LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Dear Friends,

Over 1200 people joined us for the opening program in the 5770 Motzaei Shabbat Mevorchim Social Evening and Lecture series this past Motzaei Shabbat.  Our speaker, Caroline Glick, methodically analyzed the Obama Administration's domestic and foreign policy decisions to date, emphasizing how they relate to Israel and to other allies of the United States throughout the world.  She emphasized the importance that Israel must place on forging other alliances and relying less on the United States in the future. There was a very spirited question and answer session following her formal presentation.  We were delighted to welcome our Chief Chazzan, Chaim Adler, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, the Chancellor of Yeshiva University and Caroline Glick's parents and her baby son (who made no noise during his mom's talk).  We are grateful to the organizations that are cooperating with us in sponsoring this series: 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.  

As I noted last week, our next program in this series will take place at 8:00 PM on Saturday evening November 28th rather than on Motzaei Shabbat Mevorchim.  It will feature a dialogue between the Hon. Nir Barkat, the Mayor of Jerusalem and David Horovitz, the Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post. This will be a very special program and one which will be of interest to all of us.  There will be a large screen set up on the entrance floor of our building so that as the Friedler Hall is filled to capacity, others will be able to both see and hear the program.  If you would like to suggest issues of a general nature that you might like to be taken up during the discussion, please e-mail them to us. Our e-mail address is: jgs@zahav.net.il 

On the Friday evening of Shabbat Parashat Chayay Sarah, under the Chairmanship of our Council Member Tobias Berman, we and the Yeshurun Central Synagogue are hosting, in our catering hall, a Shabbat Dinner for lone soldiers who are based in the Jerusalem area.  Organizing this program together with the Center for Lone Soldiers and Nefesh B'Nefesh, we feel that this is one small way of saying "thank you" to young men and women who are serving our country and whose families live abroad.  We are grateful to our President and his wife, Dr. Felix and Dr. Miriam Glaubach, who have underwritten the costs for the first Dinner.  This will be the first in a series of such Shabbat Dinners that we will host for lone soldiers throughout the year.  If you would like to assist us in this endeavor, please e-mail us at jgs@zahav.net.il  for further information. If you are a lone soldier and would like to participate, please contact Ellie Solimani of Nefesh B'Nefesh (ellie@nbn.org.il) or Daniel Charter of the Center for Lone Soldiers at 054-206-3321.   

We are honored to welcome George and Barbara Hanus of Skokie, Illinois who have become our newest "Sponsors."  George and Barbara are renowned philanthropists and have done heroic work to further Yeshiva and Day School education in the United States and beyond.  We are proud that they are partnering with us and wish them a long and happy relationship with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  May they and their family be blessed with continued good health, happiness and success ad mea v'esrim shana.     

Is it too early to begin preparations for next Rosh Hashana?  We thank our Major Dedicator, Mrs. Fran Laufer, for her generous donation of 100 Artscroll Rosh Hashana Machzorim for use beginning with Rosh Hashana 5771.  This is a much needed resource for our congregants from abroad and we thank Mrs. Laufer for her thoughtfulness.

Speaking of the Yamim Noraim: We are looking for a Hebrew only, large Nusach Ashkenaz Machzor for the Chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  We know that such exists but no store or publishing company in Israel that we have contacted seems to have one or knows where we could secure one.  If you can help us, please e-mail Rabbi Finkelstein at jgs@zahav.net.il with the relevant information.

Mazal Tov to the Chairman of our Emergency Response Committee and our congregants, Dr. Raphi and Darlene Jospe on the birth of their grandson and to the parents Calanitte and Hillel Millman.  May the newborn go to brit, Torah, chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to our congregants Mr. and Mrs. Zvi Chaimovitz on the birth and naming of their granddaughter Roni and to the parents Ron and Leah Schwed.  May Roni 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.

Mazal Tov to our Supporting Members Rabbi Aharon and Libby Ziegler on the celebration of their granddaughter Shira Chava, of Elazar, becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Mazal Tov to the parents, David and Judy Ziegler.  May Shira Chava continue to be a source of constant nachat to her family and to all Am Yisrael.  We also congratulate the Zieglers on the birth of their great-grandson and to the new parents, their grandchildren Chavie and Yehuda Drillick. May the newborn go to brit, Torah, chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

Condolences to our Supporting Member and congregant Rachell Kresch, wife of our Council Member Simon Kresch, on the passing of her father Moshe Dovid David.  Burial was in Jerusalem on Tuesday, October 20th.  The family will be observing shiva in Flatbush at 1173 East 21st Street.  The telephone number is 718-258-9152.  May the family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and experience no further sorrow for many more years.    

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), 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,  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 (4:50 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  We are delighted to welcome our Chattan Bar Mitzvah, Mir Uriel Hausmann of Be'er Sheva, his parents and other family members who will join us for this Simcha.  This is the second Bar Mitzvah that the Hausmanns are celebrating at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and we are delighted that they are making this a family tradition.  May Mir continue to be a source of constant nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

If you are in our area, we look forward to seeing you at our services on Shabbat.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                UPCOMING EVENTS

October 30-31  Shabbat Parashat Lech L'cha – Guest Chazzan Moshe Goldberg will officiate on Friday evening (4:40 PM) and on Shabbat morning (7:55 AM).

November 6-7  Shabbat Parashat Vayayra -  Guest Choir conducted by Binyamin Glickman will officiate on Friday evening (4:35 PM).  On Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate accompanied by the Choir conducted by Binyamin Glickman.     

November 13-14  Shabbat Parashat Chayay Sarah and Shabbat Mevorchim – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (4:30 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.

November 13 – Erev Shabbat evening – The first of a series of Shabbat Dinners for lone soldiers stationed in the Jerusalem area.   

November 14 – 8:00 PM – RESCHEDULED to November 28 – SEE BELOW  Motzaei Shabbat Mevorchim Social Evening and Lecture Program.  

November 28 – 8:00 PM – Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program – Dialogue between Jerusalem Mayor, the Hon. Nir Barkat and David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post.