Looking Ahead
BAGELS & BOOKS
August 30, 2009, 11AM Location to be
announced Rabbi Julie will lead
our annual "One Book, One Community" group
discussion on "The
Flying Camel" - essays on
Identity of Women of
North African & Middle
Eastern Jewish Heritage -
edited by Loolwa Khazoon.
Copies may be obtained from Amazon.com, used
copies starting at $10. Get your hands on a copy
and join our lively discussion and delicious
brunch.
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 evylhi@hotmail.com, if you'd
like to
have an acknowledgement card sent.
Thank you.
Newsletter Design and eMail Marketing:
Ilene
Hass Creative Solutions for Business
Marketing
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Dear Friends and Members of Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City,
"People usually consider walking on water
or in thin air a miracle. But I think the
real miracle is not to walk either on water
or in thin air, but
to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in
a miracle which we don't even recognize: a
blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the
black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two
eyes. All is a miracle."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh~
I would like to share with you three
events I attended since the last
newsletter. Wake Up Yoga sponsored a
workshop entitled Legalizing Love
(Legalizing
Love).
This workshop was premised on the belief that
with good intention, the practice of Yoga
can inform the human rights discussion about
Equal Marriage Rights. I would like to see
our congregation adopt marriage rights as a
spiritual journey, not merely a political cause.
Second, I attended the annual meeting of
Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City, in which we had
frank conversations about the future of
finances and leadership in our congregation.
The congregation approved a
challenging budget which will sustain us for
several years. More amazingly, we had more
volunteers step forward to become part of
our board of directors. I am so excited
about working with this larger more diverse
group of volunteers. Stay tuned this fall as
we publicize the first Sibyl Cohen lecture on
the role of women in Judaism and our event
to honor the seven year covenant more deeply
connecting our congregation with Rabbi Julie
Greenberg.
Finally, I attended a Luncheon at the
Haddington Branch of the Free Library of
Philadelphia in memory of my mother. I was
touched by this community and their
connection to my mom whom they never met. I
understand that there will have to be
sacrifices during these difficult economic
times. I hope that we do not resolve these
dilemmas on the backs of our community libraries.
I opened this letter with a quote from
Ticht Nhat Hanh, a great teacher
from another spiritual tradition. I could
have easily quoted Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel, who said of his march on Selma that
he felt his legs were praying. During
difficult times, the cure for our challenges
is often community. The miracle of bringing
this cure is walking together.
Michael Meketon, President
Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City
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Leyv Ha-Ir Elects New Slate of Officers |
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At the annual meeting, held June 7th, the
slate of officers was voted upon. The slate
voted in is as follows:
President, Michael Meketon
Vice-President, Evy Simon
Vice-President, Beverly Hayden
Treasurer, Polly
Gussman
Secretary, Iris
Newman
Members at Large:
Susan
Thompson
Roby Jacobs
Myrna
Schlanger
Marci Fleet
Recognition must be given to Sol Volk,
Assistant Treasurer, who has watched
over our
finances. He will continue to assist Polly
Gussman. There are several committees
that are in need of help. Publicity, Tikkun
Olam, Education, etc. If you wish to help
and join, please contact Michael Meketon.
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July 2009 Activities
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Sat - July 4- 2009
Independence Day
Sat - July 11- 2009,
10:00 AM Annual Shabbat Morning
Service in NJ
A meaningful lay-led service, followed by a
wonderful pot-luck lunch, followed by a walk
to the pond to watch and feed the ducks.
What could be better???
Held at Myrna Schlanger's home in Cherry
Hill. Call Myrna at 856-495-6956 to tell her
what you will furnish for lunch and if you
need directions to her home.
Fri - July 17 - 2009,
6:30 PM Home Services/Dinner
We'll meet at a congregant's home for a lay-led
service and pot-luck veggie/dairy dinner.
Wed - July 29 - 2009,
8:00 PM Tisha B'Av Service
Join us at a congregant's home as the Book of
Lamentations will be chanted.
As part of the Kehillah of Center City we
are invited to attend all of the events that are
sponsored by the Kehillah and our larger
community. To learn more about these events,
check
out the link to Center
City Kehillah.
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Click here for a complete look at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir activities for the upcoming two months. |
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Message from Rabbi Julie
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Hello Dear Chevre,
I am basking in the afterglow of our
special Bar Mitzvah weekend. Thanks to
all of you who helped make it such a
memorable time for Joey and our family.
Your presence and beautiful words and
astounding generosity meant so much to
me. Joey will be writing thank-you cards but
in the meantime I wanted to
share my gratitude for you as a true
community of blessing.
Thanks,
Julie
Photo: Dove, Joey's father, Joey and Rabbi
Julie
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Read more from Rabbi Julie |
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Kudos to Marci Fleet |
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Kudos to our in-house artist, Marci Fleet,
who sold two of her recent works. Keep up the
splendid work, Marci.
We are so proud of you.
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Classified: Let Jack-of-All-Trades Help You Get Things Done |
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I am available for all forms of
jack-of-all-trades, general-purpose work you
need done. Please call John Mason at (215)
271-2982. Thanks.
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