Rabbis' Greetings

Why isn't Purim celebrated twice weekly?
At YOZMA, as in most communities around the world, Purim is celebrated with feasting and joy.
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Rabbi Nir Barkin	Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon

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Tu B'Shvat:
There is something deeply moving about the first Tu B'Shvat plantings after a shmitta year in Israel. following the biblical mitzva of having let the land rest and rejuvenate, digging open a new nest for the young sapling and nourishing it with fresh water is an experience that touches our primal nature, especially when we perform this ritual in the YOZMA forest dedicated to the memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust, together with parents and children, educators and students, friends, and neighbors.

The Tu B'Shvat planting ceremony at YOZMA was a sun-drenched morning of tradition, entertainment, inspiration and connections. Modi'in's newly elected mayor Haim Bibas and city board were on hand together with YOZMA's rabbis, lay leaders and volunteers, school children and teachers to share in the tree-planting experience, a picnic lunch and a Kabbalat Shabbat service in the young forest. The children sang and played their recorders - welcoming our new mayor as well as reciting the Travelers' Prayer for our loyal friend and supporter, the outgoing mayor Moshe Spector. Each class planted new young trees together in a designated area, alongside those trees planted by the city officials and YOZMA board. Following the planting, each class entered the forest for a picnic brunch and rejoined to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat together.

It was a special blessed day that will surely be recalled warmly as we watch these trees grow in hope and promise for the children, for YOZMA, for Modi'in and for us all.

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Impressions of Purim 2009 – Kehillat YOZMA, Modi’in
Purim is an amazing time in Israel in general, and in Modi’in in particular because there are just SO many young families and Purim is a fun family holiday. A few weeks before the holiday, usually right after the dried fruit are put away from Tu B’Shevat, you start seeing costumes for sale in the stores. It's not long before the baskets for the mishloach manot and the shiny plastic wrap start appearing and a week or two before the holiday, the bags of candy start showing up. And the kids start planning the costumes. In my house, Maya was Violet, from the Incredibles, Talia was a bee and Noa was at various times, a geisha, a fairy and Super Girl. We baked “oznei haman” (aka hamentaschen) and prepared baskets of mishloach manot to distribute to friends and neighbors.
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If You're Not Going Forward…
A message from the Chairman Jay Shofet

This Purim, despite the global economic storm and Israel's political deadlock, I'm going to party like its 4th century BCE. It's not like we've defeated Haman again, but here in Yozma we have learned a thing or too – like the Jews of ancient Persia – about community strength and resiliency. We can't change the fact that our progressive Jewish Kehilla in Modiin, like almost all of Israeli civil society, is facing a rough stretch, who knows for how long? But we can, and have, used this crisis as an opportunity to refocus and redouble our efforts, and grow our community even in uncertain times.
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Pitch from the Fundraising Chairperson
Speech by YOZMA's fundraising chairperson, Sherri Aharoni, at the dedication of the recently refurbished pre-fab Synagogue