Issue #404

Issue #404 – 10 February 2011 / 6 Adar I 5771

IN THIS ISSUE:

CONNECTIONS 2011 GETS UNDER WAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

HAMELN CONGREGATION GETS A TORAH FOR ITS NEW BUILDING

WORLD UNION MOURNS THE PASSING OF BENNY STALSON

UPCOMING EVENTS



CONNECTIONS 2011 GETS UNDER WAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Connections 2011, the 35th biennial of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, opened in great style on Tuesday evening, February 8, at San Francisco’s Herbst Theater.

Connections opening galas always begin with a moving ceremony featuring the flags of our 48 member countries. The Connections 2011 flag ceremony was a truly historic event with unique connections: The theater was the site of the signing of the United Nations Charter in June, 1945, and the stage set and flag stands used at Connections 2011 were those used on that occasion. (There is also a World Union connection to the UN Charter, as Dr. Jane Evans, a long-time member of the World Union leadership and a former head of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (NFTS), helped draft it.)

Convention-goers were moved by the exciting multi-media presentation showing the wonderful plethora of World Union activities that took place around the globe during the period since Connections 2009.

Steve Bauman, the World Union’s outgoing chair, spoke movingly of his six years at the helm and of the spectacular growth of our movement. He ended his remarks with a Hassidic story of the small synagogue in eastern Europe that his grandparents so bravely left behind when they emigrated to New York at the turn of the last century.

“This basement shul, with barely any windows or natural radiance, relied on the glow of the individual oil lamps set by each member’s place,” Bauman related. “When a person came to pray, they would light the lamp – signaling their presence and casting a small glow. When few congregated for services, the small room was dim and shadowy. But when many people gathered in fellowship, their collective lamps warmly lit the room – brightening everyone’s spirits, adding to the kavanah, like the ner tamid. At the World Union, it is our privilege and responsibility to add the light of our many dispersed progressive Jewish communities in the world so Klal Yisrael will collectively light our way. Because kol Yisrael arevaim zeh b’zeh – all Jews are responsible for each other.”

The crowd was brought to its feet with the blowing of a shofar to welcome the donation of a Torah scroll from Congregation Shir Hadash in nearby Los Gatos, which was received by Yaron Shavit, chairman of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, on behalf of Sha’ar Hanegev, the newest community in the IMPJ family.

Peri Smilow provided wonderfully uplifting musical leadership and got the crowds singing enthusiastically. The evening ended with a beautiful reception in the spectacular Green Room.

This was a truly fitting opening to Connections 2011, and WUPJnews looks forward to providing an in-depth report on the rest of this remarkable event in an upcoming issue.


Left: Yaron Shavit carries the Torah presented to the IMPJ at Connections 2011. Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, the World Union’s vice president for philanthropy, is at the rear, and IMPJ executive director Rabbi Gilad Kariv to the right. Right: Long-time World Union leader Jerry Tanenbaum holds the Torah that was presented to the Israeli movement.


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HAMELN CONGREGATION GETS A TORAH FOR ITS NEW BUILDING

Judische Gemeinde Hameln (JGH), the World Union affiliate in Hameln, Germany, was presented with a Torah scroll on February 5 during a ceremony at the World Union’s New York office.

“The acquisition of this scroll was made possible by generous donations by ACK Hameln (Arbeitskreis Christliche Kirchen), a consortium of churches in Hameln, and individuals living in the United States,” said the program printed for the occasion. “This sefer Torah was written in Germany about a hundred years ago and has served congregations in Israel and the United States. Soon it will be returning home.”

JGH now serves over 200 members and is affiliated with the World Union, the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany and the Central Council of Jews of Germany. On February 20, it will be dedicating its new synagogue – the first building specifically constructed for a Progressive congregation in postwar Germany – on the spot where the town’s last synagogue was destroyed in 1938 during Kristalnacht.

The Torah was restored by sofer (scribe) Neil Yerman, whose wife, Rabbi Jo David, was instrumental in getting today’s JGH established in her role as founder and executive director of the Jewish Appleseed Foundation, which works with young and nascent congregations throughout the world.

The “crowns” above certain letters were created by several honored participants, including Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, the World Union’s vice president for philanthropy; Irit Michaelson, general secretary of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany; Rabbi Daniel Freelander, senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism; and vice-consul Werner-Ciprian Fugel, representing the German Consulate General. Rebekka Dohme, daughter of JGH founder and president Rachel Dohme, was honored with creating the crown above the first letter of the Torah on behalf of the congregation.


Rebekka Dohme, daughter of JGH founder and president Rachel Dohme, accepts the Torah from Neil Yerman, the sofer (scribe) who restored it.


Irit Michaelson, general secretary of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany, creates a crown in the scroll in memory of the pre-war Hameln congregation.


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WORLD UNION MOURNS THE PASSING OF BENNY STALSON

Benny Stalson, called a “giant” of the South African Progressive movement, died February 6 at age 93. He was a long-time stalwart of the South African Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ), and also of Johannesburg’s Temple Israel, considered the “mother synagogue” of the South African movement.

“The death of Benny Stalson marks the end of an era – the last of the original Reform pioneers – almost certainly the last of our South African Progressive leadership who could say, ‘I knew and worked with Rabbi Moses Cyrus Weiler in building the movement in Johannesburg,’” remarked Leslie Bergman, a personal friend, president of the European Union for Progressive Judaism and a former senior vice chairman of the World Union.

“Benny was an accomplished and knowledgeable lay reader who led countless services, not only in Johannesburg, but also in smaller communities, particularly on the High Holy Days,” continued Bergman. “His sermons and drashot were of rabbinic quality. Many who did not know him, observing him lead a service, assumed he was a rabbi. We will miss Benny. May his memory be for a blessing.”

(With thanks to Darryl Egnal)


Benny Stalson is shown (left) at his 90th birthday celebration, and at the same celebration with Steve Lurie, chairman of the SAUPJ.


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UPCOMING EVENTS

February 20, 2011 – Dedication of new Reform Synagogue, Hameln, Germany

March 6-10, 2011 – 8th annual Riding4Reform bicycling fundraiser for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, Israel

June 10-12, 2011 – Dedication of new Progressive Jewish Center, Minsk

July 7-10, 2011 – Annual Conference, Union of Progressive Jews of Germany, Spandau-Berlin

March 15-18, 2012 – Biennial Conference of the European Union for Progressive Judaism, Amsterdam




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