Kehilat Meveseret Zion
GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY

Some 300 people attended Kehilat Meveseret Zion's ground-breaking/candle lighting ceremony on the first night of Chanukah. The ceremony took place at the site where the congregation is to build its new synagogue. Among those present were the Progressive delegates to the Centennial Zionist Congress. The delegates signed a pledge of identification and support for the congregation on a scroll of parchment, which was inserted into a clay vessel. The vessel was then placed in the ground by WUPJ president Austin Beutel, UAHC president Rabbi Eric Yoffie, IMPJ chairman Jonathan Livny, congregation chairperson Channa Sorek, congregation spiritual leader Rabbi Maya Leibovic, and Meveseret Zion deputy mayor Haviv Levy. The synagogue is scheduled for completion in two years and will house a sanctuary, classrooms and a kindergarten.

TIGHT BAR/BAT MITZVAH SCHEDULE
REQUIRES A LITTLE "PROTEKTIA"

Bar/Bath-Mizvah demand at Beit Daniel has become so great that three services had to be conducted almost every Shabbat to accommodate the 140 bat/bar mitzva ceremonies held in 1997. In 1991-92, its founding year, Tel Aviv's Congregation Beit Daniel conducted 15 bar and bat mitzva ceremonies. The scheduling of Adam Aloni's bar mitzvah required some string-pulling, as well as the willingness of other bar/bat mitzva families to reschedule their own ceremonies as a courtesy to Adam's grandma Shulamit Aloni - the former Ra'Z and MeRe'Z party leader, government minister and long-time fighter for the rights of non-Orthodox streams in Israel.

HAIFA CONGREGATION ESTABLISHES COMPUTERIZED JUDAIC LIBRARY

As space at Haifa's Congregation Or Hadash becomes scarce, the synagogue, with the generous support of David and Nilma Igdaloff of Boca Raton, Florida, has established a computerized library. The facility will offer all Jewish sources available on CD-ROM or via the Internet. Many programs are currently planned, and many individuals and organizations have expressed interest in taking advantage of what the facility will have to offer.

Or Hadash also plans to add two pre-school classrooms to the basement level, adjoining the building's air raid shelter, thanks to a generous pledge from Daniel and Bente Lyons of West Palm Beach. The congregation is presently awaiting a building permit from the Haifa municipality. Among the driving forces behind this plan is the interest in Progressive Judaism of many young families from different Haifa neighborhoods.

SHORT TAKES ON ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM IN ISRAEL

American Orthodox leaders traveled to Israel in January to lobby on behalf of the Conversion Bill, which would outlaw non-Orthodox conversions in the Jewish state. Ultra-Orthodox Shas party mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef reportedly told the visitors that American Reform Jews are seeking to "bribe" Israel by threatening to cut off contributions if the Conversion Bill becomes law. A panel headed by Finance Minister Ya'acov Ne'eman has come up with a conversion compromise proposal, though it remains unclear just how many of its seven members are fully behind it. The proposal now goes to Israel's chief rabbis for their perusal. An upcoming issue of WUPJnews will be devoted exclusively to the Ne'eman Committee and the conversion dispute.

Shas has reportedly offered to support social and economic legislation sponsored by Israel's Arab parties if the country's 11 Arab MKs support, or at least refrain from opposing, the Conversion Bill, should it come up for a final vote.

Newspapers, billboards and urban buses in Israel were recently plastered with advertisements saying "One People, One Conversion." The message was sponsored by "National Accord, the Movement for the Unity of the Nation," which in one ad pointed to the country's growing population of foreign workers who, the organization claimed, were seeking to convert to Judaism in order to remain in the country.

Israel's Chief Rabbinate has reportedly accepted a move that would ease the conversion of children who have been adopted abroad. Until now, the rabbinical courts have usually refused to convert adopted children unless the parents first agreed to adopt an Orthodox life-style and send the children to Orthodox schools.

Israel's Supreme Court recently ordered the creation of a special panel to find a solution for women's prayer at the Western Wall. This followed a petition - submitted eight years previously - by the Women of the Wall, whose members have been seeking the right to read from the Torah at the site each Rosh Chodesh.

NEWS FROM THE FORMER USSR

INSTITUTE FOR MODERN JEWISH STUDIES
REOPENS ITS DOORS IN KIEV

Twelve students from Belarus and the Ukraine have successfully completed their fall semester of study at the World Union's Institute for Modern Jewish Studies. The Institute reopened in Kiev in September after funding problems had led to its closure in 1996 while based in Moscow. Upon completing their studies next year, the students will become congregational leaders, Shabbat and holiday service leaders, religious school directors and Jewish community workers.

MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ADDENDA:
TAMAR MISSION STATEMENT
As coordinated during the recent international TAMAR gathering in Jerusalem

TaMaR is the acronym for T'nuat Magshimim Reformim, or Movement for Reform Jewish Fulfillment.

Reform Jewish youth find their needs exceptionally well served. Youth movements worldwide provide opportunities to make Reform Judaism dynamic and exciting. Recognizing the importance of Reform Judaism in our lives, we aim to provide continued Reform Jewish experiences for Jews of post-youth movement age.

The Goals of TAMAR:

• Reform Judaism - To provide informal education and encourage participation in Reform Judaism by creating opportunities to share dynamic Reform Jewish expression and activities; by combating anti-Semitism; by dealing with the pressures of assimilation; and by dedicating ourselves to Tikkun Olam.
• Israel - To make Israel and Zionism relevant to our lives by promoting communication and collaboration with Reform communities and organizations in Israel, promoting interest in and consideration of aliyah with continued participation in Reform Jewish life, and furthering the use of Hebrew.
• Structure - To foster communication and activity between its global branches through joint programs, resources and international events. TAMAR shall also endeavor to form links with other organizations and movements in both the Jewish and secular world.

Bulletin Central Europe

Or Chadasch:
VIENNA CONGREGATION OFFERS TO HELP SLOVAKIANS ESTABLISH PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY

Beth Schalom:
MUNICH'S HOMOLKA TO HEAD GERMAN GREENPEACE

Germany:
MACHZOR WITH PLAUT COMMENTARY TO BE PUBLISHED