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Dear members and friends,
Last month was filled with many special events for our congregation. What a thrill it was to celebrate a historic double Bat Mitzvah with Evelina Boraschanska and Greta Golbereg. Once again, we wish the girls Mazel Tov! We thank our rabbi, Irit Shillor, for leading services so beautifully, and a special thanks to Orly Kenig who taught the girls so well. As the parents passed the Torah to their children, we experienced L’dor v’dor—from generation to generation. How moving to see these two young women, both daughters of Russian Jewish immigrants, being called to the Torah for their first aliya. May Torah guide them as they take their place within our congregation.
Our annual membership meeting was held the very next day. Many attended and heard the annual report. It was amazing to hear a detailed report of the year’s activities. The board was up for re-election, and board members are as follows: President: Rachel Dohme, Vice President: Polina Pelts, Treasurer: Dieter Vogelhuber, Cultural Programs: Valerij Friedmann, and Social Chair: Aron Kaplan. The Board and congregation thanked Berta Friedmann for her work as Treasurer last year. Each board member was thanked with a bouquet as a gesture of appreciation.
International Women’s Day was organized by Valerij Friedmann, and we all enjoyed the concert performed by Mr. Blank.
Purim was joyous as we gathered in colorful costumes to hear the reading of Megillah Esther in Hebrew, German and Russian. Thanks to Rabbi Irit Shillor we have a tri-lingual Megillah Esther, which enabled everyone to follow along. The children treated us to a short musical program; we drowned out Haman’s name with graggers, ate our fill of delicious, homemade Hamentaschen, and enjoyed “Mike the Clown”—our special surprise guest. A great time was had by one and all!
The European Region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (ER-WUPJ) held its Biennial Conference in Hanover March 16–19. The WUPJ acknowledges the important achievements our German congregations have made by choosing Germany as the host for this conference. Attendance was the highest ever, with representatives from 17 European countries, USA and Israel. Our congregation was honored with two visits. On Saturday afternoon, forty conference attendees visited our congregation. Our cantor, Rebekka Dohme, performed a moving musical program of Hebrew liturgy, followed by “tea and talk” as our international guests mingled with our members. A walking tour of “Jewish Hamlin” concluded the visit. Both congregants and guests found the afternoon very special. The following Wednesday, Associate Director of the WUPJ visited our congregation. He met with our members, and then, accompanied by our synagogue board, was given a reception by the Mayor of Hamlin
and he signed the Golden Book of the City of Hamlin. Rabbi Oseran was interviewed by the local press and expressed his full support of our plans to build the first post-war Reform synagogue in Hamlin. He encouraged the city to do its part in assisting us to achieve this goal. We are honored by these visits and see them as a sign of recognition of the important work we are doing rebuilding progressive Judaism in the land of it’s birth. It emphasized to us that we are, as members of the WUPJ, a part of the 1.7 million–strong membership family of the largest Jewish organization in the world.
 Holidays in April
Pesach (April 12–19/ Nisan 14–21) and Yom Ha Schoah (April 25/ Nisan 27) will be observed in our congregation during the month of April. Our community Seder will be led by Abraham Geiger rabbinical student, Gábor Lengyel,
 on Thursday, the 13th. We hope to see everyone there to celebrate our festival of freedom. The Seder is, as every year, free to our members. A modest meal will be served after the Seder service.
Kosher Israeli matzah and wine is available in the office. Matzah costs 4 Euros a kilogram and wine is 8 Euros for a 1.5 liter bottle. Get yours now while the supply lasts!
On April 25th, we will observe Yom HaShoah with a memorial service.
Information Meeting
Our congregational social worker, Mrs. Faina Pelts, held an informational meeting for recipients of assistance through the Claims Conference. The meeting was well attended, and it is hoped that many of our elderly congregants will be helped through this program. Mrs. Pelts will announce specific office hours in our May newsletter during which members can make appointments and receive assistance in filling out necessary paperwork. We are pleased to be able to help our members in this way.
Please note that Mrs. Pelts will be out of the office April 3–11.
Ritual Committee
Our newly formed ritual committee will meet for the third time on April 7th after services. New members are very welcome. Together we discuss our religious festivals and give our input as to how services could be more meaningful. Join us!
New Integration Course
Dieter Vogelhuber is offering a new class, and we hope many will take advantage of this well-designed class. The topic is “Citizenship” and is held in German. Class will begin on Thursday, April, 27th at 2:30 p.m. and will be held monthly. We thank Dieter for this initiative.
Mazel Tov
We just can’t say it often enough—Mazel Tov Greta and Evelina! Our congregation is proud to see the next generation of the Jewish Congregation of Hamlin dedicated young people like you. Gifts and congratulations came from all our members and friends and articles about the girls were published in the Jüdische Allgemeine and the Deister- und Weser Zeitung.
We also say Mazel Tov to our president, Rachel Dohme, for her election to one of offices of vice president of the board of the European Region of the WUPJ. We’re proud of you!
Contributions
The following people have made generous contributions to our synagogue and/or general fund and we thank them: Dr. Oleg Rubanov, Mrs. Irina Grach, Mrs. Ute Gibas, Mr. Otto, Mrs. Christina Formell, Mrs. Betty Golumb, Mrs. Ina Rae Levy and Mr. Ken Zendel. May you all be blessed for you generosity.
Todah Rabah — Thank You
There are very special people in our community, and one of them is Larissa Dvortsis. Larissa took all our Tallitot (prayer shawls) home, washed and ironed them, and now they are sparkling clean again. We thank Larissa for taking the initiative. As Rabbi Henry Brandt said, "A congregation is as good as its members!" In this respect, we have a great community!
Thank you to all the ladies of Polina Pelts’ German class, who once again baked our delicious Hamentaschen.
Thanks go out to Mr. Judelsohns and Mrs. Pojarkova for their contributions to our congregational library. Our librarian Josef Pelts is happy with the new additions and awaits borrowers. Being an avid reader, he is more than happy to make recommendations. The library is open Wednesday and Friday mornings.
We wish to thank Dieter Vogelhuber for his assistance in the past on our monthly newsletter. His help was invaluable over the last four years. Peter Wendt has agreed to take on this work, and we are happy to have a new and active member on board.
We thank the City Council for inviting us to present our synagogue building plans. We are encouraged by their positive reception and are certain that the city of Hamlin will assist us.
Tree of Life
As our congregants and readers know, our Tree of Life is an important fundraiser for our synagogue project. We encourage you to use the Web site’s safe server to order a “leaf” and perform a double Mitzvah. Honor a loved one or special event with a leaf dedication and at the same time help us raise money to put up the walls of our Beit Knesset. Leaves can be ordered online for triple Chai—$54. Do it now.
Three 11th grade classes of a local high school contributed 150 Euros for the purchase of a leaf as a result of visiting our synagogue. On three mornings Rachel Dohme taught the teens a class on Judaism. Schoolteachers bring their classes regularly to our synagogue, and Mrs. Dohme instructs the young people. In this way, we are helping to educate the future generation of Hamlin’s citizens. This inter-religious work is vital.
April Birthdays
Happy birthday wishes to all those celebrating a birthday in April. A special birthday Kiddush will be held on Friday, April 31. Join the party.
Refuah Schlama — Get Well Wishes
We wish all who are ill at home or in the hospital a speedy and complete recovery. Mrs. Berta Friedmann can be reached at 05151 13204 if a home visit is desired.
 April Yahrzeit — We remember:
Anna Potozkaja — April 11, 2000/ 6. Nisan 5760
Evgenia Boraschanskaja — April 26, 2004/ 5. Iyar 5764
May their memory be for a blessing. The congregation invites the families to join them in saying Kaddish at Sabbath services. Yahrzeit candles are available in our office.
Shalom,
—Your synagogue board
Program for April 2006 • Nissan–Iyar 5766
Monday, April 3 11:00 Judaism, a course in Russian, V. Pesok
3:00 Religious school for children, R. Brückner
Wednesday, April 5 10:30 Lecture: Sochnut programs of the Jewish Agency,
F. Schlafmann
Thursday, April 6 3:30–5:00 “Young and Jewish Hameln, Jr.”
5:00–6:00 Hebrew for adults O. Kenig
Friday, April 7 5:00 Friday night services R.Dohme
7:00 Ritual Committee
Sunday, April 9 5:00 Klezmer concert in Fischbeck, Car pool!
Passover April 12–April 19
Thursday, April 13 4:00 Congregational Seder, G. Lengyel
Thursday, April 20 11:00 Lecture: Israel, D. Vogelhuber
3:30–5:00 “Young and Jewish Hameln, Jr.”
5:00–6:00 Hebrew for adults, O. Kenig
Saturday, April 22 10:00 Saturday morning services, R. Dohme
Monday, April 24 3:00 Religious school for children, R. Brückner
Tuesday, April 25 4:00 “Russian Afternoon” art history class, M. Olvovska
6:00 Jom Ha Shoah Memorial service, R. Dohme
Thursday, April 27 2:30 Citizenship class, D. Vogelhuber
Friday, April 28 5:00 Friday night services, D. Vogelhuber & V. Pesok
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