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Dear members, friends and supporters,
We extend our best wishes to our members, friends and supporters for a happy, healthy and peaceful secular year 2007!
January is a quiet month religiously and so we take a moment to reflect on the events that took place in our congregation in December. No chair was left empty at our annual community Hanukka service and party. As with all our festivals, it felt as if we were one big family. Rabbinical student Jona Simon led services, Malin (13) and Evelina (14) lit the Hanukkia and said the Brachot, Mirjam (8) said the blessing for the Shabbat candles,
and Joshua (12) recited the Hanukka story, followed by Volodymr who retold the story in Russian. The religious class led the congregation in singing “Maoz Tzur” and the evening was rounded off with a concert from our congregational choir "Shalom." The tables were bright with the lights of the Hannukiot (the children brought the Hanukkiot they made in religious class with them) and laden with jelly doughnuts, sweet fruit and homemade delicacies fried in oil. We thank all the busy bakers who added to our “Happy Hanukka Buffet.” Boris and his Israeli dance class got us all up and dancing. There was time to play dreidel and share stories and the little ones were fascinated with rabbinical student Simon's Hanukka stories from Chelm.
The children received Hanukka presents and “gelt,” and everyone left the congregation aglow with the light of Hanukka.
Earlier in December, we enjoyed the first of a six-part seminar with Mr. Itamar Baum. Mr. Baum holds his masters in Judaic Studies. We were positively surprised with an excellent turnout and look forward to his lecture on January 6th. We welcome anyone interested in this fascinating series. Mr. Baum's special talent is that he can translate (German and Russian) and held our attention in both languages.
A special moment in December was certainly having our young cantor, Rebekka Dohme with us once again. Rebekka is home for the holidays from New York where she is attending college. Members enjoyed hearing all about her life in the “Big Apple.” Her beautiful voice added to our joy at Friday night services and brought a little taste of New York to Hamelin.
Vacation for our Social Worker
Our congregational social worker, Faina Pelts will take a well-deserved vacation the first week of January. On Monday, January 8th, she will be back in her office.
Rabbi Irit Shillor
We look forward to celebrating Friday night and Saturday morning services with our Rabbi. In addition to leading services, Rabbi Shillor will also work with the Bnei Mitzvah class. Friday morning, Rabbi Shillor will offer “Rabbi's Table.” This is an open question and answer session and is open to everyone in the community. Many of our non-Jewish neighbors enjoy this opportunity to learn with us. We hope as many congregants as possible will take advantage of our rabbi's visit.
Foundation Patrons Visit to Hamelin
The visit of our Foundation's “A Synagogue for Hamelin” Patrons, Rabbi Dr. Henry G. Brandt, Bishop Dr. Horst Hirschler, Bishop Dr. Josef Homeyer and former minister president of Lower Saxony Dr. Ernst Albrecht was a resounding success. A fascinating podium discussion at Schiller Gymnasium titled “Jews and Christians—do we share—what makes us different” was attended by more than 300 people and together contributed almost 2,000 Euros at the door for our building project.
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Lecture Series with Itamar Baum Continues
We are proud to offer the second in a six-part lecture series with Mr. Itamar Baum. Mr. Baum holds his degree in Jewish Studies from the University of Heidelberg. We're excited to offer this course to our members and hope many will take part in this very enriching experience. The second lecture, entitled “Kabbalath Shabbat: Receiving Shabbat” will begin on Saturday, January 6th at 3:00 p.m. The lecture will be held in German and Russian. Refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you there!
10th Anniversary Celebrations
Shabbat Mishpatim, February 17th, will mark our first decade. This is cause to celebrate! We will celebrate this wonderful milestone with friends and family, beginning at 4:00 p.m.
In 1997, we established the first Jewish congregation in post-war Hamelin and brought Jewish life back to the city. Since then, our congregation has developed in size and spirituality. Together, we will review our modest beginnings and look forward to all that is to come. Special guest speakers will be the president of our state board of Jewish communities, the Mayor of the City of Hamelin, the president of the Hamelin Society of Christians and Jews and the deacon of St. Elisabeth Catholic Church, where we had our first rooms. Mincha services and Havdalla will be musically framed by our congregational choir “Shalom.” We hope many members and guests will join us in the festivities.
A second celebration will take place in June and we ask all interested members to come to a planning committee meeting on Sunday, January 21st at 3 p.m.
 Torah Group
We would like to read the Torah from beginning to end together this year. Join us every Shabbat morning at 10:00 a.m. as we read and study the parashah of the week! These sessions will be communal and lay led except for weekends when our Rabbi or our rabbinical student is with us. The sessions are held in German and Russian. Check the calendar for dates.
Jewish Cemeteries in Hamelin
We feel it is once again necessary to explain to members that there are two Jewish cemeteries in the city. Both of these cemeteries are open to members, independent of synagogue affiliation. We hope this information clarifies the situation. Unfortunately, misinformation abounds. If you have further questions, please contact our synagogue office.
Regular Classes in the Congregation
With the New Year perhaps it is time to remind members about the various activities in our congregation. There are weekly and monthly classes and groups. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, German classes are held. Meditational Yoga meets on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The Israeli dance class meets on Wednesdays. The library is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings. The Torah Study group meets every Shabbat after Saturday-morning services. Classes that are held once a month are: Citizenship, Israel lecture series, Jewish religious class for adults in Russian, video afternoon, and Russian afternoon. Religious class for children and adults is taught twice a month by Michal Tal. Although we offer so many varied groups, there's always room for more! Let us know if you would like to start a new group.
Contributions
We thank the following people for their generosity: the Lutheran Church of Bünde, Mrs. Niedert, Mr. Hesse, Mr. Blum, Mr. And Mrs. Jones, the Lampe Family, Mrs. Defaux, Mr. And Mrs. Schreiber, Mr. Böker, Mrs. Hass, Mrs. Dietrich, Mrs. Deutelmoser, Mrs. Armbrecht, Mrs. Demuth, the Lenze Company and many annonymous contributors. May they all be blessed for their generosity.
 Tree of Life
New leaves continue to grow even in the winter: Recent additions are Hanna and Johnny Jones.
Leaves are available for a minimum of “Triple Chai” ($54) and can be purchased online with our safe server. Every leaf helps to bring our dream of our own synagogue a little closer. May you be blessed for your generosity.
Mazel Tov
We congratulate our member, Mr. Genrikh Jeger who has just published a book of poetry in German and Russian. The volume is available in our synagogue library.
We congratulate the Abraham Geiger Rabbinical Seminary for being named one of the 365 most important places in Germany that emotes a positive national image. Mazel Tov!
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Todah Rabah
We wish to say loudly and clearly how indebted we feel to the public media —newspapers, radio and television—for the excellent coverage they gave our Foundation's Patron's visit and evening podium discussion. Their attention supports our project in a very public way. Many people invested countless hours of work in the event, but we wish to especially recognize Mr. Spangenberger for his efforts.
We wish to thank Rabbi Nelly Schulman, Moscow, for her regular articles for our Russian-speaking members. We offer these articles as an “extra” to each monthly newsletter, and our members enjoy reading Rabbi Schulman's thoughts on various topics of Jewish spirituality. Thank you very much, Rabbi Schulman!
Birthdays in January
Happy birthday to all who have a January birthday. Join us on Friday, January 19th, for a special birthday Kiddush after services.
Refuah Schlamah — Get well wishes
We wish all who are ill a speedy and complete recovery. Anyone wishing a home visit should call Mrs Berta Friedmann.
 Condolences
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Fuksa family on the loss of their beloved husband, father and grandfather, Igor Fuksa, who died on December 6th, 15. Kislew 5767. The funeral was held on December 8th.
Yahrzeit — We remember:
Chaja-Rahel Krutchkovitsch — 29.01.2003 – 26. Schvat 5763
Please join the congregation and families to say Kaddish at services for them.
Shalom and best wishes for a peaceful new year 2007!
—Your synagogue board
Program for January 2007 • Tevet–Schvat 5767
Thursday, January 4 4:00 p.m. “After New Year's New Year's Party”—6 Euros
Saturday, January 6 3:00 p.m. Workshop: The Origins and Development of
Kabbalath Shabbat services with Itamar Baum
Monday, January 8 12:00 a.m. “Introduction to Judaism” with V. Pesok
Tuesday, January 9 4:00 p.m. Video Afternoon: “Comedian Harmonists”
Friday, January 12 5:00 p.m. Friday night services with Rachel and
Rebekka Dohme
Saturday, January 13 10:00 a.m. Shabbat morning services/Torah study
with Rachel Dohme
Tuesday, January 16 11:00 a.m. Info meeting for Russian citizens
with Anna Arnauotva
4:00 p.m. Felix Patronov & Ina Charchenko: Lecture in
Russian, 2 Euro
Rabbi Irit Shillor's Visit
Friday, December 19 11:00 p.m. “Rabbi's Table” open question and answer
session
3:30 p.m. Meeting with Bnei Mitzvah class
5:00 p.m. Friday night services
Saturday, January 20 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning services with Torah study
Sunday, January 21 3:00 p.m. Congregational anniversary planning
committee meeting
Monday, January 22 12:00 noon Guest: Officer of the Russian Consulate
Thursday, January 25 3:30 p.m. “Young and Jewish Hamelin Jr.”
with Michal Tal
4:30 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
5:30 p.m. Hebrew class or adults
Saturday, January 27 10:00 a.m. Shabbat morning services/Torah study
with Rachel Dohme
Tuesday, January 30 4:00 p.m. “Russian Afternoon” with Maya Olvovska
Activities Outside our Congregation
Thursday, January 25 7:00 p.m. Society for Christians and Jews, Lecture
Ev. Ref. Church Hamelin “How to become a Rabbi” Rabbi J. Sievers
Tuesday January 30 6:00 p.m. Lecture: “The future is only possible through
Weserberglandzentrum remembering the past.” Mirjam Pressler
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