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Dear members and friends,
May is finally here: it’s slowly becoming warmer, the trees are green, and the flowers are blooming. Our congregation is also abloom as we ready ourselves to tackle new challenges and bring fresh growth to our community.
In April we took part in an inter-religious panel discussion in nearby Ottenstein. Our music group, “Shalom”, gave a concert on Yom Ha Shoah in Steinbergen, and the following Shabbat, Rabbi Shillor dedicated the Steinbergen “House of Religions” for Judaism with a Havdallah service.
April was crowned by the visit of Rabbi Jo David of the Jewish Appleseed Foundation, New York.
Important! Important! Important!
Please pay membership dues. Our congregation depends on your dues! Although the dues are set, everyone can give more! We're thankful for every contribution!
Unfortunately we've lost our lease and must vacate by July 1st. Every congregant and member of our "Friends" is asked to be on the lookout for new rooms. The board has several options and with everyone's help, we're sure to find something.
News and Information
House of Religion Dedicated
In April the "House of Religions" was dedicated and opened to the public in the Erlebniswelt Geological Park. Pastor Dr. Peter Neuman, along with initiators Mr. Wärmer and Mr. Kollmeyer (from Erlibneswelt), took part in the dedication service with representatives of the five major world religions. Rachel Dohme for Judaism, Pastor Arend de Vries for Christianity, Dr. Kabita Rump for Hinduism, Mr. Bernhard Preismeier for Islam, and Dagmar Doko Waskoenig for Buddism.
During the dedication week, our group, "Shalom" performed to a full house and Rabbi Irit Shillor held Havdallah services.
Rabbi Jo David's Visit
Rabbi Jo David, Jewish Appleseed Foundation, New York visited our congregation for the second time this year. We are always honored to have her with us.
While here, she was very busy for and with our congregation. Accompanied by our president, she met with our architect, finalizing plans for the synagogue. She met with photographers working on our new brochure “Jewish Hameln”. The brochure will be produced in cooperation with the Hameln Ministry of Tourism, with whom she also met. Finally, she met with lawyers in Hannover to finalize legal papers to establish a foundation, the “Hameln Liberal Synagogue”.
Rabbi David also taught our religious school children, led services, offered a Shabbat morning Shiur, and led a Union membership meeting in Hannover — all in one week!! We are so indebted to her for her dedication to our community and look forward to her next visit in June!
Stone for New Cemetery
Stone mason Mr. Lissmann in cooperation with our board is preparing a stone monument to be placed at the entrance of our new cemetery. Invitation to dedication services will follow. Board members will meet with a representative of the city cemetery department, cemetery master gardener and mason in May to discuss further details dealing with regulations and a full report will follow in our June letter.
Our Land — Synagogue Place #1
As reported earlier, the city has voted to officially change the address of our land to “Synagogue Place #1”. We're in the process of deciding if we can do some minimal landscaping in an effort to beautify our lot until we can begin building. We have several bids and must now seek ways to cover the expenses.
Union Of Progressive Jews of Germany; Austria and Switzerland —
Annual Conference In Arnoldshain
The UPJ will hold it's annual conference in Arnoldshain June 27–30. The title of the conference is “Renewal of Jewish Life”. Seminars and workshops will offer a broad spectrum of topics such as Jewish Education, the Progressive Movement, Halacha, Liturgy, Jewish Culture, and Congregation Administration.
Presenters, to name a few, are: Rabbi Uri Regev (Ex. Dir. of the WUPJ ), and Rabbis Podet, ben-Chorin, Jacob, Brandt, Rothschild, Leinwand, and David. Student rabbis are Alter, Hinz, and Shillor. Registration forms are available at our office. Cost: Euro 155. See you there!
Summer Camp
Thanks to a grant from the WUPJ (thanks Rabbi Joel Oseran) and other contributors, we are happy to announce the 3rd annual Summer Machene. Kids between the ages of 7 and 18 are in for a great 10 days of fun. The Machene will take place in Braunlage in the beautiful Harz Mountains and will be led by Adi Waichselbaum and student rabbi Daniel Alter. Madrichim will help out. Cost: Euro 240. Register now and join the fun!
Todah Rabah . . . . . . Thank You
We have received the 1st large contribution from a local instituion-the city's electric company has contributed 10,000Euros to the Synagogue Building fund!!! We thank them and hope that other local businesses will follow their lead. We thank the group; “Shalom” for donating a portion of their honorarium to the building fund. Pastor Dr. Neumann and Mr. Sedat also made contributions and we are grateful.
Tree of Life
Spring is visable on our “Tree” too! New leaves have been contributed by Mrs. Olvovskaja and Mr. Jakoubavitsch. There's room for many new leaves . . . who will be the next? 50 Euros is all it takes! Each leaf brings our dream of a synagogue closer!
Jahrzeit
May 24 (Sivan 2–May 13) is the Jahrzeit of Mrs. Evgenia Benderskaja. May her memory be for a blessing.
May Birthdays
Happy birthday to all those celebrating in May: Boris Tenenbaum, Igor Fuksa, Polina Kharzanova, Arkadij Drejzer, Efim Veksler, Tracey Berry, Genrietta Bachmatchnikova, Natalija Martinova and Isaak Frid.
Children with May birthdays are: Alina Agronowski, Julian Dohme, Anton Drabkina, Greta Golbereg, and Sivan Edelstein.
Join us on Friday, May 24th to celebrate a community birthday Kiddusch with cake and presents!
Refuah Schlama……….Get Well Wishes
Get well wishes for all who are ill at home or in the hospital. Members: Please contact the office and ask who you can visit. Remember, it's a Mitzvah to visit the sick!
Shalom!
Your board
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