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For
those who have not as yet sent in their Hineini donations
and wish to do so, there is still time. Please send your
check to the Temple office made out to Temple Shalom with
the notation that it is to go to the Hineini Project.
For
those who are going to send checks and for those who already
have sent their contributions, thank you so much. As in
years past, and this is our fourth Hineini Campaign, the
money will be used for scholarships for two teens from the
Former Soviet Union to attend the Leadership Institute at
Camp Kutz in Warwick, New York. When these kids go back to
their home communities, it is our hope that they can share
what they learned with their friends.
We at
Temple
Shalom
are helping to train the future leaders of the Jewish
Communities in Eastern Europe and bringing back to vitality
a Jewish culture and heritage that Nazi Germany and Soviet
Russia almost destroyed.
This
year we have added a new component to the Hineini campaign.
It is called, “PLEASE DO NOT FORGET US.”
We are
trying to build bridges between our Naples community and
those in Eastern Europe, particularly in Kiev, Odessa and
Lvov. Through contacts made by the Palays and Miriam Silver
when they went to these communities to discover their family
roots, we will be able to send life cycle gifts of Judaica
from our community to emerging Jews of the Former Soviet
Union who might not have access to them. A kiddush
cup for a Bar Mitzvah or candle sticks for a Bat Mitzvah. It
could be a mezzuzah for a Jewish home or Shabbat or
Yahrzeit candles. Thanks to the leadership of Marina
Zelner, our B’nai Mitzvah class is starting a twinning
program with their counterparts in the Former Soviet Union.
To
paraphrase Rabbi Harold Kushner, “WHEN YOU ARE KIND TO
OTHERS YOU NOT ONLY CHANGE THE WORLD, IT CAN CHANGE YOU.”
When Judi and Miriam returned home, they told me that when
they attended Shabbat services in Odessa the congregation
had an Oneg Shabbat in honor of their American visitors.
Rabbi Dukhovney provided some hard candies which was a
special treat. Miriam and Judi suggested that perhaps when a
family in Naples sponsors an Oneg, they can add an extra
$25.00 to sponsor an Oneg in the former Soviet Union. To
make sure the money is used for its intended purpose it
would go directly to Rabbi Dukhovney.
On a
personal note I want to share with you how true Rabbi
Kushner's words are. On both sides, my family came from
Eastern Europe. However the "old country" was never
mentioned or spoken about. I know nothing of my roots. I
don't even know the names of my paternal grandparents or
when they died or where they are buried. I have decided that
due to hearing Judi and Miriam's story, once a year I will
make a donation of $25.00 to sponsor an Oneg for a
congregation in Eastern Europe in honor of my family that
was lost to me. The donation will be made on a Friday and
that night I will say kaddish in their memory. Will
that donation change the world? I don't know. Will it change
me? I think so.
05/08
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