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Dear members, friends and supporters,
In April, our Abraham Geiger College rabbinical student, Adrian Schell, visited us for the sixth time. He led services beautifully and many congregants took part. A fellow student from the college accompanied him and observed. Our community can take this as a compliment as it shows that the college sees our congregation as a good training ground for practical, hands-on experience, so important for future rabbis. We were honored to have Adrian’s mentor, Rabbi Dr. Edward van Voolen, visiting for the weekend too.
The month’s highlight was certainly our rabbi’s visit for the first seder on Erev Pesach. We celebrated Pesach with more than 70 members and guests. Joining our celebration were guests from America. It is a sign of our community’s presence that Jews visiting Hamelin can contact us and find a “Jewish home away from home.” Our door is always open!
 
We also received international Pesach greetings from friends in Israel, Kiev, London and the USA.
Although we were somewhat cramped, everyone found a seat at the seder table — all the more reason to build our new synagogue! The Catering Committee chairs, Elena and Luibow, must be especially thanked for having prepared such a wonderful meal. Everything looked beautiful and tasted even better. Certainly we are one of the only congregations to not charge its members for seder. Many helpers lent a hand and we thank them all.
We also thank Rabbi Shillor very much. She led our seder with great joy. The feeling was contagious. Volodymr helped Rabbi Shillor with Russian translations. Everyone enjoyed the sweet voices of the children asking the "Four Questions." We heard the singing of the members and the happily proclaimed brachot for the four glasses of wine. We felt the children’s excitement as they searched for the afikomen, which was ransomed by Gabriel for a present. The entire room was glowing with happy faces as we celebrated together.
Jewish May
In May, we celebrate many holidays together. We will of course celebrate Yom haAzma’ut — Israel’s 60th birthday. We have several events planned and hope that many members, friends and supporters will celebrate with us. We invite everyone to a lecture on Saturday, May 3rd, by rabbinical student Adrian Schell entitled “How could I forget you, Jerusalem — the Holy City of the Jews.” The lecture will be held in Steinbergen at “Haus der Religionen.”
On Yom haAzma’ut May 8th at 6:00 p.m., we celebrate Israel’s birthday with our children and teenagers, who have prepared an evening program with Sivan Gaides, Faina Pelts and Boris Markhaseev. Afterwards everyone is invited to an Israeli buffet. We are looking forward to seeing and hearing what our young artists have planned!
On Tuesday, May 13th at 4:00 p.m., we invite everyone to a concert performed by Ludmilla Shapiro from Israel. The concert’s title is “I Sing Unto You, My Israel” and will include Israeli, Yiddish and Russian music. The entrance fee is €3.
On Yom haShoah, Friday, May 2nd at 5:00 p.m., we will remember with sorrow the 6 million murdered men, women and children during Kabbalat Shabbat services.
On Friday, May 9th, at 5:00 p.m., we will remember the end of the war with a Memorial Day program. Members are asked for €5, guests for €7, to cover the costs of the meal after services. Please sign the lists posted on the door or call the community’s office.
On May 23–24 we will again host our rabbinical student Adrian Schell. We will celebrate Lag B’Omer with him. On May 23 we will all meet in the Reform Church’s garden, Hugenottenstraße. As every year we will celebrate Lag B’Omer with a picnic. We would like to thank Pastor Hoffmann and his community for their neighborly hospitality and the use of their lovely garden! There will be a puppet play for the children. The congregation will provide kosher hot dogs and soft drinks. We ask everyone to contribute something to our vegetarian buffet. See you there!
May Events
On May 6 at 8:00 p.m., the patron of our foundation Liberal Synagogue Hameln, Bishop Dr. Homeyer, from Hildesheim, will speak at the Forum of the Business High School, Mühlenstrasse 16. His topic is “Europe and its History of Guilt.”
The Society of Christian and Jews is offering a trip to the memorial and new documentation center in Bergen-Belsen on May 28. Please let Mrs. Polina Pelts know if you would like to attend.
30 rabbis and leaders of the North American Union of Reform Jews, who were in Berlin as part of a URJ Mission about our congregation. At Rabbi Lenny Thal’s and Austin Beutel’s invitation, she spoke after Kabbalath Shabbat services. Rachel talked about our community, its success and its challenges, and asked them to support our work building our new synagogue.
Summer Machane for Kids and Teens
The Youth Department of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany offers this year’s “Machane Yehonatan” for children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 17. This year’s summer camping program will take place in Denmark from July 29th to August 10th, 2008. Information is available in the office.
The Machane will cost €420 and limited financial assistance will be available. Register your children for Jewish learning, sports, games and fun!
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.
Contributions
We thank the community members and friends who have so generously supported our communal life and synagogue construction plans with their contributions:
- Myrta Sparks, the families Jacobsberg and Kaplan, Mr. Möller, the families Pelts and Golereg, Dr. Peter Neumann, the “Netzwerk” group, Mrs. Grobowski-Hölscher, Mr. Aron Kaplan and Mrs. E. Dittrich.
- We thank the Lenze Company in Aerzen for their generous contribution for our synagogue building project. Lenze has made numerous contributions to our project and we are very grateful.
- We also wish to thank and mention Mr. Klaus-Dieter Dohme from Coppenbrügge, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday and in lieu of presents, asked guests to contribute to the synagogue construction instead!
May all of you be blessed for your generosity.
Tree of Life
Spring has sprung! Seven new leaves have sprouted on our tree. Leaf for leaf we get closer to our aim of building a synagogue. New leaves were ordered by:
- The families Jacobsberg and Kaplan: In memory of Presley Arnovitz
- Mr. Möller: Happy Birthday Godelind Möller
- In loving memory of Reinhard Salm, 1962–2008
- The families Pelts and Golbereg: In memory of the Schuster sisters
Leaves can be ordered through our office or by contacting Rachel Dohme at racheldohme@cvmx.de. Each leaf costs €54 (triple chai). Contribute a leaf and help us to build our synagogue!
Thank You —Todah Rabah
- We thank Mr. Lev Bachamatchnikov for his donation of books for our library. Maya Olvovskaya and Rachel Dohme as well as Christina Whitelaw have also donated books to our library. Thank you!
- We thank Albina Dvortsis for the new signs for our information board. Thanks to the Meschede-Krasa family for donating lovely new seder plates.
- We gratefully acknowledge and thank Mrs. Myrta Spark’s generation donation, which will cover the costs of our Web site www.jghreform.org for five more months.
- We thank the European Region of the World Union of Progressive Judaism for helping us with a grant used to cover the costs of our rabbi’s monthly visits.
- Thanks to Dr. Felix Peres for his interesting program at the Sunday Café in April.
- We thank all who helped with our Pesach Seder.
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov to Rebecca Seidler and Tino Höntsch on the birth of their son Samuel. Mazel Tov to the proud grandparents, Katarina and Johannes Seidler.
Birthdays in March
For all those celebrating a May birthday, the very best wishes for health and happiness. We have a small gift for all our May birthdays at our Lag B’omer picnic on May 23rd. Join the party!
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.
Condolences
Our condolences to the families Pelts and Golbereg on the death of their Aunt, Dora Schuster, sel. A.
Our condolences to the Dohme family on the death of their Uncle, James Price, sel. A.
Yahrzeits in March — We remember:
Betja Kholmer May 8, 1997 / Iyar 1 5757
Evgenia Benderskaja May 24, 2001 / Sivan 2 5761
Vladimir Rubanov May 14, 2002/ Sivan 3 5762
May their memory be a blessing. Please join us at services as we recite Kaddish with family members. Yahrzeit candles are available through the synagogue office.
Shalom,
—Your Synagogue Board
Program for May 2008 • Nissan–Iyar 5768
Office hours: Mon., Wed.& Fri., 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon and Tues. & Thurs., 9.00 a.m.–4.00 p.m. |
| Friday, May 2 |
5 p.m. |
Kabbalat Shabbat services with R. Dohme Yom haShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) |
| Saturday, May 3 |
5 p.m. |
Lecture: “Jerusalem” by A. Schell Haus der Religionen, Steinbergen |
| Monday, May 5 |
12 p.m. |
“Judaism in Russian,” V. Pesok |
| Tuesday, May 6 |
9:00 a.m. |
Board Meeting (Board members only) |
| Wednesday, May 7 |
10:00 a.m. |
Mr. Hans-Georg Spangenberger, slide presentation: Chagall |
| Thursday, May 8 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. |
Young and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin, S. Gaides
B'nei Mitzvah Class, S. Gaides
“Shalom, Jr.” rehearsal, F. Pelts
Yom haAzma’ut Celebration — Israel's 60th birthday, S. Gaides and Young and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin, Israeli food buffet |
| Friday, May 9 |
5:00 p.m. |
Memorial Day, members €5 guests €7 |
| Saturday, May 10 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit services and Torah study, R. Dohme |
| Tuesday, May 13 |
10:00 a.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Synagogue tour, R. Dohme
Concert celebrating Israel's 60th year “I sing unto you, my Israel” Ludmilla Shapiro, Israel Tickets: €3 |
| Saturday, May 17 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit sevices and Torah study, D. Vogelhuber |
| Tuesday, May 20 |
4:00 p.m. |
Video afternoon, M. Dvortsis |
| Wednesday, May 21 |
10:30 a.m. |
Informational meeting, M. Souslovic |
| Thursday, May 22 |
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
4.30 p.m.
5.30 p.m. |
Yong and Jewish, Jr. Hamelin, S. Gaides
B'nei Mitzvah Class, S. Gaides
“Shalom, Jr.” rehersal, F. Pelts
Hebrew for Adults, S. Gaides |
| Friday, May 23 |
3:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. |
B'nei Mitzvah Class, A. Schell
Lag B'Omer picnic in the garden of the Reform Church, Hugenottenstraße, with A. Schell, puppet play, L. Bikowa Please bring something for a vegetarian buffet. |
| Saturday, May 24 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit services with Torah study, A. Schell |
| Sunday, May 25 |
3:00 p.m. |
Sunday Café |
| Tuesday, May 27 |
4:00 p.m. |
Russian Afternoon, M. Olvovskaja |
| Saturday, May 31 |
10:00 a.m. |
Shacharit services with Torah study, R. Dohme |
Activities Outside the Community |
| Saturday, May 3 |
5:00 p.m. |
Lecture: “Jerusalem,” A. Schell, Haus der Religionen, Steinbergen |
| Tuesday, May 6 |
8:00 p.m. |
Lecture: “Europe and its history of guilt,” Bishop Dr. Homeyer at the Forum of the HLA, Mühlenstrasse 16 |
| Monday, May 19 |
4:00 pm |
Inter-religious Women's Meeting, Hunoldstrasse Mosque |
| Wednesday, May 28 |
11:00 p.m. |
Society of Christians and Jews: Bus trip to Bergen-Belsen, meeting point Hamelin Station, €10 per person. |
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