The United Synagogue Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center's Tarbut program reaches out to the Jerusalem community with quality cultural programs in Hebrew.

Tarbut has launched a new series "The Culture of Jewish Communities in Israel " which take place in the Fuchsberg Center's Kreutzer Auditorium.

Our first evening was dedicated to the Ethiopian Jewish Community and it's culture. The evening started off with a selection of typical Ethiopian food for everyone to sample. A film was then shown about this remarkable community risking their lives to come home to Israel and the difficulties in adjusting to their new life.

Our distinguished panel consisted of four very special individuals.

Pnina-Falego Gaday was moderator of the panel. Born in Ethiopia, Pnina is currently the Director of Hillel at Tel Aviv University.

Rabbi Yafet Aytegeb Alemu, born in Ethiopia, and a graduate of the Schechter Rabbinical School in Jerusalem is the first Masorti Ethiopian rabbi and is director of the Ethiopian Family Education Initiative, an intergenerational program, supported by the USCJ Israel's Commission.

Shoshana Ben-Dor, anthropologist and scholar of Ethiopian culture, member of the Masorti Movement, is director in Israel for the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry.

Gadi Yabarkan, a young student, born in Ethiopia, gave the perspective of the younger generation.

It is important to note that the panelists did not shy away from some very serious issues facing Ethiopian Jews in Israeli society and the challenges of preserving Ethiopian traditions in Israel. They were frank, honest and helped to "open the eyes" of many of the attendees of the evening.

The next program will focus on the French Jewish Community, which has grown significantly in Israel over the last few years.

Two weeks before Pesach we ran a 2-part "glass craft workshop" (totaling 6 hours) for adults at the United Synagogue Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center. The participants were able to decorate their Seder table with a Matza tray made with vintage glass. A professional Jerusalem artist ran the workshop which filled up quickly to a maximum of 12 participants (the number set by the artist). The workshop was very successful and the finished product was amazing. Both men & women of all ages and religious inclinations from the Jerusalem community participated in this workshop. I want to share with you that one woman, a grandmother, came to each session with her 6 year old granddaughter and had a wonderful pre-holiday bonding experience.

During Chol HaMoed Pesach there was a dynamic family event at the Center. Over 50 children, parents and grandparents came together at the Center to enjoy the Pesach atmosphere with music, food and a special performance by “Omer the Storyteller” – with costumes, acting and interaction with the children. The Fuchsberg Center was certainly on the map for family activities during this holiday period. Especialy gratifying was to see that our programs brought to the Fuchsberg Center families of diverse religious backgrounds enjoying the holiday & each other's company.

Omer the Storyteller

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