Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir has long been setting the standard for other Synagogue Choirs throughout the world.  With Maestro Elli Jaffe, Musical Arranger Raymond Goldstein and our Choristers, the beauty and inspiring melodies sung at our Services bring greater meaning and feeling to the words we read in the Siddur.  This past Shabbat, our Choir hosted three Choirs comprised of 50 singers – from Modiin, Kfar Saba and Netanya under the direction of Yankele Rottner.  Accompanying our Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, we were all treated to a very inspiring Friday evening and Shabbat morning Service.  On Friday evening, Chazzan Adler also chanted two compositions of the late Chazzan Pinchik; Rozo D'Shabbat and Ribbono Shel Olam of Sefirat HaOmer.  Our gratitude to all of our guests and all who helped make this Shabbat at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue so memorable.

We are happy to invite you to another special Shabbat at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue on May 7-8, Parshiot Behar-Bechukotai.  Together with the "Ichud Batei Knesset B'Yisrael" we are having a Shabbat in honor of the upcoming Yom Yerushalayim.  Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe, will officiate.  A special melody composed by Maestro Jaffe to a prayer written by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen in honor of Yerushalayim, will be sung during the Shabbat morning Service.  Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen will be present and will deliver the D'var Torah.

As is our annual custom, The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and "Moreshet Hamishpat b'Yisrael" are sponsoring shiurim (in Hebrew) throughout the night of Shavuot (Tuesday, May 18). In the coming weeks, we will list the topics and times of the shiurim.  The presenters will be: Chief Rabbi of TelAviv-Yaffo Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, the Rishon L'Zion, Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Attorney Dr. Yaakov Weinroth, Professor Nachum Rakover, Dr. Michael Vigoda of the Ministry of Justice, Av Beit Din Rabbani in Jerusalem Rabbi Eliyahu Abergil and Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi, Head of the "Tzurba MeRabbanan" Institute.  The entire community is invited to attend.

Our next special Leil Shabbat for Lone Soldiers will be on Friday evening, May 7th.  These young men and women join us for our Services (7:10 PM) and for the seudat  Shabbat which follows. 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 the next Dinner, please contact Daniel Charter at the Center for Lone Soldiers by Thursday, May 6th, via e-mail at: daniel@lonesoldiercenter.com or by phone at  054-206-3321.  

Mazal Tov to our congregants Rabbi and Mrs. Kenneth (Chaim) Cohen on the birth of their granddaughter and to the parents Sarit and Zev Rapp. We also extend Mazal Tov wishes to the aunts and uncles, our congregants Andy and Kitra Altschuler, Yael Cohen and Shimmy Cohen. May the newborn 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.

Condolences to our congregant Dina Steiner, wife of our Board Member and Gabbai Professor Menachem Steiner, on the passing of her father, our congregant Chazzan Michael Naor. For many years, Chazzan Naor officiated in Tel Aviv and in Australia and, since coming to Jerusalem, joined us every Shabbat and Yom Tov.  Although a very quiet and unassuming person, Chazzan Naor was respected and loved by our entire congregation.  Shiva is being observed at the Naor residence, 13 Balfour Street, Entrance 2 (first floor) thru this Friday afternoon.  Shacharit is at 7:00 AM.  Micha and Maariv is at 7:05 PM.  May the 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.
 
Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (7:05 PM) and Shabbat morning Parshat Emor (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. If you are in our area, we hope you will join us.  Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

             

              UPCOMING EVENTS

April 30-May 1  Shabbat Parashat Emor – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:05 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe

May 7   Friday Evening – Leil Shabbat Dinner for Lone Soldiers following Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services.

May 7-8  Shabbat Parshiot Behar-Bechukotai – Special Shabbat in celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:10 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Kiddush following Shabbat morning services.

May 12 – Wednesday – Yom Yerushalayim.  Shacharit services in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam at 7:50 AM

May 13 – Thursday – Erev Rosh Chodesh – Tefillot Mincha and Yom Kippur Katan in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam 1:06 PM

May 18-19 (Tuesday-Wednesday) – Shavuot  - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Sermon before Yizkor will be given by The Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yaffo Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.

May 19-20 (Wednesday evening-Thursday) – Yom Tov services for those from abroad who observe two days Yom Tov.

June 17 – Thursday Evening – Special Lecture to be given (in English) at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue by The Chief Rabbi of The British Commonwealth Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

Dates of the 5771 (2010-2011) Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Series:
October 2, 2010; November 6, 2010; January 1, 2011; January 29, 2011; March 5, 2011.