Read about the Israel Encounter trip for 2008

  Israel Encounter Trip

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Mar 3, 2007

What a wonderful Shabbat is was today.  My sons came home from UGA to rest, study for tests, go to see the Thrashers and to wreak havoc.   I loved it.

I have received a few e-mails from interested people who want to know what Shalom B'Harim is all about.   So, here is how I see it:

Judaism is a way of life that is based in history (how many of our holidays are tied to the Exodus from Egypt through the Wilderness wandering??), lived in the here and now (the Here After is a foregone conclusion - we ALL get there, so why worry?)  and is a function of our actions and deeds (100 commandments exist for how we conduct business and treat other people).     We are about personal responsibility and free will choice (no higher being makes us do anything - I AM RESPONSE -ABLE and I take full responsibility for my responses to desires, urges and instinct).    G-d watches us like a proud parent, almost revelling in the fact that we are completely capable of using the intelligence given to us to make a difference in the world.    G-d also sheds the first tear when we use our intelligence to pollute the planet and design ways to destroy the world.   We are all G-d's hands in the physical world, finishing the work of  Creation that G-d left undone on the first Shabbat.

Shalom B'harim is an authentically Jewish congregation for Jews throughout North Georgia and for those from Atlanta (or even NC) who need the mountains as a spiritual context, Jewish community and Jewish worship.   We are not affiliated with a Jewish movement and we use the Reform "Gates of Prayer" for Shabbat services and "Gates of Repentance" for the High Holiday services.     I like to think that our congregation is comprised of Jews from all backgrounds and movements:  Reconstructionist, Conservative, Reform, and Orthodox; therefore, we are "ReConFormaDox".    Many keep kosher and many do not.  Some are shomer shabbos (observant of the 39 definitions of prohibited "work" on Shabbat) and many are not.   We use musical instruments, such as guitar, an occasional hand-drum and shakers to enhance spirtuality during services (I choose Psalm 150 over either the prohibition of carrying on Shabbat, or mourning the destruction of the Temples) and sometimes we do not.   So, there is something Jewish for everyone.    We welcome all visitors:  Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, pagan, Native American, Atheist and anyone I forgot to mention who is respectful of how we communally worship.

What we are not - messianic.     I think Jesus was a wonderful Jew, who did what many of the major and minor Prophets, from Hosea to Malachi did - he admonished his fellow Jews for turning away from Torah and assimilating into the Roman Hellenistic and pagan ways.     I've taught the Sermon on the Mount from the book of Matthew  Chapters 5 - 7 to Jews and to Christians.    While I respect everyone's "conversation' with G-d and everyone's interpretation of both Hebrew and Aramaic biblical texts (which is very challenging and depends on the context of what comes before and after particular lines of selected text), messianic Jews are people who really could be considered Christians who follow Jewish liturgy and service rubrics.   I think that is wonderful and it is not how Shalom B'Harim functions as a Jewish community.    Our liturgy and prayers are Jewish according to how Jews interpret traditional Hebrew biblical text.     There really is no argument, as interpretation of text is not an either/or thing - both sides could be argued convincingly and I choose not to argue.    Since Jews do not believe in hell and we do believe that Gan Eden b' Olam Haba (Garden of Eden [Paradise] in the World to Come) is for ALL human beings - not just Jews, fear of damnation is not our interpretation and is not an issue for us   I respect all people who do interpret text to support their beliefs in a Messiah, Prophet, Savior, hell and salvation - if it works for them.    I only ask the same respect and understanding in return.

Shavua tov (good week),

Mitch

Feb, 28, 2007

Hi all:

Shabbat shalom. Recall that Zvi Altman is the lay Spiritual Leader of Mountain Synagogue in Franklin, NC and he has co-led a Shabbat service at Shalom B'Harim. Zvi started an organization, The Teshuva Institute of Living Judaism, which is committed to learning and living Judaism from the heart. He has written a wonderful book, "Be Thou Holy". His book is a great introduction to Judaism and I highly recommend it to all. Google "Teshuvah Institute" to order the book.

I want to thank Zvi for visiting with us at services last week, sharing his thoughts and feelings about Jewish identity and continuity.     We hope he will come back again soon to sing and worship with us.

Mitch

February 15, 2007

  Israel Discovery Trip

1. Itinery

2. Trip

-----Original Message----- from the Simon Wiesenthal Center

February 6, 2007 UPDATE: YOUR ACTIVISM AT WORK IN RESPONSE TO 25,000 PETITIONS, FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER CRITICIZES WIESENTHAL CENTER ; RABBI HIER RESPONDS In reaction to your 25,000 signed petitions that were sent to former US President Jimmy Carter protesting his book, " Palestine : Peace Not Apartheid," Mr. Carter has responded. In a hand-written letter to Rabbi Marvin Hier, the Center’s dean and founder, President Carter accused the Center of "falsehood and slander." Rabbi Hier responded, in part, "Let me say, Mr. President, that I am not one who believes that Israel is infallible ... the only reason there is no peace in the Middle East is because of Islamic extremists who refuse to compromise, not because of the State of Israel.” Read the exchange of letters between President Carter and Rabbi Hier:         Use this link to forward this important message to your friends and family... We need your support to continue our work.  Please click here to support the work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center . Send inquiries to: information@wiesenthal.net Or send mail to: Simon Wiesenthal Center 1399 South Roxbury, Los Angeles , California 90035 310-553-9036 http://www.wiesenthal.com   SWC Snider Social Action Institute

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