Kiddush after Rosh Hashanah services: Rabbinical student Alina Treiger with round challa and Dieter Vogelhuber with crown-shaped challa, which he baked himself.

Dear members, friends, and supporters,
     The month of October once again showcased the religious and cultural accents of our congregational life. Our holiest day, Yom Kippur, was celebrated with many members in our sanctuary. Services were led by rabbinical student, Yuri Kadnikov. We look forward to Yuri’s imput in our congregation. Sukkoth had our Shamash, Aron Kaplan, busy as he and his team of helpers built a new Sukkah. Erev Sukkoth found our congregation in excited preparations — the challah baking workshop in our kitchen, children’s finishing touches on the decorations, and then together, young and old erecting and decorating the Sukkah on our land. Our festive celebrations were shared with many Hameln citizens and political and religious leaders. The month ended on a familiar note as our Rabbi, Irit Shillor, led Friday night services and we celebrated all those members who had had October birthdays. November is a quieter month and affords solemn moments — especially on the 9th.
     Don’t forget to tune into ZDF at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 9, for a film about our congregation and our plans to build the first Progressive synagogue in post-war Germany!

Miriam enjoys her challa!

Rabbi Shillor
     Rabbi Shillor will lead Friday night services on November 7. She looks forward to seeing everyone there. After Kiddush, we’re all invited to St. Elisabeth for the opening of their patchwork quilt exhibit, “ Designs of Life”, which highlights women of the Bible. Both Rabbi Shillor and Rachel Dohme will take part in a talk show, “The Bible — a book for life?” Let’s all go together!

9th of November
     Sunday, November 9, we will commemorate the 65th anniversary of Pogrommnacht. Our congregation will lay a wreath at the ceremony. Afterwards we will go to Fischbeck for a Klezmer concert dedicated to this special day.

State Board of Synagogues
     The annual membership meeting of our State Board of Synagogues will be held on November 17. Congregational delegates are R. Dohme, P. Pelts, and M. Dvortsis. More in next month’s newsletter!

L’Shana Tovah! Happy New Year!

Hanukka Seminar
     Everything you always wanted to know about Hanukka and were afraid to ask — and in Russian! After the success of our first seminar, “The High Holy Days”, we are proud to offer this morning of learning. Join us on Sunday, November 23, at 11:00 a.m., for an interesting hour or two. All members of our State Board of Synagogues are invited.

Hanukiah
     Still looking for a beautiful but inexpensive Hannukia? We’ve found one — only 15 Euros — ask in the office for details.

Todah Rabah — Thank you
     A very special thanks goes out to Christiane Brückner for her challa baking workshop on Erew Sukkoth. The result was 20 (!) Challot and loads of fun. Thanks also to Aron Kaplan and his team of helpers in building our new and improved Sukkah. Thanks to all the children who decorated. It was certainly the most beautiful Sukkah in the world! Dr. Oleg Rubanov brought us a souvenir from his last trip to Israel. The little statue of a dancing Chasid (in a Reform congregation!) graces our Kiddush table.

Task Force members at work:  Mr. Scheunpflug, Mrs. Bruns, and Mr. Spangenberger

Contributions
     Contributions were received this month from P. Pelts, R. Dohme, and D. Vogelhuber. For the New Year, contributions were received from S. Demuth, A. Armbrecht, and Mimi Garcia. We thank the Schaffa family, USA (daughter of Beate Herzig, formerly of Hameln) for the generous contribution to our synagogue building fund. We thank S. Varschavska and N. Kritzowa for contributions made in honor of their beloved husbands. Todah Rabah!

November Birthdays
     Genrich Jeger, Dora Vinnytska, Juriy Lebedinskiy, Tatjana Drabkina, Larissa Chapiro, Marysol Fischer, Max Dohme, Johanne-Liat Berry, Larisa Dvortsis, and Arkadij Zyryanov. Happy birthday! The birthday Kiddush will be held after services on November 21.

Refuah Schlama — Get well wishes
     Get well wishes to all those who are ill at home or in the hospital. If you’d like someone to stop by, give us a call at the office.

Yahrzeit

• Revold Banschukov — Nov. 11, 1999; Kislev 19 5760
• Jan Olvovski — Nov. 25, 2001; Kislev 10 5762
• Riva Voronova — Nov. 16, 2002; Kislev 11 5763

     If you’d like to have the Jewish dates ( Yahrzeit ) for your loved ones calculated for the upcoming years, let Rachel know. Yahrzeit candles are in the office for 2 Euros a piece.

Shalom!
     — Your board

Program for November 2003 / Cheshvan–Kislev 5764

Nov. 3   4 p.m.  Children's Kehille with Inna
Nov. 7   4 p.m.  B'nei Mitzvah class
         5 p.m.  Friday night services led by Rabbi Shillor
         7 p.m.  Podium discussion: “The Bible — a Book for Life?”
                 Rabbi Shillor and R. Dohme at St. Elisabeth Catholic Church
Nov. 9   4 p.m.  9th of November memorial services at the Memorial
         5 p.m.  Bus to Fischbeck for Klezmer concert
Nov. 13  6 p.m.  Inter-religious Women's Group
                 Dialogue: Women of the Bible
Nov. 17  4 p.m.  Children's Kehille with Inna
Nov. 18 10 a.m.  Intro to Judaism led by V. Pesok (Russian)
         5 p.m.  “Movie night” — “Shalom Chaverim” led by V. Fridman
Nov. 21  4 p.m.  B'nei Mitzvah class
         5 p.m.  Friday night services led by Rabbinical student, Y. Kadnikov
Nov. 22 11 a.m.  Seminar: “Hanukka-History and Customs” 
                 led by Y. Kadnikov (Russian)

Archived Newsletters: 2003:  January February March April May June July–August September October 2002:  January February March April May June–August September October November December 2001:  February March April May June July September October November December