Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor gave us much food for thought in his analysis of past and present difficulties which Israel has and is facing.  While some of our neighbors have improved their relationship with us and recognize that we are here to stay, the Iranian push towards having nuclear weapons capability, the growth of terrorism throughout the world, the collapse of some countries' economies and the increase of religious extremism could have a significant impact on the current world order.  We thank columnist Greer Faye Cashman for her report this past Sunday in The Jerusalem Post on Mr. Meridor's talk and, with permission, are reprinting her article at the end of this week's newsletter.

Our concluding Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture program for this year will take place on Saturday evening, March 13th, at 8:30 PM.  Our Council Member and dear friend Ambassador Yehuda Avner will speak on "Israel's Prime Ministers Past and Present."  We are delighted that Ambassador Avner's newest book will have a pre-publication printing ready for this evening. Signed copies of "The Prime Ministers – An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership" published by Toby Press (a division of Koren Publishers) will be available for 100 NIS (instead of the regular 129 NIS price) at the lecture.  You may pre-order your copy by calling the Koren office at (02) 633-0517, by e-mailing them at ayelet@korenpub.com or by faxing them at 02-633-0534.

At last week's Leil Shabbat Dinner for Lone Soldiers, we discovered that several of these young men and women have no available place for a Purim Seudah (Monday March 1).  An announcement was made last Motzaei Shabbat and I repeat it here: If you are in Jerusalem for Purim and would be willing to invite some of the Lone Soldiers to your seudah, please contact Rabbi Finkelstein at 052-389-5190 or by e-mail to jgs@zahav.net.il  This is another wonderful opportunity to show these young people that what they are doing is so much appreciated by us.

As I noted last week, on May 2 and 3, Jerusalem families who are in financial need will be registering with us to receive assistance for Pesach.  We ask for your help in this endeavor as we can only distribute what we receive through the generosity of our friends.  Contributions should be sent to The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, POB 7924, Jerusalem 91078.  At the bottom of the check, please note that it is for the Maot Chittim Fund.  If you wish to give a United States Tax Deductible contribution (for $100 or more) you may write the check to "The American Friends of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue" and send it to the above address.

Last week, I asked that you reserve two upcoming special Shabbatot at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  I'm sorry to advise you that the Lewandowski Shabbat, which was scheduled for Shabbat March 5-6, is being postponed until later in the year.  We will keep you informed as to the date.

Mazal Tov to the Chairman of our Welcoming Committee and Board Member Dr. Sheldon Abramson on his election to the position of Commander of the Jewish War Veterans Post 180 – Jerusalem. We wish him the very best in his new position. Post 180 is one of the supporting groups of our Lone Soldiers Program. (You will not have to salute Dr. Abramson when he greets you in our Synagogue.)
 
Mazal Tov to our congregants Andy and Kitra Altschuler on the birth of their b'chor and to our congregants - Kitra's parents Rabbi and Mrs. Kenneth (Chaim) Cohen, her sisters Yael and Sarit and Zev Rapp and her brother Shimmy Cohen.  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 Moshe and Nechama Zecharia on the birth of their b'chor.  Mazal Tov to our congregants, Moshe's grandparents Shabbtai and Margalit Zecharia. 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 the Druck Family on the passing of Rabbi Mordechai Druck z"l, the brother of the late Rav Zalman Druck z"l.  HaRav Mordechai delivered a shiur for many years at the Kotel prior to the minyan at sunrise and gave shiurim in Zichron Moshe and in other areas of Jerusalem. He was a respected talmid chacham and a very modest person. May the Druck family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and experience no further sorrow for many years to come.

We continue to pray for the good health and immediate release of Gilad ben Aviva Schalit and the other members of the IDF still in captivity.  Please add prayers for refua sheleima for those who were injured in terrorist attacks and in the War in Gaza and for 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),  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, Gitel Rivka bat Chaya Risa and Chaya Aviva Sarah bat Adel Nechama (Alexandra Morgan Talbot). May they all be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery and enjoy good health for many more years.

If you haven't as yet become our Supporting Members, please fill out the form on our website  www.jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com or you may call Rabbi Finkelstein at 052-389-5190 for further information.
www.jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com
Guest Chazzan Moshe Solomon will officiate this Friday evening (5:15 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Terumah (7:55 AM). If you are in our area, I hope you will join us.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                               
                    UPCOMING EVENTS

February 25 – Thursday Taanit Esther – Fast begins 4:41 AM. Shacharit (7:50 AM) and Mincha (1:00 PM) in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam Fast ends at 5:56 PM

February 26-27 – Shabbat Parashat Tetzaveh – Parashat Zachor – Guest Chazzan Avraham Kirschenbaum will officiate on Friday evening (5:20 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM).

February 28-March 1 – Sunday and Monday – Shushan Purim.  Sunday evening Maariv and Megilla Reading at 6:00 PM. Monday morning Shacharit and Megilla Reading at 8:00 AM  in the Main Synagogue.

March 5-6 – Shabbat Parashat Ki Tissa –  Shabbat Parashat Parah – Guest Chazzan will officiate on Friday evening (5:25 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  

March 12-13 – Shabbat Parashat Vayakhayl-Pekudei – Shabbat Parashat HaChodesh – Shabbat Mevorchim – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (5:20 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe

March 12 – Leil Shabbat Lone Soldiers Dinner

March 13 – 8:30 PM - Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program –   Speaker: Ambassador Yehuda Avner  Topic: "Israel's Prime Ministers – Past and Present"

March 19-20 – Shabbat Parashat Vayikra – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (5:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by guest Zimrat Yah Choir conducted by Uri Aharon
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Jerusalem Post Sunday, February 14
Meridor: Arab states are improving ties
By GREER FAY CASHMAN

An increasing number of Arab countries are improving their relations with Israel, even though not necessarily on a formal basis, Minister for Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor told a large audience at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue on Saturday night. That does not mean that they accept Israel’s legitimacy, he explained, “but they realized that Israel is here to stay and will not be wiped off the map.” He did not name the Arab countries to which he was referring. Other countries in the region have not changed their ideas about the endgame, only about the way they want to reach it, he warned, citing nuclear weapons and terrorism.

Although terrorism has been with us throughout history he said, in an era of technology and globalization, more power has been given to individuals. In the past, war was nation against nation, but today, terrorist leaders such as Osama bin Laden create unprecedented damage. “It is a new paradigm of war,” said Meridor.

There is a return of religion into politics all over the world, especially the Muslim world, and this is very dangerous said Meridor, “because God never compromises. God is truth and anything done in the name of God is considered to be His will.” As far as the threat from Iran is concerned, Meridor cautioned against Israel putting itself center stage. “The problem is much broader and deeper and threatens the world as we know it."

The situation today is a test of leadership between America and Iran, said Meridor, who was confident, notwithstanding contentions by Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that America is an empire of the past,  that the United States could get itself back to what it was.  The result of this test of leadership he said, will have a significant impact on all other conflicts. Even though he was optimistic that the US would come out ahead of Iran, Meridor asked his audience to think of how Hamas and Hizbullah would act if they thought that they were on the winning side with Iran.