Dear members, friends and supporters,
May we once again wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year 5768.
High Holiday services were attended this year by more congregants than ever before. This certifies the spiritual development in our community. Every chair in our sanctuary was filled during beautiful Erev Rosh Hashanah services and the room shook as our voices were raised in song. The children’s voices were a pleasure to hear-almost as if we had a children’s choir.
Our kitchen team once again outdid themselves with traditional specialities to sweeten the New Year. The white tablecloth was dotted with dribbles of honey as we all dipped apples and homemade challah, and wishes for a sweet new year were exchanged between young and old in German, Russian, Hebrew and English. Rosh Hashanah morning services were also very well attended and everyone thrilled to hear the Shofar’s blasts. The torah reading and Rabbi Baird’s thought-provoking sermon were the perfect introduction to the new year.
Guest of honor at our Rosh Hashanah services was Mrs. Karla Frenkel Revah. Mrs. Reveh lives in Israel, but is originally from the neighboring town of Lemgo. She is the sole survivor of her family and the last Jewish survivor from the city of Lemgo. A few weeks ago our congregation took a trip to meet her in her Lemgo home, where she has created a small Jewish museum. More than thirty of our members and members of our sister congregation in Bad Pyrmont made the journey to visit this amazing 80-year young woman. In 1945, Mrs. Reveh went to Israel (then Palestine) where she and her husband started a family. Our members were fascinated with this remarkable woman. One could have heard a pin drop as Mrs. Reveh told her story. Questions and answers helped understand what cannot be understood. In 1986 the city of Lemgo asked her to return for a visit. It was a good visit and since then, Mrs. Reveh has been coming back on a regular basis. When here she visits schools and tells young people about her life.
During this visit her memories were recorded on a CD, which can be borrowed in our synagogue library. Our member Peter Wendt invited the group to the Senior Citizen Residence, which he administers in Lemgo, for coffee and cake.
It was a happy reunion to have Mrs. Reveh join us for services. Before services began, our congregational president presented Mrs. Reveh with a contribution from our congregation for her Jewish Museum. How fitting, then, that services were led by our Israeli guest rabbi, Ilana Baird. It was established that the two live within miles of each other near Haifa and plans were made to meet again at home.
Having Rabbi Ilan Baird with us for Rosh Hashanah week was a especially meaningful for our Russian-speaking members. Many members expressed gratitude to Rabbi Baird, who was born in Russia, for reading certain elements of the service in Russian. Her mother tongue was put to good use when administering pastoral care during the week. Rabbi Baird, a graduate of HUC, Jerusalem, added a very human touch to this year’s celebration of the New Year and we hope to have her back again next year.
Yom Kippur’s serious nature was enhanced by the visit of guest rabbinical student Margaret Frisch Klein. Ms. Klein is a fifth-year student at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. The children took active part in the service, performing the story of Jonah, and every effort was made to involve the congregants in the long and strenuous services. Beginning with the haunting melody of Kol Nidre the night before, the congregants began a solemn
24-hour period of fasting and prayer. With hopes of being written in the “Book of Life,” a final shofar blast ended our High Holiday services. A very special thanks to Volodymyr Pesok for the shofar service. We thank Faina Pelts and Uwe Wolandowitsch for singing Kol Nidre so beautifully.
During the entire holiday period in September, we collected money for the new kindergarten in Hannover. Last month, our sister congregation in Hannover opened the first Jewish kindergarten in the state of Lower Saxony.The money collected will go towards materials for the seventeen boys and girls there.
Sukkoth was bright and happy as many members and guests joined together to celebrate the holiday. The children’s creative decorations adorned the Sukkah. The colorful vegatables and fruits, representing the harvest reminded us of God’s presence in nature. Our Sukkah was a living symbol of our thankfulness of God’s great bounty. We wish everyone good health and a peaceful 5768.
Jewish October
Our Rabbi Irit Shillor will be back with us on the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah. Please join us on Friday, October 5th at 5:00 p.m. We’re planning a service you won’t want to miss and one you certainly won’t forget. Everyone is invited to stand and hold the Torah as we completely unroll it. Our rabbi will be in the middle and read different sections aloud. Everyone can request a different passage and our rabbi will be happy to answer any and all questions. It is sure to be an unforgettable experience! We will literally take our religious foundation—the Torah in our hands. We celebrate the end of a yearly cycle of readings and begin again from the beginning. The wisdom of the Torah is infinite. Together we will continue to read and study, week for week and always be rewarded with new insights.
After a delicious Oneg, we will join Boris Markhassev as he teaches us new Israeli dances. It’s sure to be an enjoyable evening.
Religious School
Religious school will commence beginning in October. Class will be held every other Thursday. Our new Israeli Shlicha is Sivan Gaides. Welcome Sivan! We look forward to a great year with you!
Jewish Congregation of Hamelin in Odessa
Congregational vice president, Polina Pelts and her husband, Josef recently visited their former home in Odessa, Ukraine. While there, Polina and Josef spoke at the Jewish Culture Center. They told the story of our congregation to a spellbound audience. Many present was amazed to hear of our congregation’s developments and especially of our plans to build a synagogue. The Pelts’ were presented with a lovely book of Jewish holiday poetry in gratitude for a job well done.
Guests in the synagogue
We are always pleased to receive requests from non-Jewish groups who wish to learn more about Judaism. Inter-religious
understanding is an important aspect of our community life as a Reform congregation. The Communion class of St. Augustinus Catholic Church, accompanied by their teacher and parents, visited us and engaged in a lively and interactive evening of learning.
Karla Frenkel Raveh, Israel joined us for Rosh Hashanah services. We felt honored to have Mrs. Reveh with us. We hope to have her with us again whenever she is in Germany.
November 9th Concert
in our Synagogue
A memorial service will be held on November 9th as we remember with sadness the events of the Pogrommnacht 1938. After a short service, wreaths will be laid. The service will take place at 3:30 p.m. on our land in the Bürenstrasse. Afterwards we will return to our synagogue for Friday night services. Led by Abraham Geiger student rabbi, Adrian Schell. After services, we will offer a program of Jewish, Sephardic and Hebrew harp music. Musicians Elizabeth Niemann and Judy Kadar will perform. We are grateful to the Central Council of the Jews of Germany for the financial support, which makes this concert possible. The concert is open to all and free of charge.
Integration Office
We have been successful in receiving a government grant for an integration project. The project is being financed by the Ministry for Migration and Refugees. The goal of the project is to network with various social, religious and cultural organizations in the county of Hameln-Pyrmont in order to facilitate the integration of FSU Jews. This complex project will be administered by Mrs. Faina Pelts. We wish to thank Irith Michelsohn and Dieter Vogelhuber for their support writing this grant.
Exhibit: “Bonjour Russland”
We are planning a congregational outing to the Art Palace in Düsseldorf. An excellent exhibition is on display with French and Russian masterpieces from 1870 to 1925. This cultural excursion will certainly be worth the trip. We will keep you informed.
Our Kitchen Pearls
Elena Gorbacheva and Liubov Pesin are culinary masters and go to all ends to provide congregants with delicious dishes for every holiday. From baking challah to complicated dishes like gefilte fish, they delight us week for week with their cooking talents. One can taste the love. It’s apparent how much care they put into each and every table they set. Many guests have commented over the years about the warm and welcoming atmosphere of our community. A very important part of that comes through the kitchen and we thank the ladies.
Contributions
We wish to thank all the generous members and friends who have made contributions to our general fund or synagogue building project.
We thank Mrs. U. Niedert, Mrs. U. Gibas, Polina and Josef Pelts, Mr. B. Frid, Mr. A. Vilenchick, Mrs. N. Fesyk, Mrs. E. Lebedinska and from America, The ZIV-Tzedakah Foundation, the Hyman Family and Mr. A. Kirschenbaum.
Tree of Life
Each and every order of a leaf for our Tree of Life not only graces our sanctuary but brings us one step closer to building our synagogue.
- Vilentchik and Fesyk Family: In memory of our parents
- Emma Lebedinska: In memory of my brother Alexander Farfel
Thank You —Todah Rabah
- We thank Aron Kaplan for his loving care of the cemetery grounds and stones.
- We thank Sascha Pesin for clearing the small garden outside our building. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy services outside, weather permitting.
- We thank Lubov and Sascha Pesin for the delicious meals they prepared during our September holidays.
- We thank Rabbi Baird and Rabbinical Student Frisch Klein and Adrian Schell for the moving High Holiday services which enriched our lives
- Thank you Volodomyr Pesok for the shofar service during the High Holidays.
- Thank you to Faina Pelts and Uwe Wolandowitsch for singing Kol Nidre so beautifully.
Mazel Tov
We congratulate Pastor Wollten on his retirement. Hopefully, we will continue working together in the future. We wish our Synagogue Building Project Patron Dr. Rabbi Henry G. Brandt all the best on his 80th birthday.
Birthdays in October
Congratulations to all our members celebrating an October birthday. We hope to see you all at Friday night services on October 19th when we’ll acknowledge all birthdays with a small gift during Kiddush.
Condolences
Our heartfelt condolences to Hartmut Bomhoff on the death of his father. May his memory be a blessing.
Refuah Schlama — Get Well Wishes
We wish everyone who is ill at the moment a quick recovery. If you wish a 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.
Shalom and a happy, healthy 5768!
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for October 2007 • Tishrei–Heshvan 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, Oct. 1 |
12:00 noon |
Introduction to Judaism in Russian with V. Pesok |
| Tuesday, Oct. 2 |
4:00 p.m. |
Video Club with F. Pelts |
| Rabbi Shillor’s Visit |
| Friday, Oct. 5 |
3:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. |
B’nei Mitzvah class
Simchat Torah services: Join us as we read and dance with the Torahs, delicious buffet and Israeli dancing with B. Markhassev |
| Saturday, Oct. 6 |
10:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study
Giyur class |
| Sunday, Oct. 7 |
10:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. |
Seminar: “The Love of Torah” — written and oral Torah: essential aspects |
| Wednesday, Oct. 10 |
10:00 a.m. |
Informational meeting: Integration Club. F. Pelts will introduce club president L. Hoffmann |
| Thursday, Oct. 11 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Young and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin
B’nei Mitzvah class
Hebrew for adults with Sivan Gaides |
| Saturday, Oct. 13 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services with Torah study with D. Vogelhuber |
| Sunday, Oct. 14 |
3:00 a.m. |
New! Sunday Cafe “Music Hour” with P. Pelts and J. Jevdokimov |
| Tuesday, Oct. 16 |
10:00 a.m. |
Informational Meeting: Russian Embassy with G. Bachmatchnikova |
| Rabbinical Student Adrian Schell’s Visit |
| Friday, Oct. 19 |
3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. |
B’nei Mitzvah Class
Friday night services |
| Saturday, Oct. 20 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah Study |
| Tuesday, Oct. 23 |
4:00 p.m. |
“Russian Afternoon“ with M. Olvovskaja |
| Thursday, Oct. 25 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Young and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin
B’nei Mitzvah class
Hebrew for adults with Sivan Gaides |
| Saturday, Oct. 27 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with D. Vogelhuber |
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