Congregation Tikkun v’Or (Ithaca Reform Temple) is a vibrant congregation that strives for a warm personal bond among its members, quality education for the children, and a dynamic program for adults.
Shabbat Services are held Friday evenings and some Saturday mornings at our synagogue, 2550 N. Triphammer Rd, Lansing. Please check our calendar or call the office (607) 256-1471 for updated event listings.
Rabbi Brian Waltserves as Tikkun v'Or's rabbi, leading services and classes on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and monthly throughout the year. Rabbi Walt was born in Cape Town and grew up in a traditional Jewish family and community in South Africa. He is profoundly connected to the prophetic tradition and ethical core of Judaism. Rabbi Walt was ordained as a rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He was the founding Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights - North America. Read more.
Cantor Abbe Lyonsprovides leadership for our b'nai mitzvah program and many holidays. She graduated from the Davennen Leadership Training Institute and completed an internship as a hospital chaplain. Chazzan Lyons received ordination as a Cantor from the ALEPH Cantorial Program in January 2010. Read more.
On Sunday, April 15, Cantor Abbe Lyons led a meaningful Yom HaShoah commemoration, with bnai mitzvah students participating in the Remember Us Project. Photos available HERE
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Weekend - January 14-16, 2012
Congregation Tikkun v'Or embraces the prophetic tradition embodied by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. This year, Rabbi Brian Walt led a Shabbat service on January 13, with a focus on Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel & Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Cantor Abbe Lyons led the invocation for the Annual GIAC Breakfast at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. Religious School students sang "Ufros Aleinu / Canopy of Peace" at the breakfast. Several TVO members sang in the VOICES Winter Concert on Saturday evening.
Rabbi Walt was the featured guest speaker at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Celebration Luncheon on January 16. Read his speech HERE.
You can also listen to the speech here:
Adult Education
CLASS IS NOW FULL!
UNDERSTANDING BOTH SIDES OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT Class with Rabbi Brian Walt on Sundays at 3:00 -5:00 PM: April 22, May 27, June 24, August 12
So often the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is only seen from one side, the Israeli or the Palestinian. In his historical novel, The Lemon Tree, Sandy Tolan presents both sides of this conflict through the griping personal story of one Palestinian and one Israeli family. We will read and discuss this book together including the extensive footnotes with several articles and primary historical sources.
Please plan to purchase a copy of the Lemon Tree through Buffalo Books. Information about this will be sent to registrants.
This class will be limited to the first 25 people, with priority given to Tikkun v'Or members. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions. $40 TVO members / $75 non-members
Rabbi Brian Walt will be with Congregation Tikkun V'Or on the following upcoming weekends:
April 20 - 22, 2012
May 25 - 27, 2012 Shavuot
June 22 - 24, 2012
August 3-5, 2012
Tikkun v'Or Religious School
Hebrew Practice forms are HERE. Students should practice Hebrew reading for at least 15 minutes, twice each week during our school breaks. Practice Hebrew and earn cool prizes for your efforts!
The 2012-2013 registration form is available here.
Tuition assistance for Religious School is available here thanks to a grant from the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community (IAUJC).
Students in the Religious School "Jewish Art" chug (elective) made Jewish Artistic Trading Cards -- mini-masterpieces of art with a Jewish theme, to be shared, traded, and displayed. Here they are: TVO Artistic Trading Cards
Renting Congregation Tikkun v'Or
Have you seen our beautiful views of the lake, gorgeous open sanctuary, and efficient space? Are you interested in renting Tikkun v'Or for a business workshop or training, small family gathering, wedding, or other life cycle event? We'd love to talk with you and find our ways we can be available for your group. Contact 607-256-1471 or info@tikkunvor.org
Feeding the Hungry in Our Community
Congregation Tikkun v'Or supports hunger relief efforts in Ithaca and Tompkins County. Join us each monthly in making lunches for the Red Cross Friendship Center http://www.tompkins-redcross.org/homeless_frndship.html, or bring cans or boxes of non-perishable food anytime you come to the synagogue. Donations are brought to the Area Congregations Together Kitchen Cupboard http://www.firstpresithaca.org/ikc.htm
Celebrating Our First Fruits: On Friday night we will have a joyous dish-to-pass Shabbat meal and service for people of all ages, with music led by our band and followed by dancing. In honor of Shavuot, please bring your first harvest to our Temple -- flowers, green veggies, and new plants. If you don’t have anything in your garden to harvest yet, reflect on what you have been blessed with in your life. What blessings have you harvested over the past year? We will read the Ten Commandments and sing Shavuot songs and songs about the Torah. You are also invited to bring blintzes or any milk or cheese dishes. Cheese/high cholesterol food is traditionally eaten on Shavuot.
8:30- 9:30 p.m. “Sinai: Then and Now” Torah Text Study with Rabbi Brian
A study session on Exodus Chapter 19 and the Rabbinic legends and interpretation of the revelation at Sinai. What happened at Sinai?
9 AM Torah Yoga
9:30 Meditation with Rabbi Walt
10 Shabbat morning service and Torah reading
11:20 Torah Discussion
Bill Passmore, Marne O’Shae and Alicia Hirschorn will be called for an aliya to the Torah in honor of their conversion to Judaism. They will also share reflections on their journey to conversion during our Torah discussion. We will read the Ten Commandments from the Torah and a selection from the Book of Ruth. We will also hear from Fidela Sindehebura.
12:15 Kiddush and Shabbat dish-to-pass lunch
So often the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is only seen from one side, the Israeli or the Palestinian. In his historical novel, The Lemon Tree, Sandy Tolan presents both sides of this conflict through the griping personal story of one Palestinian and one Israeli family. We will read and discuss this book together including the extensive footnotes with several articles and primary historical sources.
Cost: $40 for temple members, $75 for non-members, priority given to temple members
Registration required
Congregation Tikkun v’Or (Ithaca Reform Temple) is a vibrant congregation that strives for a warm personal bond among its members, quality education for the children, and a dynamic program for adults. 
a. He is profoundly connected to the prophetic tradition and ethical core of Judaism. Rabbi Walt was ordained as a rabbi by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He was the founding Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights - North America. 
Cantor Abbe Lyons 
