Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

"One Year Running the World's Most Complex City." This Saturday evening at 8:00 PM, we will have the pleasure of hearing Jerusalem's Mayor, the Hon. Nir Barkat in conversation with David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post. They will discuss some of the critical issues facing Jerusalem in the coming months and years.  We will have the opportunity to better understand the vision that Mayor Barkat has for our City and how we can help him achieve his goals so that Jerusalem will be, not only the most complex, but also the most appealing and magnificent city in the world. Admission is free.  There will be a large screen set up in the Entrance Hall of our building so that as the Friedler Hall is filled to capacity, others will be able to both see and hear the program. The entire community is invited to be with us for this very special evening. The 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.  

The next Lone Soldiers Leil Shabbat Dinner sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue will take place on Friday evening, December 11th (the first night of Chanukah).  Our thanks to The Jaffe Family, who are the Patrons of this month's Dinner. These programs are sponsored 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.

Dr. Sheldon Abramson, our Board Member and Chairman of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue's Welcoming Committee, will receive the Community Service Award at the upcoming Dinner of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, on Wednesday, December 30th at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  If you would like to make a reservation or place a greeting in the Commemorative Journal, please contact Daniel Meyer at mush@youngisraelrabbis.org.il or Susan Taragin at either 02-625-4983 or susan@youngisraelrabbis.org.il

Mazal Tov to Dr. Sheldon and Connie Abramson on the birth of their great-granddaughter and to the parents Chanan and Frumi Chasidim.  May the newborn go to Torah, chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to her parents and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to our Council Member and Founder Members Harvey and Sarah Schwartz on the birth and brit of their grandson, Yechiel Yehuda Ledereich and to the parents Dovid and Dana Ledereich.  May Yechiel Yehuda go to Torah, chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to the Chairman of our Emergency Response Committee and congregants Raphi and Darlene Jospe on the birth of their granddaughter and to the parents, Kobi and Tamar Eshel.  May the newborn go to Torah, chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to her parents and to all Am Yisrael.

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Vayaytzay (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  We are delighted to welcome our Chattan Bar Mitzvah Andrew Fischmann, his parents George and Susan Fischmann from Encino, California and their guests who have come for this special occasion. We appreciate that the Fischmann Family decided to celebrate this Simcha in Israel and at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue. May Andrew continue to be a source of ever-present nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.  

If you are in our area, we look forward to you joining us for Shabbat and for the Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture at 8:00 PM this Saturday evening.  Shabbat Shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                                                                UPCOMING EVENTS

December 4- 5  Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach – Guest Chazzan Moshe Solomon will officiate on Friday evening (4:25 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM)

December 11-12 – Parashat Vayayshev - First Shabbat Chanukah -  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (Lighting of the Chanukah Menora 4:20 PM; Mincha: 4:25 PM) and on Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Shabbat sheva brachot: Ronen and Sigal Ricanati.

December 18-19 – Parashat Miketz – 8th Day Chanukah - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (Lighting of the Chanukah Menora 4:20 PM; Mincha: 4:24 PM) and on Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. The Shabbat is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Stephen M. Stowe, ז"ל, of New York.

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 - Speaker: Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, the Hon. Dan Meridor.

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