Every summer we read a book together and discuss it at a Bagels and Books gathering in August. This year our book will be The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan. This is the moving story of a Jewish Israeli named Dalia and a Palestinian named Bashir who both have a connection to the same house in Israel. The Palestinian's father built the house himself but his family fled in the chaos surrounding the birth of Israel; the Jewish woman immigrated to Israel after surviving the Holocaust in Bulgaria and ended up moving into the same house. Years later the two meet and forge a friendship that lasts decades. This book is informative and inspiring and no doubt will spark some illuminating discussion with the Rabbi. The book is available from Amazon for about ten dollars. Please join in this communal activity.

Submitted from Rabbi Julie, leading the discussion

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 10:00 AM
Shabbat Morning Lay-Led Service
Our lay-led Shabbat service and potluck veggie/dairy lunch will be at Myrna Schlanger's, 1117 Willowdale Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ. Contact Myrna at Myrna111@aol.com or 856-795-6956 to tell her what you'll be bringing for lunch or if you need or can volunteer a ride.

Monday, July 19, 2010, 8:00 PM
Tisha B'Av Service
We'll meet at Iris Newman's apartment, #2507, 1919 Chestnut ST., 8 PM to chant the Book of Lamentations for this moving commemoration of catastrophes that have befallen the Jewish people. Choir Director and Cantorial Soloist, Jessi Roemer, will lead.

Friday, July 23, 2010, 6:30 PM
Shabbat Home Dinner and Service
Join us for a 45-minute service followed by a potluck veggie/dairy dinner. We'll meet at a congregant's home.

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.

Hello Dear Chevre,

A quote for the month:

I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.

--Rabindranath Tagore
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1913

Isn't it amazing how there is universal wisdom that is channeled through the many religious traditions? Aren't you glad to be channeling life through our Jewish idiom? And to be doing it together? I am.

Love and Blessings,
Rabbi Julie

(Editor's Note: Rabbi Julie will be on vacation for July and August.)

Although Leyv Ha-Ir did not walk in the Race for the Cure this year, members collected $300 for the cause. This was matched by Patricia Saddier's firm. Total, $600. Photo is a 2009 photo, taken following the Race.

Photo of Melvin Metelits, magid

Following are the minutes of the Annual Meeting of Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir ~Heart of the City, held Sunday, May 16th, 2010.

Present: Rabbi Julie Greenberg, Susan Budenstein, Bobbi Cohen, Iris Cutler, Joe Fishman, Marci Fleet, Joan Goldberg, Polly Gussman, Beverly Hayden, John Mason, Michael Meketon, Iris Newman, Pat Saddier, Myrna Schlanger Roy and Myrna Shenberg, Susan Thompson, Karen Zeitz, Sol Volk.

The meeting opened with Melvin Metelits, Magid (storyteller) who told two stories about the power of the individual to effect change.

President's Report: Michael announced our 21st birthday and reviewed all the good things we did during the past year. He presented certificates of thanks to Beverly and Evy who are leaving their positions as co-Vice Presidents.

Financial Report: Sol presented the projected income and expenses for the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2010. Our income for the year was less than projected while expenses were about the same as budgeted. Our Cash Balance at the beginning of the next fiscal year, before almost all of our income is normally received, will be less than needed to pay immediate expenses, so we were urged to pay our dues as early as possible. The incentive gift for early dues payers will be lovely Israeli wine goblets. A motion was made to increase next year's dues, with the committee to decide the amount of the increase. The vote was nine in favor, three against and three abstentions. The motion was passed. We also decided to increase the amount suggested for High Holiday contributions.

The proposed 2010-2011 Budget was presented, with $56,700 in income and $54,542 in expenses. It was passed unanimously. Contributions during the year should be announced in the newsletter, not by donor or amount, but by the item or person honored or remembered.

Elections:
We voted unanimously to suspend the by-laws, which limit the President to two terms. Karen thanked the Nominating Committee members, Beverly, Evy and Bobbi, and presented their slate:
Michael Meketon - President
Susan Thompson - Vice President
Iris Newman - Secretary
Polly Gussman - Treasurer (Sol Volk will continue to act as Assistant Treasurer)
At Large - Myrna Schlanger Roby Jacobs, Patricia Saddier.

Pat Wisch was nominated from the floor as the fourth At-Large member.

This slate was unanimously approved.

Miscellaneous:
Karen suggested that we need many angels to help with many activities during the year, such as flowers for services, sponsoring an oneg in honor of a birthday, hosting a home Shabbat, serving on a committee, etc. She passed out Angel cards for us to write down our angelic actions. Marci Fleet, our artist, prepared the certificates given to Beverly and Evy, and has prepared note cards we can buy. The LHI calendar for June through September was distributed, and people were asked to host a dinner or service during the summer.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Iris Newman, Secretary.

Be sure to join and visit Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City's Facebook group?

If you have any photos of Leyv Ha-Ir that can be posted on Facebook. please send them to me at hayden15@verizon.net.

In commemoration of the many catastrophes that have befallen the Jewish people over the years (and yet we're still here), we gather in a moving service as Jessi Roemer leads us in chanting the Book of Lamentations. Come to Iris Newman's, 1919 Chestnut Street, # 2507, at 8 PM on Monday, July 19.

EZ Park, located at 2101 Chestnut Street in the River West Condo Garage (covered), has offered Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir discounted parking.

The cost is $6, weekdays after 5PM; Weekends all day for $6. All tickets must be stamped with an Ethical Society Stamp, available at the check-in desk in the Ethical Society lobby.