December 26th, Moriah Synagogue, Haifa: CJP and Temple Emanuel of Newton each came with both strength of numbers and strength of spirit. Moriah had a yom-kippur-sized crowd of at least 200 people, and I doubt a dry eye could be found, as joyful celebrations took place.
During the recent conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hizballah, over 4000 rockets and missile were fired upon Israel. Haifa was subjected to a hail of terror. Explosions shook the homes, the windows, and the bodies of everyone in Haifa, but we tried to keep our heads, and maintain our spirits. Moriah is Haifa's only Conservative (Masorti) synagogue. During the long month of explosions, the rabbi of Moriah, Rabbi Ari Burnstein, and its president, Gershon Naveh, had to face a problem never before seen by the community. The national gvoernment ordered that there be no public gatherings (movie theaters all closed), and ordered that people should get together and stay only in places which meet the security standards of bomb shelters. Every apartment in Israel has a bomb shelter, either as a reinforced secure room in the house or one to which the residents are assigned in times of bombardment. Moriah had no such place for congregants, and thus - at the time prayer and community are most needed- praying together was illegal as it was obviously too hazardous. The nearby Reform synagogue has a large bomb shelter, and the two congregations have a history of collaboration in adult education, during the year of 2003-4, in a program which was partly funded by the CJP Boston-Haifa Partnership 2000.
Two rapid responses were needed to resolve the need for a safe place to meet and to pray. Rabbi Edgar Nof of the Reform Or Hadash synagogue made the Conservative community feel at home, having the shelter for their own throughout the war, where they met and prayed regularly, sharing it with the Reform congregants during the many repetitions of rattling minutes of air-raid sirens and otherwise using it as a makeshift synagogue. The conditions were rustic, and have since been improved. The "home" was temporary, and not easy walking distance from Moriah. The second rapid response was by the Temple Emanuel President and Rabbi and congregants, who determined that a secure room should be built adjacent to Moriah, so that the threat of war need never again prevent congregants from being together. CJP Director Barry Shrage emphasized the threats endured by Jews, aside from being bombarded, particularly of those formerly Ethiopians present, and how Jews have always and will always persevere and endure.
The laying of the cornerstone today, of what is being built as a secure room for Moriah was a beautiful way Jews of Newton chose to share their resources and make Jews of Haifa feel safe and secure. As the president of Temple Emanuel exclaimed, the total event was a WOW moment which will stay with us forever.
As part of the same ceremony, Temple Emanuel also donated a sefer Torah to the Yachad Shivtei Yisrael ( Together Tribes of Israel) synagogue of Haifa. This synagogue houses a mixed congregation of Jews, some veteran and Native Israelis, with mostly newcomers from Ethiopia and some from Russia and other Eastern countries. Bringing the Torah to Israel (where it might have been stuck in customs but for the successful efforts of Gad Sassover, head of the Haifa steering committee for P2K), the members of Temple Emanuel brought the Torah to its new home, and elevated the spirits of the community to levels beyond compare, leading to joyous song and dance.
The Torah is what we have in common. The Torah is our security. In his inspiring Torah commentary, on the portion vayigash, Rabbi Burnstein of Moriah explained and discussed the covenants of faith, and the covenants of destiny multidenominational care for Jews from the rest of the world was a great experience for Israeli Jews, and my hope as an Israeli is that the model will be emulated here in Israel.
As a Reform Jew and member of the Haifa Jewish Identity steering committee of P2K, it was an honor and a privilege to share in the joyous celebrations: of the Conservative Moriah congregation, elevating its spirit by having a secure place to meet, and the Orthodox congregation Yachad Shivtei Israel, whose security was elevated by as of now having a Torah scroll. The security of faith and the ensuring of our destiny were both powerfully visible, both made possible by our partners of Boston/Newton.
May Jews from all over find a safe place when they come, again and again, to Israel, a place of Torah learning and worship and living; may we learn and live partnership, sharing strengths so that we may all be courageous and strong.
With gratitude and respect:
Jesse (Yishai) Lachter M.D.
Immediate Past President of Or Hadash (Reform) synagogue of Haifa, currently head of adult education, and Member, Jewish Identity and Education committee of the Haifa-Boston Partnership 2000 steering committee