Future rabbis learn Arabic for peace building
Rabbinical students at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College were engaged in a progressive initiative earlier this year when they were taught Arabic as a way to learn about the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew and to find ways to bridge the divide between Jews and Arabs.
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, 1982, invited Dr. Barry Mann to teach the class, using their knowledge of Hebrew. Both languages, like the people, are cousins with many similarities. Mann learned Arabic during his sojourn in Israel.
Each person was tasked with learning enough of the language so that a presentation could be done in Arabic as part of a final “testing” of knowledge and understanding.
In addition to rabbinical students, graduates and community members also participated.
To learn more, visit rrc.edu/video/dreams-peace to see how the class unfolded.
Haiku and win a free machzor
The Reconstructionist Press has announced a haiku contest for the High Holidays.
Enter to win a copy of the Reconstructionist Kol Haneshamah machzor by creating a short verse creation written especially for the High Holidays.
Two separate contests are being held, one for adults and one for youth, ages 8-16.
To submit a haiku, “like” the Reconstructionist Press on Facebook at facebook.com/ReconstructionistPress and post the verse on the Facebook page.
Deadline is Aug. 22. Winning haikus will be posted on Facebook.
No purchase is required.
Six graduate from RCC
Six rabbinical students received smichah (ordination) from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College during the spring commencement ceremony.
Those graduates are Danielle Parmenter, Ilanit Lauren Goldberg, Nicholas Renner, Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Malka Packer and Tamara Ruth Cohen.
To learn more about these new rabbis, visit rrc.edu/2014grads.
Asheville welcomes Keshet exec
Idit Klein, executive director of Keshet, the leading national organization working for the full equality and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Jews in Jewish life, will be heading to Asheville, N.C., for two events.
Theme for the presentations will be “Risk and Responsibility: A Professional Gay Jew’s Take on Activism and Leadership.” It is a joint program of the Asheville JCC’s GLOW (Gay and Lesbian+ of Western North Carolina), Congregation Beth HaTephila and Congregation Beth Israel.
Join her on June 27, 7:30 p.m., for services at Congregation Beth HaTephila, 43 N. Liberty St. Klein will share her journey from secular Israel to Orthodox day school to the LGBT rights movement.
And, on June 28, 12:30 p.m., she will be at Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock Ave. Following a Kiddush luncheon, hear her reflections on her journey from secular Israel to Orthodox day school to the LGBT rights movement.
info: jcc-asheville.org/ai1ec_event/risk-and-responsibility-a-professional-gay-jews-take-on-activism-and-leadership/. keshetonline.org.