Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir August 2010 Update

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 Sue Frank, at suefrank@aol.com, if you'd like to have an acknowledgement card sent.
Thank you.

More Connection to the Heart of the City
One way to stay in touch with the daily workings of Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City is sign on to our listserv. The listserv is a way to share thoughts, concerns, ideas and events of interest to this congregation. In addition, the Rabbi frequently writes brief messages with uplifting tidbits of Jewish insight.
To join the listserv, send your first and last name and e-mail address to Sharon Cooper at shrcooper@verizon.net. Please use the listserv in a respectful way, posting short messages that are likely to be of general interest. We hope you join this internal conversation at the Heart of the City.
Call 215-629-1995 for more information.

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	Dear Friends and Members of Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City, "We are not passive recipients of a static past, but rather active co-creators of the unfolding story. We need the flexibility to renew our stories." - Rabbi Julie Greenberg, Rosh Hashanah 5770 At Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City, We believe that the story of Judaism is a beautiful, but unfinished story. For it to continue evolving, we must reassess our story regularly and adapt our path through history. This year Leyv Ha-Ir celebrates its 20th birthday. For a generation, there has been a viable alternative voice contributing to the Jewish story in Philadelphia. This voice puts forward curiosity and tolerance over certainty. We want you to become part of this voice. It has always been an essential part of our mission that we open our doors to all regardless of their ability to pay. In order for us to continue doing that, those that can pay must give from the heart. If you are a dues paying member, please consider increasing your payment. If you attend services, please increase your donation. We encourage people of limited financial means to join us. If you are unable to pay the minimum dues, please contact me at Michael.meketon@gmail.com. We assure that everything you discuss will be held in strictest confidence. We look forward to seeing you at High Holy Day services as well as other events, and wish you an early L'Shana Tovah! With warm regards, Michael Meketon, President Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City

Bagels & Books with Rabbi Julie Greenberg
	The Book: The Lemon Tree - An Arab, A Jew and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan. This is a true story that reads like a novel. It is about two families who occupied and loved the same house. The Palestinian built the house and lived in it until 1948. The Israeli family lined there afterward. The Jewish family was forced to leave their home in Bulgaria during WWII. The Palestinian family was forced out of theirs by the Israelis. They feel empathy and friendship for one another. They both feel strong attachment for this home. The Jewish woman and the Palestinian man have very different loyalties and ideas, but there friendship for one another endures over many years. This book encapsulates the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma and talks about it in human terms. Expect a lively discussion and a fine brunch. The book is available from Amazon for about ten dollars. Please join in this communal activity. The date -- Sunday August 22 The time -- 11 am The place -- Susan Thompson's 2401 Pennsylvania Ave #19-B-21 The cost -- $7.00 Please call 215-569-1995 for more details.

August 2010 Activities
	Saturday, August 07, 2010, 10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service and Luncheon Join us for a lay-led service and veggie/dairy potluck lunch. We'll meet at Michael Meketon's, 840 Earp Street in South Philly. For directions or questions, contact Michael at 215-755-3259 or michael.meketon@gmail.com Friday, August 13, 2010, 6:30 PM Shabbat Home Service and Dinner Join us for a 45-minute service followed by a potluck veggie/dairy dinner. We'll meet at Roby Jacobs home. Call her at 215-546-5965. Sunday, August 15, 2010, 10:00 AM Council Meeting All members are invited. Place to be announced. Sunday, August 22, 2010, 11:00 AM Book Discussion/Brunch Rabbi Julie will lead us in a discussion of this year's One Book, The Lemon Tree. We'll have a lovely brunch. $7 at the door. We'll meet at Susan Thompson's, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, #19-B-21, Philadelphia 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.
	Click here for a complete look at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir activities for the upcoming two months.

Get a Taste of LHI
	There are many ways to get to know us at Leyv Ha-Ir. To be part of the Joy that is of Oneg Shabat, we get together monthly at a members'home. A little singing and praying and food people bring. Get a taste of LHI on Friday August 13 at 6:30 PM at my home. Be very Welcome! Email Roby Jacobs

Saturday Service in New Jersey
	Our Annual Saturday Morning Service in New Jersey on July 10th. Myrna Schlanger was our gracious host.

Who I Am - An Essay by Joey Greenberg
	I have tan brown skin. I think people that see me might think I look like a terrorist or I'm an Arab or he's Chinese. Now I'll really tell you who I am. My name is Jonah Alejandro Gabriel Greenberg. I am an adopted child from Guatemala and I have been taken care of by a multiracial family that I am part of. I am a mentor. I am cool. I go to a camp for people of color and are Jewish. There are many people there of all ages and I know a little fellow who loves me. His name is Eli. Eli and myself love to try and go catch fish in a lake. Two friends come with us but we never catch those stupid fish. We play a lot of ping-pong and take long walks. I am a sportsman. I love to play baseball; I love crew, basketball and soccer. I love them all because I can use all my energy to all my extent. I am dedicated to help amateurs understand how to hit the ball or to kick the ball and how the game is played. I can deal with defeat. But practice makes perfect. I love my teammates even though we lose some times. I am a Jew of color. I have grown up in a Reconstructionist family with a mother rabbi and a Hebrew school teaching father. I go with my mom to all of the services with joy because I can sing along and I can play on my I-Touch when I wait for the service to begin. Well now you don't need to look at me differently. You now know that I am a hard-working boy named Joey with feelings for others and a big heart. Joey Greenberg wrote this as a 13 year-old finishing eighth grade at the Academy in Manayunk. He has been a member of Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City for many years.

Reserve now for our High Holy Day Services
	Our High Holy Days schedule and Registration Form has been posted to our website. Be sure to sign up yourself and your guests. All services held at the Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq. led by Rabbi Julie Greenberg. ROSH HASHANAH September 8-10 YOM KIPPUR September 17-18
	See the complete schedule and reserve your space online now!

Find Us on Facebook!
	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.

Discounted Parking for Events at the Ethical Society
	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.

Tikkun Olam Committee Needs Your Help
	Can you help?? Leyv Ha-Ir will participate in the Mitzvah Food Pantry's High Holy Days food drive. Congregations in Center City (like ours) are to collect cans of fruit, kosher, low in salt. MFP will send a vehicle to pick up the cans, and I would need another person to help me load the cans in the van. I have signed up for the van to come to the Ethical Society on September 27, or else September 28. I said we could collect 24 cans, could we do more? Thanks. John Oliver Mason Chair, Tikkun Olam

Annual Membership Drive - Join the Journey!
	It's the season for our annual membership campaign again. Join the journey! Do you want Judaism to be interwoven into your life? Synagogues keep Judaism alive. Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City helps Judaism evolve into its future. Do you want to learn more about Jewish values and wisdom? Synagogues are places that transmit stories, ethics and spiritual practices from generation to generation. Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City's active community and vibrant Rabbi make life-long education a priority. Do you want a community to embrace you and your family through the ups and downs of life, drawing on the deep well of Jewish tradition? Synagogues help people live by the sacred cycle of the year and of a life. Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City is a multi-generational circle of individuals wanting to care about you. We invite you to make all this happen by joining Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City.

The Gift of being Involved
	This is your invitation to help during the High Holy Days. To get that sense of belonging, of giving to others, no better way than signing up for a volunteer job. We need Hearts, Hands and Eyes to man the Welcoming/Check-in desk before and during the Services. We can always use volunteers to set up and clear and clean up. This year we like to be pro-active about BLOWING the SHOFAR! Who knows how to get the sounds out REALLY good; who has a shofar and more over who can TEACH blowing shofar to those who have an instrument but need practice!! Email Roby Jacobs if you can help out.

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