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בית הכנסת הגדול בירושלים

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue

 

Schedule for Rosh Hashana - Asseret Y'mei Teshuva

 

Friday September 18

Selichot (Rnanim Synagogue)                                                 5:20 AM

Shacharit (Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam)                                    8:00 AM 

Candle Lighting                                                                       6:05 PM

Mincha                                                                                    6:30 PM

Maariv – Shabbat Rosh Hashana                                           7:10 PM

 

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on both nights and both days of Rosh Hashana.  On the first night and both days, he will be accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Ba'al Shacharit on both days will be Professor Avraham Steinberg.

 

Shabbat –First Day Rosh Hashana - September 19

Shacharit                                                                                7:00 AM

Sermon: Rabbi Zalman Druck

Mincha                                                                                    6:15 PM

Maariv                                                                                     7:10 PM

Candle Lighting                                                                      After Maariv

 

Sunday – Second Day Rosh Hashana – September 20

Shacharit                                                                                 7:00 AM

Mincha and Tashlich                                                               6:05 PM

Rosh Hashana Concludes                                                       7:15 PM

 

Asseret Y'mei Teshuva - September 21-25

Monday (Tzom Gedalia) Selichot and Shacharit                     7:35 AM

Tues, Wed, Fri  Selichot and Shacharit                                  7:30 AM

Thursday  Selichot and Shacharit                                           7:25 AM

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

If you were in our totally filled Synagogue for the first Selichot this past Saturday night, I'm certain that you had a spiritually uplifting experience.  We extend our sincere thanks to HaRav Zalman Druck for his inspiring words, to Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, Maestro Elli Jaffe and the members of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir for their most beautiful and meaningful tefilot.  The Selichot service was professionally videotaped and when copies are available we will so advise you.  One of those attending recorded part of the service and placed it on an internet website.  If you would like to a bit of the flavor of Selichot at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, please go to: http://www.haredim.co.il/ViewArticle.aspx?catID=5&itmID=3024

 

Our office is open thru Thursday from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM and again on Thursday evening from 6:00-7:00 PM for those who wish to reserve seats for the Yamim Noraim. On Friday morning (erev Rosh Hashana), those who reserved their seats but must still collect their tickets may do so from 9:00 AM-12 Noon.  All uncollected tickets are then held by our Vice President, Zalli Jaffe, who sits in Section Hay-Row 1- seat1 in the Synagogue during services.   

 

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and The Yeshurun Central Synagogue are jointly sponsoring a Shabbat Shuva Drasha in English which will take place on Shabbat morning, September 26th, at 11:15 AM in the Yeshurun Central Synagogue, 44 King George Street.  The speaker is Rabbi Ari Berman and his topic is: "The Fragility of History and the Path to Redemption: Understanding the Message and Meaning of the Shofar."  The entire community is invited to participate.

 

We are beginning our Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Series on Motzaei Shabbat Breishit (October 17), with one of our most popular lecturers.  Please reserve the date.  Our good friend Caroline Glick, Deputy Managing Editor of The Jerusalem Post, will be our speaker.  Her topic will be announced shortly.  It will be an evening you won't want to miss. We thank all of the organizations that are cooperating with us in sponsoring this series. The complete list of co-sponsors will appear in next week's newsletter.

 

With the economic difficulties throughout the world, Israel hasn't escaped unscathed.  Because some firms here either downsized or closed, some of our congregants have suddenly found themselves unemployed.  We ask those who have need for employees who live in the Jerusalem area to please contact us. We will be happy to furnish serious requests with contact information and/or resumes of those from our community who are seeking employment.

 

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue's caterer will again this year build a sukkah in the Dr. Maurice Jaffe z"l Plaza.  They will be serving meals on the evenings and days of Yom Tov.  The cost per person per meal is $43 plus VAT.  For 10 or more people in a group, there will be a 10% discount.  For further information and reservations, please call the caterer's office at 02-623-1174 or 02-623-1175.

If you live outside of Jerusalem and want to spend Sukkot here, we are delighted to co-operate with Eddie's Travel who will be celebrating the days of Yom Tov at the nearby Dan Panorama Hotel and joining us for services and special programs.  For further information, please visit their website www.koshertravelers.com, call Shelley at Eddie's Travel (Israel +972 2 992 9801  in the US +646 240 4118 or e-mail them at info@eddiestravel.com.

We are delighted to have many groups both from Israel and abroad that tour The Jerusalem Great Synagogue or arrange to have special programs in our facility.  This week, we were proud to host over 1,000 members of the IDF, who participated in a special pre-Rosh Hashana program.  Speakers included Israel's Chief Rabbi, the Rishon LZion, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar; the Admor of Tolne, Rabbi Weinberger;  members of the Military and Military chaplaincy and our Director-General, Rabbi Finkelstein.  The following day, a group of young children from the school associated with the Assaf Harofe Medical Center toured our Synagogue.  Most of the children were confined to wheelchairs or used walkers.  They were filled with delight and enthusiasm during the hour they spent with us. The adults present noted how these children focus so much more of their attention on the blessings they have than on their physical disabilities.  It is a good lesson for all of us.

 

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), 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), Miriam Rivkah bat Adina Leah (Miriam Strasberg), Yissachar Dov ben Peshe (Bud Silver), Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog), Penina Rivka Yoela bat Mirel (Penny Bowman) 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.

 

The past year 5769 was a very challenging yet rewarding one for The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  When Chazzan Naftali Herstik became Chazzan Emeritus, we launched an intensive search to find the best possible person to be our Shaliach Tzibbur.  We were very fortunate in bringing world renowned Chazzan Chaim Adler to serve in that capacity.  He brings both a sense of dignity and warmth as he officiates and we wish him many years of leading us in prayer and inspiring us as we engage in that aspect of avodat Hashem.  The year was also a very challenging one for us financially.  With the world's economic downturn and the various financial scandals that hurt many philanthropists in the Jewish community, several of those who had pledged significant sums of money to assist us had to postpone their commitments until such time as they are able to recoup their losses.  We are indebted to several people who loaned or donated funds to help us through these difficult times. Their gifts enabled us to continue to serve the local and the world Jewish community through our services, lecture series and other special programs.  This year also saw some structural difficulties in our building.  Several months ago, marble slabs became dislodged from the wall near the Aron Kodesh and we built a wooden sukkah-like structure to prevent anyone from being hurt should other slabs fall from their place.  We experienced problems with our air-conditioning and heating systems and endured leaks from the roof area during the rainy season.  While not everything has yet been fully repaired, the marble in that area has been reinforced according to instructions from certified engineers and our Synagogue's air-conditioning system worked beautifully during the summer thanks in large measure to the work of our Engineer David Amichai.  We express our gratitude to all of those who daily work so hard on behalf of our Synagogue, to our Klei Kodesh, Officers, Board and Council Members and dedicated volunteers.  We thank our Donors, supporters and Friends, without whom we would not be able to fulfill our mission. We are grateful to all of our congregants and to those who participate in our various programs.  We look forward to the Year 5770 with hope and anticipation for our families, our Synagogue, the State of Israel, Jews worldwide and all of mankind.  May our prayers be heard, may we be inscribed in the Book of Life, Health and Happiness and may we witness the Peace for which we so earnestly pray.  L'shana tova tikatayvu v'taychataymu.

 

Asher Schapiro   

 




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