beit:::news | 12. Adar 5770

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beit:::news | 12. Adar 5770

* Friday > February 26
06.00 pm Presentation by Rabbi Alter
07.00 pm Shabbat Eve Services led by Rabbi Daniel Alter and Nina Stiller

* Saturday > February 27 PURIM
10.30 AM ::: Shabbat Morning Minyan led by Rabbi Alter
12.00 PM ::: Torah Study
13.30 PM ::: “Lunch and Learn”
TODAYS SERVICES WILL BE SUBSTANCIALLY SHORTENED DUE TO PURIM BALL PREPARATIONS
06.00 PM PURIM BALL
Dear Friends, we are most delighted to invite you for the Purim Mask Ball at Beit Warszawa cozy headquarter in the warm, family-like atmosphere.
We prepared a rich Purim program for you to join and enjoy:
Welcome drink
Singing workshop with Nina Stiller
Book of Esther reading in Hebrew and Polish
Purim mask making
Purim mask contest, Costume contest, Purim speech contest
Attractive awards for the winners of all of the contests
Hamans Ears
Salads, tartines, warming up soup, soft drinks
Drink bar for those who “seriously” want to celebrate Purim (extra charge)
Party time filled with dancing music till the white morning!
Ticket price: 30 pln per person, 20 pln per person in costume, 20 pln for students and retired people, 10 pln for students and retired people in costumes
All BW friends, supporters and BW community members are welcome!
Please sign up for the Purim guests list
By e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , by phone: 22 885 26 38, or in person 9.00-17.00 in the BW office or before and after the services, lectures and classes The Purim Guest list is placed next to the entrance to BW Synagogue on the Information Board

Sunday > February 28
10:00 am- 2:00pm: Beit Sefer Alef – Purim Program for children and adults
04.00PM: Lejenkrajz
06.30::: Movie Night: “Defiance”, directed by Edward Zwick, stars: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, 130’, English language version with Polish subtitles
We would like to encourage some discussion of the film after the screenings, so please come ready to offer your opinion about the film!
Movies are free of charge and open to everyone
You are the most welcome!

* Monday > March 1
05.45 – 07.15 PM: Modern Hebrew for total beginners
07.30 – 09.00 PM: Modern Hebrew for pre-intermediate

*Tuesday > March 2
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: Biblical Hebrew for total beginners
06.45 – 07.30 PM::: The Essence of Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Alter
07:30 – 08.30 PM::: Biblical Hebrew for pre-intermediate
07.45 PM::: Judaism Step by Step
*Thursday > March 4
06.00 – 07.00 PM: Biblical Hebrew for intermediate (Wiertnicza)
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: JEWISH TEXT CLASS TAUGHT BY RABBI ALTER (Wiertnicza)
07.30 PM::: Torah Study (Wiertnicza)

*Friday > March 5
06.00 – 07.00 PM Lecture by Grzegorz Kołacz on Wirtualny Sztetl
Grzegorz Kołacz – historian, author of the book „Sometimes it is hard to defend oneself. “Conditioning of Jewish attitudes during the Nazi occupation in Poland”. Since August 2008 he has been working on the project “Virtual Shtetl” (www.shtetl.org.pl) of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Previously, he cooperated with the Shalom Foundation (among others, he was involved in the “Kaddish for the Departed” project (www.kadysz.pl) and the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations.
THE VIRTUAL SHTETL

The Virtual Shtetl is an interactive, multimedia web portal devoted to the history and culture of the Jewish communities living in the towns and cities of both prewar and contemporary Poland. After its launching in the Internet, which took place on June 16th, 2009 it has become the biggest database concerning Jewish local history.

More info - today during the lecture
07.00 pm Shabbat Eve Services led by Rabbi Daniel Alter and Nina Stiller

* Saturday > March 6
10.30 AM::: Shabbat Morning Minyan
12.00 PM ::: Torah Study
13.30 PM ::: followed by “Lunch and Learn”

*Sunday > March 7
10.00AM – 02.00PM::: Beit Sefer Alef
04.00PM::: Lejenkrajz
06.30::: Yiddish movies project, organized in cooperation with jidysz lebt and lejenkrajz. We are presenting the most remarkable movies in Yiddish (with the polish lector or subtitles);
Błazen Purimowy
Director: Jan Nowina Przybylski, Józef Green
Scenario: Józef Victor, Izaak Manger
Cast: Miriam Kressin, Hymie Jacobson, Jonas Turkow, Maks Bożyk
Production: Polska, 1937
Languages: Jidysh, Polish lector, german subtitles
Time: 90 min.

We would like to encourage some discussion of the film after the screenings, so please come ready to offer your opinion about the film!

Movies are free of charge and open to everyone
You are the most welcome!

* Monday > March 8
Please note the following changes in schedule

05.45 – 07.15 PM::: Modern Hebrew for total beginners
07.30 – 09.00 PM::: Modern Hebrew for pre-intermediate

*Tuesday > March 9
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: Biblical Hebrew for total beginners
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: The Essence of Jewish Prayer by Rabbi Schuman
07.30 – 08.30 PM::: Biblical Hebrew for pre-intermediate
07:30 PM::: Judaism Step by Step
*Thursday > March 11
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: Biblical Hebrew for intermediate (Wiertnicza)
06.00 – 07.00 PM::: JEWISH TEXT CLASS TAUGHT BY RABBI SCHUMAN (Wiertnicza)
07.30 PM::: Torah Study (Wiertnicza)

SAVE THE DATE:

*Wednesday > March 17
03.00 PM::: Rabin Schuman will give a lecture on Progressive Judaism and about Beit Warszawa and Beit Polska for the students of Warsaw University, room nr 3, Polish Culture Institute. Members of our community are the most welcome to take part in this presentation.

* Friday > March 19
06.00 PM ::: meeting with the author of the book “And i was supposed to be a princess from the fairytale…” Nili Amit.
The meeting will be led by Dr. Maciej Kozłowski, historian and former Polish ambassador in Israel
07.00 pm::: Shabbat Eve Services led by Rabbi Burt Schuman and Nina Stiller

* Friday > March 26
06.00 PM ::: presentation on the Organic pro-energy by Marina Coey, President of the Management Board, Procesy Inwestycyjne Sp. z o.o. and PhD Krzysztof Żmijewski, Warsaw University of Technology.

Marina Coey, President of the Management Board, Procesy Inwestycyjne Sp. z o.o. An expert on corporate communication, public relations and marketing, Ms. Coey has held high managerial positions in governmental agencies in England (British Council) and Poland (KAPE – the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency) and has extensive experience in cooperation with EU institutions (she represented Poland in the Steering Committee of the SAVE II programme).
At present, the President of the Management Board of Procesy Inwestycyjne Sp. z o.o., a company functioning in the strategic communication and consulting areas.
Ms. Coey is highly competent in execution of projects in the following sectors: financial (Nationwide), insurance (Sedgwick James International and Hogg Insurance Brokers) and energy (E.ON) and has a deep-rooted knowledge of the Polish business environment, gained during 10 years of working in Poland.
PhD Krzysztof Żmijewski, Warsaw University of Technology - Manager with exceptional experience in the area of strategic management and infrastructure. In the years 1990-2001 held highly responsible positions in the Polish government (vice-minister of construction), governmental agency (founder and first president of the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency), one of the largest Polish governmental companies (President of the Polish Power Grid Company) as well as international telecommunication company (member of the management board of Polkomtel SA). Professor and Manager of Institute of Building Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology, independent consultant and author of numerous publications on the subject of energy. Currently Advisor to the Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Economy, Waldemar Pawlak, and Secretary
-General of the Public Board for the National Programme for Reduction of Emissions, Member of the National Development Council at the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński. Initiator and merit coordinator of the ElaStan Project – Promotion of Flexible Forms of Employment and Protection of Companies’ Intellectual Capital. Additionally, independent consultant, expert in the field of energy market development, columnist and lecturer (Warsaw University of Technology, KSAP, PJWSTK).

07.00 pm ::: Shabbat Eve Services led by Rabbi Burt Schuman and Nina Stiller followed by the dinner;

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BW LIBRARY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
We are happy to announce that the Beit Warszawa Foundation’ Book Collection is open for those interested on: Tues, Fri, Sun from 17.00 - 18.00, Mon., Wed. from 11,00 - 15,00.
Contact: Kinga Olgyay-Stawikowska
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ANOUNCEMENTS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>BEIT WARSZAWA FOUNDATION<<<<<<<<<<<

Dear Friends,
I want to wish you a joy-filled, healthy and prosperous calendar year 2010!
Since September 2009, our community has been functioning as The Beit Warszawa Foundation, the Progressive Jewish Community of Warsaw. This has given us a level of stability and continuity we had hitherto not experienced as well as the ability to develop a variety of new programs, greatly improve the quality of our religious, educational and cultural activities, our communications, our publications and our services to communities in both Warsaw and throughout Poland. Moreover, attendance at our Shabbat and Holiday worship services and activities has been consistently very good and growing; the positive spirit and atmosphere that reigns at Beit Warszawa has indeed proven very contagious and reflects our vision of a warm, welcoming and truly inclusive liberal Jewish home.
Now you have an opportunity to be part of our community’s future by becoming a supporter and a friend of The Beit Warszawa Foundation, so that we may continue offering the high level of education and service you have come to expect and to offer even more activities in the near future. None of this comes for free and to ensure a liberal Jewish future in Warsaw you need to participate in its financial burden.
I urge you to become a supporter of Beit Warszawa today:
The annual payment per person is 360,- Pln, 720,- Pln for a family. Students, pensioners and individuals with modest income may apply for a 50% reduction.
You may pay at the office or wire transfer to:
Bank Account:
Fundacja BEIT Warszawa
Postępowa Społeczość Żydowska w Polsce
(Beit Warszawa Foundation
Progressive Jewish Community of Poland)
ul. Wiertnicza 113
02-952 Warsaw, Poland
PLN 93114019770000592902001001
BRE Bank SA
ul. Marynarska 19
02-674 Warsaw, Poland

Beit Warszawa Foundation offers:
- Sabbath Services together with a delicious dinner in a family atmosphere
- Shabbat Morning Minyan, Torah Study and "Lunch and Learn"
- Beit Sefer Alef - Sunday school for children ages 4 – 13 “Learn by playing”. Introducing children to Hebrew, Bible and Jewish values; Jewish programming for teens
- A summer school
- Trips and weekend excursions
- Rabbinical assistance and counseling
- The solemn celebration of Jewish holidays together with visiting rabbis, cantors, guest scholars and special guests
- A full range of life-cycle events (Brit Mila, Bar and Bat Mitzwah, Weddings etc.)
- Conversion and Rabbinical supervision in cooperation with the European Progressive Beit Din
- Courses in Introduction to Judaism for those interested in broadening their knowledge and those considering conversion to Judaism; and more advanced courses in Jewish history, text and thought
- Courses in Biblical and Modern Hebrew
- Meetings and lectures by prominent artists, scientists, writers, scholars and political figures
- A growing library - lending books, albums and multimedia materials
- Concerts and Movie Nights
- Substantial discounts at wonderful Restaurants in Warsaw, Lodz and Krakow
- Substantial discounts at a prominent Dental Clinic

Let’s keep alive the “Miracle on Wiertnicza Street”
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Burt Schuman

*********************BW MOVIE NIGHTS*******************
Ladies and Gentlemen

We are happy to inform you, that the movie screenings in Beit Warszawa will restart.
We decided to change the time of the evening meetings. The shows will take place on Sundays, at 7 p.m. We would like to offer you four movie cycles:
1.Yiddish movies project, organized in cooperation with jidysz lebt and lejenkrajz, where we will present the most remarkable movies in Yiddish (with the polish lector or subtitles);
2.films presented in Spring 2009, during the International Film Festival Jewish Motifs, as a part of the polish document cycle;
3.films presented in Spring 2009, during the International Film Festival Jewish Motifs, as a part of the foreign document cycle;
4.Good Movie Night: contemporary in our opinion good films not necessarily only on Jewish topics.

Coming up in FEBRUARY:

February 28, in a series of films about Jewish "resistance" ("Defiance"), directed by Edward Zwick

Film screenings, in the mobile festival Jewish Motifs are organized thanks to the courtesy of the organizer of the International Film Festival Jewish Motifs.

For those of you, who would like to participate in the preparation of movie nights, we have an offer. If you would like to present a movie of your choice, please let us know, not later than three weeks before the intended screening.
The information should include:
title of the movie
name of the director
production year
country, where the movie was produced
length of the movie
the language of the movie, if applicable – also subtitles
short movie description
We would like to invite you for the shows and preparations of the movie nights.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>TaMaR Conference in Jerusalem<<<<<<<<<<<<

Active supporters of our community are welcome to apply!

I am writing to raise the possibility that Beit Warszawa will agree to send a representative to the upcoming TAMAR conference which is set to take place in Jerusalem from March 18-23. Beit Warszawa has sent a TAMAR participant for the past several years and this year it would be particularly important as well.

The World Union is in the process of working out a special arrangement with the WZO to provide funds to give to a few congregations in the world to be able to employ a local youth worker. We are considering Warsaw as one of those locations. The local youth worker would be employed and paid by the WZO, but would work exclusively for Beit Warszawa on a part time basis (the total salary for the year would be approximately $7,000 USD). Our idea would be to have the youth worker also serve as the Arzenu representative in Poland, to help generate enthusiasm and participation for an Arzenu chapter in Poland and coordinated work with our Arzenu central office in Jerusalem (Dalya Levy).

Assuming Beit Warsazawa is interested in partnering with us on such an arrangement , we think it would be a great opportunity for the prospective youth/Arzenu worker to be the Beit Warszawa participant at the upcoming TAMAR conference in Jerusalem. That way, we would get the chance to meet the candidate, the candidate would get the chance to better understand the larger Progressive movement and the people behind it.

As you know, our World Union office in Jerusalem, through NETZER/TAMAR, covers nearly all the expenses of the representative to come to the TAMAR conference. There is only a modest share for airfare with must be covered by the participant.

We would truly hope that we can put into place this local youth worker position, starting as soon as we get final word from the WZO on approval of the funding. In essence, this arrangement will provide BW the possibility to organize more youth and young adult programming, do important Israel/Zionism work, and strengthen your community's attachment to the larger Progressive movement. Coming at this critical time of efforts for Beit Polska, it seems an important step forward.

Please be in touch with the BW office: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or with Rabbi Schuman: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

>>>>>>>>"World Class" fitness centre SPECIAL OFFER<<<<<<<<<

"World Class" fitness centre at the Marriott hotel is offering special prices for members & friends of Beit Warszawa.
The centre offers 3 amenities - pool, fitness gym and group training. It is possible to join one, two or all three programs.
Prices are based on a year membership:
- all 3 amenities at 275 zl monthly or 2,900 zl paid in advance
- 2 amenities at 250 zl monthly or 2,600 zl paid in advance
- 1 amenity at 225 zl monthly or 2,300 zl paid in advance

The offer also includes : No joining fee, free towels, dry & steam sauna, 10 sessions of solarium, 1 free introduction training, 6 guest passes, possibility for upto 1 month freeze of membership.
This offer valid until 28th February 2010. Subject to availabiltiy.
Please mention 'Beit' as reference upon applying. For inquiries and membership please contact Ms. Alicja Chlebna at 600097662 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

>>>>>>>>>>>>Rabbis teaching from last week<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Friday night, 19.02.2010
Teruma, Shmot-Exodus 25:1-27:19

I think the Israelites were not really poor when they were thrown from slavery in Egypt to their freedom so rapidly.

It is worthwhile to mention that, since we might assume that someone who was enslaved for a long time will have not much to take along on his escape to freedom.
So, how was their situation?

On the one hand, for sure they did not leave the country of their suppression bare handed, on the other hand they were not really rich but rather their gratitude and willingness to give, led them to overestimate their actual material situation.

To understand all that, it is necessary to look back to the beginning.
Let us start with considering the weekly Tora reading. There we hear a report of the construction of the tent which served as a sanctuary during the years of wanderings.

The enormous material achievements which are described in this context are really outstanding.

Especially if we consider that this was not a stable society, but rather an entity that was thrown into a nomadic lifestyle recently and surprisingly.

It is even more striking that these nomads, who had to fight hunger; thirst and many dangers raised a huge amount of gold, silver, wood and other valuables as the Tora reports.

According to the biblical account they were required to collect copper, silver, gold and valuable textiles for the construction of that sanctuary, so that God might dwell in their midst.

And they followed that call in an exemplary manner. They all gave more than what was needed for the construction and they all contributed willingly, without coercion, so that the collection of these materials had to be stopped early.

Such an attitude is not unique in history. People constructed sanctuaries throughout time and all around the world.
Temples, cathedrals, mosques and synagogues are witness that what the Israelites did in the desert was repeated by others all around the world.
And in many of these cases it was the poorest of the poor who gave substantial contributions to these sanctuaries.

In some of these places the contrast between the beauty of these buildings and the poverty of the contributors is so strong, that it is very difficult to rejoice in the beauty and dignity of theses places.

For me it is astonishing, that the local people who live there seemingly do not feel that contrast at all, rather they are really dedicated and devoted to their place of worship.

Easily we tend to judge that as a lack of rationality or a form of superstition.

But now we find the commandment for such building activity right in the part of the Tora were the focus is strongly on social justice.

So we might assume that there might be an idea behind it.

Maybe simple and poor people can connect to the underlying idea more easily than philosopher and thinkers of the 21st century, the age of "political correctness".

It is not the building that counts, but rather what it stands for and what message it transmits. The building is not important, but the voices which come forth from it.

The Tora requires that the Israelites build a sanctuary that God may dwell in it.
But this sanctuary is not the intended dwelling for God’s presence on earth (which is called the "Shechina").
She, "the "Schechina" dwells among the people, in their tents and in their huts.

The sanctuary stands to represent the honor of God, to make him and his will visible and ever present.
It is a waypoint that attracts looks and emotions and it raises and emphasizes the emotional relationship with and to God.

If sanctuaries remind us clearly about God and his wish what human life should be like and if their domes, minarets and towers call and encourage for peace, justice, solidarity and freedom, than any price which is to be paid for their erecting is affordable.

If these buildings really stand for Gods honor and not for honoring human power and human self-elevation than easily billions which are spend for tools of war and mass-destruction could be saved.

Than there would be more than enough to support and feed the poor and needy. And accordingly that would mean that all the gold, silver and valuables for our biblical sanctuary would have been the best and most ingenious investment which the stock exchange market has ever seen.
Shabbat Shalom
Translated by Anna Zielińska

Shabbat Shalom