Schawuot 5776 / 12.6.2016 / 6. Sivan 5776
We wanted to meet in our green shul on the estate Gatow for shiurim, to work, to laugh and chat. When I came along that day with my second son Aaron, many busy hands were already diligently watering, removing "Beikraut" (yes, I had to learn that there are no "weeds", but only "Beikraut" ...), and organizing the water supply and much, much more.
The short walk from the remise to the field was a good attunement to nature, to harvest, to dirty your hands and to make contact with the soil, which gives us so much and which we sometimes just take for granted, while it is not self-evident and not "just there". 
Shavuot - Jalda could explain much better the holiday at which we celebrate so much: The handing over of the Torah, Ruth's story, or rather her decision and commitment, the beginning of the harvest and the receipt of the first fruits and grain ... It is a happy feast, enjoyment of life, the beauty and the growth of nature. And so all of us were in the fields, weeding and watering, chattering or in silence - all according to our nature and mood.
After work we gathered at the raised strawberry bed and Jalda told us much about Shavuot, its meaning, its history and especially what Shavuot can tell us today. We thought of those who were missing and all those who could not come - especially Anna, Marlis and Etha. Many questions were asked and answered enthusiastically by Jalda .... of course also the first strawberry harvest was picked and enjoyed.
Then we sat together in the garden of Rita and Ulli in a large circle in beautiful weather.
There we enjoyed tasty packed lunch (naturally milky, sweet course ...) and Rita's great soup. Anja read from the book "The Triumph of Eve“ and at the very end, as unfortunately some had to go home already, Dvora gave a super exciting presentation on "Park Sanssouci and Kabbalah" - an essay in the context of her current studies in Potsdam. 
Yes of course, cleaning up and washing dishes also belonged to the tasks ... as in all families.
Text: Esther Trapp Photos: Romy Köcher
Translation: Etha Jimenez and Joseph Rebling
Pflanzfest 8. Mai 2016 / 30. Nissan 5776
This year's planting ceremony took place on Sunday, May 8th, 2016/ 30th of Nissan 5776. It was also the 15th day of the Omer time and the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar. At this versatile holiday we had the ideal weather conditions for the season´s opening of our green shul: blue skies, sunshine, about 25 ° C and a refreshing wind. We were about ten enthusiastic Ohelistas who looked forward to digging the earth, to sowing and to watering, - and to watching the growth of our plants later on.
A few days earlier, Anna and Daniel had repaired the winter damages, so we could get started right away with the gardening. And there was another surprise: just before the planting festival, Anna had built a junior raised bed for those of us, for whom the other beds are too wide or too high. A big thanks to Anna and Daniel. It is a very touching side of Ohel as Chavurah that, handicapped members are given the opportunity to participate in all activities as good as possible. I am very grateful for that.
Even among our youngsters, there are already hard-working elves. Ben is one. He is becoming a competent all-around gardener more and more: planting, handling the water hose or generator and filling the water barrels. With his help, I could also help with the watering of the flower bed. Thank you, dear Ben.
And there was another big surprise: Ben was allowed to drive the tractor. Ulli had promised him that, when his arms and legs are long enough to use the tractor throttle, brake, gearshift and steering wheel, he is allowed to drive it on the field. Now it was time. For Ben certainly the biggest surprise and the highlight of the day. As expected, he steered the vehicle safely and prudently over the field. Others were infected by his enthusiasm and also drove a round. The tractor is a special model from the fifties and in good condition. So it was a great honor to drive it.
When we had finished sowing and watering, we went back to the carriage house. We sat there together on the grass in the light of a mild evening sun. Of course, we now were very hungry, and enjoyed Rita´s delicious vegetable soup and sumptuous strawberry cream cake. A fitting end to a promising start of the season on the field.
Our green shul opens our hearts to the wonders of nature and the presence of the upper worlds. It is a very great opportunity for us as a group and for each individual.
Text: Etha Jimenez Photos: Anna Adam
Translation: Etha Jimenez and Joseph Rebling
Pessach 5776 - 2016
Around 7 o'clock in the evening the large, bright room filled slowly but steadily. The large table had been beautifully decorated by eager helpers. For the first time, we celebrated in a Nachbarschaftsheim in Herbartstraße. Many new and old friends were happy to meet again, and both large and small children explored carefully where there might be hidden corners to play and rollick around.
The Passover Seder brought the Ohel-family together.
Jalda, our cantor, took us by the hand and led us with joy, with lots of love, with songs and her beautiful voice through the Haggadah. Again and again she stopped her narrative to explain and establish connections between then and now. It cannot be taken for granted that today we can celebrate Passover in freedom and peace in this part of the world. 
The banquet was overwhelming: Anna and her helpers have spent a lot of time and energy to conjure a dazzling menu and transport it to our festival site.
Many thanks also to all the other helpers, who effectively and calmly made sure that everything was prepared and decorated. A particularly strong praise goes to our "junior assistants", Jonas, Ben and the young Swarthouts - without them it would have been difficult to win the nightly cleanup Marathon!
What a blessing that Ohel Hachidusch is such a big family.
Text: Esther Trapp Photos: Anna Adam
Translation: Etha Jimenez and Joseph Rebling
Tehillim Workshop / 30.10.2015 / 17. Cheschwan 5776
30 and 31 October 2015: Tehillim workshop with Chasan Jalda Rebling
The melodies of this Shabbaton will echo in us for a long time to come.
We experienced Kabbalat Shabbat, Shakharit and Mincha together and rediscovered the psalms in our T'hillim workshop. The focus was on the Parascha Wajera as well as the Shirat HaYam (Schemot 15) and other Tehillim of the workshop: Psalms 92 and 93, Psalm 148 and Psalm 67, and the Talmud calls Shirat HaYam the first song of praise (BT tract Pessachim 117a). We sang this first song of the Torah and the other Psalms as the Levi'im had sung them in the Temple of Jerusalem thousands of years ago, i.e. 2 choirs, sometimes 3, which met in alternating chant and separated again. Especially in the Shirat HaYam, which was written in a chiastic form (i.e. X-structure of the verses) according to Prof. Amzallag and edited by Chasan Jaclyn Chernett and Chasan Jalda Rebling, this form developed a wonderful energy. The large hall resounded with alternating chants, partly with long notes of one group and simultaneous syllabic singing of the others. A very old melody of the Reed Sea song, which was passed on from mouth to ear over generations and is thus known in different variations, became surprisingly modern. The spiritual effect of these techniques on us was extraordinary. Our prayer suddenly came from deeper levels of consciousness. I think each of us felt how singing psalms in ancient Jewish tradition can lead to a new approach to ancient poetry. How supernatural it must have sounded when the chants of thousands of Levi'ím from the Temple in Jerusalem echoed through the Judean desert. Chasan Jalda Rebling has been engaged for many years with this ancient performance practice of the T'hillim, the Jewish psalms, and we are grateful that she has so ably led us into this world.
Our special guest on this Shabbaton was Eva Sax-Bolder from New York, a rabbinate student at ALEPH, who will receive her smicha at the Ohalah Conference next January. She is a graduate of Kol Zimra, a student of Rabbi Shefa Gold, a pioneer in Jewish Chanting Meditation. Eva led us to Mincha, at the end of the day, into the world of modern Sacred Chants. A great but coherent leap over millennia. After the Se'uda Schlischit, the third meal, this very special Shabbat ended with a touching Hawdala led by Chasan Jalda.
We thank Jalda and Eva very much for this deep spiritual experience and Helen Eckstein for the photos, which so skilfully reflect the atmosphere of the Hawdala.
Text: Etha Jimenez photos: Helen Cornerstone
Text: Etha Jimenez Fotos: Helen Eckstein
Taschlich 5776 / 14.9.2015 / 1. Tischrei 5776
On the 1st day Rosh haSchana 5776, 25 adults and many children met at 17:00 hrs at Gatow Manor for a Taschlich.
At the beginning of our little celebration we wrote down the things that should not accompany us in the new year 5776 on water-soluble paper.
Then we moved to the bank of the Havel. Anna blew the shofar on the banks of the Havel.
In a very touching and contemplative ceremony, led by Anja, we handed over the things that had accompanied us until then to the Havel in a very gentle way. We sent them on their way in small water-soluble bowls, which we had decorated beforehand.
Afterwards we went back to the remise. There delicious food awaited us, so that we could strengthen ourselves physically after the mental strengthening. It was again a very beautiful and harmonious afternoon in Gatow.
Many thanks to Anja and Anna who guided us through the ceremony and a big thank you to Rita and Uli for their hospitality.
Text: Marlis Malkah Ventur Fotos: Anna Adam