Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

This is the final reminder for The Jerusalem Address 2010 in our Friedler Hall this Thursday evening at 8:00 PM.  Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, will speak on "Torah V'Chochma: Judaism in the World. This program is presented by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue in partnership with B'nai Brith World Center-Jerusalem.  There will also be seating with an audio connection in the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Entrance Hall of our building to accommodate those who may not be able to be seated in the Friedler Hall.  This special event marks the publication of the second volume of Rabbi Sacks' acclaimed series on the weekly Torah portion "Covenant and Conversation" published by Maggid Books, a division of Koren Publishers.  This and other volumes authored by Rabbi Sacks will be available with special discounted prices before and following the Lecture.  Admission is free and the entire community is invited to attend.

We are delighted that throughout the year many young men and women who come to Israel for a year of study in Yeshivot, Seminaries, Universities and other special programs frequent our Synagogue on Shabbat and during the week.  As many of these programs are completing their year and the participants are returning to their countries of origin, we take this opportunity to thank them for joining with us.  We wish them the very best in all of their endeavors and hope that they will retain a connection with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  We also look forward to their return visits and to them ultimately coming home (with their families) to live in Israel.

Mazal Tov to my wife Lenore Schapiro on the birth of our great-granddaughter and to the parents Craig and Aviva Berry.  Mazal tov to the grandparents, Stu and Shelley Schapiro and Dr. Richard and Beverly Berry and to the other greatgrandparents Selma Berry, Ann Kipust and Ray Kipust.  May the newborn go to Torah, Chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and may she be a constant source of nachat to the family and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal tov  to our Founder Members Jonathan and Lynette Tulkoff on the forthcoming celebration in New York, of their daughter Olivia becoming a Bat Mitzvah.  May Olivia continue to be a constant source of nachat to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to our congregants and friends Hanania and Naomi Avisar of the marriage this week of their grandson Netanel Laufer to Debbie Knoll.  Mazal Tov as well to the aunts and uncles, our congregants Moishi and Liat Luftig, Daniel and Shira Avisar and Esti Avisar.  May the young couple enjoy a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

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.

Guest Chazzan Chaim Dovid Berson will officiate this Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  We take this opportunity to wish Chazzan Berson the very best as he will soon take up his new position as Chazzan of The Jewish Center in Manhattan.  If you are in our area this Shabbat, we hope you will join us.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                                                UPCOMING EVENTS

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."  . The 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), Amit Women, Emunah Women, Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and Rabbinical Council of America-Israel.

June 18-19 – Shabbat Parashat Chukat – Guest Chazzan Chaim Dovid Berson 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.

June 29 – Tuesday – Fast of the 17th of Tammuz.  Shacharit in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam at 7:50 PM.  Mincha at 1:15 PM.  Fast ends at 8:12 PM

July 2-3 – Shabbat Parashat Pinchas – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler 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.  Bar Mitzvah: Jeremy Tsigutkin.

July 9 10 – Shabbat Parshiot Matot-Massay - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler 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.  Bar Mitzvah: Tzvi Bessler.  Kiddush follows Shabbat morning service.

July 9 – Lone Soldiers Leil Shabbat Dinner. Advance reservations are required.  Lone Soldiers may register by  clicking on the appropriate box at the website  www.lonesoldiercenter.com  or by contacting Daniel Charter via e-mail at: daniel@lonesoldiercenter.com


Dates of the 5771 (2010-2011) Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Series: October 2, 2010; November 6, 2010; January 1, 2011; January 29, 2011; March 5, 2011.