also exchanged the splendid cultures of China, India, Persia, Arabia, Greek and Rome. Because silk was the major trade, it was dubbed "the Silk Road" in 1877 by Ferdinand von Richthofen - a well-known German geographer.
The Silk Road is a fascinating thread of Jewish history. Jews were involved as traders on many posts along this route. Jews not only used their language, Hebrew, to do business across borders, but also found community among the religious communities during their travels.
To learn more about the Silk Road and the intersection of the Jewish people with this historic route, visit the exhibition "Traveling the Silk Road". It continues through Aug. 15 at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street; (212) 769-5100 or (212) 769-5200, amnh.org.
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MA'ALOT GRANTS
Ma'alot: a Joint Project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Israel Commission and Nefesh B'Nefesh is proud to announce the following USCJ synagogues that received grants for their synagogue programming.
Yasher Koach to Town and Village Synagogue, Westchester Jewish Center and Pelham Jewish Center for receiving this grant! Below you will see the synagogues from around the country that received the grant.
If you would like any information on the USCJ Israel Commission and how they can provide programming for your synagogue click here.
Nefesh B'Nefesh and aliyah programs for your synagogue please contact Ari Schuchman, Associate Director of Overseas Programs at Nefesh B'Nefesh at ari@nbn.org.il.
Town and Village Synagogue, New York City
JOURNEY OF OUR MAKING: Jewish Teens Pull Together
& Make a Trip to Israel a Reality
Westchester Jewish Center, Mamaroneck
Sh'ma: Hear My Story
Pelham Jewish Center, Pelham
Israel Faces and Places
Temple Beth-El, Poughkeepsie
From Poughkeepsie to Jerusalem: Understanding Contemporary Israel
Temple Adath Yeshurun and Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, Syracuse ,Nesiyah Tovah, Syracuse
Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex ,Caldwell
Building Bridges with Partner communities in Israel
Congregation Neve Shalom, Metuchen
Summit Jewish Community Center
Temple Beth El, Somerset
Artzeinu: Temple Beth El Celebrates Our Homeland
B'nai Shalom of West Orange
The Israel Experience at B'nai Shalom |
METNY USCJ Invites You To Our Annual
"Mission to the Missions"
at the United Nations
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 10AM - 4PM
Join us as we visit the U.N. Missions of
United States ~ Israel ~ Argentina
(Open to synagogue members, clergy, college-age, and senior adults)
We will meet with high level officials and discuss topics important to American Jews.
Cost: $36 (includes lunch). Space is limited.
Reservations must be made. A schedule will be sent to you.
For further information please contact Rabbi Moshe Edelman at 212-533-0800 or by email edelman@uscj.org
Please send in your RSVP to Kimberly Bastin at
bastin@uscj.org or 212-533-0800
Please include your name, address, phone contact information, email, birth date and social security number
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 Join over 50 Kadimaniks in grades 6-8 at the next Kadima Shabbaton!
Click here for the application.
December 11th-12th at Shelter Rock Jewish Center.
Please call 212- 533-0800 if you have any questions. |
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An Important Message from Masorti Foundation
David Lissy, Executive Director and CEO
_____________________________________________
 Dear Friends,
I am writing with an important follow-up to the story about the arrest in Israel at the Kotel of Nofrat Frenkel, a young medical student active in the Masorti movement since childhood. Nofrat was taken into custody for the "crime" of wearing a tallit and holding a sefer Torah during a Rosh Hodesh gathering of 40 women.
Nofrat has since written a sensitive, moving reflection on the incident. It appears as a "Letter from Jerusalem" in the forthcoming edition of the Forward newspaper, and I encourage you to read it: http://forward.com/articles/119509/.
I am also pleased to report that Nofrat's arrest has apparently hit a nerve among Israelis, the tens of thousands who are fed up with the repressive tactics of the haredim when it comes to expressions of religious freedom in Israel. Masorti and many other organizations are sponsoring a rally to "liberate the Kotel a second time" will take place in Jerusalem at the end of this Shabbat. You'll find details in the announcement below.
In the meantime, to continue the important battle for religious freedom and equality at the Kotel and throughout Israel, the Masorti movement needs your support. Please make your contribution today. Send a check to the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel at the address shown below, or make an online donation at www.masorti.org.
David H. Lissy
Executive Director & CEO
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"Taking back the city, by walking!"
Secular, religious and Masorti Jews: Say "Put an end to attempts of haredi coercion and unite to restore sanity, freedom and mutual respect to the city!"
Nofrat Frenkel, a NOAM graduate, member of Kehillat Hod Vehadar and a fourth-year medical student at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, was arrested last week after daring to put on a tallit at the main Kotel plaza. This incident joins a series of events that have practically expropriated the Kotel Hamaaravi from the hands of of Am Yisrael. For example, until very recently, groups of students or tourists would spontaneously break out in song and dance in the public plaza (Am Yisrael Hai, Kol Haolam Kulo). Now, however, if there is singing and dancing, they are immediately and brutally halted by the Modesty Guard of the Kotel rabbi; the public plaza itself has recently been divided in a way that allows the rapid erection of a mechitza between men and women; even the entrance from the parking area has been separated between the sexes; emotional ceremonies in which olim chadashim receive their teudot zehut have been cancelled after the Kotel rabbi insisted that the families adhere to separation between men and women; signs have been placed around the plaza cautioning people to maintain modesty; and the rabbis have many other ideas. The Kotel, a symbol that united Israeli and Diaspora Jews, is today, in effect, placed in the hands of the haredim. This is a hostile takeover by a small, fundamentalist group in the history of Am Yisrael (the haredim) - and the methodical exclusion of all those who do not adopt its code of behavior. We must liberate the Kotel, a second time.
After examining various options and ideas for a fitting response to this Kotel incident, we decided to join the forum of organizations for a free Jerusalem, which protests against the expropriation of the Kotel and against the haredi radicalization in Jerusalem in general - the haredi violence in the Intel and Karta car park incidents.
This coming Motzaei Shabbat (11/28/2009), together with the forum, we will hold a large public march, for the members of the organizations, for the general public and for members of the Movement from around the country. The march will begin at 7:00PM, in Kikar Paris, and will culminate in a rally, at 8:00PM, in Kikar Zion. (there may be a change to the route, in accordance with police dictates). A Masorti rabbi will speak at the rally, as will Nofrat Frenkel.
The forum of organizations for a free Jerusalem includes: Hitorerut, Vaad Kiriat Yovel, Ruach Hadasha, Meretz, Tzeirei Haavoda, Tzeirei Halikud, Mifleget Or, the Greens-Meimad, Marom (Masorti Movement), Neemanei Torah Vaavoda, Forum Hatzeirim and Telem Students.
We call upon all members of the Masorti Movement, from across the country, to make the effort to come to the rally (we will try to assist those wishing to stay in Jerusalem from Friday afternoon by finding host families). An impressive turnout by members of the Movement will color the march and rally with the correct messages. We will provide Movement members with a Movement T-shirt, stickers and placards. Whoever can should also prepare placards at home and bring them with.
The meeting point of Movement members (distribution of T-shirts, stickers, placards) - 6:50PM, at the entrance to the Fuchsberg Center (beside Kikar Paris).
To learn more, please contact:
Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 832
New York, NY 10115-0068
(212) 870-2216; 1-877-287-7414
http://www.masorti.org/; info@masorti.org
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United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is proud
to present
the second in a series of teleconferences
showcasing our member congregations' best practices
This call is scheduled for
Wednesday, December 2
3:00 to 4:00 pm EASTERN
We will look at successful adult education programs through the vantage points of two congregations, one with 60 members, the other with more than 950. Representatives of another synagogue will discuss how they established a Jewish film series. Each presentation will last about 10 minutes, and a question-and-answer period will follow.
The teleconference will be moderated by Aaron Kischel, executive director of United Synagogue's New England region. If you plan to be part of this call, RSVP to the his office (New England Region). Once you are registered you will get an email confirmation with the call-in number.
RSVP to Ariella Brody at neadmin@uscj.org
(please cc: Aaron Kischel at kischel@uscj.org when you RSVP)
Name(s) of participant(s):
Title(s) of participant(s):
E-mail address(es):
Name of Synagogue:
Synagogue City and State:
What topic (s) would you like future teleconferences to cover?
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Yasher Koach Corner
 Yasher Koach to Cantor Gerald Cohen of Shaarei Tikvah, The Scarsdale Conservative Congregation for composing several new arrangements that Vasko Dukowski and Ismail Lumanovski performed at the Juliard School this week.
Yasher Koach to Cantor Sol Zim of Hollis Hills Jewish Center for being chosen as one tenors of "The Greatest Jewish Tenors in Concert - Marking 120 Years of Synagogue Music" at Park East Synagogue on December 5th at 8:30pm. For tickets, call 212-737-6900.
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There is still time to register....
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