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In This Issue
Calendar
Rabbi's Message
Yom Kippur Schedule
POWER Update
Singing Circle News
The Beauty of Our Sanctuary
Looking Ahead
Fall Education Series
Sundays, Nov. 2, 16, 23
Rabbi Julie will lead our fall series, "Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life Issues in Sacred Community."

Conscious aging involves considering end-of-life decisions which are some of the most important decisions any human being will make in a lifetime. Yet some synagogue communities focus only on able-bodied, prime-of-life relationships, leaving a gap for people grappling with end-of-life decision-making, entering frail old age and facing the end of life. We want to be a community that holds our members all the way through life. We want to be good not only at the rites of mourning but also at the entire passage up to that stage. So, in a strong spiritual context we'll engage with Jewish perspectives on end-of-life issues.

Rabbi Julie Greenberg will be joined by other leading teachers to explore these important issues. Please join us in this holy and inspiring exploration.

Each session will begin at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and brunch will be included.

Please mark your calendar to attend these important sessions. More details will follow.
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Other Postings - You can post information about other events or information of interest by sending an email to 

[email protected].  

  

Contact Beverly or Bobbi if there are questions about the listserv.

Chesed Reminder
A reminder that we have a Chesed (acts of loving kindness) committee who will do their best to offer assistance to LHI members in need. If you find yourself in that situation please call and we'll see how we can be helpful.

Contacts:
Joan Goldberg 215-561-5193
Pat Wisch 215-563-1894
Margie Wiener 215-563-8998
Marking Lifecycle Events

Please remember Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City when you have any occasion to send a greeting card to someone. 

 

While we are happy to receive contributions in any amount, for a minimum $10 contribution we will gladly send one of Marci Fleet's, z"l, lovely art cards created for this purpose to the recipient of your choice.

 

Sue Frank will send the card and compose a note that expresses your thoughts. She can also customize a card based on your suggestion.

 

Please use the 
contribution form on our website, which contains the mailing address for your contribution, PO Box 15836, Philadelphia PA 19103. You can also
Join Our List
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Be sure to join and visit Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City's Facebook group

 

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Contact Leyv Ha-Ir
 
Voice Mail:
215-629-1995


OCTOBER 2014
Dear Friend of Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City,   

 

Shana Tova.

This email arrives to you in the middle of the Days of Awe. Just behind us is Rosh Hashanah with the beauty of new beginnings and our bima surrounded by fall colors, shofar and ark. We greeted each other after a summer or a year of separation, and extended our welcome to new faces.  Asked to go deeper into our souls, we are searching to find our true and best self so that at Yom Kippur we can proclaim: hinenu-we are here!

During the afternoon of Yom Kippur, we will have a poetry study session and Rabbi Julie will meet with us on the subject of Chesed (lovingkindness). At the conclusion of Mincha and Ne'ilah services we'll hammer towards our next holiday, Sukkot.

The New Year will roll on and your Leyv Ha-Ir community with it.  Will you be with us as we continue our Jewish journey through prayer, education, music and supporting each other?

We echo Rabbi Julie's teaching: "Rise above events that are inconsequential - both bad and good - for they are not worth disturbing our equanimity!"

G'mar hatimah tovah, a good final sealing to you! And Health, Happiness and Shalom.

Bobbi and Roby

Your Co-First Vice Presidents

LHI CALENDAR OCTOBER 2014 AND BEYOND

Friday, October 3, 6:00 PM,Kol Nidre Service

Rabbi Julie and Jessi will lead us in this moving service.  See article below for more Yom Kippur details.

 

Friday, October 4, 10:00 AM, Yom Kippur Morning Service

This service always draws a very large audience, so please arrive early. See article below for more Yom Kippur details.  

 

Saturday, October 11, 10:00 AM, Shabbat Morning Service

Join our lay-led minyan for a Shabbat morning service, Torah discussion and pot-luck veggie/dairy lunch.  

Location: Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq., Collier Room, 2nd floor front

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or [email protected] for questions.  

 

Sunday, October 12, 1:00 PM, Sukkot Celebration

Once again we will meet in the garden behind Sue Frank's home in the Fitler Square neighborhood. Please note that Sue's home and sukkah will be available to us only from 1:00 - 3:00 PM on this day. Rabbi Julie will lead. Please bring a snack to share. 

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or [email protected] for questions and exact location.  

 

Monday, October 13, 7:00 PM, Council Meeting

All members are invited to our monthly Council meeting. We are also invited to pray in our hosts' sukkah.
Location: Donna and Larry Finkelstein's home in Mt. Laurel. 

Contact Donna at [email protected] or 856-273-8209 for exact location.  

 

Thursday, October 16, 7:30 PM, Simchat Torah Service

We'll join with Minyan Tikvah on the second floor of the Ethical Society to conclude the Torah cycle and start it again.  There promises to be lots of dancing with our Torahs, and potluck snacks and drinks (both alcoholic and not).

 

Friday, October 17, 7:30 PM, Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Rabbi Julie and Jessi will lead us in the first Kabbalat Shabbat Service of the new year. Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. 

Location: Ethical Society, first floor 


Sunday, October 19, 10:45 AM, Singing Circle
Come be a part of it.  You don't need ability, just a love of music. Jessi Roemer will lead us in song. This is part of our new monthly series. All are invited; bring your friends. 
Cost: $5 (to cover the cost of room rental)
Location: Penn Center House Leisure Lounge, 1900 JFK Blvd., 2nd floor
Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or [email protected] for questions. 

Friday, October 24
, 6:30 PM, Home Shabbat Service and Dinner
Join us at Roby Jacobs' home in the Fitler Square neighborhood for a lay-led Friday night service followed by a pot-luck veggie/dairy dinner.

Please contact Roby at [email protected]  for the exact address, to RSVP and let her know what you are bringing.
 
Saturday, November 1, 10:00 AM, Shabbat Morning Service

Join our lay-led minyan for a Shabbat morning service, Torah discussion and pot-luck veggie/dairy lunch.  

Location: Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq., Collier Room, 2nd floor front

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or [email protected] for questions.    


Sunday, November 2
, 11:00 AM, Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life Issues in Sacred Community
This is the first session of Rabbi Julie's 3-part series for fall, 2014. See more information in the Looking Ahead section on the left.  Brunch will be served.
Cost: $10/member, $15/guest per session
Location for this session only: Penn Center House Leisure Lounge, 1900 JFK Blvd., 2nd floor 

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Take a complete look at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir upcoming activities. 

RABBI'S MESSAGE
October 2014

Dear Chevre,

This year I would like to shine a spot light on kindness/Chesed within and beyond our community . The world is a harsh place for living beings and it is hard to live a life. It is said that when God made creation, God poured Din/Harsh Reality into the universe in the form of reality's limits, boundaries, causes and effects. An example of Din is when DNA goes awry and cancer cells spread. It isn't personal, it's just reality. But God then made people for the purpose of adding Chesed/ Kindness to the mix. We are here in order to make the world a kinder, gentler place.

One of the ways we can add kindness to the world is by having default assumptions that other people have good intentions. Unless you know for a fact that someone is trying to hurt or offend you, what would happen if you were to give them the benefit of the doubt? We can all use a little more kindness and each one of us can jump start an escalation of kindness.

Another way of aligning with the integrity of kindness is to avoid all forms of "micro-violence," such as aggrieved sighs, rolling the eyes, whispered derisions. As co-creators with God in the on-going work of creation, let's see the world through loving, open-hearted God Eyes. It takes a strong spiritual practice to live the value of kindness. That's why we come together in sacred community to practice the practice of treating each other well. We all need a lot of practice in being kind!
 
Our Chesed committee organizes acts of caring for those in need within Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City. Our Tikkun Olam committee organizes around social justice issues to uplift those in need in the wider world. As Rabbi, I work very closely with both these committees and welcome your participation. People active on these committees receive at least as much as they give.

I am thinking of how when I do something generous for one of my kids, I sometimes say, "I'm doing this to fill you up with generosity so that you will overflow with generosity for others." Let's each enter this New Year with generosity of spirit, with an orientation toward kindness, with compassion for each other. The world will be a better place because we are here.

My Best,

Rabbi Julie
YOM KIPPUR SCHEDULE
All You Need to Know

Services will be conducted by Rabbi Julie Greenberg with Cantorial Soloist Jessi Roemer, and will be held at the Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia.

For security purposes, we request that everyone --  members and guests -- register in advance for all services and our Yom Kippur Break Fast.  The easiest way is to go here. Or, you can call us at 215-629-1995 or email us at [email protected]. We especially need a count of people planning to be at the Break Fast by Tuesday, September 30. People not registered in advance will be asked to show photo identification upon arrival.

Space is limited, so come early.

 

Tickets are not required, although contributions are strongly encouraged.

Parking permits will be available at the Ethical Society Building lobby for limited on-street parking.
Discounted parking is available at:
    EZ Park - 2101 Chestnut St. River West Condo Garage, $9 after 5 PM and weekends, $14 weekdays.
    Central Parking - 2040 E. Rittenhouse St., $8 flat rate up to 12 hours, limited parking available
    Parkway Corporation - 1845 Walnut St., $13 flat rate up to 6 hours.
Rates are subject to change. Bring your parking ticket to be stamped at the check-in desk at the Ethical Society to receive the discount.

Schedule:

Friday,
October 3
Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service
6:00 PM
Saturday,
October 4
Yom Kippur Morning Serice
10:00 AM

Yizkor Service
approximately
1:00 PM

*Break/Study Session - see description below
2:30 PM

**Chesed Gathering with Rabbi Julie
4:30 PM

Minchah/Ne'ilah Services
5:30 PM

Break Fast
7:00 PM
*Poetry and Reflection for Yom Kippur
This study session will be a time of sharing poetry or a short narrative, reflection, and meditation for participants. You are invited to bring poetry or short prose appropriate to Yom Kippur, the "Sabbath of Sabbaths," to share with others. Participants will be invited to describe why the reading is meaningful to them, and then read the poetry or narrative to the group. There will be time for reflection after each reading. You don't have to read aloud to be present! Some suggested readings will be available at the session. Member Daniel Johnson will be leading this session.

**Gathering for people interested in participating in our Chesed -- Kindness work, caring for people in need in the congregation. Meet with Rabbi Julie and our Chesed Committee for a teaching from Jewish tradition and a personal discussion about how you can be part of the great mitzvah of Chesed.

 

Join us to usher in the Jewish New Year with reflection,

community and the call of the shofar.  

 

And remember that we have Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrations on the calendar, too! 

POWER UPDATE
Power Logo
Upcoming Fundraiser and Voter Engagement

 

POWER invites the members of our community to its fundraiser --

EDUCATION IS POWER!!

Proceeds will benefit POWER's campaign for a Full and Fair Funding Formula for Pennsylvania public schools.

Thursday, October 23, 2014  6-8 PM
Congregation Rodeph Shalom
613 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia

Speaker: Reginald Browne, Senior Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald LP

 

Lincoln High School, Class of 1986 

Special Recognition For: City Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr.

Central High School, Class of 1982

 

VIP Ticket: $100 ($65 tax-deductible) 

Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and the silent auction, including an exclusive audience with Mr. Browne.   

 

Regular Ticket: $60 ($25 tax-deductible)

Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, plus the silent auction.  

 

Please open your wallets for this good cause.  More information is available at www.powerphiladelphia.org/fallfundraiser or by contacting
Susan Thompson at [email protected].  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Leyv Ha-Ir, together with our friends at the Ethical Society,
is again asking for your assistance in the Voter Engagement Program, leading up to November 4th Gubernatorial election.

We need phone bank callers October 14, 21 & 28, from 6:30 PM to 9 PM. We will meet at the Ethical Society Collier Room, 2nd floor, for a brief training session from 6:30 to 7:00, followed by the phone bank calling. Our committee is looking into the possibility of doing "Predictive Dialing" (automatic dialing). To do this, the caller would need a lap-top available and a cell phone. This procedure can only be done with a group of 10 callers. For more information, contact Beverly Hayden at [email protected].

Along with the phone-bank effort, Leyv Ha-Ir will be canvassing door-to-door in the area surrounding Spring Garden School. This is an important area for getting people out to vote who have not done so in the past. This will take place October 25, 9am to 12 noon. For more information, contact Susan Thompson at [email protected].

Let's make this a team effort by participating in these events!  Our efforts paid off in the primary election - and we can do it again.  PLEASE HELP!
SINGING CIRCLE OFF TO A GREAT START
The Leyv Ha-Ir Singing Circle met for the first time on Sunday, September 14th with 15 members in attendance. Jessi Roemer taught and led the group in music to move us to the start of the High Holidays. We sang a variety of music, including chants, niggunim and prayers with well known melodies. In addition to singing, some members contributed by playing instruments including a tambourine, maracas and bongo drums. All agreed that the experience was moving, spiritual, and fun.

Sessions are open to anyone who loves to sing whether or not you have a good voice. Membership is not required and the sessions are open to all - even if they never heard of Leyv Ha-Ir. 

The monthly Singing Circle sessions meet from 10:45 - noon at The Penn Center House (1900 JFK Blvd., Leisure Lounge on the 2nd floor). The other sessions for 2014 are October 19, November 9, and December 14. There is a fee of $5.00 to cover the cost of renting rooms. We hope to see you next time!
THE BEAUTY OF OUR SANCTUARY 
Many Thanks to Karen, Maria, Beryl and Howard  

Karen Zeitz and Maria Mackey showing their caring and beautiful decorations.

For Rosh Hashanah, our bima was decorated with plants, flowers, needlepoints new and older, and of course our beautiful ark.  Many people took great pride in creating such a lovely space for us to bring in 5775.  Todah rabah to all of you!

 MAZEL TOV TO JOHN MASON
National Award Winning Haiku

The Jewish Reconstructionist Communities (our movement) recently conducted a contest for high holiday themed haikus.  And our own John Mason won first place!  John received a Kol Haneshamah High Holy Day machzor for his effort.  Here's the winning haiku:

The new year comes now
The trees shed their leaves for new
We must do the same.

 

Congratulations, John!