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Dear members and friends,
Taking part in our congregational life reminds each of us time and again how we are like one big family. Let us take a moment to review the many joyous moments we shared in May.
We began with the visit of Itamar Baum from Freiburg. His one-day visit was filled from morning until evening. Itamar beautifully led the congregation in a Shabbat morning service and Torah reading. Shabbat evening, we met again for a fascinating Schiur (lecture) on the deeper meaning of prayer. Both our German and Russian speaking members enjoyed a lively and intellectual exchange with him. A Havdallah ceremony ended this special day of Jewish learning. We are planning to have Itamar visit our community on a regular basis beginning in fall. He will offer a six-session seminar, and we hope many of our members will make time for this opportunity to intensify and deepen their Jewish knowledge and identity.
We were delighted to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the Reformed Lutheran Church of Hamelin. We planted a cedar tree in their biblical garden and enjoyed an afternoon with them. Our synagogue will stand almost next door to this church, making us neighbors.
It is our hope that our tree and friendship grow strong together.
Our congregation held a Memorial Day Commemoration on May 9th. This day commemorates the end of WWII. Many members helped to make this a special evening. Prayer, poetry, song, good food, and the opportunity to remember our loved ones made for a very moving evening.
In cooperation with the Society for Christians and Jews, we took part in a two-part discussion titled “Christians Ask—Jews Answer” and “Jews Ask—Christians Answer.” Both evenings were successful, and we hope to extend the series this fall with the title “Jews and Christians in Dialogue.” We believe that such discussions help to establish positive feelings of respect and tolerance between peoples of all faiths.
A very special Kabbalath Shabbat was celebrated with the visit of San Diego Rabbis Debbie Prinz and husband Mark Hurvitz. The sanctuary was filled as we prayed and sang together. Rabbi Prinz delivered a moving sermon, and Rabbi Hurvitz presented us with his recently published Pesach Haggadah. Everyone enjoyed good food and conversation after services. The evening ended with Faina on the piano and Rabbi Mark on the flute, leading us in song.
This visit was an important and living example that we are part of the big family of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. We hope the next visit is sooner than later!
We celebrated Lag BaOmer with a congregational picnic in the garden of the Reformed Lutheran Church. Over 50 members and guests from our “Friends” joined us for a short service and barbeque. Kosher hot dogs and homemade salads were shared under sunny skies.
All of our services and activities involve many hours of planning and hard work. We thank all our members for helping to make our congregational life so meaningful.
Remembering Dr. Paul Spiegel, z”l
We mourn the death on April 30 of Dr. Paul Spiegel. He will be missed as a unique voice of morality and unification and in his role as president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (Zentralrat). Dr. Spiegel's vision of cohesion, and his groundbreaking efforts on behalf of the diverse populations of Jews in Germany, led to reconciliation among many and to the opening of the communal German framework to the Reform/Progressive communities. As a Holocaust survivor, political correspondent, and president of the Zentralrat, Dr. Spiegel made his strong voice heard as he criticized violence and condemned anti-Semitism while encouraging tolerance and the acceptance of others. Our congregation created a condolence book, which we have sent to his family. |
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June Holidays
Shavuoth, seven weeks after Pesach, will be celebrated in the month of Sivan. Shavuoth is one of our three pilgrimage festivals. We have learned that each and every Jew should feel as if he or she receives the
Torah anew each Shavuoth. Each and every one of us feels as if we stand at Sinai.
On June 1st we will celebrate this holiday with our rabbinical student, Gábor Lengyl. It is traditional to read from the Book of Ruth. Another tradition is to enjoy dishes made of milk. The symbolism is that the receiving of the Ten Commandments is likened to the sweetness of milk and honey. We ask everyone to bring their favorite recipe of cheesecake with them for our festive Kiddush table.
Claims Conference
Special office hours are offered for members who have forms for Claims Conference. The hours are Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m.. Please make an appointment with Faina.
Diploma
It is our pleasure to announce that our social worker, Faina Pelts has earned her diploma as “Certified Social worker for foreign workers and their families”. We congratulate Faina and say Kol Ha Kavod-good work! Mazel Tov to her excellent achievement!
Union of Progressive Jews of Germany (UPJ)
Mark your calendars for these important dates for your children and you!
- July 25–August 6: Summer Camp in Tyrol, Italy for youth 8–17 years of age. Registration forms are in the office.
- Twelfth annual conference of the UPJ in Berlin/Spandau July 13–16. Flyers and registration forms are available in the office and on the UPJ Web site, www.liberale-juden.de.
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Rabbi Irit Shillor
Our rabbi will make her fourth visit to us this year. The “Rabbi's Table” discussion will start things off. In the afternoon, she will take over the children's religious school class and in the evening, she will offer a Schiur or lecture on reading the Bible from a liberal perspective. Make a point of joining us for an interesting evening. Friday morning Rabbi Shillor has open office hours for anyone wishing an appointment or home visit. The Giyur class will meet with her in the afternoon and we will all join together for Friday night services. We look forward to the many opportunities with our rabbi.
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
The entire congregation congratulates Rebecca and Rudi Brückner on the birth of their daughter, Naomi on May 17/19th of Iyar. Naomi is our youngest and newest member and represents the next generation of the Jewish Congregation of Hamelin. We are all so happy for the Brückner family and say Mazel Tov to big sister Miriam and big brother Gabriel. Rabbi Shillor led the community in a beautiful naming ceremony on Friday evening, May 26. Welcome Naomi!
Tree of Life
Summer brings fresh green leaves to all the trees and our tree is no different. We thank those who have added their “leaves” to our tree:
- “In memory of my father, Israel Drabkin,” from S. Posharkova
- “11th grade of the HLA 2006”
New leaves were ordered by:
- E. Lebedinska: “In memory of Boris and Adolf Chodos”
Leaves cost only $54 and can be ordered online. Just click on Tree of Life on this safe server and help us build our synagogue. Money collected from our leaves goes to our synagogue building fund.
Contributions
Please accept our heartfelt thanks for contributions to our congregation and/or building fund:
Mrs. U. Niedert, Mrs. U. Gibas, Mr. M. Schwartz, Mr. and Mrs. G. Lengyl, Mrs. H. Braun, Mrs. S. Posharkova, Mrs. E. Lebedinska, Mr. Wendel, Mrs.A. Armbrecht, Mrs. S. Demuth und Mr. A. Späth. May you all be blessed for your generosity.
Todah Rabah — Thank You
We thank the following for their support:
- The city of Hamelin and Hotel Hamelin for erecting a memorial tablet on the hotel's grounds. The tablet's inscription remembers that the hotel was a prison during the war years.
- Choirmaster Petr Chrastina for his work with our music group, “Shalom”
- Pastor Hoffmann and the Reformed Lutheran church for allowing us to use their garden for our Lag BaOmer picnic
- Family Fuksa and Dohme for contributions of books for our library
June Birthdays
Celebrate with us on Friday, June 30th after services as we recognize those members who have birthdays in June.
Refuach Schlama — Get Well Wishes
We wish all who are ill at home or in the hospital a speedy and complete recovery. Please call our Bikur Cholim chairwoman, Mrs. Friedmann if you wish a home visit.
 June Yahrzeit — We remember:
Ilja Latkow — June 5, 1998/11.Sivan 5758
Matvey Slavinski — June 23, 1998/29.Sivan 5758
May their memories be for a blessing. Please join us as we, and their families, say Kaddisch for them during Shabbat services. Yahrzeit candles are available in the office.
Shalom,
—Your synagogue board
Program for June 2006 • Sivan–Tammuz 5766
June 1 2.30 p.m “Young and Jewish Junior Hamelin”
4:00 p.m. Hebrew for adults, led by O. Kenig
5:00 p.m. Erev Shavuoth services, led by G. Lengyl
Please bring cheesecake for our Kiddush table
June 5 12:00 p.m. Introduction to Judaism in Russian, led by V. Pesok
June 6 4:00 p.m. Lecture in Russian: “Jewish History,”
led by Mr. Tiktiner
June 8 8:00 p.m. Synagogue tour and talk with the Kirchhosen
Women's Club, led by R. Dohme
June 10 5:00 p.m. “House of Religion” in Stadthagen
“Jewish Prayers” Texts and Liturgie
Rachel and Rebekka Dohme
June 11 3:00 p.m. Synagogue tour and talk with the Women's Club of
the Liberal Jewish Congregation of Hannover
led by R.Dohme and P. Pelts
June 15 11:00 a.m. Lecture: “Israel,” led by D. Vogelhuber
3:30 p.m. “Young and Jewish Junior Hamelin”
5:00 p.m. Hebrew for adults, led by O. Kenig
June 16 5:00 p.m. Friday night services, led by R. Dohme and V. Pesok
June 22 2:30 p.m. Citizenship course led by D. Vogelhuber
June 24 10:00 a.m. Shacharit services and Torah study led by R. Dohme
Rabbi Irit Shillor's Visit
June 29 11:00 a.m. “Rabbi's Table”
4:00 p.m. Children's group
7:00 p.m. Schiur Lecture: “Reading the Bible
from a liberal perspective”
June 30 9:00–11:00 p.m. Rabbi's office hours
3:00 p.m. Giyur class
5:00 p.m. Friday night services and Ritual Committee meeting
after the Oneg
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