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Dear members, friends and supporters,
We wish all our members, friends and supporters a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year 5770!
Our services for the High Holidays were beautiful and moving. Many people were involved, and we are grateful to each and every one. We are especially indebted to Rabbi Ilana Baird, who led services for the third consecutive year. We thank Rabbi Joel Oseran and the WUPJ for their support in bringing Rabbi Baird from Haifa to us.
Rabbi Baird offered annual congregational memorial services graveside for our members the day before Erev Rosh Hashana. Stopping at each grave, words were found about each person and memories were shared, offering comfort to the mourners. Rabbi Baird sang “El Male Rachamin,” “Oh God Full of Compassion,” and we recited Kaddish in one voice. What a blessing it is to have a community to support one another.
Erev Rosh Haschana was also Erev Shabbat this year. We gathered in our synagogue together to usher in the Sabbath and the New Year. With song and prayer and with Jews all over the world, the New Year 5770 was welcomed. It is so apparent that we need to build our new synagogue as almost every chair in our sanctuary was filled. Young and not so young celebrated in Hebrew, Russian, and German as our prayers floated upwards. Following the moving liturgy, wishes for a good new year, “Shanah Tovah Tiketevu” echoed. Our buffet table was loaded with homemade foods, donated by our members. Platters of delicious gefilte fish, fresh salads, steaming bowls of potatoes, and sweet and colorful cakes tempted every palate.
The buffet was opened after reciting the blessings for wine and beautifully crafted round Challot, formed like crowns. Of course, there were also sweet apples and golden honey for all, ensuring the beginning of a sweet new year. May our prayers be heard that we will celebrate the High Holidays in our new synagogue next year!
We wish to thank all our members for helping make the services so meaningful. Many hands and shoulders were involved from creating the services, the Shofar service (thanks to Wladimir and Rabbi Ilana), the preparations of the sanctuary and the buffet, the music from our choir, Shalom, the spontaneous dancing, led by our dance troupe, Chag Sameach, and the translation of Rabbi Baird’s sermons from Russian to German (thanks Inna and Greta Golbereg).
Who is the congregation? We are the congregation!
We were pleased to participate in the 10th anniversary celebrations of our friends from “Netzwerk Bünde.” Lior Blase and Rachel Dohme represented our community at the festivities. The young people who are members of this organization, organized by high school teacher Christina Whitelaw, work tirelessly for inter-religious understanding, locally and globally. They continue to research their city’s Jewish heritage and the events surrounding its Nazi past. They maintain a close relationship with the Reform Congregation of Denver, Colorado, Temple Sinai, as one of their town’s former Jewish citizens, Red Spanier, of blessed memory, was a member there. This contact between Germany and the U.S. has been nurtured by Mrs. Elaine Spanier and Mrs. Audrey Marcus from Temple Sinai. The youth group of Temple Sinai and the young Germans from Netzwerk Bünde took part in an exchange program, and we were pleased to welcome both groups to our services last year.
Elaine Spanier, her son, and daughter-in-law surprised everyone by attending the festivities. The reunion was very moving and a perfect conclusion to the anniversary. We wish them all continued success.
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 [PDF] and Russian [PDF] 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.
We appreciate any and all support. If you would care to help insure that we stay online, please contact Rachel Dohme at racheldohme@jghreform.org.
Jewish October
 After the High Holy Days, our congregation will ready itself for Sukkot, “The Feast of Tabernacles,” beginning on Friday, October 2nd. Our rabbi Irit Shillor will celebrate this happy holiday with us. We will erect our Sukka for the eighth year in a row on the grounds of the former and soon-to-be new synagogue of Hamelin. As every year, we make Sukkot a public affair, inviting members, neighbors, and friends to join us in the Sukka and for the service. We look forward to celebrating with fruits and Challa, with songs and prayers and the opportunity to share this lovely holiday with as many people as possible. Sukkot and Shabbat begin this year together, making it a doubly joyous event. Hopefully we’ll have good weather and see everyone there.
 Following a week later is the holiday of Simchat Torah, “Rejoicing with the Torah.” Our new Abraham Geiger rabbinical student, Natascha Lyskovoy, will be with us for the weekend. This will be Natascha’s first visit, and we look forward to welcoming her to our congregation. Together we will hear the last reading of the Torah and begin anew with the first reading of Genesis. This tradition symbolizes that Torah never ends. This year’s service will be especially sweet because national youth movement of our progressive German congregations will be holding a weekend seminar in Hameln and the young people will join us for the holiday. Certainly having so many Madrichim, youth leaders, will add to the joy of this holiday. We welcome you all and are pleased to celebrate the holiday with you!
On October 17th we are pleased to present a wonderful evening concert of Jewish music. Thanks to the financial support of the Central Council of Jews of Germany, Cantor Jaacov Fahlenkamp of the Jewish Congregation Berlin will perform, accompanied by Boris Rosenthal. Sharing the beauty of our Jewish culture with our non-Jewish friends and neighbors has always been a priority for our community. For that reason we will hold the concert in the rooms of the Reformed Lutheran Church, allowing as many people as possible to attend. We hope to attract a large audience. There is no admission, but contributions for the Synagogue are always appreciated.
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 Birkat Cholim, visiting the sick.
Since our inception our members have been there for each other. Many members have helped others by accompanying them to the doctor and administrative offices, and visiting the homebound or those in hospital. Most of us have done this on a volunteer basis and as a mitzvah.
Through a program of the Employment Office, we’ve had the ability for one of our members to be paid for this work. Berta Friedmann has had this position in the community for years but will end her work, having reached retirement age. We thank her and wish her and her husband all the best and hope to continue to see them actively involved in congregational life. We are in negotiations with the Employment Office to establish a new position.
In next month’s newsletter we will continue this segment, giving readers a peek behind the scenes of our synagogue’s doors.
 Rachel and Polina Discussion Group
Our president and vice president, Rachel Dohme and Polina Pelts have been meeting regularly with small groups of members. The idea behind these meetings is to offer, in informal setting, a chance for discussion. The history of our congregation is told, especially important for new members, the basic principles of Progressive Judaism are discussed and questions answered about our traditions and beliefs, the synagogue project is presented and members are asked to share their thoughts and suggestions for the name of our new building. Each group and meeting is different, depending on the participants. These important meetings have proven helpful, encouraging members to commit and take ownership of their congregation and the new building in a real way.
Greetings from Jerusalem
Our former Abrahma Geiger rabbinical student, Adrian Schell, is spending his third year in Jerusalem. In order to stay connected to us, he has decided to write a letter to the members each month. This letter will appear in our German and Russian newsletters. In the English version, there will be an abridged summary.
Dear Friends,
Here in Jerusalem, the time seems to go by very quickly. Besides my rabbinical studies, I am also studying Jewish life here. I make an effort to visit as many different synagogues and attend as many different types of services as I can. Some services are very traditional and some very modern. Of course, I am often in Reform Synagogues,
members of the World Union of Progressive Judaism, just as the Hamelin congregation is.
Many people here are interested in what reform Jewish life in Germany is like. I tell them about the Hamelin congregation and how it has developed over the years. They are happy to hear of our progress. It is a small miracle that we have come so far.
Some ask me why this small miracle is important and the verse from the fifth Book of Moses, Dt. 30,12 comes to mind. “It is not in the heavens (the Torah) that you should say, ’Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us, that we may observe it?’”
I think we can learn that we must actively take part in creating Jewish lives. The words of Torah do not fulfill themselves. It is up to us, as people and as Jews, to create a better world through Torah. Just as bricks can build a synagogue, a better world can be built with Torah.
That is the answer I give when asked about our community in Germany—a new congregation, surrounded by good neighbors, Jewish education for children and adults and so much more. Is it not a miracle that the congregation embodies God’s words?
I wish you all a wonderful 5770! May it be sweet and happy!
—B’vracha, Adrian
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: Mr. Adolf Späth, Mr. Lior Blase, Mr. Mark H. Schwartz, Mrs. Katarina Seidler, Hospice of Rinteln, Soroptimist Club Hameln, Men and Women’s Club of the Lutheran Church of Tündern, the Kaufmann family, Mrs. A. Brunner, Mr. Mark Lazer, and the Jewish Congregation of Bad Pyrmont.
Special thanks to Dr. Ivo and Kirsten Schwartzkopff and Mrs. Ursula Bomnütter each for very generous contributions for our new Synagogue.
We thank all those who made special contributions in honor of Rosh Hashanah: Mrs. Sheinberg, the Pelts and Golbereg families, the Dohme family, Dr. Oleg and Anna Rubanov with Maria and mother, Mrs. Rimma Rubanov, Mrs. Sarankina, Mrs. Demuth, Mrs. Armbrecht, and two members who wish to remain anonymous.
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! Mark H. Schwartz contributed a leaf:
• In memory of Nir and Liz — 1.August 2009 — Aguda, Tel Aviv
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
Happy 10th birthday to our friends at “Netzwerk Bünde”! Keep up the good and important work.
Thank you — Toda Raba
- We wish to thank “Netzwerk Bünde” for the contributions they collected for us in honor of their tenth anniversary.
- We wish to thank Aron Kaplan for contributions to our congregational library.
- We thank Mrs. Martinova for her lecture for the Russian Book Club.
- 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.
Our Condolences
Our condolences to the Lazer family on the death of their beloved mother, Ethel Lazer. The funeral was held on August 21st. R. Dohme led the memorial service.
Unveiling
The unveiling ceremony for Josef Pelts, beloved husband of Polina Pelts, father of Faina Pelts, grandfather of Inna and Greta Golbereg and great-grandfather of Elias will be held on October 29th at 11:00 a.m. R. Dohme will lead the service.
May their memory be for a blessing. Please join family members during Sabbath services as we recite Kaddish. Yahrzeit candles are available in the office.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for October 2009 • Tishri–Heshvan 5770
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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Thursday, October 1
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3:00 p.m. |
Rabbi's Table: Jewish names and their meanings |
| Friday, October 2 |
10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. |
Rabbi's office hours
Sukka building
Religious class with F. Pelts & L. Blase
SHABBAT & SUKKOT in the Sukka with Rabbi Irit Shillor |
| Saturday, October 3 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit services and Torah study with Rabbi Irit Shillor |
| Monday, October 5 |
12:00 noon |
“Judaism” a course in Russian with W. Pesok |
| Tuesday, October 6 |
9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. |
Monthly board meeting
Video Afternoon led by Matvey Dvortsis |
| Wednesday, October 7 |
11:00 a.m. |
Informational meeting: “New regulations in health care” with Margarita Souslovic |
| Friday, October 9 |
4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. |
Religious class with L. Blase
SHABBAT & SIMCHAT TORAH with rabbinical student Natascha Lyskovoy |
| Saturday, October 10 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit services and Torah study with rabbinical student Natascha Lyskovoy |
| Saturday, October 17 |
5:00 p.m. |
Concert with Cantor Jakov Fahlenkamp, Berlin Lutheran Church, Hugenottenstrasse. Benefit concert for the Hamelin synagogue, supported by the Central Council of Jews of Germany |
| Tuesday, October 20 |
11:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m. |
Informational meeting: Russian Embassy with G. Bachmatchnikova
“Russian Afternoon” with M. Olvovskaja, Art History class |
| Wednesday, October 21 |
11:00 a.m. |
Russian Book Club with A. Konstantinova |
| Friday. October 23 |
4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. |
Religious class with F. Pelts & L. Blase
Friday night services & Birthday Kiddush with R. Dohme |
| Saturday, October 24 |
10.00 a.m. |
Shacharit services and Torah study with R. Dohme |
Activities outside the community
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| Sunday, October 11 |
5:00 p.m. |
Concert: “Mizwa” Fischbeck Church |
| Tuesday, October 20 |
7:30 p.m. |
Society of Christians and Jews, Lecture: M. Stockhausen, “200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Reformed Lutheran Church, Hugenottenstrasse |
| Thursday, October 22 |
7:30 p.m. |
Society of Christians and Jews, Lecture: Dr. Detmers, “Calvin and the Jews,” Reformed Lutheran Church, Hugenottenstrasse |
| Sunday, October 25 |
6:00 p.m. |
“Peace Festival” St. Bonifatius Lutheran Church
Synagogue choir “Shalom” will perform |
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Archived Newsletters:
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