Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue does many constructive deeds for the Jewish community both local and international.  However, the endeavor we began this past Friday evening and which will continue monthly is, I believe, one of the most heartwarming of them all.  The Jerusalem Great Synagogue is sponsoring monthly Shabbat Dinners for Lone Soldiers.  140 young men and women, who made Aliyah without their families and chose to join the IDF, were our guests at this first, sumptuous Shabbat Dinner. There were people from every continent (except Antarctica) who came together in our Friedler Banquet Hall and enjoyed delicious food, the spirit of Shabbat and the opportunity to meet other Lone Soldiers. Long after Birchat Hamazon ended, many of these young people remained to speak to one another and establish new friendships. Our thanks to Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, Committee Chairman Tobias Berman, Dinner Chairman Rabbi Paul Freedman and Binyamin Munk and his sons who led the singing of Zemirot.  Special thanks to our President Dr. Felix and Dr. Miriam Glaubach who were the Patrons of this unforgettable evening.  It is difficult in words to adequately convey the spirit that prevailed and the gratitude to us expressed by these young men and women for this opportunity. We, on the other hand, owe them much gratitude for volunteering to serve our People and our Land. This is but one small way that we can express our appreciation. The next Shabbat Dinner for Lone Soldiers will take place on Friday evening, December 11, (the first night of Chanukah) following Shabbat evening services.  These programs are in cooperation with the Yeshurun Central Synagogue, The Center for Lone Soldiers and Nefesh b'Nefesh.  If you would like to contribute towards the costs of future such events, please note that the cost of the Dinner is $20 per person.  You may mail your contributions to: The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, POB 7924, Jerusalem 91078, Israel. Please note on the bottom of the check that it is for the "Lone Soldiers Program." (For U.S. tax deductible contributions, you may make checks payable to The American Friends of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and mail them to the above address.) If you are a lone soldier and would like to participate in the upcoming Shabbat Dinner, please contact Ellie Solimani of Nefesh B'Nefesh by e-mail (ellie@nbn.org.il) or Daniel Charter of the Center for Lone Soldiers at 054-206-3321.

"One Year Running the World's Most Complex City". We will have the opportunity to hear Jerusalem's Mayor, the Hon. Nir Barkat, in conversation with David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post at our next Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture on Saturday evening, November 28, at 8:00 PM.  If you have topics of a general nature that you would like to be discussed, please send us an e-mail to: jgs@zahav.net.il. This program is sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue in cooperation with The Jerusalem Post, 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.  

Mazal Tov to our Supporting Members Rabbi Aharon and Libby Ziegler on the birth of their great granddaughter, born to their grandchildren Yonatan and Atara Ziegler.  May the newborn go to Torah, chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of pride to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

Condolences to our congregant Robert Hirsch on the passing of his sister Marlyse Hirsch in France.  Shiva was concluded this week.  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 Reuven Shmuel ben Reitza (Raoul-Sam Lokiec), (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.

Guest Chazzan Itzchak Toysig will officiate this Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Toledot (7:55 AM).  If you are in our area, we hope you will join us. Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                UPCOMING EVENTS

November 27-28 – Shabbat Parashat Vayaytzay – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Andrew Fischmann.

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. "One Year Running the World's Most Complex City."

December 11 – Following Leil Shabbat services – Shabbat Dinner for Lone Soldiers Patrons: The Jaffe Family

January 9 – 8:00 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –  Speaker: Dr. Daniel Gordis.  

February 13 - 8:15 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –Speaker: Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy The Hon. Dan Meridor.  

March 13 – 8:30 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –   Speaker: Ambassador Yehuda Avner