| Rabbi Elisha Wolfin Kehillat Veahavta 1 Hashmura Street Zichron Ya’akov ISRAEL Phone: +972-4-629-1180 E-mail: misrad.veahavta@gmail.com Website: www.masorti.org.il/veahavta_en |
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About
Kehillat Veahavta was founded in Zichron Yaakov in 2003 by eight families seeking a welcoming, egalitarian synagogue. The Kehilla was fortunate to have Rabbi Elisha Wolfin (ordained in 2001) as one of its founding members. Beginning with a Purim celebration and Friday night services, the Kehilla grew in the number of families involved and range of activities. Today, Veahavta is comprised of a number of circles and groups, among them 220 households that are paid members, of which 120 families celebrate their Bar/Bat Mitzvah with us every year.
Many of our participants are native born Israelis, others are new immigrants, and some made Aliyah many years ago. We reach out to non-observant Israeli families, opening the doors to Jewish spirituality that they did not know existed. This requires tolerance, love, acceptance, and creativity. Many contact us at times of life cycle events. In 2017 alone we had the privilege of teaching, hosting, and celebrating 125 Bar & Bat Mitzvahs! In fact, we calculated that in 2017 alone we have reached over 16,000 people!
Activities and News
- Services
Weekly Friday evening spirited services, preceded by communal singing of Israeli songs.
Weekly Shabbat morning services with either Torah reading OR Limmud with Elisha – see below!
Monthly: Kids’ Kabbalat Shabbat program geared towards the younger children in the Kehilla.
Study
Limmud: joint / group study of the Parashat haShavua (weekly Torah portion), with Elisha every other Shabbat morning after services.
Beit Midrash Veahavta
In 2018, we are offering a number of ongoing classes:
*Six Great Jewish Thinkers who have changed the way we think, the existential questions we ask, and the stories we tell, from the Renaissance to the present. Four sessions dedicated to each of the thinkers.
*HaAvodah she’ba’Lev – The Work of The Heart
*The Yemima Method – Cognitive thinking and the Torah of Israel (Hebrew)
See website for more details of all classes!
Other classes / activities: Rosh Chodesh Women’s group, Evenings of Israeli Song & Music, Learn to Leyn (chant) the Torah, Arabic language classes, ESRA Bookshuk (weekly), NOAM youth movement, Potluck Friday night dinners every 6 weeks for our Anglo members & families.
Holiday Celebrations
Celebration of all the Jewish holidays e.g. Chanukah lighting & party for families, unique Tu B’Shevat seders, Yom HaShoah program, Tisha b’Av guided tour of Jerusalem, Selichot at the Egalitarian wall, traditional Shavuot Tikkun Leil & desserts at midnight, Purim party + megilla reading at Ramat Hanadiv national park!
Youth
Active NOAM Masorti Youth chapter: Tuesday & Friday afternoons by age group (Gimel through Vav, and Zion through Tet). Post-Bnei Mitzvah: Tuesdays – pizza & fun, values-driven learning for post-BM age. 17:30 – 18:30.
Life-Cycle Events
Bar/Bat Mitzvah program, weddings, funerals, and memorial services.
Ulpan
Experienced teachers, small classes according to present level of Hebrew & advanced courses designed for ‘olim vatikim’ in Israeli Literature and Current Affairs.
Social Action
Kehillat Veahavta continues to help needy families in Zichron Yaakov with our project ‘Food for Families’. The families are referred to us by the welfare department of the local municipality, and deliveries of nutritious food products are made, thanks to our amazing group of volunteers and those in the kehilla who contribute food.
