Cantors Assembly Mission Opening Night

Cantors Assembly Mission Opening Night

It was an unforgettable scene at the Rykestrasse Synagogue, a magnificent synagogue built originally in 1904 and restored in recent years.

(Rykestrasse Synagogue)

(Rykestrasse Synagogue)

(Rykestrasse Synagogue again!)

We have brought over 50 cantors and 300 people to this city of amazing Jewish history and culture, profound loss and unexpected Jewish rebirth.

As I started our programming chanting the simple, elegant Ma Tovu by Leon Kornitzer, a German Jewish composer, I asked people to first close their eyes and let the history of the last 75 years disappear for a while—as well as any distraction from the long journey they had taken over the last 24 to 48 hours!

There followed a lecture by the incomparable Stephen Berk of Union College in Schenectady, who is traveling with us and will put everything into appropriate historical perspective. Tonight’s lecture covered events and cultural tensions within the Jewish world and in its relation to the outside work from before the time of Martin Luther up to the time of Bismarck and the Second Reich.

(Stephen Berk)

 We’ll continue that story this morning. (It’s Friday 8 a.m. as I’m writing.)

We broke for a reception of delicious sweets and beverages and then came back into the synagogue for a memorable Ma’ariv service, with a beautifully trained professional choir, augmented by cantors and singers like Alice Levitin from our congregation – Alice's grandmother sang in one of the nearby Liberal synagogues prior to her family fleeing Berlin prior to the Holocaust.  So Alice has powerful Berlin stories and powerful Hong Kong stories from the experiences of her parents and grandparents.

This was very powerful for everyone, whether they had roots in the German Jewish cultural experience, in Jewish music, or just enjoyed the gorgeous harmonies so beautifully performed.

A few concert pieces rounded out an opening that no one will forget.

Afterward, we strolled around the corner and had a delicious dinner at a simple French restaurant, while following the European Cup Football (soccer) semifinal match between Germany and Italy. Surprisingly (I think), Italy prevailed, actually scoring during the game(!) twice(!!). Germany scored on a penalty kick in “extra time.”

Family Dinner!

Germany V. Italy...did you watch?

Made everyone around here quite sad, which is too bad.

This morning, we had another lecture by Professor Berk, covering the Second Reich, Otto Bismarck, etc.  And then a visit from the German State Secretary Emily Haber and the U.S. Ambassador to Germany Daniel Murphy.  Both spoke at length about the relationship between Germany and the Jewish communities here and in Israel, and about past, present and future.  It was particularly moving to hear from the German State Secretary.  She spoke beautifully about how much she and the German people appreciate our visit, and how they recognize what a challenge it is for many of us to make a trip to this country.

We spent the rest of the day touring to Pottsdam, San Souci Castle and Cecilienhof.  San Souci is remarkable for its majesty and grandeur -- and is amazingly well-preserved.  Cecilienhof is impressive for its historical significance as the sight of the conference concluding the Second World War.

Shabbat approaches.  I'll send along photos from today later.

Tonight, we will be having services at the Berlin Concert Hall, a gorgeous facility.  It turned out to be the best choice for us in order to have services within walking distance of the synagogue at a facility that would be adaptable (with a magnificent organ) to the full musical style of the service that we are re-creating tonight.

Holding our Shabbat morning services at the Ritz Carlton (one of our hotels) and a special conclusion of Shabbat at the Jewish Museum.

Shabbat Shalom!

Jack