A Guide to the BJ Community Revised October 2010
A Guide to the BJ Community
Shimon Ha-Tzaddik was one of the last members of the Great Assembly. This was a favorite teaching of his: “The world rests on three things: on Torah (study); on avodah (prayer); and on gemilut hasadim (acts of lovingkindness).” — Avot, 1:2
B’nai Jeshurun is a passionate Jewish community that inspires spiritual searching, lifts the soul, challenges the mind, and requires social responsibility and action. We strive to experience and express God’s presence as we study, pray, and serve together. We are unified yet diverse and explore the living tension between tradition and progress. We carry out deeds of loving-kindness, foster a meaningful relationship with Israel, and participate in serious dialogue and collaboration with Jewish people and people of other faiths to heal the world. We welcome you to study, pray, and serve with us.
Table of Contents 2
The Vision/Our Story
4
Rabbis, Hazzan, and Fellows
6
Leadership and Administration
7
Holy Community
8
Youth and Family
9
Prayer
10
Study of Torah
11
Justice and Peace
12
Development and Finance
13
Schedule of Services and Programs
INSIDE BACK COVER
Rabbinic Office, Board of Trustees, and Staff Directory
PHOTOS, FRONT AND BACK COVERS AND LEFT: TOM ZUBACK
The Vision Our Story
THE VISION
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החזון תולדות בי ג'יי
החזון
OUR STORY
When there is no vision, there is chaos.
•
תולדות בי ג'יי
Know whence you come and whither you are going. —Proverbs 29:18
In our day, when our world is drifting in the direction of violence, hopelessness, and fear, making us uncomfortable, angry or despairing, we reach within the wellsprings of Jewish wisdom to present a compelling vision. We strive to meet the challenges of the present and to remain relevant in the search for justice, understanding, and peace. We draw inspiration from the great teachers of our tradition who embodied and articulated some of Judaism’s deepest and most cherished values: the kinship of humanity, love, responsibility, justice, and peace. We believe in the power of each person to change his or her individual reality. We believe in the power of community to change the world in which we live. We know that our lives are of consequence and that what we say and what we do matter. B’nai Jeshurun is our spiritual home and a source of strength that has helped us to deepen our relationship to God and our tradition though prayer, learning, and the commitment to each other and our world.
—Avot 3:1 Since its founding in 1825, during the presidency of John Quincy Adams, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun has been a leading force in New York Jewry and has been closely involved in the civic and national communities. The 32 synagogue founders were a group of mostly Ashkenazic members of the Spanish-Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel in Lower Manhattan. They wished to “promote the strict keeping of their faith,” to introduce “less formal worship with time set aside for explanations and instruction, without a permanent leader, and with no distinctions made among the members,” and to conduct services “according to German and Polish minhag [custom].” The spirit that moved these founders was the spirit of the American Revolution: democracy, freedom, diversity, informality, and non-elitism.1 The new congregation—the second in New York City and the ninth in the nation—began holding services in temporary facilities at 533 Pearl Street and then moved northward, with the general trend of the city’s Jewish population, to Elm Street, Greene Street, 34th Street, Madison Avenue and 64th Street, and then, in 1918, to its present home at 88th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue. The congregation flourished in its beautiful new space for more than 50 years under the leadership of Rabbi Israel Goldstein. This was a period when the B’nai Jeshurun continued its outreach to the less fortunate in the city and supported the establishment of the State of Israel. The synagogue was a spiritual and social center for congregants. Dr. Chaim Weizmann spoke at BJ, as did Eleanor Roosevelt,
1. Sarna, Jonathan D, American Judaism: A History; Yale University Press, 2004. The first quote in this paragraph is from the founding charter of BJ.
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PHOTO: DAVID KATZENSTEIN
A GUIDE TO THE BJ COMMUNITY
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. In the 1970s B’nai Jeshurun’s membership began to dwindle. That trend was reversed with the arrival of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer from Buenos Aires in 1985. Setting up his “office” with a card table, a pay phone, and a roll of quarters, Rabbi Meyer began attracting many people with his impassioned Judaism, blending social activism, spirited musical worship, and a vision of an open and inclusive community. The vision he articulated then remains the same: Congregation B’nai Jeshurun believes that a community synagogue which responds to the authentic questions of life, death, love, anxiety, longing and the search for meaning can, once again, attract Jews—families and individuals—if it is willing to grapple with the great issues of life. The following year, Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon (Roly), who had been a student of Marshall’s in Argentina, joined him in
leading the congregation. Soon there were swelling crowds at Friday night services, alive with meaningful prayer, joy, and dancing. Ari Priven, another student of Marshall’s from Argentina, came to BJ in 1989 as hazzan. In 1995, following Rabbi Meyer’s untimely death in 1993, Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein, yet another of his students, joined Roly in leading the congregation. In 2001, Rabbi Felicia Sol, who had been the Family and Youth Director and a Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow, joined her teachers in their rabbinic partnership, becoming the congregation’s first woman rabbi. Under the leadership of the Rabbis, Hazzan, and numerous community leaders, a small, dying congregation with a proud history was transformed into a vibrant, inclusive, participatory community of almost 2,000 households. The congregation's vital history continues to be tied to its sacred space and to the visionary leadership of its rabbis, with many new chapters to be written.
“BJ is a place that makes my heart sing.” —BJ Member
PHOTO: TOM ZUBACK
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Rabbis, Hazzan and Fellows
BJ’s Rabbis J. Rolando Matalon, Marcelo R. Bronstein, and Felicia L. Sol, provide vision and leadership and model a spiritual and committed Jewish life for our community. They lead by conducting services, teaching, counseling and supporting members, officiating at life cycle events, representing BJ to the public, and in their relations with volunteer leaders, members, and staff. They teach that a committed Jewish life requires each person to engage in serious learning, disciplined spiritual practice, and service to others. They envision a BJ community that will be faithful to the Jewish tradition and constantly respond to the challenges of the 21st century.
Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon Born in Buenos Aires in 1956, Rolando Matalon was educated at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and the Université de Montreal where he received a B.S. in chemistry. He studied at the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires founded by his teacher, the late Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer. During the course of his studies, he spent a year as a graduate student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He came to New York in 1982 to continue his studies for the rabbinate at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his rabbinical ordination and Master of Hebrew Letters from JTS in 1986. After his ordination, Rabbi Matalon came to B’nai Jeshurun on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to share the pulpit with his beloved mentor and friend, Rabbi Marshall Meyer, who had recently returned to the United States from Argentina. Following the untimely death of Rabbi Meyer at the end of 1993, Rabbi Matalon was joined by Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein— another disciple of Rabbi Meyer—in 1995, and by Rabbi Felicia L. Sol in 2001, who share the spiritual leadership of B’nai Jeshurun. Rabbi Matalon serves on the boards of a number of agencies and organizations dedicated to the pursuit of peace and social justice including American Friends of Parents Circle, Rabbis for Human Rights – North America, the International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Doha, Qatar (International Advisory Board), Beit Tefillah Israeli-Tel Aviv, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (Honorary Board), Union Theological Seminary, Habitat for Humanity (Leadership Council) and Storahtelling (Advisory Board). He is the recipient of awards from the New York Board of Rabbis and the Jewish Peace Fellowship. Rabbi Matalon plays the ‘ud (Arabic lute) and is a member of the New York Arabic Orchestra.
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PHOTOS: LEFT, TOP RIGHT, CYNDI SHATTUCK PHOTOGRAPHY. BOTTOM RIGHT: DENISE WAXMAN.
והעמיתים, החזן,הרבנים Rabbi Marcelo R. Bronstein Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein received his BA in 1976 and his MA in 1978 in clinical psychology from Belgrano University in Buenos Aires. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Hebrew Letters in 1987 from the University of Judaism and his Masters of Hebrew Letters and his Rabbinical Ordination from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 1989. Before coming to BJ, Rabbi Bronstein held a variety of positions, both in the Jewish and secular worlds, including the Youth Director position at Comunidad Bet El in Buenos Aires, where he worked closely with his teacher and mentor, Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer, for ten years. In 1989, Rabbi Bronstein became rabbi of Estadio Israelita in Santiago, Chile and then became founding rabbi at Congregacion Or Shalom, also in Santiago. In 1995, he joined Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon as a BJ rabbi. Rabbi Bronstein serves on several boards, including the advisory committees of Human Rights Watch/Americas, the advisory boards of the Chaplaincy Program at Roosevelt St. Luke’s Hospital, New York Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Soaring Words, and South Wing to Zion (Ethiopian Jews).
Rabbi Felicia L. Sol Rabbi Felicia Sol was raised in Connecticut and received a BA in Developmental Psychology and Education from Tufts University. In 1996, she received a Masters in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. During the course of her studies she spent a year at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem. She received her Masters of Hebrew Letters in 1997 and rabbinic ordination in 1999 from HUC-JIR in New York City. While engaged in studies in New York, Rabbi Sol joined the staff of BJ as the Family and Youth Director, a position in which she served for three years. Following ordination, she became a Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow. In 2001, Rabbi Sol joined her teachers, Rabbis Bronstein and Matalon, in their rabbinic partnership. Rabbi Sol serves on the Board of Jewish Funds for Justice and New Israel Fund New Generations Steering Committee.
A GUIDE TO THE BJ COMMUNITY
Hazzan Ari Priven works in partnership with the Rabbis, and an ensemble of musicians in residence to enrich the liturgical experience of prayer and celebration and to reach the souls of our congregants. Drawing on a wide range of traditional and contemporary musical traditions and genres from different Jewish communities around the world, he helps to make BJ’s services fresh and compelling. Hazzan Priven teaches children and adults, officiates at life cycle events and shares in the spiritual leadership of BJ.
Hazzan & Music Director Ari Priven Ari Priven was born in 1962 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was trained as a Hazzan by the late Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer and studied at the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano, founded by Rabbi Meyer. He received a Masters degree from the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Shortly after Rabbi Meyer arrived in New York to revitalize B’nai Jeshurun, he called on Hazzan Priven to become cantor and music director, a position he has held since 1989. The music of BJ is admired and has influenced many congregations around the country and around the globe. Hazzan Priven has produced and performed in several recordings of BJ music, including With Every Breath (The Music of Shabbat), HaLailah Hazeh: The Music of Pesah at BJ, and TekiYah: Echoes of the High Holy Days at BJ, and is the composer of a number of liturgical pieces. He was a professional advisor and teacher at Synagogue 2000, and he is a member of the Synagogue 3000.
Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellowship The MTM Fellowship prepares newly ordained rabbis for a full spectrum of rabbinic duties in the “BJ model,” with the goal of contributing to the revitalization of Jewish life. Under the mentorship of BJ’s Rabbis, the fellow leads services, gives divrei Torah, performs life cycle events, supervises conversions, and teaches classes, among other duties. In the first year (the final year of rabbinic school) the fellow rotates through BJ’s departments, including the Hebrew School, Membership, Social Action/Social Justice, and Administration. In the second year, after ordination, the fellow serves full-time as part of the BJ rabbinate. This experience has equipped many rabbis to be agents of vision and change in their future professional lives.
Rabbi Michelle Dardashti 2009-2011 MTM Rabbinic Fellow Prior to her rabbinic training at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Michelle lived in Uruguay, teaching at a Jewish Day School, running Hillel programs, and writing for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. She then journeyed to Israel, first on a Dorot Fellowship— volunteering at Israel Democracy Institute, studying at the Conservative Yeshiva, and learning Arabic—and later working for the Nesiya Institute. While at JTS Michelle served as Director of Family Programming at Shaare Zedek, educator for Interfaith Community, rabbinic intern for Interfaith Worker Justice, chaplain at Bellevue Hospital, and rabbi and hazzanit for JTS’s High Holy Day services. She also participated in a cross-seminary course in congregation-based community organizing through Jewish Funds for Justice, traveled to El Salvador as part of an American Jewish World Service Rabbinical Student Delegation, and produced “Esther in Africa,” a Purim-themed musical fundraising event for the AJWS Sudan Relief Fund. Michelle returned to Jerusalem for her fourth year of rabbinical school; while there, she studied at the Schechter Institute, facilitated Encounter Programs study tours to Bethlehem, and organized an event exploring homosexuality in Israel through the arts. Michelle was ordained and received a Masters in Jewish Education from JTS in May 2010.
Rabbinic Fellowship In 2010 BJ began the development of a new one-year Rabbinic Fellowship that provides immersion in the work of a single department at BJ, while still exposing fellows to the full spectrum of rabbinic duties in the various BJ departments.
Jason Fruithandler 2010-2011 Rabbinic Fellow Jason is in his final year of rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received his Masters in Jewish Education. In 2009-2010 Jason was the Davidson Education Intern at BJ, planning and leading a variety of student, parent, and family programs and joining the teen service-learning trip to New Orleans. He spent the summer engaged in chaplaincy training in the New York Harbor VA healthcare system. His involvement with Jewish youth has a much longer history, he worked at two Camps Ramah and as youth director at several synagogues for many years. Jason also serves as Teen Coordinator in the Youth and Family Department. PHOTOS: TOP, CYNDI SHATTUCK PHOTOGRAPHY. BOTTOM: TOM ZUBACK.
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Leadership and Administration
B’nai Jeshurun is a community led by the vision of its Rabbis and governed by a dynamic partnership among the Rabbis, Trustees, and staff. The Trustees, headed by the President, participate in shaping and implementing the vision of the Rabbis. They also engage in strategic planning and recruit and mentor new leadership for the congregation. The staff, led by BJ’s Executive Director, contributes to the development of BJ’s mission and supports and collaborates with committees to implement BJ’s many programs and activities efficiently and effectively. BJ encourages the participation of its members in every aspect of the life of the community, including governance. The BJ leadership identifies and recruits people to participate through membership on the Board, the Executive Committee, eight Steering Committees, and approximately 30 community committees. BJ is a large and complex organization, and it is at the committee level that the energy and creativity of the individual members are transformed into deeds. The work of the committees is integrated with the Board in two ways: a Board member chairs or co-chairs each steering committee; and committees are encouraged to provide regular reports to the Board.
מנהיגות ומנהלה
• The Board of Trustees is an extraordinary group of dedicated members who bring a wealth of experience in law, finance, education, social services, real estate, management, strategic planning, fundraising, and Jewish life to their work. The Board meets five times a year and has an efficient and thoughtful system of nomination and election of members and officers as well as a clearly defined chair-selection process. • The Executive Committee meets four times a year between board meetings, and the Steering Committees meet periodically as needed. • The BJ office has a varied and collaborative staff divided into six functional departments. • The Hebrew School is operated by full-time professional educators with input from a parent committee and a strong faculty of teachers, aides, learning specialists, and musicians. • The three senior Rabbis and Hazzan are BJ’s spiritual leaders, assisted by two Rabbinic Fellows and a Cantorial Intern.
“At BJ, spiritual worship and meaningful rituals are combined with an increased sense of social and communal responsibility.” —BJ Member
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PHOTOS: TOM ZUBACK
Holy Community
קהילה קדושה
BJ’s community of over 1,800 households is made up of families with and without children, singles, young and old, men and women, gay and straight, longtime members, and new people who join us each year, coming from many different places geographically, socially, economically, and Jewishly. We encourage all who attend our services to become members and to participate fully in the life of the community. BJ strives to be a holy community, a place where each of us can address authentic questions of life in partnership with God and our fellow members. Our tradition teaches us that this quest for meaning does not and cannot take place alone—it must be undertaken within a community. To have the power to change our lives, and through our lives the world, that community must be more than just a group of like-minded individuals. To be truly transformative, it must be a kehillah kedoshah, a sacred community. At BJ, we balance members’ experience of the vitality and strength of the whole community with a feeling of intimacy and connection with each other. To accomplish this, we define B’nai Jeshurun as a “community of communities” and encourage each member to find his or her place. Groups often form naturally around life cycle events, life stages, age groups, Jewish interests, learning, social action and justice concerns, and other community initiatives. BJ encourages and expects members to play an active role in the life of the community, volunteering their time to lead and participate in activities. Dedicated staff members partner with volunteers to ensure that all BJ initiatives receive the support and infrastructure they require.
At BJ, the inspiration drawn from Shabbat and holy days will continue to reverberate during the week, calling us to embrace our responsibilities as Jews. More than a third of our members are involved in a range of groups and activities that serve to strengthen our community. This participatory spirit is one of BJ’s greatest attributes. • Affinity groups such as Tze’irim (20s & 30s), Bekef (35+), Mekusharim (55+) and Interfaith. • Support for those in need through Bikkur Holim (visiting the ill) and Hevra Kadisha (comforting mourners). • Jewish cultural experiences through Haknasat Orhim (welcoming guests), Havurot (small fellowship groups), Kiddushim, and Oneg Shabbatot. • Social and educational programming such as New Member Orientation Programs, Retreats, and Social Action/Social Justice work. • Youth and Family Life programs including a vibrant Hebrew School. As part of the larger Jewish community our connection and responsibilities extend to other parts of the Jewish Diaspora and to the State of Israel. BJ organizes yearly visits to Israel and nurtures active partnership with emerging spiritual communities and with institutions working for social change and for peace in Israel.
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Youth and Family
משפחות ונוער
"To educate a child without educating and involving the parents and the entire family can be compared to heating a house while leaving the window open.” —Mordecai Kaplan We believe that Judaism is an ongoing search for meaning and that this search begins in childhood. We believe that the family and the synagogue can work together to nourish developing Jewish identities and that the best way to convey the joy and beauty of being Jewish is to provide new and creative ways for children to explore Judaism at each stage of their development. In keeping with a synagogue that is inclusive, diverse, and egalitarian, we invite the families of children with special needs and disabilities to participate in any of our programs, thereby providing access to a meaningful Jewish education for all our congregants. Our programs reflect these beliefs and aim to create experiences that will enrich both the "at-home" and "insynagogue" Jewish experiences of children and families. Through study, retreats, prayer, and a commitment to social action and social justice, we offer our children the same kind of rich learning experiences that BJ’s adult education programs offer their parents. • Shabbat services for families and children address their particular developmental and spiritual needs. We build on the traditional liturgy with song, dance, games, storytelling, and study to bring to life the prayers, Torah, and a love of Israel for our community’s youngest members. • Activities for Young Families include Bim Bam (a preShabbat music class for babies and toddlers), Tot Shabbat services and dinners, and celebrating Shabbat and holidays together.
• The Hebrew School creates a rich, vibrant learning environment where we nourish our children’s Jewish identities, create a community of peers that is part of the larger community at BJ, and build the skills children will need to be participatory members of their community. • The B’nai Mitzvah experience is marked by 4th, 5th and 6th grade family learning programs, a 6th grade communitywide retreat for kids, and an intense period of study with a tutor in preparation for becoming engaged members of the community. • BJ Teens engage in domestic and international service learning trips, serve as Ozrim (teachers’ aides) in the Hebrew School and at Junior Congregation services, participate in a teen leadership track, and study and learn together on a teen retreat and throughout the year.
“BJ is a sanctuary where we are proud to be Jews and where we feel good about the values our children learn.” —BJ Member
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PHOTOS, TOP: DAVEY ROSEN. BOTTOM: REBECCA ROSENTHAL.
Prayer
תפילה
Prayer at B’nai Jeshurun is an expression of our need to praise, to thank, to question, and to wrestle with God. We work to balance the traditional liturgy with new and creative means of deepening our spiritual experience.
accessible to all members regardless of physical limitations by assuring access to the physically handicapped, by making special seating arrangements as needed, and by providing assistive listening devices at all services.
Music at B’nai Jeshurun, which reflects the rich kaleidoscope of Jewish diversity, is integral to our meaningful experience of prayer. It serves as a bridge between different cultures and traditions and exemplifies BJ’s desire to welcome and embrace all Jews in our community.
The central role of prayer at BJ is exemplified by: • Daily minyan, Shabbat, and Holiday Services. • Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services weekly. • A wide array of children’s and family services.
While we respect each person’s struggle to find his and her own level of observance, we are committed as a community to a core of halakhic behavior as the expression of our spiritual and moral values. Hebrew is the language of congregational celebration and prayer at BJ, and we challenge all members to study prayerbook Hebrew. Our siddurim include transliterations to facilitate singing along. BJ has produced CDs of music for Shabbat, Pesah, and High Holy Days to help people become familiar with the liturgy and rituals. We strive to make services
• A bimonthly Junior Congregation service led by teens. • Weekly Tefillah in the Hebrew School. • High Holy Day Services for adults and families. • Adult classes for learning liturgy.
PHOTOS: BOTTOM LEFT, CENTER: CYNDI SHATTUCK PHOTOGRAPHY. TOP, BOTTOM RIGHT: TOM ZUBACK
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Study of Torah
תלמוד תורה
youngest to the oldest, and from the beginner to the most learned, in order to allow students to progress in their pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
What is more important, study or action? Rabbi Tarfon said that action is greater. Rabbi Akiva said that study is greater. Everyone present agreed that study is greater because it leads to action. —Babylonian Talmud Kiddushin 40b Study at BJ is a personal and spiritual engagement with the texts of our tradition that serves to connect the mind with the heart. It moves each of us to more fully encounter ourselves, each other, and God. Study inspires us, individually and collectively, to deepen our observance and do our part to repair the world. Members are encouraged to set aside time regularly for Torah study and to acquire at least a basic level of Jewish literacy including basic prayerbook Hebrew. Formal and informal opportunities for study are provided for all members of the community from the
Participants explore Jewish history and thought, classical texts, and spiritual practice via stimulating and creative classes, lectures, workshops, film screenings, retreats, and other learning activities. We hope members will use these opportunities to struggle with questions pertinent to modern Jewry: “What does it mean to live a worthy Jewish life?” “What is expected of us personally and communally?” Each year our Rabbis teach more than 15, mostly multi-session, classes attended by more than 400 people. A teacher-in-residence program, Shabbat morning teachings by the Rabbis and visiting scholars, havurot and Havdalah groups, study programs at retreats, and pre-holiday workshops provide additional opportunities to engage and learn. Periodic study trips to Israel strengthen our commitment to the land and our relationships with our Israeli partners. Other opportunities for members to share and to participate in a learning community online are currently being explored. A sampling of the specific subjects addressed in recent years provides a glimpse of the richness of talmud Torah at BJ: • Introduction to Judaism • Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Heavenly Torah • The Rabbinic Mind on Sinai • Davening Workshop: Growing From Participant to Leader • The Book of Exodus • Myth or Reality: Finding Truth in Religious Life • Interfaith Family Workshop • Piyyutim of Shabbat • Creating Space for Quiet, a meditation class
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PHOTO: DENISE WAXMAN
Justice and Peace
צדקה ושלום
A commitment to justice and peace is a defining characteristic of B’nai Jeshurun, woven through the fabric of our community. This commitment is rooted in the prophetic vision of Judaism, which demands that we dedicate ourselves to social action and social justice. Our task is to hear the message of the prophets and to make that message meaningful in these days and in this place. Both as individuals and as a community we must continually ask ourselves (as God did to Adam), “Ayekah—where are you?” Our challenge is to be able to answer with honesty, “Hineni, here I am.” In communal service, we serve God by our commitment to gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness) and to justice and peace. The Social Action/Social Justice Department is headed by a full-time community organizer who works in partnership with member volunteer leaders. Together they create opportunities for members to respond effectively to injustices in our local, national, and global communities and to develop meaningful relationships with our neighbors. We are proud that our members, of all ages, volunteer in large numbers. This work falls into two categories: social action through direct service; and transforming our community and pursuing justice through advocacy. Our direct-service programs offer concrete ways to address immediate needs and improve the lives of others. These include the Congregation B’nai Jeshurun/Church of St.Paul & St. Andrew Homeless Shelter, an interfaith project; and the Judith Bernstein Lunch Program, an intergenerational effort that serves lunch to our neighbors in need every week. Lastly, our tutoring programs in partnership with neighboring public schools offer the exciting opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.
marriage equality to access to affordable health care. Throughout the year, we seek additional opportunities to “pray with our feet” through one-time events and by responding to global and national crises like genocide in Darfur and the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A small sample of what we accomplish: • Panim el Panim has developed strong relationships with local public officials. These relationships allow us to have a voice on issues from marriage equality to mandating electronics recycling by manufacturers doing business in New York City. • BJ Social Action hevras collaborate with diverse advocacy groups around the city such as Domestic Workers United, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, and Empire State Pride Agenda. • Through our membership in Manhattan Together, an interfaith citizens’ power organization, we have fought for affordable housing, quality public education, and immigrant rights in New York City. • Panim el Panim has engaged hundreds of members in “community conversations” in members’ homes to build relationships and explore issues of common concern.
Through Panim el Panim, BJ’s Community Organizing and Advocacy Initiative, we utilize community organizing strategies to transform our congregation by facilitating deeper relationships among our members and between our BJ community and our citywide neighbors. Panim el Panim seeks to address the root causes of injustice by changing power structures, laws, policies, relationships, and practice— complementing the direct service programs that BJ has operated for many years. Our power to make change is developed through a congregational community-organizing model based on one-to-one relationships, community conversations, leadership development, and participatory decision-making. Through action hevras (friendship groups) we have worked on specific advocacy campaigns from
PHOTO: CHANNA CAMINS
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Development and Finance
כספים ופתוח
Judaism has a tradition of ethical concern for the financial resources that support religious and educational projects. Stewardship of these resources requires care in how contributions are handled and in how funds are allocated and spent. BJ strives to achieve the highest standards in these areas.
DEVELOPMENT
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פתוח
BJ makes it possible for over 2,000 people to pray together each Shabbat, provides for our children's Jewish education, supports adult classes and programs, runs a homeless shelter and a lunch program, provides volunteer opportunities, and allows our Rabbis and staff to support our members. It costs more than $5.5 million annually to sustain BJ. The BJ Development Department works closely with the Development Steering Committee, a group of BJ Board members and members dedicated to helping the synagogue raise these critical funds. Membership dues, Hebrew School tuition, and program fees cover 60% of BJ's budget. The remaining 40% is raised through the Kol Nidre Annual Partnership Appeal, individual donations, and foundation support. We are committed to treating our donors as valued partners. The Development Department strives to ensure that all donations are handled, acknowledged, and recognized in a timely and appropriate manner. Donor requests for anonymity will be honored.
FINANCE
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כספים
The day-to-day administration of BJ’s infrastructure and its human and financial resources resides with the Department of Finance and Administration and with the Director of Facilities. They work diligently to manage BJ’s requirements and resources, guided by a central concern for BJ’s long-term stability and health, but also with a profound sensitivity to its employees and all those with whom it transacts business.
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PHOTOS: TOP, HARRIET R. GOREN; RIGHT, DENISE WAXMAN.
BJ’s income and expenses are carefully budgeted, tracked, and adjusted as necessary during the course of the year and are audited in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and reviewed by the Board of Trustees. BJ’s staff and volunteers are cognizant that the budget consists entirely of membership dues, donations, fees, and grants, and we take seriously the responsibility to use this money wisely. The facilities staff, who maintain the physical plant, supervise the work of contractors, manage supplies, and prepare rooms for services and activities, exercise similar care in their work. As a private religious organization, BJ does not have the legal obligation to share its financial information in the same way corporations do. Nevertheless BJ endeavors to provide timely information to its members, donors, and stakeholders and is responsive in an expeditious manner to reasonable requests for information.
“BJ is a unique hybrid of the best of all Jewish traditions.” —BJ Member
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
RABBINIC OFFICE Rabbis Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon Rabbi Marcelo R. Bronstein Rabbi Felicia L. Sol rabbis@bj.org Hazzan and Music Director Ari Priven, apriven@bj.org, x232
Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow Rabbi Michelle Dardashti mdardarshti@bj.org, x264
Sarah Guthartz Assistant to Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon sguthartz@bj.org, x234 Naomi Goodhart Assistant to Rabbi Marcelo R. Bronstein and Hazzan Ari Priven ngoodhart@bj.org, x240 Elizabeth Rosenblum Assistant to Rabbi Felicia L. Sol erosenblum@bj.org, x233
Jonathan Adelsbergº President Susan Kippurº* Chair Jeannie Blausteinº Vice President Joel Kazis Vice President Stephen Stulmanº Vice President Debra Fineº Treasurer
Rabbinic Fellow Jason Fruithandler jfruithandler@bj.org, x242
Andrew Litt Secretary
Cantorial Intern Shoshi Rosenbaum srosenbaum@bj.org, x274
Robert Buxbaum Gene Carr Anne Ebersman Rochelle Friedlich Christina Gantcher Barbara Glassman Sally Gottesman Sofia Hubscher
Richard Kalikow Beth Kern Debbie Lerner Andrew Litt Henry Meer Samara Minkin Andrea Newman Bernie Plum Benjamin Ross Emily Weiss Michael Yoeli Honorary Trustees Virginia Bayer* Ted Becker* Frederic Goldstein Marcy Grau* David Hirsch* Richard Janvey* Robert Kanter Joan Kaplan Sara Moore Litt* Naomi Meyer Judith Stern Peck* General Counsel Richard Kalikow º Executive Committee Member * Past President
STAFF DIRECTORY Office The Ansonia 2109 Broadway, Suite 203 New York, NY 10023 Cross streets: W. 73rd St. and Broadway Main Telephone: 212-787-7600 Fax (BJ Office): 212-496-7600 Executive Director’s Office Harold Goldman Executive Director hgoldman@bj.org, 248 Belinda Lasky Assistant Executive Director blasky@bj.org, x224 Jacob Shemkovitz Assistant to Executive Director Harold Goldman jshemkovitz@bj.org, x256 Administration and Finance Ron Seitenbach Director of Finance and Administration rseitenbach@bj.org, x226 Marilyn Perez Accounting Analyst mperez@bj.org, x227 Ebenezer Aryee Accounts Receivable Analyst earyee@bj.org, x237
Shakeara Hatchett Receptionist and Administrative Assistant shatchett@bj.org, x221
Membership Belinda Lasky Assistant Executive Director blasky@bj.org, x224
Kristen Kersey Administrative Assistant, Youth and Family kkersey@bj.org, x260
Arlene Brandon B'nai Mitzvah Program and Private Events Coordinator abrandon@bj.org, x223
Jon Wood Membership Associate jwood@bj.org, x250
Mick Fine Rabbinic Intern, Youth and Family mfine@bj.org, x244
Communications Denise Waxman Communications Manager dwaxman@bj.org, x275 Harriet R. Goren Art Director kj@bj.org Jacob Shemkovitz Communications Associate jshemkovitz@bj.org, x256 Development Erzsébet Arora Associate Director of Development earora@bj.org, x228 Ariel Schneider Development Associate aschneider@bj.org, x229 Jacob Shemkovitz Development Associate jshemkovitz@bj.org, x256
Elizabeth Rosenblum Life Cycle Coordinator erosenblum@bj.org, x233 Programming Guy Felixbrodt Program Director gfelixbrodt@bj.org, x255 Social Action/Social Justice Channa Camins Director of Social Action/ Social Justice ccamins@bj.org, x259 Ariel Schneider Social Action Program Assistant aschneider@bj.org, x229 Youth and Family Education Ivy Schreiber Director of Education, Youth and Family ischreiber@bj.org, x225
Jason Fruithandler Teen Coordinator, Youth and Family jfruithandler@bj.org, x242 Facilities Management Roma Serdtse Director of Facilities rserdtse@bj.org, x258 Roman Khakhlou Mikhail Kremerov Damian Mazuchowski Mariusz Mazuchowski Lyubomir Mulyava Boris Serheyev Leonid Tayts Vladimir Tayts Solomon Tsveitel Dmitry Ziskin
Emily Walsh Assistant Director of Education, Youth and Family ewalsh@bj.org, x243
2010
“B’nai Jeshurun changes your perception of what Judaism can be. It revitalizes and reenergizes it, like a living, breathing thing. It’s not antiquated and in the books— it’s about how does this thing relate to my life today?” —BJ Member