Kehillat Emet veShalom
| Nahariya’s Reform Congregation Rabbi Israel Horowitz Chairperson: Dr. Ilan Crohn P.O. Box 168 Nahariya 22100 Israel Tel/Fax: 011- 972-4-992-7293 Emet-veShalom@googlegroups.com Emet ve Shalom Homepage |
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About
Kehillat Emet veShalom is Israel’s northernmost outpost of Progressive Judaism and Nahariya’s only non-orthodox synagogue. Nahariya, located on Israel’s beautiful Mediterranean coast, between Acre and Rosh Hanikra on Lebanon’s border, has a diverse population and a rich history. Now celebrating its 45th year, Emet VeShalom is one of the oldest Reform communities in Israel. We serve a diverse mix of native Israelis and Jews from around the world, including North America, Europe, South America, and Russia.
At Emet veShalom all join together in a vibrant Reform community, sharing an egalitarian, progressive and inclusive approach to Judaism. Emet VeShalom’s location on Israel’s northern border – Nahariya is considered a confrontation line city – sometimes poses great difficulties for our congregants as well as other residents in the area. Therefore, it is essential to have a Reform synagogue that offers northern Israelis a place to express Jewish religious and spiritual identity in an open environment. Both women and men, daughters and sons, have the chance to celebrate life cycle events and share in a complete religious life on an equal basis
Rabbi Israel Horowitz joined Emet veShalom in 2003 following his aliya to Israel from Argentina that summer. He has a rich background as a cantor and a rabbi. He worked at large synagogues in South America prior to moving to Israel. Originally receiving an Orthodox ordination Rabbi Horowitz was also ordained by the Council of Progressive Rabbis in Israel (MARAM).
Since 2003 approximately 200 families from Argentina have settled in Nahariya and Rabbi Horowitz is a bridge between Emet VeShalom and the new immigrants. As a professional spiritual leader, Rabbi Horowitz has presided over the expansion of Emet veShalom’s religious and community programs.
Activities and News
- Religious Services and Community Programs
Emet veShalom holds services on Friday evenings, providing an opportunity for the whole family to be involved and feel welcome together. Services are spirited and Rabbi Horowitz, with his cantorial background, introduces new tunes along with musical accompaniment. There are bar/bat mitzvah Shabbat morning services and celebrations of all the holidays. Emet veShalom is a community center offering Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, conversion, and a variety of Jewish educational and cultural activities in several languages for adults and children.
- Reaching out to the Surrounding Community
Many in Nahariya and the Western Galilee turn to Emet veShalom to mark milestone events, join in Shabbat and holiday celebrations and participate in our programs. We organize trips every few months for members to experience Israeli culture together and learn about different aspects of Israel’s history and geography as it relates to the Bible and our heritage.
- Tikkun Olam (“Repairing the World”) and Social Justice Activities
Tikkun Olam is important to us at Emet veShalom. We hold food drives before the holidays and a Winter Emergency drive to provide needy residents of our city with items necessary for warmth. Our activities and programs provide an outlet for new immigrants, single parent families and others in difficult financial situations. We afford an opportunity for youth to have a Bar/Bat mitzvah who otherwise would not have had a place or the means to celebrate this milestone event. (For a complete list of our Tikkun Olam and Social Justice Activities please send an email request to Emet VeShalom’s Board at Emet-veShalom@googlegroups.com.
