Marking Life Cycle Events
Making a financial contribution to Congregation Leyv
Ha-Ir is a great way to mark special life events,
simchas, yahrzeits, etc. We are happy to send an
acknowledgement of your contribution to a designee
of your choice. Contributions can be sent to our
regular P.O. Box address, or contact Evy Simon, at
215-561-7474 or [email protected], if you'd like to
have an acknowledgement card sent.
Thank you.
One Shabbat
A poem, by Marci Fleet
The candles were lit,
illuminating the room,
and warming our souls,
welcoming the Shabbat
into our lives,
with Rabbi Julie's kind words.
The past week
had been an especially long one for me,
my mind was aching from the tension.
Surprisingly,
I was transported
to a more peaceful state with
Jack Kessler's spiritual,
and folksy guitar playing,
reminding me of many moons before
And I felt very at home,
melting into my seat.
Newsletter Design:
Ilene
Hass Creative Solutions for Business
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Dear Friends,
Al Cheyt Shechatanu Lifanecha -- For the sin we
have committed in your face -- Every year we
catalogue an alphabet full of sins for which we ask
forgiveness. The month of Elul started on sundown
August 24th. This new month started our 40 day
journey of self and communal examination which
culminates with Yom Kippur.
One of the sins, for which I am asking
forgiveness, this year, is the sin of giving up.
This year, more than any year in my life, I have
compromised my belief in idealized potential. I
have given up on the idea of progress for some
individuals and institutions. One way this sin
presents itself is that I have had grievances for
which I will not ask redress, because I do not
believe that the person or system has the capacity
to make right what was wronged.
As much as this seems that I am complaining about
someone else's sin, I am really talking about me. I
used to believe in the potential for growth of all
people and all institutions. I used to demand
accountability and improvement. I used to demand
excellence of myself and others.
I pray that in this coming year, I will once
again have faith in humanity to get better.
Shalom,
Michael Meketon, President
Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City
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September 2006 Activities
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September 2 SATURDAY
Shabbat Service
Ethical Society
10:00 AM
Lay Led
September 6 WEDNESDAY
Council Meeting
Ethical Society
7:00 PM
Michael
September 13 WEDNESDAY
High Holy Day Preparation
Ethical Society
7:00 PM
Rabbi Julie
September 16 SATURDAY
Shabbat Service
Ethical Society
10:00 AM
Lay Led
September 16 SATURDAY
Selichot Service
Kennedy House
8:00 PM
Rabbi Julie
September 22 FRIDAY
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Ethical Society
7:30 PM
Rabbi Julie
September 23 SATURDAY
Rosh Hashanah
Ethical Society
10:00 AM
Rabbi Julie
September 24 SUNDAY
Rosh Hashanah
Kennedy House
10:00 AM
Rabbi Julie
Click
here for complete details and a registration
form to attend our high holiday services.
Click
here for a complete look at activities for the
upcoming two months.
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Register for free Kehillah of Center City Taste of Judaism Classes
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Taste of Judaism 1 classes will be held in
October-November and is free. Register now!
This is an introduction to Jewish life and Jewish
traditions and is presented by Kehillah of Center
City. Rabbi Julie Greenberg will be
participating in
Taste of Judaism 2 in February 2007; more
information to follow on this. Contact
[email protected] for more information on
the October-November series.
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Message from Rabbi
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Dear Chevre,
This is the month of Elul, a time of preparation
for stepping together into the New Year. In synch
with the turning of the season, we are each invited
by our tradition to turn our own selves towards
re-alignment with our God mission in the world: to
do the inner work that allows us to be
mitzvah-makers, doers of good deeds, bringers of
light into the world.
A major theme of the upcoming holy days is
forgiveness---forgiving ourselves, forgiving each
other---getting rid of the “gunk” that keeps us
repeating, endlessly, the patterns that keep us
stuck. As a community we will be creating
opportunities to do some of the spiritual work of
readying ourselves for the holy days of Rosh HaShana
and Yom Kippur. Check the calendar for our
pre-holiday workshop and for selichot services. (The
name “selichot” is related to “slicha,” which is how
Hebrew-speakers say “I’m sorry.”)
The greater the suffering and pain of the world, the
more we need to ground ourselves in strengthening
the vessels: our spiritual selves, our sacred rites,
our community. Let’s create joy and beauty together
as we move through the month of Elul into our New Year.
I am so glad to be on this journey with you.
L’Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi Julie
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Would you like to learn to read the prayers in Hebrew and begin to understand what they mean and why?
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For people who know how to read Hebrew phonetically
(you know the sound that each letter makes) we
invite you to take the next step in learning to
understand the Hebrew language. We'll be learning
prayer (siddur) Hebrew in a structured and
supportive setting. Each student will be working
independently at home, and in partnership with
another learner, and will be closely guided by Rabbi
Julie Greenberg, an experienced teacher who has
taught hundreds of people to read and understand the
prayer book. Join us for an adventure in learning
that will deepen your connection with the past,
present, and future of Judaism.
We welcome you.
WHEN: Wednesdays - October 18, November 15,
December 20
TIME: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
WHERE: Ethical Society Building, 1906
Rittenhouse Square
COST: $10 for each sessions plus cost of text
(for members);
$15 for each session plus cost of text
(for non-members)
For additional information contact:
Sibyl Cohen, 215-568-9827 or
[email protected]
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