2015-09-08
A Rosh Hashanah Blessing
Dear Friends,
We at the Daniel Centers are ending 5775 as strong as ever. Our Rabbi Mira Raz was named by Forbes Magazine as one of Israel’s 50 most influential women. TimeOut Tel Aviv Magazine named our partner school, Ussishkin School, as one of the top 5 schools in Tel Aviv. Just before composing this message to you, I received a letter from the President of Israel thanking me for attending and speaking at a recent study conference for Tisha B’av at the President of Israel’s Residence. As a Reform rabbi, I was honored to represent our movement at this historic event as religious leaders spanning various Jewish denominations gathered to reflect on the holiday and lead study sessions, with President Rivlin himself as one of the students.
At our centers, we officiated a record number of weddings and countless students from around the world continued to graduate from our conversion school. We welcomed college students and recent college graduates from Diaspora communities to our joint Masa Tikkun Olam program and led numerous visiting groups on tours throughout Jaffa. We transformed the Port of Jaffa into an outdoor art exhibition for Shonim B’yahad (Embracing our Differences) and welcomed our community members and guests to a summer of outdoor musical Kabbalot Shabbat, also at the Port of Jaffa.
This coming year, the State of Israel will face many challenges as we continue to build a more just and pluralistic society. This challenge is ongoing, as we fight to achieve peace and prosperity within our communities. Many a time this past year, we saw the need for a Reform voice in Israel. Through your support of the Daniel Centers, we can continue to promote and advance this outlook within Israeli society. Most importantly, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement of the work we do.
This coming November, I am planning to attend the URJ Biennial in Orlando. For those of you who would like to hear more about the work we do, I would be happy to meet with you during this event. Feel comfortable to email me at meir@beit-daniel.org.il. Additionally, if you are planning a trip to Israel or anticipate your children or grandchildren to travel to this region, we would be happy to welcome you/them to our community.
This past year was truly a year to remember, full of achievements, new additions to our team and high hopes for the year to come. I, along with my fellow rabbis and team members at the Daniel Centers, would like to be among the first to wish you a happy and healthy shana tova.
With warm regards,
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Rabbi Meir Azari
Senior Rabbi at Beit Daniel