Dear Friends,

As we are about to celebrate the 27th birthday of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue at 56 King George Street in Jerusalem, I take this opportunity to express the deep gratitude which we all feel to those visionaries whose dedication and perseverance turned the dream into reality. Hundreds of thousands of people have since enjoyed our tefilot, studied Torah, attended our lectures, toured our Synagogue and celebrated significant events in their lives in our building. We express our thanks to our Klei Kodesh (Clergy), Professional staff, Officers, Board and Council Members, Committee Members, Major Donors, Founder Members and Supporting Members who, on a daily basis, assist in the realization of our mission.  We look forward to continuing, in good health and much success, to serve Hashem and help Am Yisrael in that endeavor.

This Shabbat, Parashat Ekev, is dedicated in memory of the late Henry Moskowitz, z"l, whose many contributions to the State of Israel and particularly to the city of Jerusalem are golden pages in the history of Israel. Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and guest Chazzan Yitzhak Meir Helfgot will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir and the Yuval Choir  conducted by Elli Jaffe and Dr. Mordechai Sobol. The dvar Torah will be given by Rabbi Zalman Druck on Friday evening and by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau on Shabbat morning.  I again remind you that we are beginning Mincha this Friday evening at 6:55 PM and Birchot Hashachar on Shabbat morning at 7:40 AM.  Once the Synagogue is filled we will not be able to allow others to enter the building.  We apologize, in advance, for any inconvenience that may be thereby caused.  I again ask that, if at all possible, you bring your own Siddur and Chumash with you.

As I have written in these newsletters previously, we receive no funding from the government and rely totally on income from events and on contributions from those who recognize the significance of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  We ask those of you who have enjoyed our services and other programs to help us by, at a minimum, becoming Supporting Members.  The form for Supporting Membership is located on our Website. We thank those of you who have already responded by sending in the form and the payment.

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 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), 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), Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog) 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.

We are delighted to welcome our Chattan Bar Mitzvah A.J. Gazin, his parents Gennady and Rose Gazin and their other guests who have come from Kiev to celebrate this simcha.  May the Chattan Bar Mitzvah continue to be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

We look forward to greeting you in our Synagogue.  Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

            UPCOMING EVENTS

August 14-15  Shabbat Parashat Re'eh and Shabbat Mevorchim:  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:10 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Raymond Goldstein.  Chattan: Eric Wolheim

August 21-22: Shabbat Parashat Shoftim: Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:05 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Eden Fisher  Shabbat Sheva Brachot: Eric and Tehilla Wolheim.