Wed 03 Feb 2010
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Dear Friends,
We look forward to your joining us a week from this Saturday evening, February 13th at 8:15 PM (please note the later starting time) for our next Motzaei Shabbat Mevorchim Social Evening and Lecture program. Our speaker will be the HONORABLE DAN MERIDOR, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy and member of the Inner Cabinet. His topic is "Are We on Course? A View From the Inside." He will discuss some of Israel's initiatives as well as some of the problems we are facing and how we are responding to them. I am certain that his presentation will be very enlightening and will help us better understand Governmental policies. The program is in English and admission is free. This series is sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue in cooperation with The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI), The Orthodox Union-Israel (OU), Nefesh B'Nefesh, American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC), Young Israel of Rehavia (Hanassi), Yeshurun Central Synagogue, International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region (IYIM), Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and the Rabbinical Council of America-Israel.
The next Lone Soldiers Shabbat Dinner following our Leil Shabbat services will take place on February 12th, a week from this Friday evening. These Dinners are sponsored by The Jerusalem Great Synagogue and The Leo V. Berger Fund – Harvey Schwartz, President and Sigmund Kassap, Vice President, our Benefactors. We thank our partners in these Shabbat programs: The Center for Lone Soldiers, Nefesh b'Nefesh, the Yeshurun Central Synagogue and The American Jewish War Veterans Post 180- Jerusalem. We also thank those who support these efforts by their donations, helping to show our appreciation to these young men and women who have become Olim and volunteered to serve in the IDF. Our cost per soldier is $30. We welcome your contributions to assist us in covering the expenses for this very special project. If you are a Lone Soldier and would like to attend the February 12th Dinner, please contact Daniel Charter at the Center for Lone Soldiers by Thursday at 054-206-3321.
We were delighted this past Sunday to host 126 young men and women who are in Israel on the Jewish Agency's MASA Program. Via this program, young men and women from the Diaspora come to Israel for between 6 months to a year and learn much about this country and themselves by being part of many Israel experiences. The group we hosted were mostly English and Spanish speaking and they participated in a symposium discussing the processes and opportunities they will have when they decide to become olim. They also learned about The Jerusalem Great Synagogue. The program was organized by The Jewish Agency and the Center for Lone Soldiers.
For those who carefully read last week's message and didn't realize that one of the sentences describing the talk given by Rabbi Avi Mizrachi had a word missing, please note that the sentence should have read: "He stressed that one should NOT feel destined to live life as a Single."
I am certain that you will want to reserve Shabbat Parashat Ki Tissa, March 5-6, to join us for a very special Shabbat with emphasis on the music of Louis Lewandowski. At the invitation of Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler and our Board, Guest Chazzan Colin Shachat will officiate on that Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.
We are continuing our building repair and renovation process and will regularly report on our progress. This week, some of the banisters leading to the Main Synagogue were strengthened and painting on the side entrances of the main lobby floor was completed. Much of the work being done isn't visible as it involves wiring and upgrading some of the electrical connections in the building. We hope that, as we continue, you will recognize the progress being made and will help us defray the costs involved with your generous support.
Mazal Tov to our Supporting Members Rabbi Aharon and Libby Ziegler on the engagement of their grandson Eliezer Teller to Sarah Mayer (both of Brooklyn, New York). May the couple go to the chupah b'shaa tova u'mutzlachat and enjoy a long, healthy and happy life together as they build their bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael.
We continue to pray for the good health and immediate release of Gilad ben Aviva Schalit and the other members of the IDF still in captivity. Please add prayers for refua sheleima for those who were injured in terrorist attacks and in the War in Gaza and for Reuven Shmuel ben Reitza (Raoul-Sam Lokiec), Aryeh ben Sarah Leah (Chazzan Aryeh Goldberg), Amiram ben Reina (Amiram Benshimol), Zahava bat Rachel (Zahava Meczes), Channa bat Chaya Devorah (Anna Schlesinger), Bracha Miriam bat Rachel (Miriam Sheinberg), Chaim Ariel ben Vera Devora (Ariel Sharon), Shoshana bat Miriam (Susan Shapiro), Chaya bat Chava (Chaya Herstik), Amit Yehuda ben Malka (Dr.Amit Schwartz), Shimon Elimelech ben Sima Rivka (Marc Weinberg), Avraham Yeshayahu ben Aviva (Avraham Yeshayahu Feiner), Shai ben Rachel (Shai Peltz), Miriam Rivkah bat Adina Leah (Miriam Strasberg), Yissachar Dov ben Peshe (Bud Silver), Moshe Avigdor ben Rivkah (Martin Herzog), Penina Rivka Yoela bat Mirel (Penny Bowman), Avichai Avraham ben Sarah Miriam, Gitel Rivka bat Chaya Risa and Chaya Aviva Sarah bat Adel Nechama (Alexandra Morgan Talbot). May they all be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery and enjoy good health for many more years.
If you haven't as yet become one of our Supporting Members, please fill out the form on our website www.jerusalemgreatsynagogue.com or you may call Rabbi Finkelstein at 052-389-5190 for further information.
Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate this Friday evening (5:05 PM) and Shabbat morning Parashat Yitro (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. If you are in our area, we look forward to your participation with us.
Shabbat shalom.
Asher Schapiro
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 5-6 – Shabbat Parashat Yitro – Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (5:05 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.
February 11 – 1:00 PM Yom Kippur Katan – Mincha and Yom Kippur Katan services in Beit Midrash Be'er Miriam
February 12-13 – Shabbat Parashat Mishpatim, Shabbat Mevorchim and Shabbat Shekalim - Chief Chazzan Chaim Adler will officiate on Friday evening (5:10 PM) and Shabbat morning (7:55 AM) accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe.
February 12 – Leil Shabbat Dinner for Lone Soldiers following Friday evening services vFebruary 13 – 8:15 PM – Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program – Speaker: Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, The Hon. Dan Meridor. Topic: "Are We on Course? A View From the Inside."
March 5-6 – Shabbat Parashat Ki Tissa – Guest Chazzan Colin Shachat will officiate on Friday evening and Shabbat morning accompanied by our Choir conducted by Elli Jaffe. The Shabbat will feature compositions of Louis Lewandowski.
March 13 – 8:30 PM – Motzaei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture Program – Speaker: Ambassador Yehuda Avner Topic: "Israel's Prime Ministers – Past and Present".