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Masorti is the Hebrew name for the indigenous religious
movement in Israel affiliated with the Conservative Movement in the United States. We hope that our membership will learn about the ongoing struggle for religious pluralism in Israel and will remain dedicated to the Zionist dream of a Jewish state that is a true religious home for all Jews. The following highlights Masorti’s recent initiatives. For more information about the Masorti Movement, please go to http://www.masorti.org/ Masorti NOAM Youth ProgramMasorti is the Hebrew name for the indigenous religious movement in Israel affiliated with the Conservative Movement in the United States. The following is a story about children who recently participated in the Masorti NOAM youth program. More than 420 children participated in NOAM hike in the Carmel Mountain area on Hol HaMo’ed Sukkot. Despite a threatening weather forecast for rain, the children had three wonderful days in the north, between Haifa and Zichron Yaakov. The first day was devoted to “Hityashvut (settlement) and development, past and future.” The participants walked in the beautiful allies of Zichron Yaakov, one of the first Jewish settlements in the country. Zichron Yaakov was established by Baron Edmond de Rothschild and named in honor of his father Yaakov (James). The children visited Barone Rothschild’s grave site and park and learned about the heritage of the Jewish underground NILI, at the times of the Ottoman Empire, during World War I. Another group visited at the Israel Electric Company’s power station and visitors’ center, to learn about the beginning of modernity in Eretz Yisrael, and power systems in our times. The second and third day were devoted to hiking in the beautiful, evergreen Mount Carmel. The children learned about prehistoric humans in the Carmel caves; hiked in deep canyons, and learned about the “Massada in the Carmel” plan of 1942, when the Nazi army was threatening to conquer the Middle East from British hands. The children were also hosted at the Yemin Orde Youth Village, named after Charles Orde Wingate, a British officer who was pro-Zionist in the 1930s. If you would like to learn more about NOAM or other Masorti programs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 832, New York, NY 10115-0068; 1.212.870.2216; 1.877.287.7414 toll-free; www.masorti.org; info@masorti.org Congregants of Beth Sholom synagogue in Teaneck, New Jersey donate $50,000 to MasortiDuring 2003, congregants of the Beth Sholom synagogue in Teaneck donated a total of $50,000 to the Movement to support the efforts of Masorti/Conservative Judaism in Israel. The synagogue is a medium-sized congregation and their contributions proved that one synagogue––no matter how large or how small––can make a difference in the lives of our Israeli brothers and sisters. We hope that these efforts will serve as a model for other synagogues throughout the country. NOAM’s Leadership SeminarNearly 150 youth and staff recently participated in NOAM’s Leadership Seminar in Kibbutz Hanaton in the Galilee. This year, the seminar was focused on Masorti’s identity and commitment. It was named The First Masorti-Youth Congress at Kibbutz Hanaton. Feedback from the participants was very enthusiastic and issues discussed included Masorti’s commitment to Halacha and to the Movement, what it means to be a Masorti Jew in Israel and how the Movement can influence Israel’s society and religion. As a traditional part of the seminar, one and a half days were devoted to a major Tikkun Olam project. This year, participants divided into six groups to run various programs and projects for children and youth from under-privileged homes and from the special education sector. Two large groups participated in projects in Sachlav– where NAHAL Garin Keves serves as National Mission Service. One group prepared an area around Sachlav’s Day Center for a garden and planted flowers around the building; the other group painted the exterior of the Sachlav hostel in Haifa called The Hayim House (pun in Hebrew, meaning “The House of Life”). Participating Garin NAHAL members helped to strengthen the legacy of NOAM from high school age to the military service period. Four members of Garin Naveh also participated in the seminar as staff as well, demonstrating how important a role NOAM graduates play in their role as Masorti staff.
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Congregation Beth El 109 East Ave Norwalk, CT 06851 203.838.2710 office@congbethel.org