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Dear members, friends and supporters,
Our congregation has been a busy place in the last weeks. We observed moving memorial services, celebrated Shabbat and Jom HaAzmaut together and enjoyed cultural activities too. It is clear that an active congregational life is the direct result of dedicated volunteers. We awarded 38 members certificates of appreciation for this dedicated service to their community during services last month and want to take the opportunity to mention them again.
Faina Pelts, Nadja Pesok, Mark Ovsievijch, Valerij Fridman, Aron Kaplan, Alla Drejzer, Dieter Vogelhuber, Anna Arnautova, Polina Pelts, Rebekka Dohme, Inna Golbereg, Rebecca Brückner, Rudi Brückner, Volodymr Pesok, Elena Dmitrieva, Alex Grogulinski, Eva Shkolnikova, Dora Vinitskaja, Nina Sinizina, Maja Olvovska, Larissa Chapira, Arkadij Ziranov, Josif Pelts, Larissa Dvortsis, Genrietta Baschmatschnikova, Jana Vainberg, Boris Markhasev, Evgenij Jevdokimov, Matvey Dvortsis, Soja Varschavska, Felix Peres, Elena Gorbacheva, Feana Engler, Rachel Dohme, Emma Lebendinska, Uwe Wolandowitsch, Inessa Lipovitsch and Genrik Lemunski.
“A congregation is only as good as its members.” —Rabbi Dr. Henry Brandt
Holidays in June
We observe Jom Jerusalem on June 6. On this day we remember the reunification of the city of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967.
On June 12–13, we observe Shavuot. Shavuot is also known as the “Festival of Weeks” as it occurs seven weeks after Pesach. Pesach, the “Festival of Freedom” and Shavuot, the “Festival of the receiving of the Law” go hand in hand. Also known as the “Festival of the first fruits” is reason enough to decorate the synagogue with fresh flowers. We read from the Book of Ruth during services and a special custom is “Tikkun leil Shavuot”, when we study Torah texts throughout the night. We invite everyone to join us as Rabbi Shillor leads this night of learning. We’ll begin on Sunday, June 12, at 8:30 and end with a Shacharit sunrise service the following day.
We also remember that it was only eight years ago, on June 27, 1987, that the Union Of Progressive Jews was established. We are proud to have been a part of this organization from the beginning. Much has been achieved in the last 8 years but there’s still much to do. We hope that the Central Council of Jews of Germany (Zentralrat) will honor their promises obligations to fully and completely integrate our Reform congregations and achieve true religious and financial equality as foreseen by the government.
Membership Meeting
Members will find an invitation to a special membership meeting, to be held on June 19. There is only one issue. Due to personal reasons, board member and treasurer Matvey Dvortsis has resigned his post effective July 1. We need to elect his replacement. Matvey has done a superb job, and we thank him for his years of dedicated work. We wish him all the best and are pleased that he will continue to be an active member of the congregation.
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Former Hameln Jews Visit
The city of Hameln and the Society for Christian-Jewish Solidarity have invited the former Jewish residents of Hameln for a one-week visit. Was it really two years ago and also Shavuot since their last visit? We’re very pleased to once again welcome them, their host families and city representatives to a Friday night service to be led by Rabbi Irit Shillor. A special program point will occur on Wednesday, June 8, at 10:00 a.m. when one of the guests from Israel, Mr. Gabriel Goldschmidt will speak about his life. The public is welcome.
Rabbi Irit Shillor
We are pleased to welcome the former Jewish residents of Hameln to a Friday night service on June 10, led by our Rabbi Irit Shillor. Please mark your calendars for our Tikkun leil Shavuot beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday night, June 12, and ending with a sunrise service on June 13.
Rabbinical Student Alina Treiger
Alina visits us for the last time in this Jewish year on the weekend of June 24. Join us in prayer on Friday evening, June 24, and again on Saturday morning, June 25, at 10:00 a.m. Alina will instruct the B’nei Mitzvah class following services.
Jewish Education
What is more important than the Jewish education of our children? Our children and youth are our future. Our congregation has always striven to make our children our priority. Our children and youth can take part in one or more than 3 groups. Rebeccca Brückner’s children’s group for the little ones, Inna Golbereg’s Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln for teens and of course, B’nei Mitzvah class, taught by Orly Kenig, Rabbi Shillor and Alina Treiger. If your child or grandchild isn’t a part of these classes, sign him/her up right away! Classes are free for members and their children.
Rachel in Moscow
Our congregational president, Rachel Dohme, will take part as a delegate at the 32nd International Conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Moscow, Russia from June 29 to July 5. She will take part in a podium discussion and speak about the development of Reform congregations in Germany. Eleven delegates will attend the conference from Germany.
Active Members
Many of our members, through their activities, heighten public awareness toward Reform Judaism in general and our congregation in particular. Rebecca Brückner and Rachel Dohme instruct public school classes who visit our congregation, Dieter Vogelhuber offers an excellent course on Israel, Rabbi Shillor’s “Rabbi’s Table” is open to the public and well attended. We were present at an information stand at the Church Fair in Hanover and Rebekka Dohme was an invited guest at the German president’s garden party honoring Germany and Israel’s 40 years of diplomatic relationship.
UPJ Summer Camp
This year’s summer camp will be held in Straelen, near the Dutch border. Camp runs from July 28 to August 7. Camp is open to youngsters between the ages of 8 and 17. The cost is 350 Euros. Registration forms are available in the office. Youngsters from Netzer Olami Holland will join our group.
UPJ Conference
This year’s annual conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany will be held in Berlin July 14–17. The conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other members and leaders from sister congregations in Germany for four days of Jewish learning. Not only can one exchange ideas and experiences but also take part in beautiful Sabbath services. Registration forms are available in the office.
Contributions
May the following be blessed for their generous contributions to the general fund of the congregation: Pesok family, “Network Bünde”, Mrs. Christine Whitelaw, Catholic Church of Hameln and the Society for Christian- Jewish Solidarity.
For the synagogue fund: Mrs. Gibas, Mrs. Heckmann and Mrs. Faina Pelts.
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Todah Rabah — Thank You
We thank the members of the task force “A Synagogue for Hameln” and the graphic artist firm of bme Hannover for their assistance in creating the soon-to-be-published brochure (German and English) which we will use to raise funds for the synagogue project. We also thank all those who helped make our May community events—Jom HaShoah, Memorial Day May 9, Jom Ha Azmaut und Lag BaOmer—so successful. We also wish to thank the Catholic Church and the Society for Christian-Jewish Solidarity for their kind contributions to our youth program.
Once again we thank the Moses Mendelsohn Center, Potsdam, for selecting Arnold Oppler’s design for our new synagogue as their 2004 journal cover.
Tree of Life
We ask you to help us build our synagogue by buying an “leaf” on our Tree of Life. Each leaf costs a minimum of $54 and can be ordered online. Just go to “Tree of Life”. Our tree now has 134 leaves but there’s room for many more! We thank Larissa Dvortsis for taking on the job of creating an accompanying album for our Tree. Each benefactor will be listed along with the inscription.
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
Mazel Tov to member Dr. Oleg Rubanov on the opening of his new practice. Dr. Rubanov specializes in internal medicine, oncology and hematology. Member Rimma Rubanov works with him. Internet is: www.onkologie-rubanov.de.
June Birthdays
Happy and healthy birthday to all those born in June. A birthday Kiddush will be held on June 24.
Refuah Schlama — Get well wishes
We wish all who are ill at home or in the hospital a speedy and complete recovery. Give us a call in the office if you’d enjoy a visit from a member of the congregation’s Bikur Cholim group or call Eva Shkolnikova, chairwoman at 05151 23842.
Yahrzeit — May their memory be for a blessing
Ilja Latkov — June 5, 1998/ 11 Sivan 5758
Matvey Slavinskiy — June 23, 1998/ 29 Sivan 5758
Yahrzeit candles are available in the office for 2,50 Euros.
Shalom,
— Your Synagogue Board
Program for June 2005; Iyar–Sivan 5765
June 2 3 p.m. Hebrew for adults
Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln
4 p.m. B’nei Mitzvah class
June 6 3 p.m. Children’s religious class
June 7 4 p.m. History lecture (Russian) 2 Euros
June 8 10 a.m. Special guest:
Gabriel Goldschmidt, Bnei Brak, Israel: “My Life”
June 10 5 p.m. Friday night services with Rabbi Shillor
June 12–13 8:30 p.m.
–sunrise Tikkun leil Shavuot with Rabbi Shillor
June 14 4 p.m. Video: Goodbye, Lenin
June 16 3 p.m. Hebrew for adults
Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln
4 p.m. B’nei Mitzvah class
June 19 3 p.m. Membership meeting
June 20 3 p.m. Children’s religious class
June 24 5 p.m. Friday night services
June 25 10 a.m. Saturday morning services
1:30 p.m. B’nei Mitzvah class
June 28 5 p.m. “Russian Afternoon” art history lecture
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