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Dear members, friends and supporters,
We wish all our members, friends and supporters a peaceful and healthy New Year 5769!
Leshana Tovah Tikatevu — May you be inscribed for a good year!
The September sunshine warmed the varied activities in our community this past month. We look forward to a golden autumn as the New Year begins.
Looking back, we enjoyed a well-organized trip to the town of Springe where we attended a beautiful exhibit of paintings by Marc Chagall. Our thanks go out to Josef Pelts who made all the arrangements.
Once again, we had media visitors in our synagogue. We feel this is an excellent opportunity to share our communal life with our non-Jewish friends and neighbors. Hamelin's local radio station's children programming team, “Lollipop” as well as their adult colleagues from Deutsche Welle Studio Bonn spent a Friday afternoon and Friday night service with us.
The journalists were given many opportunities to speak to members. We're looking forward to the programs, which will be broadcast in October and November.
Thank you for the interest in modern Jewish life!
Our congregation hosted a master concert of balalaika and guitar. We thank the Central Council of Jews of Germany for their financial support for the concert of Alexander Paperny and Satoshi Oba, who performed with virtuosity. The program included classical pieces as well as well-known and beloved Russian folk melodies, which delighted members as well as guests and helped us raise a bit more money for our synagogue project.
Thanks to Mr. Hans-Georg Spangenberger, we enjoyed a walking tour of “Jewish Hamelin,” learning much about the Jewish history of our town. Once again, many non-Jewish citizens joined us on our two-hour tour. Special thanks to Polina Pelts who offered Russian translation.
We were honored with a weekend visit from Dr. Leo Hepner, former board member of the European Region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Dr. Hepner and his, Regina, celebrated Friday night services with us, getting to know many members. An almost double minyan came together on Shabbat morning and spent three hours in lively discussion of the weekly Torah reading, aptly led by Dr. Hepner. Our congregation enjoys a positive relationship with the European Region and the World Union for Progressive Judaism and is pleased when officers visit us and other Union of Progressive Jews of Germany congregations. This underlines our connection to the more than 1.7 million Progressive Jews worldwide.
We wish to thank our choir “Schalom” and our dance group “Chag Sameach” for their performance at the city's “Festival of Cultures.” Again, we show how active Jewish life is an integrated and proud part of our society. We thank our artists—you did us proud!
As we greet the new Jewish year, we wish to inform members that our Friday night services will commence a half hour later. Services on Fridays will begin at 5:30 p.m. This allows our religious school classes a little more time together before joining us for services.
Jewish October
 We are pleased that High Holiday services are being led once again by Rabbi Ilana Baird from Israel. We wish to thank Rabbi Joel Oseran and the WUPJ for helping us to secure Rabbi Baird's services once again.
The end of September ushered in the new Jewish year, 5769. On September 29th, we came together for Rosh Hashanah and 10 days of inner reflection and spiritual inventory. After services and the Mitzvah of hearing the Shofar, we dunked apples in honey and joined Jews all over the world in wishing each other a sweet New Year. These traditions strengthen us as we approach Yom Kippur, our holiest of all days.
Between Rosh Haschanah and Yom Kippur we are offered the opportunity of T'shuvah—spiritual return. We are asked to clear any misunderstandings between others and ourselves, seeking and giving forgiveness. The haunting beauty of the Kol Nidre prayer, fasting and the intensive prayers on Yom Kippur prepare us to stand before God, asking for forgiveness, asking to be written in the “Book of Life” for another year.
As Yom Kippur ends, preparations for Sikkoth begin. We will gather together with members and friends on Erev Sukkot, October 13th, at our land in the Bürenstrasse and build our Sukka for the 7th time on the historic soil where the Hamelin synagogue once stood and hopefully will stand again. We recall how our ancestors wandered as nomads, seeking provisional shelter—all too current a theme for many even today. We give thanks to God and hope to share this beautiful holiday with many friends and neighbors.
The eight days of Sukkoth end with the festivals of Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah.
We are pleased that our rabbi, Irit Shillor, will lead Simchat Torah services again this year. After the procession—Hakafot—and having heard the last words of Deuteronomy and then the first words of the 1st Genesis read, we will stand together, every man, woman and child, holding the Torah. Rabbi Shillor will stand in the middle, reading sections of the Torah aloud for us. In this way, symbolically and spiritually. we will give testimony to our covenant with God and Torah.
Rabbi Shillor will spend the rest of the week with us, and we can look forward to many opportunities to learn with her. On Friday, October 24th, Rabbi Shillor will lead Friday night services when we greet Rabbi Rheins, Elaine Spanier and the youth of Temple Sinai from Denver, Colorado. Friends Christina Whitelaw from “Netwerk Bünde” will join the group as well, and we will all celebrate Shabbat together.
Benefit Concert in Commemoration of the
70th Anniversary of November 9th, 1938
Once again, our member Uwe Wolandowitsch has organized a benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for our synagogue-building project. This musical highlight, featuring the nationally acclaimed Klezmer Duo Chalil, the Hannover Mitzvah Band, Duo Benkschaft and our very own Shalom choir will be a very special evening. The concert will begin after the memorial and wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the former synagogue. We are especially honored that relatives of former Jewish citizens of Hamelin will be present. The last president of the Jewish Congregation of Hamelin, Dr. Siegmund Kratzenstein's granddaughter, Australians Mrs. Eva Brown and her husband Harold, will take part in both the memorial service and concert, leading us in the recitation of Kaddish. Please plan now and tell all your friends and neighbors that this is an evening not to be missed. Who could've dreamed that 70 years after the Holocaust that a Jewish congregation would once again be sharing Jewish culture with their neighbors and re-building a synagogue. Even if you can't come, contributions will be gratefully appreciated and a vital sign of your support of our efforts here. For information on how you can contribute, see New Synagogue, or write to racheldohme@jghreform.org.
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 our newest “Friends” member, Mrs. Ursula Ryf. Mrs. Ryf got to know us while attending the walking tour of Jewish Hamelin last month. All Friends members are always welcome at any and all our religious and cultural 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. Polina Pelts, Mrs. Ursula Ryf, Benyamin Meschede-Krasa'a Hebrew school class, USA, Dr. Paul Lohmann Company, Mr. Jürgen Lohmann and the Hameln Lion's Club. May you all be blessed for your generosity.
 Tree of Life
Although autumn is in the air, our tree has sprouted two new leaves. They have been contributed by:
- Kitah Zayin/7th grade Hebrew School from Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, Newton, Massachusetts
- “Mazel Tov Benyamin 4.7. 2008 & 13.9. 2008”— “Congregation Dorshei Tzedek Kitah Zayin Class of 5768”
Leaves can be ordered through our office or by contacting Rachel Dohme at racheldohme@jghreform.org or through our this site (see Tree of Life). Each leaf costs €54 (triple chai). Contribute a leaf and help us to build our synagogue!
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov to Benyamin Meschede-Krasa on his “second” Bar Mitzvah in the U.S.!
Mazel Tov to the newly opened cantorial school of the Abraham Geiger College.
To our sister community in Bielefeld, our best wishes for the dedication of their beautiful new community center and synagogue.
Thank You — Todah Rabah
We are grateful to the many people who continually support our work. We especially wish to thank those who made contributions for our summer camping program.
Thanks to Mr. Spangenberger for his fascinating walking tour of Jewish Hamelin.
Special thanks to our member Heidi Braun for the seminar she prepared and led for the Board members of our congregation. We thank the organizations Arbeit und Leben and the Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband for their financial support. As always, thanks to Liubov and Elena for the lovely luncheon buffet.
Thanks to Julian Dohme with this month's newsletter.
Our library has new books thanks to the Yevdokimov family.
Birthdays in October
We wish all those celebrating an October birthday, the very best of health and happiness. We have a small gift for all our October Birthdays after services on October 24th. Join us for coffee and cake!
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.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for October 2008 • Tishri–Heshvan 5769
Office hours: Mon., Wed & Fri., 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon and Tues. & Thurs., 9.00 a.m.–4.00 p.m. |
Wednesday, October 1
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10:00 a.m.
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Rabbi Ilana Baird's Visit
“Rabbi's Table,” open discussion with Rabbi Ilana Baird |
| Thursday, October 2 |
10:00 a.m. |
“Rabbi's Table” open discussion with Rabbi Ilana Baird |
| Friday, October 3 |
4:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Religious school, P. Blase and F. Pelts Friday night services with Rabbi Ilana Baird |
| Saturday, October 4 |
10:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. |
Saturday morning service and Torah study with Rabbi Ilana Baird
RadioAktiv program: “Jewish Congregation of Hamelin” |
| Monday, October 6 |
12:00 noon
4:00 p.m. |
Judaism in Russian class with V. Pesok
Inter-religious Women's Group, Part III Meeting point: JGH |
| Tuesday, October 7 |
9:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m. |
Monthly Board meeting
Video Afternoon: “Israel” (Russian) F. Pelts |
| Wednesday, October 8 |
6:00 p.m. |
EREV YOM KIPPUR: KOL NIDRE SERVICE
Services led by Rabbi Ilana Baird |
| Thursday, October 9 |
10:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Sundown |
YOM KIPPUR SERVICES YISKOR and NE'ILA SERVICES,
Services led by Rabbi Ilana Baird Break-the-Fast |
| Saturday, October 10 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
| Monday, October 13 |
3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. |
Sukkah construction and decoration
SUKKOTH SERVICE, Bürenstrasse-Synagogenplatz |
| Tuesday, October 14 |
10:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m. |
Informational meeting: Russian Embassy
Lecture: “Dementia” P.Wendt, Director Cursana Senior Center, Munich |
| Saturday, October 18 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study, R. Dohme |
| Wednesday, October 22 |
5:00 p.m. |
Rabbi Irit Shillor's Visit
SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICES |
| Thursday, October 23 |
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. |
Rabbi's office hours
“Rabbi's Table” open discussion with Rabbi Irit Shillor |
| Friday, October 24 |
1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. |
Giyur class
Religious school, P. Blase and F. Pelts
Friday night services with Rabbi Irit Shillor
Guests: Temple Sinai, Denver, Colorado |
| Saturday, October 25 |
10:00 a.m. |
Saturday morning services and Torah study with Rabbi Irit Shillor |
| Sunday, October 26 |
3:00 p.m. |
“Seniors Café” M. Dvortsis |
| Tuesday, October 28 |
4:00 p.m. |
“Russian Afternoon” Art history lecture, M. Olvovskaya |
Activities outside the community |
| Monday, October 6 |
4:00 p.m. |
Inter-religious Women's Group, Part III, Trip to Hessisch Oldendorf Meeting point: Synagogue |
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