Newsletter

As I look back on 2024 at Migwan, I see enormous accomplishments and growths. There were so many highlights, one being the 20th anniversary of Migwan and the jubilee celebration weekend in August, which drew a large crowd including official representatives from Bern and from Basel-Stadt, members of other Jewish communities around Switzerland and Germany, Migwan members and guests.

We elected a new rabbi, Avigail Ben Dor Nir, and we said our farewell and thanks to Rabbi Akiva Weingarten, who led our congregation for the past 6 years. Our community grew to include new members, our giyur students successfully completed their classes, and we introduced a group for Hebrew speaking children. We celebrated Tu B’shvat, Pesach, the High Holidays, our first children’s shabbat and had a Zoom lighting of the first Hanukkah candle. There were various cultural events, including a tour of the Paul Sacher Stiftung, Israeli Dancing workshop, Jewish history in Basel, book readings, to name a few. I am overwhelmed just listing a few of the many accomplishments we experienced during 2024!

I am also very proud of the growing rate of subscription to our newsletters, and the positive feedback I have received from our readers.

I wish all of you a wonderful 2025, and wish you continued happy reading!

Judy Caliano
Editor-in-Chief, judy@migwan.ch