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Dear members, friends and supporters,
Typically, announcements are made for the coming week at the conclusion of our weekly services. Religious and cultural events are announced as well as class meeting times.
Recently, upon hearing the list of offerings after the congregation sang a joyful “Adon Olam,” a guest commented, “My goodness! You certainly have an active congregational life!” Nothing says it better and underscores the events we enjoyed during the past month of May.
Our youth group, “Young and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin” took part in the city’s Children’s Festival of Religion—in fact, they “opened” the event! Elke Wendt accompanied the children and spoke about respect from a Jewish point of view, and the children then sang “Hinei ma tov” with all assembled. How wonderful to hear our children leading hundreds in this Hebrew song!
Lag B’Omer was once again a wonderful communal day. Thanks to the gracious hospitality of the Reformed Lutheran Church, we enjoyed a picnic in their lovely garden. Kosher hot dogs and luscious homemade salads followed a short service. Elke Wendt added her thoughts about Rabbi Leo Baeck and Jewish identity, and the children’s group led us in song.
Especially dignified and moving was our congregation’s memorial celebration on May 9th. As we remembered the courageous soldiers who fought to free the world from the evil of the Nazis, as we lit six yellow candles for the six million, and as we prayed and sang together, we consciously chose not to forget. We are a congregation of Jews from many different nations and many members took this opportunity to remember and honor. President Rachel Dohme shared an event from the previous evening. As is often the case, she was lecturing to a group of non-Jewish guests about our congregation. While discussing the “Reichspogrommnacht” (Night of Broken Glass) of November 9th, 1938, one of the older men from the visiting group stood up and said, “I was a member of the Hitler Youth. I threw stones through the windows of the synagogue.” Silence filled the room. He approached, took Rachel’s hand, and with tears streaming down his cheeks said, “Please forgive me. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” Sobbing, he sank into his chair in our sanctuary. How fitting then, that we honor and remember and begin the difficult work of forgiving.
Our youngest member, Naomi, shared a special May Shabbat with us. Her parents and siblings led services in honor of her first birthday. Naomi took everything in, warmed by the feeling that she is a part of our Hamelin Jewish family. May we all celebrate many birthdays with her.
Shavuoth, the Festival of Weeks and the Receiving of the Torah, was celebrated in traditional style. Our rabbi Irit Shillor led Shavuoth services and then guided us through an all-night study session—Tikkun Leyl Shavuoth. Cheesecake and a midnight soup (thank you Dieter) strengthened us through the night. Tired but happy, we joined together in a sunrise Shacharit service.
During her visit, Rabbi Shillor was also invited to speak to the Society of Christians and Jews on the topic of “The role of women in Judaism.” Who better than she can address such a topic? We see her visits as an opportunity to share Jewish thought with our non-Jewish neighbors.
It goes without saying that much happens behind the scenes of our many and varied activities. Among other things, the Children’s Festival Planning Committee met, several school classes and church groups visited our synagogue, and we could welcomed back cantorial soloist Dr. Jeremy Wasser and our young cantor Rebekka Dohme, both of whom added beauty through their voices to our services.
Thanks to our members, our congregation thrives from a healthy balance of religious and cultural programming and a friendly, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
Jewish June
On Sunday, June 10th, we will be celebrating a Children’s Festival as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations. One of many events in our 10th year, this is our way to “give back” to the community. We are inviting the non-Jewish children of Hamelin to spend a fun-filled afternoon with us learning all about Judaism through arts and crafts, dance, song, games and cooking. They will have an opportunity to learn about our religion and holidays, about the land of Israel, learn a Hebrew song or an Israeli dance, and even bake challah. Of course, refreshments will be served and a good time and positive learning experience is sure to be had by one and all.
On Shabbat Korach, Saturday, June 16th, Malin Chaja Wendt will become Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Irit Shillor will lead services as Malin receives her first Aliya. Malin will read from the Torah and share her thoughts in a short sermon. Malin becomes a religious adult on this day, and the congregation will join with her to celebrate. Malin has worked long and hard for this moment, and she hopes to share the day with everyone from the congregation. After services, Malin’s family invites everyone to a festive Kiddush buffet in her honor. Mark your calendars now and help us celebrate our fifth Bat Mitzvah!
Shalom Jona Simon
Our Abraham Geiger College rabbinical student, Jona Simon, will spend one last Shabbat weekend with us on June 1st and 2nd. College student supervisor Rabbi Edward Van Voolen will join us for the weekend. Before we send Jona off we would like to say thank you and good luck with a book for his studies next year in Israel.
L’hitraot Michal Tal
We will also have to say thank you and goodbye to our Schlicha Michal Tal. We appreciated her work with our children’s group “Young and Jewish Hamelin, Jr.,” and we will all remember her fondly long after she returns home to Israel. The children have a little surprise for her last session on June 21st.
Annual Conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany
It will be a special conference this year as the UPJG celebrates its 10th year. The festivities will be held in the Centrum Judaicum in Berlin with many international and national prominent guests. Many of our members will make the trip to Berlin and enjoy four days of Jewish learning. Program and registration information is available in the office or online at www.liberale-juden.de.
Rebekka Dohme and Jeremy Wasser
Our summer services will be enhanced through the lovely voices of our young cantor, Rebekka Dohme, home from her college studies in New York for the summer, and Dr. Jeremy Wasser, cantorial soloist from Texas. We’re thrilled to welcome them both.
Contributions
- We wish to thank the following people for their generous contributions toward our congregational life or our synagogue-building project.
- We thank Dieter Schulz, Beth and Joseph Seeley, Edith Leeser, Cantor Bernard Lowe, Bernard Rogak and Elaine Doll.
- As a result of our April concert with Aviva Piniane and Sergei Kolmanovski, 200 Euros was raised for our building project. Our Yom HaAzmaut lecture with JNF chair Itzchak Ganor yielded also 200 Euros or 20 trees for our project “Hamelin Forest” in Israel. The certificate from the JNF is framed and hanging in our sanctuary.
- Last but not least, we would like to thank the visitor groups who gave contributions this past month: the Free Church of Stadthagen, the Free Church of Afferde, and “Network Bünde.”
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Tree of Life
Many people enjoy looking at our “Tree of Life” which graces our sanctuary. The golden leaves sparkle in the sunlight and each one brings us a little closer to our dream of our own synagogue. Order a leaf now on this safe server.
New leaves in May were ordered by the Dohme family:
- Todah Rabah Rabbi David
- In honor of Polina Pelts’s 70th birthday
- Happy 18th birthday Julian David
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Todah Rabah — Thank You
Our thanks go out to all the helpful hands who made our May programs so successful.
- Thank you to Elke Wendt for working with our children’s group for the city Children’s Festival of Religion.
- Thanks to Rudi Brückner and Petro Schuropov for manning the barbeque grill at our Lag B’Omer picnic.
- A special thanks to Pastor Martin Hoffmann and the Reformed Lutheran Church for allowing us to use their beautiful garden. We thank Aron Kaplan, Polina Pelts, the Jevdokimova family, Elena Gorbacheva, and Liubov Pesina, along with all the others for Memorial Day May 9th.
- Thanks to Dieter Vogekhuber for his Shavuoth midnight soup.
- A special thanks to our kitchen team and Polina Pelts for the incredible Israeli buffet on Israel Independence Day.
Mazel Tov
We congratulate three of our members for becoming German citizens. Mazel Tov to Suja Varschavska, Adel Gurevitch, and Evgenia Drozdova. Mayor Susanne Lippmann presented each one with their citizenship document at a festive ceremony at City Hall.
June Birthdays
Please join us for a special Birthday Kiddush on Friday, June 29th. Birthday “children” will receive a small gift and the best wishes of the congregation.
Refuah Schlama — 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:
Ilja Latkov — May 5, 1998 / 11 Sivan 5758
Matvey Slavinskiy — June 23, 1998 / 29 Sivan 5758
Please join the congregation and family to say Kaddish at services for them.
Condolences
We extend our deepest condolences to Rabbi Professor Dr. Walter Jacob and wife Irene on the loss of their beloved son Daniel Jacob. May his memory be for a blessing.We also extend our condolences to the von Twistern family on their loss of our “Friends” member, Christine von Twistern.
Shalom,
—Your synagogue board
Program for June 2007 • Sivan–Tammuz 5767
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Friday, June 1
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5 p.m. |
Friday night services with Jona Simon
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| Saturday, June 2 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services with Jona Simon, Guest: Rabbi Edward Van Voolen, Abraham
Geiger College |
| Sunday, June 3 |
3 p.m. |
Sunday Café Guest: Sabine Stücke, “My internship with Yad Sarah” |
| Thursday, June 7 |
3:30 p.m. |
"Young and Jewish, Jr. Hameln" |
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4:30 p.m. |
B'nei Mitzvah class |
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5:30 p.m. |
Hebrew for adults |
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7 p.m. |
Lecture: “Israel in the Shadows of the Intifada's 5th Year” Guest: Itzchak Ganor, Chair JNF Germany |
| Saturday, June 9 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning service and Torah study with R. Dohme |
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| Sunday, June 10 |
3–7 p.m. |
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL with booths, games and fun |
| Thursday, June 14 |
7 p.m. |
Lecture: "Jewish Life Cycle" with Rabbi Irit Shillor |
| Saturday, June 16 |
10 a.m. |
BAT MITZVAH:Malin Chaja Wendt |
| Wednesday, June 20 |
4 p.m. |
In Cooperation with the Society for Christian-Jewish Solidarity, Open discussion: “Jewish-Christian Dialogue,” St. Augustinus Church |
| Thursday, June 21 |
3:30 p.m. |
"Young and Jewish, Jr. Hameln" |
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4:30 p.m. |
B'nei Mitzvah class |
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5:30 p.m. |
Hebrew for adults |
| Saturday, June 23 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with D. Vogelhuber |
| Friday, June 29 |
5 p.m. |
Friday night services with guest cantor Dr. Jeremy Wasser |
| Saturday, June 30 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
Activities outside our congregation:
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| Saturday, June 16 |
7 p.m. |
In Cooperation with the Society for Christians and Jews and the LibrarySociety Reading: "I'm from then" texts from Mascha Koleko, City Library |
| Wednesday, June 20 |
4 p.m. |
In Cooperation with the Society for Christians and Jews, Open discussion: “Jewish-Christian Dialogue,” St. Augustinus Church |
Mark your calendars: Sunday, July 1st — We will host a group from the Jewish Congregation of Düsseldorf.
Please note that we will not be accepting any new Claims Conference paperwork. We will inform you if the program will be extended next year.
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Archived Newsletters:
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