Dear members, friends and supporters,
     Our community enjoyed a varied and event-filled month in March. As we look back we remember the Raul Wallenberg exhibit in spring. The exhibit was very well done and the tour through the exhibit added to our appreciation of the life of this most remarkable and heroic man. The participants of both Polina’s and Dieter’s German class took part in the excursion. We thank Dieter for the idea and Volodymr for organizing the transportation. It was a very moving afternoon, and everyone returned home immersed in his or her own thoughts. Our community celebrated International Women’s day with a concert. A violinist and pianist created an atmosphere of enchanting and romantic music. The congregation’s men presented the congregation’s women with a red rose in honor of the day. Everyone enjoyed a glass of champagne and sweets after the concert, and many were heard to be humming a tune on their way home. We thank Valerij Friedmann for organizing the concert and the congregants who delivered flowers to the elderly and ill.
     Certainly, the fondest memory in March was our community Purim festival. The children (and some grown-ups) came in costume. There were pirates, clowns, cowboys and Indian princesses to delight the eye. The children gave a “Purim Spiel,” telling the story of Purim in rhyme and the congregants thanked them with hearty applause. Afterwards, the Megillat Esther was read by Dieter and Volodymr. Thanks to Rabbi Shillor, we have a Megillat Esther in Hebrew, German and Russian and everyone was able to follow along in their mother tongue, thus understanding and enjoying this age-old tale. The noisemakers spun, creating a symphony of noise as we observed the tradition and Mitzvah of hearing the Book of Esther and drowning out evil Haman’s name. After the reading, everyone enjoyed the delicious, home-made Hamentaschen which were lovingly baked by Polina’s German class ladies. This is also a tradition in our congregation yet we thank the ladies each year anew. These ladies are the heart of our community. The holiday ended with Israeli dancing, led by our dance instructor, Boris Markhaseev. Everyone was up and dancing and laughter was in the air. It was a wonderful celebration. On the way home, congregants delivered the Schlachmones baskets the children had prepared for the homebound, leaving no one out of this fun holiday.
     In April we yearn for spring and all it brings. The flowers, budding trees, and warmer and longer days fill us with new energy. We acknowledge the finger of God as we see Nature awaken from winter’s slumber. We all look forward to the holiday of Pesach, in the synagogue with friends and at home with family. We are especially pleased that Rabbi Shillor will conduct our community Seder on Monday, April 2nd at 4 p.m., this year. Together, we will read from the Haggadah, retell the story of our exodus from slavery, eat the traditional foods, and drink the ceremonial four glasses of wine. We feel fortunate to be able to celebrate this festival of freedom together.
     We are also very excited about two very special events in April. The first is on Saturday evening, April 21st. We have organized a concert with soprano Aviva Pinane and concert pianist Sergei Kolmanovski. They will present a program of Jewish and Israeli pieces. This concert is open to the public, and we hope to see many friends of our community there. No admission will be charged, but we are asking for contributions for the synagogue project. We thank the Central Council of Jews of Germany (of which we are a member) for their support in making this concert possible.

     The second event will take place on April 26th in honor of Yom Ha’Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day. We are proud to announce that the German delegate of the Jewish National Fund, Mr. Itzchak Ganor, will be our guest and will present a slide show about Israel. After his presentation we will offer a small Israeli buffet. No admission will be charged, but we are asking everyone to bring a contribution for the “Ya’ar Hameln”—the Hamelin forest, which we will plant in Israel. We are very excited about this project and hope many members and guests will share in the evening and the tree project with us.

Holidays in April
     Our congregation will celebrate Pesach on Monday, April 2nd. We are very pleased that Rabbi Irit Shillor will conduct this year’s Seder. Pesach commemorates the exodus of our People from Egyptian slavery to freedom. The story is told in the Bible in Exodus 5–15. Pesach, the festival of freedom, tells of our release from slavery and the beginnings of our Peoplehood, of our wanderings through the desert on our way to Sinai, where we received God’s Law. We recall, how in our haste to leave Egypt, the bread had no time to raise and we had to take flat, unleavened breads. For the week of Pesach, we eat only unleavened foods in order to help us feel as our forefathers and foremothers did as they fled Egypt.
     We celebrate with a Seder, a ceremonial meal, eating symbolic foods, which re-tell the story of our slavery and deliverance to freedom through God’s outstretched hand. Together, we read from the Haggadah, the prayer service, which was written over 2,500 years ago. The Haggadah is comprised of the biblical texts, psalms, songs, and talmudic texts. Pesach is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, religiously significant to Jews throughout the world. We look forward to celebrating this religious holiday together.

Annual Membership Meeting
     Our annual membership meeting took place on Sunday, February 25, 2007. After a moment of silence for members who had passed away, we commenced with the regular business. President Rachel Dohme gave a five-page report of the year’s activities, which underscored the active and vibrant life of our congregation. Vice president Polina Pelts gave the treasurer’s report and the auditors Soya Varschavska and Dr. Felix Peres found the books to be in perfect order. The members voted unanimously to accept the reports. Rachel Dohme thanked the synagogue board officers for their excellent work and presented each officer with a potted plant. The members thanked the officers with a round of applause. Minutes of the meeting were written by Peter Wendt, and a copy is available in the synagogue office.

Dues
     We respectfully remind all our members to pay their annual membership dues. The many activities our community offers depend on the financial support of our members.

Rachel and Elke in Jerusalem
     Our member Elke Wendt took part in this year’s Beutel Leadership Seminar in Jerusalem from March 5 until the 15th,, and our president, Rachel Dohme, attended the international conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) in Jerusalem from March 15th to the 20th. Both women will share their experiences at services on Friday, April 27th.

Pesach begins April 2nd
     We will be celebrating Pesach together with our Rabbi Irit Shillor on Monday, April 2nd. We are pleased that Rabbi Shillor will conduct our Seder this year. Volodymr Pesok will support her with Russian translation. We have ordered kosher Israeli wine (10€ for a 1,5 liter bottle) and Matzah (4€ for a 1 kilo package), which will be available for sale in the office. Buy early while the supply lasts.

Tree of Life
     New leaves continue to grow, even in the Winter. These new leaves grace our Tree:

“Liberal Jewish Congregation of Hannover”

“Mazel Tov on your 10th anniversary”

Contributions
     We wish to thank all the members and friends who, through their contributions, help support our congregational life and our building project.
     We thank Katarina and Johannes Seidler, the Society of Christians and Jews, Christine Formell, Peter and Elke Wendt, Ursula Niedert, Ute Gibas, Anne Armbrecht, Mr. And Mrs. Schlagmann, Mrs. Dittrich, Mrs. Bomnüter, Judith Khan and Rachel Dohme. May they all be blessed for their generosity.

Todah Rabah
     We thank all the helping hands that helped with our many activities, programs and festivals in March. We thank Polina Pelts’s German class ladies for the homemade Hamentaschen. They were delicious. Thanks to Evelina Borischanska for making a collection box to raise money for Purim Schlachmones baskets for the congregation’s ill and elderly. The children’s religious class used the money to purchase little extras for the baskets. We thank Polina for organizing the delivery of the baskets. Everyone helped observe this beautiful tradition.
     We thank Dieter for an interesting excursion to Springe. Thanks also to Dieter for representing our community at a podium discussion in Hessisch Oldendorf.
     We thank Valerij Friedmann for organizing the concert for International Women’s Day.
     Last but not least, we thank Mrs. Mendeleva , Mrs. Drejzer and Mrs. Varschavska for books for our community library.

Mazel Tov
     Mazel Tov to Greta Golbereg for qualifying for the German table tennis team of the Makkabi Games. She will travel with the team for the European Games this July in Rome. The Games will travel on to Israel in 2009. The Makkabi Games are the Olympic Games for Jewish children and youth. Good luck, Greta! We are very proud of you!

Birthdays in April
     Happy birthday to all who have a April birthday. Join us on Friday, April 27th, 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.

Yahrzeit — We remember:

     Tetjana Khodos — April 4, 1998 / 8. Nissan 5758

     Anna Potozkaja — April 11, 2000 / 6. Nissan 5760

     Evgenia Borischanskaja — April 26, 2004 / 5. Iyar 5764

Please join the congregation and family to say Kaddish at services for them.

Shalom,
     —Your synagogue board

Program for April 2007 • Nissan–Iyar 5767 Sunday, April 1 3:00 p.m. Schiur: “Pesach” with Rabbi Irit Shillor Monday, April 2 4:00 p.m. Community Pesach Seder led by Rabbi Irit Shillor Monday, April 9 12:00 p.m. "Judaism "class in Russian with Volodymr Pesok Tuesday, April 10 4:00 p.m. Video Afternoon: Russian film with V. Friedmann Thursday, April 12 3:30 p.m. “Young and Jewish Hamelin Jr.” with R. Dohme 4:30 p.m. B’nei Mitzvah class 7:00 p.m. Lecture: “Jewish Identity” with Gábor Lengyel Kapitalsaal, Münster Church Friday, April 13 5:00 p.m. Friday night services with Jona Simon Guest: Rabbi Edward van Voolen, Abraham Geiger College Saturday, April 14 10:00 a.m. Shabbat morning services/Torah study with Jona Simon Tuesday, April 17 10:00 a.m. Class visit: Rinteln High School with R. Dohme Saturday, April 21 6:00 p.m. Benefit Concert: Aviane Piniane & Sergei Kolmanovski, Kurie Jerusalem Auditorium, Kopmanshof. Free admission; contributions for the Synagogue project welcomed Tuesday, April 24 4:00 p.m. “Russian Afternoon” with Maya Olvovska Thursday, April 26 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 Thursday, April 26 7:00 p.m. Yom Ha’Azmaut Slide Show with Itzchak Ganor JNF Delegate to Germany. Free admission; we’re collecting for “Ya’ar Hameln” a Hamelin forest in Israel! Friday, April 27 5:00 p.m. Friday night services with Rabbi Irit Shillor Saturday, April 28 10:00 a.m. Shabbat morning services/Torah study with Rabbi Irit Shillor Activities Outside our Congregation Thursday, April 12 7:00 p.m. Christian-Jewish Society Lecture: “Jewish Identity” with Gábor Lengyel. Kapitalsaal, Münster Church April 15–29 daily 2–8 p.m. Quilt exhibit “Patterns of Life,” St. Elisabeth Church Saturday, April 21 6:00 p.m. Benefit Concert: Aviane Piniane & Sergei Kolmanovski, Kurie Jerusalem Auditorium, Kopmanshof. Free admission; contributions for the Synagogue project welcomed

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