|
|
February 14, 2003/Adar 12 5763, Vol. 55, No. 25
New Shul celebrates first bat mitzvah
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Six months after its inception, The New Shul celebrates its first bat mitzvah.
The traditional-egalitarian congregation in Scottsdale, founded in fall 2002 by husband/wife team Rabbi Michael Wasserman and Rabbi Elana Kanter, will celebrate its first bat mitzvah with Rachael Gilburd, daughter of Claudia and Michael Gilburd of Paradise Valley, on Feb. 15.
Although the synagogue doesn't have a formal Hebrew school, currently five children are in the bar and bat mitzvah class, Kanter said. All of them received their formal Jewish education at Jewish day schools, she added.
"Our intention is not to have a religious school, but we are very much committed to having a wonderful and rich place for children at our shul," she said.
The congregation moved into its new facility, at 14425 N. Scottsdale Road, in October 2003. Current programs at The New Shul include Sunday morning adult education classes - which range from Jewish mysticism to Jewish yoga - a series of public lectures in conjunction with Arizona State University, weekly women's Torah study classes, family learning adventures and holiday programs.
Future plans include additional classes and community mitzvah projects.
The New Shul holds Friday night and Saturday Shabbat services and a Sunday morning minyan. There is also a children's service on Saturdays, led by Gilburd as part of her mitzvah project.
The congregation, which has about 70 member families, held its first monthly Shabbat dinner on Jan. 23, with about 80 people attending.
"We're hoping to continue building a very deep sense of community," said Kanter. "Because of the smallness, so far that's really what's happening and we hope to maintain that sense of community ... We're hoping to maintain that intimate and intenseness of community and be able to grow together as Jews."
Call 480-515-2272.
|
