KJ Fall Bulletin 2019 by Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun

FA L L I S S U E

K E H I LAT H JESH UR UN BULLETIN

VOLUME LXXXIX, NUMBER 1

SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 | ELUL 3 5779

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: WE’VE COME A LONG WAY ON A LONGER ROAD BY RABBI CHAIM STEINMETZ

EACH YEAR, OUR CONGREGATION HOSTS A SHABBATON FOR YACHAD, THE NATIONAL JEWISH COUNCIL FOR DISABILITIES 1. OVER 60 PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COME TO KJ, AND ONE GIVES A SHORT SERMON FROM THE PULPIT ON SHABBAT MORNING. IT IS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE KJ YEAR.

IN TH IS ISSU E RABBI CHAIM STEINMETZ

RABBI ELIE WEINSTOCK

RABBI MEYER LANIADO

RABBI HASKEL LOOKSTEIN

RABBI DANIEL AND RACHEL KRAUS 11 SIMCHAT TORAH CHATANIM

CLASSES 14 IN THE COMMUNITY

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

WITHIN OUR FAMILY

BNEI MITZVAH

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

This yearly sermon represents a revolution. Fifty years ago, a developmentally disabled person would not have spoken from the pulpit, and no congregation would have welcomed a Yachad Shabbaton. The developmentally disabled were invisible, hidden away in attics and institutions. For the most part attitudes have changed in recent years. But one lingering question remains: why was there such discomfort with developmental disabilities in the first place? Why would people discriminate against the children of their friends and family? Thinking seriously about this question will force us to confront our own instinctive biases. In 2014, a controversy erupted over a comment on Twitter by the famed biologist Richard Dawkins. When asked by a follower about the ethical dilemma of aborting a Down’s Syndrome pregnancy, Dawkins wrote:

Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice. Undoubtedly, such a pregnancy presents a serious ethical dilemma, and even in the Jewish tradition, halakhic opinions on this subject are not monolithic. But Dawkins’ blithe response shocked many. How could he coldly pronounce “abort it,” as if the life of a disabled person is worthless? But Dawkins’ point of view is not new or unique. It is tempting to compare his cold attitude towards developmental disabilities with the Nazi T-4 program, which murdered over 70,000 Germans with disabilities and psychiatric disorders. However, this analogy is deceptive; the exceptional evil of the Nazi regime would leave the impression that any policy they adopted is an outlier, the handiwork of immoral barbarians. But in actuality, the idea of murdering the disabled is quite old, and not at all uncommon. continued on page 2

1 The Shabbaton has been sponsored since its inception by Dr. Karin and Joel Katz.

2 continued,

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: WE’VE COME A LONG WAY...

In Sparta, babies deemed “deformed” were tossed into a place called “the apothetae,” a chasm near Mount Taygetus2. In ancient Rome, it was not uncommon to abandon disabled children. Martin Luther believed children with severe disabilities were actually “changelings,” demonic beings that took on the form of a human child, and that they should be killed. He is quoted as saying: I said to the Princes of Anhalt: “If I were the prince or the ruler here, I would throw this child into the water--into the Molda that flows by Dessau. I would dare commit homicidium on him!3 This cold view of disabilities has always found followers because it is not unreasonable. In fact, it can be seen as the practical way of dealing with a difficult situation. When Dawkins’ defended himself, he wrote that If your morality is based, as mine is, on a desire to increase the sum of happiness and reduce suffering, the decision to deliberately give birth to a Down baby, when you have the choice to abort it early in the pregnancy, might actually be immoral from the point of view of the child’s own welfare. This view may seem cold, but it is logical. Tragically, this vision is not at all foreign to us. All too often, in the most observant segments of the Orthodox world, a Down’s Syndrome child is hidden away, because people are concerned that the developmentally disabled child will affect the shidduch possibilities of the siblings. 2 Aristotle accepts this idea as well in Politics 7:17 “Deformed offspring should not be reared.” 3 Martin Luther, “Historia von einem Wechselkinde zu Dessau,” Sämmtliche Werke, vol. 60 (Frankfurt am Main: Verlag von Heyder & Zimmer, 1854), pp. 39-40. Translation at pitt.edu/~dash/gerchange.html

These attitudes are sometimes stated in a heartless and vulgar fashion. Rav Shlomo Aviner, a leader of the Dati Leumi community in Israel ruled that you make the blessing of Baruch Dayan Ha’emet, (a blessing generally said when informed of tragic news like the death of a relative) on the birth of a Down’s Syndrome child4. Like Dawkins, Aviner sees the developmentally disabled as a liability, people who undermine the happiness of those around them. They recognize that capabilities matter; intellectual, physical, financial. In every sphere of life, there is constant competition for greatness and achievement; and these disabled children will achieve less and require much more from their families and their community. Dawkins and Aviner approach disabilities from a utilitarian perspective, and see disabled children as a tragedy. In the language of Rav Soloveitchik’s Lonely Man of Faith, utilitarians believe that the majestic nature of humans is all that matters. Soloveitchik writes that humanity instinctively strives to achieve majesty by controlling and subduing the world around him. And it is through this triumph that man achieves dignity and honor. When majesty is the only parameter by which life is judged, anyone with diminished capabilities is less worthy, and the utilitarian ethic of Aviner and Dawkins seems justifiable. Instead of wondering why the developmentally disabled were once marginalized in the past, it is critical to recognize that this discrimination is not the foolishness of an earlier, benighted age, but the cold calculations of the pragmatic mind. And because it is a reasonable perspective, this utilitarian view of life can always find advocates throughout history, can always find 4 ravaviner.com/2012/12/shut-sms-190.html

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followers in our community, and many times, can find a place in our hearts. But what is wrong with this perspective is that it misses the most critical dimension of life. Rav Soloveitchik explains that humanity has a dual nature. Beyond the majestic, humanity strives for the covenantal; we create community simply because that is what the soul thirsts for. To Soloveitchik, man instinctively pursues accomplishment and greatness, but also embarks on a more important quest, for inspiration and insight. On this spiritual journey, we gain an appreciation for the miracle of life, and a different moral vision emerges:

Life is sacred. Community is inclusive. Love is redemptive. Jews believe that man is created in the image of God, we believe that Kol Yisrael Areivim zeh lazeh, that we are all responsible for and intertwined with each other, and maintain that the most important rule in the Torah is to love your neighbor as yourself. Through the ages it is this moral vision that has challenged the utilitarian view. It refuses to reduce human existence into metrics and numbers, and sees life as a gift and privilege. And it follows that the developmentally disabled, like everyone else, have lives of infinite value. But the utilitarian thesis fails in another way. Joy is not just measured in achievements and pleasures, and happiness is not directly related to pleasure and convenience. Indeed, the greatest joys often come from devotion and difficulty. In my previous synagogue, there was a young woman named Pamela who had Pervasive Developmental

3 continued, DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES: WE’VE COME A LONG WAY...

Disorder. Pamela’s parents are both accomplished professionals, who worked diligently to help in her development. As a child, Pamela learned how to write most of the letters in the alphabet, but the letter “e” eluded her. For years Pamela tried; and finally one day she brought home her schoolwork, with her name spelled in full, including the letter “e”. That evening, the entire family danced around the house overjoyed over Pamela’s letter “e”. Of course, her two highly educated parents were not celebrating the writing of the letter “e”; they were celebrating a triumph of love and nurturing.

The utilitarian argument assumes that happiness follows ease and comfort, while in actuality the opposite is often true. Take love for example. We all want to be loved. Yet the experience of love is not at all a passive one, of being a lucky recipient. Rav Eliyahu Dessler5 points out that with love, the more you give, the more love you experience. It is through the act of sacrifice that one feels love most profoundly6. This insight challenges the utilitarian calculation that one is happier without the difficulty and burden of a developmentally delayed child. And this has been confirmed by studies, cited by Jamie Edgin in The New York Times, that siblings growing up with a Down’s Syndrome sibling felt it made them into better people, 5 Michtav M’Eliyahu, Kuntres HaChesed. 6 Rav Dessler argues this is why the love of a parent for a child is the most profound type of love.

and that the parents experienced few regrets7. Rather than being an empty burden, selfless devotion can bring one a great deal of happiness. Of course, however rewarding the experience, there are enormous struggles. Pamela’s mother, Marcy, once wrote me a short note about her experience. She was critiquing a sermon I had given about Moshe’s last moments, on a mountain overlooking Israel. Marcy felt I was mistaken to portray Moshe as disappointed over the fact he could not get into the Holy Land, and sent me the following e-mail about Pamela’s graduation from her school for the developmentally disabled: This past June, our family was incredibly privileged to attend a very special graduation from Summit School. To be entirely honest with you, I thought that I was going to sit through it in anger. I thought that all I would be able to think of was: “Why could it not be Herzliah, Marianopolis or McGill?” In a sense, I guess I thought that I would be like your Moshe on the mountain. I thought that all I would be able to focus on what was the unfilled: my unfulfilled hopes and dreams and all of the doors that Lawrence and I have so quietly closed over the years. Instead, the most amazing thing happened. Pamela walked in in her cap and gown with a smile on her face that could have lit the room and I immediately started to cry. I cried through the entire ceremony. I can tell you that not one of those tears was about what was not, but instead what was and how far Pamela has come in the 17 years since her diagnosis. Lawrence and I have been very fortunate. 7 “The Truth About Down Syndrome” By Jamie Edgin and Fabian Fernandez, Aug. 28, 2014.

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We rarely think of what could have been. We never compare Pamela to others, we are content to move with her on her road and to watch her grow and change. Her smile is a sign to us from God that we are indeed on the right track and fulfilling our allimportant mission of nurturing our very special neshama. This letter reminds us that there are joys that have nothing to do with conventional achievements. Happiness is not always about having a child graduate Harvard, and sometimes, even writing the letter “e” is a moment of intense joy. The world has changed in the last 50 years. It was considered dramatic when Vice President Hubert Humphrey spoke about his granddaughter having Down’s Syndrome in the 1960s, and many look back at that as a turning point in American attitudes towards the developmentally disabled. Since then, there has been greater sensitivity and greater inclusion, and at KJ we can be proud of 30 years of Yachad Shabbatonim. But we still have a long way to go. Someone once remarked to me: “Yachad Shabbat cannot be just one day a year,” and she is absolutely right. Parents cry when their children have no one to play with on Shabbat, week after week, and they cry when there is no good Jewish education for their children. Inclusion needs to be a daily exercise, and there is a long way to go. We must do more in our community, in our synagogues, and in our schools. But even so, we must remember Marcy’s point. We may not be where we would like to be, but like Moshe on the mountain, we can take satisfaction in how far we have come, and know that the progress will continue in the future.

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ONE SMALL STEP: STILL RELEVANT 50 YEARS LATER

ONE SMALL STEP: STILL RELEVANT 50 YEARS LATER S H A B B AT B A L A K 5 7 7 9 | B Y R A B B I E L I E W E I N S TO C K

IN THE SPIRIT OF ONE SMALL STEP, PLEASE TAKE A STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR KJ BEGINNERS SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES AND GUIDE OTHERS OUR WAY. YOU WILL ENHANCE YOUR SHABBAT MORNING EXPERIENCE AND, BY BRINGING OTHERS, HELP US ENGAGE SO MANY WHO ARE IN NEED OF SOME JEWISH INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION.

The KJ Beginners Program offers two Shabbat Services each week.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The Beginners Service, led by George Rohr, Rachel Kraus, Dr. Steve Rudolph, and Morris Massel, provides a welcoming and instructive setting to understand the mechanics of prayer and the Shabbat service, explore Jewish fundamentals, and review the weekly parsha.

Why did Neil Armstrong say what he said? Was it planned? Is there a missing “a” before the word “man?”

The KJB Minyan, formerly the Intermediate Service, is led by Rabbi Daniel Kraus and Dr. Shilo Kramer along with the participation of members who guide the service and fill in as daveners and layners. This interactive and intimate service is filled with instructions, discussion, and singing. It is where the classical synagogue service meets your spiritual needs. These services have enriched and inspired thousands over the years. Please try out one, the other, or both. Please encourage friends, neighbors, and co-workers to attend with you. Taking one small step to the Major-Ward Library or Riklis Social Hall on Shabbat morning can turn into a giant leap of inspiration and Jewish meaning for all who attend. It has the potential to enrich your Jewish life and enhance the lives of all you bring with you.

Since Armstrong was a J.R.R. Tolkien fan, his biographer thought the line was based on a line from The Hobbit: “not a great leap for a man, but a leap in the dark.” Armstrong, himself, set the record straight. “What can you say when you step off of something? Well, something about a step. It just sort of evolved during the period that I was doing the procedures of the practice takeoff and the extravehicular activity prep…” The landing and walking on the moon, which took place 50 years ago was a very big deal. It was more than a big deal – it was a monumental accomplishment. The moon landing was also a bright moment in a turbulent time in the US and around the world. In its time, not everyone was so enamored by the expensive endeavor when there were so many other pressing needs and challenges at home and abroad. In addition to being a national, technological, and historic achievement, the moon landing was a religiously powerful moment.

Buzz Aldrin, a religious Christian, took communion and read his Bible while waiting to step off the Lunar Module onto the surface of the moon. From a Jewish perspective, many wondered how human beings walking on another planet affected the verse in Tehillim (115:6): “Hashamayim shamayim la’Hashem, v’ha-aretz natan livnei adam - The heavens are the realm of the Lord, and God gave the land to humanity.” Is this true anymore? Humans are taking over the heavens!

One loose screw or one incorrect calculation could be the difference between life and death. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, spoke about the landing on the moon that very Shabbat. He taught that there are three fundamental lessons from the historic accomplishment:  1) We achieve greatness working together. 2) Details are critical. 3) Landing on the moon gives us a true window into the vastness of God’s universe.

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SMALL STEP: STILL RELEVANT 50 YEARS LATER

1) NASA estimated that there were more than 400,000 engineers, scientists and technicians working towards a common goal. The Apollo project program manager, George Muller, wanted to ensure that everyone involved took the project seriously, so he took the astronauts around to the various factories so that the workers could personally meet them and understand that the lives of these astronauts were in their hands. Muller wanted them to understand that one loose screw or one incorrect calculation could be the difference between life and death. Landing on the moon was a project. In real life, we believe that every individual matters, yet it doesn’t always seem real. Nevertheless, like any big project, each individual is a part of the endeavor. In times when people are drifting farther and farther apart – especially when they disagree with each other, we need reminding that each and every one of us has a critical role to play. 2) It is not only that every individual matters, each of the details matters as well. There were thousands of knobs, buttons, and blinking lights on Apollo 11. The order and sequence of their activation were critical. If one tiny item failed, that was the end of the project. If one action was performed out of order, it could mean disaster. Details are consequential.

Next time we may wonder why we need to do something a specific way or whether mitzvot really matter, we should think about the colossal catastrophe that can emerge when the rules are not followed. Judaism does not work like a spaceship. At the same time, Torah is a complex mission, and the details do matter. 3) Two of the verses Buzz Aldrin recited were Tehillim 8:4 and 5: ָ ‫אצְּבְעֹתֶיך‬ ֶ ‫מעֲׂשֵי‬ ַ ָ ‫ׁשמֶיך‬ ָ ‫ארְאֶה‬ ֶ ‫ּכִי־‬ ‫ח ו ְכֹוכָבִים אֲׁשֶר ּכֹונ ָנְּתָה׃‬ ַ ֵ ‫יָר‬ When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars that You set in place. ‫אד ָם ּכִי‬ ָ ‫מָה־אֱנֹוׁש ּכִי־תִזְּכְר ֶּנּו ּובֶן־‬ ‫קד ֶּנּו׃‬ ְ ְ‫תפ‬ ִ What is man that You have been mindful of him, mortal man that You have taken note of him. These verses teach us that gazing towards the heavens or looking at the moon leads to a greater appreciation of God and, in contrast, man’s limited stature. The Rambam teaches this explicitly (Yesodei Ha-Torah 2:2): What is the path to attain love and fear of God? When a person contemplates God’s wondrous and great deeds and creations… he will immediately love, praise, and glorify Him, yearning with tremendous desire to know God’s great name…

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Landing on the moon presented humanity with a whole new perspective of God in the universe. Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm noted: People used to worship the moon. Now, mankind has thus proclaimed through those three American astronauts the final triumph of monotheism, of Judaism, over paganism, the victory of the religion of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob over that of Terach and Lavan. The moon landing demonstrated that each person matters, that details are critical, and that we can better appreciate the Divine when we encounter the next frontier of creation. One small step for man provided a giant leap of a lesson for humanity and for Jews. We should keep taking small steps. Yesh koneh olamo b’sha’ah achat. The Talmud teaches (Avoda Zara 10) that a person can justify or redeem his/her entire existence in one moment — even one second! Ein lecha adam she-ein lo sha’ah. Pirkei Avot (4:3) teaches us that every person has their moment. In the story of Cain and Abel, God rejects Abel’s sacrifice. The Torah (Bereishit 4:5) states, “el kayin uminchato lo sh’ah – God did not turn to Cain and his offering.” In this verse, sha’ah is a deviation, a shift, a change of course. All it takes is one small movement in a different direction to make all the difference. Fifty years after the moon landing, we can recapture the excitement of the moment, learn the lessons of the achievement, and remember that each of us has a role to play in accomplishing those unmet challenges. All it takes is one small step.

6 WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY LIVE

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WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY LIVE BY RABBI MEYER LANIADO

I NEVER THOUGHT REFILLING MY METROCARD COULD BE A PHILOSOPHICAL EXPERIENCE UNTIL I PAUSED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE QUESTION THE MACHINE POSED: “WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ADD? MORE TIME OR MORE VALUE?” WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE OF IN LIFE, MORE YEARS OR MORE QUALITY OF LIFE? THIS IS THE QUESTION WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES WHEN WE SAY ON ROSH HASHANAH ZOKHREINU LEHAYYIM, REMEMBER US FOR LIFE OR KOTBEINU BESEFER HAYYIM, WRITE US IN THE BOOK OF LIFE. Is the hayyim, life, we are praying for the length of years or the quality of its moments? David Brooks in his book The Road to Character offers a distinction which will help in answering this question. He explains that there are two categories of values that drive us, resume values and eulogy values. Resume values are degrees, titles, and sales numbers achieved. Eulogy values are how we lived, including our honesty, integrity, and character and how we helped those around us: how we greeted the doorman every morning and brought him a coffee; how we were always fully present at the dinner table and never took business calls. Arianna Huffington makes it clear that it’s the eulogy values that we should strive for. She explains humorously that no one has ever heard a eulogizer say: Of course his crowning achievement was when he made senior vice president, or But he will live on, not in our hearts or memories, because we barely knew him, but in his PowerPoint slides, which were always meticulously prepared.

In the end, what will matter is not our promotion or increased sales but how we were as a person, and more specifically, how we improved the lives of those around us. Living with Eulogy values is what our Hakhamim describe as hayyim, life, and living. It is the striving for a goal greater than ourselves, to help our society, and positively impact another. It is how Ya’akov our forefather achieved immortality. As the Babylonian Talmud states: Ya’akov Avinu lo met, Ya’akov our father did not die (Ta’anit 5b). This famous statement was said by Ribbi Yishak, quoting his teacher Ribbi Yohanan, to Rav Nahman over a shared meal. Ribbi Yishak had come from Israel and was visiting with Rav Nahman, the Exilarch, the political leader of the Jewish community in Babylonia. Rav Nahman was shocked by the statement that Ya’akov Avinu did not die. The Torah says that he was embalmed and buried (Bereshit 50:3-13). In response, Ribbi makes a creative eisegetical point on a sentence in Yirmiyahu. The sentence speaks to Ya’akov and Yisrael and says you will be saved, moshiakha, as well as your children, zarakha.

So, just as the children are alive, beHayyim, the nation of Yisrael, so too Ya’akov, their forefather is living, beHayyim (Yirmiyahu 30:10). This is a creative point, but the message is not yet clear. Before Ribbi Yishak and Rav Nahman part ways, they bless each other. Ribbi Yishak said: You already have Torah, wealth and children. Therefore, may it be God’s will that your offspring be like you. That is what he meant by the statement Ya’akov did not die. He lives on because of his family who carry his legacy. This is what the perplexing phrase that ‘the righteous, even after their passing are called ‘hayyim’ means (Talmud Bavli Berakhot 11-12). These righteous individuals, during their lifetime, instilled in others the value of appreciating hasdei Hashem, the favors God bestows upon us. So, when these people acknowledge the graciousness of God and say a berakha, they are keeping the memory of the righteous alive. This is in contrast to the reshaim, who, by definition, do not make a positive impact on others, do not have a continued legacy, and furthermore, are considered dead even while they are living, as the text continues:

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IT MEANS TO REALLY LIVE

‘The rasha, while living, is considered dead since they see the sun rise and set and they do not recognize The Creator. They eat and drink and do not recognize the source of their sustenance.’ They are completely self-focused on resume values and not focused on contributing to others and society.

life is “motivated by values which

So, hayyim is more than living on because one has a child with their name as in the eisegesis about Ya’akov. Hayyim is a life that positively transforms another. This point becomes clearer with Rambam’s explanation of the term ben, son. He explains that it is not solely biological. The term for a biological son is yeled, while ben specifically refers to someone whose life was shaped, whether biological or not (Mishneh Torah Hilkhot Talmud Torah 1:2 and Moreh Nevukhim 1:6).

more resume values, but for quality

This hayyim is what Abraham Maslow called self-transcendence. It is experienced when we make an impact, transform the life of another or have a purpose beyond the self. He explains in his later works that self-transcendence is the ultimate human experience and the pinnacle of our existence when

foremost, for our families, but also with

So, when posed with the question: “What do you want to add? More Time or More Value?” Or when praying on Rosh Hashanah zokhreinu lehayyim… kotbeinu beSefer hayyim, we should be praying not just for years of achieving moments where we can create value in the lives of others. We can pray for both time and value, but can only control

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein’s 10 Nusach recordings, designed to help people learn how to be a shaliach tzibbur at daily services, Shabbatot, holidays, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur

we focus on how we use our time we

& selichot around the year,

allow ourselves to truly experience

are available free of charge

hayyim. For, without hayyim, more time will not add more value. Only value can

at ramaz.org/nusach.

add more to time.

There is no better

Let us transcend ourselves to genuinely

time than now to

care for other human beings. First and

avail yourself of this

everyone with whom we interact. In that way, we will be inscribed beSepher Hayyim, the book of everlasting life, the book of those who have positively impacted this world, the book of those who changed society for the better.

WEE

LEARN TO DAVEN LIKE A BA’AL TEFILLAH

what we do with our allotted time. When

SAT NIGHT

transcend self.”

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DEC 7 8 PM

KJ ANNUAL DINNER CELEBRATING DR. NAAMA & RABBI ELIE WEINSTOCK’S 16 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO KJ

EVENT CHAIRS GLORIA & RICHARD KOBRIN | LEE & MICHAEL LEWITTES | ARIEL & JONATHAN STERN

wonderful opportunity!

8 WORDS OF EULOGY

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WORDS OF EULOGY BY RABB I HAS K E L LOOKS T E I N

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, FOLLOWING A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN OUR FAMILY, MY FATHER TOLD ME, FOR THE FIRST TIME, SOMETHING WHICH HE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, BOTH ORALLY AND IN WRITING. HE SAID TO ME, “I WANT YOU TO DELIVER THE EULOGY FOR ME WHEN THE TIME COMES.” THIS EXPLAINS MY POSITION TODAY, WHICH IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE FOR ME.

REMEMBERING RABBI JOSEPH H. LOOKSTEIN On the 18th day of Tammuz, which corresponded this year to Sunday, July 21st, the day on which the th fast of the 17 of Tammuz was observed, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein observed the 40th yahrzeit for his father, Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein. It is hard to believe that forty years have passed since the Rabbi’s demise. His influence and inspiration continue to be felt in KJ and Ramaz and continue to influence the role we all play in Jewish life. We felt it would be appropriate, at this milestone year, to reprint Rabbi Haskel Lookstein’s eulogy for his father which appeared in a special issue of the Bulletin in 1979, the year of his passing. May it be a source of inspiration to all of us today.

I am trying to practice honor toward my father as he expected of me, in the same way as I recall his delivering the eulogy for my grandfather, of blessed memory, 36 years ago on the 15th day of Tammuz. Many of you have heard my father read the Ne’ilah service which concludes Yom Kippur and you have been stirred by his interpretation of the prayers. His final Ne’ilah came late last Friday afternoon as the shadows of the 18th day of Tammuz lengthened and Shabbat Pinchas approached. We had the responsibility of reading the concluding verses of Ne’ilah: Shema, Baruch Shem, and the Ha-Shem Hu Ha-Elohim, at his bedside, at the moment of y’tzi’at n’shama as a beautiful soul departed this world peacefully and flew to an eternal life. This final Ne’ilah came on the eve of the Shabbat when we read Moshe’s description of the ideal Jewish leader. ‫יפקד ה׳ א־לוהי הרוחות לכל בשר‬ ‫ אשר יצא לפניהם‬,‫איש על העדה‬ ‫ ואשר יוציאם‬,‫ואשר יבא לפניהם‬ ’‫ ולא תהיה עדת ה‬,‫ואשר יביאם‬ ‫כצאן אשר אין להם רועה‬ (‫ י”ז‬- ‫ ט”ז‬,‫ כ״ז‬,‫)במדבר‬ Let the Lord, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a person over the community who will go before them and come before them and who will lead them forth and bring them back.

And let not God’s people be like sheep deprived of their shepherd. My father was a leader in that image. He was, first and foremost, an “lsh.” The Kotzker Rebbe comments that a Rav has to be a mensch and not a mal’ach, a human being and not an angel. Whatever else my father was to Kehilath Jeshurun, Ramaz and the entire Jewish world, he was primarily and fundamentally a warm, feeling, vibrant man, who lived for his family first even though we all knew we had to share him with the community. He was a magnificent husband to my mother. They led a beautiful life together for, thank God, more than 53 years. They were great for each other and, except for the rarest of occasions, they were never apart. Wherever he went, she was with him as a constant source of love, support, guidance and encouragement. They rejoiced together, planned together and worried together. Most of all, they really loved each other very much. They were a stirring example to us – and to all of the rabbinic world – of how a marriage should be lived. My father was deeply attached to my sister. “My little redhead” he called her, an appellation that he also reserved for one of her daughters. They shared many intellectual endeavors in common, both of them being students of sociology. Even in his most recent illness they talked sociology and my sister was astonished to realize that

9 continued, WORDS

OF EULOGY

his memory of classic sociology was even better than hers. She was a great source of comfort, pleasure and nachas for him in all of the things that she did, but especially in her beautiful family life and particularly through the grandchildren whom she gave him. He loved each of them individually in their own right and for their own qualities. He rejoiced in their happiness and he worried over their problems. Of course, the greatest pleasure of all was his two great-granddaughters. “My little Erica” he would say and his eyes would light up whenever she was spoken of, but then he would add: “I’m afraid that Elizabeth is going to outdo her.” Maybe so, but not in the heart of their loving great-grandfather. What can I say about his relationship with me? We were not only son and father; we were co-workers, associates and partners in the service of the Jewish community. It is never easy for a father and son to work together in close association. I must say that my father was extremely gracious in giving me every opportunity to grow and develop. We had our differences in style but never in content or in fundamentals. I believe in, and respect, his whole philosophy of Jewish life as it is expressed in Kehilath Jeshurun and Ramaz. And he knew clearly of the depth of that belief. I am very grateful to God that my father lived to celebrate with me my 20th anniversary in the rabbinate in this community and that last month we both participated in the graduation exercises of Yeshiva University where I received my Ph.D., a milestone which was as much a tribute to his encouragement and urging as it was to my modest scholarship. I guess, also, the most precious thing that Audrey (who was his cherished student in Stern College and then his precious daughter-in-law) and I gave my father was our four children whom he also loved greatly. He had a different Yiddish term of endearment

for each of them: Chuchikel, Schmendrik, Ketzele, or whatever. It must be a source of satisfaction to his soul that Mindy and Debbie flew in from Israel to be here for this final farewell. It is a source of pain and sorrow to all of us that my father will not be present to officiate at the weddings of four granddaughters and at the Bar Mitzvah of his youngest grandson, but I have a feeling that whenever those blessed events take place his soul will be a full participant in the rejoicing and somehow the grandchildren will know it and all of us in the family and the community will feel it. As a matter of fact, he promised us that participation. In a letter he wrote to me two and-ahalf years ago in which he indicated how we should accept and react to his ultimate passing, he said: “Whatever occasions you will celebrate together be sure that my spirit will be there.” My father was also blessed with a sister and brothers who loved him deeply and admired him greatly. He was the head of a very large family which included his own as well as my mother’s family and my brother-in-law’s family and my mother-in-law and ...‫להבדיל בין החיים ובין‬, my father-in-law. The relationships among all of the members of the family were exquisitely reciprocal and mutually supportive. The presence of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law from thousands of miles away attest to the depth of that relationship. Again, let me read from that letter, this time a message for the entire family: My brother and sister and all of my in-laws are flesh of my flesh and spirit of my spirit. Remain close to them and maintain our traditional family solidarity. So, dear friends, don’t forget that the great Jewish leader to whom we

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

all bid farewell today was first and foremost an “Ish.” He had all of the grand, beautiful and outstanding attributes of an Ish and even a few of the failings of a human being. He was never afraid to acknowledge those failings in himself just as in his sermons he sometimes pointed them out in Biblical personalities. This special kind of man, however, was also a unique kind of Rabbi. Rashi, noting that Moses addressed God as . ‫א־לוהי הרוחות לכל בשר‬, God of all the different kinds of spirits, comments that Moses urged God: ‫מנה עליהם מנהיג‬ ‫שיהא סובל כל אחד ואחד לפי דעתו‬, “appoint a leader who will tolerate each person in accordance with his outlook. My father’s rabbinate was built on that principle. He loved every Jew, no matter what his state of religiosity, piety or observance. He was prepared to meet every Jew where he was, and, through warmth and genuine affection, he tried to bring him closer to tradition. Kehilath Jeshurun and Ramaz were built on this foundation of love and acceptance. They are not and they never will be “hard-sell” institutions. Rather, their philosophy is and will be one of gradualism and tolerance, understanding and respect for differences – not an easy philosophy to maintain in an age of “holier than thou” piety. It was not surprising that the news of my father’s illness elicited prayers from the great sage and tzadik, the Rebbe of Lubavitch, even while it brought forth beautifully expressed words of encouragement from Reform rabbis and Jews in the philanthropic community who would classify themselves as secular. My father never classified any Jew as secular. Every Jew was religious; it was just a matter of time before he or she would become observant; but the religion was there, certainly if the Jew was involved in philanthropy. (continued on next page)

10 continued, WORDS

OF EULOGY

It was no accident that when the Synagogue Council of America looked for an Orthodox leader to serve as President during the bi-centennial celebration in 1976 my father was the most widely accepted candidate by all of the religious groups. This pattern was already in evidence in 1943 when the late Stephen S. Wise looked for a rabbi who was a Zionist to oppose an American Council for Judaism candidate for the presidency of what was then called The New York Board of Jewish Ministers. He chose a young Orthodox rabbi by the name of Joseph H. Lookstein. He had the capacity to accept each and every Jew with his own outlook. This aspect of my father’s philosophy of Judaism is summed up by something which he repeated often from the pulpit of this synagogue. He used to say: “I love every Jew. The only Jew I don’t love is one who doesn’t love other Jews.” It followed naturally that he in turn was loved, admired, respected and cherished by the total Jewish community. He had a third quality of leadership, after his menschlichkeit and his sense of tolerance and love for all Jews. That quality, too, was mentioned by Moses in his prescription for a leader ‫אשר יצא לפניהם ואשר יבא לפניהם‬ One who would go before them and come before them, who would lead them forth and bring them back. My father was constantly on the go, doing for people and serving his fellow Jews. He used to tell his students at Yeshiva: “Don’t try tzu zittsen auf the rabbonus. The only thing that happens when you sit on the rabbonus is that you wear out the seat of your trousers. If you want to be a rabbi you have to be a ‫יוצא ובא‬. And he was. Nothing in shul escaped his concern. No hour was too early or too late to serve the community. No member was too insignificant for his affection and service. He was the most

fervent davener I have ever seen and yet he watched the faces of the worshippers in shul while he was davening and he would detect on their faces concern, anxiety, depression or happiness and joy and he would react immediately to what he saw. That’s one of the reasons he never took his tallis over his head in shul. He was ‫יוצא ובא‬, on the go, even when sitting in his seat. By the way, unbeknownst to any but my mother, when he davened at home he frequently did take the tallis over his head. No matter how far my father traveled or how high he went in the Jewish community, Kehilath Jeshurun was his home base and Ramaz was his home sanctuary. This Congregation and this School were his real family. He loved everyone here and he loved everything about this place. He spent his life here and he gave his life here. He cherished most of all the hours that he spent in the shul, the leaders, past and present, who helped him to build the shul and all of his associates among the synagogue officials, yes, and especially his coworkers in the office who were very much a part of his extended family. On behalf of his congregation and Ramaz and Bar-Ilan and JDC and UJA Federation and so many other important causes and projects, he was a ‫יוצא ובא‬, a vigorous goer and doer before God and man for almost 56 years. He was, in the best sense, the image of what he urged his students to be: ‘‫עבד לעבדי ה‬, a servant to the servants of the Lord. And when he could no longer perform that function actively, vigorously and effectively, when he could no longer be a, ‫ יוצא ובא‬he breathed his last and the Ne’ilah was final. There is an added word of Moses to God: ‫ולא תהיה עדת ה’ כצאן אשר אין‬ ‫להם רועה‬, “Let not God’s people be like sheep deprived of its shepherd.” That, too, my father took care of. He has trained two generations of rabbis at Yeshiva University to serve as “servants

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

to the servants of the Lord.” He has left hundreds of heirs to a glorious rabbinic tradition. He not only affected vitally the past and the present of traditional Judaism in this country and around the world; he planted seeds which will yet bring forth fruit in the future for a vital Jewish community here and throughout the world. Dad: You made many demands of me. This last one was among the hardest. I violated a cardinal rule of yours. You always taught your students to give brief eulogies. Mine was lengthy. But I only touched the surface and I’m afraid I didn’t begin to do you justice. On Wednesday night, a little over two weeks ago, the night before you took ill, you began another chapter in your autobiography. You entitled it: ‫עת לחבוק ועת לרחוק מחבק‬, “A Time To Embrace And A Time To Let Go.” I think you were trying to tell us something with that unfinished chapter. We embraced you as you embraced us throughout a long, productive and extremely valuable life. Even as God said to you that it was time to let go we have to accept His judgment and let go ourselves. We will try to do that in dignity, just as you did. The title of your unfinished autobiography says volumes about your own view of life. You called it “God Owes Me Nothing.” On balance, with sad hearts and with grieving souls, we agree. God does owe you nothing. But we owe you and God more than we can ever properly acknowledge. We will try in a small way to discharge our debt to both you and God by carrying on your tradition in the family, in Kehilath Jeshurun, in Ramaz and in the community and in that way to express our gratitude to you and to God for all that you have done to make our lives more noble and more beautiful. May your soul rest in peace and may it be a blessing for all of us whom you loved so much. Amen.

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR YAMIM NORAIM

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR YAMIM NORAIM: THE HIGH HOLY DAY QUESTIONNAIRE B Y R A B B I DA N I E L A N D R AC H E L K R A U S

THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THIS EDITION OF THE BULLETIN COINCIDES WITH ROSH CHODESH ELUL. ELUL ARRIVES TO ESCORT US INTO THE NEW YEAR. ELUL GIVES US A 30-DAY WINDOW TO PREPARE OURSELVES SPIRITUALLY, RELIGIOUSLY AND EMOTIONALLY TO STAND BEFORE GOD ON ROSH HASHANAH. ELUL HAS A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL AND MEANINGFUL PLACE ON OUR CALENDAR. The month offers a structured opportunity to examine the year that was and dream about the year that will be, the culmination of what has occurred and commencement of what can become. Over the past decade and a half, teaching pre-High Holiday workshops, we added a tool that has been an insightful guide to us and have shared in our teaching. Performance reviews are common place and expected: a structured format to reflect and review about what we have accomplished. In the same way, there is a need for a spiritual and religious performance review, to reflect and review on what we have done and project on what can be. May we all use the month of Elul to properly prepare ourselves to stand before God representing our best selves to usher in 5780.

6) What are my three most significant achievements since Rosh Hashanah? 7) What are the three biggest mistakes I’ve made since last Rosh Hashanah? 8) If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I undertake to accomplish in life? 9) What are my three major goals in life?

Family

What am I doing to achieve them?

Being well educated

What practical steps can I take toward these goals?

3) Making a contribution to my community

10) If I could give my children only three pieces of advice, what would they be?

Spirituality

Being well-liked

Having a good reputation

Financial success

Being Jewish

Personal fulfillment

10)

Helping other people

11) What is the most important decision I need to make this year? 12) What important decision did I avoid making last year? 13) When do I feel closest to God?

1) When do I most feel that my life is meaningful? 2) How often do I express my feelings to those who mean the most to me? 3) Are there any ideals I would be willing to die for? 4) If I could live my life over, would I change anything? 5) What would bring me more happiness than anything else in the world?

On a scale of one to five (five being the highest), how important are the following to you? You cannot have more than three fives or three fours, and you must have at least two threes, two twos and two ones.

14) Do I have a vision of where I want to be one, three and five years from now? 15) What are the most important relationships in my life? Over the last year did those relationships become closer and deeper or was there a sense of stagnation and drifting? What can I do to nurture those relationships this year? 16) If I could change one thing about my spiritual life, what would that be?

ERUV HOTLINE For information regarding the weekly status of the Manhattan Eruv call the ERUV HOTLINE 212-874-6100, ext. 3 (Recorded Message)

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

SIMCHAT TORAH CHATANIM

S I M C H AT T O R THE OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION ARE

pleased to announce that Joel Katz, Ira Ziff, and Jonathan Stern, three distinguished members of the Congregation, have been chosen for the highest Torah honors of the year. Their installation will take place before the Musaf service on Shemini Atzeret, Monday, October 21st. We invite the entire congregation to rejoice with them and with us on Shemini Atzeret and on Simchat Torah, night and day, as we celebrate the three families whose love of, and commitment to, Torah merit our honor and tribute.

JOEL KATZ

Chatan Torah

Joel Katz, our Chatan Torah, is a “doer.” As a businessman, he helped build his family’s mortgage business into one of the largest private mortgage lenders in the country, pivoting into finance at Salomon Smith Barney/ Citigroup and then Fortress Investment Group. Since 2010, he has been the President of HomeBridge Financial Services which has grown from a nascent company into one of the largest privately-owned mortgage companies in the country. Joel isn’t the type to let the grass grow under his feet. And this commitment to “doing more” has guided his service to the KJ community. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Joel received a BA from The Johns Hopkins University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. With his wife, radiologist Dr. Karin Charnoff Katz, Joel moved to New York City in 1999 specifically to send their children, Avery (now married to the former Annie Bernstein and parents to Samantha and Henry), Jason (married to Elaine Gottesman) and Elly (a senior at Harvard), to Ramaz and become a part

of the KJ Ramaz community. Joel has said that Rabbi Haskel Lookstein was his family’s primary motivation for making the move. In Memphis, Joel had been an officer of the Memphis Jewish Federation and past president of the Baron Hirsch Synagogue. It was good training for his service at KJ as a board member, officer and, ultimately, president from 2012 to 2016, perhaps the most challenging time in our synagogue’s long history. Under Joel’s leadership, plans for rebuilding were put into action, record fund raising was achieved, and, most important, the KJ Congregation continued to grow during an extended period “in the wilderness.” The fire that ravaged our synagogue did not destroy our community, and that is in large part thanks to Joel’s efforts. The capstone to Joel’s leadership at KJ was managing the succession planning and search for a new senior rabbi, resulting in the investiture of Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz. After over a hundred years of family rabbinical leadership, the process was one that demanded nuance and sensitivity and Joel again demonstrated his ability to find the right balance. We are pleased to bestow this honor on Joel and to thank him for all he has done in support of the congregation.

IRA ZIFF

Chatan Bereshit Ira Ziff joined KJ fifteen years ago after marrying his incredible wife, Robyn Barsky. Ira’s personal and professional mission is coaching individuals to help them transition and alleviate the devastating impact of career stress. Inspired by Rabbi Lookstein’s leadership to assist members who were displaced during the 2008 recession, Ira and Robyn joined the KJ/Ramaz Career Network led by Larry Kassman, Eugene Major, Morris Massel, David Stein, David Bolnick, Evan Farber, Ira Krawitz and Larry Adolf. This group, with several others who have since joined, has assisted many congregants' transitions into new opportunities through resume reviews, interview preparation, networking assistance and career coaching. It is a tribute to the leadership of our Rabbis and the giving nature of the KJ community that continues to inspire Ira to find meaningful ways to enhance the lives of those in need.

13 continued, SIMCHAT

TORAH CHATANIM

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

A H C H ATA N I M Professionally, Ira launched a retained executive search firm decades ago with zero contacts and grew it into a leading provider of talent in the financial services sector. He earned a reputation as a “go-to” recruiter for numerous Fortune 500 companies after they experienced failed searches conducted by global firms, particularly in ultra-specialized job functions. Ira recently joined Horton International as a Managing Director overseeing searches in the legal, insurance, finance and tech sectors. Ira and Robyn are active leaders of the KJB (formerly Intermediate) Minyan, which plays a critical role in welcoming and inspiring members of the community with its service and ancillary educational programming. Ira is also a stalwart and welcoming face at KJ's daily minyan. Robyn, an organizational consultant, leadership coach and entrepreneur, also serves the KJ community as a Trustee. For the last 8 years, she has led a Shabbat afternoon study group for women from across the city. Ira is blessed with four children and seven grandchildren. While raising his children in Sharon, Massachusetts, he served on the boards of the Maimonides School and Young Israel of Sharon and was a founding member of Congregation Etz Chaim.

JONATHAN STERN

Chatan Maftir

Jonathan Stern is honored to receive the Chatan Maftir at KJ this year. He was raised in Brooklyn, NY, by parents, Diane and Alan Stern who instilled a strong sense of community in him from a very young age. Diane is the Executive Director of his childhood shul, Ocean Avenue Jewish Center, and Alan has served as President of the shul for multiple terms. Jonny is the youngest of 4 siblings, Eric, Robert, and Jaclyn, who were integral role models to his upbringing as well. Jonathan is a graduate of Yeshivah of Flatbush and Baruch College here in New York City. Jonathan met his beautiful wife, Ariel, in high school. Ariel and Jonathan joined the KJ community when Maurice, their first child, was born. Now Ariel and Jonathan have three beautiful children, Maurice, Celine, and Paula. Maurice in Pre-K and Celine in Nursery both attend school here at Ramaz.

CREATE AN ENDURING LEGACY WHILE RECEIVING A LIFELONG REVENUE STREAM Please consider participating in the Congregation’s Endowment and Planned Giving Program, through which you can create an enduring legacy of active participation in KJ through a Charitable Gift Annuity that pays handsomely. Contact Leonard Silverman at 212-774-5680 or lss@ckj.org for more information.

Ariel and Jonathan are involved in many different organizations with the common goal of growing and strengthening the Jewish Community in the US and in Israel. Ariel is one of three Kesher Presidents at KJ. She received the Heart Matters Award at this year’s UJA Federation Women’s Luncheon and was also inducted into the UJA Lions of Judah Society. They are also involved in Chai Lifeline, JNF, and Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Jonathan currently works with his father, brothers, and sister in their family run real estate firm. They own and manage properties in Baltimore, MD, with a focus on housing seniors and people with disability. From Monday through Friday Jonathan takes the Amtrak train back and forth to Maryland, but always returns home to spend precious moments with his family. We are thrilled that Ariel and Jonny are sinking roots in the KJ/Ramaz community, and we look forward to Jonny’s mellifluous voice enhancing our holiday experience as Chatan Maftir.

KJ SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP BE A PART OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE ckj.org/kjmembership Contact KJ Executive Director Leonard Silverman at 212-774-5680 or lss@ckj.org

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

CLASSES

CLAS

ROSE AND DR. CHARLES LANGER LUNCH & LEARN PROGRAM The Rose and Dr. Charles Langer Lunch & Learn Program for seniors, hosted by Donna Silverman, commences again this fall.

SUNDAYS

TUESDAYS

POST 8:30 AM SERVICES & BREAKFAST

8:15 AM

Dr. William Major Memorial

Parsha Foundations

Advanced Shiur in Talmud

Rabbi Elie Weinstock

Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Wieder

Start date: September 17

Start date: September 1

9:30 AM

6:30 PM Jewish Letters Through the Ages

Post Bar Mitzvah Teen

Rabbi Yossi Weiser

Minyan & Shiur

Start date: September 10

Corey Horowitz Start date: September 8

7:00 PM For the Love of God

The free program is made possible by an endowment created by the Buchwald, Edelsburg and Stern families.

MONDAYS 8:30 AM

7:15 PM

FALL SCHEDULE

Exploring Jewish Thought

What a Parsha!

Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz

Rabbi Yossi Weiser

Start date: October 28

Start date: September 10

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

Jewish Learning Institute (JLI):

The Book of Bamidbar

Worrier to Warrior

with Rashi

Rabbi Elie Weinstock

Martin Kaufman

Start date: November 11

Start date: September 10

SEPTEMBER 11 Rabbi Weinstock 18 Rabbi Laniado 25 Cantor Chaim Dovid Berson OCTOBER 2 Efrat Cohen 16 Joey Zimet 23 Roberta Stetson 30 Janice Korff NOVEMBER 6 TBD 13 Mitch Agoos 20 Rabbi Elie Weinstock 27 Roberta Stetson DECEMBER 4 Riva Alper 11 Janie Schwalbe 18 Rabbi Weinstock

TUESDAY EVENING MISHMAR 4PM IN KJ LIBRARY Rabbi Meyer Laniado teaching a weekly afterâ&#x20AC;&#x2018;school Torah learning program in partnership with Ramaz Middle School.

Rabbi Meyer Laniado Start date: October 29

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

continued, CLASSES

SSES

WEDNESDAYS

CKJ and the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals are pleased to present

A YOM IY YUN 8:30 AM Parashat haShavua for Women

Celebrating Rabbi Marc D. Angel's Fifty Years in the Rabbinate SEPTEMBER 15 | 10 AM - 12 PM

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein Start date: September 11

Rabbi Hayyim Angel Battling for the Soul of Orthodoxy: The Essential Teachings of Rabbi Marc D. Angel

6:30 PM

Rabbi Hayyim Angel is the National Scholar of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, and teaches Tanakh at Yeshiva University.

Crash Course in Hebrew Reading

Rabbi Marc D. Angel Reﬂections on 50 Years in the Rabbinate... and Thoughts for the Next 50 Years

Sara Rosen

Rabbi Marc D. Angel is Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.

Fall/Winter: September 11 Spring: March 4

7:30 PM Prayerbook Hebrew

DUS HAIMISCHE SHTIEBEL: THE YIDDISH SCHMOOZERS Join KJ member and educator Rabbi Mayer Moskowitz for an informal weekly Yiddish language discussion group whose topical flow will be as meandering as the Danube. Litvaks and Galicianers are welcome, as are all lovers of our wonderfully expressive and rich Mama Loshon.

Sara Rosen Fall/Winter: September 11 Spring: March 4

9:30 PM Contemporary Halakhic Issues Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz

CONGREGATION KEHILATH JESHURUN | 125 EAST 85TH STREET

SEPHARDIC YOUTH PROGRAM p

212.774.5600

ckj.org

fb.com/congregationkehilathjeshurun

We encourage our youth to participate in leading tefillot and reading Sefer Torah in our main minyan. As part these efforts we are offering a Shabbat class for 5th to 8th graders led by our assistant Hazzan Charles Zami. For more information or to sign up your child please email rml@ckj.org.

Start date: October 30

THURSDAYS 8:30 AM Kings One: David and Batsheva, The Finale Dr. Shera Aranoff Tuchman Start date: October 24

7:00 PM Meaningful Jewish Issues Rabbinical Staff Start date: September 12

KJ TECHNOLOGY CLASS FOR SENIORS WITH JORDAN MITTLER Sundays Starting September 8 12:30 PM Brush up on your technology skills and learn how to text, send photographs electronically, how to use email, the Internet, smartphones, new apps, and much more. For more information, please contact Menucha Parry in the KJ Synagogue Office at 212-774-5674 or email jmittlercomputers@gmail.com.

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

IN THE COMMUNITY

IN THE CO

WELCOME KJ warmly welcomes the following new members who joined the Congregation between July 1 and the date on which this Bulletin was prepared for press, August 29: Adi & Koby Bluman Chevi Friedman & Jon Ganzarski Jill Haft Jay Lipman Barbara Messer Rebecca & Jacob Shamsian Samantha Francis & Matthew Spiegel Rachel & Dean Yogev Joanne Zablud

HUNT THE TRUTH Bank Leumi and Israel Bonds joined forces with KJ on June 19 and welcomed famed Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld, who discussed their journey to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

COMING SOON FROM KJ’S MEN’S CLUB! KJ Men’s Club President, Dr. Mark Meirowitz invites you to visit ckj.org to learn more about great upcoming Men’s Club programming including Kiddush Discussions on a wide range of subjects following Shabbat morning services; the Sunday Supper Lecture series; the Sunday evening Film series, featuring cutting‑edge films with remarks by directors, producers, and actors; and the Am Hasefer Book Discussion Club featuring book discussions with well‑known authors! On September 14th, we will host a special Seudah Shlishit featuring Yair Kraus, correspondent for Israel's northern region and for environmental issues for Makor Rishon, speaking on Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shemona.

FALL KIDDUSH DISCUSSION LINE-UP SEPT 14 American-born Israeli Navy SEAL Training & Serving in the IDF’s Elite, Covert Naval Commando Unit SEPT 21 Guy Tweedy The Thalidomide Catastrophe OCT 5 Dr. Mark Meirowitz Turkey, the US & Russia in the Middle East: Chaos & Confusion NOV 2 Hank Sheinkopf, Noted Political Consultant Looking at the 2020 Elections - Prospects and Analysis NOV 9 Shoshana Bryen, Senior Director, Jewish Policy Center Iran as the Root of all Evil in the Middle East NOV 23 Ed Randall & Dr. David Wise Prostate Cancer/Fans4thecure

Serge and Beate Klarsfeld, center. Far left, Zev Brenner, President and CEO of Talkline Communications Network, who moderated the program.

DEC 7 Israel Max, Renowned Expert Water DEC 14 Amotz Eyal Telling the Actual News from Israel: The Story of TPS News Service

17 continued, IN

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

THE COMMUNITY

OMMUNITY

A LETTER FROM CANTOR CHAIM DOVID BERSON Dear Friends, My wife Batya, our daughter Annaelle, and I are very excited to have joined the KJ family this summer. We are truly grateful for the warm welcome we have received and cannot wait to get to know each and every one of you! Are you a “Chazzan” or a “Baal T’filah”? I am often asked this question… and my answer is that first and foremost, I am a “Shaliach Tzibbur,” a messenger of each and every member of the Congregation. In this role, I try to represent each individual as well as the Kehila as a whole in Davening. It is this principle that guides me in striking the right balance in leading T’filah. In my new role as your Shaliach Tzibbur, my goals are to lead a Davening that is loyal to the Mesorah of our T’filah, yet infused with uplifting melodies of classic and contemporary styles that inspire our davening and develop an environment where the Kehila is engaged and participating.

“B’rov Am Hadrat Melech” - when we daven in unity, our T’filot to our King in heaven are empowered. These months of summer have been somewhat of a “soft opening,” providing me a great opportunity to work closely with the Rabbis and Administrative Staff to learn the KJ flow and Minhagim. A special note of thanks to Rabbi Lookstein for dedicating so much time to sharing his knowledge, as well as his insights, of KJ’s unique Nusach aspects, ensuring that the Davening continues to reflect the high standards of this congregation. I look forward to Davening with each and every one of you and sharing in many Smachot together for many years to come. Cantor Chaim Dovid Berson

(Aside from adding beauty and emotion,) music has the power to connect and unite, hence the reason it plays such an integral role in our T’filah, bringing us together and strengthening our sense of community.

UJA BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER Each year, the UJA and KJ communities come together around our shared values of tikkun olam and tzedakah. We address challenges facing New Yorkers in need and Jews around the world, respond to crises, and make a profound difference in the lives of 4.5 million people each year. We hope you will join us this year for our upcoming volunteer projects, or that you’ll find other opportunities to become involved with this important work.

Rosh Hashanah Package Delivery Sunday Morning, September 22

UJA@KJ Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Meal at Project ORE Sunday Morning, November 24 For more information, please contact UJA@KJ chairs Danielle Auerbach, Megan Englander, Marilyn Zarabi, or UJA@KJ staff person Rebecca Zimilover at ZimiloverR@ujafedny.org or 212-836-1632. Please contact UJA staff directly to register for the above projects.

18 continued, IN

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

THE COMMUNITY

MJE AT KJ JEWISH YOUTH CONNECTION: A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE JYC provides meaningful Jewish learning and religious experiences for students in Kindergarten through 7th grade who don’t attend Day School and to those who need more individualized attention. We also offer a specialized program of preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We are welcoming to ALL children from every educational background, and with unique learning or physical needs. Rabbi Elie Weinstock, Morah Ariana Solovey‑Mizrahi and Deeni Hass oversee JYC. Deeni is the newest member of the JYC family, joining for the 2019-2020 academic year as JYC Director. For more information, please contact Deeni Hass at deeni@ckj.org or Morah Ariana Solovey, at Ariana@jyc.info. For general information, calendar and updates visit our website, jyc.info and follow us on Instagram @jewishyouthconnection.

Deeni Hass JYC Director

KJ is pleased to announce a partnership with the Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) to offer programming for the Young Jewish Professional population of the Upper East Side. Founded by Rabbi Mark Wildes in 1998, MJE is a warm and open community, where young Jewish professionals in their 20s and 30s can explore Jewish life and meet new people. Each year, thousands of NYC YJPs attend Friday night dinners; out-of-town retreats; trips to Israel; classes; and social, networking and community‑service events. MJE has 3 locations: West Side, Downtown, and East Side in our new partnership with KJ. For more information, please contact Rabbi Avi Heller, MJE East Director, at ravavimje@gmail.com, or Rachel Benlisa, East Side Program Coordinator, at rachelb@jewishexperience.org. For general information visit MJE’s website, jewishexperience.org.

NCSY’S RABBI IMMANUEL HASS TO ENGAGE KJ TEENS For the past four years, I have worked in teen community engagement. This is my passion, and I look forward to bringing this passion to the KJ community. At NCSY, we aim to create a space where Jewish teens are encouraged to think and grow into leaders for the Jewish future. We strive to create an environment that empowers teens to make informed and educated choices that further their connection and commitment to passionate Judaism. We believe in teaching through example, and our hand‑picked advisors and staff model a diverse, passionate, open‑minded and enthusiastic approach to Jewish life. With God’s help, we strive to enable each teen

member to fulfill his or her personal potential as a Jew, as a leader, and as a valued community member. Thanks to the KJ leadership, visionaries, and community at large, the foundations of building a thinking teen community have already been laid. The community offers diverse opportunities and innovative events for Jewish experiences. Our vision is that this experience is truly reflected in teen programming as well. The NCSY team and I are humbled to be partnering with KJ this coming year and we look forward to creating experiences for the teens that will connect them to both the individual and the community.

19 continued, IN

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

THE COMMUNITY

SAVE THESE DATES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 7:30 PM An Evening’s Preview: Sisterhood Fall Events

WELCOME TO THE FALL SEASON OF THE KJ SISTERHOOD The Sisterhood of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun is committed to good works and improving the lives of people. Funds raised through our programming are used to support social action projects that benefit families and individuals in our community and around the world. The Sisterhood is also responsible for preparing a local Shiva home, including the first meal, contributing to KJ programs and activities, such as communal Sukkah meals, Bar/ Bat Mitzvah gifts, and funding unsponsored kiddushim. Enjoy! Socialize! Be involved while raising funds for worthy causes!

Featuring inspirational opening remarks by Rachel Kraus, with an opportunity to create care packages for the Jewish elderly and poor through MET Council. Be moved by Timeless, the documentary highlighting Sisterhood’s past, present, and future, and socialize over wine and cheese.

detective story” by the author and memoirist who writes about parenthood and family. Chaired by Rita Woldenberg

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 7:45 PM Let’s Move as One: Zumba Event Be prepared for a fun and energetic evening of Latin, Israeli, Pop music and more with master Zumba instructor Lynda Levy. Chaired by Becky Kuperman and Nicole Sardar

Get to know who we are and how you can get involved!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 10:00 AM

Hosted by Sisterhood Presidents Sharon Garfunkel and Roberta Stetson

Join us for a full day of enjoyable shopping as you meet the vendors and find great Chanukah and year-round items such as Judaica, kids’ clothes, jewelry, women’s accessories, linens, exciting gifts for the home, and more!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 7:30 PM Book Discussion Heyman Auditorium Join us for a truly exciting evening featuring best‑selling author Dani Shapiro in Dialogue with Rabbi Lookstein discussing her latest book, Inheritance: A Memoir of Geneology, Paternity and Love. A “gripping genetic

Chanukah Boutique

Chaired by Marylene Friedman and Sharon Garfunkel

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Fall Events! For more information, go to ckj.org/sisterhood.

This fall, plan on participating in thefollowing great events:

Kesher is a spiritual and social home for young Jewish singles, couples, and families to connect with each other, with many special events happening throughout the year. The Kesher Minyan is a weekly service designed to foster a greater sense of community. A hot Kiddush follows services, which begin at 9:30 a.m. The Kesher Kick-off Kiddush will take place on September 21.

Shemini Atzeret Luncheon Cooking Class Scotch Tasting Evening Chanukah Concert featuring Cantor Chaim Dovid Berson

Oct. 21 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Dec. 15

Presidents Caroline Bryk | Liora Schulman | Ariel Stern kesher@ckj.org

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

H O L I D AY H

In the Footsteps of Miriam Following the splitting of the Red Sea, Miriam led women in prayerful song and dance. It is in this spirit that KJ’s female population

and Torah reading, and on Purim night (March 9) for a women’s megillah reading. We also sometimes meet on Shabbat to celebrate a Bat Mitzvah, as we will on November 3. If you are planning a Bat Mitzvah and would like the Women’s Tefillah Group to be part of that experience, please let us know and we would be thrilled to help.

is invited to do the same.

For more information about Women’s

Women’s Tefillah at KJ is open to

lead davening, or read megillah, please

women and girls of all ages and backgrounds. We meet every year on Simchat Torah morning (this year on October 22) for davening, hakafot,

YOETZET HALAKHAH For questions regarding Jewish family law and women’s health, contact Julia Baruch, KJ’s Yoetzet Halakhah, at 929-274-0628 or jb.yoetzet@gmail.com

Tefillah or to learn how to read Torah, contact Naamit Kurshan Gerber at nkurshan@hotmail.com, Riva Alper at riva@ckj.org, or Rachel Kraus rhkraus@ckj.org.

HAVE A HALAKHIC QUESTION? Rabbi Steinmetz | rcs@ckj.org Rabbi Weinstock | ravelie@ckj.org Rabbi Laniado | rml@ckj.org

Rabbi Wieder to Deliver Teshuvah Lecture The twelfth annual Florence Fishel Cohen Teshuvah

The naming of the lecture in memory of Florence

Lecture will be given by KJ’s Scholar‑in‑Residence,

Cohen, which will be held in the Heyman

Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Wieder, who will speak on Death and Life Are in the Control of the Tongue - Do We Need to Change the Way We Speak?

Auditorium on Thursday evening, October 3, at 7:30 p.m., was made possible by a generous commitment from the Nathan and Louise Goldsmith Foundation. The Directors of the Foundation knew Florence personally because all of its meetings are held in Rabbi Lookstein’s office. They appreciated the devotion and love that Florence demonstrated toward the Rabbi, the congregation, Ramaz and the Nathan and Louis Goldsmith Foundation Board Members during her forty year tenure. They felt it would be appropriate to memorialize such a cherished member of the KJ administrative staff in this special way.

21 continued, HOLIDAY

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

HIGHLIGHTS

IGHLIGHTS

SHABBAT SHUVA DRASHA RABBI CHAIM STEINMETZ

Shabbat afternoon | October 5 following 5:40 pm Mincha Confession: Words of Reality and a Reality of Words Dedicated by Suzy & Larry Present in memory of Suzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents, Sarah and Emanuel Goldberger

September 10, 2019 Dear KJ Family, Now that summer has ended, we turn our attention to matters of charity, repentance and prayer in anticipation of the High Holy Days. We ask you to be our charity partner by giving generously to the Benevolent Fund, which helps support those in need every day of the year. The KJ Benevolent Fund enables members of our community who face serious financial difficulties to get back on their feet. This beautiful act of tzedakah represents the ultimate in Jewish values; we help families discreetly, and

MOTZEI SHABBAT

give them back their independence and dignity.

FEATURING CANTOR

You can help us continue our beautiful tradition

CHAIM DOVID BERSON THE

ZAMERU CHOIR

KUMZITZ & COLLATION

by making a generous donation to the KJ Benevolent Fund at ckj.org/pay indicating that the gift is for the Benevolent Fund. May God reward all of us with a New Year of health, happiness, blessing and peace.

SELICHOT ckj.org 212.774.5600 125 East 85th Street New York, NY

Sincerely, Chaim Steinmetz

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

SCHEDULE OF HIGH HOLY DAYS

SCHEDULE OF HIGH HOLY DAYS Tuesday, October 1, Rosh Hashanah II

ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, September 29, Rosh Hashanah Eve Selichot Service (Zâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;chor Brit)

7:30 AM

Candle Lighting

6:24 PM

Evening Services

6:35 PM

All Services

8:00 AM

Evening Services

6:15 PM

Conclusion of Yom Tov

7:14 PM

TSOM GEDALIAH FAST OF GEDALIAH

Monday, September 30, Rosh Hashanah I

Wednesday, October 2

All Services

8:00 AM

Fast begins

5:41 AM

Tashlich

4:45 PM

Morning Services

6:45 AM

Evening Services

6:15 PM

Evening Services

6:05 PM

Fast ends

7:07 PM

Candle Lighting

After 7:15 PM

DAILY SERVICES Thursday-Friday, October 3-4

o m mu n a

Thursday Morning

6:45 AM

Thursday Evening

6:30 PM

Friday Morning

7:00 AM

Friday Evening

6:30 PM

SHABBAT SHUVA Saturday, October 5

ROSH H A S H A NA H

Morning Services

9:00 AM

Learners & Intermediate Services

9:30 AM

Evening Services

5:40 PM

Shabbat Shuva Discourse by Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz: Confession: Words of Reality and a Reality of Words

Shabbat ends

7:07 PM

DAILY SERVICES dinner S U N D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 9 P RECE D E D BY 6:35 PM SERVICES R SVP CK J.ORG/RHDIN N ER

Sunday-Monday, October 6-7 Sunday Morning

8:00 AM

Monday Morning

6:45 AM

Sunday & Monday Evenings

6:20 PM

Men: This Kol Nidre Night & Yom Kippur Day, Dress Up By Wearing A White Kitel You may obtain one at a moderate price at Judaica Classics by Doina. Please call 212-722-4271 to place your order.

23 continued, SCHEDULE

OF HIGH HOLY DAYS

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

YOM KIPPUR

SUKKOT

Tuesday, October 8, Yom Kippur Eve

Sunday, October 13, Sukkot Eve

Morning Services

7:10 AM

Mincha Services

2:30 PM

Candle Lighting

6:09 PM

Morning Services Candle Lighting Evening Services

Beginners Kol Nidre

5:55 PM

Kol Nidre

6:15 PM

Wednesday, October 9, Yom Kippur Day All Services

9:00 AM

Conclusion of Yom Tov

7:01 PM

CHILDREN’S SERVICES ROSH HASHANAH I & II 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Junior Congregations | 1st - 6th Grades Nursery - Kindergarten | Ages 3-6 YOM KIPPUR KOL NIDRE NIGHT 6:15 PM Junior Congregations | 1st - 6th Grades only YOM KIPPUR DAY 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM Junior Congregations | 1st - 6th Grades Nursery - Kindergarten | Ages 3-6

8:30 AM 6:01 PM 6:15 PM

Monday, October 14, Sukkot I Morning Services 9:00 AM Evening Services 6:10 PM Candle Lighting After 6:52 PM

Tuesday, October 15, Sukkot II Morning Services Evening Services Conclusion of Yom Tov

9:00 AM 6:10 PM 6:51 PM

DAILY SERVICES CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT Wednesday-Friday, October 16-18 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Morning Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Evening Friday Candle Lighting

6:50 AM 6:10 PM 5:54 PM

SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT Morning Services Combined Learners & Intermediate Service Evening Services Conclusion of Shabbat

8:45 AM 9:30 AM 5:45 PM 6:46 PM

CONCLUDING FESTIVAL DAYS

SUKKAH DINNER under the stars

Sunday, October 20, Hoshanah Rabbah Morning Services Candle Lighting Evening Services

8:00 AM 5:51 PM 6:05 PM

Monday, October 21, Shemini Atzeret Morning Services 9:00 AM Mincha followed by Ma’ariv and Simchat Torah Hakafot 6:00 PM Candle Lighting After 6:44 PM

Tuesday, October 22, Simchat Torah THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 | 7 PM RSVP CKJ.ORG/KJBSUKKAH

Morning Services Women’s Tefillah Group Evening Services Conclusion of Yom Tov

9:00 AM 9:15 AM 6:00 PM 6:43 PM

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HIGH HOLY DAY SEASON HIGHLIGHTS • Monday, September 30 & Tuesday, October 1

THE MONTH OF ELUL • Sounding of the Shofar each morning after Shacharit • Recitation of the entire Book of Psalms at KJ • Saturday Night, September 21 • 9:00 PM | Special program with Cantor Chaim Dovid Berson in the Heyman Auditorium • 10:00 PM | Selichot Services in the Main Synagogue • Beginning Monday, September 23 • Daily Selichot Services, a half hour before morning services.

SUKKAH MEALS IN THE KJ SUKKAH Dinner Lunch & Dinner Lunch Dinner Lunch

All reservations must be made online at ckj.org. The reservation form will be available beginning Monday, September 23. Deadline, space permitting, is Thursday, October 10 at 10:00 AM. Members Adults $50 Juniors* $40 Children** $25 Ages 12-18

Non-Members Adults $55 Juniors* $45 Children** $40

Ages 2-11

You must reserve space for a non-catered meal in the Sukkah, as well.

Rabbi Elie Weinstock for special arrangements.

Rituals to Remember • Lighting of candles and Shehecheyanu • Rosh Hashanah Kiddush • Washing of hands and motzi over two round challahs and dipping the pieces in honey (continued through

First Night

• Beginning of God’s judgment

October 13 October 14 October 15 October 18 October 19

• Those ill at home or in the hospital should contact

Hoshanah Rabbah)

ROSH HASHANAH

Sunday Monday Tuesday Friday Shabbat

• Sounding of the Shofar around 10:00 AM

• Rosh Hashanah greeting upon leaving shul

‫לשנה טובה תכתבו‬ “May you be inscribed for a Good Year.” • Dipping of apple in honey with blessing over fruit and

‫יהי רצון מלפניך ה׳ אלוקינו ואלקי אבותינו‬ ‫שתחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה‬ “May it be Thy will to grant us a good and sweet year.”

First Day • Monday, September 30, 4:45 PM • Tashlich Assemble at Central Park’s “Turtle Pond” just south of the Great Lawn near 85th Street, or at Carl Schurz Park at 86th Street and the East River.

Second Night The practice of reciting the Shehecheyanu on the second night is questionable, so we eat a new fruit not yet eaten this season after Kiddush and the motzi. We keep in mind that new fruit when reciting or listening to Shehecheyanu at Kiddush and/or the blessing over the lighting of the candles, thereby fulfilling the obligation.

Tsom Gedaliah (fast day) • Wednesday, October 2

10 DAYS OF REPENTANCE

Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur • Accept new, improved behavior and responsibility in relating to God and one another.

25 continued, HOLIDAY

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

HIGHLIGHTS

THE MIKVEH ON THE EVE OF YOM KIPPUR Every year on the eve of Yom Kippur, there is a custom for men to immerse in the mikveh in preparation for this holy day. One does not have to be a holy person to participate in this activity. On the contrary, for those of us who are just trying to be observant Jews, it is an added

Hoshanah Rabbah • Sunday morning, October 20, 8:00 AM • Close of the penitential season • High Holy Day melodies. Seven circuits around the shul with Lulav and Etrog and beating of the Aravot • President’s breakfast sponsored by Judy and David Lobel

inspiration and preparation for a great day of

Shemini Atzeret

introspection.

• Yizkor recited

Our practice at KJ is to observe this custom as a group before the morning service. All men are invited to assemble at the mikveh, 419 East 77th Street (between 1st and York Avenues) at 6:15 AM on Tuesday, October 8. Everyone will have the opportunity to immerse and then we will return to KJ for 7:10 Shacharit services.

YOM KIPPUR • Avoid food, drink, washing, lotions and oils, and marital relations. • Refrain from wearing leather shoes (wear a pair of non‑leather footwear). • Men are strongly encouraged to wear a white kitel.

SUKKOT

• Chatanim presented to the congregation

Simchat Torah I Evening Services – Monday, October 21, 6:00 PM

BRING CHILDREN AT 6:00 PM to 125 East 85th Street Our joyous evening of Hakafot in the Main Synagogue concludes with singing and dancing in the street, with Hakafot. Simchat Torah extravaganza in the Ramaz Middle School featuring a festive dairy kiddush supper, ice cream bar, and a carnival of activities and entertainment for children of all ages. Divrei Torah from our community’s children will cap our holiday celebration.

•  All meals with bread or mezonot should be eaten

II Simchat Torah Day - Tuesday, October 22

in a Sukkah.

• Youth groups

• Lulav and Etrog will be used beginning Monday,

• Hakafot with singing and dancing

October 14, and are not used on Shabbat.

• Chatanim called to the Torah

• You may purchase a Lulav and Israeli Etrog

• Women’s Tefillah Group at 9:15 AM

through KJ by visiting ckj.org.

• Buffet kiddush lunch following services

T O D AY I S T H E B I R T H D AY O F T H E U N I V E R S E

S TA R T Y O U R N E W Y E A R R I G H T W I T H K J B E G I N N E R S

KJ BEGINNERS HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES • Traditional prayers & modern message • Questions & answers • Over 100 shofar blasts • No knowledge of Hebrew necessary • Largest Beginners Service in North America

ROSH HASHANAH SEP 30 & OCT 1 8:00 AM | KOL NIDRE OCT 8 5:55 PM | YOM KIPPUR OCT 9 9:00 AM 114 EAST 85TH STREET | TICKETS $75 | RSVP CKJ.ORG/KJBSEATS

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING

AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE REGISTER NOW!

YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT A GLANCE Brought to you by KJYD Youth Director Aryana Ritholtz and KJYD Assistant Youth Director Chevy Rubinstein

A limited number of discounted reservations($399 per person) are available through the Synagogue. Be a part of the biggest synagogue delegation to attend AIPAC.

SEPT 15 KJBL

NOV 10 KJBL

SEPT 21

Tefillah Together

Parashat Ki Tavo

NOV 17 KJBL

SEPT 22 KJBL OCT 1

Experience the high of standing with Israel and coming together in discussion and advocacy.

Tashlich in the Park

OCT 6 KJBL

Make your reservation now at ckj.org/form/aipac2020.

OCT 15

KJYD Sukkah Hop

OCT 21

Simchat Torah Bash

OCT 27 KJBL

If you have any questions, please email ravelie@ckj.org.

NOV 3 KJBL

For more information about Policy Conference, visit aipac.org.

NOV 23

Musical Havdalah

DEC 1 KJBL DEC 7

Tefillah Together

Parashat Vayetze

DEC 8 KJBL DEC 13

Tot Shabbat Dinner

DEC 14

3rd/4th Grade

NOV 9

Tefillah Together

Shabbaton

Parashat Lekh Lekha

DEC 15 KJBL

For details visit ckj.org/youth

S AV E T H E DAT E ! KRISTALLNACHT PROGRAM

NOV 7 Thursday Evening

LEAH MODLIN LECTURE ON CHARITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

NOV 16 Following Shabbat Morning Services Featuring David Greenfield, CEO, Met Council

INSTALLATION OF CANTOR CHAIM DOVID BERSON NOV 16 Saturday Night NORMAN & TOVA BULOW SHABBATON LECTURE

DEC 6 Following Shabbat Dinner Featuring Dr. Elana Stein Hain, Scholar in Residence & Director of Faculty at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America

27 continued, UPCOMING

EVENTS

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

G EVENTS

DO A GOOD DEED BY PARTICIPATING IN DOROT PACKAGE DELIVERY

Deliver a package and visit with a Dorot senior to brighten their day and share your blessings. Rosh Hashanah Package Delivery Sunday, September 22, 2019 Thanksgiving Meal Delivery Sunday, November 24, 2019 Winter Package Delivery Sunday, February 2, 2020 Passover Package Delivery Sunday, March 29, 2020 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Delivery locations on both the east and west side.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR ISRAELI FAMILIES AT KJ On September 22 at 10 am, EITAN, an organization that brings together unaffiliated Israeli families will have its first program of the year – celebrating Rosh Hashanah – at KJ.

Fun activities, art projects, and relevant seasonal snacks, make for warm memories! KJ families are invited to attend these holiday events and meet our Israeli neighbors.

Please note photo ID required to participate. Advance registration required. Register at 212-769-2850 or dorotusa.org. Photo Credit Melanie Einzig

28 WITHIN OUR FAMILY

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

WITHIN OU

BIRTHS MAZAL TOV TO

Drs. Edie Gurewitsch Allen and Robert Allen upon the birth of a granddaughter, Sarah Raisel Shoshana, born to Penina and Jason Allen, in Jerusalem. Sara and Mark Bloom upon the birth of a granddaughter, Elisheva, born to Mark’s children Talia and Yehuda Bloom of Passaic. Gabriela and Jason Brecher upon the birth of their first child and daughter, Olivia Mae (Ora Bluma). Laurie and Dr. Eli Bryk upon the birth of a granddaughter, Claire Doris (Dvasha), born to their children, Jackie and Jeff Karsh of Los Angeles. Brittany and Jonathan Cogan upon the birth of their third child and first daughter, Ellie Ruby (Chana Esther). Mazal Tov as well to the proud KJ great-grandparents, Brenda and Albert Bernstein. Raquel and Ari Cohen upon the birth of their first child and son, Jack Doron (Doron Yaakov). Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ grandparents Sheera Moffson and Michael Moffson. Adi and Brad Cooper upon the birth of their third child and second daughter, Niv Yaeli. Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ grandparents Debbie and Mark Cooper. Linda Ossad and Bob Ellenberg upon the birth of a grandson, Matan Arthur (Matan Asher), born to their children, Ilana and Josh Skolnick. Sue and Dr. Norman Javitt on the birth of a great-granddaughter, Nili Ruth

Javitt, born to their grandchildren, Gabe and Leah Javitt of Rehovot, Israel.

Netanel), to their children Sandy and Nathan Schwartzberg.

Judy and Dr. Hirshel Kahn upon the birth of their first grandchild, Adin Moshe Meir, born to their children Lexie and Joseph Tuchman.

Dorothy and Andrew Tananbaum upon the birth of a grandson, Noah Samuel, the first child born to their children, Jobeth and William Abecassis.

Margot and Joshua Marans upon the birth of their third child and second son, Ralph Joseph (Rafael Yosef). Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ grandparents Sheira and Steven Schacter.

Miriam Lieberman and Benjamin Vago upon the birth of their second child and first son, Elliott Rey (Eliezer).

Vivian and Jacob Muller upon the birth of their second daughter, Juliette Bea (Gitel Batya). Louise and Frank Ring upon the birth of a grandson, Matthew, to their children Lizzie and Josh Ring. Evelyn Rochlin upon the birth of her first great-grandson, Nathan Henry (Adir Nechemia), born to her grandchildren Michael and Nicole Rochlin. Pamela and George Rohr upon the birth of a grandson, Charles Jack (Chaim Yaakov), born to their children Daniella Rohr and Sam Adelsberg. Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ great-grandmother Helen Nash. KJ Assistant Youth Director Chevy Rubenstein and Elan Nat upon the birth of their second child and first daughter, Debbie Ruby (Devora Chana). Nicole and Marco Sardar upon the birth of their second child and first daughter, Adina Charlotte (Adina Shulamit), born into the sixth generation of a KJ family. Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ grandparents Terry and Michael Jaspan. Diane and Russell Miller and Marc (Jill) Schwartzberg upon the birth of the first child and son, Max Wyatt (Ben-Tzion

Maeira and Michel Werthenschlag upon the birth of their fifth child and fourth son, Elliot Isaac (Yitzchak Eliyahu). Mazal Tov as well to KJ grandparents Cheryl and Fred Halpern. Marlene Yahalom upon the birth of her fourth grandchild, Aliza Miriam, born to her children, Orly and Aron Gillis of Modi’in. May these children grow up in the finest tradition of Torah, chupah, and maasim tovim.

BNEI MITZVAH MAZAL TOV TO

Deborah and Isaac Ash, upon the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Janelle. Janelle is a sixth grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

ENGAGEMENTS MAZAL TOV TO

Carol and Jeffrey Kaufman upon the engagement of their son, Michael Kaufman, to Ariana Wiener, daughter of Paulette and Arthur Wiener of Manhattan Beach, New York. Sandy and Dr. Norman Magid upon the engagement of their son, Yehuda,

29 continued, WITHIN

OUR FAMILY

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

U R FA M I LY to Sara Birnbaum, daughter of Ruth and Dr. Stuart Birnbaum of Wesley Hills, NY. Drs. Lu Steinberg and Michael Schulder upon the engagement of their daughter, Ilana Schulder, to Daniel Ross, son of Susanna and the late Ian Ross of London. Judy and Chairman of the Ramaz Board of Trustees Dr. Phillip Wilner upon the engagement of their daughter, Dani, to Gabe Roth, son of Drs. Aren Gottlieb and Ram Roth, and Phyllis Roth, all of Manhattan. A special Mazal Tov to KJ grandmother Rachel Roth. May their weddings take place in happiness and blessing.

MARRIAGES MAZAL TOV TO

May the newlywed couples be blessed to build homes faithful to the traditions of the Jewish people.

CONDOLENCES

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Wilma Aschendorf upon the passing of her father, Efraim Jessner.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Barbara and Eric Eigen upon their son, Ron’s animated pilot, Groceries, being accepted to Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival. He was selected to be one of five finalists to make a presentation to the audience and industry executives. Sandra E Rapoport upon the publication of her essay entitled Tamar’s Coat of Many Colors, published in connection with the popular 929 learning initiative.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Lillie and Danny Bensusan upon the marriage of their son, Tsion, to Joanne Assor, daughter of Cathy Hazan a”h and Albert Gabriel. Jewel and Ted Edelman upon the marriage of their daughter, Andrea, to Dr. Jeffrey Kay, son of Irina and Richard Kay of Toronto. Molly Winkler and Joel Rubenstein upon their marriage.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Teri and Dr. Massimiliano Szulc, upon the graduation of their daughter, Avital Szulc, from Cornell Tech with a Master in Engineering (Operations Research). She will be working at Convergent Energy and Power in New York, where she will serve as Vice President of Automated Databases and Machine Learning.

THREE MODERN MIKVEHS ARE LOCATED IN OUR COMMUNITY AT:

419 East 77th Street (between First & York Avenues) | 212-359-2020 5 East 62nd Street (just off Fifth Avenue) | 212-753-6058 234 West 74th Street (between Broadway & West End Ave) | 212-579-2011

OUR CONDOLENCES TO

Madeline Bavli upon the passing of her father, Philip Weitz. Beth Bernard upon the passing of her mother, Shirley Goldstein Feuerstadt. Jeremy Chess upon the passing of his brother, Dr. Cyrus Chess. Gad Demry upon the passing of his sister, Yael Demry. Linda Cohen Esses upon the passing of her father, Matthew Cohen. Mark Friedman upon the passing of his mother, Adelaide Friedman. Rosie Friedman upon the passing of her father, Eugen Gluck. Henriette Jemal upon the passing of her grandmother, Esther Safdieh. Former KJ Sisterhood President Carla Tanz upon the passing of her mother, Lynn Bernstein. Dr. Robert Taub upon the passing of his brother, Professor Arthur Taub. David Zwillinger upon the passing of his grandmother, Mary Lepinsky. May they be comforted among all those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem.

ORDER MAIN SYNAGOGUE MEMORIAL PLAQUES FOR LOVED ONES Contact KJ Comptroller Sy Yanofsky at 212-774-5620 or sy@ckj.org

30 BNEI MITZVAH

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

BNEI M

E Z RA A R O N S H O L E S Mazal Tov to Esther and Marc Sholes upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Ezra Aron, on Shabbat morning, July 27, at which time he read Parashat Matot and delivered a D’var Torah. Ezra is an eighth grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

JAC K SAS S O N Mazal Tov to Rebecca Feit and Rami Sasson upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jack, in Jerusalem, on the Thursday and Shabbat of Parashat Re’eh at which time he delivered a siyum on Masechet Megillah. Jack is a seventh grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

O L IVI A C L A I R E F E RT I G

E VAN BO U R KO F F

Mazal tov to Nechama and Jason Fertig upon the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Olivia Claire, on Thursday morning, September 26. She will lead Shacharit and read from Parashat Nitzavim in a Women’s Tefillah Service at the Ramaz Middle School. Olivia is a seventh grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

Mazal Tov to Elana and Aryeh Bourkoff upon the two-fold Bar Mitzvah of their son, Evan. First, he will lead a holiday tefillah and read the Torah on Hoshanah Rabbah in Jerusalem. Following the family’s return to New York, Evan will read Parashat Bereshit at KJ’s Sephardic Minyan on Shabbat, October 26. Evan is a seventh grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

AM I E L LOW Mazal Tov to Lisa and Nathan Low upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Amiel, on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, Parashat Re’eh, August 31, at the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach. He delivered a D’var Torah entitled “The Relevance and Importance of Jerusalem to Jews Throughout the Ages.” Amiel is an eighth grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

GAB R I E L M I T T L E R Mazal Tov to Gerry and Jeffrey Mittler upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Gabriel, on Shabbat morning, November 2, at which time he will read Parashat Noach and deliver a D’var Torah. Gabriel is an eighth grade student at the Ramaz Middle School. Mazal Tov as well to proud KJ grandparents Janet and Mark Mittler.

31 continued, BNEI

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

MITZVAH

I T Z VA H

THE RAMAZ SCHOOL DAVI D S I M PS O N Mazal Tov to Yael and Jeffrey Simpson upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, on September 2, at the Chabad of Watermill, New York. He read Parashat Shoftim and delivered a D’var Torah about idol worship and the rules about it. David is an eighth grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

The Ramaz School located on the Upper East Side, in the heart of New York City, is a Modern‑Orthodox co‑ed Day School for nursery through grade 12. Ramaz has an 80‑year history of Jewish education, academic distinction, and nurturing of individual abilities and aspirations. Our Admissions Offices are open for inquiries! If your child will be three by September 1, 2020, please contact Shira Baruch or Judy Kahn at 212‑774‑8025 or email them at baruchs@ramaz.org or kahnj@ramaz.org respectively for admittance to our Early Childhood Center, Lower, and Middle Schools.

OPEN HOUSE Saturday Night, November 9 For Prospective Upper School Families Please contact Shara Lipson in our Upper School Admissions Office for more information at admissions@ramaz.org or 212‑774‑8093. We look forward to welcoming you.

DAVI D E L I H I L L E L MAH FAR Mazal Tov to Emma and Sammy Mahfar upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, on November 23, Shabbat Parashat Chaye Sarah, at the Moise Safra synagogue. David is a seventh grade student at the Ramaz Middle School.

SCHEDULING YOUR FAMILY’S BAR OR BAT MITZVAH If you are making a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at KJ between September 2020 and June 2021, please contact Riva Alper in the synagogue office at 212‑774‑5670 to reserve specific rooms for your services, celebratory meals/kiddushim, and other functions. If your child attends Ramaz and you are a member of KJ planning a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Riva Alper must be notified directly of your plans. Reserving a date with Ramaz does not imply that it is reserved at KJ.

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

KEHILATH JESHURUN BULLETIN CONGREGATION KEHILATH JESHURUN

212-774-5600 | ckj.org

Non-Profit U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW YORK, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 2200

CONGREGATION KEHILATH JESHURUN 125 EAST 85TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10028-0928

SYNAGOGUE OFFICIALS Haskel Lookstein.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rabbi Emeritus Chaim Steinmetz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Rabbi Elimelech Weinstock.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rabbi Meyer Laniado. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Rabbi Rabbi Daniel Kraus & Rachel Kraus. . . . . . . . . . . . Directors of Community Education Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Wieder.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scholar-in-Residence Chaim Dovid Berson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cantor Dr. Benjamin Zalta.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hazzan Leonard Silverman. . . . . . . . Executive Director

OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION David Lobel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Elias Buchwald. . . . . . . . . . Senior Vice President Jonathan Wagner.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President Dr. Nicole Agus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2nd Vice President Sidney Ingber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3rd Vice President Wendy Greenbaum.. . . . . . . 4th Vice President Dr. Larry Baruch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary Robert Schwartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer David Sultan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Treasurer Morris Massel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Secretary Evan Farber.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Secretary JJ Hornblass.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recording Secretary Eric Gribetz. . . . . . . . . Administrative Secretary

LIVING PAST PRESIDENTS Fred Distenfeld Chaim Edelstein Eric Feldstein Stanley Gurewitsch Joel Katz

AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS Sharon Garfunkel. . . . . President, Sisterhood Roberta Stetson. . . . . . . President, Sisterhood Dr. Mark Meirowitz. . . . . . . . . . Pres., Men’s Club Caroline Bryk.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President, Kesher Liora Schulman.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President, Kesher Ariel Stern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President, Kesher

OFFICE STAFF Riva Alper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Administrator Dina Farhi.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Assistant Esther Feierman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Communications and Programming Menucha Parry. . . Director of Member Affairs Aryana Bibi Ritholtz. . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Director Freddie Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superintendent Sy Yanofsky.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comptroller

Are you receiving your KJ Bulletin late in the mail or receiving double copies? We need to know! Please email riva@ckj.org or call 212-774-5670. In preparing the Bulletin, we welcome all KJ members’ announcements of communal, academic and professional achievements. Please email riva@ckj.org or mail it to the synagogue, marked “ATTN: KJ Bulletin”

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

SEPTEMBER 6-7 Shoftim 13-14 Ki Tetzei 20-21 Ki Tavo 27-28 Nitzavim

LIGHTING OF CANDLES

FRIDAY EVENING SERVICES

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SERVICES

SHABBAT ENDS

7:02 PM 6:51 PM 6:39 PM 6:27 PM

6:45 PM 6:45 PM 6:45 PM 6:40 PM

6:50 PM 6:40 PM 6:30 PM 6:15 PM

7:56 PM 7:44 PM 7:31 PM 7:19 PM

OCTOBER 4-5 11-12 18-19 25-26

Vayelekh Shabbat Shuva Haazinu Chol HaMoed Bereshit

6:16 PM 6:04 PM 5:54 PM 5:44 PM

6:30 PM 6:20 PM 6:10 PM 6:00 PM

5:40 PM 5:55 PM 5:45 PM 5:35 PM

7:07 PM 6:56 PM 6:46 PM 6:37 PM

NOVEMBER 1-2 8-9 15-16 22-23 29-30

Noah Lekh Lekha Vayera Chaye Sarah Toledot

5:35 PM 4:27 PM 4:20 PM 4:15 PM 4:12 PM

5:50 PM 4:40 PM 4:35 PM 4:30 PM 4:25 PM

5:25 PM 4:15 PM 4:10 PM 4:05 PM 4:05 PM

6:29 PM 5:21 PM 5:16 PM 5:12 PM 5:09 PM

ASHKENAZIC SCHEDULE OF SERVICES 8:30 AM

7:15 AM

7:30 AM

7:00 AM

9:00 AM

Sunday Mornings

Mondays & Thursdays

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays

Rosh Chodesh Weekdays

Shabbat Mornings

SEPHARDIC SCHEDULE OF SERVICES 8:15 AM

7:00 AM

6:50 AM

Sunday Mornings

Monday- Friday

Rosh Chodesh

EVENING SERVICES SEPT 2-26. . ..................... 6:45 PM OCT 3-4............................ 6:30 PM OCT 6-10.......................... 6:20 PM

OCT 23-24............ 6:00 PM OCT 27-31.. ............ 5:50 PM NOV 3-7.................. 4:45 PM

NOV 10-14.............. 4:35 PM NOV 17-21............... 4:30 PM NOV 24-DEC 19.. . 4:25 PM

DATES TO REMEMBER SUNDAY-TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1

Rosh Hashanah See schedule on page 24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2

Fast of Gedaliah See schedule on page 24

TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8-9

TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29-30

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29

SUNDAY-TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13-22

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28

SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-30

Yom Kippur See schedule on page 25

Sukkot, Hoshanah Rabbah Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah See schedule on pages 25 & 27

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Morning Services at 7:00 AM

Thanksgiving Day Rosh Chodesh Kislev Morning Services at 8:30 AM

Rosh Chodesh Kislev Morning Services at 7:00 AM Chanukah