Dear Friends,

If you were inside The Jerusalem Great Synagogue this past Shabbat you were treated to an unforgettable spiritual experience.  With over 2,000 people in attendance, the participation on Friday evening of Rav Zalman Druck and on Shabbat morning of Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and guest Chazzan Yitzhak Meir Helfgot, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir and the Yuval Choir which were both conducted by Elli Jaffe and Dr. Mordechai Sobol and the Bar Mitzvah celebration of AJ Gazin from Kiev, this was a Shabbat experience to remember.  Participating with us were many distinguished Rabbanim, Chazzanim, government officials and Jewish communal leaders from throughout the world. We thank all those who made this Shabbat possible and especially the amazing group of young men and women ushers who assisted with such dedication. Thanks also to Dr. Sheldon Abramson, Dr. Raphi Jospe, Ze'ev Shapiro and Yehuda Sternthal. We are appreciative that our President, Dr. Felix Glaubach, came from the United States for two days in order to be with us for this memorable Shabbat. We are greatly indebted to our Vice President, Zalli Jaffe, who worked so tirelessly and contributed so much to insure the success of this anniversary Shabbat. May we together celebrate many more joyous milestones in the life of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue   

Our apologies to those who could not be accommodated in the Synagogue either on Friday evening or Shabbat morning.  People were already lined up an hour before the doors were opened. At a certain point, we had no choice but to close the doors in order to prevent a dangerous situation from developing.  If you were among those who could not come into the building, we are sorry but trust that you understand that we had to act responsibly to maintain a safe situation for everyone inside.

One of the first comments that could be heard when many people entered our Synagogue was: "The wood is no longer blocking our view.  The Chazzan and Choir are in their usual places."  Yes, after more than six months, the safety structure that had been built because of the fallen marble slabs near the Aron Kodesh , was taken down.  Following engineers' instructions, the marble in that area was reinforced, the Choir's platform was rebuilt and the beauty of our Synagogue has been restored to its glory. Special thanks to the Chairman of our House Committee Yehuda Sternthal and to our Engineer David Amichai, who together with his crew, worked so diligently to ready everything in time for this past Shabbat.

At the initiative of Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam will once again host Mincha and the special tefilot for erev Rosh Chodesh – Yom Kippur Katan this coming Wednesday afternoon, August 19 at 1:15 PM. in the Beit Hamidrash. Guest Chazzan Binyamin Munk will officiate, accompanied by his sons.  The entire community is invited to participate.

If you haven't as yet become a Supporting Member of our Synagogue, we hope you will send in the form and the contribution soon.  If you enjoy our services and other events, we ask that you participate in helping us maintain the Synagogue and its programs.  The Supporting Member form is found on our website.

Our office is open each morning from Sunday thru Thursday from 10 AM to 12:15 PM for you to reserve your places for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  The services are very inspiring and the prices are very reasonable (700 NIS for a couple; 400 NIS for a single – and a 10% discount for Supporting Members.  There is also a special discount for students and active IDF members.). Please don't wait until the last minute to reserve your places and then be sorry that you can only get a place in the last row, if at all.  Yisrael Margaliot and Rabbi Finkelstein will be happy to assist you in making seat reservations.  If you are out of the country or cannot come to the office during those hours, you may e-mail us at jgs@zahav.net.il or call us during office hours at 02-623-0628 ext 5.  

Mazal Tov to our Choir member Arik Wolheim on his forthcoming marriage to Tehilla Kaye.  Special Mazal Tov to the kallah's sister and brother-in-law, Devorah and Ze'ev Shapiro.  May the young couple share a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.  Arik will celebrate his aufruf with us this Shabbat and the couple will celebrate the Shabbat Sheva Brachot tefilla with us next Shabbat.

Mazal Tov to our congregant (whenever he is in Israel) Charles Lossos on his forthcoming marriage to Yemima Landau, daughter of our friends Lucien and Chani Landau.  Special Mazal Tov to the bride's uncle, our former Board Chairman Patrick Landau and to her paternal grandfather, Mr. Yehoshua Landau, in whose late wife's memory Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam is endowed by the Landau Family.  May the young couple share a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to our friends Charley and Shelly Levine on the engagement of their daughter Dori to Dr. Avi Schiowitz.  May the young couple go to the chupah bshaa tova u'mutzlachat and share a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

Condolences to our congregant Sam Herman on the passing of his father z"l.  Shiva is being observed in Europe.  May Sam and his family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and experience no further sorrow for many years to come.

We continue to pray for the good health and immediate release of Gilad ben Aviva Schalit.  Please add prayers for refua sheleima for those who were injured in terrorist attacks and in the War in Gaza and for Ratza bat Reesa (Roslyn Lowy), Aryeh ben Sarah Leah (Chazzan Aryeh Goldberg), Amiram ben Reina (Amiram Benshimol), Zahava bat Rachel (Zahava Meczes), Channa bat Chaya Devorah (Anna Schlesinger), Bracha Miriam bat Rachel (Miriam Sheinberg), Chaim Ariel ben Vera Devora (Ariel Sharon), Shoshana bat Miriam (Susan Shapiro), Chaya bat Chava (Chaya Herstik), Chaim Eliezer ben Chaya (Chaim Eliezer Herstik), Amit Yehuda ben Malka (Dr.Amit Schwartz), Shimon Elimelech ben Sima Rivka (Marc Weinberg), Avraham Yeshayahu ben Aviva (Avraham Yeshayahu Feiner),  Shai ben Rachel (Shai Peltz), Yehudah Leib ben Tziporah Rachel (Yehudah Rosenblatt), Miriam Rivkah bat Adina Leah (Miriam Strasberg), Bracha bat Penina Rivka Yoela (Beth Joshuah), Yissachar Dov ben Peshe (Bud Silver), Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog) and Gitel Rivka bat Chaya Risa. May they all be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery and enjoy good health for many more years.

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (7:10 PM) and Shabbat morning, Parashat Re'eh and Shabbat Mevorchim (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted this Shabbat by Raymond Goldstein.  We also, as noted above, will celebrate the aufruf of Arik Wolheim.  If you are in our area, I hope you will join us.

Shabbat shalom and Chodesh tov.

Asher Schapiro



                UPCOMING EVENTS

August 19 Wednesday- 1:15 PM. Mincha and tefilot of Yom Kippur Katan in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam   Guest Chazzan Binyamin Munk will officiate accompanied by his sons.

August 21-22 Shabbat –  Parashat Sho'ftim -Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:05 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Eden Fisher.  Shabbat Sheva Brachot of Arik and Tehilla Wolheim.

August 28-29 Shabbat -  Parashat Kee Taytzay - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (6:55 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Jonathan Lefkovits