Congregation Tifereth Israel

Upcoming Events

 

 

 

 

Welcome Rabbi Alex

Welcome to Congregation Tifereth Israel Due to COVID-19, all services are on Zoom. Please see announcements for links.     Welcome Rabbi Alex to Lincoln Two shuls, one Rabbi. Lincoln’s congregation B’nai Jeshurun (URJ) and congregation Tifereth Israel (USCJ) welcomed their first jointly appointed spiritual leader: Rabbi Alex Felch. Rabbi Felch was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Conservative Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (Rabbinical Seminary of Latin America). Rabbi Felch was most recently the spiritual leader of congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield, Illinois. Prior to that he served congregations in Connecticut and Puerto Rico. He has also lived in Israel and Northern Europe for extended periods. Rabbi Felch’s life experiences in five countries and his work with diverse Jewish communities position him well to initiate Lincoln’s new collaborative model of rabbinical leadership. Lincoln’s two congregations are not alone in seeking creative solutions to the challenges of being a smaller Jewish community. Rabbi David Fine of the Union for Reform Judaism consults with URJ communities considering structural or organizational transitions. Rabbi Fine observed that the decision to move forward with a shared hire “speaks to the strength in the community, the trust in the community.” The leadership and members of both congregations were able to express their “willingness to do things differently,” in service of “a vision of having a stronger Jewish community in Lincoln, Nebraska.” Mindy Gordon, Synagogue Consultant for the Central Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism noted that there are other USCJ-affiliated congregations involved in partnerships between Conservative and Reform communities, and that “collaboration in smaller and not so small communities is a trend that is mutually beneficial.” Rabbi Felch was drawn to this position when it was advertised, because he has “always felt passionate about the concept of k’lal Yisrael, the entire Jewish People being an am echad, one people.” As the spiritual leader of two congregations, Rabbi Felch points out that “we all may have different ways of belief, perhaps prefer different streams of Judaism or just may have a problem with faith, but we also embrace the idea that we are a Jewish family, together, and that we share a common destiny and love for our people.” This commitment to unity despite diversity was apparent to the congregational leadership and search committee in the hiring process. Seth Harris, president of Tifereth Israel points to the Rabbi’s time leading Congregation Shaare Zedeck and JCC in San Juan, Puerto Rico as the sole Rabbi and Jewish professional leader serving a diverse Jewish community in Puerto Rico: “That was exactly the model and experience we were looking for when we came up with our slogan “two congregations, one community.” Anne Rickover, search committee co-chair, said the committee felt that “Rabbi Alex is right for us because he is so enthusiastic about the job and the idea of a ‘big tent’ for Jews.” Sharing a Rabbi between two small congregations has the “obvious advantage” of being more financially sustainable for each congregation, but Rickover identified as an equal advantage, “bringing people from both congregations together, whether it be at services, classes, or social events. Zoom is fine for now, but the process will be so much better when we can get together in person to share in simchas and tsuris and plain old schmoozing.” Search committee co-chair Ken Bloom echoed that idea of togetherness in looking to the future: “Our joint rabbi hire has brought us together in spirit and purpose. Hopefully soon we can be together in person for the many milestones and celebrations that lie ahead of us.” Given the constraints of the pandemic, the search process unfolded remotely by Zoom, and in the time since Rabbi Felch and his wife Iryna have arrived in Lincoln, both congregations are still worshipping remotely. Nevertheless, they are getting to know the congregations’ families through services and events, and Rabbi Felch is also getting to know the younger generation through the Lincoln Jewish Community School and working with students preparing for B’nai Mitzvah. As he has gotten to know the congregants and the community, Rabbi Felch has been impressed by the ruach of this small community: “My number one WOW moment that I sensed since day one, has been the harmonious desire by all to work through all challenges together. I am in awe of the amount of respect, collaboration and sincere desire to learn together, do mitzvot together, innovate with a creative spirit embracing all thoughts and ideas.”

Words From Rabbi Alex

Dear Friends,

By the time Rosh Hashanah starts, my wife and I will be celebrating our first two weeks in Lincoln! It has only been 14 days and both of us feel as if we had been a part of this amazing community for years. We have been embraced by the heartfelt warmth of so many of you and we feel right at home.

 

We sense the sincere excitement of the community as you have shared with us what a historic moment this is in the Jewish history of Lincoln. With incredible vision, the leadership of both congregations - embraced by the entire membership - adopted the unique concept by which two synagogues joined forces and designed a unique model that should serve as an inspirational message to Jewish communities around the world.

 

South Street Temple and Tifereth Israel may perhaps have different outlooks on the philosophy, ideology, theology and ritual of their respective streams of Judaism. On the other hand, they share in the realization that they have the same heart and love for our heritage. Reform and Conservative, members with different approaches to Jewish life have fully affirmed how important it is for everybody to be together in one family!

 

This is what the Jewish community of Lincoln represents. A desire to be together and design a unique Jewish lifestyle, understanding differences but simultaneously embracing them! There is an affirmation by all that we are an Am Echad, One People, uniting everybody in a unique spirit seeking the renewal and the building of a rejuvenated Kehilah Kedoshah, a holy community. I believe that that is the hallmark of what a home should be all about. Members of a family approaching things perhaps in a different way but also aware that togetherness is paramount.

 

My wife Iryna and I are honored to be a part of this amazing initiative that both congregations have already created. We indeed feel that a great future is ahead of us and we want to be a part of that exciting project together with all of you!

 

As Rosh Hashanah is about to start, we wish each other a Shanah Tovah. I would like to expand on the meaning of the Hebrew word shanah as it conveys several possible things. The word Shanah can mean change, derived from the Hebrew shinui. Indeed, the Jewish community here in Lincoln is changing its approach. Additionally, we are all united in our common desire for a year of change, one in which there will be health and wellbeing, not having to confront pandemic and illness. The word Shanah can also mean repetition, derived from the Hebrew word/number sheni. It would maybe be a wish to repeat the approach to replicate the ingenuity of our Jewish people in the past. Trying to do anything and everything we can, in order to make sure that the community will remain strong, viable and vital. The word Shanah can also mean to study from the Hebrew words "lishnot/Mishnah". This is the wish of every Jewish teacher, hoping for new learning of Jewish texts, for "New Torah".

 

I would really like to embark with each and every one of you in a year of studying and learning together, embracing the wonderful teachings of our Jewish legacy. Dear friends, as we wish one another a Shanah Tovah, let us all enjoy a year of good change, a year of good repetitions and also a year of good study and learning! As we join in welcoming 5781, let us all pray inspired by Adonai, for a good year, one that is sweet, bringing well being to everybody.

 

With infinite gratitude for what the Almighty has put in front of us, we thank you for allowing us to join you all!

 

L'Shanah Tovah,

Rabbi Alex

Jewish Federation News

 

 

 

The Mission of the Jewish Federation of Lincoln is to

*Further the welfare of the Jewish community
*Plan for the philanthropic, social, cultural, and educational advancement of the Jewish community
*Foster cooperation among local Jewish organizations
*Solicit, collect, and otherwise raise funds for philanthropic, social, cultural, educational, and religious purposes;
*Contribute, disburse, and distribute the income directly or by contributions to other organizations
        -With the same or similar purposes
        -Which are tax exempt
*Review and determine the obligations, responsibilities, and effectiveness of all agencies requesting appropriations
*Control and budget the disbursements to the beneficiary agencies
*To coordinate with the fund-raising activities of Jewish agencies
*To foster their cooperation  

Lincoln Jewish Community School News

The Lincoln Jewish Community School offers religious education from Pre-school through High School. We are a jointly run school conducted by Congregation B'Nai Jeshrun and Congregation Tifereth Israel.The mission of the Lincoln Jewish Community School is to teach our children the richness of our heritage, help them to achieve a positive  Jewish identity and encourage them to actively participate in Jewish life at home, in the community and in the world.

The LJCS provides a strong, integrated curriculum rich in the study/implementation of Holidays, History Tanach (Torah),Mitzvot/Tzedakah, Israel and the Hebrew language.

We find many opportunities for exploration into the spiritual aspects of religion and tradition in addition to "hands-on" experiences and programs that allow our students to practice observances in their home and at school.