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SYNAGOGUE NEWS

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By Lily Rosenblatt

Synagogue News from our August 19, 2005 issue

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Florida Welcomes a Taste of Israel

Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale

South Florida, roll out the blue and whites — Israeli flags that is. We are about to welcome three very unique young individuals sent from Bnei Akiva in Israel to launch the second year of Bnei Akiva in three communities — Miami Beach, North Miami Beach and Hollywood.

It all started last year as an experiment with two shlichim, emissaries, sent to Florida (along with hundreds of others sent all over the world) to bring the religious Zionist experience into our communities. They brought their blue and white shirts, Israeli flags, multi-media resources, and a large dose of enthusiasm and love of Israel, which was infectious. Their contribution to the community exceeded expectations, connecting with over 1200 children during shabbatot, peulot (activities) and holiday programming. This year, Bnei Akiva, with the help of our the local communities, hopes to double and even triple that success.

Their backgrounds are diverse, their strengths are varied. South Florida welcomes three young men, committed to their Judaism and happily willing to give up a year of their lives for the sole purpose of enriching the lives of our children.

Eli Lev was born in Brooklyn, New York 22 years ago and moved to Israel at the age of four months. He grew up and attended elementary school in Ranana and yeshiva high school in Hispin in the Golan Heights. At this boarding school Yeshiva, he became intimately familiar with the land and the country through hiking and travels throughout Israel. As an amateur photographer he catalogued his travels in color. During his free time, Eli excelled in ping-pong and soccer, which he learned to play barefoot. He spent numerous hours volunteering at a school for mentally challenged children, an experience he found very rewarding. After high school Eli attended the Otniel Hesder Yeshiva, located in the Southern Hebron Hills. While in the Israeli army, Eli served as an infantry soldier in an engineering unit. His time in the service was divided between serving on the Syrian border, Ramallah and Hebron. Eli looks forward to serving the greater Miami community to the best of his ability, and would like us to know, "that even though I live in Israel I love Seinfeld and love American humor."

Zvika Klein was born in Chicago 22 years ago, made aliyah with his family two years later and currently lives in a settlement called Ginot Shomron in Samaria. He was raised and nurtured in a "Bnei Akivanik' family: his parents and married aunts and uncles all met through Bnei Akiva, and his father was Mazkir Galil of Chicago Bnei Akiva. "I definitely have the Bnei Akiva bug," laughs Zvika. He was a madrich in Bnei Akiva in Ginot Shomron for three years for Shevet Lavi, and is a proud Member of Shevet Hatkumah. He participated in the Bnei Akiva Europe Machane Sayarim in the French Alps as a shaliach from Israel. Music is Zvika's other love. He studied piano for seven years and loves singing and composing — he recently recorded two singles in a studio. He was very active in pizmonsnif — which is the Bnei Akiva annual song contest and he hopes to impart some of his musical passions to his new young Floridian friends. Zvika refined his artistic endeavors in a special yeshiva high school for art and music, after which he attended a Hesder Yeshivat Shilo ("home of the Mishkan," he adds) along with Netanel, his co-emissary.

After basic training in the Israel Defense Forces, Zvika served in the IDF Spokesman's Unit. This unit is in charge of the IDF public relations in Israel and world-wide. He moved his way from operations to media where he was in charge of a new assignment - public relations to the Religious and Charedi communities. Part of his responsibilities included giving Israeli army base tours to groups from all over the world. This experience uniquely prepares Zvika for his stint here with the Florida community. Most recently, he has been studying Jewish education back at the yeshiva in Shilo, while simultaneously working as a madrich for the Israel Experience of the Jewish Agency, bringing teens and college students from Birthright, NCSY and Jewish schools to Israel.

"As a Shaliach," Zvika says, "I want to really get to know the communities abroad. I think that we in Israel have a lot to give but also a lot to learn." He continues enthusiastically, "The three of us have so many great ideas for the upcoming year! Our goal is to have three strong Bnei Akiva snifinm (groups) that will be open every shabbat and more. Another goal," he continues, "Is to educate a new generation of leaders who will be able to take Bnei Akiva and the entire community to greater heights in Torah and Avoda." Zvika concludes thoughtfully, "Watching my parents and their friends living in Israel with all those great memories of growing up is what encouraged me to come to Miami for an entire year of giving."

Netanel Miller, 22 years old, is learning in Yeshivat Shelo, a five year program that includes two years of army service and three years of learning. Before that, he studied in Orot Yehuda Yeshiva High School in Efrat, majoring in Jewish history (holocaust to redemption). History is his main academic focus as well as his hobby. Netanel has worked as a madrich since the age of 16 for youth groups and in development neighborhoods, which gave him an uncommon perspective on working with children. Netanel had the added advantage of being a counselor at Camp Lavi in upstate Pennsylvania. "I worked there more for idealistic reasons than for fun," he claims, "But fun turned out the surprise bonus." Netanel first trained in a combat unit in the Israel Defense Forces and was then transferred to an intelligence unit. "In December 2001, I was injured in a bombing on Yaffo Street in Jerusalem," Netanel shares, "But as you can see, I have been able to continue my life normally and I am really looking forward to meeting you Floridians and working with you next year."

Gatherings will be scheduled in Miami Beach, North Miami Beach and Hollywood to encourage everyone to come out and greet our newest residents.

TGIF at Temple Emanu-El of Greater Miami, The South Beach Synagogue

During the months of August and September, Temple Emanu-El of Greater Miami, The South Beach Synagogue is pleased to announce "TGIF" Happy Half-Hours before Kabalat Shabbat Services Friday nights in the synagogue foyer. With their new Rabbi, Kliel Rose and Cantor, George Mordecai, the community will have a chance to meet them personally before the service begins, have a L'Chaim (Toast to Life) with a glass of wine or grape juice and begin to get into the Shabbat Spirit before they enter the beautiful sanctuary of Temple Emanu-El.

As congregants and guests enter the sanctuary they will have made the transition from the busy workweek to the contemplative and spiritual calmness of Shabbat. Once inside the music is contagious as well as the clapping and sometimes dancing in the aisles.

Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 am and are followed by a light community Kiddush. All are welcome. Temple Emanu-El is located in the heart of South Beach at 1701 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. For more information or to be placed on the Temple Emanu-El mailing list for upcoming special events, please send your email to info@tesobe.org or call the office at 305 538 2503.

The Kind David String Ensemble of The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra to perform at Bet Shira Congregation

Bet Shira Congregation welcomes The King David String Ensemble, on Tuesday, August 30, at 7:30 p.m. Made up of nine virtuoso string players from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble has appeared across the globe, including the United States, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Australia, Japan and Thailand. Conducted by the Israeli-American, Anita Kamien, it is among the finest chamber ensembles active today. It performs a wide and varied repertoire that ranges from Baroque to modern.

Their recent tours included the United States from the east coast to Hawaii including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Berkeley, Milwaukee, and Boston in a special performance arranged by the Israeli Embassy and Italy in the historic Sala Barozzi in Milan. They recently performed a live concert on Chicago's classical music station WFMT that transmits to 40 FM stations nationwide. A recording will be produced of this concert.

The King David String Ensemble has been highly praised by critics. "One could not imagine anything better! The concert of "The King David String Ensemble' was the high point of the festival," wrote the Montpellier Review. Manila News described them as "magnificent and dazzling." The Swedish press headlined the group's playing as "poetic and harmonious," and a Venezuelan critic noted the ensemble's "visual excitement and finesse." The Sun Sentinel, observed, "The King David String Ensemble is a first class orchestra. The solo and ensemble playing was on the highest level — testament to the richness of Israel's musical culture."

Maestro Kamien, who has been the ensemble's music director since 1997, has been described as having a "contagious effect on the ensemble eliciting a performance that was intensely alive." As one of Israel's foremost orchestral and choral conductors, Anita Kamien is an award-winning pianist who often plays solos with the ensemble.

South Florida is the last stop of their international tour. An anonymous donor is generously underwriting this concert. Donations are welcome at the door. Dessert reception follows.

Bet Shira Congregation is located at 7500 SW 120 Street in Pinecrest, FL For info, call 305/238-2601.


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