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ד"סב
Rabbi Dov Fischer
R 
AV
, Y
OUNG
I
SRAEL
 
OF
O
RANGE
C
OUNTY
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 300-8899
(Rabbi’s Office)
(949) 551-1010
(Rabbi’s Fax)www.ravfischer.comravfischer@sbcglobal.netFebruary 20, 2008Hi, Everyone.This letter is my first note to you since we began the formation of our new Shul, the YoungIsrael of Orange County (in formation) (“YIOC”). I write today because, little by little, awonderful new congregation is beginning to take shape, and today marks one month sincethat process began. In this letter, I seek to update you on what has been happening, toinvite you to participate as actively as you would like to, and to ask of you simple help.First, please note that we are building a congregation based on a positive vision of thefuture. It will be a Jewish congregation that follows principles and standards that have been set forth by the National Council of Young Israel:www.youngisrael.orgOur focuswill be on praying as a warm community, singing and worshipping with a sharedfellowship committed to Torah spirituality and personal Jewish growth and learning. Wewill not look back on past experiments that brought us to this day. We bear no ill willtowards anyone. Rather, with malice to none and with charity to all, we will look forward,thankful for what has happened in the past, for prior steps in Irvine that planted the seedsthese past two decades that are bearing fruit in Young Israel’s formation. We have learnedfrom the past, but our vision is for the future.Initially, allow me to explain that, under the terms of my departure from my prior rabbinical post, I was forbidden to say “good-bye” before January 22, nor to adviseregarding my plans. I also was obliged to return all membership lists and contactinformation. Therefore, much of this first month since departure has been devoted towardswaiting patiently for individuals like you to contact me, to share with me your home andcell phone numbers, your home and e-mail addresses.
You can assist our efforts profoundly if you kindly would advise others whom you believe are interested in our enterprise to contact me with their contact information.
It is imperative, for the peace of the community, that I be able to document and log that every source of contact informationin my possession came to me after January 22, 2008. Thanks.A group of nine people volunteered shortly after January 22, 2008 to come together as aninitial steering committee, to help establish our new congregation. If you also would liketo play a role in our new congregation, kindly e-mail me. At the end of this letter, I listseveral areas where your help particularly would be appreciated. The Steering Committeehas met several times, averaging once weekly. During those meetings, important1
 
ד"סב
foundational matters have been discussed, and initial priority steps have been pursued.Among the issues we have discussed, we have worked on adopting a Mission Statementthat sets forth our congregation’s purpose and vision. The Mission Statement is almostready to be published. It is forward-looking and aims to express our shared commitment to principles that I know you share deeply.Clearly, we will be an Orthodox
mechitzah
Shul. We will use the Artscroll Stone EditionChumash and the Rabbinical Council of America Artscroll Siddur with the prayers for Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. We will conduct our weekly Friday night Shabbatservices, beginning with Mincha at sunset and following promptly with Kabbalat Shabbat.The services will be festive and marked by congregational singing in the traditional tunesso well loved. As has gained great currency among my colleagues in the AmericanOrthodox rabbinate, I will teach an
halakhic
lesson every Friday night right after we recite
 Bameh Madlikin.
The discussion will be a chance for me to teach and for us to learnTorah. My Shabbat “Sermon,” of course, will be reserved for Shabbat morning services.Friday night services typically will run an hour.On Shabbat Day, we will daven at 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. As a Young Israel, with a newvision of what a Shul should be, I am asking you, particularly men and sons – a deep personal plea – please to be in attendance by no later than 9:30 a.m. on Shabbat morning,although I hope you will be with us from the beginning of services. Women often arrivelater than men, and that is fine. But I do hope you will aim for 9:00 and certainly be inShul by 9:30 a.m. In return, we will conclude services by no later than 11:30 a.m.After morning davening, we will have a weekly Kiddush. Depending on the volunteer  base, we may include hot
chulent 
at Kiddush every week. It is being explored as a seriousoption. In addition, Kiddush is a time to gather socially. After Kiddush, during our founding phase, we anticipate that we will daven Shabbat Mincha. If you cannot stay for Mincha, then you cannot stay. Young Israel of Orange County is non-judgmental, and atthe core of the Mission Statement is a clear articulation of a vision of acceptance, where no person’s feelings ever are hurt. But for those who can remain, we anticipate in the first phase of YIOC’s emergence that we would daven Shabbat Mincha from approximately12:30 to 1:00 p.m. Everyone then goes home for Shabbat Day, whether for private lunch,to host guests, or whatever makes your Shabbat Day happy. As presently contemplated for this initial phase, families that participate in
Seudah Shlishit 
would alternate, “round-robin,” hosting others who so participate at hosts’ respective homes every Shabbatafternoon. Thus, for example, if nine families typically participate, each would host all theothers respectively at a frequency of perhaps once every two months. We would gather for 
Seudah Shlishit 
approximately an hour before Shabbat ends. We would follow with
bentsching 
, Maariv services, and
 Havdalah
. Because we already will have davenedMincha, the host family will not need to have a Torah for Mincha services on its premises.In time, it may come to pass that Mincha will be davened in the afternoon rather thanimmediately after Kiddush. But this is the early plan. One of our founders graciously ismaking his Torah available to us. Moreover, two local organizations have offered us theuse of their Torahs on Shabbatot when we need a second Torah, too.2
 
ד"סב
We will conduct Daily Shacharit minyan services, davening every morning, Sundaythrough Friday. Sunday mornings we will daven at 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday mornings,we will daven at 8:00 a.m., anticipating concluding weekday morning services atapproximately 8:40 a.m. Of the members of the Steering Committee, certain individualsnaturally cannot daven at that time because of understandable workplace obligations thatconflict with the time. We are proud to announce that two-thirds of our SteeringCommittee have committed personally to attend daily morning minyan services. Thiscommitment is part of what makes a Young Israel, much as all our congregation’s officers,as a matter of fundamental Young Israel policy, will be Shomer Shabbat.Our congregation will be based in Irvine, California. A location will be announced soon,much as we now are ordering the
Siddurim
and
Chumashim
that we hope will arrive in thenext week or two. Thus, we expect that our first Shabbat services will begin sometime inthe next two weeks or so: if not Friday night, February 29 – Shabbat Day, March 1, thencertainly we will aim for Friday night, March 7 – Shabbat Day, March 8. In understandingthe timing, it is important to remember that no meetings were held and no organizationalsteps were undertaken to create YIOC until after January 22, when I departed from my prior post. Similarly, much of the past month has been devoted to parsing together, one byone, the names and contact information – and finally our first e-mail distribution lists – aswe have awaited being contacted by individuals like you, interested in being part of YoungIsrael of Orange County.If you are asking the question “What can I do to help Young Israel of Orange County” getstarted, here are some real areas:1. If you know anyone whom you believe would like to participate in YIOC, please ask that person to e-mail me atravfischer@sbcglobal.net. Ideally, that person would includein his or her e-mail his/her: (i) e-mail address; (ii) home address; (iii) cell phone number;and (iv) home phone number. In addition, (s)he ideally would include the same contactinformation for a spouse or significant other (e.g., fiancé, fiancée, etc.). The only way Ican establish a forward-looking relationship with individuals and their families is by myfirst receiving that contact information from them on their initiative.2. If you would like to be part of any of the following committees/ work groups, please e-mail me to let me know, and I will advise the Steering Committee:a. Shul Set-Up Committee (to help set up each week during our early phase) b. The Kiddush Committee (food preparation; clean-up)c. The Sisterhood: “Young Israel Women”d. Telephone Committee (to help make phone calls)e. Any other role you would like to play – just name it, and let’s see whether wecan make it happen3. We will need financial assistance in various areas. If you are willing to help usfinancially, please let me know.3
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