Links to other E-KI Updates

 

In This Issue
  • Worship and Study Activities
  • Preschool and Religious School Activities
  • Cultural Opportunities
  • Social Action Opportunities
  •  

    Israelology Science
    Questions

     




    Shelanu Campaign


     
     
    Shelanu Campaign

    Radio Broadcast

     
    Live on the air!! WNWR 1540 AM
    Shabbat Morning Service
    10:00 a.m. 

    Quick Links

     

  • Rabbi Sussman on
    PBS  Interview


     
    Series on religion hosted by Dennis Wholey
     
     
    "I Believe"


    Watch for Rabbi Sussman on "God in America" on PBS in October.
     

    Shop on-line & Benefit KI

     
    Support KI's Shabbat and High Holy Day Radio Program.

    *  Order from Amazon.com and  KI will receive 5.25% of your purchase. The more orders, the higher the percentage for KI.

    *  Support WRJ.
    Use Goodsearch.com.
     

    Sunday Soccer

     

    Register now.  Soccer at Mandell Campus starts September 12.

    Sponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road.
     

    Volunteer Opportunities from Jewish Family & Children's Service

     
    Deliver challah to patients in local hospitals.
     
    SILVER WHEELS PROGRAM -  Become a volunteer and provide easy, accessible, and affordable transportation for older adults. Please call or email Lisa Tischler at 267-256-2082. Click here for more information.

    Jewish Community Counseling

     
     
    FREE CREDIT COUNSELING - by Jewish Family & Children's Service.
     
     
    CAREER COUNSELING - by Jewish Employment and Vocational Service.

     
    HEBREW FREE LOAN SOCIETY - Interest-free loans for families in need. Visit their website or call 267-709-9652.

    Ongoing Social Action Projects

     
     
    YES WE "CAN" - Make a difference in the lives of those in need. Bring non-perishable food items to KI for the Interfaith of Eastern Montgomery County Food Cupboard in Abington. Collection bin is in the Main Lobby.
     
    CLOTHING DRIVE BENEFITS CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION - Bring gently used clothing and shoes to the collection bin along KI's driveway. Proceeds will go towards improving the quality of life of children afflicted with this dreaded disease. Info at their website.
     
    RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES - Bring yours to KI School Office for the Philadelphia Zoo to recycle. You can protect the environment, provide free cell phones for victims of domestic abuse, AND help protect the critically endangered douc langur monkey.

     
    July 22, 2010 - Volume VII No 28
    Next e-KI deadline: Thursday, July 29.
    Deadline for September Bulletin: NOW.
     
    TORAH TIME ON-LINERabbi Lance Sussman

    Shemang Israel:  
    Israel's Recent Conversion Crisis

    Parashat  Va'etchanan
     
    It went down to the wire, but Israel's most recent conversion crisis finally went off the rails and the Israeli Knesset did not take up a vote on the administration of religious conversion in the Jewish State.   As has happened before,  an ill-conceived legislative proposal would have invalidated all unapproved, non-Orthodox conversions in Israel.   In short, Orthodoxy's monopoly over Jewish identity would not only have been strengthened, but the unity of the world Jewish community would have been torn asunder to the detriment of Israel, the Diaspora and Israel-Diaspora relations.  Luckily, thanks to a massive worldwide campaign, this disastrous scenario was averted.  Indeed, we will need to remain eternally vigilant in order to prevent this ugly issue from gaining ground in the future.

    The deeper issue at play here is the relationship of "Church and State," or should we say "Synagogue and State," in Israel.   Unlike the United States, Israel has neither a Constitution nor a doctrine of "separation."  While the American doctrine of "separation" is both complex and uneven, the vast majority of people in this country seem to believe that we need some kind of separation between government and faith.  How to do this is a matter of law and judicial interpretation.  In the end, however, we do have the First Amendment.  From my perspective, "disestablishment" is fundamental to Jewish well-being in the United States and to the general well-being of our society.

    In Israel, the situation is very different. Not only is there no Constitution, but Israel was founded as a Jewish State, which means the State itself has some role in promoting and determining Jewishness.   Because of the political equation in Israel, the Orthodox are in a good position to shape a number of governmental issues, such as the funding of religious schools and issues of personal identity.  On the other hand, other religious communities also need to be granted powers of regulation and definition.

    What can be done?  Structurally, it is unlikely for Israel to reorganize its government along American lines.  Perhaps, more than one form of Judaism could be embraced by the State, or perhaps they could  develop an unregulated but registered area of religious life in Israel based on the value of tolerance.   It's a minimal solution.   For Reform to be merely "tolerated" would be less than ideal. but it would be a lot better than being fully disenfranchised.   There are other problems with this approach as well (what to do with messianic  Judaism, for example) but at least it is a beginning toward a more inclusive approach.

    Perhaps, this week's Torah portion, Va'etchanan, could inspire a solution.   It includes the Shema and, as we know, every translation of the Shema is different.  In the oldest American prayer books even the word Shema comes out as "Shemang"  (based on a linguistic understanding of the letter Ayin).   More importantly in this regard is the word "Israel," which is meant to serve as an umbrella term for all Jews.  In the Biblical sense of the word, it probably meant "Israelite," but for us it means all Jews, regardless.   The bottom line is that Israel needs to remain inclusive of the majority faith of the large American Jewish community.    As our ancestors proclaimed,  "Shemang Israel:  all Jews are one."  Now "deal with it!!!!!"

    Shabbat Shalom!

    Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.

    KI sanctuaryWorship and Study Activities
     
     
    Click here for a list of all summer services.

    THIS WEEK - Friday, July 23 - Evening Service at 8:00 p.m.  Saturday, July 24 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m.
     

     
    NEXT WEEKFriday, July 30 - Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. - Rabbi Sussman will speak about "FDR and the Jews."  Saturday, July 31 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m.

     
    COMING UP - Friday, August 6 - Informal Service "Under the Stars" at 7:15 p.m.  Saturday, August 7 - Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 13 - Tot Shabbat and Dinner beginning at 5:45 p.m.; Evening Service at 8:00 p.m.

    SPECIAL SHABBAT MORNING SERMONS IN AUGUST -
      "Jews and Judaism in Eastern Europe"
      Saturday, August 14- "Jews in the Kingdom of Poland"
      Saturday, August 21- "Jews and Czarist Russia"
      Saturday, August 28- "Judaism in the USSR and Beyond"

    Shabbat - August 20-21
    Friday, August 20 - "Rabbi Stephen Wise and the Founding of JIR"
    Saturday, August 21 - "Havdalah at the Shore"

    KI USHER CORPS
    - Interested in becoming an usher at KI? Contact Nathan Zinberg at 215-884-5050.


     
    KI sanctuaryOutreach at KI 

     
    OUR KI PROGRAM - Are you in an interfaith relationship or are your children in an interfaith relationship? Are you a non-Jewish parent raising your children as Jews or are you a grandparent with grandchildren growing up in religiously mixed household ? Are you looking to study Judaism with conversion in mind? Then "Outreach at KI" is for you!!!! We want you and your loved ones to feel at home at KI. For information, please contact Rabbi Sussman at 215-887-8702.

     
    Religious school childrenPreschool and Religious School Activities

    KI PLAY DAY AT URJ CAMP HARLAM - Sunday, August 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm.  Spend a fun day and see how much your kids would enjoy camp!  Tour, meet staff, picnic lunch, swimming, and more.  90 minutes from Elkins Park.  RSVP by July 15.  Call Ali Reich for more information.  (215) 886-0620.

    FALL BIRTHRIGHT TRIP TO ISRAEL.  Click here for information.

    TEENAGERS WANTED!  -  to work in the computer lab and the office on Tuesday afternoons during Religious School.  Two shifts: 4:00-6:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m.  Please email Lindsey if you are interested and let us know why you think you are qualified for the position.

    FAVORITE READ-ALOUD STORIES
    - from Ellen Tilman, Director, Meyers Library. Click here.

     
    Cultural Opportunities
     
     
    YOGA AT KI - Mondays 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. - Click here for details.
     
     
    Find out more about cultural opportunities at KI

     
    Social Action Opportunities
     
     
    COOKING FOR SHARING IS CARING
    - Men and women volunteers needed to help assemble meals in the K/G kitchen for clients of the home-delivered meal program at the Klein JCC from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27. Information: Gladys Segal (215) 654-1223.

     
    Adult Education
     
     
    ONE BOOK, ONE JEWISH COMMUNITY -  KI is a partner in this program.  This year's book is By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan.  It is an engaging look at the conversos in 15th century Spain. Copies of the book are available in the school office for a discounted price of $10.  Limited supply.  First come, first served. 

     
    QUICK FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL - The ISRAELOLOGY Program purchased a small quantity of "Israel: Pocket Facts," a handy resource book produced by StandwithUs for distribution to the KI family. Please feel free to take one or even several. Copies are available in the main office; on the literature rack outside of the cloakroom and in the Meyers Library.

    NEWS FROM THE MEYERS LIBRARY

    SUMMER LIBRARY HOURS
    - July: Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Friday evenings before and after services.  August:  Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m., Friday evenings before and after services.  Note: To reserve a copy of the latest contemporary fiction/non-fiction, please see a library staff member or call 215-887-8700, Ext. 122.
     
    Announcements
     

     
    GRATZ -MELTON PROGRAMS - Click here for current newsletter and here for Camp Melton.

    SHIRLEY'S RUN AND DOG WALK - to benefit the Shirley Schriftman Fund for Animals.
     
     
    CURRENT HAPPENINGS IN THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY - Visit the website of the Kehillah of Old York Road or check the latest newsletter for current programs. You can also sign up there for the Kehillah e-newsletter.
     
     
     
     
    Contact Us
     
    ELKINS PARK CAMPUS
    8339 OLD YORK ROAD · ELKINS PARK, PA 19027
    (215)887-8700 · FAX: (215) 887- 1070
     
    BLUE BELL CAMPUS
    1802 SKIPPACK PIKE · BLUE BELL, PA 19422
    (484) 674-8700
    Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel | 8339 Old York Road | Elkins Park | PA | 19027