Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

Once again, Ambassador Yehuda Avner received a standing ovation from a most appreciative audience following his presentation at our closing Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture this past Saturday evening.  His passionate and insightful description of the background behind some of the major decisions made by Prime Ministers under whom he served and his vivid portrayal of some of the significant moments since the recreation of the State of Israel, kept the close to 1500 people in the audience spellbound.  The event also featured the launching of his book "The Prime Ministers - An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership". If you missed the program, you will be able to hear excerpts of Ambassador Avner's presentation on "Walter's World" at:  www.israelnationalradio.com  

Ambassador Avner's lecture was a magnificent conclusion to a very successful 5770 series.  We thank all of those who joined us for these programs and those organizations in cooperation with which The Jerusalem Great Synagogue sponsors these programs:   The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI), The Orthodox Union-Israel (OU), Nefesh B'Nefesh, American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC), Young Israel of Rehavia (Hanassi), Yeshurun Central Synagogue, International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region (IYIM), Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and the Rabbinical Council of America-Israel. Our 5771 Series will, b'ezrat Hashem, begin on Motzaei Shabbat Parashat Breishit - Saturday evening, October 2, 2010.

Our monthly Lone Soldiers Program took place this past Friday evening with 160 young men and women serving in the IDF as our guests for the Friday evening service and for a sumptuous Leil Shabbat Dinner catered by Marvad Hakesamim, which followed. Yasher Kochachem to Chairman Ted Berman, MC Rabbi Paul Freedman and to Ari Abramowitz and Ezra Amichai who both delivered divrei Torah. The attendees also gave sustained applause followed by song to our congregant Ray Walker who attended the Dinner and who will be celebrating her 91st birthday this Friday.  While not serving in the IDF, she made aliyah some 5 years ago without any family. We wish her many more years of good health and happiness.

Our next Lone Soldiers Program will take place on Friday evening, April 16th (the Shabbat after Shabbat Mevorchim). These Dinners are sponsored by our Synagogue and The Leo V. Berger Fund – Harvey Schwartz, President and Sigmund Kassap, Vice President, our Benefactors. We thank our partners in these Shabbat programs: The Center for Lone Soldiers, Nefesh b'Nefesh, the Yeshurun Central Synagogue and The American Jewish War Veterans Post 180- Jerusalem. We also thank those who support these efforts by their donations, helping to show our appreciation to these young men and women who have become Olim and volunteered to serve in the IDF.  Our cost per soldier is $30.  We welcome your contributions to assist us in covering the expenses for this very special project. If you are a Lone Soldier and would like to attend the next Dinner, please contact Daniel Charter at the Center for Lone Soldiers at 054-206-3321.

This is the final reminder for you to enjoy a Program of Chazzanut and Yiddish song at the new offices of AACI, 37 Pierre Koenig Street (4th Floor) in the Talpiot section of Jerusalem this Wednesday evening (March 17th) at 7:30 PM.  The program will feature Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and Maestro Elli Jaffe.  Admission is free. The event is in conjunction with the opening of AACI's new Dr. Max and Gianna Glassman Family Center.

In order to assist our congregants in the sale of Chametz, Rabbi Finkelstein will be available in our office to serve as your agent in this process, until Sunday, March 28 at 1 PM. according to the following schedule: Sundays-Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM and  Fridays from 9 to 10:30 AM.

Before you discard your Chometz canned foods, dry goods (pasta, baking items, etc), please note that the Crossroads Center in Jerusalem needs them.  The Center is the sole intervention program offering assistance and services to at-risk Anglo teens in Jerusalem. The Center especially requests snacks which can be given to these teens during afternoon and evening "clubhouse" activities.  The food drop off point thru Thursday, March 25th, is at the offices of the International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region in Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George Street.  The Center thanks you for your chessed.

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and the Yeshurun Central Synagogue are jointly sponsoring a Shabbat Hagadol Drasha in English to be given by Rabbi Ari Berman (former Senior Rabbi of The Jewish Center in New York) on Shabbat morning, March 26th at 11 AM in Yeshurun (44 King George Street).  Rabbi Berman's topic is "Jews Without Borders or Behind Barricades?  Pesach Reflections on Contemporary Orthodoxy and the Challenges That Lie Ahead."  Our service will be concluded that morning by 10:40 AM to allow our congregants to attend the Drasha.  
 
Each year, through the generosity of one of our Officers, a Seder is conducted on Pesach evening (Monday, March 29) in our Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam for any Jewish man, woman or child who would like to participate.  There is no charge, the meal is Mehadrin (no kitniyot) and the Haggadah is read in its entirety. Please come to our office during office hours (Sunday-Thursday 9AM to 1 PM) and get an admission ticket which you must bring that evening.  We suggest you make your reservations while space still permits.        

One of the most exciting events at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue each year is our Yom Haatzmaut Dinner. This year's Dinner, following our special service for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, will take place on Monday evening, April 19.  The cost is 175NIS per person. Music will be provided by Israel Parnas and his fellow musicians. Our special guests are 40 Soldiers in the IDF's Nativ Program. We will begin to accept reservations on Monday, April 21st.  As there are a limited number of places we suggest that you don't wait until the last moment to make your reservations.   

This week, at a ceremony in Paris, a ceremony will take place at which the Chief Rabbi of the Paris Consistoire Alain Abraham Goldman will bestow upon Lieutenant Colonel (H) of the French Air Force, Raoul-Sam Lokiec the neck-tie of Commander in the National Merite Order.  We congratulate Mr Lokiec on receiving this coveted honor.  Raoul-Sam Lokiec and his wife Denise are Founder Members and congregants of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.

With deep sadness we advise you of the passing of Mrs. Erna Esther Hoenlein z"l, mother of Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice President of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and Board Member of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue. Shiva will be observed at her home 1614 Griffith Street, Northeast Philadelphia until Sunday morning, March 21st.  May the Hoenlein family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and experience no further sorrow for many more years.

We continue to pray for the good health and immediate release of Gilad ben Aviva Schalit and the other members of the IDF still in captivity.  Please add prayers for refua sheleima for those who were injured in terrorist attacks and in the War in Gaza and for 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),  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, Gitel Rivka bat Chaya Risa and Chaya Aviva Sarah bat Adel Nechama (Alexandra Morgan Talbot). May they all be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery and enjoy good health for many more years.

At the invitation of Maestro Elli Jaffe and our Board, guest Choir Zimrat Yah conducted by Uri Aharon (who will also be the baal keriah) will accompany Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler this Friday evening (5:35 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Vayikra (7:55 AM). If you are in our area, you are cordially invited to join us.  

Shabbat shalom

Asher Schapiro

                  UPCOMING EVENTS

March 19-20   Shabbat Parashat Vayikra.  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday Evening (5:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by the Guest Choir Zimrat Yah conducted by Uri Aharon.

March 27    Shabbat Hagadol Drasha in English by Rabbi Ari Berman in the Yeshurun Central Synagogue (44 King George Street). Topic: " Jews Without Borders or Behind Barricades?  Pesach Reflections on Contemporary Orthodoxy and the Challenges That Lie Ahead."   Sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and the Yeshurun Central Synagogue.

March 29  Leil Pesach Seder in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam.  Advance reservations required. There is no admission charge.  For further information, please contact Rabbi Finkelstein in our office.

April 19  Monday Evening  Special service for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut with Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Gala Yom Haatzmaut Dinner follows.