Kol Hadash Janaury/February 2011 by B'nai Jeshurun

KOL HADASH . new voIce

asj kue Children of Abraham

“

My work with conversion candidates here at BJ has given me a new and deepened appreciation of what it means to be known to the world as a ben/bat— as a direct child of— Abraham. ”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 • TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

RABBI MICHELLE DARDASHTI “Lekh Lekha! Go forth from … your birthplace, from your father’s home … to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) Some version of God’s famous words to our patriarch, Abraham, is what conversion candidates recount in sharing with me the geneses of their journeys. As supervisor of conversions at BJ, I am privileged to guide and support the journeys of those who, in one way or another, are called to join the Jewish people. Some are moved initially by Jewish theology, others by observance, still others by a clear sense that somehow, they are and have always been Jewish. They embark upon a process of examining and owning Jewish beliefs, behavior and belonging—a path that engages (and ultimately invites and requires them to immerse) mind, body, and soul. My understanding of some of the language around conversion has been aided in viewing conversion through the lens of Abraham’s call and journey.

The BJHS Gimmel Class Bible People Extravaganza

While we are all considered “children of Abraham,” some among us are more explicitly so than others. Upon converting, “Jews-by-choice” are given Hebrew names by which they are henceforth called to the Torah. In noting parentage, converts are referred to as ben/bat Avraham v’Sarah: “son/daughter of Abraham and Sarah.” Traditionally, Abraham and Sarah’s names are used instead of those of the convert’s biological parents as a way of expressing the transformation undergone by those who choose to cast their lot with that of the Jewish people and the sense that this process is a rebirth of sorts; they are—says this practice—reborn as Abraham and Sarah’s children. I’ve struggled with this practice in the sense that it implies a convert’s renouncement of his or her family of origin and a need to disavow his or her roots. My work with conversion candidates here at BJ, however, has given me a new and deepened appreciation of what it means to be known to the world as a ben/bat—as a direct child of—Abraham.

PHOTO: IVY SCHREIBER

Bible characters come to life through the LOMED program. See page 12 for story and more photos.

Although the text of the Torah provides us with precious little information about Abraham before his being “called” by God, as readers, we yearn to know that it is not simply his being singled out by God that makes Abraham special, but that his own uniqueness causes God to reach out to him (continued on page 6)

Social Action/Social Justice . . . . . .2-3 Lekh Lekha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

inside:

Purim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

BJ Visible and Vocal for Marriage Equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Member Spotlights . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5

Havurot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Staff Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Nourishing the Soul and the Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Letting Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Youth & Family Education . . . . . .12-13

The Whole Megillah: Purim, Queen Esther and Mordechai . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15

Jon and Jacob Join BJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Bim Bim Bim Bim Bim Bam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

SOCIAL ACTION/SOCIAL JUSTICE

BJ Visible and Vocal for Marriage Equality

rom adults to babies, the B’nai Jeshurun community took to the streets on September 26 to send a loud and strong message that now is the time to pass marriage equality legislation in New York State. More than 130 BJ congregants and friends joined with Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon to participate in the 7th Annual Wedding March across the Brooklyn Bridge, organized by Marriage Equality New York and co-sponsored by the Marriage

Same-sex couples are relegated to secondclass citizens when marriage rights are denied; marriage is the bridge to more than 700 rights in New York State, such as those that deal with property ownership, inheritance, and ensuring parental relationships for families. Last spring, the Marriage Equality Bill was defeated in the New York State Senate, despite approval three times in the New York

“

Participants marched across the bridge with colored umbrellas in hand as a symbol of solidarity with the LGBTQ community and the importance of everyone being ‘covered’ by the law.”

Dale Bernstein retired as the head of human resources for the NYSE and is the founder of UnCommon Human Resources, a firm providing strategic HR consulting to both for profit and not for profit firms. She and her husband Gary joined BJ with their two sons in 1996 and she co-chairs the Marriage Equality Hevra. Lisa Safier is a Brooklynite who has been a BJ member for 12 years. She is co-chair of the Marriage Equality Hevra and works at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Amy Lavine has been the Foundation relations Officer for eight years at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in Greenwich Village. She joined BJ in 1996 and works with Panim el Panim on its Task Force and on the Marriage Equality Hevra.

Part of the BJ contingent, including Roly, at the pre-March rally.

Equality Hevra. BJ was the largest organized group at the march, providing an extremely important religious voice in support of this civil rights issue.

State Assembly. The Wedding March was an important step in building momentum to achieve passage of the legislation this coming spring.

Participants marched across the bridge with colored umbrellas in hand as a symbol of solidarity with the LGBTQ community and the importance of everyone being “covered” by the law. BJ proudly marched under blue umbrellas!

There’s much work to be done so everyone in our community has equal protections under the law. The Marriage Equality Hevra invites you to join us. We meet the second Tuesday of each month, or you are welcome to be part of our mailing list and stay informed. Please contact either of the cochairs: Dale Bernstein at Bernstein.dale@gmail.com or Lisa Safier at lsafier@yahoo.com. n — Lisa Safier, Dale Bernstein, and Amy Lavine

The rainbow of umbrellas crossing the Brooklyn Bridge was both energizing and beautiful. People strolling by joined in, and it was exhilarating to hear our cheers echoed by the honking horns of encouragement from the roadway.

PHOTO: ARIEL SCHNEIDER

PHOTO: CHANNA CAMIINS

Jeff Levin, his partner Andrew Goffe, and their son Zack pictured with fellow BJ members Caroline Jeanjot, Daniel Schreiber, and their son Max.

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

“It was an honor to be part of the Marriage March because as far as I'm concerned everyone is entitled to marry, and no one has the right to tell them differently. I was so impressed with the number of people who attended.” —Roz Hochberg, BJ community friend

•

new voIce

asj kue

“I have always been proud to be a BJ member, but that pride certainly grew on that day. Marching alongside not only our rabbi, but also so many different members of our congregation: gay, straight, male, female, young, and old, I was so glad to be part of such a strong Jewish voice for such a worthy cause, and so happy to be a part of BJ—a congregation never afraid to speak up (and in this case, march) for what's right.”— —Aly Viny, new BJ and Marriage Equality Hevra member “It was very powerful for me to join with a group of BJ members in a common cause. I loved being in the diverse multiracial crowd, gay, straight, young, old all united for equality. It was empowering for both my son and I to hear the speakers standing up for civil rights and to see a large group of gay people from many walks of life standing up for themselves.” —Jamie Emhoff, Co-Chair of Panim el Panim and Marriage Equality Hevra member

PHOTO: ARIEL SCHNEIDER

“I was proud that I belong to a synagogue, B'nai Jeshurun, that had the largest group in the march. I signed up because I felt strongly about the rights of gays to marry.” —Carol Jackson, BJ member “My partner and I thought it important to be present at the Marriage March with our oneyear-old son. It is our responsibility to let opponents of marriage equality know that we are a family.” —Jeff Levin, BJ and Marriage Equality Hevra Member PHOTO: ARIEL SCHNEIDER

Left: Jamie Emhoff and her son, Matt Gottesfeld, at the Wedding March.

An Amazing Spirit of Philanthropy BJ received a warm thank you from Doreen Wohl, Executive Director of the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, for the $26,310 collected at Kol Nidre this year. She noted that BJ has donated $195,189 since 2005 toward WSCAH ‘s emergency food pantry and counseling services and wrote, “This amazing spirit of philanthropy among your congregation is what allows us to continue feeding so many despite the great increase in need.” This makes it an appropriate time to recall what WSCAH is all about: “changing the perception of hungry people by working in partnership with them, providing food with dignity and empowering customers to find solutions.”

With contributions from BJ and other partners, WSCAH has evolved and grown over the last 31 years to fulfill its mission to “alleviate hunger and create a culture that promotes self-sufficiency.” It organized the first Customer-Cooperative Supermarket Food Pantry that is open to all, where customers shop for their own food and are

active participants in running the pantry. It also provides social-service referrals for enrollment in health insurance, health services, entitlements, vocational opportunities, legal assistance, housing, and education. WSCAH runs self sufficiency workshops, English-as-a-second-language classes, a comprehensive Wellness Program with nutrition education, cooking demonstrations and exercise classes, and a Customer Chef Training Program. To expand the reach of its approach WSCAH also consults regularly with other programs that want to convert to the customer-choice model by arranging site visits and offering hands-on experience. It is fair to say that BJ is profoundly thankful for WSCAH. n — Denise Waxman

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Nourishing the Soul and the Community: Suzanne Schecter and Susan Fishman

usan Fishman was baking a molten chocolate espresso-chip souffle during Sukkot. As she whipped her egg whites, she silently reviewed a to-do list in her mind's eye: confirm dinner plans, call her parents, and think about all the upcoming projects for the Membership Steering Committee (MSC). New Member Orientation Programs, Shabbat dinners, and smaller gatherings.

creativity found in a molten chocolate espresso-chip soufflé to their work as cochairs of Membership. Susan and Suzanne come from different backgrounds and different generations. Suzanne grew up in Manhattan; Susan grew up outside of Washington, D.C. Suzanne spent several years in banking before attending culinary school and pursuing a more fulfilling and nourishing career as a

“

... They bring the methodical forethought, patience, and creativity found in a molten chocolate espresso-chip soufflé to their work as co-chairs of Membership.”

enough to pop into a Kabbalat Shabbat service. Inspired by their experience, they officially became members in January 2007. Their first formal foray into BJ life was taking the Me'ah class, a two-year intensive adult Jewish learning program about the history of the Jewish religion and culture. Each found a connection: Todd's love of history was satisfied, and Suzanne socialized with new friends who invited her to join the Potential Members Team and the Membership Steering Committee. Susan began to attend Friday night services at BJ after moving to New York. She loved the services and wanted to attend more events and programs. After joining in 2005, she took Katie Mizrahi’s suggestion and checked out Tze’irim. The rest is history— after cooking for the shelter once, Susan was hooked. She easily moved into her first leadership role at BJ by organizing Tze’irim participants to cook once a month for the shelter. In 2006, Susan joined the Tze’irim Steering Committee, and in 2008 she became chair. Those who know Susan know that she rarely does just one thing. While serving the Tze’irim community, Susan joined the Membership Steering Committee and cochaired the Current Members Team with Sheila Bleckner. She also participated in several trips to Israel.

From left, Suzanne Schecter and Susan Fishman

Shabbat morning aliyot, intergenerational oral history, and a cultural series for older congregants. Outreach to non-members and to those who have left our community. Articles in the Kol Hadash and new uses for the website. The list goes on and on. Luckily, the challenges of chairing the MSC at B'nai Jeshurun are not borne alone. Susan's co-chair, Suzanne Schecter, was also cooking for the holidays, and she too was thinking about membership initiatives in the upcoming year. Both Susan and Suzanne are renowned chefs and bakers— their friends know not to turn down offers of desserts and other goodies—and they bring the methodical forethought, patience, and

PHOTO: BELINDA LASKY

producer for food-oriented television programs. Susan is a Vice President with Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. But fittingly for two women who know their way around a kitchen, both women became involved in BJ through cooking for the BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter. Suzanne continues to deliver one meal a month to the guests … and no doubt they feast on gourmet goodies each time! Neither Suzanne nor husband Todd Ruback felt particularly connected to Jewish life before they got together, but once they married, their conversations often circled back to an underlying philosophy. Living in the same neighborhood as BJ, it was easy

Asked about what she most hopes to communicate to new and current members of BJ, Suzanne insists that members get involved by volunteering and serving the community using their skills, talents, and desire to interact with others. It is the only way to meet people and feel a sense of fulfillment. She communicates the need for people to get involved at the New Member Orientation Programs this season. Knowing that a couple of great cooks can’t be interviewed without asking for a recipe, we asked them to name a dish that represents a taste of BJ. Suzanne happily shared thoughts about her red-wine braised short ribs with celery root purée. Using beef from ethically kosher happy cows (free

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

•

new voIce

asj kue

Tekiah! New Member Blasts Into BJ ekiah!” This was the welcome that Amy Cohen received upon deciding to become a member at BJ, weeks before Yamim Nora’im. Amy wanted very much to become an active member in such an enormous community as BJ but didn’t know how. We discussed several of her passions and the stars began to align. This is how Amy, a new member fresh from Long Island, became a rising star at BJ. —Jon Wood

to be my birthday, continuing my trajectory of new home, new month, new year. As I stood to sound the shofar the next day I was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of awe that I was not on Long Island but at Lincoln Center. I closed my eyes and listened.

“t

Weeks before our move to Manhattan in the summer of 2010, my husband, daughter, and I decided to join BJ. We had been active “regulars” in our cozy suburban Long Island synagogue for 15 years, and, although we were excited about our move to the city, we wondered how we would experience our first High Holy Day season in a vastly larger community of strangers. That the holidays directly coincided with our move presented practical and spiritual challenges as well as opportunities.

“

Knowing no one in the city, it was an unusual way to start a dialogue, albeit a wordless one, with my new community.”

My first morning as a city resident, I awoke in our new, box-filled Upper West Side apartment. We had gone through months of stressful but cathartic down-sizing from a house to a small apartment. It was the first of Elul, which seemed like a perfect day to start a dramatic change of lifestyle. I had an appointment that morning to meet Ari Priven for the first time to sound shofar for him. I had been sounding shofar for 10 years and, in addition to attending the daily minyan at my former synagogue, it had been my practice to visit homebound or hospitalized congregants who were unable to get to synagogue to hear the shofar. In introducing myself to Ari as a new congregant, I hoped

It is hard to describe the experience of sounding the PHOTO: NOEL RUBINTON shofar. It feels as if I am not to explore opportunities to continue this actually sounding the shofar but that I am a practice. I enjoyed a warm and engaging vehicle through which a divine presence is conversation with Ari, concluding with my breathing. I can never hear how I sound “audition.” Ari welcomed me to attend the because the act requires such an intense morning minyan and then startled me by combination of air and energy that I feel calmly adding, “and you will sound the physically and spiritually subservient to a shofar on Rosh Hashanah.” higher power. I have felt it provides me with a rare opportunity not only to connect with My first month in the city, I walked to BJ God but also to channel the divine. Whether each morning and sounded shofar at the I am standing at the bimah or standing by minyan. Although it was a time of the hospital bed of a fragile congregant, I uncertainty and adjustment for me, the experience the same loss of self but not opportunity to participate in the service gave emptiness. I am merged with the hollow my life structure. BJ no longer seemed quite shofar through which air and sound move as vast when I sat with 10 or more and resonate. congregants each day. Being “counted” in the minyan was my introduction to BJ, as In a short time, we have become “regulars” was joining my fellow shofar sounders at BJ. I will never forget our spectacular, providing minyan attendees the mitzvah of rich, and moving first High Holy Day season hearing the calls. Knowing no one in the city, at BJ. I was honored and deeply grateful to it was an unusual way to start a dialogue, Ari for granting me such a meaningful albeit a wordless one, with my new opportunity. Each Shabbat, I treasure the community. The people with whom I ways in which I am enriched musically, davened each morning knew nothing about intellectually, and spiritually by BJ's me, my education, career, family extraordinary Rabbis, Cantor, and my new background, and accomplishments, yet I felt congregation. n an immediate sense of purpose and — Amy Cohen belonging. It was actually quite simple to become involved as a new member—by Amy Cohen is an award-winning artist and being there. educator. Noel Rubinton, Bella Cohen Rubinton, and Amy joined BJ in August 2010 The first night of Rosh Hashanah happened upon moving to New York City.

Nourishing the Soul and the Community continued from page 4 range and grass fed of course!), Suzanne described a combination of unique ingredients that are greater than the sum of their parts; when combined together, they create something both rich and unassuming. And, it goes without saying, incredibly delicious!

Just as they nourish their friends, their families, and our guests at the BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter, Susan Fishman and Suzanne Schecter are nourishing the entire community through their work on the Membership Committee. Look for them at upcoming events and please stop to say

hello and introduce yourself. Whether you are interested in getting involved further at BJ—in any capacity—or whether you are just looking for a good soufflé recipe, Susan and Suzanne are great resources. n — Samara Minkin and Belinda Lasky

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

Children of Abraham in this way. This desire to demonstrate Abraham’s inherent specialness is evident in the myriad midrashim (stories written to explain biblical questions or seeming gaps) constructed by the rabbis on this subject. These tales depict a child who, unsatisfied with the notions of God (or, in fact, gods) that exist around him, is spurred to examination, intense inquiry, and rebellion; a young boy who, filled with what Heschel calls “radical amazement” at the world, is certain such a magnificent kingdom must have one unifying master; a person brimming with wonder, gratitude and an insatiable curiosity that lead him to God … and that lead God to respond.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

RABBI MICHELLE DARDASHTI continued from page 1 double meaning is not dissimilar from that found in the words “Lekh lekha“ themselves. These words are often translated as “go forth”—as directing Abraham to uproot, to take leave of all he knows. But because of the reflexive nature of the formulation of these words, they are also interpreted as meaning “go unto yourself”—instructing our patriarch not to uproot, but rather to journey inward, to his truest self. Just as “Lekh lekha” implies, at its deepest level, not only a going from, but a returning to oneself, I believe the title “ger” points poignantly to converts being not strangers

travels I have been invited thus far. On the first evening of my Introduction to Judaism course (comprised of a mix of Jewish BJ members and other students on or considering the path toward Judaism), I asked each student to briefly share what brought them to the chair in which they sat, plus one word that expresses what for them is most compelling about Judaism. People’s words constituted a collage of rich and varied images: challah, happy, countercultural, books, tolerance, timelessness, family, ritual. One person’s word took my breath away: “home.” She shared with a mix of pride and timidity, as

“

I believe that the bestowal of this Hebrew name ... speaks to the heart of their having been ‘inexplicably’ called to take an uncertain journey ... ”

Why did God choose Abraham to unfold the Jewish way? The answer from our tradition seems to be: because Abraham chose God. It is in this way that I find converts to be “children of Abraham (and Sarah).” Attributing to them this parentage is not merely a superficial or generalized way of making them eternally identifiable as having converted; God forbid—for in fact, once a person converts to Judaism, their status as a convert is never to be a subject of attention. Instead, I believe that the bestowal of this Hebrew name (ben/bat Avraham v’Sarah) is intended as a badge of honor; it speaks to the heart of their having been “inexplicably” called to take an uncertain journey—to their being meaningseeking, awe-appreciating iconoclasts of the same ilk as Abraham—a profound connection, indeed. This brings me to another aspect of conversion terminology that has not always sat well with me: the word “ger.” This word, literally translated as “stranger,” is the Hebrew word used for convert. This seems quite a, well, strange word to describe people welcomed into our midst. How can they be at once fully one of us and officially called “strangers”? But this word, ger, comes from the verb gar, to reside or dwell. And here we find a beautiful irony: Ger can be understood as both “one who is a stranger” and “one who is at home.” This

Above: “Abraham Goes to the Land of Canaan,” Gustave Doré, 1866. Right: “The Caravan of Abraham,” James Tissot, ca. 1903.

to Judaism but rather ones who, in leaving their “father’s home,” so to speak, return to a truth that has always been theirs—that “dwelt” within their souls already. As genuine inheritors of Abraham’s seeking spirit, their journey to Judaism is a journey home. This perspective on conversion has been revealed to me through the holy texts with whom I am blessed to work—the approximately 20 individuals into whose

though wondering whether it would be thought an inappropriate word to describe Judaism as a non-Jew. I felt tears threatening. I was moved by how apt this word is to the experience of this spiritual descendant of Abraham; at the same time, I lamented the overwhelming number of Abraham’s “biological children”—born Jews—who lack a feeling of “home” in their Jewish identity. I wondered for a moment whether there was a way to

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

•

new voIce

asj kue LEKH LEKHA

Letting Go

Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. he familiar, haunting cadence began echoing in my mind shortly after my son Ari dropped his bombshell. It was in January, 2010, when he told me of his decision to make aliyah with his family. My initial reaction was a resolve to retain as much of my serenity as I could and not overreact. After all, I consoled myself, I’m not really losing a son … I’m losing a son … a daughter-in-law … and three grandchildren!!!

bottle up the exuberance—the joy, the love, the feeling of “at home-ness” about and within Jewish life and practice—felt and demonstrated by these b’nei Avraham v’Sarah … to share with all the rest of us. The Bible is filled with tales of our ancestors who heard and heeded (or sometimes evaded or flouted!) God’s call, God’s words. Abraham is the first to hear God’s call and respond “hineni,” here I am. Centuries later, hineinu, here we are, his descendants, striving in various ways still to live up to that daunting declaration of presence and preparedness. Tradition holds that direct prophecy, of the “And God spoke to ____” variety, no longer exists today. But if neviim/prophets we are not, b’nei neviim/the children of prophets we most certainly are. Having ears and eyes trained to perceive the sublime, if subtle, divine markings and murmurings in our world—and hearts and minds bold enough to respond—this is what it means to be children of Abraham. Converts in our midst serve as embodied reminders of the mandate to live up to this status ourselves each day—of the power and privilege of our inspired heritage. Hineinu—May we heed the call. n

But, in short time, I regained composure and turned to the reliable methods I had learned in dealing with life’s challenges. I turned to God, to my loved ones, and to my inner self for comfort and guidance. Doing so, I kept hearing this stirring, aweinspiring refrain—that rhythmic ominous precursor that seems to get repeated whenever God sends Abraham a lifealtering challenge. For me, the beauty of our immersion in Torah lies in its perennial repetition. We continue the cycle primarily for the experience of seeing something new and unpredictable with each retelling. I had heard the words of this heavenly direction so many times since childhood. Within them lies the seed of our history; the words that set in motion the events leading to our formation as the Jewish people. Over the years, I have looked at them from many different angles, always stirred with newly found inspiration. But never did I consider this divine challenge from the perspective with which I was now seeing it. What does this mean for Terach— Abraham’s father—from whom Abraham was called upon to liberate and find a new life? There I was—not in Haran but in Teaneck, New Jersey—hearing my son repeat what might have been a verbatim account of a discussion Abraham had with his father in ancient Mesopotamia four

“

I realized that at some point, on some level (actual or metaphorical), all children must go forth ‘for themselves’ … to the place that God shows them.”

millennia earlier. Yet I found myself unable to channel old Terach or relate to how that idol-worshipping pagan may have reacted. Rather, I chose to focus on my own feelings and—to the best of my ability—project the way God would prefer that I react. I began to suspect that God’s command to Abraham on that day is an eternal message for every generation. Hadn’t I heard and followed a similar one in my adolescence … and beyond? Don’t I continue along this path even now, three years after my own father’s passing? Don’t we all? I realized that at some point, on some level (actual or metaphorical), all children must go forth “for themselves” … to the place that God shows them. Seeing the issue through this prism, I was better able to process the life-altering events Ari and I now faced together. I managed to tell him how sad I felt and how much I would miss him, his lovely wife, and their beautiful children. I spoke of the pride that I felt for his strength, his courage, and his faith and—most of all—how much I loved him. As I watched my children boarding their Nefesh B’Nefesh charter on August 2, I felt the acute pain, pride, and joy of this enormous (involuntary) contribution I was making to the State of Israel. And I thought with fear and dread of the far greater sacrifices they, along with the rest of our parents, siblings, and children in Israel, seem destined to continue to make for the foreseeable future. Through my tears, I prayed for peace in a kavannah and an intensity I didn’t know I had in me. n — Bob Gruenspecht Bob Gruenspecht’s children have settled in Beit Shemesh and report that they are happy and comfortable in their new home. An active BJ member and a devout Luddite, he still does not have Skype.

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

PURIM

The Whole Megillah: Purim, Queen Esther and Mordechai here are five main characters in the Scroll of Esther. (There would have been six if it were like any other book of the Tanakh, but famously and uniquely, the Holy One the Blessed is not in it.) These five are the King of Persia; his wife Vashti; Haman, his second-in-command; Mordechai, a Jew in exile from the fallen Jerusalem; and the eponymous Esther, Mordechai’s niece and foster-child.

In the traditional summary of the book, the king is a fatuous, erratic man of serial

and three vain men willing to cause the death of tens of thousands of innocent strangers. The first are of course Vashti and Esther, and the last are the king, Haman and, sad to say, Mordechai. Vashti finds her voice when the king demands she do a striptease for his court as part of his halfyear self-idolatrous celebration. She says no, and no means no, so she is made to disappear. Midrash says she was burned at the stake, but in any event, she pays for her autonomy and pride by being made to disappear from the narrative. We should

In my own reading , the cast of five is divided into two brave, authentic, self-aware women

But what exactly does she win, and what does she lose? And what exactly was Mordechai, her foster-parent thinking, to send her into this contest? Mordechai, pious man that he is, refuses to bow before Haman, so he must have some idea of the Jewish obligation to maintain human autonomy before human might. Yet he sends off the one person he is responsible for to a life of bodily utility and no human dignity. To make her degradation more certain if more "safe," he tells her not to mention "her people." It is unclear whether she even knows that she is a Jew like him. We may wonder whether he has given her any notion of her specific risk, or simply let her go to marry the king as any other obscure, marginal, lucky Persian girl might rush to do. Does the text wish us to wonder why it is that piety in a man is so easily found side by side with dismissal of the equal humanity of a woman? Haman as expected offers us no need to ponder the inconsistencies of a soul; he is just an egocentric and angry man whose response to Mordechai's refusal to bow is to convince the king to order the slaughter of every person sharing Mordechai's religion. On hearing this Mordechai does two things, but not a third.

“Esther Before Ahasuerus,” Artemisia Gentileschi, 1628

inconsistency; Vashti is a haughty, mindless beauty in a harem of similar women; Haman is no less fatuous than the king but also a personification of spiteful hatred; Mordechai is a pious Jew whose merit is eternal; and Esther is the heroic queen who drives the story, saving all the Jews of Persia from extinction. This she does by empowering Mordechai, convincing the King to drop Haman for him.

“

In my own reading , the cast of five is divided into two brave, authentic, self-aware women and three vain men willing to cause the death of tens of thousands of innocent strangers.”

honor her more than we do. Immediately the king's courtiers make sure that she has set no precedent that might threaten their own authority as husbands by declaring that "every man would be the master in his own house." As the king's own house is declared off limits thereafter for Vashti, a search of the land is ordered, to find a less uppity beauty to take her place. Enter Esther, encouraged by Mordechai to make herself available for the king's contest. She enters, and she wins.

First, he fasts and puts on shredded rags as prescribed by the religion for times of disaster such as the destruction of the Temple that has brought him to this exile. Then, he gets word to Esther in the king's house that this has been ordered to be done to all the Jews, that she is a Jew and will not escape this order as queen, and that therefore she has to do something. Third, one thinks reading this, he should have taken his own advice and done something himself, rather than continuing to lie down in front of the palace gates in his sackcloth

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

and ashes, leaving it to the only woman he knows to save him and every other Jew. That's all Mordechai does. Esther on the other hand says, "If I perish, I perish," and goes to stand outside the king's chamber on her own. Knowing that to the king she is no more than a body, just as Vashti was no more than a body, and knowing Vashti's fate as we do, she must have understood that the price for such effrontery as to show a willful desire of her own in the presence of the king was worth her life. Yet there she is, and the king, noticing her where no woman ought to be unless summoned by him, offers her his Golden Scepter to touch. She quickly gets the king to hang Haman on the gallows Haman built for the purpose of hanging Mordechai, to replace Haman with Mordechai as his new second-in-command, and to give Mordechai the authority to speak for him on all matters. But, that is not the end of the story. Mordechai, saved from death by Esther, does not shed the slightest bit of his stubbornness and passivity, even as the king's new confidante. When the feckless king says, "You can tell all my kingdom that the Jews are authorized to defend

•

new voIce

asj kue

name that results in the death of about 100,000 non-Jews, deaths that serve no purpose at all, since the king had changed his mind.

“Esther Accusing Haman,” Gustave Doré, 1870© SuperStock)

themselves from the murderers I sent out previously. Just don't countermand the orders I gave to them," Mordechai does not say to himself, "If I perish, I perish" and then give the king the benefit of his counsel, perhaps to reconsider his position that his prior orders might in this case be rescinded. Instead he writes a decree in the king's

How are we Jews today to understand this outcome as a set of miracles, or even of the intention of a hidden heavenly presence? Perhaps by attending to the scroll's message that men, in particular Jewish men, must attend to the minds and the actions of women, in particular Jewish women, if both are to live at peace in the larger world. In addition to its other stated functions, the mehitza that separates men from women in an Orthodox service separates men from Esther. Thus Esther, the only Jew in the scroll to act out of autonomy and in full keeping with the gifts of the covenant, would not be allowed to read from it in an Orthodox service, except to other women. How do we understand this in a larger Jewish context, with or without a mehitza? The Scroll of Esther is telling us to think about this; Esther herself teaches us the way. n —Bob Pollack Professor Robert Pollack and his wife Amy have been members of BJ since 1994.

HAVUROT

Moving Toward Vegetarianism and Sustainable Dining at BJ

when guests register for a Friday night dinner they have to request a vegetarian dinner. What if we turn that around and require guests to request a fish or chicken dinner? In other words, the default meal would be vegetarian rather than fish or chicken. Most guests would probably not mind eating a vegetarian meal, and we would be able to purchase fewer fish and chicken meals.

he Shomrei Adamah Havurah at BJ is working on ways to move the congregation toward vegetarianism and sustainable dining. Many of us believe, for environmental and ethical reasons, that the ideal diet is vegetarian. We believe that Judaism demands us to be compassionate to animals and responsible to the environment. The meat and dairy industries account for at least 18% of all global warming gasses. Approximately 99% of the animals raised for meat, fish, and dairy products are treated inhumanely. Are BJ members ready to go 100% vegan for Friday night dinners? We doubt it! Consequently, we are looking for ways to ensure that the meat and fish we buy for communal events are sustainably and ethically produced.

To date, we have found two sources of chicken that are either organic and/or ethically and sustainably produced, but they are much more expensive than conventionally produced chicken. At this time, we are still looking for a good source of sustainably produced fish. Right now,

What’s your opinion? If you are interested in helping the Shomrei Adamah Havurah explore ways of being environmentally sustainable and compassionate to animals, please contact Les at lesjudd@aol.com or 718-601-8918. n — Les Judd

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

STAFF PROFILES

Jon and Jacob Join BJ: A Mutual Interview

acob Shemkovitz and Jon Wood are new staffers in the B’nai Jeshurun office. Jon is the Membership Associate, and Jacob is the Communications and Development Associate as well as assistant to the Executive Director.

I enjoy drawing. I’m still very interested in the form, so I enjoy putting together my comic collection. I also watch and read a lot about movies, so I know a lot of film history. So, I have to ask: What’s your favorite movie?

Jacob: My fiancée and I cook together, but she’s the competent one. Every once in a while we’ll host some friends at our apartment. It’s very domestic. We’re also part of a book club, and I learned to make sushi for one of our meetings.

Jacob: So Jon, tell me about where you’re from and how you made your way to the Big Apple.

Jon: One of my favorites is “The Shawshank Redemption,” but I also love a good comedy. But regardless of the type of movie I’m watching, one thing stays constant: diving into a bucket of popcorn. Do you have a favorite comfort food?

Jon: Sushi? That’s definitely one of my favorite cuisines. In fact, I still can’t get over how many Japanese restaurants there are in the city. I would say there is an average of two per square block!

Jon: Well, I grew up in Dix Hills, Long Island, so I’m originally from the New York area. However, I decided to pick up and move for my undergraduate degree, which I completed in Chicago. After I graduated I spent some time volunteering in Ramla, Israel, where I learned Hebrew and taught English to high-school students. My next adventure led me to the Washington, D.C., area, and there I continued on my Jewish path working at the University of Maryland Hillel. Now I find myself at home on the Upper West here in New York City. How about you, Jacob?

Jacob: Whenever my fiancée goes away for a couple of days I’ll buy a carton of cookies

Jacob: Very true. I really see New York as a big adventure. I love all the people, and while moving here was probably the craziest

Jacob: I grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, where I was fortunate to be part of a great Jewish community. I went to art school at RISD in Providence for graphic design. Then I lived in Northampton, in Western Massachusetts, for a couple of years before moving to Brooklyn last year. My parents are still very involved at the Emanuel Synagogue back home. I understand your family is pretty involved in Jewish life, too? Jon: Absolutely. Both of my parents and my uncle are cantors in different congregations. You might say I took something from that, as I also love to sing. In college I started my “career” of singing Jewish a cappella in a group called “ShireiNU,” then continued after college with a D.C.-based group called “Makela,” and most recently I joined a group on the Upper West Side called “Avir.” What are some things you like to do for fun? Jacob: I always wanted to be a comic-book artist growing up, but I’ve never been great at representational illustration, even though

From left, Jon Wood and Jacob Shemkovitz

and cream ice cream and eat it by myself. It’s not very healthy, but a man has to let himself go every once in a while. Is that what the life of a bachelor is like? Jon: Essentially. But I definitely wish I was a better chef. Thankfully I manage to stay away from the dreaded “microwave only” diet. Do you cook?

PHOTO: CHANNA CAMINS

thing I’ve done in my life, it was also the most rewarding. Jon: I’m definitely with you on that one. But a close runner-up to the craziest thing for me would have to be sky-diving, but I’m not sure I could say it was as rewarding … other than the fact that I survived! n — Jacob Shemkovitz and Jon Wood

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

•

new voIce

asj kue

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Condolences (through November 26)

Mazal Tov To the following members and their families on their b’nai mitzvah (November and December): Micah Dicker

Ethan Rosenbaum

Alexander Dicker

Eli DuBois

Benjamin Korman

Noah Scholnick

Annabel Strauss

Daniel Goldstein

Milo Davidson

Noah Wartels

Alexander Parrasch

Madeline Bender

Quentin Dupouy

Naomi Shifrin

Benjamin Pickman

Allison Boyar

Ethan Geismar

Rebecca Mantel

To the following members and their families (through November 26):

Alexandra and Joshua Metzl on the birth of their daughter, Anna Rose. Miriam Palmer-Sherman and David Vaisberg on their wedding. Sarah Verity and Larry Collica on their engagement. Marisha Krupkin and Dennis Neier on the wedding of Marisha’s daughter Abbe Meryl Schindler to Isaac Josef Feder. BJ staff member Elizabeth Stone on her wedding to Gregory Rosenblum. Aaron and Alissa Wright on the naming of their daughter, Aviva Miriam.

The community of B’nai Jeshurun mourns the death of our beloved member Hella Moritz in São Paolo, Brazil, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family and all her loved ones. The community of B’nai Jeshurun extends sincere condolences to the following members and their families: Sharon Feuer and Hannah and Arthur Margulies on the death of Sharon’s father and Hannah’s brother, David Feuer. Jody Prusan on the death of her beloved father, Nathan Prusan. Michael Reingold on the death of his beloved father, Vernon Reingold. Mirian Landau, David, Brian and Caroline Landau on the death of Mirian's beloved father, Izaac Zugman. Sonia, James, Jennifer and Rebecca Cummings on the death of Sonia's beloved mother, Esther Dane. Lori, Ron, Justin and Johanna Seitenbach on the death of Lori's beloved father, Morris Ribler. Rabbi Jonathan Lipnick, Susan Scheuer and Daniella, Abigail and Noah Lipnick on the death of their beloved mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, Joan Lipnick Abelson. Dova Marder, her husband Stephen Friedgood, and their son Matan on the death of Dova's beloved mother, Martha Marder. Robin and Sophia Reif on the death of Robin's beloved father, Dr. Irving Reif. Arthur Rovine on the death of his beloved wife, Phyllis Rovine.

Rachel, Bertie, Noa, Dani, Ariel and Georgia Bregman on the birth of their son and brother. Leora, Jules, Susan and David Frankel and Andrew Sage on the wedding of Andrew and Leora.

)

Brooke Stone and Adam Cohan on their wedding. Former MTM Fellow Rabbi Esther Lederman on her wedding to Scott Gant.

BJ staff member Jacob Shemkovitz on his engagement to Allison Holtman.

Stephanie Green, Zeke and Ella Vanderhoek on the birth of their daughter and sister, Ruby.

Myriam Abramowicz on her Award of Recognition from The World Federation of Jewish Children Survivors of the Holocaust for creating the groundbreaking 1980 prize-winning documentary “As If It Were Yesterday” and the formation of the First International Conference of Hidden Children in New York City in 1991.

Rabbi Stephanie and Darone Ruskay on the birth of their twins, Nachshon Eitan and Betzalel Zamir, and to the Ruskay, Greenberg, Kidd, Liron and Bernstein families. Kerrith Solomon and Derek Rosenbaum on their wedding. Robin and Martin Wanner on the naming of their daughter, Alexandra Pearl Wanner. Dan Kestin and Elissa Meth Kestin on the birth of their daughter, Hazel Jean.

Carole Lurie and Gerry Hirsch on their wedding. Herbert and Marilyn Levy on the election of their daughter-in-law, Kelly Levy, as a City of New York Civil Court Judge. Sally Gottesman and Rachel Tiven and their children Alice and Ezra on the birth of their daughter and sister.

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH .

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

YOUTH & FAMILY EDUCATION

“

LOMED in Hebrew Means LEARN

white-bearded but youthfullooking Moses is chatting with a young woman carrying a jug of water. Could it be Rachel? They are students in our 3rd grade Gimmel class taking on the personae of Torah characters for our Bible People Extravaganza. At this event each student dresses as Jacob, Leah, Moses, Miriam, or another character and “comes to life” as that person in an afternoon of learning, presentations, and dialogue with parents and other students. The students spend many weeks preparing for the role they have chosen, learning everything they can about that character, writing journal entries from that character’s perspective, and putting together a realistic first-person presentation and Bible-era costume. In the course of these activities they compare how the struggles and stories of these individuals are similar to or different from their own modern-day life experiences. The result? The Torah stories from Bereshit

PHOTO: IVY SCHREIBER

(Genesis) through Shemot (Exodus) come alive for them. This is only one example of the creative learning that goes on at BJHS. Our ongoing efforts to be creative and effective have been supported since the fall of 2009 by our participation in LOMED, a pioneering program that helps Jewish educators to innovate and improve their teaching.1 BJ is one of 24 congregations diverse in movement, affiliation, size, and geography across the metro New York region who make up the Coalition of Innovating Congregations and participate in the LOMED program. Handily, LOMED also translates into a meaningful acronym: Learner Outcomes and Measurement for Effective Educational Design. It’s a mouthful, but it’s meaningful and right on target. We’re proud to have two BJ Hebrew School teachers, Hannah Kass (Kitah Zayin) and Bronwen Mullin (Kitah Hey) as part of our LOMED Professional Leadership Team. They receive ongoing training and learning through LOMED and serve as teacher trainers for the rest of the Hebrew School faculty. Through them BJHS is gaining experience in “teaching with assessment for real-life experiences,” while continuing to innovate and experiment with new programs and ideas. The experience with LOMED has brought learning to new levels in our school. Hannah Kass, a teacher of Kitah Zayin (7th grade), describes the effect LOMED has had on her teaching and classroom:

We are guided by a vision of Jewish education for children and families that nurtures the whole person.”

“The LOMED program offers a wonderful structure, helping teachers to create meaningful and rich lesson plans with careful assessment. One of the aspects of LOMED that I have found especially important is the emphasis on making certain that the material presented in class is really reaching the students, as teachers always hope it will. LOMED challenges teachers to find creative ways to ascertain student comprehension and progress. Now I focus on gathering evidence that shows the extent to which each student understands the material: In my class I use consistent journaling as a medium for student responses, and the journal entries provide me with excellent insight into how my 7thgraders process the complicated material we study.” Our Hebrew school staff studies together throughout the year at staff meetings and shares ideas for engaging ways to learn through games, drama, and other creative means. We also discuss our particular class experiences so we can learn from each other. We are guided by a vision of Jewish education for children and families that nurtures the whole person. The “whole person framework,” adapted from research in university education and day schools, creates learning and assessment about what a child knows (head), what a child puts into action (hand), what a child believes/values (heart), and where a child belongs (feet). It recognizes that the whole of a person, not just the head or the heart, needs to be nurtured to enable a Jewish child to grow to be an engaged Jewish adult. The “whole person” approach also ensures that learning speaks to the real-life questions of learners, can be applied to daily life, builds relationships, and is content-rich and accessible. I’m very proud of the work we have done together so far and especially of the many signs of enthusiasm and engagement that our wonderful students show us. It’s not an easy task, but this is the high bar that we have set for ourselves. n — Ivy Schreiber

PHOTO: IVY SCHREIBER

1. This program is funded by UJA-Federation of New York and supported by the partnership of BJENY-SAJES, the Experiment in Congregational Education; and the Leadership Institute for Congregational Educators of HUC/JTS.

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

•

new voIce

asj kue

Bim Bim Bim Bim Bim Bam

im bam, bim bim bim bam, bim bim bim bim bim bam.

The words are simple, the music is catchy, and the connection is long-lasting. Each Friday morning, babies and toddlers gather

on the floor of Frankel Hall. As they grab their favorite instrument (bells and egg shakers are the most popular), they find their place in the circle and prepare to sing the class’s title song. After a series of Hebrew and Shabbat-themed songs, the little ones clean up their toys and instruments and get ready for a special project. Related to the weekly Torah portion or nearest Jewish holiday, the special project includes activities that range from arts and crafts to parachute games. Each week, the class concludes around the Shabbat table, where the children give tzedakah, light the candles, receive a blessing from their parent or caretaker, and of course enjoy

Bim Bam Winter/Spring Sessions 9:30AM or 10:45AM January 21-May 20 (except April 22 – it’s Pesah) The cost is per family. Members: $175 (Note: New members are FREE) Non-members: $250 Find more information and register at www.bj.org/bimbam. Other questions? Contact Emily Walsh, ewalsh@bj.org or at x243. their favorite part—a cup of grape juice and a bite of challah. n — Emily Walsh

Left: David Frankel sings his heart out with some of Bim Bam's most enthusiastic participants. PHOTO: EMILY WALSH

Cooking for the Shelter and Finding My Inner “Baleboosta” ast year I was asked to coordinate the 6th graders’ cooking for the BJ/SPSA Shelter. I said yes, although with some trepidation. In our family, I am the baker, and my husband is the cook. (As my grandmother famously said to my then-fiancé on the night of our engagement, “You know, she’s no baleboosta!”)

On the afternoon we were scheduled to cook, I found my way to the kitchen downstairs at 88th Street. Although initially befuddled by the convection oven, I was fortunate that one of our 6th graders’ parents, Stephanie Pietromonaco, was a caterer. She helped lead the way through the kitchen. With the kids busily washing and chopping vegetables, the parents, many of whom I never met, stepped back and enjoyed getting to know each other. After the salad was made, the table was set, and the ziti was in the oven, we gathered on the floor of the social hall. Surrounded by the folded cots where the shelter’s clients would sleep that night, the children were full of questions: Who are the people who stay here? How many days a week? Do we get to meet them? Why don’t they have a home to stay in? Emily Walsh answered all the

questions thoughtfully and then shared with us an excerpt from Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Nickled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. I was transfixed by the stories of people struggling on minimum-wage jobs, whose housing was so precarious. The ensuing discussion was challenging and moving, and I left feeling that this was one of the most enriching two hours I had spent in years. When Emily asked if I would volunteer to coordinate the 2nd graders’ cooking for the shelter later that year, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. While the parents had to be more hands-on during the vegetable chopping, the 2nd graders’ culinary skills and enthusiasm were impressive. Their questions about the shelter were as penetrating as the 6th graders’ had been. Many had attended the BJHS 2nd grade field trip to the food pantry in the basement at SPSA. My own 2nd grader commented about how many different ways the basements at BJ and SPSA could be used—Junior Congregation, Mishpaha Sheli, Shabbat dinner, homeless shelter, food pantry. I signed up to coordinate for the 3rd and 7th grades this year. The 7th graders cooked in early October. Because my family had joined

the BJ CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in its first season, we were able to donate our share of that week’s romaine lettuce and arugula for the salad, and cooked a delicious new chili recipe. We learned about Abraham and Sarah’s performance of hakhnasat orhim— welcoming strangers and hospitality. We talked about how cooking for the shelter was such an act and discussed other ways we could perform hakhnasat orhim in our daily lives. I left looking forward to cooking with the 3rd graders later this year and hoping that the 7th grade families can continue to volunteer together at the shelter in the coming years even after our children become b’nai mitzvah. n — Ellen Bender Ellen Bender found her home at BJ five years ago. She and her husband, Sam, have two daughters at BJHS. Ellen and her older daughter have enjoyed walking with the BJ “Race for the Cure” team for the past three years. In addition to cooking for the shelter, she has enjoyed volunteering for BJ’s CSA this year and meeting other BJ members who are excited about eating healthy, local, and sustainable food.

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

new voIce • KOL HADASH . DONATIONS

(received as of November 1, 2010)

Adult Education Fund Leon Morris and Dasee Berkowitz in memory of Zillah Goldstein Barry and Mira Schlein Beba Bronstein Scholarship Fund Robert and Frimette Kaplan in celebration of the birth of Felicia Sol's son Lilli Platt in honor of Leora Frankel's marriage David Schatsky and Susan Bodnar in celebration of the birth of Felicia Sol's son Bikkur Holim Fund Dov Fobar in memory of Shelley Bernard Amelia Korn in memory of her mother, Anna Korn Ellen Medins BJ Hebrew School Fund Richard Fields and Marjorie Vandow in honor of Gabe Fields’ Bar Mitzvah Louis Geser and Ilene Rosenthal in celebration of the birth of Felicia Sol's son BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter Fund Judy Geller-Marlowe and Glenn Marlowe in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary Stefan and Mary Krieger in memory of Elizabeth Kelliher Harold and Helen Lehrman in memory of Morty Levine Barbara Miller in honor of Jeanette Brizel Michael Roffer and Susan Lerner Roffer in memory of Celia Roffer Susan Schwartz in memory of Deborah Brudno and Elfriede Baum

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Building Fund Gary Sherman in honor of Miriam Palmer-Sherman and David Vaisberg's marriage Barry and Rachelle Goldsmith Bernice Levine Ayala Weiner-Usdin Children's Service Fund Scott Black in honor of Bernard Black Louis Geser and Ilene Rosenthal in honor of Leon Kraiem's Bar Mitzvah Marlene Jaffe in memory of Nathan Prusan Samara Minkin and Trent Gegax in honor of Leora Frankel's marriage and Miriam Palmer-Sherman and David Vaisberg's marriage David Schatsky and Susan Bodnar in honor of Ronen's Bar Mitzvah Daily Minyan Fund David Bloom in memory of Morty Levine Trudi Levine in memory of Morty Levine and in appreciation of "The Friday Morning Girls" Malcolm and Estelle Newman in memory of Morty Levine Irma and Robert Radus in memory of Morty Levine Penelope Raphaely in memory of Morty Levine Hadassah Weiner in memory of Morty Levine General Fund Myriam Abramowicz in honor of Glenn Marlowe and Judy Geller-Marlowe Susana Gordon Attias Howard Berman David and Barbara Blumenthal Dan Bridge Beth Brodsky and Amir Shaviv in honor of their son's Bar Mitzvah Joel Collamer in honor of Irv Rosenthal's 60th birthday

Thomas and Donna Divine in appreciation of their Torah honor Amy Feldman in memory of Nathan Prusan Harvey Friedman in honor of Melvin and Barbara Berger Jane Fuchsberg in honor of Myriam Abramowicz and Sandee Brawarsky Arthur Gurevitch and Linda Moses in honor of Gilbert Gold's birthday David and Champa Jarmul in honor of Irv Rosenthal's 60th birthday Elida Kamine in honor of Emily Walsh Joel Kazis and Sara Nathan in honor of Rabbi Anne Ebersman Michael Kesler Rachel and Mark Klein in honor of Rabbi Anne Ebersman, Mira Rivera, and Jerry Korman Otto and Lotte Knoller in honor of the engagement of Cara Hillary Suvall and Joseph Peretz Fishman and in celebration of Miriam PalmerSherman's marriage Karen Koenig and Jerome Solomon Belinda Lasky in celebration of Linda Golding and Diane Wondisford's wedding Bernice Levine in thanks to Carol Gelles, Dorothy Luft, Elana Roberts and her BJ friends who have been her support Michael and Nancy Mostow in honor of Frederic Goldstein Severine Pardo in honor of Nicole and Jean-Victor Pardo Irvin Rosenthal and Ruth Jarmul in memory of Morty Levine, in honor of Andrew Sherman becoming Hatan Torah and in honor of Rabbi Anne Ebersman becoming Kallat Bereshit

Rivka Rudner in appreciation of Friday night services Adina Schecter Jerome Siegel and Phyllis Harlem Shari Thomashow Mark and Robyn Tsesarsky in honor of Jeff Feig Adina Wagman Judith and Steven Weinstein in appreciation of their Aliyah Myron Yolkut in appreciation of the Shabbat Aliyah Hevra Kadisha Fund Susan Viuker Landau in memory of her husband, Sidney Landau Israel Trip Scholarship Fund Ricki Goldman in memory of her father Marjorie Shik in memory of Lydia Uzan Shik and Irving Shik Judith Bernstein Lunch Program Roslyn Auerbach in memory of Dorothy Hilf Martha Faibisoff in memory of her parents, Max and Lillian Faibisoff Judy Geller-Marlowe and Glenn Marlowe in memory of Morty Levine Ruth Kamerman Elaine Nevins in memory of Morty Levine Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart Andrea Bigelisen Riskin in memory of Morty Levine Norman Saunders in memory of Morty Levine Ronald and Lori Seitenbach in memory of Morty Levine Sharon Stein in honor of Dede and Stephen Kessler Michael Teitelman and Sharon Kozberg in honor of Becca Clarren and Greg Esmer's wedding Kiddushim Fund Daniel and Leslie Merims

Marshall T. Meyer Memorial Fund Lisa Schachner in honor of Charles Weinshank's Bar Mitzvah Miriam Siroky Education Fund David Schatsky and Susan Bodnar in honor of Anne Ebersman becoming Kallat Bereshit Music Fund Audrey Maurer Shira Palmer-Sherman Memorial Fund Dede and Stephen Kessler in honor of BJ's Kallat Bereshit, Rabbi Anne Ebersman, and Hatan Torah, Andy Sherman Lowell and Deborah Kirschner in honor of Miriam Palmer-Sherman and David Vaisberg's marriage David Schatsky and Susan Bodnar in honor of Andrew Sherman becoming Hatan Torah Social Action/Social Justice Fund Stacy Cotler in honor of Rabbi Felicia Sol Malcolm and Estelle Newman in memory of Stella Kramer Teen Programming Fund Rachel and Mark Klein in honor of Mark’s birthday David Schatsky and Susan Bodnar in honor of Ronen's Bar Mitzvah Yizkor Fund Allen and Phylliss Appelbaum in memory of Fannie Arluk, Paul Arluk, and William Appelbaum Livia Asher in memory of her sister, Miriam Siroky Georgette Bennett and Leonard Polonsky in memory of Sidonie Bennett Barbara Blum in memory of Bernard Blum Judith and Charles Bogomol in memory of her father, Solomon Matmon

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR I 5771

Charles Borrok in memory of his wife, Cathy Borrok Irwin and Arlene Brandon in memory of his mother and father, Kitty and Joseph Brandon, and his grandfather, Israel Brandon Jacqueline Braverman in memory of her brother, Harald Becker, and her father, Robert Becker Edward Brill and Michele Levin in memory of Beulah Brill and Seymour Brill Richard Chirol in memory of Nathan Prusan Elizabeth Cohen in memory of Herbert and Pauline Cohen Don and Rochelle Cohen in memory of her mother, Libbie Weisbard Madeline and Elizabeth Cohen in memory of Pauline Cohen Francine Collins in memory of her parents, Annette and Louis Collins Judith Cromwell in memory of her mother, Charlotte Breuer Lissaver Larry and Lisa Davidoff in memory of Howard Davidoff Marion and Alan Dienstag in memory of Batya Koltun Bart and Terri Eagle in memory of Herman Eagle Rae-Carole Fischer and Joseph Saltiel in memory of his mother, Sara Saltiel David Fitterman in memory of Jenny Chinitz, Morty Levine, and Nathan Prusan Jules and Susan Frankel in memory of his mother, Rose Frankel Earl Freiman and Paulette Douglas in memory of her parents, Helen and Hal Douglas Sheila Gabins in memory of her mother, Helen Janice Nora Gaines in memory of her grandmother, Mina Bonita and Harvey Ganot in memory of her mother, Sylvia Estrin Jeffrey and Laurie Goldberger in memory of their grandfather, Moses Hornstein

Harriet Goren in memory of her grandfather, Harry Pfeffer, her cousins, Jerome Pfeffer and Bunny Markowitz, and her father, Daniel Goren Nancy Greenblatt and Jack Richard in memory of Elaine Richard and Morty Levine Steven Greenhouse in memory of Jack Brawarsky Barbara Greenspan in memory of her father, Solomon Matmon Sonny Greenwald in memory of Jacob Greenwald John Guffey and Barbara Somerfield in memory of Betty Goldsmith Guffey Lisa Halprin Fleisher and Arthur Fleisher in memory of her grandmother, Doris Halprin Jessica Hammerman and Isaac Peterson in memory of Jack Brawarsky Richard and Elaine Heffner in memory of her father, Joseph Segal Joan Jankell in memory of her mother, Laura Sweet Richard and Rosemary Kalikow in memory of Morris Ribler Robert and Frimette Kaplan in memory of Mollie Spilberg, Herbert Silberg, David Kaplan, and Jeanette Kaplan Ilene Katz in memory of Irene and Charles Katz Stephen Kaufman and Marina Pinto Kaufman in memory of her father, Salomon Pinto, and his mother, Gertrude Kaufman Nina Kaufman in memory of her grandfather, Emmanuel Kaufman Norman and Lenore Kaufman in memory of her father, Samuel Buckalter Jeffrey and Shelley Kehl in memory of their mother and grandmother, Pearl Kehl Florence Keller in memory of her mother, Anna Glick

•

new voIce

DONATIONS

Dede and Stephen Kessler in memory of her aunts, Ruth Berger Haber and Annette Berger Gerson, her cousins, Howard Haber and Scott Haber, and her parents, Lettie Berger Glicksman and Jack Glicksman Stephen and Susan Kippur in memory of his mother, Shirley Kippur Carole Klepper in memory of her parents, Mary and Moe Kaperst Otto and Lotte Knoller in memory of Jack Brawarsky Drew Kopf in memory of his father, Harold Kopf Lorraine Korn in memory of her parents, David and Rene Korn Miriam and Jonathan Kose in memory of their mother, mother-in-law, and Bubbe, Toby Kaufman Ceil Kraus in memory of her mother, Anna Handelsman Stefan and Mary Krieger in memory of Norman and Vivien Krieger and James and Betsy Kelliher Trudi Levine in memory of her mother, father and sister, Lena, Jack and Judy Levine Sara Levine and Philip Friedman in memory of her father, Arthur Levine Bernice Levine in memory of Morty Levine Albert and Naomi Levine in memory of her father Richard and Barbara Litt in memory of his mother Lili Lynton and Michael Ryan in memory of Mark Lynton Susan Margolis in memory of her father Robert and Iris Markewich in memory of her father, Milton Grass Faith Marshall in memory of Morty Levine Audrey Melkin in memory of her companion, Werner Engel

Leana Moritt in memory of her aunt, Laura Katz Michael and Nancy Mostow in memory of Cynthia Cate Beal Sherwood and Sallie Newman in memory of Sherwood's father and Sallie's father Bonnie Oglensky and Ira Schwarz in memory of Burtis Oglensky and Yetta Cohen Howard Perlman and Phyllis Cosley Hirsch in memory of his father, Max Perlman Elenor Radzivilover in memory of her father, Cantor Matus Radzivilover Jack Richard and Nancy Greenblatt in memory of Henry and Ida Richard Andrea Bigelisen Riskin in memory of her mother, Gertrude Bigelisen Carlos Rizowy in memory of Charlotte Rizowy Arlene Robbins in memory of Lilly Needleman Andrea Roman in memory of her grandmother, Herta Reis Herman and Myrna Rosen in memory of her father, Irving Wener Terry Rosenbaum in memory of her husband, Arthur Rosenbaum Jerry and Sheila Rothman in memory of Morty Levine Charles and Amy Rudnick in memory of her mother, Rita Teicher and his father, David Rudnick Wendy Sax in memory of Alice Sax Muriel Schaffer in memory of Morty Levine Eric Schlesinger in memory of his mother, Anne Schlesinger Amy and Jacob Schrader in memory of her grandmother, Fannie Wachstein William Schwartz and Lucy Chudson in memory of his father Ronald and Lori Seitenbach in memory of Victoria Schonfeld's father

asj kue continued from page 10

Barbara Simon in memory of her father and mother, Wink and Florence Toretsky Jeffrey Singerman and Ruth Borchardt in memory of Martha Sklar Robert and Barbara Small in memory of her father, Marnny Kanowitz Ellen Small in memory of her father, Irving Perlmutter Sharon Stein in memory of Michael Stein Mitchell and Enid Stuart in memory of Muriel Kravitz Judith and Steven Weinstein in memory of Blanche, Daniel and Mark Rosenthal Barbara and Robert Willinger in memory of Edward Halin, father, father-in-law, grandfather of Barbara, Robert and Jeremy Vivian Yale in memory of her husband, Milton Yale, and her father, Jacob Gordon Holly Zabitz in memory of her grandmother, Sadie Chesler, her aunt, Annabelle Kalina, her grandfather, Samuel Zabitz, and her father, Emanuel Finkelman

KOL HADASH new voIce January/February 2011 The Kol Hadash is published every other month. We would love to print your stories and articles about BJ! For submission guidelines, contact communications@bj.org. All material is the property of B’nai Jeshurun and cannot be reprinted without permission. The Kol Hadash is printed using soy-based inks on 50% recycled paper by an eco-friendly printer. Designer: Harriet R. Goren

SYNAGOGUE: 257 W. 88th St. • OFFICE: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), Suite 203, New York, NY 10023 • TEL : 212.787.7600 • FAX : 212.496.7600 • WEBSITE : www.bj.org

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 530 New York, NY

2109 Broadway (Ansonia) • Suite 203 • New York, NY 10023

KOL HADASH new voIce • . SYNAGOGUE: 257 West 88th Street OFFICES: 2109 Broadway (Ansonia), #203 Main Telephone Number 212-787-7600 Fax Number (2109 Broadway) 212-496-7600 Website www.bj.org

Rabbis: J. Rolando Matalon Marcelo R. Bronstein Felicia L. Sol Hazzan and Music Director: Ari Priven Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow: Rabbi Michelle Dardashti Rabbinic Fellow: Jason Fruithandler Cantorial Intern: Shoshi Rosenbaum Executive Director: Harold Goldman, x248 Assistant Executive Director: Belinda Lasky, x224 Director of Education for Youth and Family: Ivy Schreiber, x225 Director of Social Action/ Social Justice: Channa Camins, x259

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Committees & Services: Accounts Payable.......................227 Accounts Receivable ..................237 Adult Education Information .....233 Bar/Bat Mitzvah .........................223 Bekef ..........................................255 Bikkur Holim..............................233 BJ Reads ....................................391 Communications........................275 Community Programs ...............255 Conversion .................................264 Daily Minyan...............................232 Development & Donation Information ........228

Program Director: Guy Felixbrodt, x255 Major Gifts Officer: Nancy Gad-Harf, x262 Associate Director of Development: Erzsébet Arora, x228 Communications Manager: Denise Waxman, x275 Director of Administration & Finance: Ron Seitenbach, x226 Director of Facilities: Roma Serdtse, x258 Assistant to Rabbi Matalon and Communications Associate: Sarah Guthartz, x234 Assistant to Rabbi Bronstein and Hazzan Priven: Naomi Goodhart, x240 Assistant to Rabbi Sol: Elizabeth Rosenbaum, x233 Assistant to Executive Director Harold Goldman: Jacob Shemkovitz, x256

88th Street Rental......................223 Family Activities: Hotline ...........318 Hakhnasat Orhim.......................255 Havurot.......................................255 Hevra Kadisha ...........................233 Homeless Shelter .....212-339-4250 Interfaith Committee ............... 379 Kiddush Scheduling ...................255 Kol Jeshurun...............................275 Kol Hadash .................................275 Life Cycles..................................233 Lunch Program ..........................338

Membership Information...........224 Ralph Bunche School Partnership ...........................301 Social Action ..............................259 Teen Programming ....................253 Torah/Haftarah Reading ............232 Tze’irim ......................................264 Ushering ....................................305 Visiting Groups...........................234 Volunteer Information................255 Youth & Family Education ..........225

Board of Trustees: Jonathan Adelsbergº President

Richard Kalikow Beth Kern Debbie Lerner Henry Meer Samara Minkin Andrea Newman Bernie Plum Benjamin Ross Emily Weiss Michael Yoeli

Susan Kippurº* Chair Jeannie Blausteinº Vice President Joel Kazis Vice President Stephen Stulmanº Vice President Debra Fineº Treasurer Andrew Litt Secretary Robert Buxbaum Gene Carr Anne Ebersman Rochelle Friedlich Christina Gantcher Barbara Glassman Sally Gottesman Sofia Hubscher

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