Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters,
     Summer is almost over. It’s time for new beginning, new challenges and a new year! Every new year gives us the opportunity to put our lives in perspective. The year 5762 promises to be a very important one for our congregation. May it be God’s will that we continue successfully in our efforts to develop and build our congregation for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Union of Progressive Jews Speaks Out Against
the Proposed Law to Limit Russian Immigration to Germany
     Our national organization, our state board of Liberal congregations, and our rabbinical seminary, Abraham Geiger College, appeal to the German government to reject the proposal of the Central Council of the Jews of Germany to limit immigration of Russian Jews to only those who are “halachic” (maternal). Please read the position paper. Website readers can obtain a copy of the paper by contacting RachelDohme@gmx.de.

Sofer Neil Yerman demonstrates the art of repairing a Torah Scroll at the annual meeting in Halberstadt.

High Holidays
     We’re pleased to have Cantor Francois Lilienfeld leading us in High Holiday services again this year. He comes to us from Narbonne, France. Service times are posted in the program and in the community center and in each member’s New Year’s card. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Rabbi Jo David
and Neil Yerman’s Visit
     Jewish Appleseed Foundation Executive Director Rabbi Jo David and her husband, Sofer Neil Yerman, visited our congregation in June and July. Rabbi David's many clergical duties (leading services, inducting new members, funeral services, teaching, seminar, and a naming ceremony) kept her very busy. Neil Yerman gave two impressive Torah seminars, which were instructive and enlightening. The children were particularly interested.
     At the end of their stay, Rabbi and Sofer accompanied R. Dohme and P.Pelts to the 7th annual conference of the Progressive movement in Halberstadt where they both offered seminars and lectures. Over 200 people from Progressive congregations in Germany, Austria and Switzwerland were in attendance.

Rabbi Jo David and Rachel Dohme discuss plans for the new synagogue building.

Visit Of The Former Jews Of Hameln
     As reported last month, the former Jewish residents of Hameln visited the town of their birth. Their visit was important for our community. Along with the city of Hameln and the Society of Christians and Jews, our congregations hosted the former residents. How good it was to have “old” and “new” Hameln Jews worshipping together on Friday night. We thank Rabbi Jo David for leading the service. We also thank all our members who created a delicious buffet Oneg!

First Hameln Cultural Festival
    Our congregation’s participation in the city’s 1st cultural festival was a huge success! Our music group “Shalom” sang their hearts out to a packed house. Our info stand was also very well received. The overwhelming interest leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind, just how important a part of this city our congregation is!

Concert
     Our congregation welcomed Svetlana Sokolska back for a beautiful violin concert. Svetlana was accompanied on piano by our own Alla Samarina. Alla donated her salary from the evening to the community — thank you Alla! We hope to have the duo again soon.

Summer Camp
     Over 50 youngsters took part in this year’s summer camp. The camp was held in the Harz Mountains. Camp counselors were Adi Weichselbaum and student rabbi Andreas Hinz. Jewish learning, sports,games and arts and crafts were offered daily.
     Interest in our progressive summer camp program is so large that we will offer it in 2 groups next year. We thank the Women of Reform Judaism and Rabbi S. Berkowitz, Hebrew Tabernacle,N.Y. for grants which made the camp possible. A special thanks to Ingrid Wettberg ,Coordinator.

Makabbi
     Inna Golbereg, daughter of Felix and Faina Golbereg represented Germany at the Makabbi Games in Israel this summer. We are proud of Inna and the 4th place she won in table tennis. Inna will talk about her experiences in Israel at our congregational tea on Sept. 16. Kol Hakavod Inna!

Outings
     Our outing to our progressive sister congregation in Cologne had to be postponed this month. We plan to visit them on October 6 (sign up sheet in the community center). We congratulate them to the dedication of their new rooms on September 2. Herr Gelderblom is offering a trip to Eschershausen this month. Sign up sheet in the community center

Collection for Israel
     Thanks to an initiative of our member E. Slavinska, we raised 350 DM for the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. Noemi Kraigher took our collection to Israel in our name.

Chevra Kaddisha
     E. Dmitrieva and R. Voronova are the new members of our Chevra Kaddisha. The entire congregation is indebted to these women (and the men of the C.K.) for this Mitzvah.

New Members
     New members are the Voronova family and P. Bartelbaum. We’re happy to welcome them. Our little community now has over 160 members.

Freundeskreis
     Our Freundeskreis also grows and grows! New members are A. Kolupaeia, R. Wendel and D. Vogelhuber. We thank them for their interest and support.

Todah Rabah.............Thank You
    Thanks go out to:

• Kaplan and G. Leymunskis for building a step for our new Torah table.
• The Confirmation class, Jerry Varhaftig and the other parents and Rabbi Cohen of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, N.J. (and Rabbi Zoref for arranging things!!) for a contribution to pay for our new Torah table.
• Contributions from the former Jewish residents of Hameln.
• Mayor Arnecke for several cases of kosher wine.
• The Society of Christians and Jews for cases of juices and water.
• All our members who helped in each and every way to make our Oneg so beautiful.

Tree of Life
     Leaves can be purchased for “triple Chai” — $54 online. Click Tree of Life. The money raised goes to our Building Fund. Leaves have been ordered by:

• Soja Varschavska
• Presley Arnovitz
• Barbara and Larry Jacobsberg
• Max,Rebekka and Julian Dohme

Refuah Schlama…………Get Well Wishes
     Get well wishes to all those not feeling well.

Birthdays in July and August
     Alexander Gogolinskji, Josef Pelts, Grigori Drabkine, Mark Ovsievych, Emma Lebedinskiy, Nastasija Krivzowa, Oleg Kleper, Nina Rakhman, Elisabeth Reschko, Riva Slavinska, Adel Gurevitch, Anna Shkolnykova, Polina Peker, Mark Laser, Merab Edelstein, Dmitri Mindlin, Alexander Vilenchik, and Natalja Lokchina.
    We’ll have a special “Birthday Kiddush” on Friday, September14 for all those having September birthdays. Join us for cake and tea and a surprise for the kids!

Shalom!