Communications with the
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The most recent correspondence
LETTER TO THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
| 21 Kislev 5757 (12/2/96)
Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein RE: Restoration of the Holy Half-Shekel. Dear Rabbi Epstein, Shalom Aleichem. My name is Reuven Prager. My work of the last thirteen years has been to research and restore ancient Israelite customs. My work represents the next generation of religious Zionism, where the emphasis moves from pioneering the Land to pioneering our culture to be in harmony with being on that Land. I invite you to view my work on the Internet at: israelvisit.co.il/beged-ivri. Our current project is to restore the ancient custom of giving a pure silver Holy Half-Shekel to Jerusalem, on Purim, to coincide with the fiftieth year celebrations in 1998. A complete archive of the project is available on our website. The Half-Shekel comes to teach the unaffiliated that they are at least Half a Shekel, and the ultra-religious that they are only Half a Shekel. The rich can not give more and the poor no less. Whether that speaks of material wealth or Mitzvah observance, every Jew's fulfillment of this Mitzvah is equal, whether that person finds him/herself sitting in jail or on the throne of a Chasidic dynasty. There is not even room for an hidur. The ceremonial coins are to be minted by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corp. Ltd. and will be sold through participating existing Jewish Institutions worldwide. Brink's will handle the safe transportaton of the coins from and to Jerusalem. All the details can be obtained on our website. I am turning to you to enlist the many institutions of the Conservative movement in North America to serve as points of sale and collection of the Holy Half-Shekel. For a Jew living outside of Eretz Yisrael, this will enable everyone to have a participatory relationship with Jerusalem on an annual basis. It will greatly increase Purim attendance at all your participating institutions, and I can envision school children putting quarters in special cards, like we used to do to plant trees, saving up all year to buy a Half-Shekel to donate on Purim. At this time, following so many tragedies, so much pain, and so many divisions amongst our people, we could use a real Simcha; one that does not come on the backs of any vanquished. A universal Simcha such as the restoration of the ceremony of giving an Holy Half-Shekel that unites our people and sets everyone on an equal footing. Especially at this time, when we are forced to give up something so precious to our people, it would behoove us to restore something equally as precious to offset the loss. Can we count on the Concervative Movement to help realize this? I am available to answer any and all questions you may have. I will be in the US later this winter and would welcome meeting you face to face to further discuss this project. In the meantime, we want to establish a database so that anyone, anywhere in the US can check in to see what participating institution is closest to their home. Can you provide me with a potential list of all Conservative institutions which could be utilized as points of sale and collection. Thank you in advance. G-d Bless,
cc: Mr. David Bar Ilan, Prime Minister's Office |
RESPONSE FROM USCJ (rec'd 12/18/96)
| December 12, 1996
Mr. Reuven Prager Dear Mr. Prager, I received your November 2nd letter with regard to your very interesting project. I would be delighted to meet with you when you do come to the United States this winter. I am not quite certain what you mean when you refer to "Conservative Institutions." Should you wish to involve each individual synagogue, you would have to contact those synagogues directly. You can obtain a list of congregations published in our Annual Resource Guide and Directory by contacting our Department of Conventions and Special Events. Depending upon our discussions when you are in the United States, there may be ways in which we can cooperate more extensively. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely yours,
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LETTER TO USCJ
| 12 Tevet 5757 (December 22,1996)
Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein RE: Restoration of The Holy Half-Shekel. Dear Rabbi Epstein, Shalom. Thank you for your prompt and positive reply of December 12th. Your letter was received with celebration by our team here. I look foward to meeting with you and will contact you, G-d willing, when I arrive stateside to arrange a time. By "Conservative Institutions" I do indeed mean synagogues, as well as schools, and any other existing infrastructure that serves the Jewish community in the absence of a local synagogue. As we are dealing with thousands of communities worldwide, our initial approach has been to select existing umbrella apartus to prevent having to duplicate existing networks. In turning to the USCJ I was hoping to obviate the need to reach out and convince each individual synagogue of the merits of participation. Is it possible, assuming that our meeting is successful, to enlist your office to coordinate those institutions that have membership with you, at least to the stage of signing on as participating points of sale/collection? Forgive me if I am putting the cart before the horse, this project is exciting and developing rapidly, and we are trying to tie as much together as quickly as possible. I look foward to talking with you. G-d Bless, Reuven Prager cc: Mr. David Bar Illan, Prime Minister's Office |
LETTER TO THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
| 12 Tevet 5757 (December 22, 1996)
USCJ Dear Sirs, I am requesting please, a copy of your Annual Guide and Directory. Is it possible to obtain it on disc? And would it include an e-mail directory of synagogues, and other Conservative institutions? Please send it to: Beged Ivri If there is any cost involved we will immediately submit payment by return mail. Thank you in advance. G-d Bless,
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RESPONSE FROM USCJ
| December 31, 1996
Mr. Reuven Prager Dear Mr. Prager, I received your December 22nd letter - and I will look foward to meeting with you when you are in New York. While, in principle, we would be prepared to assist your effort, the problem is clearly one of resources and staff. Our entire staff is "over committed" in terms of time and it would not be feasible to burden them with new responsibilities. Thus, unless something changes, I do not believe that we would be in a position to be involved to the extent that you envision. I would, however, be pleased to discuss this with you when we see each other. Sincerely yours, JME/m |
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