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Dear members, friends and supporters,
Spring has finally sprung and the congregation was abuzz with a myriad of activities during the last month of May. The month reflected the lives of our People—some tragic and sorrowful, some miraculous and joyous.
We stood together remembering the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis in a time when pure evil ruled and the world turned away on Yom haShoah. We remembered our fallen heros who fought against tyranny on Memorial Day, May 9th. We rejoiced with Israel as she celebrated her 60th birthday on Yom haAzma'ut. We celebrated Lag B'Omer with a traditional picnic.
The mood was solemn on Yom haShoah as we gathered together to read prayers and poems commemorating the six million. Six members lit six yellow candles in a moving ceremony. In particular, the reading “The Girl with the Apple” underscored that even in the darkest of times, gemilut chasidim—deeds of loving kindness sustain our humanity. After the memorial service the congregation joined together to celebrate Shabbat.
We remembered those who lost their lives fighting against fascism in prayer, text and song on May 9th with a program organized by Matvey Dvortsis. The warm and loving atmosphere encouraged members to share personal stories from the horrible war years. Spontaneously people stood and spoke, and soon the room was filled with a mosaic of memories of those who came before us. Both these days guarantee that we will never forget.
Who could have dreamt, after the Shoah, that a Jewish Homeland could one day exist? But just that was what David ben Gurion proclaimed to the world on May 14, 1948. Our Yom haAzma'ut celebration was opened with the reading of Israel's declaration of independence and a message from Minister President Shimon Peres. The children and youth of our religious school presented a program, directed by our youth leader Sivan Gaides. The children presented a play that took us through Israel's six decades in word and song. Special thanks to the moms for all the costumes and props! The 80 members and guests showered our youngsters with applause, and after a lively
Israeli dance performance by Boris Markhaseev and his class, everyone enjoyed the Israeli buffet and especially the blue and white birthday cake. How gratifying to know that Israel's 60th was celebrated in Hamelin and in our congregation. In honor of this special anniversary, we also offered a concert of Israeli music the following week. Ludmilla Shapiro performed her program “I sing to thee, my Israel.”
Our rabbinical student Adrian Schell celebrated Lag B'Omer with us on May 23rd. We'll have a full report in our next newsletter.
Jewish June
In June, we will celebrate two holidays together. Yom Jerusalayim falls this year on Monday, June 2nd. Volodymr Pesok will give a short lecture on the meaning of the day, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem after the 6-Day War in 1967. He'll also speak about the meaning and importance of Shavuoth. These lectures will be held in Russian.
The congregation will celebrate Shavuoth with our Rabbi Irit Shillor on Sunday, June 8th and 9th.We'll begin on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. with an erev Shavuoth service. Please bring a cheesecake of a “milchige” dish to share for the festive Kiddush after the service.
Shavuoth is also known as “Feast of Weeks” falling 7 weeks after Pesach and “Feast of the First Fruits”, because it coincides with the first harvest of grains in Israel. We will read the Book of Ruth and our sanctuary will be decorated with colorful flowers, adding to the festive nature of the holiday which celebrates the giving and receiving of the Torah. As liberal Jews, tradition is important to us and we are pleased to once again offer a Tikun leyl Shavuot, a night of learning beginning at 8:00 PM and ending with a sunrise Shacharit service. Rabbi Shillor has prepared a fascinating night of learning, our theme this year is the concept of Gan Eden, the Garden of Eden. Whether you can stay for a part of the service or the entire night long, we look forward to seeing you. Please let us know if you're coming by June 6th so that we know how much “Midnight soup” to prepare.
 
Benyamin Meschede-Krasa Becomes Bar Mitzvah on July 5th
A special year draws to a close for a special young man. Last summer we welcomed Benyamin Meschede-Krasa with an ice cream party into our community. Benyamin is spending the year in Germany as an exchange student and staying with relatives here. The year has flown by and Benyamin has been a regular at congregation events. Members as well as his teachers, Rabbi Shillor, Rabbinical Student Adrian Schell and Schlicha Sivan Gaides have all enjoyed working with him. It was a pleasure for the community to get to know his German family during this past year. Before Benyamin returns home in July and one day after his 13th birthday, he wishes to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah with our congregation. Please join Benyamin and his family on Saturday, July 5th at 10:00 AM, Shabbat Chukat, as he is called to the Torah for the first time. A festive Kiddush will follow the service. We are honored to celebrate this special day with Benyamin and his American and German family.
14th National Conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany
This year's national conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany (UPJG) will be held once again in Berlin-Spandau. From Thursday, July 10th, until Sunday, July 13th, liberal Jews from our UPJG communities will join together for four days of communal learning, socializing and prayer. This years' conference theme is “Liberal Judaism in Germany today”. Conference languages are German, Russian and English. Registration forms are available in the synagogue office and online at www.liberale-juden.de.
Summer Activities for Kids and Teens
An outing has been planned by our member Dr. Julia Berhovski for the children and youth of our religious school. Peter Blase and Dr. Berhovski will chaperone the group on an exciting weekend trip to Berlin, where they will be met by our rabbinical student, Adrian Schell. The program includes a tour of Jewish Berlin and a museum visit. We thank Julia for her initiative, which will certainly be fun and strengthen their Jewish identity of our youngsters.
The Youth Department of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany offers this year's “Machane Yehonatan” for children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 17. This year's summer camping program will take place in Denmark from July 29th to August 10th, 2008. Information is available in the office. The Machane will cost €420 and limited financial assistance will be available. Register your children for Jewish learning, sports, games and fun!
New Members
Do you know anyone in Hamelin who is looking for an active Jewish community? Please have them contact us and we will provide them with information about our congregation. Our door is open and we welcome new members.
Friends
We welcome Mr. Andreas Schirmeyer to our Friends group. Friends are welcome at all our congregational events.
Contributions
We thank the community members and friends who have so generously supported our communal life and synagogue construction plans with their contributions: Mrs. Rimma Kopirovskaya, Bishop Dr. Josef Homeyer, Mr. Andreas Schirmeyer, the Dohme family and Dieter Vogelhuber. May you all be blessed for your generosity.
Tree of Life
Three new leaves have sprouted on our Tree of Life. Leaf for leaf we get closer to our aim of building a synagogue. Newly ordered leaves bring the total to 201 leaves:
- Dieter Vogelhuber: In honor of my grandchildren, Lea, Sarah, of blessed memory and Benjamin
- Dohme family: In loving memory of Uncle James Price 1907–2008
Leaves can be ordered through our office or by contacting Rachel Dohme at racheldohme@cvmx.de. Each leaf costs €54 (triple chai). Contribute a leaf and help us to build our synagogue!
Thank You — Todah Rabah
We thank Bishop Dr. Josef Homeyer, from Hildesheim, patron of our foundation Liberal Synagogue Hameln, who spoke at the Forum of the Business High School,
“Europe and its History of Guilt” and donated contributions to our building fund. We also thank the school for the opportunity to present our building project during the evening.
Our thanks to Boris Markhaseev and his dancers for their performances for “Sunday Café” and Yom haAzma'ut festivities. We thank Mr. Jevdokimov for his presentation.
Thanks to Dr, Julian Berhovski, Peter Blase and Adrian Schell for organizing the field trip to Berlin for our youth. We wish to thank each and everyone who helped to make our May events such a success.
Birthdays in June
For all those celebrating a June birthday, the very best wishes for health and happiness. We have a small gift for all our June Birthdays after services on June 20th. Join the party!
Refuah Schlama — Get Well Wishes
We wish all who are confined to their homes or in the hospital a complete recovery. If you would like a visit please contact the synagogue office.
Condolences
Our condolences to the Ziskand family on the death of Sonija Kaspler , of blessed memory. The funeral was held at the Jewish cemetery “Am Wehl” on May 15th.
Yahrzeits in June — We remember:
Ilya Latkov — June 5,1998 / Sivan 11, 5758
Matvey Slavinskiy — June 23, 1998 / Sivan 29, 5758
May their memory be a blessing. Please join us at services as we recite Kaddish with family members. Yahrzeit candles are available through the synagogue office.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for June 2008 • Iyar–Sivan 5768
Office hours: Mon., Wed. & Fri., 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon and Tues. & Thurs., 9.00 a.m.–4.00 p.m. |
| Monday, June 2 |
12 noon |
Introduction to Judaism class in Russian Topics: Yom Jerusalem and Shavuoth, V. Pesok |
| Tuesday, June 3 |
9:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m. |
Monthly synagogue board meeting
Video Afternoon, M. Dvortsis |
| Thursday, June 5 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Religious school, S. Gaides
B'nei Mitzvah class, S. Gaides
“Shalom, jr” choir practice, F. Pelts
Hebrew for adults, S. Gaides |
| Friday, June 6 |
5:00 p.m. |
Friday night services led by Rachel and Rebekka Dohme |
| Sunday, June 8 |
12:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Sunrise |
Rabbi Shillor's monthly visit:
Giyur class
B'nei Mitzvah class
Erev Shavuoth services
Everyone bring a cheesecake please.
Tikun haLaila-study night: ”Garden of Eden”
Sign up in the office
Shacharit service |
| Saturday, June 14 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study, D. Vogelhuber |
| Monday, June 16 |
4:00 p.m. |
Society of Christians and Jews, Discussion: The Pope's Good Friday speech |
| Wednesday, June 18 |
4:00 p.m. |
Slide presentation: Chagall, H-G Spangenberger |
| Thursday, June 19 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Religious school, S. Gaides
B'nei Mitzvah class, S. Gaides
“Shalom, jr” choir practice
Hebrew for adults, S. Gaides |
| Friday, June 20 |
3:30 p.m.
5.00 p.m. |
B'nei Mitzvah class, rabbinical student A. Schell
Friday night services, rabbinical student A. Schell,
Guest: Rabbi Leipziger, Abraham Geiger Seminary, Potsdam |
| Saturday, June 21 |
10:00 p.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study,
rabbinical student A. Schell |
| Tuesday, June 24 |
4:00 p.m. |
Russian Afternoon; Slide presentation art history, M. Olvovskaja |
| Saturday, June 28 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study, R. Dohme |
| Sunday, June 29 |
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Congregational Outing: Liberal Jewish Congregation Hamburg
Details and sign up list in the office |
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