Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Dear Friends,

Our heartfelt gratitude to all of the wonderful people from Israel and abroad who joined us for our services and Torah study on Shavuot and Shabbat Parashat Naso.  Our special thanks to Tel Aviv Yaffo's Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, our Mara d'Atra Rabbi Zalman Druck, Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler, Choir Director Elli Jaffe, the members of our Choir, Professor Nahum Rackover and Moreshet Hamishpat b'Yisrael – the co-sponsors of our Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the Magidei Shiurim - in addition to Rabbi Lau and Professor Rackover: Professor Yaakov Neeman, Dr. Jacob Weinroth, Dr. Aviad Hakohen and Rabbi Avraham Kilav, our Gabbaim and our Welcoming Committee headed by Dr. Sheldon Abramson.  May our prayers be answered and may the spirit of Simcha which is associated with Shavuot continue to fill our lives throughout the entire year.

Our website, the address of which is (jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com), while still a work in progress, now features our weekly e-mails and the schedule of services for Shabbat and the coming week.  If you know of others who would like to receive our weekly mails, they need only click the appropriate area of our home page, fill out the information requested and submit it to us.  The Hebrew translation of the web page is currently being updated and should be up-and-running by the end of this week.  The weekly newsletters will also soon be translated into Hebrew.  Please read future newsletters for further details.      

Congratulations to our Founder Member and world renowned film producer Arthur Cohn on the Israel premiere this week of his newest film "The Children of the Silk Road."  The film was screened as the opening event of the 20th year of the Ma'aleh School of Television, Film and the Arts in Jerusalem.

Mazal Tov to our Founder Members Graham and Eve Weinberg of London on the birth of their granddaughter and to the parents Alexander and Florence Weinberg.  May the newborn grow to Torah, chupah l'ben Torah and maasim tovim and be a constant source of nachat and joy to her family and to all Am Yisrael.

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mr. Yehuda Dominitz z"l, our long time Audit Committee Chairman and Council member. A talmid chacham and a modest, kind person, Mr. Dominitz worked tirelessly for Torah, Jerusalem and Israel throughout his life.  Shiva is being observed until Friday afternoon at Nofei Yerushalayim, 24 Shachrai Street.  Our condolences to Mrs. Tamar Dominitz, their children and the entire family.  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.  Please add prayers for refua sheleima for those who were injured in terrorist attacks and in the War in Gaza and for Ratza bat Reesa (Roslyn Lowy), Aryeh ben Sarah Leah (Chazzan Aryeh Goldberg), Amiram ben Reina (Amiram Benshimol), Zahava bat Rachel (Zahava Meczes), Channa bas Chaya Devorah (Anna Schlesinger), Bracha Miriam bat Rachel (Miriam Sheinberg), Chaim Ariel ben Vera Devora (Ariel Sharon), Shoshana Bat Miriam (Susan Shapiro), Chaya bat Chava (Chaya Herstik), 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), Yehudah Leib ben Tziporah Rachel (Yehudah Rosenblatt), Miriam Rivkah bat Adina Leah (Miriam Strasberg), Bracha bat Penina Rivka Yoela (Beth Joshuah), Yissachar Dov ben Peshe (Bud Silver), Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog) and Aviva bat Shulamit Charna (Aviva Lazarus).  May they all be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery and enjoy good health for many more years.
 
Our blessings of Mazal Tov on the wedding this week of Noam Gossman to Shirly Elias. They will be celebrating their Shabbat Sheva Brachot in Jerusalem and Noam will be called to the Torah at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue this Shabbat.  May Noam and Shirly share a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.

Guest Chazzan David Weinberg will officiate this Friday evening (7:30 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat B'haalotcha (7:55 AM).  If you are in our area this Shabbat, we look forward to greeting you.

Shabbat shalom.

Asher Schapiro

                
                UPCOMING EVENTS

June 12-13, Shabbat Parashat Sh'lach – Chattan: Ariel Jaffe

June 19-20, Shabbat Parashat Korach, Shabbat Mevorchim – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by the Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.  Chattan: Ofir Reuven

June 26-27, Shabbat Parashat Chukat – Guest Chazzan Yaakov Motzen will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by the Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.