The e-mail from Germany read, “I’ve reached out to every large organization I could think of and no one can help us. When I saw your Web site, I thought that maybe your organization was the answer to our prayers. Can the Jewish Appleseed Foundation help us?”
Rachel Dohme, the American-born founder, president, and spiritual leader of Jüdische Gemeinde Hameln (JGH) wrote this letter in the fall of 1999. JGH is a German-speaking Progressive synagogue composed primarily of Russian-speaking immigrants. It is also the only synagogue in Hameln. The city is better known as "Hamlin" to English speakers.
Rabbi Zoref, a new “Pied Piper,” blesses
the congregation’s children with Hebrew names. |
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Rachel explained that the congregation needed rabbinic mentoring and support. This need fit perfectly with the Foundation’s mission of helping small Jewish communities. In addition, the idea of being able to help Progressive Judaism take root again in Germany was an exciting prospect.
Under the auspices of the Jewish Clergy Corps, the Foundation’s special program that connects trained rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators, and lay leaders with small congregations, German-speaking Rabbi Arnold Zoref was hired to be the Hameln community’s Congregational Director. (See also the Clergy Corps. )
Rabbi Zoref worked with Rabbi Jo David, JAF’s Executive Director, and Rachel Dohme to analyze the Hameln community’s needs. The first step was to get a firsthand look at the community
In May, Rabbi Zoref traveled to Hameln with his wife, Gert, on behalf of the Foundation. There were many tasks to accomplish during the month they spent there. Rabbi Zoref taught a variety of classes for adults and children, led Shabbat and Shavuot services, performed a memorial service in the Jewish cemetery, and conducted a special Hebrew naming ceremony for the children of the congregation. Of special note was the wedding that Rabbi Zoref conducted on the last day of his stay. The couple, members of the congregation who had been married by civil authorities in Russia, never before had the opportunity to have a Jewish ceremony. Theirs was the first Jewish wedding to be performed in Hameln since the Holocaust. The wedding created a close and lasting bond between Rabbi Zoref and the Hameln community.
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Historic wedding in Hameln, Germany |
One of the high points of Rabbi Zoref’s trip was an invitation from the Israeli Government to assist at the opening of the Israeli Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Hanover. He performed the ritual of affixing the mezuzah to the Pavilion’s doorway and participated in the widely televised ribbon-cutting ceremony. A German-language press kit assisted the press to write accurately about Rabbi Zoref’s work on behalf of the Jewish Appleseed Foundation.
While Rabbi Zoref was busy with religious and ritual activities, Gert spent some of her time collecting recipes from the congregation’s balabustas (outstanding housekeepers). One of the projects planned for Hameln is the development of a cookbook based on recipes the congregation’s members brought with them from Russia. Gert’s help with this has given this project a wonderful beginning.
As a result of Rabbi and Mrs. Zoref’s work and subsequent meetings with Rachel Dohme, the Foundation is now developing a long-term program that will help the Hameln community meet its goals. Under the Foundation’s auspices, JGHReform.org — a new Web site in English, German, and Russian — will offer information about the congregation’s activities. For more information about the Hameln project, visit their Web site: JGHReform.org.
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