Dear Friends, Although I wrote in last week’s newsletter about the overflow attendance in our Synagogue on Shabbat Parashat Ekev, I add these few lines because of some false assertions made on a few websites and in some newspaper articles. The only reason that we closed the main entrance doors at a point during both the Friday evening and Shabbat morning services was that our Synagogue could no longer safely accommodate additional people. When the men’s section was completely filled (including standing-room), we continued to admit women because there were still available places in the women’s section. It is not true that we discriminated against only those people from a particular segment of the population. We are proud of the way our Officers, security personnel, ushers and the vast majority of those in attendance conducted themselves. We recognize that there were people who walked great distances only to discover that they could not enter our building. We regret that we weren’t able to admit all who wished to attend the Shabbat service. However, when faced with an attendance greater than what the Synagogue can accommodate, our first responsibility is to insure the safety of those who are already in our building. .We will continue to invite everyone who wishes to join with us to enter our services and other events as long as space permits. Our office is open each morning on Sundays thru Thursdays from 10 AM to 12:15 PM for you to reserve your places for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The services are very inspiring and the prices are very reasonable (700 NIS for a couple; 400 NIS for a single – and a 10% discount for Supporting Members. There is also a special discount for students and active IDF members.). Please don't wait until the last minute to reserve your places and then be sorry that you can only get a place in the last row, if at all. Yisrael Margaliot and Rabbi Finkelstein will be happy to assist you in making seat reservations. If you are out of the country or cannot come to the office during those hours, you may e-mail us at jgs@zahav.net.il or call us during office hours at 02-623-0628 ext 5. Mazal Tov to congregants and friends Neville and Pessy Krausz on the birth of their great-granddaughter and to the parents Avishai and Shulamith Krausz of Petach Tikva. 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 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), 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. Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (7:05 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Shoftim (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. We are delighted to welcome our chattan Bar Mitzvah Eden Fisher, his parents and their guests. May Eden continue to be a source of much nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael. Last Shabbat we celebrated the aufruf of our Choir Member Arik Wolheim. This Shabbat we are delighted to welcome the newly married couple Arik and Tehilla Wolheim in celebration of their Shabbat Sheva Brachot. May they share a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne’eman b’Yisrael. Shabbat shalom. Asher Schapiro UPCOMING EVENTS August 28-29 Shabbat - Parashat Kee Taytzay - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (6:55 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. Bar Mitzvah: Jonathan Lefkovits September 12 – Motzei Shabbat – 10:30 PM – The first Selichot. Rav Zalman Druck will deliver the Dvar Torah. Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. .