Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

I hope you enjoyed a healthy, happy and meaningful Pesach.  Our profound gratitude to Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, Maestro Elli Jaffe, Musical Arranger Raymond Goldstein, the members of The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir and our Gabbaim for the inspiring and spiritually uplifting services during Yom Tov and Shabbat Chol Hamoed.  Special thanks to one of our officers who generously covered all of the costs of our magnificent, free Communal Seder which was attended by 100 people.  Our appreciation to our Supporting Member Rabbi Ira Bader, who served as Gabbai at the Minyan for those from abroad who observed two days of Yom Tov.  May our prayers be answered and our hopes be realized.

Our annual Gala Yom Haatzmaut Dinner is taking place following the special tefillot for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, on Monday evening, April 19th. With the participation of Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, Israel Parnes and his musicians and special guests from the IDF, this year's Dinner will be a beautiful celebration.  The cost is 175 NIS per person.  Please come to our office (hours: Sunday-Thursday from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM) call Rabbi Finkelstein (052-389-5190) or reserve your places via e-mail either by replying to this newsletter or by writing to jgs@zahav.net.il.  If you are in Jerusalem that evening, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue is the place to be.

Our next Lone Soldiers Program will take place on Friday evening, April 16th (this time on the Shabbat after Shabbat Mevorchim). The Lone Soldiers are our guests for Tefillat Leil Shabbat followed by a sumptuous Shabbat Dinner. These Dinners are sponsored by our Synagogue and The Leo V. Berger Fund – Harvey Schwartz, President and Sigmund Kassap, Vice President, our Benefactors. We thank our partners in these Shabbat programs: The Center for Lone Soldiers, Nefesh b'Nefesh, the Yeshurun Central Synagogue and The American Jewish War Veterans Post 180- Jerusalem. We also thank those who support these efforts by their donations, helping to show our appreciation to these young men and women who have become Olim and volunteered to serve in the IDF.  Our cost per soldier is $30.  We welcome your contributions to assist us in covering the expenses for this very special project. If you are a Lone Soldier and would like to attend this month's Dinner, please contact Daniel Charter at the Center for Lone Soldiers by Wednesday, April 14, at 054-206-3321.

Please note two special Shabbatot at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue during this month.  On Shabbat Parshiot Tazria-Metzora (April 16-17), at the invitation of Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and our Board, Guest Chazzan Shimon Farkas, of Sydney Australia, will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Chazzan Farkas is no stranger to our Synagogue and officiated at this time last year as well.  He is being accompanied by a large delegation from Australia observing a very special series of events.  More details will be forthcoming in next week's newsletter. There will be a Kiddush that Shabbat, sponsored in part by Mr. and Mrs.Tzvi Chaimovits in memory of his parents, Moshe and Chana Chaimovits z"l.   

On Shabbat Parshiot Acharie-Kedoshim (April 23-24), Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning and, at the invitation of Maestro Elli Jaffe, he will be accompanied by the 50 plus voices of Guest "Cantors' Choir of Modiin, Netanya, Kfar Saba" conducted by Yankele Rottner.

Mazal Tov to our Major Donors and Founder Members Stanley and Charmaine Roth on the birth and brit of their grandson, Tobi (Tuvia Zvi) Eckowitz, born to their children Ilana and Ryan Eckowitz of Sydney, Australia.  May Tobi go to Torah, chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.     

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.

During the next several days, water coolers will be installed on the Main Floor of our building near the center staircases leading to the Main Synagogue and on the second floor near the main entrance to the Women's Section.  The water coolers have been adjusted by the Tzomet Institute for Shabbat use. Especially during the Summer months, this will give those who walk long distances to participate in our services the opportunity to quench their physical thirst prior to entering the Synagogue where their spiritual thirst will be attended to. 

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (6:50 PM) and Shabbat morning, Parashat Sh'mini and Shabbat Mevorchim (7:55 AM), accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  If you are in our area, I hope you will join us.  Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov.

Asher Schapiro

                                                  UPCOMING EVENTS

April 16-17  Shabbat Parshiot Tazria-Metzora  Guest Chazzan Shimon Farkas will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe

April 16  Friday Evening  Lone Soldiers Shabbat Dinner following Leil Shabbat services

April 19  Monday Evening Special service for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut with Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe in the presence of the Rishon L'Zion, Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar.  Gala Yom Haatzmaut Dinner follows.  

April 24-25  Shabbat Parashiot Acharei-Kedoshim  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate accompanied by the 50 plus voices of Guest "Cantors' Choir of Modiin, Netanya, Kfar Saba" conducted by Yankele Rottner.