Our Website: www.jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com

Letter From the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

Over 1500 people joined us this past Thursday evening to hear a stimulating and challenging talk by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.  If you were unable to be present or if you would like to hear the lecture again, you may download it from the following link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4586218/chief_rabbi.mp3. We wish the Chief Rabbi continued success in all of his endeavors on behalf both of British Jewry and the Jewish people throughout the world.  We were delighted to be joined in this evening by the B'mai Brith World Center-Jerusalem and its President, Haim Katz and by all of the organizations in cooperation with which the evening was organized.  We also thank our good friend and supporter Fred Worms, who introduced the Rabbi.

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue was proud to host, together with Yeshfe (the Israeli National Shidduch Service) and the professionals of Shalshelet, a magnificent Dinner and program for 80 religiously observant professional singles.  We received excellent feedback from those who participated and have been advised that some of the couples who met each other that evening are continuing to meet.  We advised the group (without being pushy), that any couple that met that evening and who will ultimately marry each other will have free use of the Main Sanctuary and the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Entrance Hall if the wedding is at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  B'shaa tova u'mutzlachat!  We will keep you informed about further developments in this program.

Earlier this week I sent you a letter regarding our Lone Soldier Program asking for your financial support in our endeavor to provide a meaningful Leil Shabbat experience for these very special young men and women.  I thank those of you who have responded thus far.  I ask those who have not yet responded to please do so at your earliest convenience. This is a very significant project that we hope will continue to grow as more young people from the Diaspora come to Israel and join the IDF.  We ask for your help to guarantee its continuity.     

We are now beginning to prepare for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur 5771.  If you have dedicated seats please notify us by Monday, July 26, 2010, if you intend to use them for the coming Yamim Noraim.  Following that date, we invite Supporting Members to choose their seats and, beginning with August 11th, seating is made available to the entire community.  

Mazal tov to our congregants and friends, world renowned artist Itshak and Ruth Holtz – our newest Olim. Although they have been spending several months in Israel each year, they will now finally celebrate one day of Yom Tov instead of two.  May they enjoy many more years of continued good health, happiness and nachat from their family and from all of us.

Mazal Tov to the Chairman of our Welcoming Committee, Board Member and Supporting Members Sheldon and Connie Abramson on the celebration of their 55th wedding anniversary.  We wish them many more years of continued good health, happiness and nachat from their family and from all of us.

Mazal Tov to our Founder Members Seth and Emily Gerszberg on the birth and naming of their daughter, Eva.  May Eva go to Torah, Chupah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

Mazal Tov to Danel Jaffe on his high school graduation. Danel is the son of our Vice President Zalli and Tamar Jaffe. Mazal Tov to Daniel Goldstein, son of our Musical Arranger Raymond and Susan Goldstein, on his high school graduation.  Both young men completed the Hartman Institute's Charles E. Smith High School in Jerusalem.  Yasher Koach to Yehuda Koriat, son of our bookkeeper Ariella and Arie Koriat, who completed his service in the IDF.

Best wishes to our Conductor Elli Jaffe and the members of our Choir who have been invited to participate in The International Jewish Music Festival being held this weekend in Cracow, Poland.  They will officiate at Shabbat services there and perform in concerts on Motzaei Shabbat and Sunday.

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), Chava bat Rivka (Chava Womark), Avraham ben Miriam (Abraham Fuchs), 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.

Guest Chazzan Avraham Kirschenbaum will officiate this Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Balak (7:55 AM). If you are in our area, I hope you will join us.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

           UPCOMING EVENTS

June 25-26 – Shabbat Parashat Balak – Guest Chazzan Avraham Kirschenbaum will officiate on Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM)

June 29 – Tuesday – Fast of the 17th of Tammuz.  Shacharit in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam at 7:50 AM.  Mincha at 1:15 PM.  Fast ends at 8:12 PM

July 2-3 – Shabbat Parashat Pinchas – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Jeremy Tsigutkin.

July 9- 10 – Shabbat Parshiot Matot-Massay - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Bar Mitzvah: Tzvi Bessler.  Kiddush follows Shabbat morning service.

July 9 – Lone Soldiers Leil Shabbat Dinner. Advance reservations are required.  Lone Soldiers may register by clicking on the appropriate box at the website  www.lonesoldiercenter.com  or by contacting Daniel Charter via e-mail at: daniel@lonesoldiercenter.com

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.