Dear Friends,

As I noted last week, we are beginning to accept seat reservations for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur 5771 from those who have Dedicated Seats in our Synagogue.  You must let us know by Monday, July 26th that you will be using your seats.  From then until August 5th, we will accept reservations from Supporting Members. Beginning August 11th, reservations from the general public will be accepted.   

Our next Leil Shabbat Program for Lone Soldiers will be on Shabbat Mevorchim July 9th.  The Soldiers are invited to join us at our Friday Evening service 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 Michael Levin 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.  We ask for your assistance in covering the expenses for this very special project. Checks should be written to "The Jerusalem Great Synagogue" and, at the bottom write " Lone Soldiers Program" Our mailing address is: The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, POB 7924, Jerusalem 91078, Israel.  If you are a Lone Soldier and want to attend the July 9th Shabbat Dinner, please register by Thursday, July 8th   by clicking on the appropriate box at the website  www.lonesoldiercenter.com  or by contacting Daniel Charter via e-mail at: daniel@lonesoldiercenter.com.  

An extended edited version of the recent lecture given at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks can be heard on the internet.  Go to: www.israelnationalradio.com  Scroll down to the "Walter's World" square and click.

Mazal Tov to our Founder Members David and Gittel Rubin of Los Angeles, whose son Daniel, at a ceremony marking the completion of his IDF Givati Brigade training period this week, received the "Outstanding Soldier" Award of his group, a part of the Rotem Platoon of Givati. Mazal Tov as well to Daniel's grandparents, our Founder Members Alan and Adell Goldstein of Los Angeles.  May Daniel (a "Lone Soldier") and his fellow members of the IDF continue their service to the State of Israel and all Am Yisrael in good health and with success in all of their endeavors.

Mazal Tov to Bert and Shirley Abell on the birth of their great-granddaughter and to the parents, Elad and Malkia Alush of Netivot.  May the newborn go to Torah, Chupah and maasim tovim and be a source of constant nachat to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

Our condolences to Ezra Cohen, husband of our retired secretary of many years Chava Cohen on the passing of his sister, Mazal Cohen z"l.  Shiva will be observed until Sunday morning at 11 Vardinon Street in Gilo.  May the family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and experience no further sorrow for many more years.

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), 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.

We welcome our Chattan Bar Mitzvah Jeremy Tsigutkin, his parents Alexander and Diana Tsigutkin from New York, their family and guests.  We are delighted that they are celebrating this Simcha in Jerusalem and at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue.  May Jeremy continue to be a source of ever-present nachat to his family and to all Am Yisrael.

Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (7:35 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Pinchas (7:55 AM) accompanied by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  If you are in our area, I hope you will join us.    

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

UPCOMING EVENTS

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 - Shabbat Mevorchim -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. Dvar Torah: Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski.  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.