Welcome to Kehilat Tzur Hadassah!
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How to join or make a donation
Background
Kehilat Tzur Hadassah is a young congregation, affiliated with the 
Israel Movement for Progressive (Reform) Judaism , located in the residential community of Tzur Hadassah, in the Judean Hills, 12 miles southwest of Jerusalem. 
Our spiritual leader is 
Rabbi Ofer Sabath- Bet Halachmi, who studied and was ordained as part of the Israeli Rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. He is helping us to grow into a thriving and dynamic synagogue.By establishing our congregation as the village of Tzur Haddassah grows, we hope to be able to attract new and young families that will be moving to the area. We have found that many of the existing families, in spite of their "secular" identification, do have an interest in learning about and getting involved in a progressive, egalitarian congregation such as ours.
While many of our members are Israeli born, others have made Aliyah from countries such as USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, England, Scandinavia and France.
We are blessed with many talented people in our kehillah and one of them is Aviram, a musician who composed a beautiful melody to the prayer
"Elohai Netzor"
Come and see a video about our Kehillah, on "You Tube"
The community of Tzur Hadassah currently has a population of 1,000 families and is undergoing a major expansion. Plans for the area include new developments in the surrounding Moshavim which will increase the population to 5000 families by 2010.
In the first few years the congregation met in various locations including a bomb shelter (Picture-Friday night services in a local bomb shelter) or a sports hall.
In 1999 the local authorities allocated a lot for the purpose of building a reform synagogue. This was an uprecedented move by any local authority, basically giving some level of official recognition to Reform Judaism in Israel.
Our temporary home arrived just a week before Rosh Hashana 5761. In 2002 we moved to a central location in the the village, providing us with a safer environment for our children and congregants. Come visit this link to see some of the highlights including our dedication in Mid-January 2001 in our first location. 
Click on the picture to see the delivery and dedication of our new temporary building.
"If you will it,
it is no dream". (Theodore Herzl)
Israel at war- what we did to help Israeli refugees from the North during the 2nd Lebanese War
Crisis update -July 20th
Crisis update July 27th
Crisis update -August 4, 2006
Crisis update -August 11, 2006
News
Beth Emet - Evanston Illinois- Visits our Kehillah (Click on "Beth Emet" to see more!
On December 23rd, a delegation of some 60 friends from Temple Beth Emet-The Free Synagogue, visited with us. Their youth participated in a special activity with the local Israeli Scouts, and everyone joined us in Kabbbalat Shabbat. Following services our guests were hosted for dinner at Kehilat Tzur Hadassah congregants homes.
Activities
Begining the summer of 2003 we began anew tradition to end our school year and wish everyone a healthy and productive summer with a Kabbbalat Shabbat at the beach. Click on the Yellow poster to learn more!
Click on the picture to see the Purim Megilla reading
Click on the picture to see our Tu Bishvat Seder
Click on the picture to see the Tikun Olam program we have with single mothers from Beit Shemesh
* On the High Holidays and at other holiday celebrations we are always with over capacity participation with many people standing outside.
* We run a kindergarten/nursery school, which attracts additional young families.
* There are weekly adult classes led by Rabbi Ofer Sabath-Beit Halachmi as are
the Bar-Bat Mitzvah workshops.
* As part of our vision of serving the greater community we have initiated extra cirrucular actvities for 3-5 year olds and other activities such as monthly family trips and lectures given by guest speakers.
* "Tikun Olam" is an important part of our vision, and we have in fact participated in a nationwide program of the Progressive Judaism movement to raise funds for needy children to provide them with basic school supplies. Also our Bar/Bat Mitvah youth visit with special children in their dormitory and work on educational projects with them.
*
On Going Development
As we said above, we have no appropriate place we can call our own. In fact our current situation of meeting in a pre-fab building is not conducive to strengthening a community that is vibrant and growing. We desperately need to establish a permanent home and hope to do so on the land (pictured to the right) that has fortunately been allocated to us.
As part of our ongoing development and growth we try to improve and add to our facility. As a young congregation starting from scratch, we certainly have many needs with naming opportunities. Following please find an overview of our needs.
* Main sanctuary.
* Kindergarten/nursery classroom.
* Youth Lounge.
* Space for Kiddush , Friday night meals and other affairs.
* Library and study room.
* Room to serve as an office for the Rabbi.
* Kitchen
* Storage
* Outdoor area for the purpose of building a Sukkah.
Planning and Construction Stages
Stage 1 (August 1999- September 2000)
Aug 99-May 2000. Services held in the bomb shelter, planning, fund raising and permits for a temporary structure to be built on our lot COMPLETED
May-Aug 2000 Purchase of temporary structure including developement of outdoor space (1200-1500 Sq. ft.)PURCHASE COMPLETED - DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY September 1, 2000 Kindergarten/nursery opens, high holidays services held in new temporary building KINDERGARTEN OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2002 Stage 2 (2007- 2010)
2007-2009 Planning for a permanent building, fund raising and reassessment of needs 2009 Corner stone for permanent building (4,000-5,000 sq. ft)
Budget
Stage 1)
Planning of temporary structure COMPLETED
Infrastructure
$30,000 Purchase of Temporary Building COMPLETED
Interior needs NEARING COMPLETION
$10,000 Total for Stage 1
$40,000
Stage 2
Planning
$60,000 Building (500 meters)
$750,000 Interior needs
$200,000 Administration, planning, supervision
$150,000 Total for Stage 2
$1,160,000
Total for Stage 1 and 2
$1,200,000
In addition to our capital needs, we also offer special yearly overseas memberships:
Adults at $180
Children at $18
College students at $36
Families at $360
All donations are tax deductible in the United States and can be made to the attention of:
"Kehilat Tzur Haddasah" via either
KBY Congregations Together Inc.
POB 23170 Brooklyn, NY 11202-3170
or to the World Union for Reform Judaism, North America
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017-6778
We thank you for considering connecting to us and for giving thought to our proposal. We hope you will join us in building a strong and vibrant base for progressive Judaism in Israel.
Israel Movement for Progressive (Reform) Judaism , located in the residential community of Tzur Hadassah, in the Judean Hills, 12 miles southwest of Jerusalem.
Rabbi Ofer Sabath- Bet Halachmi, who studied and was ordained as part of the Israeli Rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. He is helping us to grow into a thriving and dynamic synagogue.By establishing our congregation as the village of Tzur Haddassah grows, we hope to be able to attract new and young families that will be moving to the area. We have found that many of the existing families, in spite of their "secular" identification, do have an interest in learning about and getting involved in a progressive, egalitarian congregation such as ours.
While many of our members are Israeli born, others have made Aliyah from countries such as USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, England, Scandinavia and France.
In 1999 the local authorities allocated a lot for the purpose of building a reform synagogue. This was an uprecedented move by any local authority, basically giving some level of official recognition to Reform Judaism in Israel.
Our temporary home arrived just a week before Rosh Hashana 5761. In 2002 we moved to a central location in the the village, providing us with a safer environment for our children and congregants. Come visit this link to see some of the highlights including our dedication in Mid-January 2001 in our first location.
Click on the picture to see the delivery and dedication of our new temporary building.
"If you will it,
it is no dream". (Theodore Herzl)
| Israel at war- what we did to help Israeli refugees from the North during the 2nd Lebanese War
|
| Crisis update -July 20th |
| Crisis update July 27th |
| Crisis update -August 4, 2006 |
| Crisis update -August 11, 2006 |
| News
|
| Beth Emet - Evanston Illinois- Visits our Kehillah (Click on "Beth Emet" to see more!
|
| On December 23rd, a delegation of some 60 friends from Temple Beth Emet-The Free Synagogue, visited with us. Their youth participated in a special activity with the local Israeli Scouts, and everyone joined us in Kabbbalat Shabbat. Following services our guests were hosted for dinner at Kehilat Tzur Hadassah congregants homes. |
| Activities |
| Begining the summer of 2003 we began anew tradition to end our school year and wish everyone a healthy and productive summer with a Kabbbalat Shabbat at the beach. Click on the Yellow poster to learn more!
|
| Click on the picture to see the Purim Megilla reading
|
| Click on the picture to see our Tu Bishvat Seder
|
| Click on the picture to see the Tikun Olam program we have with single mothers from Beit Shemesh
|
|
* On the High Holidays and at other holiday celebrations we are always with over capacity participation with many people standing outside. * We run a kindergarten/nursery school, which attracts additional young families.
* As part of our vision of serving the greater community we have initiated extra cirrucular actvities for 3-5 year olds and other activities such as monthly family trips and lectures given by guest speakers. * "Tikun Olam" is an important part of our vision, and we have in fact participated in a nationwide program of the Progressive Judaism movement to raise funds for needy children to provide them with basic school supplies. Also our Bar/Bat Mitvah youth visit with special children in their dormitory and work on educational projects with them.
|
As we said above, we have no appropriate place we can call our own. In fact our current situation of meeting in a pre-fab building is not conducive to strengthening a community that is vibrant and growing. We desperately need to establish a permanent home and hope to do so on the land (pictured to the right) that has fortunately been allocated to us.
As part of our ongoing development and growth we try to improve and add to our facility. As a young congregation starting from scratch, we certainly have many needs with naming opportunities. Following please find an overview of our needs.
* Main sanctuary.
* Kindergarten/nursery classroom.
* Youth Lounge.
* Space for Kiddush , Friday night meals and other affairs.
* Library and study room.
* Room to serve as an office for the Rabbi.
* Kitchen
* Storage
* Outdoor area for the purpose of building a Sukkah.
Planning and Construction Stages
| Stage 1 (August 1999- September 2000) | Aug 99-May 2000. Services held in the bomb shelter, planning, fund raising and permits for a temporary structure to be built on our lot COMPLETED | |
| May-Aug 2000 Purchase of temporary structure including developement of outdoor space (1200-1500 Sq. ft.)PURCHASE COMPLETED - DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY | ||
| September 1, 2000 Kindergarten/nursery opens, high holidays services held in new temporary building KINDERGARTEN OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2002 | ||
| Stage 2 (2007- 2010) | 2007-2009 Planning for a permanent building, fund raising and reassessment of needs | |
| 2009 Corner stone for permanent building (4,000-5,000 sq. ft) | ||
Budget
| Stage 1) | Planning of temporary structure COMPLETED | ||
| Infrastructure | $30,000 | ||
| Purchase of Temporary Building COMPLETED | |||
| Interior needs NEARING COMPLETION | | ||
| Total for Stage 1 | | ||
| Stage 2 | Planning | | |
| Building (500 meters) | | ||
| Interior needs | $200,000 | ||
| Administration, planning, supervision | $150,000 | ||
| Total for Stage 2 | $1,160,000 | ||
| Total for Stage 1 and 2 | | ||
In addition to our capital needs, we also offer special yearly overseas memberships:
Adults at $180
Children at $18
College students at $36
Families at $360
All donations are tax deductible in the United States and can be made to the attention of:
"Kehilat Tzur Haddasah" via either
KBY Congregations Together Inc.
POB 23170 Brooklyn, NY 11202-3170
or to the World Union for Reform Judaism, North America
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017-6778
We thank you for considering connecting to us and for giving thought to our proposal. We hope you will join us in building a strong and vibrant base for progressive Judaism in Israel.