a)
SHIR HADASH is an independent congregation of Jews who, having accepted
the founding principles of Progressive Judaism, with which they share
history, culture and practices, create a synagogue with the
aim to assure, in addition to institutional rabbinic services (milah,
bar/bat mitzvah, confirmation or ben/bat torah, qiddushin, qevurah),
regular religious services for shabbat and the holidays that punctuate
the Hebrew calendar.
b)
SHIR HADASH attributes the same rights and responsibilities to men and
women; it considers to be Jewish children of Jewish fathers as well as
children of Jewish mothers; it encourages and embraces non-Jewish
spouses who wish to give a Jewish identity to the family that they are
building with their Jewish spouse, and welcomes into the congregation
“mixed” couples who wish to remain so, along with their children; it
esteems and sustains the request for conversion by those who intend to
join the Jewish people and, having become Jews by choice, accept the
Covenant of Abraham. c)
SHIR HADASH intends to actively cooperate with other Italian
congregations which encourage progressive Judaism (Reform, Liberal, or
Reconstructionist) and it is ready to contribute to create a situation
which, while respecting the autonomy of each component, they have a
unified representation within international progressive Judaism. d)
SHIR HADASH offers to secular Jews the possibility to participate in
the life of the congregation as individuals or as a havurah, respecting
their non-religious outlook, and with the goal of enriching and
promoting the various forms of Jewish culture, proposes its
collaboration with any individual or group that identifies itself with
Jewish secularism or humanism. e) SHIR HADASH welcomes as
affiliates havurot which form in the area, assuring them the freedom to
choose the organizational structures and objectives which they hold to
be consonant with the reasons (religious, cultural or social) for which
they formed. f) SHIR HADASH, having recourse to the
presumptions of the law, intends to avail itself of every international
agreement (including the Italo-American one of 1948) which allows and
encourages reciprocal recognition between congregations which operate
in different nations.
2)
The organs of SHIR HADASH are the general assembly, the council and the
board of auditors. 3) The general assembly
a)
It is convened once a year by the council, with a specific Meeting
Agenda. It can also be convened in extraordinary session at any time by
a request of at least a third of the membership or a majority of the
council. It is presided over by a moderator assisted by a secretary to
take the minutes, and is considered valid when at least one half plus
one of the currently paid membership is present. b) It elects
the members of the council and the board of auditors; outlines the
program of annual activities, including the estimated budget; decides
the dues structure; and discusses and approves the report of the
financial balance. Friends of the congregation are invited to attend;
they may participate in the discussion but cannot vote. Voting is done
by a raising of hands or, when requested by at least three of those
present, by secret ballot. Proxies are not permitted.
4)
The Council
a)
It is composed of five to nine members of the congregation, it remains
in office for two years and its components may be re-elected. It
chooses the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and ritual
chairman and allocates other responsibilities to its components based
on needs that arise, and may also delegate responsibilities to members
of the general assembly. It meets at least three times a year as well
as any time two councilors request it. Meetings are considered valid if
a majority of the councilors participate. It may invite to its meeting
anyone deemed be useful to its ends. The council follows the program
outlined by the general assembly; drafts a preliminary budget; prepares
an organizational and financial balance sheet; deliberates the
admission of new members and friends; takes any necessary disciplinary
actions; stipulates acts and contracts inherent to [the congregation’s]
activities; and maintains the properties and assets of the congregation. b)
The president is the legal representative of the congregation and is
responsible for all of its activities; after consulting with the
council, s/he convenes and presides over the council meetings insuring
a rigorously democratic functioning; s/he is assisted by a vice who, in
case of absence or impediment, assumes the offices and responsibilities. c)
The secretary prepares the minutes of council meetings (which remain
available to any who wish to consult them) and signs them along with
the president. d)
The treasurer keeps the financial books and formulates the annual
balance and the budget, for which s/he is responsible, together with
the president. e) The ritual chairman assists the rabbi in
organizing religious services for the congregation.
5)
The board of auditors
Elected
by the general assembly, it remains in office for two years just as the
council. Its task is to control the administrative and financial
management of the congregation, preparing an annual report on the final
statements presented by the council. It is composed of three (3)
members.
6)
All those who wish to become members of SHIR HADASH must apply to the
Council, which deliberates their admission.
7)
Those who wish to participate in the congregation and support its
activity may ask to be admitted as “friends”.
8)
This statute can be modified by the general assembly, by a majority of
two-thirds of the participants.
For anything not expressly provided for by the statute,
refer to the law and regulations in force. 9) The legal site
of SHIR HADASH is Florence, Via Dante Alighieri no. 6.
Signed: Sarah
Heilig Rubenstein Ivan Gottlieb Sandro Ventura Susanna
Ruth Myers Sharon Rebecca Strauss Rebekah Liza Serin dott
Alessandra Salimbeni notary (seal) 3
Febbraio 2003
