Important!!    Important!!    Important!!
     Please pay membership dues. We need the support of our members if we are to continue our services and programs. Dues are 20 Euros per person. We welcome any and all members to contribute more. We are responsible for each other!

News and Information

Rabbi Shillor
     The European Region of the World Union of Progressive Judaism (ER/WUPJ) makes rabbinical monthly visits to our congregation possible. We are appreciative of this support. Rabbi Irit Shillor will visit us, thanks to this grant until August. The “Friends of Progressive Judaism in Europe and Israel” have issued an appeal to raise 30,000 Euros to finance a part-time rabbinical position for Rabbi Shillor so that, upon her ordination in July, she will be able to continue her work with our and several other congregations in Lower Saxony. We thank Mr. And Mrs. Teacher of the “Friends” for this appeal, which was presented at the ER Conference membership meeting in Barcelona. Rabbi Shillor served us for the first time on March 22, and we’re looking forward to her next visit in April.

Union Meeting Of Presidents
     The presidents of the Union of Progressive Jews will meet in Hannover on Sunday, April 28. Union President Dr. Jan Muehlstein and Jewish Appleseed Foundation executive director Rabbi Jo David will lead the daylong meeting. Main topics are the future of the Union and re-election of the Union Board.

ER Conference In Barcelona
     R. Dohme and K. Seidler represented our State Board of Congregations at the ER/WUPJ Conference in Barcelona in March. Besides taking part in workshops, speaking on behalf of the Union, they also had talks with WUPJ Executive Director Rabbi Uri Regev and President Ruth Cohen, updating them on the development of our progressive German congregations and informing them about the “Munich situation”. The “Friends” made an appeal during the membership meeting to raise 30,000 Euros to fund a part-time rabbinical position for Lower Saxony (2000+ members and growing daily) for 2002–2003. Rabbi Irit Shillor would assume the position if funds can be raised.

Union of Progressive Jews Annual Conference
     The UPJ is planning its annual conference for July 14–17 in Arnoldshain. Workshops, seminars, religious services, and lectures will offer participants an exciting conference. Among others, Rabbis Uri Regev, Jo David, and Irit Shillor will present. Old friendships and acquaintances will be refreshed. The conference will be offered in German, English and, for the first time, in Russian. Registration forms are available in our office.

WUPJ Awards Grant For Union Youth Programs
     Thanks to the work of WUPJ Director for European Congregations, Rabbi Joel Oseran, the UPJ has been awarded $5000 for youth programming. The money will be used to fund our Winter and Summer Machenot and the Training Seminar for Madrichim and the national young adult program “Young and Jewish”. We are thankful for the WUPJ’s support; it is a sign of their recognition of the work we are doing.

Sommermachene
     Get ready! The Summer Machene is planned for July 18–28. Kids between the ages of 7 and 18 can participate. It will be a great camp and we look forward to all of you participating. Thanks again to the WUPJ for their support!

German Lessons
     Thanks to Dieter Vogelhuber, Mrs. Schlegel’s German class can continue. We also thank Dieter who contributes his “wages” to the synagogue building fund. A double mitzvah!

Todah Rabah . . . . . . . . Thank You
     We wish to thank Mr. Volker Vormann, Faina Pelts, Marc Ovsievych, and Rebekka Dohme for their fantastic fundraising CD “Jewish Hameln”. Thanks also to Rabbi Jo David for the great idea and lyrics and production! Maybe our group “Schalom” can star on the next CD?
     We also wish to thank Mr. E. Slawski and Mrs. DeJong for their contributions to the synagogue building fund.

Tree Of Life
     Our tree is showing new “leaves”. They were contributed by Mrs. Polina Peker and Rachel Dohme. Each leaf costs 50 Euro ($54–triple chai), and the money goes to our synagogue building fund. There are so many reasons to dedicate a leaf — what are you waiting for?

Freundeskreis — “Friends of Jewish Congregation of Hameln”
     Sadly, we must report that one of our original “Friends” members, Mr. August Haase, has passed away. Our condolences to his family and to the Gelderblom family on the loss our Bernd’s father. May their memories be for a blessing.

Jahrzeiten
     April 11th or 6 of Nisan is the Jahrzeit of former member Mrs. Anna Potozkaja. May her memory be for a blessing.

April Birthdays
     Happy birthday to our April “flowers” —Janna Vainberg, Maria Karchel, Ella Slavinska, Vladimir Schilzowa, Maia Olvovskaia, Alex Konstinova, Vladimir Urovski, Riva Voronova, and Nina Sinizina. Friday, April 26, is our monthly “Birthday Kiddusch”. Celebrate with us!

Refuah Schlama . . . . . . . . Get Well Wishes
     We send get well wishes to all who are ill at home or in the hospital. Members! Please contact the office and find out who you could visit! Remember — visiting the sick is a Mitzvah!

Shalom!
     — Your board