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Dear members, friends and supporters,
On Sunday, the 10th of June, we enjoyed a big children's party in our community. At beautiful summer temperatures both children and grownups were able to enjoy many games that taught of Jewish life, religion and culture. And members of “Jung und Jüdisch Hannover” helped greatly by offering fun games in the yard. They taught of Jewish Holidays and enhanced the experience with fruit from Israel. Children and adults baked challot together in the kitchen and sang Jewish songs at the piano. Boris taught the guests various Jewish dances in the youth room while the Schlicha Michal Tal had the kids fill out a quiz about Israel. After drawing pictures the children were shown a big map of Russia to see the
various places many of our community members came from. It was a colorful and joyous afternoon where many new faces were able to see our community from the inside.
A very special and joyful event took place on Shabbat Korach, the 16th of June, when Malin Chaja Wendt celebrated her first Aliya, where she was called to the Torah for the first time as a Bat Mitzva. Many community members, guests, friends and Wendt family members watched in amazement while Malin presented her skills in Hebrew as she confidently read from the Torah. In her thoughts and words concerning this Shabbat, Malin spoke of the unity of a community and of its importance. She expressed her joy and appreciation when describing how the older generation is busy planting the roots of a new synagogue in Hamelin for the younger generation to enjoy. Rabbi Irit Shillor lead the festive service.
The Torah was symbolically given to Malin's mother, Elke Wendt, who passed it on to Malin. This procedure represented the continuity of one generation passing on the essence of Judaism to the next.
In a short speech the proud father expressed the Wendt family's gratitude for the people who came from the former Soviet Union to Germany with the driving force to create new Jewish communities in Germany: “Without you we wouldn't be here today, we celebrate this day in gratitude to you.” Community representative Rachel Dohme joyfully declared Malin to be the fifth Bat Mitzva and spoke for everyone when she highlighted the egalitarian treatment of boys and girls in a liberal Jewish community.
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Rebekka Dohme with her beautiful voice and Faina Pelts at the piano gave a short concert of Jewish songs and melodies in honor of Malin's special day. The numerous guests were able to experience the joyous event in an impressive manner. After saying the festive Kiddush, the guests enjoyed a delicious buffet. Jewish delicacies were prepared with love and fantastic creativity. Throughout the community there was much to talk about: Malin was hugged and loaded down with presents with a reoccurring “Mazel Tov” from all sides. Such a wonderful day reminds others of his or her own Bar or Bat Mitzva and prepares the young ones for their special day to come. Malin thanked the many people of the community who had helped her prepare for this important event. It was more than apparent to anyone who was there, that here celebrated a community in unison, a community that carries and supports its members, a community that is proud of its Jewish religion and future generation.
Jewish Events in July and August
Music and Word is a series of events with an already existing tradition. This year, Rachel Dohme and Christa Bruns will read the texts explaining “Shabbat-Sunday, Time for God.” A musical accompaniment will be presented by mezzo-soprano Rebekka Dohme. We would like to invite all community members and the Freundeskreis to come to “our evening” on the 11th of July at 6:15pm.
At Hameln's Culture-Festival our community will have an Info-stand. Dieter Vogelhuber will be taking care of organizational matters. Helpers should please contact Dieter. Our community is a significant part of Hameln's cultural landscape and it is of importance to show our “face” at this festival! The culture-fest will be taking place on Saturday, 14th of July from 11am to 6pm.
The Annual Conference of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany will be taking place in Berlin from the 12th to the 15th of July. This year we will be celebrating the establishment of the Union ten years ago, in the Centrum Judaicum, with famous people of the Jewish world, and those in and outside of Germany. Our community will be represented by many members at the Conference. We wish those attending a successful Conference!
The Summer Machane Yehonatan is the Jewish summer camp from the 24th of July to the 5th of August in Tirol. Six children of the community will be going to camp. We wish our children a wonderful time and lots of fun at the Machane! We thank the Catholic Churches and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation for the subsidies for the children.
Greta Golbereg will be participating in the European Makkabi-Games (Jewish Olympia) in Rome as a member of the German table-tennis team. We wish her luck and success!
On the 12th of August at 3 p.m. we invite all children of the community to meet American exchange student Benyamin Meschede. Benyamin will be staying in Germany for a year, and for that time he will be a member of our community. Our youth group “Jung und Jüdisch Hameln” is happy to have a new member.
Rabbinical Support for the Community
We are grateful that Rabbi Irit Shillor will be coming to us more frequently next year. The nearly monthly visits promote the continuing work of the community. We enjoy learning and participating in services with her every time. We thank her for the excellent support this past year, and we are especially thankful for the endless hours she has invested in creating our new Kabbalath Shabbat Siddurim (prayer books). We also thank the European Region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, which supports us.
New Etzei Chajim (Tora Sticks)
We thank Rabbi Irit Shillor for buying, bringing and sewing the new Eztei Chajim (Torah sticks) from Israel into our Sefer Torah scrolls—just in time for the Bat Mitzva! The old Torah sticks were older than 100 years. Rabbi Shillor sewed the Torah scrolls onto the new sticks with a kosher needle and kosher thread to hole the Torah in place. Due to the rarity of this event, the Hamelin newspaper DeWeZet came to observe the rabbi's craftsmanship. Thanks to Rabbi Shillor we now have a lasting and durable Torah. Todah Rabah!
Summer Break
The “Russian Afternoon” and “Movie Afternoon” will be taking a break in July and August, only to return to their normal schedule in the fall. Other courses offered by the community (German, dance, yoga, religion class for children) are taking breaks at differing times—interested people should please talk to the according course leader.
Contributions
- We are thankful for the generous donations of all the members and dear friends who support the establishment of the Synagogue.
- We thank Faina and Felix Pelts, Ms. Ute Gibas, and Ms. Ursula Niedert.
- We also thank Ms. Elaine Spanier and Ms. Audrey Marcus, both from the U.S., for their generous donations.
- We would like to thank the Catholic Church and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation for the subsidies for our youth work. Your donations allow our children to take part in the Summer Machene (summer camp).
Tree of Life
Forms to buy a leaf are available in the office; one leaf costs 50 Euros. Please donate a leaf! Help us build a Synagogue for Hamelin! The Felix and Faina Pelts family donated a leaf: “In Honor of our Mother and Grandmother's 70th Birthday. Mazel Tov!”
Mazel Tov
- To Malin Chaja Wendt for her Bat Mitzva. Malin had her first Aliya (call to the Torah) on Schabbat Korach.
- We congratulate our sister community in Bad Segeberg to the opening of their community center.
Thank you — Todah Rabah
- We thank all the hard-working hands who helped us create the events and celebrations in June. We would like to thank Liubov Pesina, Polina Pelts and all community members who brought home made delicacies to the buffet at Malin's Bat Mitzva. Thank you Faina Pelts and Rebekka Dohme for the wonderful concert given after the Bat Mitzva services. Malin would like to say thank you for all the presents and congratulating words.
- Thank you to Freundeskreis member Sabine Stuecke who organized an interesting afternoon in our community where she talked about her honorary work at “Yad Sara” in Israel.
- Thank you to Abraham Geiger Student Jona Simon for visiting the community. We would also like to thank his mentor Rabbi Edward van Voolen who visited us on Jona's last weekend. Our weekly Shabbat Torah studies were enhanced by Rabbi van Voolen's intellectual contribution.
- Thank you to Family Schuropov and Pesok for donating books and videos to our community library.
Freundeskreis
We would like to welcome Mr. Peter Henry Blase as a member of our Freundeskreis. We are happy to see Peter in our community regularly. Since he was a teenager, Peter was a member of the group “Network Federations” and is acquainted with many members.
Birthdays in July and August
We would like to congratulate everyone whose birthday is in July and August. After Kabbalath Shabbat services on the 20th of July and the 24th of August, we will be celebrating their birthdays during the Kiddush. Come and celebrate with us!
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 (05151-13204) or the office at 05151-925625.
 Yahrzeit — We remember:
Natalia Zayachenko — July 1, 2003 / 1 Tammuz 5763
Please join the congregation and family to say Kaddish at services for them.
Shalom,
—Your synagogue board
Program for July–August 2007 • Tammuz–Av–Elul 5767
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| Sunday, July 1 |
12:30 p.m. |
Sunday Café: Düsseldorf Jewish Congregation visit; Cake and coffee and tour of Jewish Hameln (German and Russian) |
| Friday, July 6 |
5 p.m. |
Friday night services with Rachel and Rebekka Dohme |
| Saturday, July 7 |
3 p.m. |
Lecture: “Jewish Liturgy” with Itamar Baum (German and Russian) |
| Wednesday, July 11 |
6:15 p.m. |
Music and Word series: “Shabbat and Sunday—A Time for God” With Rachel Dohme, Christa Bruns and Rebekka Dohme, St. Bonifatius Lutheran Church |
| Saturday, July 14 |
11 till 6 p.m. |
Hamelin Cultural Festival: Congregational Info booth, Am Pferdemarkt in the Old City |
| Friday, July 20 |
5 p.m. |
Friday night services with Rachel and Rebekka Dohme Guest cantorial soloist, Jeremy Wasser |
| Saturday, July 21 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
| Saturday, July 28 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
| Friday, August 3 |
5 p.m. |
Friday night services with R. Dohme and Jeremy Wasser |
| Saturday, August 4 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
| Saturday, August 11 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
| Sunday, August 12 |
3 p.m. |
Welcome Party for Benyamin Meschede |
| Saturday, August 18 |
10 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with D. Vogelhuber |
| Friday, August 24 |
5 p.m. |
Friday night services with Rachel and Rebekka Dohme |
Activities outside our congregation
| Wednesday, July 11 |
6:15 p.m. |
Music and Word series: “Shabbat and Sunday—A Time for God” With Rachel Dohme, Christa Bruns and Rebekka Dohme, St. Bonifatius Lutheran Church |
| Saturday, July 14 |
11 till 6 p.m. |
Hamelin Cultural Festival: Congregational Info booth, Am Pferdemarkt in the Old City |
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