Category Archives: Uncategorized

Calls to Action (Tikkun Olam)

Community, Uncategorized

To See Programs/Events Offered By Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation Go To

www.shalomdch.org/calendar 

or

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https://www.facebook.com/LevinJCC    

 DURHAM URBAN MINISTRES COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Sunday, July 27, 2014

This month, please consider helping Kol Haskalah, along with Judea Reform and Beth El, provide dinners to homeless and hungry people in Durham. We serve over 200 people each month and the number keeps growing. We feed all ages, all backgrounds, all religions.

We need donations of casseroles, cookies, large cans of green beans, sweetened iced tea, shredded cheese and peanut butter and jelly (there are so many kids now!).

You can drop off the food at Judea Reform by Friday, July 25 or take supplies directly to the shelter on Sunday, July 27th. Please let me know what you can donate so I can coordinate with the other congregations. Contact Francis Presma at presma@law.duke.edu or 919-451-6207. We would love to have more participation from Kol Haskalah in this mitzvah.

Also, please consider joining the prep crew to prepare and serve meals to help the needy and hungry; it’s fun and a minimal time commitment. We begin at 4:15 p.m. and are usually finished by 5:45. Children over 13 (and Pre-Bar and Bat Mitzvah) may use time working on these dinners as part of their community service activities. What better way to teach what Humanistic Judaism really means. Contact Frances Presma atpresma@law.duke.edu if you would like to sign up.

Tuna Casserole Recipe

2 bags of noodles (any kind)

3 carrots and 3 celery stalks, chopped

2 large cans of cream of mushroom soup (Food Lion has their own brand)

6-7 cans of chunk light tuna, drained

Cook noodles, blend all ingredients together, put in disposable tin (one really big or twomedium ones). You can deliver anytime to Judea Reform for them to freeze in advance or deliver fresh on Sunday to the Community kitchen. So easy! Prepare when you have time.

DONATIONS

We continue to collect non-perishable foods for the food banks and old towels/blankets for the animal shelters. We also collect soaps, shampoos, etc. (all those samples that we get and never use) and donate them to the Durham Women’s shelter. Please bring to any congregation event. We will deliver for you!   ~Renee and Burt Rauch

 

Kol Haskalah Board Opposes “Defense of Marriage” Ammendment

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At the time of the upcoming primary election in May 2012, citizens of North Carolina will also have the opportunity to vote on a proposal to amend the State Constitution to provide that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” (North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514).

The Board of Kol Haskalah, after considering the matter at the request of a member of the congregation, has adopted a resolution opposing this amendment. The Board is authorized, under the Congregation’s by-laws, to adopt such statements “on issues of social concern consistent with the Congregation’s commitment to Tikkun Olam,” The proposed constitutional amendment contradicts not only the published policies of the Society of Humanistic Judaism, which expressly “support the legal recognition of marriage and divorce between adults of the same sex” and “the value of marriage between any two committed adults,” but also Humanistic Judaism’s abiding commitment to Tikkun Olam and recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Moreover, since the State Assembly has decided to press this issue to a state-wide vote, members of our community will be called upon to take action regarding this issue.

Therefore, the Board has determined that it is necessary at this time to affirm our commitment, as Humanistic Jews, to equal rights, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the right and responsibility of adults to choose their partners in marriage and domestic unions, by opposing the proposed amendment to the State Constitution. All of the Jewish congregations in the Triangle, as well as many secular organizations and town councils, have already adopted policy statements opposing the proposed amendment, and a group of organizations affiliated with the Inter Faith Council is also working on a statement in opposition.

Below is the Resolution that the Board has adopted. Its language is taken largely from the resolution regarding marriage rights and same-sex couples that the Society for Humanistic Judaism adopted in April 2004. If you have any questions please contact the Board through either Jenn Sessler (jrosesg@gmail.com), Faye Kalman (Faye@metarhythm.com ), or Paul Bogas (pbogas@bellsouth.net).

Resolution:

Board of Directors of Kol Haskalah, Triangle Congregation

For Humanistic Judaism

Resolution Opposing the Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person,

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism support the right and responsibility of adults to choose their partners in marriage and domestic legal union,

Whereas the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism are supportive of equal rights and responsibilities for all in the matters of marriage and domestic legal union,

Whereas the Society for Humanistic Judaism has formally adopted a policy supporting the legal recognition of marriage between adults of the same sex and affirming the value of marriage between any two committed adults with the sense of obligations, responsibilities, and consequences thereof,

Whereas the provisions of North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514 mandate a state-wide vote to amend the North Carolina State Constitution to prohibit the legal recognition of marriage and domestic unions between members of the same sex,

Whereas the constitutional amendment proposed in North Carolina Session Law 2011-409 Senate Bill 514, is contrary to the principles and values of Humanistic Judaism, and an affront to the inherent worth and dignity of every person,

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors of Kol Haskalah, the Triangle Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, opposes the proposed constitutional amendment and supports the efforts of gay and lesbian couples to share fully and equally in the rights of marriage and domestic legal union.

Please keep on the lookout for more information from Kol Haskalah regarding programming in April to discuss the proposed legislation and the opportunity to cast your vote, which will be held during the May 8, 2012 primary election.

Shabbat Service and Program

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Friday, Jan. 6th, 7:30pm
Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham

Randall Best, Ethical Humanist Society, will speak about Ethical Culture, and the founder of Ethical Culture Felix Adler, who left Reform Judaism to found a non-theistic religion. There will also be a discussion of ways that we can coalesce with his group.

Join us for a brief Shabbat service, followed by this enlightening and interactive discussion. Please bring a dessert to share.

Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham
4907 Garrett Road, Durham
6/10 mile east of 15-501, on the left
***This Event will be held in the Commons room, not the 4/5 classroom.***
Campus Map

SUNDAY MORNING PARENT/ADULT PROGRAM

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Social Media and the Kol Haskalah Website

SO MUCH COOLER ONLINE! Please join congregation member Andrew Robbins-Pollack on Sunday, December 4th at 10:15AM in room 104-Murphey Hall for a discussion of Social Media. Topics to be covered include: History of Social Networking, What Social Media can accomplish, Privacy and Parental Concerns with Social Media and a BONUS in depth look at http://www.hjnc.org, our very own website for Kol Haskalah. Bagels and coffee will be provided.