Congregation Or Atid
Is teaming up with

The Central Virginia Foodbank
to gather that staple of summer foods:
Peanut Butter

Bring a container with you each time you visit
Congregation Or Atid


Collection bins can be found in both our Sterling Sanctuary and Parham Pavilion Foyers!

Even More News at www.oratid.org

Or Atid's homepage, with a great deal more information is now readily available at www.oratid.org. Visit our Or Atid homepage anytime and leave your comments!

Or Atid Host Feb. 6th Breakfast on Henrico Bond Referendum 2005

Congregation Or Atid
Invites you to join us for a
Sunday Connection Breakfast
Sunday, February 6th
11:00 a.m. until 12 Noon
to discuss with county officials
Henrico County’s
March 8th
Bond Referendum 2005
To Fund Schools, Recreation and Parks, Libraries, Roads, Fire Stations,
and to add a Meals Tax

All are welcome!
No advance reservations are necessary!
There is no charge.
A light breakfast will be served!

For further information call 740-4747 or check out www.oratid.blogspot.com

The Bond Referendum
Henrico County's Bond Referendum 2005 proposes $220 million for schools, $18.5 million for fire stations, $56.4 million for libraries, $22.4 million for recreation and parks and $32 million for one road project. The proposed projects total $349.3 million spanning a six year period.
The bond proposals described here are important to you and your community. Your vote will decide the issue. Should you need further information to make your decision on any of these topics, call 501-4257 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or fax us any time at 501-5500.

General Obligation Bonds
Debt service on General Obligation Bonds is an expense which comes ahead of all others. Bond issues are like 20-year mortgages except that the interest rates are lower. A bond issue is the most practical and cost effective means of raising funds needed for capital projects of a long term, useful "life." General Obligation Bonds are issued on the full faith and credit of the County. Henrico County enjoys the highest bond rating given by all three bond rating agencies: AAA. This has served the County well when bonds were issued by reducing the debt service cost of the bonds.

Questions on the March 8th ballot:
School Projects
Question: Shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized to contract a debt, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $220,000,000 pursuant to the Public Finance Act of 1991, to finance capital school improvement purposes, acquisition of future school sites, and such other school construction and improvements as may be required by the actual educational needs in Henrico County?

Recreation and Parks Projects
Question: Shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized to contract a debt, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $22,400,000 pursuant to the Public Finance Act of 1991, to finance the construction, renovation, remodeling, furnishing, and equipping of recreation and parks facilities, and the acquisition of one or more future park sites?

Library Projects
Question: Shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized to contract a debt, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $56,400,000 pursuant to the Public Finance Act of 1991, to finance the construction, furnishing, and equipping of library facilities including the acquisition of land necessary for such facilities?

Road Projects
Question: Shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized to contract a debt, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $32,000,000 pursuant to the Public Finance Act of 1991, to finance various road projects including the acquisition of land necessary for such projects?

Fire Station and Facilities Projects
Question: Shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized to contract a debt, and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $18,500,000 pursuant to the Public Finance Act of 1991, to finance the construction, renovation, remodeling, furnishing, and equipping of fire stations and facilities including the acquisition of land necessary for such fire stations and facilities?

Meals Tax
Question: For the purpose of reducing dependence on the real estate tax, shall Henrico County, Virginia, be authorized, pursuant to Section 58.1-3833 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, to levy a tax on prepared food and beverages, otherwise known as a meals tax, in Henrico County equal to four percent (4%) of the amount charged for the prepared food and beverages?

Voter Registration
Voter registration is open through February 23, 2005 and closes at 4:30 p.m. that day. For more information, call the Registrar's Office at 501-4347.

Or Atid Joins Richmond Ensemble Theater, February 12th

Congregation Or Atid
Joins
The Richmond Ensemble Theatre
For a Production of
Underneath The Lintel
An Off-Broadway Production
(and a study in Anti-Semitism)
Saturday evening, February 12th
7:30 p.m.
Pine Camp Theatre
4901 Old Brook Road (near Chamberlayne and Azalea)
Followed by a Discussion Led by
Rabbi Merrill Shapiro
Tickets -- $10-benefits Young Judaea
Call 278-8749 to reserve
your tickets now!

UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL
Glen Berger

“…one of a handful of great plays written in the last five years…it's an astonishingly beautiful piece of writing…”Steve Wiecking, Seattle Weekly
“On an inauspicious morning at a Dutch library, a librarian makes an unexpected find in the overnight return box. ...a much mistreated Baedeker's guidebook 123 years overdue. Even without compound interest, this tardiness merits a tidy fine, and in UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, playwright Glen Berger's latest, our librarian hero determines to track down the miscreant. Berger's monologue, subtitled The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers, hardly slacks. Mailing a fine to the long-lived scofflaw in question proves difficult, as the borrower listed his name only as `A’. In an effort to run him to earth, the librarian, who has never left his native town of Hoofddorp, zips to China, Australia, Germany, and America. He eats sweets, greases palms, sees Les Miserables in three languages, and fritters away all his accumulated vacation days. He has the time of his life, or perhaps for the first time actually has a life.”Alexis Soloski, The Village Voice
“Berger has shown a penchant for men obsessively investigating truths that blind them to more ordinary pursuits of happiness. This one-man show is no exception. It's a satisfying mix of intelligent writing and quirky humor in a package that isn't neatly wrapped up with pat answers.”Jana J Monji, Los Angeles Times
“Glen Berger's work feels like what an entire generation of playwrights have been struggling to write.”Bret Fetzer, The Stranger (Seattle)

Project Maccabee: Candles for Campers

Project Maccabee: Candles for Campers

"Creating Happy Hasmoneans in Central Virginia"

The Social Action and Justice Committee at Or Atid and The Young Judea youth group are raising money to send 2 needy children to camp this summer. Camp is a holiday gift that will last a lifetime for a child.

An $18 Hanukah gift will add a candle to our Menorah display at Or Atid as a symbol of your donation. In return for your generosity, we would like you to have a special box of Hanukah candles celebrating our freedom and the freedom of our children.

Look for the Project Maccabee volunteers at Or Atid to arrange for your gift for these children. Please make your check to:

Congregation Or Atid
Memo: SAJC-Camp Fund

You may instead mail your check to:

Ellen Norris
237 Ross Rd.
Richmond, Virginia 23229

Any questions:
Pat Padgett- 739-3364
Ellen Norris -288-7666
Edee Levenson-422-2224

Thank you for considering this important gift.

Temple of Judah Church Hosts Or Atid, November 21st

Congregation Or Atid is working to bridge the gap between two very different Central Virginia communities. Situated in the midst of the relatively affluent West End, Or Atid is but a short distance from a very different inner-city community of which West Enders often know very little.
On Sunday, November 21st at 11:00 a.m., Or Atid members and their guests will gather in the synagogue's parking lot to carpool to the Temple of Judah, 2120 Venable Street, Richmond, VA 23223 for Pastor Bishop Melvin Williams, Jr.'s 11:30 a.m. service. This "get acquainted" visit will be followed by a visit by church members to a service at Or Atid at a soon to be determined date.
All are welcome to join in at this service and accompany Or Atid members to the church service. Rabbi Merrill Shapiro can supply details through the synagogue office.

Biggest Ever Or Atid Blood Drive, Sunday, Nov. 21st

Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and the War in Iraq have all taken their toll on blood supplies in Central Virginia. When the call went out from Central Virginia Blood Services to Or Atid, our Social Action and Justice Committee rose to answer: We'll set a record for donations on Sunday, November 21st.
The Bloodmobile will be in Or Atid's parking lot ready for first donations at 9:00 a.m. and will stay through 1 p.m. or beyond, if necessary. Donors are welcome to come at any time or may make a set appointment by calling Blood Drive Coordinator Ellen Norris at 288-7666.
The commandment to Jews is clear. Pikuach Nefesh, the saving of a life, is paramount. The Talmud asks the question "Why does God say to Cain,'The bloodS (plural) of your brother cry out to me from the ground'?" The answer is found in the Tractate Sanhedrin,"When Cain killed Abel, he also killed all of Abel's children, grandchildren and so on until the end of days." The text continues, "Thus, one who takes a life, it is as if an entire world is destroyed. And one who saves a life, it is as if they saved an entire world."
Save the world on November 21st. Plan to donate blood at Or Atid!

Henrico Superintendent Morton at Or Atid, October 10th

You’re invited to join us for a Congregation Or Atid
Yad B’Yad Breakfast
on Sunday, October 10th at 9:30 a.m.
to meet, greet and hear from
The New Superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools Fred Morton
Formerly Supt. Montgomery Co. Schools and currently a program associate for the Institute for Development of Educational Activities
Breakfast in the Parham Pavilion
of Congregation Or Atid
501 North Parham Road
(Between the Willey Bridge and Paterson Ave.) Richmond, Virginia 23229
Cost at the door: $5 for Yad B’Yad Member
$8 for non-Members
$18 individual/$36 family memberships available at the door.RSVP by October 5th & Info at 740-4747
www.oratid.blogspot.com
All are welcome! Bring a friend!

Fredrick S. "Fred" Morton became Henrico County's Superintendant of Schools on September 1st. He is leaving his post as suprintendent of Montgomery County Schools in Christiansburg, VA where he has served as superintendent for seven years. Mr. Morton began his teaching career in Albemarle County, VA and served as principal both at Covington High School and at Western Albemarle High School. He was also a program associate for the Institute for Development of Educational Activities and served as assistant superintendent for curriculum development in New York.

Mr. Morton receive his bachelor of science in education and his masters in educational leadership from the University of Virginia. he will complete his PhD. requirements at Virginia Tech.

"Anything I've got to say I'll say in front of anybody!" says Morton, a 57 year-old sixth degree black belt in karate who is known for his candor. One of five children he spent his childhood in Charlottesville. His father taught at the University of Virginia's graduate business school and helped integrate local public schools in the 1960s.

Morton has made more than 300 trips underwater as a scuba diver. He loves science fiction novels, Robert Ludlum and weighty tomes on education and leadership. He loves japanese samurai films especially those of Akira Kurosawa.

His car radio preset buttons are zeroed in on classic rock stations--he grooves to Fleetwood Mac; Santana; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and is big on the blues. Morton is the grandson of a Georgia car salesman whom he credits with teaching him the value of diversity. He spent his youth bagging groceries, stocking shelves in a bookstore, delivering flowers and working in a hospital lab before heading to college, then enlisting in the Army at theheight of the Vietnam War. He volunteered for service in Vietnam, returned after his tour and began to lobby congress to either "fight the war right or get out!"

The Or Atid Yad B'Yad program is open to the public with advance reservations. All are welcome to attend.