USCJ-GLR
SHABBATON
“Jews, Tattoos, and Other Interesting Issues
in Contemporary Conservative Halacha”
June 20-22, 2008
The
Great Lakes & Rivers Region held a Regional Shabbaton
at Northern
Hills Synagogue in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 20-22, featuring
Scholar-in Residence, Rabbi Paul Drazen, Chief Program
Development Officer for USCJ. Rabbi Michael Ungar of Tifereth
Israel and Rabbi Gershom Barnard of Northern Hills Synagogue
also led discussion groups. Participants came from Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, Columbus and Cincinnati.
The
Shabbaton began on Friday with Mincha at 5:45 p.m., followed
by dinner and Rabbi Drazen's opening talk, "I don't drive
the speed limit either." On Saturday, there was a Talmud
Study Group at 8:45 a.m. and Shabbat Services began at
9:30 a.m.
After
Kiddush Lunch, Rabbi Ungar led a discussion on "Tattooing and Body Piercing" while Rabbi Barnard discussed
"What to do with Papers with God's Name on Them." After
a short break, Rabbi Ungar's group discussed "Something's
Fishy", primarily about whether swordfish was
kosher, and Rabbi Drazen discussed "Saying Hazak for the
Trienniel Reading".
After
Mincha and Seudah Shlisheet, Rabbi Drazen and Rabbi Barnard
led discussions on "Noteworthy",
the halachic use of musical instruments in worship.
Following Havdalah, the entire group went on an outing
to world-famous (and Kosher!) Graeter's
Ice Cream Shop, a few blocks away.
Sunday morning, after Shaharit, the group enjoyed breakfast
and an optional bike tour of the area. A good time
was had by all!
Some of the attendees in front of Northern
Hills Synagogue-Congregation B'nai Avraham.
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