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Dear members, friends and supporters,
Welcome back! We hope everyone had a relaxing and happy summer. We’re ready to begin another year together. All courses, classes and clubs have begun their programs and our congregational life is once again in full swing.
Looking back to the summer months of July and August, we enjoyed beautiful Friday night services, which were well attended even though many were out of town.
Three of our teens took part in this year’s Machene (summer camping program). Here’s a short report from the children:
This year our summer camp was in Weisskirchen in Saarland. There were 120 campers from all over Germany. We thought the Machene was really cool. The other Chanachim (campers) and the Madrachim (counselors) were nice. We met old friends and made new ones. The Madrichim had a great program of activities planned for us. We went on an outing to the city of Trier, went of scavenger hunts and went swimming. On different evenings, there was a disco, a movie (“Train of Life”), different games and a play.
Rabbi Tom Kucera led Shabbat services and we especially enjoyed his sermon about an eagle and a crow and it gave us a lot to think about.
It was so nice to be with other Jewish kids, to celebrate Shabbat with them, to sing Birkat ha-Mason (blessing after the meal) together and not to have to explain anything to anybody. We weren’t outsiders. It was also cool that the Madrichim are young and understand us.
Thanks to everyone who supported the Machene 2009. It was a great experience for us!
—Miriam, Gabriel and Patrizia
Our congregational Hebrew teacher, Lior Blase, spent several weeks in Israel this summer. He took part in an intensive Hebrew course at Oranim College in Haifa. His skills will, of course, help our children as they prepare for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah.
Of notable mention is also our congregation’s participation at this year’s city Cultural Festival. Our Israeli dance group, “Chag Sameach,” and our choir, “Shalom,” performed. Dieter Vogelhuber and team offered information about our congregation, our synagogue project, Judaism and Israel. Dr. Felix Peres showed his handcrafted wooden sculptures. Once again, our community shared Jewish culture with our non-Jewish friends and neighbors.
 Our congregation was also represented with ten participants at this year’s 15th annual Conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany, held in Berlin. It was the largest conference to date with more than 250 in attendance, coming from Germany, England, America and Israel. The conference was opened with remarks from Union president, Dr. Jan Mühlstein, World Union of Progressive Judaism Vice President, Rabbi Joel Oseran and representing the European Region of the World Union, Dr. Leo Hepner. Excellent workshops and meaningful services filled the four-day meeting.
Shabbat morning services were led by our former student rabbi, Adrian Shell, who honored our member, Faina Pelts by asking her to conclude services by leading “Adon Olam.”
Here are impressions from our members:
Alexandra: “I enjoyed the entire conference. The services impressed me the most.”
Faina: “There were many opportunities to exchange idea and experiences. It felt like a family reunion.”
Polina: “It was wonderful to see so many Jews from the FSU there.”
Feana: “The Havdallah service under the stars, led by the young adults moved me deeply.”
Arkadij: “I was also impressed with the Havdallah service. The atmosphere was one of friendship and belonging.”
Elena: “I especially enjoyed the workshops with Rabbi Kucera and student rabbi Natascha Lyskovoy.”
Svitlana: “The saying goes: ’Learn something new every day’. I learned many new things and enjoyed myself. Thank you that I could take part!”
Our Internet Presence
Those of you reading this newsletter in English are reading the Internet version. The newsletter is also available in print form in German and Russian for members and supporters here in Germany. Many hours and many hands and heads go into producing this monthly informational newsletter. Keeping us online is no small expense for our small community of 90 percent Russian Jewish immigrants. We recognize the importance of this media tool in connecting and informing others to our congregational efforts and developments. This newsletter has been the most efficient and successful outreach tool in our attempts to network internationally. Many new relationships have been established and built as a result of this newsletter and we are grateful to all involved.
If you care to help insure that we stay online, please contact Rachel Dohme at racheldohme@jghreform.org. We appreciate any and all support.
 Jewish September
Our congregation will celebrate the High Holy Days, beginning with Erev Rosh Haschana services on September 18th. We are pleased that Rabbi Ilana Baird from Haifa will join us for the “Days of Awe” for the third consecutive year.
Rosh Hashana celebrates the Jewish New Year and culminates with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, ten days later. The ten days between New Year and the Day of Atonement offer each Jew time to seek forgiveness between himself and others and then between himself and God. This is achieved by threefold by:
Teshuva—Repentance, Tefila—Prayer,
and Tzedaka—Charity.
 Erev Rosh Hashana services will begin on September 18th at 5:00 p.m. A communal meal will be offered after services. Besides the traditional apples and honey, we ask everyone to bring a vegetarian dish to share. Rosh Hashana morning services will continue the next morning at 10:00 a.m.
We’ll enjoy a communal lunch and then observe the Tashlich ceremony riverside. The Kol Nidre melody on Erev Yom Kippur on September 27th will open our hearts and stir our souls, preparing us for Yom Kippur prayers on Monday, September 28th.After Yiskor and Ne’ila services we will break the fast together, spiritually refreshed and renewed for the New Year 5770.
Behind the Scenes
As promised last month, we are continuing to showcase special people and groups in our congregation. This month, the accent is on culture.
Matvej Dvortsis is the board member in charge of organizing cultural events and activities in our congregation. In addition, he offers a monthly Russian video afternoon and a afternoon tea for seniors. He invites speakers and musicians, organizes outings to museums and arranges for exchange visits between our and other liberal congregations.
The art historian, Maya Olvovskaja has educated and informed fellow members and guests for more than ten years in her monthly “Russian Afternoon” club. Her fascinating slide presentations of major artists and their work is appreciated by many.
A new group, the Russian Book Club is led by Alexandra Konstatinova. Each month a book is selected, read and discussed.
 Our congregational choir, “Shalom,” was established in 1998. The choir wishes to transport Jewish culture through the medium of music and song. At present, there are eight singers from three nations: Ukraine, Russia and Germany. The choir adds beauty with their song to the congregation’s religious services as well as concerts of the public venue. The choir meets twice a month and practices Hebrew and Jewish pieces with choir director, Petr Chrastina. Shalom will continue to bring their joyous music to our congregation and the greater public in the future.
A new Trio has established itself in our community. Established by Uwe Wolandowitsch in 2008, the “Trio Benkschaft” (yearning) brings soulful Yiddish music to the forefront. The Trio is composed of Uwe Wolandowitsch, Rudi Brückner and Petr Chrastina.
Boris Markhaseev leads our congregational Israeli dance group, “Chag Sameach.” The dancers also represent our community at many interreligious events. Their spirit invites audiences to join in.
We are proud to have so many dedicated and hard-working members, who invest heart and soul in their Jewish culture and traditions and enjoy sharing it with others. We thank them all!
In next month’s newsletter we will continue this segment, giving readers a peek behind the scenes of our synagogue’s doors.
Leadership Seminar
During the last year congregational member Heidi Braun has offered our board and the board members of our sister congregation in Bad Pyrmont an on-going seminar in conflict management. Heidi, a psychologist and therapist has given our board members positive tools to better their leadership and communication skills. We appreciate her support.
Book Project “My Judaism”
Thanks to a generous grant from the “Women of Reform Judaism” our religious class will be writing a children’s book. The project is being led by Lior Blase, our religious school teacher. His students will be writing and illustrating the book. It is our hope that this book, written by Jewish children for non-Jewish children, will be implemented in our local public schools and will help educate young German school children about Reform Judaism and congregational life from the perspective of their peers.
 Mazel Tov “Gold Greta”
We are very proud of our young member, Greta Golbereg, who was a member of the German Table Tennis delegation to the 18th Macabbi Games, held at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv. More than 9,000 young Jewish athletes from 53 countries around the world took part. Greta and her team won Bronze for Germany and she brought home a Gold medal in Doubles. A fantastic achievement for a fantastic young woman!
Donations — Tzedaka
We are grateful to the many people who continually support our work and our plans to build a new synagogue.
We thank all the following who gave so generously: Two seventh grade classes from the Wilhelm Raabe School, The Good People Fund, USA, Mr. Justin Stone, USA, and Mr. and Mrs. Dörries and Mr. Lior Blase. Contributions were received from the Khan Family, USA and the Dohme Family in honor of Max Dohme’s university graduation. May all donors be blessed for their generosity.
Tree of Life — Etz Chayim
Who will contribute the next leaf? Each leaf not only adorns our sanctuary but also helps us raise funds for our synagogue. Leaves can be ordered through our office or by contacting Rachel Dohme or on this Web site: Tree of Life. Each leaf costs a minimum of $100 (quadruple chai plus expenses). Please contribute a leaf and help us to build our synagogue!
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
- Happy 80th birthday wishes to our Foundation Patron, retired Bishop of Hildesheim, Dr. Josef Hohmeyer.
- Mazel Tov to Mariah and Gregor Wettberg and Rebecca Seidler and Konstantin Höntsch on their marriages celebrated in the Liberal Synagogue of Hannover in July and August. We also congratulate the proud parents, Peter and Ingrid Wettberg and Johannes and Katarina Seidler.
- Congratulations to Dr. Ferdinand and Rachel Dohme and family on their firm’s 50th anniversary.
- Mazel Tov to Greta Golbereg for her athletic achievements at this year’s Macabbi Games in Israel.
Thank you —Toda Raba
- We wish to thank the Society for Christians and Jews and the Catholic Youth Office for their grants, making the financial burden of summer camping costs a bit easier on our families.
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 Special thanks to all our members, musicians, and artists who took part in the second annual “Cultural Festival.”
- We wish to thank the Hamelin Community Service Organization for arranging a performance by a Ukranian youth for our members. We also thank them for contributing the color copy costs of New Years cards for our members.
- We wish to thank Aron Kaplan and Rachel Dohme for contributions to our congregational library.
- We thank the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany for the grant in support of costs for the High Holy Days.
- We are grateful to each and every person and every organization, in Germany and America, for their support of our community.
- We appreciate and thank our community members who helped make our holidays, services and celebrations special.
- We thank Julian Dohme who helped us with the graphic layout of this newsletter.
Unveiling
The unveiling ceremony for Inge Ruth Dickmann, of blessed memory, was held on July 16th. The service was led by Rachel Dohme. The daughter of the departed, Mrs. Herz, wrote these words:
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“My family and I wish to express our appreciation for the beautiful unveiling service. I believe my mother felt the loving spirit in which it was done. Thank you. It is good to know that my mother has found her rightful place.” |
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 September Yahrzeit — We remember:
Samson Avrus — September 3, 1999 / 22 Elul 5759
May his memory be for a blessing. Please join family members during Sabbath services as we recite Kaddish. Yahrzeit candles are available in the office.
Wishing all our readers a happy and healthy New Year 5770!
Leshana Tovah Tiketevu! May you be inscribed for a good year.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
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