Senator Corker Letter

Senator_Corker-Letter_to_Secretary_Clinton-Israel.pdf

Baron Hirsch to Mark Jerusalem Day with Noted Scholar

Baron Hirsch Congregation announced this week that it will host Rabbi David Stav as its scholar-in-residence on the Shabbat of May 7 – 8.  Rabbi Stav, a founder of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization in Israel, is appearing as part of the congregation’s observance of Yom Yerushalayim, the day marking the liberation of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967.

“It is very fitting that during these days when we celebrate the gift of our beloved State of Israel and our eternal capital Jerusalem, that we host a leader who has been on the forefront of creating Jewish unity in the State of Israel,” stated Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, Senior Rabbi of Baron Hirsch.  “Rabbi Stav has dedicated his life to bringing Jews of different backgrounds together, and his insights into the challenges facing the Jewish people in the 21st century is something that we all can learn from.”

Rabbi Stav will be speaking on several occasions throughout the weekend, including a Friday night Oneg, a Shabbat morning lecture, and a Shabbat afternoon class.  This will be Rabbi Stav’s second visit to Memphis, and those who heard him speak on his previous visit are looking forward to his return.

Rabbi David Stav a graduate of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav is the Rabbi of the town of Shoham. In 1998, Rabbi Stav co-founded the Hesder Yeshiva in Petach Tikva with Rabbis Cherlow and Piron.  He teaches in Metivta, a women’s seminary in Bar Ilan University, and is the spokesman for Rashei Yeshivot Hesder across Israel.  Rabbi Stav holds a Semicha for Dayanut (Judgment in Rabbinical Court) and has taught at Yeshivat Hesder of Or Etzion, been the Rabbi at an Orthodox school for the study of film “Maale “ in Jerusalem, and the Rabbi of the Bnei Darom settlement, as well as a community in Belgium where, on Shlichut, Rabbi Stav also served as the Rosh Yeshiva.

The Tzohar organization was founded by a group of rabbis, including Rabbi Stav, from a religous Zionist background. Their hope was to become partners in the fashioning of the Jewish identity of the State of Israel, through dialogue and the search for common elements of identity, as opposed to the differences which threaten to polarize Israeli society. Tzohar’s activities are aimed at the full range of the population of the State of Israel, and includes officiating at weddings, pre-wedding counseling for brides and grooms, the advancement and ongoing counseling of community rabbis who are involved in all areas of life and the society, the publication of a quarterly journal, and the organization of conferences and study sessions devoted to the discussion of issues of topical interest. 

Hundreds of rabbis and educators volunteer through Tzohar, as they see this work as a mitzvah needed badly by the society at large. Tzohar’s activities are based on loyalty to the State of Israel, its laws and institutions, through faithful observance of the Halacha.
Tzohar has been supported by the AVI CHAI Fund since its inception.

Rabbi Stav’s visit is also made possible through the Orthodox Union and the Jewish Agency, who are partnering with Tzohar to bring talented Israeli Rabbis to speak throughout the United States.

All of Rabbi Stav’s talks are open to the public at no charge.  For more information on the times and topics of Rabbi Stav’s talks, please contact the Baron Hirsch office at 683-7485, or visit http://www.baronhirsch.org.

Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth, Baron Hirsch to hold service in honor of Israel’s 62nd Anniversary

The membership of both Baron Hirsch and Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth, along with the Torah MiTzion Kollel and Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South will come together to hold a service in celebration of Israel’s 62nd Anniversary. 

The service, which is an annual tradition, will be held on Monday evening, April 19th, in the Belz Sanctuary of Baron Hirsch Synagogue beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Guest speakers at the event include Rabbi Joel Finkelstein of Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth, and Rabbi Avi Goldberg, Rosh Kollel of the Torah MiTzion Kollel of Memphis.  Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, Senior Rabbi of Baron Hirsch, will address those gathered through a video message, as he will be in Israel participating in a Rabbinic mission of the Orthodox Union.

Cantors Ricky Kampf and Aryeh Samberg will participate as well, and will conduct the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Youth Choir which will perform at several points during the program.  The program will also include a play that will recount Israel’s vast history.  The play will feature students of the congregations and it is written and directed by the Torah MiTzion Kollel members.  A third group of children from the Margolin Hebrew Academy will participate in the flag dance, which has become an annual tradition of the program.

The program will begin with a memorial service honoring members of the Israel Defense Forces who have fallen in battle.  The core of the evening will center on the festive services. 

This event is open to all members of the community.  For more information contact the Baron Hirsch office 683-7485.