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Nisan 5774/April 2014
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Shabbat and Holiday Service Schedule Shabbat Metzora April 4
7:30 pm
Shabbat service
April 5
10:00 am
Shabbat morning service
Free babysitting
and Ryan Kirker’s Bar Mitzvah
Shabbat Acharei Mot and Shabbat Hagadol
ECC Purim Parade
April 11
7:30 pm
Shabbat service
Second Seder April 15
6:00 pm
Second Evening Passover Seder
Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach
April 18
Shabbat service
7:30 pm
Free babysitting 7th Day Passover and Yizkor Services April 20
Purim Friends and Fun
7:00 pm
Temple Shearith Israel, Ridgefield, CT, will join us
Shabbat Kedoshim April 25 7:30 pm Shabbat service with Yom HaShoah Observance JFC Choir sings April 26
Religious School Smiles all around
10:00 am Shabbat morning service
and Jordan Schwartz’ Bar Mitzvah
Chavurah Program: JFC hosts
2:00 pm
Jewish Group Homes for Shabbat
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From the Rabbi’s Desk What does Passover mean in 5774? Up until the last few years, Passover was the most-celebrated holiday in the Jewish calendar through attendance at a Seder. (Chanukah is the current one. A colleague recently joked that, among several reasons, Chanukah is “celebrated” not for merely eight days, but for many weeks – at the very least from Thanksgiving until the holiday itself.) Because Passover is a home-based holiday, even those who do not belong to a congregation find themselves invited to the Seder tables of family and friends. We can use any number of literally thousands of Haggadot, sharing the history of our people from ancient times until today. Many families make up their own Haggadot, picking and choosing favorite prayers, passages, and songs. We all know that the central message of Passover is to celebrate our freedom from Pharaoh, in order to be able practice our customs and traditions. We live in an incredibly lucky and prosperous time. Unlike generations of our ancestors who lived under oppressive rule – including some of our own relatives and friends in the last century – our situation today in Northern Westchester is most enviable for practically anyone in the entire world. We have the freedom to do almost anything we want to do, unlike countless people around the globe. Unfortunately, many types of tyranny and oppression still exist – economic, social, judicial, and educational, just to name a few.
Celebrating Passover with loved ones through religious and family traditions brings comfort and connection, laughter and love. Rather than have our Passover celebration end there, I encourage you and your guests to actively do something that creates freedom for others in our world. Spend some time on one of the following websites to learn how we can combat hunger, human trafficking, bigotry and discrimination, and other evils that affect our local and greater world. Several Jewish organizations have created additional readings to include in your Seder. By taking the meaning of Passover outside our homes, we can help create the same type of freedom we longed for while in ancient Egypt for 400 years. I wish you a meaningful Passover this year – one that celebrates our traditions, our family and our friends, and one that takes the Jewish principles we hold dear out into the world to make it a better place. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism – www.rac.org American Jewish World Service – www.ajws.org Hazon – www.hazon.org Uri L’tzedek (Orthodox Social Justice) – www.utzedek.org
Presidents’ Message--------------Page 3
Youth Group------------------------Page 6
Religious School-------------------Page 4
Social Action Committee-------Page 7
Early Childhood Center-------- Page 5
Ask The Rabbi---------------------Page 8
Ritual Committee-----------------Page 6
3 Page Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O.Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org ----------------Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein, D.Min. rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantor@jewishfamilycongregation.org ---------------Director of Education Leslie Gottlieb lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org Administrator Kathleen Sakowicz ksakowicz@jewishfamilycongregation.org Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jemmer@jewishfamilycongregation.org -------------------Glenn Kurlander Co-President Hal Wolkin Co-President president@jewishfamilycongregation.org Richard Mishkin, Vice-President Polly Schnell, Vice-President Robyn Cohen, Treasurer Suzanne Sunday, Secretary executive@jewishfamilycongregation.org Josh Blum, Trustee Karen Conti, Trustee Michael Gitlitz, Trustee Ken Levinsohn, Trustee Robi Margolis, Trustee Paul Storfer, Trustee Bonnie Wattles, Trustee Elisa Zuckerberg, Trustee board@jewishfamilycongregation.org -------------Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin Shofar Printer Copy Stop Royal Press
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From The Presidents
by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin About five years ago, one of us heard a different kind of inspirational speaker— not someone who had climbed Everest, or had flown with the Blue Angels, or had been captain of an aircraft carrier—but a photographer for National Geographic, Dewitt Jones. As you might expect, his message was about vision; but not about photographic vision, or the visions he captured in the form of photographs, but a vision that was an attitude, a perspective on life. A vision about celebrating what’s right with the world, rather than wallowing in what’s wrong with it. Like so many of us, Jones led his life according to the maxim “I won’t believe it until I see it.” Yet the more he shot for National Geographic, the more he came to realize that he had it backwards: in his words, “that the way it really works is that I won’t see it until I believe it.” Put differently, our vision controls our perception, and our perception becomes our reality. If we were to apply this insight to JFC, what would be the result? If we were to celebrate what’s right with JFC, what would we see? You might have your own list, but here’s what ours would be: A rich history, filled with special memories, traditions and practices, a wonderful and inspiring new Rabbi, a fantastic Cantor, a transporting choir, award winning, dedicated school leaders and educators, a talented, hard-working, professional office staff,m great youth programs, extraordinary student mentors, accomplished students, dedicated lay leaders and volunteers, beautiful Torah scrolls that preserve Jewish communities, a welcoming, handsomely renovated physical home, a great new website, and a warm, diverse, special community, driven by tikkun olam. Do we choose to see all this? It’s there. But how often do we choose to see it? Vision controls our perception, and our perception controls our reality. There are so many great things going on at JFC these days, but it seems that there are many who are not taking advantage of the opportunities. What keeps us apart; what holds us back? Certainly there are other obligations and commitments—we all lead busy, hectic lives. But is there something else? Is it a belief that JFC isn’t relevant for us—not meaningful? That JFC is about educating our kids, preparing them to be b’nai mitzvah, but not much else? Is our attitude that we won’t believe in JFC’s importance in our lives until we see it? If so, do we, as Dewitt Jones once did, have it backwards? Do we instead need to believe in JFC’s importance in order to see it? Does our vision of JFC allow us to be open to all the profound possibilities and the richness that it represents? If we celebrate what right’s with the world, we begin to build a vision of possibility. Perhaps the same thing would be true if we were to celebrate what’s right with JFC. Would we see the possibility that coming to JFC for Shabbat services might provide a peaceful, meaningful break from the challenges of the week? That connecting, or reconnecting, with other congregants could provide us with a new source of comfort and support and that our participation could do the same for them? That providing such comfort and support is a virtuous cycle—that the more comfort and support we provide, the more we ourselves Continued on page 24
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From the Religious School By Leslie Gottlieb
In my neighborhood in Brooklyn in the 60’s and 70’s, girls were almost never enrolled in congregational school programs. There was one girl in our entire community who became Bat Mitzvah. Her name was Leslie, too. All the boys I knew either went to yeshiva or to an after- school Hebrew program until Bar Mitzvah, a grand event in most cases with the receptions rivaling weddings. My own brother attended an Orthodox program five days a week, and his celebration included more floral sculptures than my wedding. It was something to behold. Ironically, after the boys turned 13, they routinely disappeared from the synagogue— only to return for the High Holy Days under protest, usually. At our shul, being a boy meant you could sit with the men in front of the mechitzah (screen)-- just a few precious feet away from the Rabbi and the Torah scroll. They could smell the challah when it was time for Motzi. At The Young Israel of Canarsie, an Orthodox shul that still requests and receives monetary contributions several times a year from my family… the girls and boys never sat together. No surprise there. Until I came to JFC, I had never seen a Torah scroll up close. Learning Hebrew as an adult was empowering, and I see myself in every female student at JFC—getting the fair chance to learn just like the boys! So what is the history behind girls being called to the Torah? A quick look at an Internet site led me to this…
recognized her as’ being of age’ and acknowledged her in a public fashion. This would support more modern documents that record an Orthodox Jewish Italian rite for becoming bat mitzvah (which involved an ‘entrance into the minyan’ ceremony, in which boys of thirteen and girls of twelve recited a blessing) since the mid19th century. There were also bat mitzvahs held in the 19th century in Iraq. All this may have influenced the American Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, who held the first public celebration of a bat mitzvah in the United States, for his daughter Judith, on March 18, 1922, at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, his synagogue in New York City. Judith Kaplan recited the preliminary blessing, read a portion of that week’s Torah portion in Hebrew and English, and then intoned the closing blessing. Kaplan, who at that time claimed to be an Orthodox Rabbi, joined Conservative Judaism and then became the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, influenced Jews from all branches of non-Orthodox Judaism, through his position at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. At the time, most Orthodox Rabbis strongly rejected the idea of a bat mitzvah ceremony. As the ceremony became accepted for females as well as males, many women chose to celebrate the ceremony even though they were much older, as a way of formalizing and celebrating their place in the adult Jewish community.” The spring is a special time at JFC. The B’nai Mitzvah season begins in earnest. Even those with winter birthdays are inclined to put off the ceremony and reception untill spring for obvious reasons. If this winter taught us anything-- it is that planning an event anytime from December through the beginning of April can lead to much-dreaded cancellations. It is understandable to wait till after the 13th birthday if it falls in winter—and at JFC boys and girls alike are treated the same and become B’nai Mitzvah at or after their 13th birthday. But then what?
“According to the archivist at the Great Synagogue in Rome, the custom of a young woman being called up in synagogue before the entire community dates back to the early years of the Roman Jewish community-- approximately 2,300 years ago. The community
What happens around the dinner table when a student is nearing the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony with respect to continuing his/her Jewish education? It is interesting to watch from this perch during the first few months of our school enrollment period for the following year. At this time, many 7th graders have not yet committed to registering for next year’s Continued on page 25
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From The Early Childhood Center by Jane Emmer
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE BLUE ROOM? In the Blue Room we spent March exploring the art of storytelling. We learned about the parts of a story and had fun building stories together as a group. We are now officially “The Authors of the Blue Room.” We learned all about the story of Purim. We made beautiful masks. We sang songs, and had a great parade. We finished our “All About Me” books. Some of us even learned our address and phone numbers. The Blue Room visited the Lewisboro Library in March, we were one of the last groups to visit the “old” building before their move and renovation. The library will be housed at the White Church during the renovation. WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE YELLOW ROOM? March was a month filled with learning and growth. We learned all about colors and shapes. We made groggers for Purim, and had fun dressing in costume for our Purim parade. Spring was definitely in the air as we learned about plants and animals.
The long cold winter is finally winding down and we can spend more time outside. We moved our gross motor toys out of the “gym” a.k.a. the garden room. We enjoyed watching the snow melt slowly and the mud emerge. FARMER DALE IS BACK! The most important thing to remember when it comes to children and nature is to provide young children with positive experiences of the natural world that encourage love and wonder. Through positive experiences with nature, we set the stage for a lifetime commitment to caring for the Earth, animals, and our communities. We will weave this sentiment in to our Earth Day celebration in April. Early childhood is indeed the time to plant the seeds of wonder. We planted seeds in our indoor garden and watched the roots grow and the plants develop. We planted beans in our terrarium. We look forward to April when we can begin working on our garden. If you would like to help, plant with the kids, please let me know! IT IS TIME TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP! In our Summer Fun program we spend most of the day outside. The inside classrooms become auxiliary classrooms. At Summer Fun campers find ways to connect with nature on their own by exploring worms and dirt and leaves and sticks and rocks and bugs, and the endless wondrous classroom that is the outdoors. We get to be outside all morning with a quick visit for one activity indoors. Our camp program is appropriate for children two years old through pre-kindergarten. We also welcome volunteers. Summer Fun runs from 6/23-8/8 9:30-12:15 pm, Monday-Friday. IT IS TIME TO REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES! Registration can be found online at jewishfamilycongregation.org
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From The Ritual Committee By Michael Salpeter, Chair
Although I am writing during the first week in March, there is still snow present, and we are expecting yet another winter storm. In a mere two weeks, the first day of Spring will arrive which can be considered a time for renewal. Daylight hours are increasing each day, more birds are audible every morning and early Spring flowers will be poking through the bare soil. In the Hebrew calendar the first month of the year, Nisan is approaching -- the harbinger of Spring and the accompanying festival of Pesach. Renewal, however can be considered much more than the physical aspects of life which are obvious. It was with this consideration that the Rabbi and the ritual committee hosted a Healing and Havdalah service on March 1. Attendees were not asked why they were present, nor whether the healing they were seeking was physical, emotional or psychological in nature. As one of those present at the service, I can vouch for the feeling of renewal at the conclusion of the hour-long service of music, inspirational readings and deep reflection. I believe the essence of the service can be summed up in quoting the words of one of the musical pieces we sung, Mi Shebeirach by Debbie Friedman – Mi shebeirach imoteinu M’kor habrachah l’avoteinu Bless those in need of healing with r’fuah sh’leimah, The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit, And let us say, Amen I encourage all congregants to attend our services and various events and to experience the renewal that we can all find welcome in our lives.
From The Youth Group by Isaiah Blum
For the JFC Youth Group, the past month has been a fun and productive one. The Rock Shabbat service was recently held by Jacob Furic and Sam Blum. It was a fun, intuitive program, encouraging the congregation to sing along and breaking to read quotes from the likes of Bob Dylan, Kanye West, and U2. At our last meeting, the Youth Group talked elections and what board positions people hope to fill next year. The Youth Group is currently planning its next activity, Back to the Jew-ture, a Shul-in that will teach Jewish values through time travel.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
From The Social Action Committee by Debbie Lavin
The Midnight Run had a successful outing on February 22. We distributed clothing, blankets, toiletries, bagged dinners, hot soup and hot chocolate to 50 - 60 homeless people. They were very appreciative, and the volunteers participating in the Run all had a meaningful experience. We want to thank all those who participated and made food to go on the Run: Pat Shaffer and Debbie Lavin for coordinating and leading the Run; Tammi and Andrea Shulman, Dawn Kessler, Aspen and Skylar Shaffer, Polly and Rayne Schnell for all going on the Run and making dinners; Cantor Kerry and Batya Ben-David for their delicious pot of hearty soup; Robyn Cohen and Iris Glass for making many bagged dinners; and Mark Lavin for helping to launch the Run! Thank you to all those who have donated clothing and toiletries. We are considering doing a Sunday morning Breakfast “midnight” Run in the future, please let us know if you would be interested. This would be easier for those who are not night owls! Anyone interested in participating in future Midnight Runs, please contact DebbieLav@aol.com.
Shabbat Board Host for April: Josh Blum Oneg Shabbat Hosts: 4/4/2014
Tammi Shulman
David and Jennifer Ceisler
4/11/2014
Paul and Kathy Storfer
Eric and Andrea Stegman
4/18/2014
Matthew Meiser and Dafne Sanchez-Aldama
Paul and Peri Stevelman
4/25/2014
Grade K/1
Debra Cohen Tammi Shulman
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Ask The Rabbi Question: Is Passover 7 or 8 days long? Answer: Yes. (It depends…) Several times in the torah we read about the celebration of Passover. For example, Leviticus 23:4-8 states: “These are the appointed feasts of Adonai, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is God’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Adonai; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. But you shall present a food offering to Adonai for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.” Just like with all Biblical festivals and special times, the priests announced the observance of the holiday by a bonfire in Jerusalem. A few miles away, other bonfires were created to pass the message along, and this way of announcing feasts and festivals continued far from the city’s walls. When one lived many miles away, it ultimately became challenging to ascertain whether a festival was being announced by a bonfire, or there was smoke and fire for some other reason. (Sometimes people would even purposely try to confuse others by lighting fires.) Because of the uncertainty that came from living far from Jerusalem, the rabbis decided that those living outside the Land of Israel should celebrate Rosh HaShana and the three pilgrimage festivals of Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot for two days instead of one. That way, there were sure to celebrate at least one day on the correct day of the Hebrew calendar. Since the first and last day of Passover are full holidays, Conservative and Orthodox Jews living outside Israel celebrate the first, second, seventh, and eighth days of Passover as full holidays, thus making it an 8-day holiday. (The same is true for Sukkot.) Many centuries later, we arrive at the creation of Reform Judaism in the early 19th century... Because of advances in technology and science, one could predict with perfect accuracy when each Jewish holiday should be. For that reason, the Reform Movement decided that it was only necessary to celebrate one day of each holiday instead of two. (Remember, all Jews – no matter the denomination – celebrate only one day of each holiday in Israel!) That is why Jewish Family Congregation will liturgically mark the end Passover with Erev 7th Day Services on Sunday, April 20 at 7 pm. This year we are happy to welcome the clergy and members of Temple Shearith Israel of Ridgefield, CT, to our congregation. Please consider joining us as well. (Even if it is your custom to observe seven days of eating food without leavening, this means that you can break Passover at sunset on April 21, at the end of the seventh day.) Despite the fact that Reform Jews only traditionally celebrate one day of the holiday, many Reform Jews celebrate two Seders. Cantor Ben-David and I will be leading a Second Night Seder at JFC on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 pm. You can find more information about that in this Shofar, or contact the office. Whether or not your family celebrates 7 or 8 days of Passover, I hope it will be sweet and meaningful.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Donations General Fund Jeff Berg and Debra Paget in memory of Norma Zucker Ken Aufsesser in memory of Norma Zucker Ken and Cindy Carson in honor of Chloe’s Bat Mitzvah High Holy Day Appeal Roger and Jo Drawec
The Gala is rapidly approaching but we still need your help. Hopefully you have already bought your tickets (although you can buy them at the door, that is on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 7 pm) and you’ve made a donation and have taken an ad and/or obtained auction donations, but now we need you to check out our online auction through this direct link http://auctions.readysetauction.com/jfc/catalog/view. We have many wonderful items which you can “examine” online before the auction and a few items that will only be available online. Further, even if you are unable to attend the party, you can still bid on and win both silent and live auction items. This is an excellent opportunity to support JFC and get wonderful treasures for yourself. So bid, bid, bid. You will be able to bid until the online auction closes April 2 at midnight. Finally, we want to thank our generous event sponsors. Be sure to thank these vendors and people when you see them; let them know how much we appreciate their generous support to JFC. Silver Sponsors: Bedford Party Actis-Grande, Ronan & Company LLC Bronze Sponsors: Alvarez Cleaning Service Marshall Oil Co.
Susan Westlake, Trademark Attorney, PSAT/SAT/ACT Tutor, College Essay Review Sav-A-Tree Sav-A-Lawn
Additional Sponsors: Braun Tent The Carson Family Intex Painting Co. Southridge Technology Hope to see you at the Gala!
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Jewish Family Congregation’s
FAMILY BARBECUE Friday, May 2
5:30 pm Family Service for all ages 6:00 pm BBQ and Shabbat sing-a-long 7:30 pm Brief Shabbat Service
BRING A FRIEND OR TWO WE SUPPLY: Burgers (beef & veggie)/buns, hotdogs/buns, potato salad, cole slaw, condiments and paper goods. YOU SUPPLY: Beverages and any other (kosher-style) food you’d like to grill. YOU MAY ALSO WANT: Lawn chairs/blankets Bug Spray Frisbees, etc.
R.S.V.P. by noon Thursday, May 1
Either call (914) 763-3028 or email office@jewishfamilycongregation.org with number of people Jewish Family Congregation * 111 Smith Ridge Road * South Salem, NY 10590
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Second Evening JFC Passover Seder Led by Rabbi Burstein Tuesday, April 15 at 6 pm $18/adult, $10/child 12 and under*
Includes Passover ritual food, juice, soda, and paper goods.
Each family brings a Kosher for Passover dish to share. Tickets must be reserved at: http://jfcseder2014. eventbrite.com/
Please let the office know by noon, Friday, April 4 what you will be bringing
Please observe the following guidelines: Must not contain bread, pasta, rice or legumes. No dairy products can be used in preparation (as we will have meat at the seder). If you drink wine, please bring your own. Wines must say Kosher for Passover. *Consistent with JFC’s welcoming nature, we do not exclude participation because of financial need. Should you need financial assistance, please contact our treasurer, Robyn Cohen at robyncohen@optonline.net Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10590 914-763-3028 office@jewishfamilycongregation.org
Todah Rabbah for April 2014 - A Big Thank You To: The Realtor’s Open House welcoming local realtors was a great success. We had twenty local realtors visit JFC. Thank you to Bobbie Cohlan for coming up with the idea of having local realtors tour our building to be better informed when meeting with future Jewish neighbors, and arranging for lunch. Thank you Polly Schnell for reaching out to all the local realtors. Thank you to Elisa Zuckerberg for bringing all the articles about JFC. Thank you to Hal Wolkin, Meredith Rudin, David Fischer and Mindy Hoffman for representing JFC’s congregants. And thank you to Richard Mishkin, Susan Stillman, and Deborah Kurlander for attending and bringing colleagues. Michael Salpeter for bringing hors d’oeuvres to the Healing and Havdallah service.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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ECC Director Passover Senses As for many of us, Passover is about family and food of course. When asked to write about my favorite Passover memory it is very difficult to pin down just one. It is always a happy time. It is a time of hope and promise. For Director of Education me, Passover is a great sensory experience. Passover Remarks Smells: Passover is filled with the smell of brisket, The best holiday for me with respect to a real sensory chicken soup and other delicious goodies. These smells experience, one that relates to the smells in the air-filled the house I grew up in, and now fill both my parent’s happens at Passover, hands down. Something in me house and mine. stirs when I am faced with the aromas of horseradish,
egg, wine and matzah ball soup all mixed together. I feel transported. The smell actually makes me sad, too, to be honest. With each inhaled breath I am reminded of my beloved mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles—all at the table with me at one time but now gone forever. It is a solemn moment of reckoning-- and at the same time a joyous wonderful holiday filled with song, a great story, delicious foods and lots of family time. Although the characters around our seder table are ever-changing over the years, I am grateful for the seders of my life and of the ones yet to come when my Tastes: Passover brings own children have little a wonder of tastes to ones (not so far off!) when mind. My very favorite they all come to learn of the food during Passover is story about the exodus from sandwich of charoset and Egypt and more imporhorseradish on matzah. tantly for me… the critical Yum! message about freedom, liberty and justice for all humankind in our day. It is Sounds: Noise!!! I come from a loud family that seems to a thinker’s holiday, a real opportunity for debate and grow every year. The seder is always a time of noise (my discussion. I especially love our talks about the four Dad is hard of hearing, so every reading is very loud!). questions and types of children who ask them. And as The sounds that make me the happiest, are remembering my mother Ruth would have done if she were here, in when each child learned to read, and began to participate her memory I am wishing all of you a zissen Pesach! in our seder by reading from the haggadah, painstakingly sounding out every word. Sights: Each year I take out my ritual objects for the Passover seder. Some are serious, some are silly. I have a beautiful seder plate that was a wedding gift, from my first wedding many years ago. Over the years I have added a matzah crummer, a bag of plague puppets, a homemade matzah cover (made by my son in our very own JFC Early Childhood Center), and of course a pile of Haggadot. Taking these things out of the closet once a year always brings a smile to my face.
Passover Memories
Touch: Passover is about family and reuniting each year. We come from far and wide.. and always greet each other with hugs and kisses!!! You can feel the warmth of the longer days of spring. Passover is spring and spring is Passover.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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Cantor Passover Memories I attended my very first Seder when I was in my mid-twenties. I joined Batyah, my wife-to-be, at all of the Jewish holidays. Often, as with the Seder each spring, they were held, down in the Bronx, at her Rabbi aunt’s apartment on the Concourse. This large famil- A Favorite Passover Memory ial annual “rite” was amazing to me, for I am an only child, the offspring of two only children. That unusal Many, many years ago, my family would travel at least two hours each way (without traffic – which never circumstance eliminated all manner of relatives in my own Catholic family. But, as we entered Aunt Jane happened) by car from New Jersey to Long Island to and Uncle Sidney’s apartment bursting with Batyah’s celebrate Passover with friends of the family. My farelatives, a very, very different world unfolded before ther went to school with the father of the other family, and our mothers were friends, too. At the time, they me. During the reading of the Haggadah each year, I had one son who was a year older than me and anwas always intrigued by one particular statement. “In other son a year younger than me, the same age as my every generation, each of us should feel as though we brother. (Both families had subsequent children, but ourselves had personally gone forth from Egypt.” For years later.) Their home was much more opulent than me, this moment during the Seder had a magical qual-ours, full of countless things to admire. Two things I ity of ‘vitual reality’……the reader was quite suddenly will never forget: they had mezzuzot on every doorway, and the older son had seven encyclopedia sets in his thrust into a special live channel of Jewish history. bedroom (seven!?!). (And, yes, I realize I am dating These unique words, for me, connected all generamyself by even talking about encyclopedia sets!) The tions of Jews to the seminal historical event called The Exodus! I loved the feeling of being so intimately seder was attended by probably 30-40 people who spilled out of their dining room into their living room. connected with Jews of all generations as deliverance from bondage gave way to freedom. “It was we The hosts were so gracious, generous, and inclusive, my own grandparents who were slaves…we were invited to attend who were strangers”. as well. Not only that, Through these words, but I called the hosts it was as though a “uncle and aunt” and magic wand was sudtheir parents “Grandma denly waved over all and Grandpa.” The food of us at the table. I felt the incredible possibility of someday sitting with my was always good, but what I remember most were the new family as a Jew, myself. That powerful moment desserts. Every year, we wondered… how they could be was certainly part of the numerous experiences with so good -- and Kosher for Passover?!? Apparently, they Batyah, that played a powerful role in bringing me to came from Brooklyn, before good Kosher for Passover desserts could be found in most suburban supermarthe doorstep of conversion! Several years later, I closed my actual conver- kets. Anyway, these seders were over 30 years ago now, sion statement with these words: “I am looking for myyet, I can still remember their home, the set-up, the family – and all of you are mine. We are standing all guests – and the desserts. Although several people are together, face to face and arm in arm. I, Kerry McDe- no longer alive, our families are still in touch… and I vitt, accept the fellowship of Israel and I promise to have very sweet memories that will last throughout my the be best of my ability to live my life according to lifetime. the values of Judaism. With this act, I cast my lot with my fellow Jews. Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad!”
Passover Memories
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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WJCS Chavurah Group Home Shabbat at Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY April 26 2-3:30 pm Snacks will be served after a short Shabbat sing-a-long. Volunteers needed to help serve and visit with guests and cleanup afterwards. Please contact the office if you can help.
914-763-3028 office@jewishfamilycongregation.org
WJCS Chavurah program provides unique opportunities to experience Jewish life for people with developmental disabilities who live in community residences, independently or with their families.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Morris Glass, Holocaust survivor, shares his memories at Jewish Family Congregation Morris Glass was eleven years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and changed his life forever. A childhood filled with school, soccer, and cowboy movies was transformed into a nightmare of ghettos and camps, unending hunger, exhausting work, fear and loss. (Chosen for Destruction: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor by Morris Glass and Carolyn Murray Happer)
Morris Glass, father of JFC congregant Michelle Blum, grandfather of Sam, Isaiah, and Ella Blum, is an active speaker for the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. He speaks for the millions of men, women and children murdered during Hitler's reign of terror.
Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 pm 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10509 Visit https://morrisglassatjfc.eventbrite.com Or call 914-763-3028 To reserve your seat Tickets are free, but must be requested in advance.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Purim Carnival
Nisan 5774/April 2014
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Fun in the ECC!
Nisan 5774/April 2014
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
May S.T.A.R.S. Party & Carnival Save the Date: Sunday, May 4!!
From 10:00-11:00 AM: Each K-3 RS student needs to attend the same number of services as his/her grade in order to attend the party on the 4th. Get busy now and attend Friday night services! Keep track of the dates and/or sign in using the Big Binder in the Youth Lounge whenever you arrive for Shabbat services. K-grade 6 students, eligible.
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM- ALL WELCOME!!!!! This year we’ll have a 18’ slide and a Bounce House on hand to help with the fun!! Fresh popcorn and other treats will be served. Also that day, we will feature a hands-on family art opportunity sponsored by Ben’s Bells Project—a project that promotes kindness around the globe to communities who encounter tragedy. STARS kids come from 10-11 AM for all the fun they can fit in. From 11 AM- 1 PM the entire school and congregation can join us but bring some spending $ as this is our spring school fundraiser and we are counting on your support.
Torah Chanters Wanted Would you like to chant torah on a Friday night or Saturday morning? Maybe it is the anniversary of your bar or bat mitzvah ceremony, or maybe you would like to learn from a new section of the torah. Either way, we will help provide you with the tools to succeed! You can chant as few as three verses – maybe you will get together with a family member or friend to make it a special Shabbat for all of you? We look forward to celebrating with you… To volunteer and/or to see which dates are available, please be in touch with Rabbi Burstein: rabbi@ jewishfamilycongregation.org
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Share the Magic of a Special Dress or a Tuxedo Are there some items of formalwear in your closet that you could share?
The Community Center of Northern Westchester is collecting gently used prom dresses, shoes, accessories and men’s formalwear, for high school students who cannot afford to purchase or rent these items. Please bring your donated dresses, tuxedos, formal suits and accessories to: Community Center of Northern Westchester 84 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY Hours: Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday 10 am – 1 pm Please let the volunteers know that your items are being donated for the Prom drive.
And…Perhaps we can help you or someone you know with clothes for the prom. We hope to enable students, whose families are struggling during difficult times, to attend their prom and graduation parties.. Please call the center at 914-232-6572 All calls will be kept strictly private and confidential.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar 1 2
Use the Shofar to say...
Happy Birthday, Get Well, Thanks, or I Remember... Sanctuary Chair Plaque $150 Leaf on Simcha Tree $180 Memorial Board Plaque $450
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Religious School 20014-15 Registration
General Fund Building Fund Caring Committee Fund Social Action Fund Ground Beautification Fund JFC-URJ Camp Fund Molly and Gregory RS Scholership Fund Rabbi Discretionary Fund Music and Choir Fund Religious School Director Fund Early Childhood Center Fund
Early Discounted Rate Feb. 6-Mar. 6
Regular Rate Mar. 7- Apr. 10
Summer Rate
April 11- start of school Go to jewishfamilycongregation.org to learn more and register!!
Shabbat Dinners for JFC Members Would you like to get to know Rabbi Burstein and a few other members of the congregation better? Are you a good host or hostess and enjoy having people in your home? In an effort to connect members of the congregation with each other and for Rabbi Burstein to get to know people better, several members have hosted Shabbat dinners in their homes in the past few months. It is a great way to share Shabbat and strengthen our congregation. We also are looking for guests interested in attending these meals, so let us know if you would like to join us. If you would like to host or attend a small Shabbat dinner (usually at 5:30 pm) in a member’s home, please be in touch with Robi Margolis at: roberta.margolis@comphealth.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Long-time JFC member and teacher
Rona Salpeter
is available to help with: babysitting, before-and-after school driving responsibilities, animal care— & all jobs requiring a loving caring individual! References are available upon request. Contact Rona at # 914-643-8176.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
The Best of Old World Elegance, Rural Beauty and Modern Amenities Located in a country setting, the newly renovated clubhouse features a stunning ballroom windowed throughout, with panoramic views of a spectacular golf course and surrounding hills.
Parties of all sizes welcome One affair per day Kosher catering available
Salem Golf Club 18 Bloomer Road, North Salem NY 10560 914*669*5485 www.salemgolfclub.org
Notes by
Nancy, Inc.
Nancy Silberstein Invitations and stationery at discount prices tel/fax: 914-232-0835 e-mail: notesbynancy@aol.com www.notesbynancyinvitations.com
Cantor Ben-David is available to our congregants for all life-cycle needs Call/Text: 917-400-4068 Email: cantorbd@aol.com
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
MB TUTORING Hundreds of students helped to excel
Malcolm Brown MIT Chemical Engineer B.S., M.S.
Prep
• SAT, PSAT & ACT
Math
• 7th & 8th Grades • High School sequence • Calculus
Science • Chemistry Physics • Earth Science For further information, contact: Telephone: (914) 533-5468 E-mail: malcolmbro@aol.com Registered State tutoring. Serving Westchester and Fairfield
Local Shopping
Each time you shop at DeCicco Market, 1 Cross River Plaza, Cross River NY, tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your order. JFC will recieve a small rebate from your purchases.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Volunteers Needed Wednesday, April 9 Community Seder for Developmentally Disabled Adults
Temple Shaaray Tefila 89 Baldwin Road, Bedford Corners, NY 10549 JFC will once again be helping Temple Shaaray Tefila. We'll need volunteers to serve the meal that evening and to help organize take-home bags of non-perishable Passover foods for the adult guests. Usually there are 200-300 participants. Help this worthy endeavor. Contact Leslie Gottlieb 914-763-3028 ext 24 lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org
The Realtor’s Open House for local realtors held on February 27 was a huge success. Realtors toured our building to be better informed when meeting with future Jewish neighbors. Thank you to the following realtors who attended: Charles Albertario of Better Home and Gardens, Rand Realty Mary Anne Condon of Houlihan Lawrence Catherine Fleming of Coldwell Banker B. Michael Gould of William Raveis Sandra Greller of Coldwell Banker Adam Hade of William Raveis Louis Hanley of Coldwell Banker Michael Kaufman of Better Homes and Gardens, Rand Realty Barbara Knight of Houlihan Lawrence Keith Levey of William Raveis Shari Cagan Lidsky of Keller William Realty Partners Loretta Lippotti of Houlihan Lawrence Fred Margolis of Better Home and Gardens, Rand Realty Linda Merrill of Houlihan Lawrence Starr Nass of Houlihan Lawrence Timi Parsons of Houlihan Lawrence Linda Seitles of Houlihan Lawrence Janyce Selkin of Better Home and Gardens, Rand Realty Cindy Servider of Better Home and Gardens, Rand Realty Congratulations to Cindy Servider who won the Shell gas card and Linda Seitles who won two free advertisements in the Shofar.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
feel comforted and supported? That attending the healing and havdalah ceremony could be a profoundly moving experience? That attending Torah study once in a while could be an engaging, social experience, where it doesn’t matter if we know little about Torah, haven’t been studying it from the beginning, can’t read Hebrew? Thinking about Dewitt Jones’s words and trying to put a Jewish cast on his message, we found this saying, variously attributed to one of two eighteenth century Hasidic rabbis: For the believer there is no question; for the nonbeliever, there is no answer. If you don’t already, we invite you to join us in celebrating and participating in all JFC has to offer. Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin
From the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation: “Dear Jewish Family Congregation Religious School, On behalf of the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, I would Like to thank you for your contribution of $300.00. Your gift will allow us to continue to support our families, neighbors, teachers, and the overall Newtown community as we work to honor the lives lost on December 14, 2012 by turning this tragedy into a moment of transformation. Beyond helping our community to heal, the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is working to make meaningful and sustainable change in the areas of mental health, gun responsability, and by taking a holistic approach to identifying all causes of gun violence, listening to all sides to find common ground, identifying both legislative and non-legislative solutions, and working simultaneously at the national and grassroots community levels. Donations like yours are critical to advancing our mission nationwide to ensure Newtown is remembered not as the town filled with grief and victims, but as the place where real change began. We hope to count on you in the months and years ahead. Please visit www.sandyhookpromise.org for updated information on our efforts and to learn how you can continue to be involved. Thank you again for your generous contribution. Sincerely, Tim Makris Executive Director
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Continued from page 4 programs. Mostly I think it’s true that a family simply wants to get through the big day for their 7th grader and not focus on much else. Isn’t that the truth! In our home, we have experienced this feeling with each of our three children. Then there comes a time when the conversation to continue beyond grade 7 either happens or doesn’t. If it happens, what does that conversation look like and who is deciding on what lies ahead? Are negotiations made for a student to continue through the Bar/Bat Mitzvah-- and then all bets are off? In some households, that is the reality. What happens at this time is critical. Some students and their parents use this moment to consider whether or not to pursue their Jewish education and their special connection to the synagogue. And why is this? There are so many possible responses. This is not a unique situation to JFC, whatsoever. Except for the Orthodox, temples lose most of their teens right after the Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Is being called to the Torah all that we are training them for? Let us ask ourselves as parents… what are our goals? What do our children think our shared goals really are? Do they even know for sure? Do we? What about this tradition of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah has so taken over the central focus of our involvement-- and if this is the case, where and when do we find appropriate ways in which to discuss plans for our children’s continued involvement? After all, you have the right to do what is good for your family-and we fully respect that. But it is the process that is most interesting. So where does this leave us as a school trying to motivate our older kids to stay involved when they have the distinct feeling that after the ceremony, breaking off is an acceptable option—even expected in some cases. Fortunately at JFC, we keep more of our teens than at other synagogues but suddenly we feel that we need to market ourselves. This was not the case for us when our charges were in grades K-7, but after grade 7 we see something different. Often we find we have only a few dedicated partners to count on in terms of their children’s continuing participation. If the youngest child in the family is turning 13, many choose to leave synagogue life altogether right after the ceremony. What is the message for this youngster, and what part can we play without offending the sensibilities of the parents? Since the PEW survey recently told us that nearly two thirds of Jews or more are unaffiliated, we feel thrilled that so many in our area still find the idea of synagogue life important. It is a tender balance to maintain with so many things to consider. But why stop at 13? So at this time of year with Passover coming soon and with it all the questions that surround us about our past and our future… wouldn’t it be a good time to talk to your kids—no matter the age—and discuss why your family has chosen to connect with a synagogue? What does the synagogue mean in your lives as a family? How can you become more involved as individuals and as a unit to make a stronger connection? How can we help? JFC is as strong as we make it, and collectively we are a great team. We can’t afford, as a congregation and a religion, to find ourselves absent of 13- 30 year olds (when many return to synagogue life with their own children in tow). This is a tremendous void for us all if we do nothing to challenge it. Let’s recommit ourselves to JFC and Jewish life (the theme of our Gala, too). Find the balance that works in your lives but try to keep the fires burning if you have a youngster at home who is feeling he/she has given it his/her all by the age of 13. If you read Rayn Schnell’s essay (winner of the grade 7 writing contest, topic: Why I Should Continue my Jewish Education), maybe you’ll get a glimpse into one child’s soul. We are proud of Rayn and all of her peers who made the effort to write about their feelings. Elyse and Heather Sherr tied for second place in the contest! Congratulations to them all. Maybe by really listening, we can all learn what we can do to help keep our kids to stay involved. Have a sweet Pesach one and all.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
JFC Religious School Student Rayn Schnell & the Winning Essay for the Grade 7 Writing Contest: Why It Is Important For Me to Continue My Jewish Education After My Bat/Bar Mitzvah
Let’s think… the perfect essay about why I should continue in Religious School after my Bat-Mitzvah… what would it say? Maybe it would talk about how continuing in Religious School would help us go further in life. Or maybe it would talk about how Religious School would help us express ourselves. Or maybe it would talk about how Religious School would help broaden our friendships and our understanding of our Jewish culture and history. All these things are true, but they are not my only reasons for wanting to continue. They are, though, some of the benefits we gain, if we do so. Recently, I went on the Midnight Run with my temple. If you are unaware, the Midnight Run is a program where food and clothing are taken around NYC and given to homeless men and women. A few of my friends and I rode to different points in the city and each had different jobs. I handed out clothing.
When someone found exactly what he or she wanted, I would get a feeling of such pride. I realized that even a small group of people can make an important difference in so many lives. The Midnight Run only lasted one night, but for me it did not end after those few hours. I want everyone to be able to feel the way I did. Now that I have experienced this, I will jump at the chance to do it , or anything like it, again and again as I grow older. So, when asked about why I should want to continue in Religious School, I feel the same way about Religious School, as I do about my experience with the Midnight Run. I will continue to do deeds of kindness as the years go by, which will go hand in hand with my continued Jewish education. To me these things are one in the same. I will teach my kids about the Midnight Run, just like I will enroll them in Religious School. But I can’t pass on the experience and the meaning of such things as the Midnight Run or Religious School, if I do not continue to do these things, myself. Tikkun Olam, L’ dor vador. Repair our world, from generation to generation. This, for me, is why I will continue in Religious School.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Birthdays Neil Alexander
Ellen Elias
David Amerling Dr. Paul Amerling Alexandria Andrade Richard Auerbach Lily Bender Kenneth Carson Richard Carter Adam Cohen Cyndi Dodes Evy Drawec
Marlee Lustig Linda Paulding
Lauren Fried
Ike Radin
Carly Goldstein
Andrew Rappaport
Max Goodstein
Allyson Rappaport
Lawrence Gottlieb
Jack Shapiro
Rachel Kalter
Samantha Shulman
Sarah Kaplan
Julia Sklarin
David Kurzweil
Paul Stevelman
Dr. Rita Landman
Miriam Wilson
Alison Lustig
Yahrzeits Eleanor Aufsesser
Arnold Eydenberg
David Leitner
Thelma Reichenthal
Abraham Belsky
Murray Fischberg
Rose Leitner
Emmy Sternberger
Bernard Benjamin
Nathalie Fried Alexander
Arthur Margolis
Lisa Stoll
Mary Benjamin
Ramon Garay
Joseph Martin
Barbara Traynor Stoll
Daniel Berlin
Lillian Gordon
Esther Oks- Ponczyk
Fay Goodman Weisberg
Leo Bloch
Harlan Hettmansberger
Joshua Ponczyk
Mickey Conn
Mary E. Keleher
Anne Elizabeth Raynor
Anniversaries Warren and Karen Lustig
Marty and Tracey Weisberg
Jack Wilson and Marjorie Schiff
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Nisan 5774/April 2014
Non Profit Organization Postage PAID White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022
Purim Mitzvah Event at JFC on Sunday, March 16
Current Resident Or
Make sure to check out our calendar for up to date events at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org