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EVENTS
Topics of this page:
Global Day of Jewish Learning: November 13, 2011
Sukkot 2011/5772
Tishri 24, 5772 - Shabbat Bereishit-: Our first Bar Mitzvah
Minkha Learning Session with Reb Dr. Goldie Milgram from USA
Eco-Kashrut II: Our field in summer 2011
Lag b´Omer and Eco-Kashrut
Pesakh 2011 - 5771
Learning Session for Lilith and a very special menorah
Tu biShevat 2011
Sukkot_2010
Ohel Hachidusch moved to a new home (June 2010)
Pesakh 5770 - 2010
Erev Purim 5770 (February 27, 2010) at Ohel Hachidusch
Beth Jacob Torah in Berlin
January 2010: Photographs of Chajim´s ceramics, our wimple and Ohel-documentation in Shir Tikvah
Article of Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg about our Torah Celebration 28th of November 28, 2009 and his visit to Berlin
Report of our Torah Celebration 28th of November 2009
Anja´s Wimpel presentation at our Torah Celebration
Workshop with Rabbi Shefa Gold: Path of Love on November 6th -8th, 2009
Sukkot 2009
3rd of July 2009: Rabbi Eveline Goodman-Thau celebrates Kabbalat Schabbat with Ohel Hachidusch
Pessach 2009
Sukkot 2011/5772
It is already one of Ohel Hachidusch´s beloved customs to celebrate Sukkot in different sukkahs.
October 12 and 14, erev sukkot and erev Shabbat Chol haMoed Sukkot we were guests of Chajim and the Kulturverein Prenzlauer Berg (www.kvpb.de). Just a few hours before the beginning of sukkot Jalda and Anna returned from Detroit/ Michigan. As in previous years Cantor Jalda officiated at Shir Tikvah Congregation during the High Holy Days. Both Jalda and Anna were anxious to share their new ideas and exciting experiences with us and tell us about Shir Tikvah´s hospitality. Therefore. jet lag and lack of sleep were without chance. Jalda lead us through the service and we were happy to have both of them home again.
Erev Shabbat Chol haMoed Iris Weiss provided us an insight into bibliolog (www.berlin-juedisch.de/ bibliolog). With this method biblical stories are retold or continued out of the perspective of other " eye witnesses" thereby transcending or actualizing the events wherever intuition or subconscious come to a stop. This evening we centered on Rachel and Jacob´s love on first glance. It was fascinating to look at one of the most beautiful and multifaceted love stories of the bible from different points of view.
Subsequently Olaf Ruhl sang and played yiddish songs and we hummed along. The evening was perfectly rounded by a delicious homemade meal of Channah and other equally creative hobby cooks. Many thanks to all contributors to this inspiring festival.
Sunday, October 16, 4th day of sukkot we spent in our own sukkah in the garden of landhouse Gatow in the outskirts of Berlin. This day we centered on the agricultural aspects of sukkot. We were proud to visit our ecokashrut field with our guests and say some prayers of thanks for our first year´s harvest which surpassed all expectations.
Thereafter our children enthusiastically decorated the sukkah with some more flowers and fruits from our field. We said the blessings under the guidance of Anja and bentshed the lulav. Later on we enjoyed some of the first honey of the bees whose hive is located in the garden of world religions just a couple of yards away. The honey was very tasteful and aromatic which was no surprise since the bees are feeding on Rita´s organically grown flowers.
After this outdoor day all of us were very hungry. Thanks to the generosity of Rita and the expert help of Marlis and Jona a beautifully decorated table with homemade delicacies of the landhouse was waiting for us. Many thanks to everybody who contributed to this special sukkot experience.
Photos: Anna Adam, Ruth Wiesenthal
Global day of
Jewish Learning: November 13, 2011/
Kheshvan 16, 5772
Planting 18 trees
(chaj) at the Ohel Hachidusch Eco-Kashrut garden in
Berlin – Gatow
It was a gorgeous day: sunny and clear,
just beautiful.
We met in the early afternoon in our garden to welcome the new fruit-trees of old sorts coming from an ecological tree-school. As we prepared this event everybody chose his own personal tree. Some of us wanted to plant the tree for his or her ancestors others just loved the fruit which one day, b´estrat HaShem will grow on this tree and enjoy life.
For us people mostly living in an urban environment
it was miraculous. A
huge learning lesson about the second paragraph of the Schma. If we
treat our
world as she needs it, we will get so much.
We human beings as partners of nature, not as
„rulers“ over nature.
As we started to dig, helping each other, we learned that the first dig is the hardest one: you have to get through the grass-cover. When you understand what you are doing/learning, then you can dig deeper and will not only learn the Pshat but also the deeper levels.
When the wholes were deep and big enough for the roots of the little trees, then water – mayim hayyim - was needed, a lot of water. After we closed the earth everybody gave his or her little tree a blessing, a personal blessing, thankful for reaching this moment in our lifes.
We blessed this moment with a shehechejanu.
After about two hours work we looked at our new orchard-alley. May it grow and make our lifes and the lifes of those who will harvest the fruits richer.
Some of us immediately planned to plant more next
year.
Ol malkhut shamajim means the connection between heaven and earth,
like a
tree. When the roots are strong the tree can blossom and withstand the
wind,
the frost and all difficulties in his life.
We will harvest our first fruits after five years,
because Tora teaches
us not to take the fruit of the first four years and to bring the
harvest of
the fifth year as a korban.
The trees giving us the connection to the
generations before us and
those who are coming behind us.
They are a part of the golden chain of our
tradition. They are
representing the tree of life.
And we all learned, that the study of Tora gets a
deeper meaning when
you go cultivate the earth and dig through the first grass-cover into the depth of life.
With a delicious pumpkinsoup made of the pumpkins growing in our garden, joyous singing and storytelling, we celebrated the day. A beautiful moon at erew Kheshvan 17th guided us on our way home.
Text: Cantor
Jalda Rebling
Photos : Anna Adam
Tishri 24, 5772 -Shabbat Bereishit -: Our first Bar Mitzvah
It was a very special
day for Avery, his family, Cantor Jalda and all of us: our first bar
mitzvah.
Avery’s
family and friends as well as teachers from the John F. Kennedy School
It was the first bar
mitzvah in this room since the closure of the Jewish orphanage by the
Nazis and the deportation of children to concentration camps in 1940.
The wooden ceiling of
the prayer room remains in good condition and the niche for the
original torah can still be easily recognized.
What a powerful sign
for the future
A German American Jewish Celebration
Posted on October 28, 2011 on Donnas blog Full Circle
These were the heavy layers of
symbolic meaning that enveloped Avery’s bar mitzvah last
weekend. But the deep significance
of the occasion didn’t keep us from having a fun and rowdy
celebration. Avery got hammered
with German and American candy at the end, and sustained a pretty
strong hit on the forehead from a rock hard treat thrown by his little
brother. I think Avery and one of
his buddies also got hammered with a secretly made potion of wine and
iced tea!
Avery chose to have his coming
of age on the anniversary of my father’s bar mitzvah.
He wore the tallit (prayer shawl) my father wore 69
years ago when he was first called to the Torah. But
as the service drew to a close Olivia dazzled us all by presenting her
brother with a beautiful silk tallit she made by hand for him.
As Cantor Jalda said, “Avery should step
into the future wearing his own tallit, not schlepping the burden of
his grandfather on his shoulders!”
Avery´s Bar Mizwa Projekt:
Stolperstein for Meta
For my bar mitzvah, I chose a project to make the world a little better place. After a trip to Southern Germany where I learned a lot about my family history, I decided to help my family create a memorial for one of our relatives who was killed in the Holocaust. We chose to have a Stolperstein made for my great great aunt Meta Adler. Stolpersteins are brass stones set in the ground to remember individual Holocaust victims.
I´d like to tell you a little bit about Meta. She was born in the small village of Altwiedermus in 1894. She was neither pretty nor very smart, she never married, and she worked as a maid. Because she could not successfully answer questions during her immigration examination, she was denied permission to immigrate to America with the rest of her family. So, in 1938-1939 the Adlers immigrated to America, leaving Meta behind. She then lived in Frankfurt until she was deported in 1942. In her memory, the stone will be laid in her birthplace of Altwiedermus this summer.
Text: Avery Swarthout
A German American Jewish Celebration
Posted on October 28, 2011 on Donnas blog Full Circle
A boy becomes an adult and
reclaims his family’s place on the soil from which his
ancestors fled two generations ago. Berlin’s
former Jewish orphanage, with its historic prayer hall, marks the first
bar mitzvah since the Shoah. Ohel
Hachidusch, a congregation outside Berlin’s mainstream Jewish
community, embraces its first son of the commandments.
A father weeps to see his first-born step with
confidence into adulthood. A mother
aches with joy as she stands on the bima, the living link between the
father she’s lost and her son who is his namesake.
These were the heavy layers of
symbolic meaning that enveloped Avery’s bar mitzvah last
weekend. But the deep significance
of the occasion didn’t keep us from having a fun and rowdy
celebration. Avery got hammered
with German and American candy at the end, and sustained a pretty
strong hit on the forehead from a rock hard treat thrown by his little
brother. I think Avery and one of
his buddies also got hammered with a secretly made potion of wine and
iced tea! Avery chose to have his coming
of age on the anniversary of my father’s bar mitzvah.
He wore the tallit (prayer shawl) my father wore 69
years ago when he was first called to the Torah. But
as the service drew to a close Olivia dazzled us all by presenting her
brother with a beautiful silk tallit she made by hand for him.
As Cantor Jalda said, “Avery should step
into the future wearing his own tallit, not schlepping the burden of
his grandfather on his shoulders!”It
was a day of profound peace and joy for me. As
my son chanted his Torah portion in a clear and resonant Hebrew that
apparently carried no trace of an American accent, I saw the beauty of
a ritual that ties all Jews together. Sharing
that ritual with our mostly non-Jewish friends from Berlin (as well as
our family from Amsterdam and two dear friends from the U.S.) gave us a
sense of belonging in our new community so far away from Montana.
We are indeed a “German American Jewish
family” that is comfortable following our beliefs in both
countries that we call home.
Text by Donna Swarthout in her blog Full
Circle
Photos courtesy of Bill Slaton.
Avery´s Bar Mizwa Projekt:
Stolperstein for Meta
For my bar mitzvah, I chose a project to make the world a little better place. After a trip to Southern Germany where I learned a lot about my family history, I decided to help my family create a memorial for one of our relatives who was killed in the Holocaust. We chose to have a Stolperstein made for my great great aunt Meta Adler. Stolpersteins are brass stones set in the ground to remember individual Holocaust victims.
I´d like to tell you a little bit about Meta. She was born in the small village of Altwiedermus in 1894. She was neither pretty nor very smart, she never married, and she worked as a maid. Because she could not successfully answer questions during her immigration examination, she was denied permission to immigrate to America with the rest of her family. So, in 1938-1939 the Adlers immigrated to America, leaving Meta behind. She then lived in Frankfurt until she was deported in 1942. In her memory, the stone will be laid in her birthplace of Altwiedermus this summer.
Text: Avery Swarthout
At the end of the
service we said mazel tov to Avery with a shower of candy. Then we enjoyed a
delicious buffet prepared by Gaby Nonhoff.
On this Shabbat
Bereishit all of the Ohelistas gratefully thought back to Erev 12
Kislev 5770. At that time the first Torah reading since the Holocaust
took place in this exact prayer hall: the Ohel Hachidusch Torah
Festival. The Shir
Tikvah community in Troy , Michigan
Together with
numerous members of Shir Tikvah and our community we celebrated the
return of this Torah, which probably came from what is now the Czech Republic , to Europe .
This was the
beginning of a new era for Ohel Hachidusch.
Our first bar mitzvah
comes from the USA New
York City USA and was returned to
Europe . Just
as Avery has returned to Germany
Many thanks to Donna for her translation and to Barbara Swarthout for all pictures except the ones in Donna´s blog . If you want to learn more about the life of our American - Jewish - German family in Berlin please check Donna´s blog Full Circle .
Minkha Learning Session with Reb Dr. Goldie Milgram from USA
Saturday, August 27, 2011/ 27th of Av 5771 (Shabbat Re´eh) was a special day for us:
We were happy to welcome Rabbi Dr. Goldie Milgram from the USA and her husband Dr. Barry Bub as special guests to our Minkha Learning Session at Gutshof Gatow.
Rabbi Milgram was ordained at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, received a smicha from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and a doctorate from New York Theological Seminary. She founded Reclaiming Judaism Press and www.ReclaimingJudaism.org. This organization is developing new strategies to keep Jewish rituals and mitzvot alive. She also wrote several books on these topiics.
Jona wrote down the way she experienced this fascinating learning event:
Spiritual and Bodily Nutrition at the Farm: Rav Goldie Milgram learning with Ohel ha-Chiddusch:
Gatow, nearby Berlin in Elul 5771 (2011). A metallic grey sky weighs heavily on the village, on the fields and on the farm. The wind blows thick rain drops onto the little windows of the farm house. Given such a weather everybody wants to stay in the house – a good time for retreat and to concentrate on what is inside. Gladly we did so thanks to the hospitality of Rita and Ulrich Reinicke, who take care of the farm and mill in Gatow; and thanks to Rav Goldie Milgram, who followed the invitation of Ohel ha-Chiddusch and came to Berlin together with her husband, Dr. Barry Bub.
R. Goldie Milgram is known for traveling through the world with the message in her luggage, that Jewish tradition is not just a huge library, which invites for extended intellectual examination. First of all it provides a deliberate set of exercise and guidance for a practical spirituality and a life well balanced between body, soul and spirit. Dr. Barry Bub is a physician and a Gestalt psychotherapist. He leads a lot of workshops and seminars on how traumatized people could be helped with integrated healing. Integrated healing means, a sincere therapeutic work has to be complemented by a vivid spirituality founded in tradition. And the other way round also spiritual exercise would not do enough, but has to be accompanied by professional therapy. Both must come together in order to gain sustainable healing.
Healing is also a leading theme in the time of repentance between Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, and also in the preceding month of Elul, where we usually prepare ourselves for this exceptional time. Tradition helps us to fathom at first, where we were hurt, and when we ourselves caused unpleasant experiences for others. In the stress field between forgiving and allowing forgiveness the realm of a new beginning is opened. On one hand this costs us quite an effort to approach somebody else, when we became ourselves a source of hurt for others; on the other hand it demands of us to be open for the offer of someone else to settle a dispute and to leave our anger behind.
Like in other situations we can take God as a role model: it is written in the Bible. One impressive example of changing his mind is presented in the story of the Deluge. God himself does Teshuwah, and turns around in order to take a new perspective and to change his attitude. In this case he decides that he would never ever allow again such a destructive power to dash over the surface of the earth (Genesis 8:21.22; 9:12-16). And later, after the blooper with the Golden Calf, he gives Moses the chance to convince him not to abandon his people and to create a new one out of Moses. God agrees to try it again with the same Israel (Exodus 32:7-14). Therefore also in case of forgiveness preceded by repentance we can make use of the theological concept of imitatio dei, of imitating God. Differently from the other two monotheistic sister religions Jewish tradition gives us more freedom to think of God also as a being who is not perfect, but who himself is developing over time.
But the teachers of Jewish tradition were also profound psychologists, and were aware of the limits to be open and willing to forgive. A limit is set by the health of a person. It is allowed, and even commanded to protect oneself from notorious, continuous injury by others. Here Jewish tradition and spirituality is very realistic and even provides guidance to put necessary distance into a conciliatory a form. Only one thing is very important for the sake of one´s own integrity: the aggrieved party should not fall into feelings of dislike or even hatred; she or he can avoid this by consciously submitting the situation into the hands of God, the very principle of encounter and attention.
This is the palette of topics R. Goldie Milgram opened up for us in the rustic and homely room of the farm house. In a lecture she led us at first into a vivid discussion with prominent voices of tradition – from the Talmud to the great Rav Moses ben Maimon and contemporary representatives. But she also encouraged us in exercises to go into contact with a situation of how it would be to approach somebody and to practice Teshuvah, and to allow a change of perspective. So, she opened up for us the days of Teshuvah as a great source of healing from pain – exactly as it is intended by Jewish Renewal. Most of our pain is caused by interpersonal relations; therefore these relations are also the realm, where dissonance and conflict have to be overcome. A devout ejaculation to God in the synagogue is not sufficient. A request for pardon in front of God unfolds its effect at best by directly approaching the human counterpart.
„Man does not live of bread only“ (Deuteron. 8:3), but he also does. Therefore we sat together afterwards in the warmly illuminated room, and enjoyed bread, wine, and all the tasty food . We continued our exchange of ideas sitting around the richly set table, until it was time to no longer shy away from the rain and to return into the daily routine with all its challenges.
Text and translation Jona Kirchner
Photos courtesy of Dr. Barry Bub
Eco-Kashrut II: Our field in summer 2011
Lag b´Omer and Eco-Kashrut
May 22nd 2011, on Lag b´Omer, Ohel Hachidusch enjoyed the hospitality of Rita and Ulli Reinicke, the founders of Gatow Botanical Garden with its Garden of World Religions. We are spending almost all of our outdoor festivals in this serene country atmosphere. On this sunny spring day we enjoyed the splendor of the biblical plants which grow in these Gardens. Later on we lit a bonfire in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Our children were fascinated, especially when we baked our whole grain bread in it. Of course, it tasted delicious.And in the evening we counted the Omer and were very aware of the diversity of nature (Hod she b`Hod, Splendor within Splendor).
But there was even more to this day. Ohel Hachidusch could fulfill one of its dreams. Under the guidance of Rita we may farm a piece of land according to eco-kashrut rules. This day we planted potatoes, zucchini and Swiss chard. Our children have their own bed for seeding and making their first experiences in planting, caring and harvesting.
We have always been very anxious to serve organic whole vegetarian dishes for kiddush. But now we even care for our food from planting to eating. No chemicals, no pesticides, no genetically modified plants. Rita told us, it was extremely difficult to secure some grains of a species of corn which had not been genetically engineered yet. Hopefully we will produce enough vegetables and potatoes for our kiddush dishes, soups and probably also some for private use of our members.Thus we are not only cultivating plants but spiritual appreciation and respect for nature as well. It is one possibility to contribute to Tikkun Olam in our immediate environment and probably is part of this kind of spiritual ecology which Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Schalomi had in mind when he coined the term "eco-kosher".
Pictures: Anna Adam and Rita Reinicke
Many thanks to Donna for her translation and to Barbara Swarthout for all pictures except the ones in Donna´s blog . If you want to learn more about the life of our American - Jewish - German family in Berlin please check Donna´s blog Full Circle .
Minkha Learning Session with Reb Dr. Goldie Milgram from USA
Saturday, August 27, 2011/ 27th of Av 5771 (Shabbat Re´eh) was a special day for us:
We were happy to welcome Rabbi Dr. Goldie Milgram from the USA and her husband Dr. Barry Bub as special guests to our Minkha Learning Session at Gutshof Gatow.
Rabbi Milgram was ordained at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, received a smicha from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and a doctorate from New York Theological Seminary. She founded Reclaiming Judaism Press and www.ReclaimingJudaism.org. This organization is developing new strategies to keep Jewish rituals and mitzvot alive. She also wrote several books on these topiics.
Jona wrote down the way she experienced this fascinating learning event:
Spiritual and Bodily Nutrition at the Farm: Rav Goldie Milgram learning with Ohel ha-Chiddusch:
Gatow, nearby Berlin in Elul 5771 (2011). A metallic grey sky weighs heavily on the village, on the fields and on the farm. The wind blows thick rain drops onto the little windows of the farm house. Given such a weather everybody wants to stay in the house – a good time for retreat and to concentrate on what is inside. Gladly we did so thanks to the hospitality of Rita and Ulrich Reinicke, who take care of the farm and mill in Gatow; and thanks to Rav Goldie Milgram, who followed the invitation of Ohel ha-Chiddusch and came to Berlin together with her husband, Dr. Barry Bub.
R. Goldie Milgram is known for traveling through the world with the message in her luggage, that Jewish tradition is not just a huge library, which invites for extended intellectual examination. First of all it provides a deliberate set of exercise and guidance for a practical spirituality and a life well balanced between body, soul and spirit. Dr. Barry Bub is a physician and a Gestalt psychotherapist. He leads a lot of workshops and seminars on how traumatized people could be helped with integrated healing. Integrated healing means, a sincere therapeutic work has to be complemented by a vivid spirituality founded in tradition. And the other way round also spiritual exercise would not do enough, but has to be accompanied by professional therapy. Both must come together in order to gain sustainable healing.
Healing is also a leading theme in the time of repentance between Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, and also in the preceding month of Elul, where we usually prepare ourselves for this exceptional time. Tradition helps us to fathom at first, where we were hurt, and when we ourselves caused unpleasant experiences for others. In the stress field between forgiving and allowing forgiveness the realm of a new beginning is opened. On one hand this costs us quite an effort to approach somebody else, when we became ourselves a source of hurt for others; on the other hand it demands of us to be open for the offer of someone else to settle a dispute and to leave our anger behind.
Like in other situations we can take God as a role model: it is written in the Bible. One impressive example of changing his mind is presented in the story of the Deluge. God himself does Teshuwah, and turns around in order to take a new perspective and to change his attitude. In this case he decides that he would never ever allow again such a destructive power to dash over the surface of the earth (Genesis 8:21.22; 9:12-16). And later, after the blooper with the Golden Calf, he gives Moses the chance to convince him not to abandon his people and to create a new one out of Moses. God agrees to try it again with the same Israel (Exodus 32:7-14). Therefore also in case of forgiveness preceded by repentance we can make use of the theological concept of imitatio dei, of imitating God. Differently from the other two monotheistic sister religions Jewish tradition gives us more freedom to think of God also as a being who is not perfect, but who himself is developing over time.
But the teachers of Jewish tradition were also profound psychologists, and were aware of the limits to be open and willing to forgive. A limit is set by the health of a person. It is allowed, and even commanded to protect oneself from notorious, continuous injury by others. Here Jewish tradition and spirituality is very realistic and even provides guidance to put necessary distance into a conciliatory a form. Only one thing is very important for the sake of one´s own integrity: the aggrieved party should not fall into feelings of dislike or even hatred; she or he can avoid this by consciously submitting the situation into the hands of God, the very principle of encounter and attention.
This is the palette of topics R. Goldie Milgram opened up for us in the rustic and homely room of the farm house. In a lecture she led us at first into a vivid discussion with prominent voices of tradition – from the Talmud to the great Rav Moses ben Maimon and contemporary representatives. But she also encouraged us in exercises to go into contact with a situation of how it would be to approach somebody and to practice Teshuvah, and to allow a change of perspective. So, she opened up for us the days of Teshuvah as a great source of healing from pain – exactly as it is intended by Jewish Renewal. Most of our pain is caused by interpersonal relations; therefore these relations are also the realm, where dissonance and conflict have to be overcome. A devout ejaculation to God in the synagogue is not sufficient. A request for pardon in front of God unfolds its effect at best by directly approaching the human counterpart.
„Man does not live of bread only“ (Deuteron. 8:3), but he also does. Therefore we sat together afterwards in the warmly illuminated room, and enjoyed bread, wine, and all the tasty food . We continued our exchange of ideas sitting around the richly set table, until it was time to no longer shy away from the rain and to return into the daily routine with all its challenges.
Text and translation Jona Kirchner
Photos courtesy of Dr. Barry Bub
Eco-Kashrut II: Our field in summer 2011
It is hard to believe how our little grains and seeds from spring developed, just have a look:
Thanks to Rita´s "green thumb", our own enthusiasm and -last not
least- help from above, our harvest surpassed all expectations. Big
enough for our kiddushim, our private needs and to share with
others.
Our bio-vegetables for whose care and growth we were responsible belong
into a special energetic spiritual sphere. Just like hagafen and
challah.
At a sunny summer weekend we celebrated another premiere in the Gatow estate: we baked "Flammkuchen", a special flat cake originating from Alsace in the traditional adobe oven. With sour cream and our fresh vegetables from the field it was a special delicacy.
Lag b´Omer and Eco-Kashrut
May 22nd 2011, on Lag b´Omer, Ohel Hachidusch enjoyed the hospitality of Rita and Ulli Reinicke, the founders of Gatow Botanical Garden with its Garden of World Religions. We are spending almost all of our outdoor festivals in this serene country atmosphere. On this sunny spring day we enjoyed the splendor of the biblical plants which grow in these Gardens. Later on we lit a bonfire in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Our children were fascinated, especially when we baked our whole grain bread in it. Of course, it tasted delicious.And in the evening we counted the Omer and were very aware of the diversity of nature (Hod she b`Hod, Splendor within Splendor).
But there was even more to this day. Ohel Hachidusch could fulfill one of its dreams. Under the guidance of Rita we may farm a piece of land according to eco-kashrut rules. This day we planted potatoes, zucchini and Swiss chard. Our children have their own bed for seeding and making their first experiences in planting, caring and harvesting.
We have always been very anxious to serve organic whole vegetarian dishes for kiddush. But now we even care for our food from planting to eating. No chemicals, no pesticides, no genetically modified plants. Rita told us, it was extremely difficult to secure some grains of a species of corn which had not been genetically engineered yet. Hopefully we will produce enough vegetables and potatoes for our kiddush dishes, soups and probably also some for private use of our members.Thus we are not only cultivating plants but spiritual appreciation and respect for nature as well. It is one possibility to contribute to Tikkun Olam in our immediate environment and probably is part of this kind of spiritual ecology which Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Schalomi had in mind when he coined the term "eco-kosher".
Pictures: Anna Adam and Rita Reinicke
Pesakh 2011: 2nd Seder / Erev 16th of Nissan 5771
Besides all joyful anticipation our seder presented a logistic challenge: Our original limit was 40 participants. But due to short notice of guests from abroad we were almost 70 persons, including 20 children. Therefore first of all we owe a big thank-you to all members of our well-proven "organization-shopping-cooking-decoration-team" under the experienced guidance of Anna Adam and Gaby Nonhoff. They managed to create a touching festivity without hectic rush.
Our Cantor Jalda Rebling officiated and lead us skilfully and empathetically through the Haggadah; it was a spirited gathering of song, learning and good food.
And everybody had sufficient leisure to reflect his personal constrictions and possibilities to overcome individual limits. At the end of the meal our clever children found the afikomen rapidly and we concluded our seder.
The pictures mirror the relaxed but festive atmosphere and the positive energy around. Whoever wanted to engage into the meaning of pesakh was able to feel and "taste" the beauty of this festival at this seder.
We thank all guests who opened their hearts and everybody who participated in the organization of this evening and -last but not least- helped cleaning up.
Photos by Anna Adam and Brian Swarthout
Lernfest for Lilith and a very special menorah:
On February 5, 2011/ Rosh Chodesh Adar 5771 we arranged a "lernfest" for Lilith. We will always miss her. Since Lilith profoundly disliked solemn speeches we kept her memory alive with stories, sang her favorite chants and exchanged photos. Everything was rounded off perfectly by a kiddush with Viennese specialties. Lilith´s cousin Gaby contributed delicious Viennese patisserie and typical Viennese lore.
Lilith had strong emotional ties to liturgical music which transcended her awareness of life and vitality but also her profound grief. She was very open-minded about other world-views and their values. Therefore we are very grateful that close friends of Lilith from her mantra-choir shared their sacred songs, photos and experiences with us. All memories stressed Lilith´s open-heartedness, zest for life, tolerance, humor, strength, charisma, charming toughness and -above all- her big heart. Well, all this is Lilith as we will always remember her at Ohel Hachidusch.
The evening closed in a manner which Lilith would have enjoyed: a beautiful ancient menorah from Austro-Hungary was passed on to Ohel Hachidusch. It was handed to us by Monika Wissel who was also acquainted with Lilith.
Here Monika Wissel is telling the story of the menorah:
"The menorah belonged to Ingrid Ehlert née Fenichel (born 1926), her father brought it from Hungary to Berlin. The parents of Ingrid Ehlert owned a store for theater costumes and accessories in Berlin-Neukölln. During the Nazi regime her mother had to continue the business by herself since Ingrid´s father was Jewish. Although Ingrid was raised Christian she had to leave secondary school and shovel coals instead. Part of her family was deported. But little is known about Ingrid´s life since 1933 because she hardly talked about these years. Her 4 years younger sister married a Jew, emigrated 1954 to the US and lives in a Jewish environment in San Francisco. Ingrid and Günter Ehlert had a civil marriage in 1949. Until September 2008 the couple lived in their house in Berlin-Tempelhof but then they moved to an old people´s residence. Ingrid Ehlert died there only 2 months later. Günter Ehlert is 93 years old by now. In accordance with his wife´s wishes he gave the menorah to an active Jewish community."
Thank you very much, dear Mr. Ehlert and dear Mrs. Wissel, from now on the menorah will shine on all of our festivals.
Photos: Anna Adam
Tu biShevat 2011
On January 20, the 15th of Shevat we celebrated Tu b´Shevat, the „New Year of Trees“, in the remise of the Botanicum in Berlin-Gatow. Once again we enjoyed the hospitality of Rita and Ulrich.
Our children seeded kernels of pumpkin, planted spring snowflakes and bentsched the plants under Cantor Jalda´s guidance.
We hope that the snowflakes will blossom soon and herald spring in Berlin while the pumpkin with its gorgeous orange color will decorate our Shavuot table.
After the planting ceremony we all enjoyed our seder with various biblical fruits and a delicious eco-vegetarian dinner. We thank everybody who had a share in our festive
buffet. As always we sang a lot and told stories suitable for Tu b´Shevat. Just a few hours earlier Cantor Jalda had returned from the US and brought with her many greetings from our partner congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Michigan and gave us all the news from Ohalah, the Conference of the Association of Rabbis and Cantors for Jewish Renewal in Boulder, Colorado.
Meanwhile Chajim´s famous „Feuerzangenbowle“ sizzled toward the perfect degree of ripeness on the cosy wood-fired oven of the remise while the children already enjoyed their punch of eco-fruit juices.
Toward the end of the festivity Rita led the children to a tender birch tree „to listen how the tree is growing“.
Once more we had enjoyed a special festivity at eye level with nature and with respect for nature.
Sukkot 2010/ 5771
This year Ohel Hachidusch built 2 sukkahs; both were beautiful and both were built in cooperation with other groups leading to interesting plans for long-term collaboration.
September 22nd/ 14th of Tischri we celebrated erev sukkot in "Interkulturelles Haus Pankow". In the former school-yard of this building complex we had decorated our sukkah under the guidance of Chajim, -all branches, leaves and handicrafts made by our children together with Claudia. Some children even hung a special toy with personal meaning into the sukkah.
The atmosphere was great. On a clear sky we could see a bright moon and some stars through the greenery-covered roof. Cantor Jalda lead us through the liturgy and with increasing chilliness we even caught a glimpse of desert-night. At kiddush we gratefully enjoyed a delicious vegetarian pot-luck dinner. During the remaining festival days the sukkah was used for praying and learning: members of the Freie Schule Pfefferberg read Jewish fairy tales. Chajim lectured on the question if there is anything like Jewish porcelain. Jona read some chapters of her new book: "The sum of 1 is 13. An introduction to symbolism in the Hebrew bible" (literal translation of the German title). And Karsten Troyke gave a concert with Yiddish songs which was sponsored by the Kulturverein Prenzlauer Berg. We thank all helpers and organizations who contributed to the success of these festival days. Special thanks go to Chajim, the iniator and co-ordinator of this joint venture.
September 26/ 18th of Tishri Ohel Hachidusch commemorated Sukkot in a second location: we were guests in the newly inaugurated "Garden of World Religions" in Gatow, a picturesque suburb of Berlin. Under the guidance of Anna the neighborhood children built a beautiful sukkah which won the first prize as "Super Sukkah of Germany" sponsored by the newspaper "Jüdische Allgemeine Zeitung". Congratulations to Anna and her enthused, talented young master builders.
Until it started raining dogs and cats we had a short kiddush with all builders in our sukkah.
Foto: Rita Reinicke The rest of the evening we enjoyed in the affectionately renovated pony stable of the estate Gatow. Cantor Jalda explained the Four Species and sang Yiddish songs, empathetically accompanied by Franka Lampe with the accordeon. Whoever experienced Jalda as cantor or in one of her concerts knows that she is opening hearts with her music and charism. Some hummed the melodies and even guests who experienced their first sukkot festival soon felt at ease.
And once again Gaby Nonhoff surpassed herself with her exquisite buffet of delicious kosher specialities and even gave away one or the other secret of her recipes.
The Botanicum Gatow and its Garden of World Religions we wish rain, dew, sun and many visitors pausing for some minutes to receive new strength in this spiritual environment.
Dear Rita and dear Ulrich, thank you for your hospitality! It was a special experience to inaugurate the gardens and celebrate sukkot together with you.
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Ohel Hachidusch moved to a new home
Since June 2010 we are praying, learning Torah and celebrating our festivals in a spacious new room in the parrish hall of the Lutheran Vater-Unser community. We set up our tent, our Ohel Hachidusch, and placed our Mesusot at the doorposts. We thank Rev. A. Werner and the Executive Board of Vater Unser Community for their hospitality and generosity.
Jona Kirchner introduced us with the following article in the " Vater Unser Gemeindebrief" 7/8 in 2010:
"What is Ohel Hachidusch?
The name of our group already indicates who we are, and what we stand for. The meaning of Ohel Hachidusch is “Tent of Renewal”. Ohel, the tent is a temporary home, which can be removed at any time for being rebuilt at another place. The tent symbolises the will for being open to start anew and to be ready for the adventure of new experience. Chidusch, the Hebrew word for renewal does not need further explanation. We are organised as a registered non-profit organisation that is associated with the movement for the Renewal of Jewish Life founded in the USA by Rav Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Its umbrella organisation is ALEPH, the Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Also ALEPH has a symbolic meaning since it is the term for the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet with the numerical value of one. And the One refers to the one God, from whom all natural configurations and human interrelations originate.
During history Judaism passed through several transformations, and generated a lot of spiritual movements. Some of them still relevant for the structure of Jewish denominations today were developed only in the 19th ct, especially in the German region. Among these are the Conservative movement (founder Zacharias Frankl, Breslau) and the Reform of Judaism (with its prominent leader Abraham Geiger, Berlin). The movement of modern Orthodoxy at least has also developed here as an answer to the activities of the Reformers and Conservatives (prominent leader R. Samson R. Hirsch, Oldenburg/ Frankfurt/ M.). When Nazi Germany destroyed half of Europe, many representatives of these movements had to leave taking also their spiritual potential into exile. In both parts of America they gained new ground and underwent further development over about 40 years till they were given the opportunity to return to their places of origin.
With Jewish Renewal a totally new component is now added to the Jewish denominations already settled in Central Europe; it is supported by people coming from all the different movements - from Reform communities as well as from Liberal and Conservative Judaism. Renewal is welcoming also the branches of Orthodoxy, since it already draws a lot of its inspiration from their rich treasury of tradition. But unfortunately the members of Orthodox communities mostly do not understand why men and women should take equally part in the communal activities including all tasks in the service. But this is an indispensable part of Renewal’s philosophy and identity. As a consequence to that at Ohel Hachidusch currently a female Cantor holds office: Jalda Rebling is one of the leading founding members of the organisation and was ordained after having completed the Cantorial studies program of ALEPH.
Renewal also aims to help define Jewish identity based on its culture and tradition only. It is important to stop the spiritual influence of a history which left on European Judaism mostly the negative imprint of suffer and segregation. We set our hope much more in the healing power of Jewish tradition for the sake of our communities and their relations to other religious denominations in our country. In accordance with the intention of ALEPH we are open for an encounter with other religions like Christianity; and we are ready to learn from other traditions like those of Buddhism and Islam. Today we find ourselves in a comfortable situation where we have the chance of a peaceful interdenominational encounter. We especially experience the new reality in the opportunity to unfold our tent in a nice, big room offered by the Protestant community Unser Vater at Detmolder Straße in Berlin-Wilmersdorf. We are very happy to be there, and we invite everybody to get to know us and learn what we are doing.
Jona K. Kirchner, November 2010"
October 2/ 25th Tishri/ Shabbat Bereshit we celebrated our official move-in. Together with Rev. A. Werner and members of her congregation we conducted a havdalah-ceremony which was officiated by Cantor Jalda Rebling.
Ben (5 yeas old) assisted her enthusiastically. When looking at the pictures of our ceremony he commented:
"Luckily I did not burn myself. I was happy that I was invited. I was looking
forward to the food and liked it a lot. Did they all know that I am already
5 years old? I liked that I could hold the candles and that I could hand out
the leaflets. I was happy to see new faces. I was happy that everybody came,
only Etha was not there and that was sad. There were beautiful angels . The
celebration and the whole room were beautiful and prepared with loving care.
But I was afraid that the room might burn down when Jalda put out the candle
in the wine. Actually the song that the one man was singing was a little
sad. I liked that the whole family was out in the evening."
Thereafter we placed Mesusot at the doorposts at the entrance of the parrish hall and our room as visible sign of our move-in.
The Mesusah at the door post of our room showing Naomi and Ruth (lower picture) is handmade pottery created by Chajim. Dear Chajim, thank you very much, also for all good wishes, positive thoughts and touching memories which you included into your work.
Channah wrote down her thoughts which occurred to her while the Mesusot were affixed:
A small, quite manifold group of people of different religions and origins shared a spiritual experience. The Vaterunser Congregation offered Ohel Hachiddusch a constant "tent of renewal". We are invited and welcome. As symbol of this solidarity we jointly attached mesusot. As instructed by the Torah we placed the first mesusah at the post of the entrance door to the building. Everybody sang "Iwru, iwru bashearim panu derech haam..." and with these powerful words we passed the open door, climbed the stairs and still singing entered the hall in the second floor where we have been permitted to celebrate our services.
The mesusa which we attached at the entrance to the hall shows Naomi and Ruth.
"Intreat me not to leave thee or return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." (Ruth 1;16. JPS 1917).
The pottery artist Chajim Grosser chose the motive of this mesusah with great attention:
Vaterunser Congregation turned into a meeting place of two religions in chessed and agape. Symbolically the younger one turns toward the older one with care. "A place is with whom you are" (Berlin, 1996) wrote Rabbi Levinson. Even more so: in our multifaceted group the Protestant minister Annemarie Werner announced that Dhiraj Roy would sing a sacred song from the Upanishads for us. Mr. Roy is Hindu and was born in India. For all of us he sang a hymn in Sanskrit praising God the Creator of the Universe. The Upanishads were composed about the year 1000 BCE.
Singing we pray. We can intent this only when we have heard God beforehand.
Our Father, Awinu, the Eternal, is calling us: Schema, hear:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might....And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates." (JPS, Deuteronomy 6; 5+9).
We thank everybody who participated and helped to transform this event into a mutual spiritual experience.
Channah Arendt"
Pesakh 5770 - 2010
Many old and new friends joined the Ohel family on Pesakh Seder, the very special get-together of family and friends. Some of our friends came from far away. As in previous years Anna opened her spacious studio for us.
Together we cleaned and prepared the room to have enough space for our big Pesakh table but still it was pleasantly crowdy and we had to add another table.
Our Cantor Jalda lead us skilfully as always and with lots of joy, engagement and many songs through the Haggadah. We felt the stifling tightness of Mitzrayim and moved into freedom. Hallelujah!
Our Seder dinner surpassed all expectations. Anna and her cooking team put a lot of time and passion into the menu.The two experts Anna and Sabrina cooked together. And many helping hands joined in cleaning up, just as one would expect it to happen in a good family.
Thanks to Jalda, Anna, Sabrina and all helpers!
Let us cite two of our guests from the United States:
Sabrina comments in her blog:
"The Seder may have beeen conducted in German and it may not have included any of my relatives, but afer the 5th glass of wine it felt exactly like the Seders of my childhood".
You will find the complete blog with many photos and Anna´s and Sabrina´s delicious Seder recipes under http://www.foodandfootage.com/.
Special thanks go to Nalini for the photos on this page. She summarizes her feelings about our Seder:
"Being part of the Pesakh celebration at Ohel Hachidusch was a blessed highlight of my year. The kahal is welcoming and warm and Jalda's hosting made for a rich experience opening me to be able to taste a real bit of freedom yet again. The food was exceptional as well.- thank you to Anna and Sabrina. I can't wait to return!" -- Nalini Indorf Kaplan
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Erev Purim 5770 (February 27, 2010) at Ohel Hachidusch
Every year we pass through different festivals with varying contents in order to bring us into different moods according to the choreography of the Jewish calendar. In February it was time again to celebrate a proper Purim-party at Ohel ha-Chiddusch. What is a proper Purim festival like? It consists of communal prayer, reading the legend of Esther and Mordechai, contemplating together the miraculous salvation of the Jews; and last but not least it is … having a delicious meal and good drink. All this we have done extensively in our tent.
During Purim Judaism shows it’s most expressive and wildest customs. But at the same time the story of Esther poses a lot to think about. If there is an emotive word in the Jewish tradition - it is Amalek. Why is it like this? When the Israelites where attacked and beaten by the Canaanites during their passage through the desert, who excelled at the butchery? Amalek. Due to whom the career of King Saul came to a sudden end? Amalek. And whom did the Jews reencounter in the great Persian Empire in the person of a court officer? Haman was a descendant of Amalek. But there is a comforting difference in the story of Esther compared to the reports of other wars and victories. One woman only, herself without rights, acts and turns the tide, according to which the termination of her community seemed to be already decided. At the end Haman himself suffered the fate he intended to impose on the Jewish people of Persia. But the story does not answer the question why also his sons had to share the same destiny with him. If understandable at all, than may be in a symbolic way; it could be the attempt to supersede evil now and for ever, personified by Amalek.
But this evening we have concentrated more on turning the festival into a funny event for the whole family. To Ohel ha-Chiddusch this means that not only the children appear fancifully camouflaged but the adults too. And it is also an obligation of honour for us to listen attentively to the reading of the Purim story, for nobody wants to miss only one moment of rattling and yelling down every name-dropping of Haman in an outburst of noise. Also in the Purim story as reshaped by Jona (Kirchner) there were more than enough opportunities to do so. It is beginning like this: „Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away and long, long time ago … between two spiral arms of this galaxy, at position 30°MZPerX12’5 there was a little area in space, where usually nothing happened most of the time, there was a solar system with 8 planets. At the third planet a Kingdom was situated ruling over 127 colonies spread out over the whole solar system. The name of the empire was Paras u-Madai, and its capital was Schuschan. …“ At the first glance the original story may not recognisable anymore…, but it concludes with the familiar result: The people of Jehuda still have a future, and will have it again and again. In this way we have diligently fulfilled the instruction of the Torah to all Jewish communities: for ever to remember to forget about Amalek.
Original text and translation by Jona Kirchner
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As part of the "Torah Active Kiddushim" Program the congregation Shir Tikvah from Troy/Michigan donated their Beth Jacob Torah to Ohel Hachidusch in December 2008.
The oldest parts of the Torah date back to the 18th century. It is assumed that it was written in Czechoslovakia.Therefore Shir Tikvah decided that the Torah should return to Europe. Cantor Jalda Rebling received the Torah in a moving ceremony in Michigan and brought it to Berlin.
Anna built a portable wooden Aron HaKodesch.Once its design stood the test the Torah will get a new home made of the most suitable type of wood: light-weight, airy and beautiful.
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January 2010: Thank you, Shir Tikvah for these pictures! Chajim´s ceramics for the
havdala ceremony, our wimple for the Blumenstein-Family Torah and our Ohel-documentation are at home.
(For details check article below on our torah celebration).
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This article was written by Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg from Troy/Michigan after his visit in Berlin for our mutual Torah Celebration on November 28, 2009:
Die Rolle aus Amerika
The Torah Scroll from America
FEIER Ein Rabbi aus Detroit liest aus der Tora, die seine Gemeinde Berlin schenkte
CELEBRATION A rabbi from Detroit reads from the Torah which his congregation had gifted to Berlin
So read the headlines of a feature article in the Berlin Jewish News, the “Jüdische Allgemeine.”
http://www.juedischeallgemeine.de/epaper/pdf.php?pdf=../imperia/md/content/ausgabe/2009/ ausgabe49/14.pdf
After deciding to commission the writing of a new Torah, the Board of Trustees of Congregation Shir Tikvah decided to share our good fortune by passing forward a Torah which had been gifted to us by Temple Beth Jacob in Pontiac. We sought to find a deserving, viable, egalitarian congregation for whom this would be their only Torah. A Torah donation committee was formed, applications were distributed around the world on the internet, and nine deserving applications were received. The committee narrowed the field to three and the Board of Trustees chose Ohel HaChidusch in Berlin, Germany for several reasons. First, they are egalitarian and viable with devoted leadership. Second, unlike other Berlin congregations, they are welcoming of the intermarried, as well as those who, 60 years after the Holocaust, are attempting to reconnect with their Jewish ancestry (though technically not yet Jewish themselves). And like Shir Tikvah, they are welcoming of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender community.
In Shir Tikvah’s new Ark a place of holy memory will always be kept for our Holocaust Torah. It came to us because its congregation in Eastern Europe was destroyed. However, now that there is a resurgent Jewish community in Eastern Europe, even in Germany’s capitol, it is fitting that we return a Torah, the Beth Jacob Torah, to Eastern Europe, to Berlin, in a clarion call proclaiming that Am Yisrael Chai, the People of Israel lives.
At our Dedication Ceremony last December, representing Ohel HaChidusch was their spiritual leader, Cantor Jalda Rebling. Our President, Erica Peresman and our Torah donation committee chair, Eileen Nowikowski, passed the Beth Jacob Torah to Shir Tikvah’s Holocaust survivors, Edith Bernstein, Wolf Gruca, John Kovacs and my Mom, Edith Sleutelberg, who, on our behalf, passed the Torah to Cantor Rebling.
In the most moving moment of the evening, Cantor Rebling accepted the Torah, tearfully thanked the congregation, and slowly walked off the Bima and down the aisle as the congregation equally tearfully sang, “May You Be Blessed As You Go On Your Way” by Debbie Freedman. This moment proved once again what we all know already; that as great as it is to receive, it’s even better to give.
Nearly a year later, Congregation Ohel HaChidusch hosted its Torah Consecration ceremony in the sanctuary of what was formerly a Jewish orphanage. With representatives of the Christian and Muslim faiths in attendance, 3 rabbis, 1 cantor, 20 people connected to Shir Tikvah, and dozens of others, the Beth Jacob Torah was taken from its newly constructed Ark, unwrapped from its newly embroidered Wimple, unrolled, read, and consecrated. Seven times a portion was chanted, and beautiful Divrei Torah with blessings were shared, many by Shir Tikvah members. I had the privilege of chanting the Priestly Benediction.
Irv Wengrow from Troy shared that being a part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service and Consecration helped him to know that we had made the right decision in gifting the Torah to Ohel HaChidusch. A film crew documented the evening as well as reporters from Berlin’s newspapers. It was thrilling to be a part of this historic event.
Ohel HaChidusch, because it is welcoming of those who are shunned from other congregations, has had difficulty obtaining funding or any assistance from Berlin’s Jewish community. How sad that they are discriminated against as a congregation for being open and welcoming. Many descendants of pre-war Jews are discovering their Jewish roots and are desirous of connecting with the Jewish community while pursuing conversion. Unlike other Berlin congregations, Ohel HaChidusch is welcoming of those who wish to learn, experience and grow into their Judaism.
In addition to participating in the Shabbat and Consecration services, we toured Berlin, taking in the sites of East and West, the remnants of the wall, the new government buildings, the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, and numerous other memorials and cemeteries. But most of all, we listened to stories … of the war, the wall, Jewish life under communism, and the resurgent Jewish community.
Cantor Jalda Rebling was born in Amsterdam just after the war. At the age of 2 her family moved to East Berlin in a futile effort to help build a socialist country of the highest standards. And there she has lived ever since. She was active in the movement that ultimately tore down the wall.
In a rare swift example of “what goes around, comes around,” Cantor Jalda has accepted an offer to be Shir Tikvah’s High Holy Days Cantor this fall. Ohel HaChidusch is always lay-lead for the High Holy Days in order to be able to afford Cantor Jalda the rest of the year. She will grace our services with her angelic voice and soulful spirit. And, as Scholar-in-Residence, she will be in Troy January 15-16 for services and a Shabbat afternoon pot-luck third meal with Havdallah.
As the son of Holocaust survivors, for me anything German was loathed. Buying anything German was impossible, let alone traveling there. Many times during our trip I asked myself, “What am I doing here?” But most of the time I found myself impressed with the deliberate way modern Germany deals with its past and consciously learns from it. The Holocaust is ever present in Berlin, as it actively informs Germans how to make their present and future more civilized. It appears to me that a future holocaust could happen in most any place around the world sooner than in Germany.
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Torah celebration on the 28th of November 2009/ Erew 12. Kislew 5770
On the 28th of November 2009 a very special event took place under the roof of Ohel Hachidusch. Together with Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg and many members from the Shir Tikvah Congregation in Troy/Michigan, USA as well as a large number of participants and honorary guests we rejoiced in our Torah celebration.
Preceding history:
On the 13th of December 2008/ 17. Kislew 5769 Shir Tikvah presented the Beth Jacob Torah to our Cantor Jalda Rebling after having chosen from 9 applicants. The Rabbi of the congregation Reb Arnie Sleutelberg describes the moving ceremony:
"One of the most moving moments at Shir Tikvah was in December, when we presented our Beth Jacob Torah to Cantor Jalda to take to her congregation, Ohel Hachidusch, in Berlin, Germany at our Torah Alive! consecration service last December. Witnessing our Holocaust survivors place the Torah into her arms left us all with tears streaming down our cheeks. She accepted the Torah with tearful emotion, and then walked down the aisle as we sang “May you be blessed as you go on your way.” We knew that we were witnessing a profound moment in the history of the Jewish people as our Torah began its way to Germany." ((www.shirtikvah.org).
Shir Tikvah had received the Beth Jacob Torah as a donation in its first years of existence. Today Shir Tikvah is a strong congregation, which has its own Torah, the Blumenstein-family Torah, written by the Soferet Jan Taylor Friedman.
Instead of keeping the Beth Jacob Thora stored in the Aron Hakodesch without ever being read, the members of the congregation decided to pass on their first Torah to a small, young community, which didn’t yet have its own Torah. Nine applications from the US, Europe, South America and Israel were submitted. The board of trustees of the congregation of Shir Tikvah chose Ohel Hachidusch e.V. from Berlin.
Since one year now the Beth Jacob Thora has been in Berlin and teaches Jewish knowledge to a small, creative Jewish community. Religious services and teaching seminars take place on a regular basis. There is learning and discussions, singing and cooking, Jewishness is being celebrated.
Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah festivities:
On the 27th of November the moment had finally arrived: we could welcome Reb Arnie Sleutelberg and 19 additional members of his congregation to the Kabbalat Shabbat in Anna Adam’s studio. It was a moving service, which was held by Reb Arnie Sleutelberg together with our cantor Jalda Rebling. Chaijim Grosser offered a special surprise: he gave our guests handmade, artful ceramics for the Hawdala ceremony. Afterwards there was a Kiddush. While enjoying the delicious food lively talk and interesting conversations ensued. The relaxed and warm atmosphere raised the happy expectation for the following evening.
Our Torah celebration took place on the evening of the 28th of November. We are very thankful that we could welcome Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, liberal Rabbi of the Jewish congregation of Berlin and Rabbi Walter Rothschild, Rabbi of the state of Schleswig-Holstein as honorary guests.
We celebrated at a historical location: the praying room of the former Jewish orphanage in Berlin-Pankow. The orphanage was founded in 1882 and housed at times up to 100 orphans. They were deported to the concentration camps in 1940. Each of us felt the emotional density of this space, in which for the first time since 1940 the Torah was read again. A large hole in the wall was purposely left untouched in the room, otherwise beautifully renovated by the Cajewitz-foundation: That was the location of the Aron Hakodesch of the orphanage, which had been torn out of the wall. Now a few meters away stood our own moveable Aron Hakodesch, built by Anna Adam, with the Beth Jacob Torah inside, whose individual parts are between 70 and 200 years old and surely have experienced a lot as well, before they were taken from, most likely, former Czechoslovakia to the United States to safety.
After the Hawdala, which was lead by Reb Arnie Sleutelberg and Cantor Jalda Rebling, Anna Adam lifted the Beth Jacob Torah out of its shrine after a short introductory speech. In a festive procession the Torah was then brought to the middle of the room and unrolled on top of a long table.
A Wimple, which had been made by all of us under the knowledgeable guidance of Ella carefully held the Torah together, presenting an Ashkenazi custom from the middle ages. We, approx. 90 people, sat in a large circle around the Torah, so that everybody was close enough to really be part. Some of us had never before been this close to a Torah.
Now came the high point of our festivity: The Beth Jacob Torah has nine seams at which the old pieces with various ages had been joined together. Precisely these sections were read aloud, commented on and honored with blessings by our three honorary guest Rabbis, by members of Shir Tikvah, by Oren Roman from Jerusalem as well as by our cantor Jalda Rebling, by Jona and by Anja of Ohel Hachidusch. Further honorary guests were Rev. Christian Zeiske of the Gethsemane Church and Myriam and Gitti-Fatima, two Muslim friends.
The Beth Jacob Torah has arrived in Berlin.
After the Torah had been brought back into the Aron Hakodesch and Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin had said the Kaddish Rabanan, Angela presented to our American guests an approx. 7 m long Ohel-roll with personal accounts and statements by our members, with photos and Ohel Hachidusch’s acclaimed Kiddush-recipes. In her speech Angela brought together many aspects of what had moved us during the celebration. Her words as follows:
“Dear Arnie, this is a little present from our group Ohel Hachidusch. Since our meeting yesterday evening and celebrating the Shabbat together, I think you and also the other members of Shir Tikvah realized how important your present of the Beth Jacob Torah has been for us. It was an important step in the process of taking on more responsibility. But for us as a group it also meant that you saw the importance of building a new Jewish religious life in Germany after the Shoah, in which also the new developments are incorporated. We want to thank you for this opportunity. This present is also like a little Torah and it includes some very personal accounts of some members of Ohel Hachidusch over the last two years, since we have become a more stable group. Many thanks for your visit to celebrate with us here in Berlin.”
Anja gave our guests from Troy a Wimple, which had also been hand-made by us, for their new Blumenstein-Family Torah. (Check below for Anja`s speech).
Then followed inspiring words by Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin.
The entire evening was woven together by all of us with songs, nigunim and chants under the direction of our cantor Jalda Rebling. Rabbi Walter Rothschild then led the Kiddush. The culinary delights had been prepared by Gaby Nonhoff and many talented hobby cooks from Ohel Hachidusch and served by many helping hands. With song and personal conversations the evening reached its end. Many thanks to all, who had made this a special spiritual experience.
Special thanks to Ruth and Daniel for translation.
(This text turned out to be extraordinarily long. However the celebration was so important for us as a community that a short description would not have sufficed).
All photos by Marco Limberg ____________________________________________________________________________
Anja´s speech when presenting the Wimpel to Reb Arnie for the Blumenstein-Family Torah:
Dear guests, dear guests from
Shir Tikvah,
a genuine Jewish invention of the 16 th Century. The Wimpel is made
out of the
swaddling cloth that was used
during the Brit Mila. It is then embroidered or painted and the name of
the boy
is written on it . When
the boy is three
years old and he accompanies his father to Shul for the first time, he
hands
over his Wimpel to the community and the Torah is then wrapped with the
Wimpel
of this particular boy. Until the next boy brings his and then again
another
boy comes. The Wimpels that are not used anymore are kept in the Beit
Knesset
and serve as a family history book of the members of the community.
The women of Ohel HaChidusch
took pleasure in embroidering a Wimpel
for the new Torah of the Shir Tikvah Community and hope that this is
understood
as a sign of the bond between our groups.
Thank you for donating to us this several centuries old Torah Scroll .
All women of
Ohel Hachidusch embroidered at least one flower of the Wimpels for the
Blumenstein-Family Torah and our own Beth Jacob Torah.
Nov.6th to 8th 2009: Workshop with Rabbi Shefa Gold: Path of Love
We enjoyed the great privilege to experience Rabbi Shefa Gold from Jemez Spring, New Mexico, USA in a workshop here in Berlin. She is one of the leading personalities of Aleph – the Alliance for Jewish Renewal- and following the invitation of Ohel Hachidusch e.V. she came to Germany for the first time. She received her ordination from Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Her compositions and liturgies found their way into modern Siddurim. Rabbi Gold trains Rabbis, Cantors and lay leaders in the context of Kol Zimra, a special two-year program. She works with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality in New York The energy and inspiration for her work she not only draws from her Jewish roots but also from Buddhist, Christian and Islamic traditions as well as from spiritual strands of native Indian culture. She creates connections, where these traditions meet one another at the access to the one source of love.
Channah summarized the particularity of this workshop as follows:
„Path of Love, which was conceptualized and realized by Rabbi Shefa Gold, is a sensitive and professional instruction for the meaningful, quiet approach to the nurturing sources of our Jewish texts. Path of Love also means to discover oneself and one’s abilities to create a community.
Structured as a Shabaton Shefa Gold lead us by means of teachings and chants far into Hawdala in the course of a unique Shabbat.
We know these texts from Siddur and Tenach, Rabbi Shefa Gold however offers us an entirely new insight into the depth and beauty of these words through her teachings. By chanting together we experience and come in contact with the force hidden in these words. In the ensuing silence we have space and time to absorb reconciliation, healing, growth and the reanimation of tenderness.
We encounter the texts with attentive minds and open hearts. Under the guidance of Rabbi Shefa Gold we learn fast and almost without noticing to be loving and caring.
Quietly yet clearly perceptible a communion is growing. We celebrate Shabbat.
At the end she poses the question: in which way do you want to take something of what you have learned into your daily life and commit yourself to living accordingly?
Path of love is a way of living.“
(Translated by Ruth and Daniel).
Rabbi Shefa Gold (right) in her workshop "Path of Love"
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Sukkot 2009
Erev Sukkot on 15th of Tischri 5770 -this year also Erev Schabbat- Anja-Riwka and her family invited us to build our sukka in their garden. As in previous years we constructed our sukka under the expert guidance of Anna. It took us 2 days but in the end our sukka was a beauty and we had lots of fun building it.Luckily we managed to finish it just before the weather drastically changed. After lighting the candles and after celebrating kiddush we were dancing and singing for a while in our temporary shelter while rain drops poured through the airy roof. Then our hosts invited us into their warm living-room to continue our celebration of shabbos and sukkot without catching a cold.The Ohel(tent)-inhabitants surpassed themselves with all the tasty creations on a festive table. It was a very successful sukkot and Schabbat celebration and our sincere thanks are given to our hosts.
Marlis V.
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Pessach 2009
2nd seder evening on 15th of April 2009/ 9th of Nissan 5769
we celebrated in Anna´s studio. Chasan Jalda lead us through the Hagadah
and showed us the road out of our personal mizrajim. Benny (3) found the
afikomen so we could finish the seder ceremony.
Many thanks to all who arranged this seder with so much joy and heart.
We were 30 persons sitting cosily crowded at our beautifully decorated
seder table, - united in Jewish traditions of many centuries.
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JULY 3, 2009: Rabbi Goodman-Thau in Berlin:
Kabbalat Schabbat Chulat Balak we had a special guest: the unorthodox orthodox Rabbi Eveline Goodman-Thau welcomed with us the bride Schabbat. Rabbi Goodman-Thau surprised us with a fascinating d´var Torah and we in turn surprised her with our Ohel dainties for Kiddush which she -being an expert cook- enjoyed very much. Since on that occasion we also celebrated Rabbi Goodman-Thau´s birthday we naturally had some gifts for her but also Ohel Hachidusch received a present: a handmade Shabbos challah cover from Jerusalem! Until late in the summer evening we sat together singing and telling stories. Rabbi Goodman-Thau is looking forward to our next meeting in the tent (ohel) and we hope to welcome her again soon.
Best wishes to you, dear Rabbi Goodman-Thau and thank you for your inspiring visit!
