Shofar Nisan/Iyar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
April 2012
From the Rabbi’s Desk What kind of Passover seder did you grow up with? In my family, my mother’s father always led the seder, using a small haggadah (not the Maxwell House edition!) with intense illustrations and very awkward English translations of the traditional Hebrew text. But that didn’t matter much, since my grandfather and my two uncles read the whole thing in Hebrew anyway, from start to finish. The men sat at one end of the table and raced through the Hebrew in a mumble, while the women sat at the other end and chatted amongst themselves. The kids were in the middle, and we participated only in those parts of the seder for which we had been primed: the Four Questions, the ritual foods, and some of the songs.
With the emphasis on what we ate for those special days, Pesakh became a festival about extra work, not about liberation from slavery! And the dreary haggadah we used did not help. Today there are literally hundreds of different haggadot available, written in accessible English (or the language of your choice!) with commentaries that enrich the seder experience enormously.
It was not till I was in rabbinical school that I learned that the haggadah itself was never meant to be a text read from cover to cover as my grandfather used to do. The rabbis who created the haggadah were developing rituals and practices to replace the focus on the Passover sacriAs we got older, and as we learned more at Hebrew school, we kids introduced some new songs to the family fice, which had been the essence of Pesakh until the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. They created practice. We also changed how we sang the Four Questions, but the seder remained the same until my grandfa- the seder plate with its ceremonial foods, the rituals of eating matzah and bitter herbs and other foods, the asking ther died, when I was a teenager. Then my father took over running the seder, and we switched to reading a lot of Four Questions and also the many midrashic commentaries on the Exodus story, which became the content of of the text in English, from those same little haggadot. the traditional haggadah. More people could participate in the seder because the language was our vernacular, but the meaning of the hag- What got lost in that process was a complete retelling of gadah was lost amongst the Thees and Thines and Thous. the Passover story. It is simply not part of the traditional haggadah. So, in participating in a seder that focuses on I loved the seder because it was a family gathering, the food was great, and the singing was enthusiastic and joy- reading every word in the traditional haggadah, we are directed away from the meaning of Pesakh, the theme of ful. What I did not love was the huge task of preparing for the event, which meant a very thorough spring house liberation from slavery which has resonated so clearly with cleaning, the schlepping upstairs of the Pesakh dishes and other groups seeking their own liberation. the packing away of all the usual dishes, pots and pans Learning that the haggadah was intended as a work in proand utensils, only to reverse the whole procedure eight gress liberated me from the sense of obligation to read days later. (Continued on page 2) From the Rabbi’s Desk What’s Happening/March Service Schedule April Oneg Hosts President’s Message JFC Sisterhood Invite Kids Ask the Rabbi Early Childhood Center The Religious School Recent Donations to JFC
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Social Action Committee Birthdays/Annivs/Yahrzeits Ask the Rabbi NFTY-NAR Speech JiFTY Religious School Seder pix Purim Carnival pix ECC Book Swap pix Donations Form JFC’s April Calendar
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Page 2 Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 e-mail: jfc@bestweb.net
jewishfamilycongregation.org
Rabbi Carla Freedman jfc@bestweb.net Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantorbd@aol.com
School Director Leslie Gottlieb lesliejo0312@gmail.com Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jfceccenter@gmail.com Temple Administrator Jolie Levy jfcoffc@gmail.com
Board Of Trustees Richard Mishkin, President 914-764-8305; Mark Lavin, Vice President; Polly Schnell, Vice President; Hal Wolkin, Chief Financial Officer; Diane Richman, Secretary; Carrie Kane Elise Serby Patterson Shafer Debra Verbeke Elisa Zuckerberg and Johanna Perlman, Past President
Shofar Editor Jolie Levy Shofar Printer EnterMarket
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
April 2012
From the Rabbi’s Desk (cont’d) (Continued from page1)
every word in it. At the JFC seder, I have for years used the haggadah as a guide for doing the required rituals in the right order, while I have avoided the long midrashic commentaries in favour of a re-enactment of the story itself. Though I have done this largely to keep the kids engaged, I have also done this with confidence that it accomplished the real goal of the seder, which is the retelling of the Pesakh story, so that we too can feel the joy of liberation. After all, the rabbis taught us that each person is supposed to feel that s/he was personally redeemed from slavery with the ancient Israelites…that is one of the many mitzvot (religious obligations) of Pesakh. So this year, as you prepare to run or participate in a seder, I invite you to think about the theme of this festival, which is liberation. Just last year, we were watch-
ing liberation spread across the Arab world, as various countries over threw their dictators of long standing. It is not clear that real liberation followed those uprisings, but the uprisings themselves reminded us… certainly they reminded me…that liberation does not come with the air we breathe, that it is not necessarily achieved easily. Modern day pharaohs, like Assad in Syria, are still withholding this precious commodity from their people. I also invite you to think of the ways that you can liberate yourself from the constraints which limit your own sense of freedom. What old ways of thinking do you need to let go of? What habits of thought, action or feeling do you engage in, that restrain you from being your best self? Make this Pesakh the festival of freedom at your seder and in your life.
The items in the JFC Gift Shop have changed again. Please stop in and take a look! DEAD SEA SCROLLS EXHIBIT MARCH 18, 2012
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What’s Happening This Month at JFC? APRIL 2012 Fri., Apr. 6
NO FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES -- FIRST SEDER HAPPY PASSOVER!
Sat., Apr. 7
JFC’S ANNUAL SECOND SEDER
6:30 p.m.
Our seder is a pot-luck event that is very kid-friendly and includes all the traditions! Reservations must be made ahead of time
Thurs., Apr. 12
ADULT-ONLY THIRD SEDER
6:30 p.m.
An opportunity to discuss the themes and meaning of Passover on an adult level.
Fri., Apr. 13
PASSOVER/YIZKOR SERVICE
7:30 p.m.
A Yizkor Service will take place during Friday night services.
Sun., Apr. 15
MEET CLARE EFFIONG, FOUNDER OF ESTHER’S AID
11:15 a.m.-noon
Join us to meet and hear from Clare Effiong. Esther’s Aid is a Rwandan Children’s Relief Organization.
Thurs., Apr. 19
MINI-HEBREW SCHOOL FOR PROSPECTIVE KINDERGARTNERS
4:15-6:00 p.m.
Our 4-year old friends are invited to participate in our kindergarten class. Stay for all or part of the class, which will include music and an informal fun service. Parents may stay too!
Fri., Apr. 20
YOM HASHOAH
7:30 p.m.
A special service for Holocaust Memorial Day featuring the JFC Choir.
Sun., Apr. 22
CREATIVE ARTS HEALING EXPERIENCE
12:30-5:00 p.m.
Through the use of art materials, image-making and writing, experience a safe, non-judgmental environment. No art experience needed!
Fri., Apr. 27
YOM HA’ATZMA’UT
7:30 p.m.
A special service for Israel’s Independence Day featuring the JFC Choir.
KINDERGARTEN/GRADE 1 SERVICE JFC’s Shabbat Service, featuring the Kindergarten and Grade 1 presentation and their own Oneg Shabbat.
ALL EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! J EWISH F AMILY C ONGREGATION 111 S MITH R IDGE R D . - S OUTH S ALEM , NY - (914) 763-3028 WWW . JEWISHFAMILYCONGREGATION . ORG
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SERVICE SCHEDULE APRIL Friday, April 6/ Nisan 15 Saturday, April 7
NO SERVICE‌first night of Passover JFC Second Seder (by reservation only)
6:30 pm
Friday, April 21
7:30 pm
Passover Shabbat Yizkor Service
Friday, April 20/Nisan 29 Saturday, April 21
7:30 pm 10:00 am
Yom HaShoah*** observed Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, April 27/ Iyar 6
7:30 pm
Saturday, April 28
10:00 am
Yom Ha-Atzma-ut^^^ observed Kindergarten-First Grade service Shabbat Morning Service
*** Holocaust Memorial Day ^^^ Israel Independence Day
APRIL ONEG HOSTS APRIL 6
HAPPY PESACH! FIRST SEDER. NO SERVICES/NO ONEG
Please find a substitute if you cannot host your assigned Oneg.
APRIL 13 JFC Staff Members
APRIL 20 Jeffrey & Elizabeth Klotz Emily Perl Kingsley
APRIL 27
Please contact the JFC Office with the name(s) of the new hosts. Please contact your Board Host if you have any questions.
K/1 CLASS SERVICE
APRIL BOARD HOST: Pat Shafer (203) 731-7645
CHOIR If you would like to join the choir, or for more information, please contact Kathy Storfer at kstorfer@aol.com We welcome all adults -- 13 or older!
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President’s Message by Richard Mishkin
Spring is here and it’s a busy time at JFC. We are putting the final touches on two or three events, which you will be hearing about shortly. Leslie Gottlieb has told us that early registration for Religious School has been excellent and ahead of last year. Jane Emmer is excited about ECC attracting new families and more than optimistic about a funfilled Summer Camp. Our new Sisterhood has given a group of women an opportunity to bring the JFC community into their social lives and offer what will be enjoyable and meaningful occasions. The Board’s responsibilities, as we near the end of our current fiscal year, include planning for the annual congregational meeting in June, as well as planning for next year. We have a better understanding of our financial condition as a result of the work of Donn Henshaw and Hal Wolkin, assisted by Kathleen Sakowicz in our office. The Board has developed a budget for consideration of and approval by the congregation at the annual meeting. We shall distribute copies of the budget in advance of the annual meeting so that you may have time to consider its content prior to the meeting.
We are also charged with filling vacant seats on the Board. The by-laws require that a nominating committee be appointed (to be made up of Board members and Congregants) to nominate for election, individuals who will be placed on the ballot for election at the annual congregational meeting. We think that it is important for the congregation to play a role in this process and would encourage that you consider doing so. With that in mind, if you are interested in serving on the nominating committee please contact me as soon as possible, but no later than April 20 th. Please note that members of the nominating may not run for office. In addition, if you are interesting in becoming a Board member, please let me know and I will make sure that the nominating committee is made aware of your interest. The nominating committee will be charged with identifying at least three individuals to fill the three seats on the Board that will become vacant on June 30th. A zeisen pesach to all.
THE THIRD SEDER…HOW IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT? Many family seders are shaped to accommodate the needs of the young children who attend them, and that is entirely appropriate. After all, the haggadah itself was shaped to hold the attention of young children; the Four Questions were moved from the end, where they belong, after all the rituals are done, to the beginning, before the rituals occur, to give the kids a role in the seder at an early point in the observance. But that bypasses the interests of the adults in attendance. There may be no room for a discussion about the holiday’s theme, liberation, or about how the haggadah came into existence, or what its goal was, or how we should relate to the various rituals, etc. So we are, this year, offering a Seder Study Session, on Thursday, April 12, beginning at 7:15 pm. This will be an all adult event, held at JFC. We will use a variety of haggadot, and participants are invited to bring along their favorite, or least favorite, haggadah. Come and ask all those questions you have been thinking about for years! If you are coming, please bring some food (KOSHER FOR PASSOVER) to share with others. Not a meal, but some nourishment for the body while our discussion provides nourishment for the soul. And we’ll bring wine or grape juice to round out the celebration. Please notify Rabbi Freedman that you are going to attend, by calling her at 914.7633028, x12, or emailing to jfc@bestweb.net.
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The Early Childhood Center Jane Weil Emmer, Director
What Did We Do In March??? March at the Early Childhood Center was extremely busy.
The Yellow Room visited the Railroad Museum in Danbury and had a blast. They got a tour of the old rail yard and were able to see and climb on a real train.
IT IS TIME TO REGISTER FOR SCHOOL AND CAMP!!!!!! We celebrated Purim in a big way with our youngest folks. Bobbie Cohlan, the force behind the beginning of the ECC, visited and baked yummy Hamantashan with us. The teachers performed a Purim Schpiel. Cantor Kerry led us in Purim songs. Rabbi Carla led our Purim service. We all made special Shaloch Manot bags to share with our families. We are enjoying our NEW activity, indoor soccer. Our coaches from Happy Feet are teaching us many things. We are learning the basics of ball handling and most importantly how to Passover at the ECC have fun! We continue with our Yoga classes was celebrated early with Stephanie. The Garden Room is a busy this year, because of and active place during ECC time. our spring break. nd We got a head start cooking, singing and celeOur 2 annual book swap was a huge hit. We had lots of familiar faces reading stories. We brating. We all learned the story of Passover enjoyed non-stop story time, with stories read and enjoyed our all-school Sedar. April will prove to be a bit quieter..., but we are sure to by Farmer Dale, Batyah Ben-David, Laurence Furic, Mark Frey, Jen Carter, Naomi have lots of fun!!! Heftler and Kathy Storfer. Thanks to our readers and to Dara Marceau for organizing this terrific and fun event.
JFC CLASSIFIED
ALL ADS ARE A FLAT $18 AND MAY NOT EXCEED 50 WORDS. THEY WILL RUN FOR ONE MONTH ONLY. To place an ad, submit the text and your payment to the JFC Office. You may email the text to jfcoffc@gmail.com and either drop off or mail your check (payable to JFC). Credit card payments are also accepted.
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Todah Rabbah from the ECC to:
Bobbie Cohlan for baking Hamantashan with us. Farmer Dale for planting Mexican Sun Flowers Dara Marceau for coordinating Book Swap Meredith Rudin for coordinating our Scholastic Fund Raiser Elise Serby for hosting the ECC social event Rabbi Carla, Cantor Kerry, Jolie and Kathleen for support and tolerance of our beautiful noise!
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The Religious School Leslie Gottlieb, Director
When our family started to resemble a real one-- with the introduction of little ones over twenty years ago, my husband and I decided that we needed our own traditions for holidays. I am sure everyone goes through the same thing. We are still figuring this out to this day and that’s funny because now all of the kids are grown and live apart from us (except when our daughter is home from college). We had so much time to establish all of the traditions that would set us apart but the process is an evolving one in our case. Passover presented us with a unique challenge. Which haggadot would we purchase and use? Would we clear out the chametz and if so to what extent? How would we all agree on what to do at all in our home? All families have to make new rules-- and when it comes to religion, choice (as Reform Jews) can be daunting in some respects. The responsibility for making educated and meaningful choices is a heavy one.
down with those who practice the same religion. It’s a funny kind of problem, no? Thank goodness there are two nights.
Now that one of our sons is dating a Jewish girl (both are in fact, surprisingly) he has had to accommodate her in a most interesting way. She is strictly kosher and we are not! Now it all comes back around again. So many Jews, so many traditions…. In fact, now that the boys have Jewish girlfriends, we have a most difficult situation. Where do they go for Passover? Our oldest is going to California for the seders and we will miss him at ours. Our other son is going to Pennsylvania for the second night. A parent does not consider all of this when hoping the kids settle
ate the readings in it that included authors like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy. My Israeli brother-inlaw had a difficult time with our seder that year, to be frank. I thought it was magical and held true meaning for our guests. Seders at his family’s home start after sundown, go on forever, are all in Hebrew, and there is almost no discussion of the meaning of the holiday. This is troubling for me but it seems more important that the whole
In the winter edition of Lilith magazine (I have a gift subscription from the Rabbi for which I am truly thankful) I was reading an essay entitled, The Joy of Chametz -- a personal reflection on the process of preparing the writer’s home over the years for Pesach. Its author, Hadar Dubowsky Ma’ayan, writes, “Cleaning for Pesach isn’t just cleaning for me. It’s about beginning the process of preparing for a holiday that’s about spring and liberation. Cleaning feels like working hard to start anew, and it mirrors the ‘spiritual cleaning’ of reaching towards a more just way of living.” I have to agree but it’s a hard notion to sell to everyone.
The writer talks about her changing relationship with being Jewish over the years and I can relate to that and am When our boys were little, before Miss Renna came sure many readers of this column would agree. along… we had a very close relationship with our non“Throughout my life, I’ve had a range of Pesach cleaning Jewish neighbors. The kids and I decided that we would experiences, depending on my relationship to Judaism at sell the chametz to them for $1 (a token amount to be re- the time. I grew up in a family where my mom cleaned turned with the food items at the end of the holiday as we out all the chametz for Pesach and put it in paper bags in were instructed to do by some book or another). As a the garage. We were serious about Passover. One year symbolic gesture to show that the task at hand was com- when I was eight, I forgot about Pesach and ate a sandplete, we would sit on the floor in the darkened kitchen wich at a birthday party and felt horribly guilty.” We have and by the light of a candle we would drop a piece of all been there. One year I made our entire family matzah chametz (a piece of bread, usually) onto the floor tiles— sandwiches and we went to the Bronx Zoo for the day as using a feather to push the offending matter onto a spoon. the kids had their spring break overlapping with Pesach. Then out it went and we were ready for Pesach. Of course all of the yeshiva students had the week off My husband returned from work one night (our first time from school and so the entire zoo was filled to capacity going all the way with this tradition) and the cupboards with men and boys in black coats and hats—and our little were almost bare. He did not like this new family tradition matzah sandwiches made us feel strange, to tell you the very much but procured a good enough attitude knowing truth. I felt like we were in a science experiment with Jews that I was trying to teach broad lessons of our faith to our of different stripes placed together in an artificial setting. young audience. Add to this the fact that my husband’s Were we really all celebrating the exodus from Egypt? birthday always falls at Passover, it seems, so he has had Were we all following the same Gd? Was this possible to endure years watching me snatch away his bread on its considering how our lives were being led so differently? way to the toaster (if he stashed any away successfully) Were the animals there really scientists watching the hujust as he was about to infect our flour free environment. mans behave? Oy!!! Again, he always rose to the occasion but he was so not With so many Jews and myriad traditions, there are so used to all of this from his childhood; it was almost as if we many haggadot from which to choose. We bought a great grew up practicing two different religions. set when the kids were young—but old enough to appreci-
(Continued on page 12)
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The Religious School (cont’d) family come together rather than separate the group because we interpret the purpose of Pesach not so much in the same way—or at least the seder piece. No matter, it’s the absence of our deceased relatives, like my mother and Larry’s father and our grandparents, which makes this holiday the hardest of all to celebrate. I hear my mother singing Dayenu in my ear but she’s not there to judge the matzah balls anymore. This, too, becomes an aspect of every holiday for all of us who have lost loved ones. It is very difficult to enjoy it in just the same way.
Maggid/The Narration Amidst the retelling of the exodus from Egypt, a seder can include the discussion issues of oppression or redemption of others. Ten Plagues As we recite the plagues, we pour out ten drops of wine, lessening our joy, to remember the plagues set upon Egypt. In today's world, there are many societal cruelties and injustices that can cause us to diminish our joy. Dayenu: It Would Have Been Enough Take a look at some interesting ideas (taken from the URJ Dayenu is a song of thanks for the myriad of miracles website but altered in places) for taking next year’s seder which took place during the Exodus. It can also allow us to at your house or Grandma’s to another level. Maybe Pass- express our gratitude for recent miracles. over is our best opportunity all year long to talk about imCup of Elijah portant social and life issues with our family there-- a forum for sharing ideas. Hopefully, a meaningful conversa- During this time, we focus on our hopes for peace and redemption of messianic times. But what can we do to repair tion evolves to create a lasting impression for all particithe world today? pants. The reading of the haggadah, whichever The Seder Plate version, can be rejuvenating. I just ordered Alongside the traditional items on the Seder Plate, try some modern additions that add special meaning to your a copy of the new Nathan Englander haggadah and would be happy to lend it out family. to anyone interested in, yet, another tellFour Cups of Wine ing of the story. I have read that Obama is While our tradition applies specific meaning to the four using the Maxwell House edition (over 5 cups of wine found within the Passover seder, many mod- billion handed out over the years… can ern Haggadot have begun to reinterpret the original four this be right?) for the White House seder cups. Your family can invent its own ideas. once again this year. He IS the commander in chief so he gets to decide, I suppose. It must be one of the prerogaHa Lachma Anya/ Bread of Affliction tive powers…. This reading provides the primary textual inspiration for feeding the hungry during Passover as well as calling for an I hope that this season brings rich new ideas and traditions end to slavery. This can inspire a tradition of performing to your family seder. At JFC, we ARE a family and I will be the mitzvot of making a donation to the poor. thinking of you all as I plod through the Hebrew-only text we’ll be using in New Rochelle on the first night. More The Four Questions This part of the Seder allows for much creativity in the text than anything, I will be grateful to: be with those whom I love, be eating foods that represent larger moral and spiriand inclusion of social action themes or questions. tual concepts—and to simply be alive in this wonderful The Four Children To further delve into the text, reconsider the identification world at this time of the year. Enjoy the holiday. and interpretation of the four children.
Todah Rabbah From The Religious School to… Karen Blum for helping with EVEYTHING… especially the school seders & the Youth Group shul-in last month Our class parents for helping with the seders Our Kids Knesset families for helping with our April 15 Esther’s Aid event All of the families who registered their children during the “early” period The RS Committee for all of their ongoing support
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Did you know…
A donation to the JFC-URJ Camp Fund helps send children to summer camp who would not otherwise have this privilege. Memories that will be cherished forever. Thank you for considering this fund!
Recent Donations to JFC Caring Committee Robi Margolis and Family Sylvia Rappaport General Fund Rick and Bobbie Cohlan Robi Margolis and Family for their support and caring Jeff and Nicole Freeman Jonathan Young and Deborah Miller Young Susan Stillman James and Joan McCaffrey Howard and Gail Henner Dawn Kessler Arthur Del Negro, Jr. Grounds Beautification Fund Jack Goldberg & Trudy Wood
In Honor Of Lisa Block, Debbie & Mark Lavin, Jane Emmer, Karen Conti, Laurence Furic, Doris Hettmansberger In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Honor Of Rabbi Carla Freedman and Cantor Kerry Ben-David In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Joseph Martin In Memory Of Steve Margolis In Memory Of Steve Margolis
Molly and Gregory Religious School Scholarship Fund Michael and Emily Wein Peter and Dawn Kessler Kenneth and Cindy Carson Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman Adam and Robyn Cohen Gordon and Polly Schnell Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Jeffrey Klotz IF ANY DONATIONS ARE NOT LISTED, KINDLY CONTACT THE JFC OFFICE AND LET US KNOW.
Don’t forget: Each time you shop at DeCicco’s, just tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your order. JFC gets a rebate from your purchase. It’s that easy! (You may still use your DeCicco’s card.)
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JFC Social Action Committee We had a very successful Midnight Run on March 17. The weather was beautiful and some of our young people were experiencing the Run for the first time. It was a gratifying experience for all. Thanks to everyone who participated -- from the people who have been donating clothing and toiletries all year, to the people who made extra bag dinners for the Run and the people who have helped out sorting and labeling clothing. Thanks go to: Talia Kaufman and Sue Kaufman: Talia conducted a terrific Girl Scout project with several of her fellow scouts. She organized them to go through the huge amount of clothing in the bins, labeling and sorting them. There were quite a number of bins that had gotten wet on the inside, so she washed and dried the clothing so they were ready to use! Thanks to her mother, Sue Kaufman, for facilitating and helping with this project! And thanks to Sue for donating more bins for the clothing. Congrats to Talia for working on this high level scouting award.
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by Debbie Lavin for helping to get things ready on the Run and "launch" the runners. And finally, thanks to all the people who participated on the March 17 Midnight Run till the wee hours of the morning: Ed and Cole Verbeke Peter, Greg and Zach Kaplan Emily and Jason Kingsley Yaniv Gorodischer Curt Shulman Pat, Sierra, Skylar and Aspen Shaffer Claire Laben, Skylar's friend, who together are doing a social action project for their school.
Want to help?
Contact Debbie Lavin (debbielav@aol.com)
Thanks especially to Pat Shaffer who took leadership Sarah Valente, Phyllis Amerling, Emily Kingsley: Thanks to Sarah, Phyllis and Emily and their responsibility for this Run and made an extra trip down to Dobbs Ferry to pick up the Midnight Run families for helping to sort and label clothing. Van. Iris Glass: Thanks to Iris and her two kids who helped We hope to do our next run in late June -- look for make bag dinners to take on the Run. the date in next month's Shofar and email DebbieThanks to Jan Sanders, Alan Sanders and Mark Lavin Lav@aol.com if you want to participate. The March 17 Travelers: Back row: Pat Shafer, Ed Verbeke, Peter Kaplan, Yaniv Gorodischer Middle row: Skylar Shafer, Claire Laben, Aspen Shafer, Sierra Shafer Front row: Emily Kingsley, Cole Verbeke, Greg Kaplan, Zach Kaplan Not pictured: Curt Shulman
The Next Midnight Run Will Be Late June Stay tuned for details.
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The Ritual Committee Michael Salpeter, Chairman
We have all received the letter from the Board regarding the future of JFC. My purpose in this column is not to comment on the Board’s letter; rather it is to aid in the restoration of unity among the members of our JFC family. Several points need to be kept in mind. First, Rabbi Carla is still our rabbi, mentor and teacher. Irrespective of the Board’s decision, she will remain our rabbi through June 30, 2013. In addition to fine tuning the ritual activities for the remainder of 5772, she and I have already begun the planning of the calendar for 5773. The members of the Ritual Committee are continuing the transformation of our lineup of services that many of you who attend regularly have seen over the past few months, such as the addition of family services, more musical services and some which I will mention below. Second, no matter what one thinks about the recent Board action, JFC is facing a significant financial deficit. If the synagogue and all it represents is important to you, it has never been more important to show it. One way is to attend more services – there is much in store. We have had two services in our series, Congregant’s Drash - those of you who were at them know how refreshing and stimulating the evenings were. If you would like to be the speaker at the next scheduled date, please let me know. April 7th is the date for the annual JFC Second Seder –my family and I have attended in the past. If you haven’t been to one, I can attest to the fact that it is a lot of fun for people of all ages, members and non-members alike. Kathy Storfer has planned two wonderful evenings of music for Yom HaShoah and Yom HaAtzmaut, which are coming up in the next month. The May 4th service will be “Ashkenazi Shabbos” with a very different flavor to that which we are accustomed. The next pot luck Shabbat dinner is scheduled for May 18th – come and enjoy food, songs and camaraderie. In addition to attending services, you can participate in events, volunteer to be a member of the Ritual Committee or other standing committee, attend Board meetings to express your concerns, support fundraising efforts as generously as possible, invite your friends who are not mem-
Don’t forget to check out the JFC Blog! Go to www.jfc.rjblogs.org
bers to a service and do everything you can to help retain existing members and drive new membership. Third, we need to repair any divisions created by conflict and dissension among our members - not with rhetoric but with our actions. Our problems are not insurmountable. Bob Dylan wrote in his song, Let’s Keep it Between Us, “All we need is honesty, a little humility and trust.” As a congregation, the Board members and the members atlarge need to heed his words and work together to assure a continued Jewish communal presence in Lewisboro. If you believe it would be tragic if such a presence were to disappear, if JFC is a critical part of your life, you must all do everything possible to help put our synagogue on a unified path for renewal. Feel free to contact me at jfchonors@gmail.com with your ritual concerns.
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL READERS Ruth Ossher is DANGEROUSLY ALLERGIC to many flowers. Accordingly, we CANNOT have the following flowers in the building at any time: Lillies Tropical flowers Jasmine scent Any highly scented flowers Artificial flowers that have been sprayed Ruth is NOT allergic to: Tulips Daffodils Hydrangeas Mums Sunflowers Potted flowers that we plant outdoors If you are using a florist, PLEASE have them call us even if they are sure. Dangerous mistakes have already been made. Many thanks for your cooperation!
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Please call the JFC Office when any relevant information arises or changes so all Birthday, Anniversary and Yahrzeit listings are accurate and up to date. JFC can only list names/dates that have been reported to us.
BIRTHDAYS Neil Alexander David Amerling Dr. Paul Amerling Alexandria Andrade Richard Auerbach Michael Berland Kenneth Carson Kayla Clott Adam Cohen
Nora Dockter Cyndi Dodes Evy Drawec Ellen Elias Lauren Fried Carly Goldstein Max Goodstein Lawrence Gottlieb Jama Hansonbrook
ANNIVERSARIES Jack Goldberg & Trudy Wood Donn Henshaw & Abby Plotka-Henshaw Martin & Tracey Weisberg
Rachel Kalter Sarah Kaplan Douglas Kaufman David Kurzweil Dr. Rita Landman Allie Moss Tomo Okamoto Linda Paulding Jacob Raimondi
Ike Radin Samantha Shulman Leslie Simon Julia Sklarin Paul Stevelman Susan Valente Cole Verbeke
YAHRZEITS Eleanor Aufsesser Abraham Belsky Mary Benjamin Amy Cohen Mickey Conn Arnold Eydenberg Ramon Garay Harry Goodman Lillian Gordon Mary Henshaw Harlan Hettmansberger Mary Keleher
Saul Koven Maurice Leff Rose Leitner Harry Malamet Arthur Margolis Joseph Martin Thelma Reichenthal Joan Sobel Anna Steinberg Jacob Steinberg Emmy Sternberger Barbara Traynor Stoll
Have you considered celebrating significant birthdays and anniversaries with a leaf on our Simcha Tree of Life? Call the JFC Office for details.
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Shabbat at the Western Wall is just the start! Join us for UJA-Federation of New York's SUMMER FAMILY MISSION TO ISRAEL MONDAY, AUGUST 20 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2012 Bring your family to Israel and see what few tourists see. Explore lush, green nature parks and colorful sandstone mountains. Reach new heights by climbing the snake path up to Masada, and new depths by taking a dip in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Connect with the diverse cultures living in Israel and sample local cuisine. Browse the Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world's oldest shopping arcade. Experience the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem's Machaneh Yehudah open air market to enjoy the sites, smells, and tastes! Touch biblical history firsthand when you visit: Jaffa, the 8,000-year-old city. Caesarea, an ancient port city built by Herod the Great. Take part in a hands-on archaeological dig at Beit Guvrin with its thousands of underground caves dating back to the time of the Phoenicians. Explore the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Davidson Visitor's Center, the Southern Wall Excavations, the Kotel (Western Wall), and the Western Wall Tunnel. Touch Jewish history at Israel's museums, including: The Israel Museum where you can see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the model of Jerusalem during Temple times. The Latrun Armored Corps Memorial and Museum, an open-air exhibit of more than 200 tanks and other armored vehicles that you can climb on and in, some dating back to World War I. Yad Vashem, the memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Learn about the humanitarian work of UJA-Federation: Visit the Mevasseret Zion Absorption Center where you'll meet Ethiopians newly arrived in Israel. Do a mitzvah by hosting IDF Lone Soldiers for Shabbat dinner that have no family in Israel or no family at all. Whether this is your first time or a rediscovery, there is always something new and wonderful to experience! For more information or to register, please contact Cindy Cutler at 1.212.836.1140 or cutlerc@ujafedny.org.
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Dear Rabbis, Cantors and Educators, Have I got an opportunity for your congregation! I’m pleased to announce “Taste of Camp,” a special program targeted at boys in grades 3-6 who are considering their first overnight camp experience. The program consists of 3 minisessions of 5-6 days each. The campers will live in a brand new cabin (being built as I write this) with Eisner staff members. They’ll spend their days alongside campers their own age, and will get to participate in all of the regular camp activities: sports, swim, arts, nature, and adventure, plus evening programs and special events. Of course, they’ll also get to experience the magic of Shabbat at camp. Our goal is to reach those families who are interested in camp but have been hesitant to send their boys away for an extended first-time camp experience. This program is designed to meet the needs of both the parents and the campers by providing a short-term yet meaningful encounter with the wonders of camp. And the best part is the cost: only $600 per camper for each session. We hope that you’ll share the attached flyer with congregants you feel fall into this category. We see this as an opportunity to provide an additional point of contact for some of your families and will help you engage them more fully in congregational life. Please let me know if you have any questions about the “Taste of Camp.” Thank you for your continued support. L’shalom, Louis
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ASK THE RABBI Question: For Passover, can I use quinoa or faro? Answer: You are right that these grains are not amongst the foods we are required to avoid for the eight days of Passover. The grains we are forbidden to eat (or use in any way) during Pesakh are: wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats. Of course, flour made from wheat is nowadays produced under rabbinic supervision so that it does not come in contact with water, which causes it to leaven, and from this flour, matzah and matzah-products (farfel, etc) are made. Ashkenazic rabbis added corn, rice, millet and legumes to the list of forbidden foods on the grounds that they could be confused with the forbidden grains. These foods are permitted in Sefardic practice. Today, none of us are likely to mistake a grain of corn or rice or a bean for a grain of the forbidden foods, so many Ashkenazi Jews now eat these foods despite the traditional objection. As for grains like quinoa and faro, there can be no objection to eating them during Pesakh, because they are clearly not on the list of forbidden foods, and there is no reason to expand the list. This will make Passover more manageable, especially for vegetarians (quinoa is a good source of protein, unusual in a grain). I actually think that eating faro on Pesakh is appropriate: the bad guy in the Exodus narrative is, after all, Pharaoh. Products made from grain or those that might contain
some leavening agent require a hekhsher, or certificate of rabbinic supervision, to be useable during Pesakh. Things like coffee, tea, spices, sugar, salt, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables and juices and even frozen fruits and vegetables and juices (as long as no other ingredients are added) do not require a hekhsher, although many such products are marketed with one (to appeal to those who are very strict in their observance or to those who can be persuaded to pay extra for a hekhsher when it is not actually required!) Derekh Agav (By the way): there are a lot of customs about foods permitted or not during Pesakh, based on experiences in the places where our ancestors came from in Europe. For example, the Jews who came to Winnipeg in the late 19th or early 20th century brought with them a prohibition against eating cabbage during Passover. Some research in the 1950s revealed that over the winter in Poland, people protected cabbages from worms by pasting the outer leaves together with a flour-and-water paste, which indeed made the cabbages unacceptable during Pesakh. Since we do not store cabbages that way anymore, even Winnipeg Jews now eat cabbage during Pesakh.
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Jackie Kalter Applies for a Position with NFTY-NAR
(North American Federation of Temple Youth - New York Area Region)
Hi NAR!
The people of NFTY have had a major positive effect on just I feel so privileged to be able to stand before you all about every aspect of my life; this morning. I am amazed by how many wonderful and I don’t want other teens to people have come together in this room, giving off so miss out on this opportunity. It much positive energy and making me feel so comfort- is my major goal to make NFTY able and welcome. And thank you for staying to listen more well known. One of the ways I would go about to one more speech!! doing this is by having fundraisers by sub-region, like car washes and tag sales to get the community outI’m Jackie Kalter, running to be the next CVP for our region. I come from the tiny town of Pound Ridge, or side of NFTY aware of who we are and how awesome NFTY is. With that said, I will also continue updating Pound Cake as Maddy Feiner likes to call it. I have great parents, a younger sister, four dogs and a large the social network sites, keeping every NFTYite posted with up to date information. I also want to crazy-but wonderful-Jewish family. create online silent auctions which will allow for us to Now, many may ask why I chose to start attending all be involved even after we leave an event, and NFTY events at the beginning of my junior year of would also help us in our fundraising efforts. high school, and I have wondered the same thing myWhat I would hope to be is the ‘the external push’, self. I had always thought that I wasn’t the type of for all of those who don’t have it. I want them to person to continue attending temple after my Bat know, I want everyone to know, how special of a Mitzvah, but I was so wrong. I was lucky enough to place NFTY really is. I am so thankful to have found have the push of my amazing Youth Advisor, Leslie my niche, and the place I truly belong. I hope for the Gottlieb, at the start of freshman year to make me realize the importance of continuing my life-long in- opportunity to give back to you what you have given volvement with Judaism. I decided to follow through to me…It would not only be a privilege, but an honor to serve our region as CVP 5772-5773. and began my participation in the Student Mentor program at my temple. Presently, I am a proud SAVP Just remember: of my TYG, JiFTY, and a Co-teacher at my temple as It’s never too late to make a new friend. well. It was the external push that I needed, because It’s never too late to learn something new. on my own there was no way I was going ahead with It’s never too late to strengthen your beliefs in Judaany of this. Attending Fall Kallah was the best deciism. sion I’ve made thus far, and I truly can’t thank the It’s never too late to join NFTY. people who helped me to get there enough. Without the help from my advisor, and also from all of the Thank you! friends I’ve made here, I wouldn’t be where I am today, a proud member of NFTY, and running for the CVP position of our region. Since my so-called ‘breakthrough with Judaism,’ I’ve held numerous leadership-type positions - from Cheerleading Captain of my high school, Camp Counselor at a day camp and a Peer Power Facilitator for troubled incoming freshman. From these wonderful experiences, I’ve learned what it’s like to be someone who’s looked up to, someone who needs to take the initiative, and someone who’s ready to listen - and now I’m ready to take the step and do that for this community. I’ll start by taking my personal motto, ‘it’s never too late’ and bring it to the region. I realize the value of every second I have left with NFTY must be cherished.
We now have a Facebook page! If you are on Facebook, go to: http://facebook.com/ jewishfamilycongregation and like us!
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ROADSIDE CLEANUP SUN., MARCH 25 We had 12 people participate in this year’s cleanup. A special thank you to Ted Bloch for his telephone recruiting efforts, as well as Rob Strongin for his organizing efforts. Due to the large amount of debris, we filled in excess of 30 bags. Usually we fill less than 20 bags!!!! The following is a list of the participants: Ted Bloch Michelle Blum Josh Blum Sam Blum Ian Leitner Elisabeth Rich Andrew Richman Gordon Schnell Quoya Schnell Andrea Snyder Rob Strongin Ed Verbeke
BIG
THANK YOU!
Pl Ou eas rA eS dv up er po tis rt er s
A
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Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center Where Family is our middle name
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO REGISTER! Please visit our website at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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JiFTY By Jessica Sheptin
We have been busy bees here at JFC’s youth group! Last month we had a shul-in. We were very fortunate to have quite a few other New York area Jewish youth groups come and join us! We played games relating to our Pixar theme. At the end of the night, we watched Monsters, Inc., which we all thoroughly enjoyed! After hours of talking, we finally fell asleep! The next morning, we awoke and had bagels and cream cheese for breakfast (how very Jewish of us). Everyone had a super time and became very close! This month, we will be holding our annual JiFTY board elections. Board members are chosen carefully through a process involving interviews, speeches and an election. Wish us luck! See, I told you we have been busy!!!
Jess, Communications VP
JFC ANNOUNCEMENTS If you would like to “announce” a Simcha in your family, please send the text (pictures are welcome too!) to Jolie Levy at jfcoffc@gmail.com. Announcements must be received by the 15th of the month to appear in the next month’s Shofar. Please feel free to acknowledge your Simcha with an $18 donation to any JFC Fund or with a leaf on our Simcha Tree. Donation forms appear in every Shofar.
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April 2012
Nisan/Iyar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SEDERS
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
JFC’S ANNUAL PURIM CARNIVAL MARCH 4, 2012
Pictures by Victoria Friedman
April 2012
Nisan/Iyar 5772
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ECC BOOK SWAP MARCH 20, 2012
Kids Ask the Rabbi Question: When we dip our fingers in the grape juice for the Ten Plagues, why are we not supposed to lick our fingers afterward?
terrible experience the Egyptians had because of the plagues.
So, licking the finger by which you remove a Answer: Let’s start by remembering that the drop of juice is still a way of taking the juice reason we dip our fingers into our grape juice in…precisely what we are trying to avoid. (or wine) to read the list of the Ten Plagues is Then there is the symbolic notion that each to reduce the amount of a pleasant drink by a drop of juice we take from the glass is a drop for each of the plagues. We do this to plague…one variety of yuck after another. become aware that the plagues were an awful Who wants to take that into our bodies? Not experience for the Egyptians, who suffered I! greatly with each one of the Ten (it is worth So we encourage you to wipe your finer on your noting that the Israelites did not suffer because of the plagues). Though the plagues re- napkin, and drink the juice the usual way, not sulted in the Israelites’ being freed from slav- one drop at a time! ery, we do not want to derive any joy from the Happy Pesakh!
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April 2012 Sun 1
Mon 2
Tue 3
Wed 4
Thu 5
Fri 6
Sat 7
OFFICE CLOSED
SPRING RECESS NO ECC OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Bd Mtg 8
SPRING RECESS NO RELIGIOUS
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10
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ECC
ECC
ECC
NO Gr. 7
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K-3/CC/SMP/YG NO ECC
(PESACH SNACKS ONLY!) OFFICE CLOSED
Kids Knesset 5:10-5:30 YG Elections/ Board Present.
Ritual Mtg
SCHOOL
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JFC’s Annual Second Seder 6:30 p.m.
Erev Pesach First Seder NO SERVICES 14
NO Gr. 7
Post-Pesach Pizza Party
Yizkor Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
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Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
ECC
ECC
ECC
Gr. 7 4:20-6:15
Gr. 6: Class of 2013 Parent/ Student Mtg. 7:00-9:00
Kids Knesset 11:10-11:30
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Gr. 4-6 ECC 9:00-12:00 Gr. 6: Holocaust Gr. 7 Program 4:20-6:15 (parents invited)
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K-3/CC/SMP Mini-Hebrew School - ECC 4’s invited to RS Kindergarten RS Regular Reg. class 4:15-6:00 ends; Summer Reg. begins
ECC Gr. 7 9-9:45 Creation NFTY Spring Station Kallah Yom HaShoah
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ECC
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP/YG ECC Israel B’day Creation Celebration Station
RS Comm. Mtg. Gr. 7 students
NFTY Spring Kallah Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat 28
Gr. 7 9-10:45
K/Gr. 1 Service
invited to Confirmation Class Yom Ha’atzma’ut & Youth Group
11:00-12:00 NFTY Spring Kallah
Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
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Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
ECC
Gr. 7 Gr. 6: NYC Trip 4:20-6:15 9:00-2:00
THURSDAY CLASS TIMES: K-3: 4:15-6:00 CC: 6:15-7:15 YG: 7:15-8:15
APRIL 20-22: EISNER AND CRANE LAKE CAMPS MOTHER-DAUGHTER WEEKEND
JEWISH FAMILY CONGREGATION
Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Rd/Rte. 123 P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590
CURRENT RESIDENT OR
Non Profit Organization Postage PAID White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022