Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

On Thursday evening, June 17th at 8:00 PM, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue in partnership with The B'nai Brith World Center – Jerusalem will present the Jerusalem Address 2010 to be given by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth. The lecture is titled "Torah V'Chochma: Judaism in the World."  His address will explore the dichotomy between Torah and secular knowledge and the need for both in a Jew's intellectual being in the contemporary world. The program will take place in the Friedler Banquet Hall of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  Admission is free and the community is invited.  This program is in cooperation with 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.
 
This Friday evening, June 4th, we again welcome Lone Soldiers to our service and to the Leil Shabbat Dinner which follows.  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 Michael Levin 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.  We welcome your contributions to assist us in covering the expenses for this very special project. If you are a Lone Soldier and want to attend this Shabbat's Dinner, please register by this Thursday, June 3rd   by clicking on the appropriate box at the website  www.lonesoldiercenter.com  or by contacting Daniel Charter via e-mail at: daniel@lonesoldiercenter.com

A pilot program, sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, Yeshfe (Israel's national Hebrew-speaking Religious Dating Network) and Shalshelet is being organized for a group of Hebrew speaking Singles with similar academic and religious backgrounds under the guidance of shadchanim and other professionals trained by Shalshelet to facilitate the development of meaningful relationships leading to marriage.  Together with the Council of Young Israel Synagogues in Israel, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and Shalshelet are creating a similar program for English speaking Singles.  We are making an urgent request for English speaking interested men and women with a background in the helping professions (e.g. Rabbis, social workers, psychologists) to enhance their skills and volunteer to train as interpersonal mentors for these events.  For further information or to volunteer, you may contact iska@zahav.net.il or call Lea at 02-566-1840.

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue will be hosting a Hebrew Language course on Monday and Wednesday mornings from June 14-August 19 from 10 AM – 12 Noon.  The course is geared to beginners as well as those who would like to sharpen their Hebrew reading and understanding skills.  The aim is to allow the participant to feel more comfortable when using the Siddur and Chumash.  The course is especially geared to the French speaking community.  The cost for this entire program is 400 NIS and will be given if there is a sufficient amount of interest.  If you would like further details or wish to register, please call Rabbi Finkelstein during office hours or at 052-389-5190.    

Mazal Tov to the Chairman of our Welcoming Committee and Board Member Dr. Sheldon and Connie Abramson on the engagement of their grandson Avi Mazo, son of Chaim and Nechama Mazo to Ortal Itzchakov.  May the young couple go to the chupah b'shaa tova u'mutzlachat and enjoy a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to our congregants and friends Shlomo and Karen Goldhour on the forthcoming marriage of their daughter Meirav to Dotan Shvorin.  May the young couple go to the chupah b'shaa tova u'mutzlachat and enjoy a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

It is a pleasure to wish multiple times Mazal Tov to Founder Members and friends Pinchos and Helen Hoffman on several recent simachot in their family:  The birth and naming of their great-granddaughter Leah born to Shia and Hadassah Kalish; the marriage of their granddaughter Yocheved, daughter of Zalman and Raize Guttman to Yaakov Rosengarten; the Bar Mitzvah of grandson Avrohom Alter Hoffman, son of Alexander and Yael Hoffman and the Bar Mitzvah of grandsons Avrohom Yosef Alter and Aryeh Zev, sons of Zalman and Raize Guttman.  May the Hoffmans be blessed with many many more simachot and enjoy ever-present nachat from their entire family, in good health, ad mea v'esrim shana.

The hakamat matzeiva for our late Supporting Member and congregant Irwin (Bob) Rabinowitz will take place this Thursday, June 3rd, at 6 PM at the Eretz Hachayim Cemetery outside Beit Shemesh.  The grave is in Gush 6 chelka 18.  May Shirley and their entire family 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 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), 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.

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (7:30 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Sh'lach and Shabbat Mevorchim (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  If you are in our area, we look forward to your joining us.  Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro


UPCOMING EVENTS
 
June 4-5 – Shabbat Parashat Sh'lach and Shabbat Mevorchim – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:30 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.
 
June 4 – Lone Soldiers Dinner following Leil Shabbat services.  Advance registration required. (Lone soldiers may register via the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center website  www.lonesoldiercenter.com )
 
June 10 – Thursday 1:00 PM – Tefillot Mincha and Yom Kippur Katan – Beit Hamidrash Be'er Miriam
 
June 11-12 – Shabbat Parashat Korach and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh -  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:30 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.
Kiddush following Shabbat morning services.
 
June 17 – Thursday Evening 8:00 PM – The Jerusalem Great Synagogue in partnership with The B'nai Brith World Center – Jerusalem present the Jerusalem Address 2010 to be given by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth. The lecture is titled "Torah V'Chochma: Judaism in the World."  

June 18-19 – Shabbat Parashat Chukat – Guest Chazzan Chaim Dovid Bersson will officiate on Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.