Benefit Concert for the New Synagogue
November 5, 2005
Save this date! For details, please download
flyer: MS Word version or PDF version
|
|
Dear friends, members and supporters,
We all enjoyed a warm and wonderful summer and return well rested and ready to dive back into our congregational work. We have many important things ahead of us and lots to do!
Even though we were on a summer break, the community was kept busy. Our congregants took part in the series “Music and Word”, had an information stand at the Hameln Cultural Festival, sent a large delagation to the 11th annual conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany, took part in dedication ceremonies of a memorial plaque in Bodenwerder, and contributed a Challa to the Museum for their exhibit “The History of Bread”. Congregational children enjoyed a 10-day sleepaway summer camp organized by our movement, and our congregation was host to a group of Brazilian young adults, visiting Germany for the Catholic international youth festival in Cologne. August ended with our congregation taking part in a public podium discussion about right wing extremism.
Each activity we are involved with demands preparation and personal involvement.
|
WUPJ’s associate director, Rabbi J.Oseran (middle) and the JGH contigency to the 11th annual UPJ conference in Berlin |
 |
We thank all our members who invest their time so that our congregation is well represented in local affairs. The result is a stronger congregation and a secure future.
Union of Progressive Jews
of Germany Elects New Board
Progressive Jews met for the 11th annual conference of the UPJ in Berlin this summer. It was the biggest conference ever with over 170 participants. Rabbi Joel Oseran, WUPJ also took part. Participants enjoyed four days of Jewish learning, prayer, and socializing. The conference ended with the annual membership meeting in which a new board was elected:
- President and PR — Dr. Jan Muehlstein
- Vice President, political contacts and integration of FSU immigrants — Katarina Seidler
- International Contacts — Rachel Dohme
- Contacts to FSU Congregations — Larissa Karwina
- Youth services — Ingrid Wettberg
- Integration and social services — Margarita Souslovic
- Treasurer — Jonathan Vanghel
- The UPJ and the WUPJ is engaged in ongoing talks with the Central Council of Jews in Germany concerning inclusive, fair and equal representation and distribution of governmental support for religious institutions. Outgoing WUPJ President Ruth Cohen and WUPJ President Rabbi Uri Regev met with Chancellor Schroeder to discuss possible solutions.
Summer Machene in Denmark
Our congregation sent four youngsters to the UPJ’s summer camp, held July 29 to August 8 in Denmark. The children enjoyed 10 days of Jewish learning and fun. We thank the Society for Christian and Jews and the St. Elisabeth Catholic Church for contributing to the children’s camp fees.
Jewish Education
Jewish education is certainly the priority for the future of any congregation. We offer classes at three levels — Kinder Kehilla for the littlest ones, B’nei Mitzvah class, and “Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln” for teens. Classes resume in September so please register your children now. We thank “Aktion Mensch” for a generous grant that will support our youth work.
Rabbinical Support
We are pleased that, beginning in September, rabbinical student Gabor Lengyel will serve our congregation on a monthly basis. Mr. Lengyel is a student of the rabbinical seminary in Budapest, Hungary, and the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam.
We are working hard to find a replacement for Rabbi Irit Shillor, who has taken a rabbinical post in England. We wish her all the best and look forward to her occasional visits. Rabbi Sascha Lyskovoy from Moscow would like very much to serve our congregation once a month, and talks are in progress. As always it’s a financial issue and we are asking for assistance.
Synagogue Project
Congregational members received a copy of our fundraising booklet with the mailed newsletter. We are aware of the enormity of this project and the importance this project represents historically. We carry on the liberal tradition present in German Jewish life before the war (over two-thirds of all pre-war congregations were liberal), and although our congregation is different from those who came before us, we “stand upon their shoulders”. We cannot do it alone and ask you to please help us.
Read more about the project and how you can become involved; see New Synagogue. Tax-exempt contributions to the synagogue building fund can be made through the Jewish Appleseed Foundation.
You can help our building project with the purchase of a ticket to our Benefit Concert on November 5. Tickets are available for only 12 Euros. By purchasing a ticket, not only will you enjoy a dazzling evening of Jewish music but will also help us to take another step toward our dream of our own synagogue.
Todah Rabah — Thank You
Thank you to everyone who brought in their Synagogue Project Tzedaka boxes. Rabbi Jo David of the Jewish Appleseed Foundation created the boxes especially for this purpose.
We thank the St. Elisabeth Catholic church, the Society of Christians and Jews, and “Aktion Mensch” for generous contributions toward our youth programs.
|
|
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
Mazel Tov to Rabbi Irit Shillor on her rabbinical post in England. We look forward to her visiting us occasionally and wish her all the best.
Mazel Tov to Tanja and David Seidler on the birth of their baby daughter, Levia.
Mazel Tov to our sister congregation in Hannover on their new Torah, which will be celebrated with Rabbi Dr. H. C. Henry Brandt on September 17. |
New Member
We welcome Elisabeth Bruns in our congregation. Elisabeth has been a constant guest, and we are pleased to officially accept her as a member.
Friends
We welcome four new friends: Mrs. Lango, Mrs. Schlagmann, and Mr. and Mrs. Dories. We thank you for your interest and support of our congregation.
Contributions
We thank the following for their generous contributions to our congregation and/or Synagogue Building Project: Mr. R. Krahl, Mr. N. Baum, Mrs. U. Gibas, Mr. And Mrs. Dories, Mrs. E. Schlagmann, Mrs. Lango, the Khan family, USA, and the 11-A class of the Hameln Business High School.
Tree of Life
With the High Holy Days approaching, one thinks often of loved ones. A wonderful gesture is to dedicate a leaf on our Tree of Life for a family member. The “leaves” cost 50 Euros or $54 online, and the money raised goes to the synagogue project. Use the secure server online to order a leaf now. Click Tree of Life.
Birthdays in September
Happy birthday to all those celebrating September birthdays. Join us for a birthday Kiddush on Friday, September 16.
Refuah Schlama — Get Well Wishes
Get well wishes to all those ill at home or in the hospital. Let us know if you would like a prayer card or a visit from our Bikur Cholim committee.
September Yahrzeit — We remember:
Simon Avrus — September 3, 1999 / 22. Elul 5759
The stone setting for Mrs. Evgenia Borischanska was held in August.
May the memory of them be for a blessing.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for September 2005; Av–Elul 5765
Sept. 2 5:00 p.m. Friday night services, R. Dohme and V. Pesok
Sept. 5 3:00 p.m. Religious school for children, R. Brueckner
Sept. 8 11:00 a.m. Lecture: “Israel,” D. Vogelhuber
Sept. 10 Trip to Hannover, Chagall exhibit
Sept. 11 6:00 p.m. Festival of Peace
Sept. 13 4:00 p.m. Lecture: “Famous Jewish Vocalists”
B. Babuschkin (in Russian)
Sept. 16 5:00 p.m. Friday night services, rabbinical student G. Lengyel
Sept. 18 2:00 p.m. Lecture: “Judaism,” V. Pesok (in Russian)
Sept. 20 4:00 p.m. Video: Beloved, V. Fridman (in Russian)
Sept. 22 3:00 p.m. B’nei Mitzvah class, O. Kenig
4:00 p.m. “Young and Jewish Hameln,” O. Kenig
5:00 p.m. Hebrew for adults, O. Kenig
Sept. 24 7:00 p.m. “House of Religion” Concert & Havdallah — "Shalom"
R. Dohme
Sept. 26 3:00 p.m. Religious school for children, R. Brueckner
Sept. 27 4:00 p.m. “Russian Afternoon” — art history class, M. Olvovska
Exhibit: “Slave Laborers” from September 9
until November 13, Münsterkirche, Hameln
Sept. 27 8:00 p.m. Lecture: Slave Laborers, B. Gelderblom, WBZ, Hameln
|
|
|
Archived Newsletters:
|
|
|
