Letter From The Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue was honored to host this Tuesday evening (November 10) an evening of study in memory of the late Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren z"l on the 15th anniversary of his passing.  Participating were Israel's Chief Rabbi-The Rishon L'Zion Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar; Rabbi Goren's brother-in-law Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, Haifa's Chief Rabbi; Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr Etzion; Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, Rosh Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav and Major General of the IDF Reserves Yaakov Amidror.  The major topic of the evening was a discussion of a famous article written by Rabbi Goren decades ago "Ransoming of Captives in Exchange for Freeing Terrorists."  The moderator of the evening was Rav Micha Halevy, Rosh Yeshivat Ateret Nechemia.  

I'm certain that, if you are in the Jerusalem area, you will want to participate in our next Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture on Saturday evening November 28th at 8:00 PM.  The program will feature a dialogue between Jerusalem's Mayor, the Hon. Nir Barkat and David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post.  They will be discussing items that are important to us and our City.  Admission is free.  We will have a screen set up in the Entrance Hall of our building so that as the Friedler Hall is filled to capacity, others will be able to both see and hear the program. The entire community is invited.        

 This Friday evening, as I have noted for the past several weeks, is the first in the series of Shabbat Dinners for lone soldiers following our Friday evening services.  I will report to you about the evening in next week's newsletter. We already have close to a hundred reservations. The response of people in the community and our friends from abroad to this project is also very heartwarming.  It is but one way that we can show our appreciation to these young men and women of the IDF who came to Israel without family and who are so meaningfully serving our people and our country.  We thank all of those who are assisting in this project and those who are contributing financially. Special thanks to our President, Dr. Felix and Dr. Miriam Glaubach who are sponsoring this first Shabbat Dinner. If you would like to contribute towards the costs of future such events, please e-mail us for further information at jgs@zahav.net.il  If you are a lone soldier and would like to attend, please contact Ellie Solimani of Nefesh B'Nefesh by e-mail (ellie@nbn.org.il) or Daniel Charter of the Center for Lone Soldiers at 054-206-3321.

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 Monday afternoon, November 16th at 1:00 PM. in our building's Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam. Guest Chazzan David Weinberg will officiate.  The entire community is invited to participate.

It is with great sorrow that we learned of the passing of a pillar of kindness and generosity, Mr. Ernest (Puncsi) Friedler.  Long associated with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, he and his family dedicated our Friedler Banquet Hall.  Our condolences to his family.  May they be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may Mr. Friedler's memory always bring blessing to them and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal tov to our congregants and Gabbai Arye and Ora Argaman on the birth of their grandson and to the parents, Nir and Ruth Argaman.  May the newborn go to brit, Torah, chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

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 Reuven Shmuel ben Reitza (Raoul-Sam Lokiec), (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), Avichai Avraham ben Sarah Miriam,  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 (4:30 PM) and Shabbat morning, Parashat Chayay Sarah and Shabbat Mevorchim (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. We thank David Silberman of our Choir Members, will be our guest Baal Keriah for this Shabbat. The congregation is invited to Kiddush following the Shabbat morning service.

Shabbat shalom and Chodesh tov.

Asher Schapiro

                UPCOMING EVENTS

November 13 – Erev Shabbat evening – The first of a series of Shabbat Dinners for lone soldiers stationed in the Jerusalem area.   

November 16 – Monday – 1:00 PM – In Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam.  Tefilat Mincha and Tifilot for Yom Kippur Katan.  Guest Chazzan David Weinberg will officiate.

November 20-21 – Shabbat Parashat Toledot- Guest Chazzan Itzchak Toysig will officiate on Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM).

November 27-28 – Shabbat Parashat Vayaytzay – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Andrew Fischmann.

November 28 – 8:00 PM – Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program – Dialogue between Jerusalem Mayor, the Hon. Nir Barkat and David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post. This event is sponsored with the cooperation of The Jerusalem Post, The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI); The Orthodox Union-Israel (0U); Nefesh B'Nefesh; Young Israel of Rehavia (Hanassi); Yeshurun Central Synagogue, American Israeli Action Coalition, (AIAC), Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and Rabbinical Council of America.-Israel.  

January 9 – 8:00 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –  Speaker: Dr. Daniel Gordis.  

February 13 - 8:15 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –Speaker: Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy The Hon. Dan Meridor.  

March 13 – 8:30 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –  Speaker: Ambassador Yehuda Avner