Rabbi Ahuva’s Celebration of 10 years
At the Shabbat service on Friday, May 31, a full house gathered to celebrate Rabbi Ahuva’s first 10 years at Or Ami. The Rabbi and Rachel led the service, which included tributes from many Or Ami members, a trivia game about Rabbi Ahuva, and a video tribute.
Rabbi Ahuva was presented with a scrapbook of pictures and written tributes from members and friends, as well as children in the Religious School. A beautiful oneg followed the service, and Heavy Shtetl performed. Here’s to the next ten years with Rabbi Ahuva! See several photos from the evening taken by Rachel Loria.
Social Action
Or Ami’s social action committee organized a field trip to the Moton Museum in Farmville to learn how a student strike there against substandard school buildings and resources helped build the case for Brown vs Board of Education.
In response to court-ordered integration, Virginia’s leaders called for Massive Resistance. Prince Edward County responded by closing their public schools for five years, from 1959-1964. We all have busy lives but this is fairly recent history – and the policies and animus of the past color our present. Or Ami is committed to raising awareness and joining others to address social ills. The congregation is a longtime member of RISC and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, standing with other congregations to address social justice. We welcome partnerships with other synagogues in this effort. Contact
Social_Action@or-ami.com to share ideas.
Interested in Klezmer Music?
The April edition of the Reflector included an article about Klezm’Or’Ami’m (which translates into “klezmer musicians from Congregation Or Ami”) celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year. Over 30 years. nearly 30 different musicians have played in the band. Klezm’Or’Ami’m has and continues to include both Jewish and non-Jewish members. Members have included congregants of nearly every synagogue in Richmond and from the ages 13 – 70+.
To attend a band rehearsal to determine if you might be interested in joining this group and to share the fun of performing this joyous music, or if you would like to have them perform at an event, please contact Bruce Gould at bgould53@gmail.com or Art Todras at todrasfamily@comcast.net.
