Minggu, 16 Agustus 2015

VISITATION OF UPJ MOETZAH RABBIS 27 JULY - 05 AUG 2015

Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge, the chairman of UIJC-Brit Beracha Indonesia welcomed Rabbi Shoshana Kaminsky from Adelaide and Rabbi David Aaron Kunin on 27 July 2015 at Jakarta Airport

on 28/7, we departed to Menado, had our Maariv Service, Teaching and Dinner at Brit Beracha Beit Yisrael Menado
on 29/7, we had "bubur menado" breakfast, then visited Menorah. In Evening we again had Maariv Service, teaching and dinner
on 30/7, returned to Jakarta
on 31/7, in morning, I took rabbis to visit ex Dutch-VOC old city in North Jakarta and spent good time for shopping at Mangga Dua China Town market. In the afternoon, the rabbis interviewed the members of Brit Beracha Magelang, Jakarta and Papua, and we spent shabbat with Brit Beracha Jakarta
on 01/8, we had Shabbat Shakarit Service, D'var Torah dan Teaching. Rabbis used the occasion to talk with the leaders and members of Brit Beracha Jakarta. We had beautiful Havdallah service and dinner. And Rabbi Shoshana at last had to leave Jakarta to USA becuase her mother was in critical condition
on 02/8, Rabbi Kunin and I flew to Ambon and had dinner in our hotel. Foods provided by members of Brit Beracha Amboina
on 03/8, we tookRabbi Kunin to visit Ambon Beach and had walk. We visited ex dutch Amsterdam Fort, visited eels tourist area and Museum., In the evening we had a nice Maariv, dinner and teaching
on 04/8, we took rabbis to visit ex conflict area to see people and syuhada cemetry. We visited our old member who was sick, visited a portugese chatolic church next to Fransiscus Xaverius office, and interviewed a Jewish descendant from Kisar. In the afternoon Rabbi Kunin met 2 Christian Pastors who run Bnei Anusim - Beit Touroni who were helped by UIJC/BBI to study Torah. In the evening, we had Maariv and teaching with the community
05/08, Rabbi Kunin and I left Ambon to Jakarta, and Rabbi Kunin continued to the next flight to Japan

Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge

Sabtu, 09 Mei 2015

JEWISH NOBLE PRIZE WINNER

The Global Jewish population is approximately 14,000,000
That is FOURTEEN MILLION, or about 0.02% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes:
Literature:
1910 - Paul Heyse
1927 - Henri Bergson
1958 - Boris Pasternak
1966 - Shmuel Yosef Agnon
1966 - Nelly Sachs
1976 - Saul Bellow
1978 - Isaac Bashevis Singer
1981 - Elias Canetti
1987 - Joseph Brodsky
1991 - Nadine Gordimer World
Peace:
1911 - Alfred Fried
1911 - Tobias Michael Carel Asser
1968 - Rene Cassin
1973 - Henry Kissinger
1978 - Menachem Begin
1986 - Elie Wiesel
1994 - Shimon Peres
1994 - Yitzhak Rabin
Physics:
1905 - Adolph Von Baeyer
1906 - Henri Moissan
1907 - Albert Abraham Michelson
1908 - Gabriel Lippmann
1910 - Otto Wallach
1915 - Richard Willstaetter
1918 - Fritz Haber
1921 - Albert Einstein
1922 - Niels Bohr
1925 - James Franck
1925 - Gustav Hertz
1943 - Gustav Stern
1943 - George Charles de Hevesy
1944 - Isidor Issac Rabi
1952 - Felix Bloch
1954 - Max Born
1958 - Igor Tamm
1959 - Emilio Segre
1960 - Donald A. Glaser
1961 - Robert Hofstadter
1961 - Melvin Calvin
1962 - Lev Davidovich Landau
1962 - Max Ferdinand Perutz
1965 - Richard Phillips Feynman
1965 - Julian Schwinger
1969 - Murray Gell-Mann
1971 - Dennis Gabor
1972 - William Howard Stein
1973 - Brian David Josephson
1975 - Benjamin Mottleson
1976 - Burton Richter
1977 - Ilya Prigogine
1978 - Arno Allan Penzias
1978 - Peter L Kapitza
1979 - Stephen Weinberg
1979 - Sheldon Glashow
1979 - Herbert Charles Brown
1980 - Paul Berg
1980 - Walter Gilbert
1981 - Roald Hoffmann
1982 - Aaron Klug
1985 - Albert A. Hauptman
1985 - Jerome Karle
1986 - Dudley R. Herschbach
1988 - Robert Huber
1988 - Leon Lederman
1988 - Melvin Schwartz
1988 - Jack Steinberger
1989 - Sidney Altman
1990 - Jerome Friedman
1992 - Rudolph Marcus
1995 - Martin Perl
2000 - Alan J. Heeger

Economics:
1970 - Paul Anthony Samuelson
1971 - Simon Kuznets
1972 - Kenneth Joseph Arrow
1975 - Leonid Kantorovich
1976 - Milton Friedman
1978 - Herbert A. Simon
1980 - Lawrence Robert Klein
1985 - Franco Modigliani
1987 - Robert M. Solow
1990 - Harry Markowitz
1990 - Merton Miller
1992 - Gary Becker
1993 - Robert Fogel Medicine:
1908 - Elie Metchnikoff
1908 - Paul Erlich
1914 - Robert Barany
1922 - Otto Meyerhof
1930 - Karl Landsteiner
1931 - Otto Warburg
1936 - Otto Loewi
1944 - Joseph Erlanger
1944 - Herbert Spencer Gasser
1945 - Ernst Boris Chain
1946 - Hermann Joseph Muller
1950 - Tadeus Reichstein
1952 - Selman Abraham Waksman
1953 - Hans Krebs
1953 - Fritz Albert Lipmann
1958 - Joshua Lederberg
1959 - Arthur Kornberg
1964 - Konrad Bloch
1965 - Francois Jacob
1965 - Andre Lwoff
1967 - George Wald
1968 - Marshall W. Nirenberg
1969 - Salvador Luria
1970 - Julius Axelrod
1970 - Sir Bernard Katz
1972 - Gerald Maurice Edelman
1975 - Howard Martin Temin
1976 - Baruch S. Blumberg
1977 - Roselyn Sussman Yalow
1978 - Daniel Nathans
1980 - Baruj Benacerraf
1984 - Cesar Milstein
1985 - Michael Stuart Brown
1985 - Joseph L. Goldstein
1986 - Stanley Cohen [& Rita Levi-Montalcini]
1988 - Gertrude Elion 1
989 - Harold Varmus
1991 - Erwin Neher
1991 - Bert Sakmann
1993 - Richard J. Roberts
1993 - Phillip Sharp
1994 - Alfred Gilman
1995 - Edward B.. Lewis
1996- Lu RoseIacovino
TOTAL: 129!
by : Yokhanan Eliyahu

UPJ Supervision on UIJC



In order to join wider global Jewish families, to be connected and affiliated,  delegation of Brit Beracha Congregation Indonesia (BBI) and UIJC already attended
1. 36th World Union of Progressive Judaism Biennial Conference - Jerusalem in 01-05 May 2013
2. Mini Conference of UPJ (Union of Progressive Judaism) in Hongkong 06-08 May 2013
3. UPJ Conference in Adelaide, West Australia 19-23 Nov 2014.

We have met the Vice President of WUPJ Rabbi Joel Oseran, and Boards of UPJ as well

In short time, the rabbis from Moetzah of UPJ will supervise physically our 268 members in 6 kehilots. They will teach and guide BBI/UIJC for the necessary works including the conversion programs of newly joint members.

We have already renewed our group membership to decide which ones are under our supervision for the above mentioned process. The names of kehilot affilated and supervised by us will be announced separately

UPJ at last sent his Moetzah Rabbis : Rabbi Shoshana Kaminsky from Beit Shalom Adelaide and Rabbi David Aaron Kunin from Japan Jewish Community. They did visit and supervise Kehilot in Jakarta, Menado and Ambon, and interviewed other members from Timika Papua, Lampung, Bali, Magelang, Medan and Balikpapan. The visits started from 27 July to -05 August 2015

Benjamin Meijer

United Indonesian Jewish Community - The Journey of the 'Lost Jews'


 

United Indonesian Jewish Community - The Journey of the 'Lost Jews'

The United Indonesian Jewish Community (UIJC) was established to respond to the outcry of the descendants of Jews in Indonesia who longed to know the G-d of their forefathers. The community leadership's policy was to accept all and every descendant, whether it be of matrilineal or patrilineal descent, and despite of their current religious practices.

In its development, many of these descendants showed tremendous dedication and thirst to know the truth and to seriously return to the faith of their ancestors. These people were gathered in smaller groups of communities called Kehilla, and exist in Lampung, Jakarta, North Sulawesi (Manado) and Maluku - and recently, a community of  Magelang - Central Java and SP3, Timika Papua emerged with the same longing. (For a list of these communities click here.) The yearning was so strong that many Jewish people from all over the world was drawn to it.

In the effort of studying about the Torah and Judaism in the midst of severe lack of resources, a helping hand individual rabbis provided answers when no one else was available and even facilitated the community in connecting with another Rabbi in the region, which will happen much later.

Cantor Evan Cohen of Kehilat Har-El in Jerusalem was the first who was moved by this strange wave of Indonesians celebrating Shabbat and praying to the G-d of Israel. With the facilitation of one of UJIC's former elder member Mrs. Marlina van der Stoop, he came to Indonesia for a visit in November 2012, to the community in Jakarta as well as in Manado. He stayed long enough to lead a few Shabbat services and teach about the holiday of Hannukah. During his stay here, he also visited the historical old city of Batavia, which was founded by a Dutch Jew, Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the Governor General of the Dutch East Indie Company in Indonesia.

The visit of Cantor Evan Cohen, who lead the Shabbat service with beautiful melodies, inspired one of the community members in Jakarta to learn about Jewish liturgical chanting on her own, solely depending on resources on the internet. This will later surprise the mentoring and converting Rabbis as they enjoyed the Shabbat Sacharit service in Jakarta. The non orthodox - liberal Jews called Brit Beracha community was founded in November 2012.

It was also thanks to Mrs. Marlina van der Stoop and Cantor Evan Cohen's facilitation that the Jewish community in Indonesia are currently in process of affiliating itself with the World Union for Progressive Judaism. For this purpose, the leadership of UIJC has participated in the UPJ mini convention in Hong Kong in May 2013 as well as the WUPJ convention in Jerusalem in the same month.

In April 2013, with the facilitation of Christians for Israel Indonesia, UIJC, represented by Jakarta's leader and member, was introduced to Rabbi Ari Abramowitz and Shaul Ravid who were then with Keren Hayesod. This was further progress in trying to connect with the rest of the Jewish community of the world and obtain some form of acknowledgement of its existence.

Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg and Rabbi Steven Jules Peskind were two of the first ones to respond to the community's desire to convert. Many other rabbis of different affiliations have rejected the same request for various reasons. Rabbi Ginsburg mentored the community and supplied various books and resources on Judaism, feeding the community's hunger. After many months of mentorship and studies, in January 2014, he and Rabbi Peskind flew across oceans to meet with the community and guide them in their last steps of official conversion. For their love for these souls, they dared to venture into the unknown, setting foot in what they only knew as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

During the course of the conversion study, a member of the community made contact with Orthodox Rabbi Zev Schwarcz of the International Kosher Council who was fascinated to learn about a Jewish community in Indonesia. Although contact was made since before the conversion, it was only after the conversion that he had the opportunity to visit the community during one of his regular visits to Indonesia to assist a few Indonesian businesses in kosher certification. Since then, Rabbi Schwarcz has been in close communication with the community, and shares teachings to the community via Skype conference.

The Jewish community of UIJC has taken up more and more responsibility to join wider Jewish Communities, besides its main duty as ohr l'goyim, spreading the truth of Torah to the Jewish descendants and leading them back to the G-d of their ancestors, and working towards the unity of the Jewish people. In November 2014, the leaders of UIJC will once again join a conference to be held by WUPJ, strengthening the bond and friendship, paving the way for future collaboration, contributing to the restoration of the world. The leadership of UIJC continues to cater to the community's needs - guidance in celebrating Yom Tov, facilitation in obtaining Judaica as well as assistance in various family issues such as brit milah.

There have been some efforts to expand the members of UIJC and Brit Beracha, however, the leadership decided to focus on the outreach program to Jewish descendants and allocating the interest of Christian members to "study" Torah to other Torah study groups for nations
 
To lead 6 kehilot, the leader of UIJC trained 4 laymen or spiritual leaders with Para Rabbi Certification, so that they know how to lead services and do life-cycle ceremonies for their members. Benjamin Meijer was at last ordained as a modern rabbi from Rabbi (Modern Chasidic) Joseph H. Gelberman Rabbinical Seminary International New York, at Actors Temple, 47 Street, West Side Manhattan New York on 02 July 2015.
UPJ rabbis help UIJC to affiliate, and they provide sufficient help and trains for our local community  leadership

The story of UIJC and its members for sure will not end here. Having been carried in the tummy of the Conservative Movement, delivered by the midwives of the Progressive Movement and being fed with milk and honey by some Orthodox Movement, the Jewish community will continue on its spiritual journey towards the perfection of their souls until the day they join their Jewish ancestors in the Olam Haba.

source :
 http://www.jodeninnederlandsindie.nl/en/page/984/uijc-s-story
 http://www.jodeninnederlandsindie.nl/en/page/978/uijc-festival-celebration

Jumat, 08 Mei 2015

Evan Cohen

Evan Cohen, The Cantor from Har El Sinagogue, Jerusalem

C4I President

 Meeting with President of Christian for Israel, Willem Glasshouwer from Holland

CONVERSION, PARA RABBI AND RABBINIC ORDINATION


CONVERSION TO JUDAISM BY RAV. STEVEN JULES PESKIND (MEMBER CCAR) AND RAV. JONATHAN GINSBURG


SPIRITUAL LEADERS (PARA RABBIS) SMICHA FOR BENJAMIN MEIJER AND YOKHANAN ELIAS  ON 01 FEB 2014.

IN FEBRUARY 2015, MOSHE BEN AVRAHAM, THE COMMUNITY LEADER OF BRIT BERACHA AMBOINA, AMBON MALUKU AND AVSHALOM BEN BENAYAHU, THE COMMUNITY LEADER OF BRIT BERACHA BEIT YISRAEL MENADO GRADUATED THEIR PARA RABBI/SPIRITUAL LEADER PROGRAMS. THEY ARE CALLED SHALIACH TZIBBUR



AFTER ALMOST 3.5 YEARS STUDY, BENJAMIN MEIJER VERBRUGGE AT LAST FINISHED HIS FULL RABBINIC PROGRAM WITH RABBI MODERN CHASIDIC JOSEPH H. GELBERMAN RABBINICAL SEMINARY INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK. ORDINATION CEREMONY WAS HELD ON 02 JULY 2015 AT ACTORS TEMPLE, 47STREET, WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN-NEW YORK

United Indonesia Jewish Community


GROUP INI ADALAH DIPERUNTUKKAN BUAT ORANG YAHUDI, BERAGAMA YAHUDI, TURUNAN YAHUDI ATAU SIAPAPUN YANG MAU MENJADI JEWS BY CHOICE. TUJUAN GROUP ADALAH UNTUK MEMBUAT PERSATUAN KEKELUARGAAN BAGI PARA ANGGOTANYA, MEMBERI UPDATE TENTANG SITUASI DALAM ISRAEL DAN JEWISH COMMUNITY SELURUH DUNIA, MEMBERIKAN TEMPAT BAGI MEREKA UNTUK MEMPELAJARI AKAR YAHUDI MEREKA DAN BELAJAR TORAH SECARA EKSLUSIVE. SEGALA POSTING YANG BERSIFAT KEKERISTENAN, SIAR AGAMA TERTENTU, ATAU POSTING MESSIANIC JEWS AKAN DIBLOCK.
GROUP KITA LAIN UNTUK JUDAISM MURNI ADA DI BRIT BRACHA


UIJC is the outreach community to bring Jewish home for Jewish people, Jews by Choice and Jewish descendants who are intereseted in learning their Jewish roots and plan to embrace Judaism exclusively. This brings the unity for jewish family in Indonesia. The community updates the issues about global Jewish community and Israel.

We are UNITED JEWISH GROUPS, that welcome Jews with any Jewish back group : Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform/Progressive, Reconstructionist,  Renewal, Humanistic/Secular -Cultural Judaism. We also help sincere bani anusim.

UIJC. brings Beth Tefillah (House of Prayer), Beth Knesset (House of Gathering) and Beth Midrash
We provide regular shabbat meetings for the members, sources of their learning, Hebrew Schools for kids/teenagers, Basic Judaism program for new members and convert candidates, and we also provide Spiritual Leaders training opportunity and certifications for Kehilot Leaders and Rabbinic Studies.

UIJC at last formed Brit Beracha Indonesia (BBI) as the group for non orthodox community in Nov 2012, and has been in process to affilaite with Unin of Progressive Judaism - Word Union of Progressive Judaism since May 2013. In end July and early August 2015, UPJ rabbis started to supervise our kehilot.

Since it is a closed community who embrace Judaism EXCLUSIVELY, PURE JUDAISM,  any missionaries efforts from evangelical groups (with Jewish disguise), Messianic Jews, or any other religion emmisary will be banned. We don't respond to non jewish party request and question, and will never respond any email to convert us to Xtianity.

any further question, email : . benmeijerverbrugge@gmail.com