Israel Center Notes:
REPORT
Last Friday we welcomed a new Sefer Torah into the Israel Center. A gift of Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Newman of Monsey, New York, who dedicated the Torah in memory of their fathers ZICHRONUM L'V;RACHA and in honor of their mothers, AD M'EAH V'ESRIM. They also dedicated the Torah to the memory of those who have fallen in the wars and battles of the State of Israel. The Hachnasat Sefer Torah was preceded by the writing of letters by relatives and friends of the Newmans and members of the Center's board and staff. After Mr. Newman finished the last three words - L'EINEI KOL YISRAEL, the Torah was taken to the back garden of the Center where the assembled danced with it under a CHUPA. The Torah was then carried into the Center building and into the Wolinetz Family Beit Knesset OHEL SHMUEL, where it was paced into the Aron Kodesh accompanied by prayer and song. Those attending the Ceremony heard short speeches from (among others) both Mr. and Mrs. Newman, and a Siyum Mishnayot Seder Nashim by one of the Newman sons. The Hachnasat S"T concluded with a buffet lunch prepared by our caterer Chaim.

REPORT
The Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center (a.k.a. the OU Israel Center) hosted an OU Solidarity Mission organized by the Orthodox Union New York office and our Travel Desk principals AF and RW of Modiin Tours. The whirlwind emotional week for the 150 participants in the Mission culminated with davening and Kiddush at the Israel Center last Shabbat morning. Our new Sefer Torah got its first use, we heard an inspiring Drasha by S'fardi Chief Rabbi Doron-Bakshi, and an inspiring and informative shiur by Rabbi Nachman Kahana. The Mission's goal was to give and get CHIZUK and to firm up the bond between the Jews living in Israel and those not yet living here. The people traveled all over and met many interesting and special people in their one week here. The Mission was eminently successful and will be the spearhead of many missions to come.

Only three weeks left to 5761 and the ability to become a member of the Center for 185nis. After Rosh HaShana, membership will go up. Let the main reason for joining the Center be that you want to become part of what we do. Everything else that comes along with membership (discounts for shiurim, tiyulim, Shabbatonim, a subscription to Jewish Action, etc.) be bonuses and fringe benefits.

As the calendar continues on its way towards Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, you can look for an increasing number of shiurim on T'shuva, Shmita, Prusbul, including a special First Slichot Night program on Motza'ei Shabbat, September 8th (details to be announced), a program on the Motza'ei Shabbat before Rosh HaShana, a special Tzom Gedalya program, Rabbi Riskin's Motza'ei Shabbat Shuva drasha at Yeshurun, and many other programs to enhance the Yamim Nora'im mood and mindset. Watch for details. 

www.ou.org/israel/messages
ISRAELI JEWS are invited to post messages telling their fellow Jews around the world about daily life in Israel today, and to express their feelings and hopes during these difficult times.
DIASPORA JEWS are invited to post messages of support and encouragement to their fellow Jews in Israel, and to express their feelings and hopes during these difficult times.
We ask for your country of origin so that it can be posted at the top of your message, making it clear to readers FROM where your comment originates.
However, your name and e-mail address will not appear unless you specifically want to identify yourself, and you add them to your message.
Please post messages based on your own experiences or reflecting your own feelings. This is not the place for political opinions or discussions.

NESTO - NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKING TEEN OLIM
NEWS BRIEF 
The board met this week, along with new assistant director Josh Spodek and bat sherut Naomi Skorecki. The program calendar was planned for the first part of the year, and many exciting events are going to be coming your way. Details will follow next week. If you know of any teens who would benefit from the NESTO experience, please call the office (566-7787 ext. 245, 254) and leave their name; we will get in touch with them.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Avi