All About OZ...

OHAVI ZEDEK
A WARM AND WELCOMING JEWISH COMMUNITY

Ohavi Zedek means Lovers of Justice. Our congregation offers religious, spiritual, educational, social and community services and programs to people of all ages. Vermont's oldest and largest Jewish congregation, OZ was created in 1885 by eighteen people, immigrants from Lithuania.

Ohavi Zedek today is a community of about 375 families. We are descendents of those earlier settlers, and we are more recent residents of Vermont. Some of us grew up in families that strongly identified as Jews religiously and culturally, some were raised in totally assimilated households, and others have come to Judaism as adults. We are single and partnered, straight and gay, expressing our Judaism through a wide spectrum of observance. Many of our members live in interfaith families.

Our vibrant, egalitarian and inclusive congregation is committed to embracing traditions while actively participating in our changing Jewish world.

Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
188 North Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 864-0218
www.ohavizedek.com

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Erev Shabbat at OZ
Our Friday evening service is "havurah-like". All present are encouraged to participate in tuneful and meaningful liturgical songs, sometimes accompanied by guitar. These services are led by Rabbi Joshua Chasan and Rabbi David Steinberg. Small children are encouraged to attend, with their parents. Friday evening services begin at 6:00 PM. Occasionally each class in the Hebrew School helps lead a class Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning at OZ
Our Shabbat morning service is traditional, without the use of instrumental accompaniment. This worship service includes removing the Torah ceremoniously from the Ark. After a procession around the sanctuary, the Torah scroll is read using ancient melodies of biblical cantillation (trope). Following services, we all enjoy a Kiddush where we greet our neighbors with a "Shabbat Shalom." Our Hebrew School, which usually meets on Sunday mornings, meets on Shabbat morning approximately once a month. On those occasions, various Hebrew School classes often attend and participate in selected parts of the main Shabbat morning service. All Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 AM. Note: Beginning October 25, 2008, our Shabbat morning service will begin at 9:30am following our Adult Torah Study program which begins at 9:00am. For more information on this new program, contact Rabbi Joshua Chasan.

Tot Shabbat Family Services
Families with children ages 4 and younger; Join us for our new monthly "Tot Shabbat" program, led by Rabbi David and children's musician and storyteller Matthew Witten. The program starts at 11:30am and lasts about 30 minutes. Please join us after Tot Shabbat for our community wide Kiddush and luncheon in the social hall. Please check the Hebrew School Calendar or the Hebrew School page for specific dates.

Weekday Service
Our weekday service meets Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, and Sunday through Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. If you need to say Kaddish, we recommend that you let the office know in advance so that we can help make sure that a minyan (quorum of 10 adult Jews required for the public recitation of Kaddish and certain other prayers) is available. Also, if you need to say Mourner's Kaddish on Saturday evening and request this in advance, we can organize a minyan for you. sign up here.

EDUCATION

Hebrew School
The Hebrew School curriculum is project-based, using the arts in learning. In our family-oriented Torah curriculum, parents learn to teach their children the stories of the Torah, and students share their learning with each other and the rest of the congregation. Students also learn Modern Hebrew. Special events include classes for parents, family dinners and holiday programs.

2008-2009 School Year Class meeting days: Kindergarten through 7th grade generally meets on Sunday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Approximately one weekend per month, school meets on Saturday morning instead of Sunday morning. Please check the Hebrew School Calendar or the Hebrew School page for specific dates. Click here for more information on our Hebrew School.

Vermont Chai School
A joint venture of Ohavi Zedek and Temple Sinai of South Burlington, Vermont Chai School encourages Jewish learning as a lifelong process by offering students in 8th-12th grade courses on special topics along with opportunities to socialize with Jewish peers. The non-graded, elective-based curriculum has included classes in Hebrew language, images of the American Jew in popular culture, and environmentalism, biomedical ethics, and litigation from a Jewish perspective. Chai School meets Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Temple Sinai and is co-directed by OZ's Associate Rabbi, David Steinberg and Temple Sinai's Education Director, Judy Alexander.

Young Judaea
Ohavi Zedek's Young Judaea provides exceptional programming for our community's youth. Three age groups (grades 3-5, 6-7 and 8-12) host events throughout the year, from camping trips and ski trips to bowling parties and rock climbing, Israeli dancing and sukkah building. While programs incorporate Jewish learning and practice, they also place a high value on the social aspects - Young Judaea's primary goal is to bring Jewish kids together.

Adult Education Programs
Ohavi Zedek offers a variety of classes and special programs for adults throughout the year. Offerings have included Hebrew, Shabbat meditation, Hasidic teachings about Pesach, the poetry of Yehuda Amichai, updates on the Middle East and the Jewish community's response to domestic violence. Please contact Rabbi Joshua if you have specific suggestions about what you would like to learn, or for what you might be interested in teaching the community.

Lunch and Learn
Ohavi Zedek invites members of both OZ and the surrounding community to come together for an hour that includes a light lunch and a lecture by a member of the greater community on a topic of general interest. Lunch and Learn takes place at OZ at noon the on the last Thursday of every month from September through May. Participation is FREE, but donations are accepted gladly. Contact Judy Hershberg, jhersh@burlingtontelecom.net, 802-863-4214.

OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Chevra Kadisha
The Chevra Kadisha, or Hebrew Holy Society, is an all-volunteer group that oversees and administers the ritual preparation of the deceased. The Chevra Kadisha extends beyond Ohavi Zedek to include members of other congregations and the Jewish community at large. Similarly, its services are available to all members of the Jewish community. If you are interested in being part of the Chevra Kadisha or wish to comment on their activities, contact George Solomon at 802-862-5343.

COTS Phone-a-thon and Walk
Members of Ohavi Zedek help combat homelessness at these two annual events benefiting Burlington's Committee on Temporary Shelter. If you are interested in joining the phone-a-thon, contact Fran Pomerantz at kasperantz@gmavt.net or call 802-434-3443. If you are interested in walking for COTS, contact Rabbi David Steinberg at rabbidavid@ohavizedek.com or call 802-864-0218, ext. 25.

Israeli Dancing
Enjoy familiar moves or learn new steps while socializing in a relaxed, low-key atmosphere, usually the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 7:30 PM. Call the office to confirm (802-864-0218, ext. 21).

"Mitzvah Mounties"
Members visit residents of local nursing homes every Wednesday morning. If you are interested, please call Shirley Rutstein at 802- 862-2081.

Office Volunteers
We can always use help in our office for such activities as folding mailings, entering data, making phone calls to members, etc. If you've got a couple of hours to spare in a month, please email Mike or call 802-864-0218, ext. 26.

Sisterhood
Ohavi Zedek's Sisterhood oversees the synagogue kitchen, kiddushim, the gift shop, rummage sales, bereavement meals, and sponsors special events. To involve yourself in Sisterhood activities or to comment on any of them, contact Kathy Chasan at kchasan@comcast.net or call 802-865-3075.

"Wednesday Morning Group"
This free-wheeling and mindful discussion about identity and spirituality takes place every Wednesday morning throughout the year at 7:30am. If you are interested in joining, just show up!

Volunteer Network
Members of the Ohavi Zedek congregation volunteer to help those in the community who are in need. They bring meals to mothers of new babies, help elderly neighbors get to the doctor, go shopping for people who cannot make it to the store, make a minyan for people who need to say kaddish, etc. If you are interested in joining the OZ volunteer network or if you need help from the network, please contact Sharon Panitch at 802-864-9774, or download the Volunteer Network Sign-up Form, fill it out and mail it back to OZ.