Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

On our "Support Us" Page, you will find a letter from our President Dr. Felix Glaubach and me inviting you to show your continued support and connection with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue by becoming Supporting Members for an annual contribution of 500 NIS or $180. Although we receive no government assistance, we do not ask for any fees for our inspiring services, tours, lectures, shiurim and other special events throughout the year – with the exception of the High Holidays. Even then, the contribution we request is a nominal 700 NIS total for two seats. We make no public appeals throughout the year and ask you for assistance only for the Maot Chittim Campaign, the proceeds of which assist families in need. We now turn to you with the hope that you will help us serve the Jewish community in the unique way we do, preserving the heritage of our past to foster an even more glorious future. Please return the form attached to that letter together with the annual Supporting Member dues. You will receive a beautiful certificate from us acknowledging your partnership with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue. If you join us for the High Holidays, your supporting Membership entitles you to a 10% reduction for up to two seats for Rosh Hashana and/or Yom Kippur.

Writing about the Yamim Noraim, may I once again remind our Dedicated-Seat holders that, if you have not already let us know that you will be with us this year, please do so at your earliest convenience so that your seats can be reserved for you. You may reply to this e-mail or send us a note to: jgs@zahav.co.il. We hope you will be able to join us.

Did you read our invitation in these newsletters for men in our neighborhood with good singing voices, who sight-read music, to apply to join our Choir? Do you have those qualifications but failed until now to respond to that invitation? There is still time. Contact our Choir Director Elli Jaffe at ellijaffe@gmail.com for further information or to set up an interview appointment.

We extend our gratitude to our substitute baalei keriah Dovid Birenboim and Rabbi Binyaim Wolff who so magnificently substituted for our permanent Torah reader, Nachum Agassi, who celebrated a number of family simachot. Mr. Agassi will, b'ezrat Hashem, rejoin us this Shabbat.

Mazal Tov to our Choir Member and congregants Zeev Natan and Giselle Jaffe on the birth of their daughter. Mazal tov also to their families. May the newborn go to Torah, chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

We extend our best wishes for much success to our Choir member and guest Chazzan Netanel Baram, his wife Carmit and daughter Roni as he assumes his new position at the prestigious Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, California. We hope that they have a smooth transition and that the Barams will do much to strengthen Jewish life in California and ultimately bring all of their congregants to Israel.

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 bas 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), Chaim Eliezer ben Chaya (Chaim Eliezer 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), Yehudah Leib ben Tziporah Rachel (Yehudah Rosenblatt), Miriam Rivkah bat Adina Leah (Miriam Strasberg), Bracha bat Penina Rivka Yoela (Beth Joshuah), Yissachar Dov ben Peshe (Bud Silver) and Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog). 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 (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning, Parashat Balak (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. If you are in our area, we hope you will join us.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 10-11 Shabbat Parashat Pinchas – The Shabbat is dedicated to the memory of the late Chazzan Tuvia Winkler, z"l, in the presence of his daughters and sons-in-law, Janine and Peter Lowy and our Founder Members and Major Donors Charmaine and Stanley Roth. 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.

July 21 Tuesday - Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av – Mincha and Tefilat Yom Kippur Katan with guest Chazzan Dov Heller 1:15 PM in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam.

August 7-8 Shabbat Parashat Ekev – Anniversary Shabbat of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue. Special program to be announced.