Torat Sholom Brings Congregation Together for Learning and Bonding
Torat Sholom, Temple Beth Sholom’s project of commissioning the writing of a Sefer Torah in honor of Rabbi Donnell, officially began on May 23 with an inspirational opening ceremony in the sanctuary. At that time and during the subsequent days, congregants wrote the first letters of the new Torah and the congregation embarked on a year of learning and bonding with the Torah and each other, while performing the 613th Mitzvah of writing a Sefer Torah.
Several days of Torah writing sessions in the summer brought Camp Sholom participants and other families together to create their legacy, with the help of Sofer Neil Yerman. As of this writing, Rabbi Shmuel Miller, our other scribe, has finished a portion of the Torah and sent it in for a computer check for accuracy.
A special weekend with Rabbi Nelly Shulman- who will receive our "extra" Torah and take it back to Congregation Hatikvah in Tula, Russia -- and many other special events will give congregants the chance to be part of Torat Sholom. Save the date of June 12, 2005, for the Siyum (closing ceremony), when congregants will have the opportunity of writing the last letters in our Torah- and check out this newsletter for details of the exciting events planned around Torat Sholom.
Torat Sholom Funds Growing, Now Reaching 60 Percent of Goal
Torat Sholom donations have reached the $200,000 mark, putting the campaign at approximately 60 percent of its fundraising goal, according to Sylvan Swartz, president of Temple Beth Sholom. Funds will be earmarked for creating a link to the next generation of congregants by developing an endowment fund for the future.
Every congregant, of any age, can participate in Torat Sholom. Whether you can donate a large sum of money or somewhat less, you will feel connected to the Torah, as well as to the generations of Jewish people who came before you and the generations of Jews yet to be born. You can pay in installments over a three-year period, making your donation as affordable and simple as possible. For more information, contact the Temple office at (714) 628-4600.
L’Dor V’Dor: Torat Sholom Links Congregants of All Ages
Torat Sholom provided a special bonding experience for the Shapero family, David, Therese, daughter Jessica, son Jacob and David’s mother Johanna. As David writes, "The whole family went to the Temple to write our letter in the new Torah. Neil was quite accommodating (he even let Jacob write a letter), and made the whole event quite fun. The best part was we had the whole time to ourselves since no one else came at 10 a.m. on a Monday. I recommend that everyone get an appointment to write a letter. The cost is pretty minimal, and it truly is a meaningful project. I think all families with small kids may be weary of participation, and I figured we would be pushing the envelope. Anyway, we had a great time, and Neil spent an inordinate amount of time with Jessica and Jacob, catching their interest and letting them write."
"Torah and family- that’s what it’s all about," said Lainey Mitzman, who along with her husband and children, parents, siblings and their families, wrote in Torat Sholom.
According to Janna Greenburg, "When I had my Bat Mitzvah, I was only reading from Torah, but my future generations won’t feel this way. They’ll know I helped write and make it. I think it’s a wonderful way to connect to them."
Camp Sholom campers, counselors and counselors-in-training spent a morning learning about and writing in the Torah with Sofer Neil Yerman on Monday, July 19. Demonstrating his ability to captivate people of all ages with his knowledge, Neil proved once again that everyone can appreciate the significance of Torat Sholom.
A Torah for Tula:
Temple Beth Sholom Performs Mitzvah of Giving Torah to Congregation in Former Soviet Union
Santa Ana, California, September 15 — Temple Beth Sholom, a large Reform congregation in Santa Ana, California, would have an extra Sefer Torah, after commissioning the writing of a new Sefer Torah to honor Rabbi Shelton Donnell. Congregation Hatikvah in Tula, Russia, has none.
Members of the Temple Beth Sholom Board of Directors decided to perform the mitzvah of giving the extra Torah scroll to the fledgling Russian congregation, and the rabbi serving that congregation decided to come to Santa Ana to accept it. The ceremony cementing this special bonding will take place on Friday, October 8. TBS members will have the opportunity to celebrate the occasion with a festive dinner and hear Rabbi Nelly Shulman, leader of the Progressive Judaism movement in Russia, where only six of the 31 existing Reform congregations have Sefer Torahs.
"Donating a Torah symbolizes a restoration of Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union," according to Rabbi Shulman. "It creates a human connection between your congregation and ours."
Rabbi Cohen Announces Torat Sholom Youth Event October 9
On the heels of a highly successful Torah writing session held at Camp Sholom on July 19, Rabbi Heidi Cohen has announced a special Shabbat morning service to be held in the TBS Activity Center on Saturday morning, October 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. BSTY, OCTY and other youth from Orange County synagogues have been invited to attend this special service with a lunch immediately following it.
Rabbi Nelly Shulman will participate in the service and have an opportunity to meet with our youth for this very exciting program. "Youth from all over Orange County will have the chance to learn about the real meaning of Torah and how eager the Jewish people of Russia are to be able to embrace their own Torah scroll," Rabbi Cohen explained.
For more information, contact Rabbi Cohen at (714) 628-4620.
Reform Judaism in the FSU
Rabbi Nelly Shulman To Speak at OC Community Forum at TBS
Temple Beth Sholom will host a county-wide brunch on Sunday, October 10, at 11 a.m. to offer a first-hand account of the status of Reform Judaism in the Former Soviet Union (FSU).
Rabbi Nelly Shulman, director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in the FSU, will be the guest speaker at a brunch in her honor. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Rabbi Shulman received her rabbinical ordination at the Leo Baeck College in London in 1999.
Mandy Eisner, regional director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, is very excited that TBS has invited Rabbi Shulman to speak at this forum. "It is critical that the Jewish people in the United States understand how they can support the rapid growth of Progressive Judaism in the Former Soviet Union," he said.
According to Rabbi Shulman, "When you enter organized Jewish life in the former Soviet Union today, you carry heavy luggage. People who are 30 years old and older come with the experience of life under the Communist regime, with the experience of hiding, of fear, of not being able to openly express their opinion. Most of them do not yet understand what Jewishness means to them. We are working with them day after day - turning them into Jewish people."
Rabbi Shulman added, "Life is difficult, the government of the country is not very helpful to the Jewish community and the Jewish community itself is very diverse. People are very much concerned about work, unemployment and salary, but they are still trying to be Jewish. The hunger for learning is unbelievable. They want to learn any time of the day or the night!
What lies ahead for Reform Judaism in the Soviet Union? Rabbi Shulman envisions a growing community with more rabbis and more opportunities. She concluded, "The territory is huge. I sometimes have to fly eight hours to Siberia to teach, to run summer camps and seminars for young people. There are at least half a million people in the former Soviet Union who identify themselves as Jewish, but we only have three Reform rabbis. It is very difficult to bring people back to Judaism when you have to work in a town that had its last rabbi in 1940 and not a single person remembers him."
Contact the TBS office for reservations and additional information at (714) 628-4600.
Family Retreat To Feature Torah Scribe
The annual TBS Family Retreat will be held over Martin Luther King Weekend (January 14 through 17, 2005) at the Steve Breuer Conference Center at Camp Hess Kramer in beautiful Malibu, California. Spend time learning, laughing, eating and bonding with other TBS members. Contact the Religious School office at (714) 628-4620 for more information.
Rabbi Nelly Shulman’s Schedule
Friday Evening, October 8
6 p.m.- Shabbat dinner will be held prior to Shabbat Service.
8 p.m.- Shabbat Service. Temple Beth Sholom will present Rabbi Shulman with the Torah she will be taking back to Tula.
Saturday, October 9
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.- Rabbis Shulman and Donnell will lead Torah Study.
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -- Rabbi Cohen is organizing a county-wide youth service to be held in the Activity Center. Rabbi Cohen will coordinate with the Bureau of Jewish Education and other Orange County synagogues to promote the service. TBS will host a lunch in the rotunda for all students attending the service.
Sunday, October 10
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.- Rabbi Shulman will have time to meet with students of our Religious School
11:00 a.m.- Community-wide Brunch will be held at TBS with Rabbi Shulman as our guest speaker. Rabbi Shulman will discuss the renewal of Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union, specifically Reform Judaism. Mandy Eisner, Executive Director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, will help promote the event.
