Parshat Lech Lecha and the State of Israel

This week we will be reading Parashat Lech Lecha.  This is an opportunity to relate to Israel not on a political level but rather on an individual and communal level, reflecting on our relationship with the Land and State of Israel.

 

Last year, nearly 10,000 American students and young professionals chose to spend a semester or year in Israel on one of dozens of different Israel program, all under the umbrella of MASA Israel.   These MASA participants are now back in the United States and are working out the meaning of their ties towards Israel.

 

Some of them actually did their own "LECH LECHA".  Last year, 3800 American Jews decided to make Aliyah, and now Israel is their home.  This was the largest number of North American olim since the high water mark of 1973!

 

Furthermore, 536 of the 3800 Olim, nearly 15%, are Conservative Jews who grew up in our communities.  (For more information about the recent "aliyah" in Aliyah in general and from the Conservative Movement, go to http://www.mercazusa.org/newsltr/spring2010/an-aliyah-in-aliyah.html )

 

The Conservative Movement maintains a special website, www.linktoisrael.org , to promote aliyah and to connect and inspire potential olim.  There are a number of written and video stories from recent olim posted on the site at http://www.linktoisrael.org/link.html .  Please feel free to use some of these stories of Olim that are sharing their love to Israel in order to inspire our congregants to build their / our relationship with Israel.

 

 

 

                               

 

 

 

                                   SHARSHERET & WOMEN'S LEAGUE WEBINAR

Join Women's League and Sharsheret, the national not-for-profit organization supporting Jewish women and families facing breast cancer, for a FREE webinar Wednesday evening, October 20th, 8:30 pm (EDT).  

This 30 minute webinar will be a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about Sharsheret's free programs available to women and families in your community and to find out how members of your community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. 

 
Webinar topics will include:

-Educating your community about the issues unique to young Jewish women and families facing breast cancer
-Engaging your community members through educational programs, outreach events, and seminars
-Empowering Jewish women and providing them with the tools necessary to guard their health
-Presenting innovative seminars on the impact of breast cancer on Jewish families, breast cancer genetics, and the importance of knowing your family history
-Nurturing the next generation of Jewish community leaders

 

To register for the webinar and login instructions, please contact Sharsheret Director of Community Engagement Rebecca Schwartz at rschwartz@sharsheret.org or call (866) 474-2774.  

 

For over four years now, METNY synagogues say a special prayer during the Shabbat morning Torah service for the release of Gilad Shalit. Gilad was abducted by Hamas on June 25^th 2006 and has been held captive in Gaza since that time. Gilad is not a prisoner of war. He was kidnapped against all conventions of war and has been held without visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross or any other representative body.

 

Please join us in signing a petition sponsored by the Magen David Adom (MDA) to be presented to representatives of the international community. The petition seeks to heighten awareness of Gilad's plight and to pressure Hamas as well as their supporters to allow access to Gilad in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

 

 

 

 

Nora's Will                                             Acclaimed Jewish Film Opens Friday!

Exclusively at The Paris Theatre 4 West 58th Street New York, NY 10019 212-688-3800 www.theparistheatre.com   Watch the Trailer   Tickets & Showtimes Official   Website

"One of the best films of the year." - Detroit Jewish News "Superb... Joltingly funny. Fueled by the remarkable subtlety of Fernando Lujan's performance." - The Jewish Week "Sweet, surprising and satisfying." - Washington Post "Warm and entertaining... Chenillo loads the scenario with more  Yiddishkeit than a gross of matzo, sure to elicit laughs and knowing nods throughout the Diaspora." -Variety "Brilliant... A true find. A strikingly good, literate, emotionally engaging movie that will leave you wanting to see it again." - Montreal Mirror   Nora's Will is a Jewish comedy like nothing you've seen before, a truly unique tale about lost faith and eternal love from writer/director Mariana Chenillo. When Jose's ex-wife Nora dies right before Passover, Jose (Fernando Lujan) is forced to stay with her body until she can be buried properly. Jewish custom dictates that the body has to be buried quickly, but the coming holiday followed by the Sabbath means Jose and his family must wait almost five days to put Nora to rest. He soon realizes they are all part of Nora's plan to bring her family back together for one last Passover feast, leading Jose to reexamine their relationship and rediscover their undying love for each other. You can learn more about Nora's Will and many other quality art-house films from Menemsha Films at our website! website!