August 2014 Shofar - Av/Elul 5774

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Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

August Shabbat Schedule Shabbat Devarim, Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22 August 1

6:00 pm

Shabbat service

Free babysitting

Congregants enjoying the food during the July BBQ

Shabbat Va’etchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11 August 8

7:30 pm

Shabbat service

Shabbat Ekev, Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25 August 15

6:30 pm 7:15 pm

Picnic Sing-a-Long

7:30 pm Shabbat in the Great Outdoors Rabbi Burstein celebrates his one year anniversary at JFC

Free Babysitting

Shabbat Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17 August 22

7:30 pm

Shabbat service

Shabbat Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 August 29

Shabbat Service July 18, 2014

6:00 pm

Shabbat service

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

From the Rabbi’s Desk Preparing Ourselves for a New Year

begins on the evening of Tuesday, August 26 this year.

Like anything important in life, preparation leading up to a special event adds to the enjoyment of the event itself. From things like practicing soccer or violin for a game or a concert to reading about a place for months in anticipation of a foreign voyage, preparation enhances the experience and allows us to more fully engage in the moment when it happens.

Our ancestors understood this same concept, and the Hebrew calendar and our rituals allow us to experience Jewish holidays through various means of anticipation and making ourselves ready for the holiday itself. Our rituals influence different senses in preparation for the holiday -- we smell the special foods of the holiday, we hear melodies of that holiday in advance, and we see and touch the ritual objects associated with those holidays. Incorporating different senses heightens our awareness and appreciation, priming us to fully enjoy the holiday when it arrives.

As Rosh HaShana approaches, Ashkenazic Jews begin reciting Selichot prayers on the Saturday evening preceding Rosh HaShana -- provided that there are at least three days in between. (If there are not three days, Ashkenazic Jews begin the Saturday before that.) The service itself is called Selichot, and traditionally begins at midnight the Saturday before Rosh HaShana. At this service, we enter the final stage of preparation for the High Holidays and share some of the same liturgy and melodies as on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, as well as hear the shofar.

Since Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur signify the beginning of a calendar year and -- ideally -- a fresh spiritual start, our tradition includes several ways for us to prepare. After all, it is very hard to expect that a few hours in prayer on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur are enough time to take care of all that we need to do.

The entire Hebrew month of Elul that precedes Rosh HaShana contains rituals designed to remind us to focus on the relationships in our lives. Since the 18th century, Ashkenazic Jews typically read Psalm 27 each morning and evening of Elul (and through Yom Kippur), a psalm that contains words of hope and encouragement of God’s support for us.

Sephardic Jews begin reciting Selichot, or prayers of forgiveness, on the second day of Elul, and continue for the entire month. Both Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews sound the shofar during each day of Elul. Elul

What are the things that you need to do to prepare for Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur this year? Who are the people you need to be in touch with, perhaps to smooth over some troubles of the past year? In what ways will you dedicate yourself to our congregation and the Jewish people this year? How will you be ready to appreciate the prayers of our tradition in a meaningful way this year when we gather together in our tent?

Although you may choose to prepare for the High Holidays in a personal way during the entire month of Elul, please join us on Saturday, September 20 for a meaningful Selichot service. (Don’t worry -- the service will not begin at midnight!) More details will be in the September Shofar.

Remember, I am available to help you prepare for a new year and a fresh spiritual start -- please be in touch if you would like to set up a time to meet. I look forward to hearing from you.

Presidents’ Message--------------Page 3

Sisterhood-------------------------- Page 7

Religious School-------------------Page 4

Ask The Rabbi-------------------- Page 8

Early Childhood Center-------- Page 5

Annual Report---------------------Page 9

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

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

From The Presidents

by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin Co-Presidents’ Message

While we may not think of it in quite these terms, those of us who are members of Jewish Family Congregation actually have three “New Years.” There is, of email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org course the secular New Year. And with Rosh Hashanah we observe a New Year of a more spiritual type. But while we’ll understand if no one is popping any ----------------corks, on July 1 each year, JFC observes a new year of a different sort—the beRabbi ginning of a new fiscal year. While that is important for financial and accountMarcus L. Burstein, D.Min. ing purposes, as well as for the installation of a new Board of Trustees, the year rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org that begins each summer is also a perfect time for us to reengage with our JFC Cantor community, or to deepen our existing engagement.

Kerry Ben-David cantor@jewishfamilycongregation.org

With the coming of the new fiscal year, each of us, in effect, makes a choice whether to renew our JFC membership. While it might not occur to us con---------------sciously, when we choose to renew our membership, each of us is reaffirming a Director of Education Leslie Gottlieb part of our identity. When we choose to renew, even if we don’t think about it, lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org we are at least implicitly declaring our formal membership in a unique community—a connection we make to something larger than ourselves. At least implicAdministrator itly, we are making a statement that being a member of the JFC community in Kathleen Sakowicz ksakowicz@jewishfamilycongregation.org a formal way has value to us. After all, each of could participate in this community without formally being a member: one could simply choose to attend serEarly Childhood vices and programs, buy High Holy Day tickets, attend Rabbi Burstein’s Torah Center Director study sessions and avail ourselves of all the other riches JFC provides without Jane Weil Emmer becoming a member. So when we affirmatively decide to renew our memberjemmer@jewishfamilycongregation.org ship, we are making the statement that, being a member of the JFC community -------------------has value and meaning, and our membership says to our friends and neighbors, Glenn Kurlander Co-President Jews and non-Jews alike, that we support that community.

Hal Wolkin Co-President president@jewishfamilycongregation.org

Josh Blum, First Vice –President Polly Schnell, Second Vice-President Robyn Cohen, Treasurer Suzanne Sunday, Secretary executive@jewishfamilycongregation.org Karen Conti, Trustee Jon Glass, Trustee Mindy Hoffman, Trustee Robi Margolis, Trustee Paul Storfer, Trustee Bonnie Wattles, Trustee Richard Mishkin, Ex Officio board@jewishfamilycongregation.org Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin Shofar Printer Copy Stop Royal Press

The Board of Trustee, of necessity, assigns a dollar value to that membership when, each year, it determines what the dues structure will be for the coming fiscal year. But of course the value each of us assigns to membership in JFC is both subjective and in many ways intangible. For some of us there is simply value in being members of a community of Jews. For others of us, the value comes in worshiping with those who are like family to us. For others the value lies in the importance of providing our children with a Jewish education. Each of us defines and receives value in a different way.

As the new fiscal year begins, we ask you to be reflective about the value you derive from JFC. What does JFC mean to you? How would you define its essence?

What is special about it? In what ways does it matter to you and your family?

What can you do, and what can we do together, to make JFC stronger, more vibrant and robust, more meaningful, more impactful? If JFC truly sustains us, what is the nature and scope of our duty and responsibility to sustain it? While membership has its tangible and intangible benefits, membership also comes with responsibilities.

JFC has always recognized a dues category for Sustaining Members; this year, $4,615.00 for families and $2,307.50 for a single member. Sustaining Members are just that: integral to the sustainability of JFC and, as such, with their conContinued on page 14

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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From the Religious School

By Leslie Gottlieb

Rachamim or compassion is expressed when we show sympathy or concern for those in need of our help.

When we become partners in healing and helping we call it someich noflim v’rofei cholim. When we save a life or rescue someone instead of standing idly by, we say that is hatzalah or piku’ach nefesh. When we show leadership we call that manhigut and when we feel part of the Jewish community we are part of a kehillah--and at JFC’s Religious School, all of these Jewish values and many others are what we aim to communicate every time we meet.

counts, and we need to find a way to care for everyone.

In this way compassion is something that becomes learnable and children then become agents for caring behavior. How can a school have a bullying problem if it has an authentically caring culture? Our children’s secular schools are learning this lesson the hard way, but have recently included some values-based programming to eliminate negative behaviors.

Teaching the midot or Jewish values is central to the learning experience at the Religious School. In an effort to continue the chain of tradition or shalshelet

Judaism and its Philippines Disaster Relief Fund, Neighbor’s Link, Chai Lifeline, the Connecticut Children’s Hospital or funds to support a seder for developmentally disabled adults (all 2013-14 school fundraisers), at our school we are all engaged citizens-- and Jews-- who see this obligation to help others as a key to our humanity—at every age.

hamesorah, teaching values is a lens we use as we guide children from our earliest grade through their senior year in our high school program. Of course, there is so much else to pass along—like Jewish culture, history and the language of our worship. At JFC, we have the chance to expand the minds and shared consciousness of our young charges to include an understanding of what it means to be responsible to others beyond ourselves, including Israel —or areivut/k’lal Yisrael.

Our school tzedakah (justice) program is a natural extension of these teachings. Although children in grade 2 get a formal introduction to Jewish values, the lessons are reinforced at every grade level. One of the themes of this school year is to become even more of a supportive inclusive environment… not just when it comes to children in our program who have learning challenges. We all have learning challenges and deserve, each of us, to be treated as special learners. Since our classes are heterogeneous, we need to approach teaching from this angle and transform our practices to include this model of education. In this way we not only de-escalate challenging situations, we are able to reinforce the lesson that every person

Whether it’s helping to raise funds for Autism Speaks, Birthright Israel, Feeding America, The Community Center of Northern Westchester, the Union for Reform

In a moving article published by the URJ online this summer titled, The Reason that I Shaved My Head by Samantha Shauveney, a student of The University of Wisconsin and an aspiring Rabbi, explains why she cut off all of her hair. This selfless act is rooted in her belief that charity begins at home and that every person can make a difference. She is a mitzvah hero!

Our school has many as well, and I hope to share these stories with you as they unfold.

Samantha’s essay begins with a quote from the Jewish Rabbi and sage, Hillel…

“Im ein ani li, mi li? U’ch’she’ani le’atzmi, mah ani?

V’im lo ‘achshav, eimatai?: If I am not for myself who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” She writes, “Recently, I combined my two favorite things, community and social action. It started because of Sammy Sommer, an 8-year-old who was diagnosed with LeuContinued on page 13

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

From The Early Childhood Center

by Jane Emmer

We are currently in the midde of our small, yet magical summer program. “Summer Fun” is always a highlight of my year, as I get to be outdoors with the kids, playing, riding bikes, blowing bubbles, gardening and splashing.

This year I took a vacation (my honeymoon) from JFC’s Summer Fun program and left it in the hands of the wonderful teachers in the ECC and Kathy Weingarten, my South Salem Enrichment right hand!

Thanks to these inspiring educators… the FUN went on without me.

I am very proud to look around at the school and summer program and see our children growing and flourishing. Looking around during camp or school we are surrounded by happy, smiling, and curious faces. This says so much about the environment here at JFC. Our children learn so much. The school places great value on community, learning and fun.

Life is not just about learning to read and write. They are important, but just as important is love and friendship. JFC places great emphasis on being part of the community. This is a lifelong skill which will help all of us thrive. It may seem slightly old-fashioned, but a sense of community to me is very important, and I believe that we do a great job in communicating this to our children.

Thank you to Debra Cohen, Lynn Kassel, Kathy Weingarten, Laurel Levinson, Isabella Wakeman, Miranda Tygert and Ali Andrade for helping make the summer nothing sort of magical!!

We are encouraging your help in building JFC Early Childhood Center. Please tell your friends how wonderful our school is. We are accepting registration for the fall morning programs and/or afternoon enrichment. We now have early drop-off and extended day opportunities.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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From The Ritual Committee

By Michael Salpeter, Chair

HOW TO BEST ENJOY THE HIGH HOLY DAYS AT JFC

1.

Please check your tickets for start times of services. Services will begin promptly at the designated times.

2.

Tickets are required for admission – due to security reasons access to JFC grounds will be limited to only

those people possessing tickets issued in their name.

3.

A Slichot service will be held on Saturday, September 20. Please check our website for time and location.

(See Rabbi Burstein’s Shofar article about the meaning of Selichot.)

4.

For Rosh Hashanah First Day morning and Yom Kippur morning services, there are accommodations for

families with children. If you have children under the age of 5, please proceed to step 4a. If you have children between the ages 5 and 12 proceed to step 4b. If no children, proceed to step 5.

4a. Free childcare will be available for young children during Rosh Hashanah First Day and Yom Kippur morning services. Also there is a child-friendly family service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur at 2:30 pm. Complimentary tickets for non-members are available in the office for these family services.

4b. For children ages (5-12) a youth service led by members of the JFC youth group will take place on Rosh Hashanah First Day and Yom Kippur morning at 10:30 am. This is a musical service that brings home the message of the High Holy Days for children of religious school age.

5.

A Tashlich service signifying the casting away of our sins will take place immediately following Rosh Ha-

shanah First Day service at a location to be decided. Please check our website for details and directions.

6.

Rosh Hashanah Second Day monring services are followed by a luncheon which will take place at JFC.

The luncheon is catered by our member Gary and Paula Levine of Bedford Bagels and was a tremendously popular and successful event last year. If you plan to attend, please contact the office by X date. The cost of the luncheon is $/pp and includes tuna fish, egg salad, whitefish salad, bagels, lox, dessert items, etc.

7.

The Yizkor service is included in the Yom Kippur afternoon service which begins at 4 pm.

8.

Please wear clothing appropriate to the weather conditions.

9.

The rabbi, cantor, ritual committee, and Board look forward to hosting you and your family for these holi-

day services.

10. L’ shanah tovah – Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy New Year of 5775!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

From The Sisterhood

By Amy Fishkin

JFC’s Sisterhood is a vibrant organization within the temple that sponsors a variety of activities that combine social, cultural, charitable and educational aspects of Jewish life. Our programs are designed to enhance personal growth, Jewish involvement, the feeling of community, strengthening one’s faith and learning its precepts and establishing and maintaining a meaningful Jewish lifestyle. We are women of all ages, professions, talents and interests. Being a part of JFC’s Sisterhood is your time to do something just for you. Take time to be with other Jewish women, learn something new, network, have some fun and make a difference. Our members make us strong, our events make us fun and your participation makes us run.

Renew Your Membership or Become a Member We invite you to renew your annual membership in the JFC Sisterhood. We have had a wonderful year and look forward to many more exciting events ahead! We hope you will continue to be a part of something that is energizing, engaging, and enhancing to our synagogue and our community. Please send your $45 membership fee to JFC Sisterhood, 111 Smith Ridge Road, South Salem, NY 10590. Please make checks payable to JFC Sisterhood. For additional information, please contact: JFCSisterhood@gmail.com.

How Sweet It Is! Looking for a wonderful way to share the sweetness of the Rosh Hashanah holiday with friends, loved ones, college students, or business associates who are far away? Keep them close to your hearts by sending some honey for the holidays! Wish someone a sweet New Year, and support the JFC Sisterhood, with a jar of honey from “Honey from the Heart.”

This distinctive 8-ounce jar of kosher honey arrives in time for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, decorated with a festive label, and includes a personalized card reading “L’Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” This card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to JFC’s Sisterhood.

Your cost is $10.00 per jar plus a $4.00 shipping and handling fee for orders placed after July 21st. To order honey go to www.jewishfamilycongregation.org, click on the honey link or go directly to www.orthoney.com/ JFC and follow the step-by-step instructions.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Ask the Rabbi What is Tisha B’Av? Tisha B’Av literally means the “Ninth (day) of (the Hebrew month of) Av.” Just like we celebrate our Independence Day on the 4th of July, Tisha B’Av marks a sad day on the Jewish calendar. This minor holiday does not appear in the Torah, but was instituted by the rabbis in Mishnaic times in the second century of the Common Era. In Biblical times, our people worshipped in The Temple in Jerusalem, making a pilgrimage three times a year to celebrate Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot (as well as on Shabbat and other holidays). Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE by the Babylonians. King Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild The Temple in 538 BCE after the Babylonian Empire fell. We worshipped in The Temple for several hundred more years, until the Romans destroyed it in 70 CE on the same day the First Temple fell -- the 9th of Av. Up through the 20th century, additional calamities occurred on this Hebrew date, so Tisha B’Av commemorates not only the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, but other terrible events in our history as well.

Because of the tragic events of this day, Tisha B’Av is a fast day, similar to Yom Kippur, in that we do not eat or drink for 25 hours. The other prohibitions on Yom Kippur are also in effect on Tisha B’Av. Many Reform congregations do not observe Tisha B’Av in the traditional manner, because -- unlike some branches of Judaism -- we do not long to rebuild The Temple in Jerusalem and return to the sacrificial cult rituals of Torah times. In fact, the reason that many Reform congregations are called “temples” is to make a statement that the congregation is their Temple, not the one that existed in Jerusalem. Congregations that do observe Tisha B’Av read from the Book of Lamentations, or Eicha in Hebrew. It is customary to have the lights of the congregation turned off during prayer services, and sometimes worshippers sit on the floor.

The most famous story explaining the reason The Temple was destroyed states that senseless hatred among the Jewish people caused the destruction. Although JFC does not observe Tisha B’Av as a congregation, let us make sure that we remember the meaning of the holiday and let it remind us to be careful of our words and actions.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Presidents’ Presidents’ Message Message at JFC Annual Meeting

From our vantage point, we believe that, in most measures, JFC has had a very successful year. We’ve witnessed a truly transformative spirit take hold within our special community: a spirit of revitalization and rededication; of renewed, enhanced and broadened community; of heightened energy and more ambitious possibility.

It’s been exciting to witness that.

Of course, we’ve undergone an extremely significant change this fiscal year: the first change in our rabbinical leadership in almost two decades. While many of us continue to have fond memories of Rabbi Freedman, it is impossible to overstate how fortunate we are to have found Rabbi Burstein. Maintaining organizational stability at times of transformative change can be an immense challenge, but Rabbi Burstein’s exuberant energy, his personal warmth and unusual sensitivity and his wisdom and creative spirit have helped JFC not just weather the change, but emerge from the transition with an energizing sense of excitement and possibility. While these meetings aren’t typically about thanks, it’s appropriate to stop here and thank Rabbi Burstein for all he has accomplished this year.

As the year has progressed, it’s been wonderful to watch new members come into the fold, while long standing ones have renewed and deepened their bonds with one another. That sense of renewal and of revitalized commitment was very much on display at our Gala, which has become the high point of the JFC social calendar. The Gala has become a powerful acknowledgment of all that JFC is and the depth of our community, and we’re grateful to all those who worked so tirelessly to make it a success.

In very meaningful ways we have expanded the meaning and significance of community by joining in Passover and Shavuot observances we shared with our neighbors at Temple Shearith Israel. The need to broaden and expand our community in many different ways will be a continuing theme for the board of trustees in the year to come.

We’ve had other very significant accomplishments as well, in the form of a very successful High Holy Days Appeal, a fantastic Comedy Night and an extremely meaningful JFC History Project, that put us back in touch with our roots.

As proud as we are of all JFC has accomplished this year, of course the story is not all positive. JFC continues to face financial challenges. As we will discuss in greater detail when we turn to other parts of the Annual Meeting, JFC operated at a deficit this fiscal year and we project it will again operate at a deficit in the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2014. While our balance sheet demonstrates strength, in part from our illiquid assets (the building and property), these operating deficits simply cannot be sustained. Our membership ranks must grow, one way or another, or our operating deficits will eventually exhaust our endowment fund.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Notes for Annual Report to JFC June 17, 2014 Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein Pirke Avot, Section of Talmud Al shelosha devarim ha olam omed: al hatorah, v’al ha’avodah, v’al gimilut chasadim.

The world stands on three things: torah, worship, and acts of lovingkindness.

Torah -- Learning Religious school -- loved singing with entire school twice each week favorite story of one child yelling out “that’s the wrong one!” taught lots of new melodies Loved teaching -- 7th grade, confirmation class, post confirmation class prepare for BM ceremonies, learn service together on Saturdays confirmation -- incredible group of students! Trip to LES, NYC post confirmation -- great students! Trip to Phily -- 3 ½ hrs museum Jewish-BLT, Brunch and Learn Torah about 12 students throughout year; study in Hebrew and English Hopes for future: more adult education programs, including Judaism and the 5 Senses, maybe group conversion class Avodah -- Prayer Shabbat and Holidays Shabbat -- Several innovations in past year: brought back babysitting 2x/month, shortened Friday night services, introduced new melodies and rituals on Friday and Saturday Holidays -- 2nd Day RH -- new machzor, visual tefila, location, involvement of JFC members sharing their stories, luncheon for entire congregation 60+ Seder -- 70+ people signed up to attend Great to share Passover and Shavuot services with Temple Shearith Israel, Ridgefield, CT Healing service; Hike and Havdallah Encourage participation in all services at JFC -- they are not private!!

The Ritual Committee under the guidance of Michael Salpeter has been a significant help in accomplishing the successes in all areas of prayer this year.

Hopes for future: continue to build on the good attendance of Shabbat and holiday services; continue to try new things out (like learning Kabbalat Shabbat prayers in July); hope to engage more JFC members to read/chant torah.

Gemilut Chasadim -- Acts of Lovingkindness Pastoral -- hospital visits to different hospitals, funeral services, shiva minyanim, baby namings, check in on members with health or other challenges Communal -- love that people stay for Oneg Shabbat after services; loved being invited into many people’s homes for meals; Meet the rabbi events last summer very successful; New Member Welcome; Realtor’s Open House; planned trips to Gomez Mill House, LES this summer; Make JFC Sparkle Social action -- Purim Mitzvah project; event benefitting Community Center of Northern Westchester; Midnight Run, Blood Drive, JFAB (Jewish Family Alliance for a Better-World)

11 Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Hopes for future: more of all the above!

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

I feel the excitement. Several people have contacted us in the past few weeks to join JFC -- from 3 other congregations, moving to area, rejoin, and others.

Encourage you to share what you would like to see and get involved. We will continue to try to do new things that engage others and ideally transform our lives.

I could not do this alone!! Amazing staff -- Cantor, Leslie, Jane, Kathleen, and Carol.

Most of all, our co-presidents are truly menschen -- Hal and Glenn contribute an incredible amount to our congregation each and every week. I enjoy our weekly conversations and meetings and feel supported and encouraged by them.

I look forward to another exciting and meaningful year together. Thank you for inviting me into your lives and for enabling me to be your rabbi!

With much gratitude, all of us at Jewish Family Congregation want to express our thanks to congregant Noah Sklarin who recently finished his installation project in memory of Religious School students Molly and Gregory.

Please visit the outdoor memorial which is located in the wooded area north of our parking lot.

May the memory of Molly and Gregory be a blessing.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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August Oneg Hosts Date Family Board Host 8/1/2014 Neil and Karen Blum

Ken and Ellen Elias

8/8/2104 Frank and Susan Andrade

Jeremy Tubbs and Daniella Goldman

Robyn Cohen Jon Glass

8/15/2014 Sisterhood Josh Blum Board members 8/22/2014 Jack Wilson and Marjorie Schiff Bryon and Victoria Friedman

Karen Conti

8/29/2014 Brian Besterman and Alison Ganis Neil and Holly Alexander

Hal Wolkin

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 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

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Nancy Silberstein Invitations and stationery at discount prices tel/fax: 914-232-0835 e-mail: notesbynancy@aol.com www.notesbynancyinvitations.com

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Continued from page 4 kemia (AML) in 2012. The Jewish community rallied together to help however they could, raising funds to send him to Disneyland and Israel and helping make life easier for his family in other various ways. Sadly, Sammy passed away on December 14, 2013, and the whole Jewish community mourned together.

Then, something amazing happened. The Jewish community came together again, this time with the goal of ending childhood cancer, and many rabbis took part in. As an aspiring rabbi, I wanted to join in. While trying to figure out how I could help, I had to make sure I did it in a way that was possible, given that I am a freshman at University of Wisconsin, Madison. I didn’t have money to donate, but I did have the leadership skills, the charisma, and the chutzpah to run a fundraiser and eventually shave my head. Mitzvot, good deeds, are not onesize-fits-all. For some people, donating money was the right way to help, while I was thrilled to shave my head. It is important that we find mitzvot that work for us as individuals. If we are not looking out for our best interests, then who is?

As a member of the Jewish community, which calls for us to do mitzvot, I felt I needed to do something. I needed to help so that other families would not feel the same pain that Sammy’s family has gone through. Through St. Baldrick’s, I raised $1,300 for pediatric cancer research, and I continue to raise awareness every time I answer the question, “Why are you bald?” Some might think that agreeing to be completely bald is a difficult thing to do, but as I told my mother, “I don’t want to be one of those people who cares more about looks than I do about other people.” I wear my baldness as a badge of honor. The way the Jewish community has come together in the recent months is a true testament to the power of compassion and the impact that one little boy can have on a community.”

Samantha’s essay struck me hard. Our school has supported St. Baldrick’s but there is another reason I was moved by her story. Our son Dylan, who got married this summer, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma two years ago. In the exchange of vows at the ceremony, Dylan’s bride, Lee, recalled the fear of losing him to the disease. Many tears were quietly shed during her vows-- and the chuppah holders (all siblings of the bride and groom) really had to hold it together despite their emotions. It was a beautiful moment but a reminder that life has good and bad times. The breaking of the glass under the groom’s heel is a startling signifier of this lesson and it seems that our tradition has a way of symbolically incorporating all of life’s facets and phases. Our family received a lot of love and support from friends, family and our JFC family. The chesed we witnessed and experienced helped our family and now we hope to pass that along and pay it forward. Chesed can be taught and modeled and this is another important value our school recognizes.

Tell everyone you know that something really special is going on here at the JFC Religious School and that we have room for… just one more student! And maybe just another. And one more after that--- because we have something truly grand to share. To register your child, visit the JFC website and you can do it all online!

I wish all of you a happy new year… coming soon. May the month of Elul help you to reflect on new ways to engage your family to make the world a better place and may tikkun olam be a roadmap for all of our lives.

-Leslie Gottlieb

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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sent, have been acknowledged on the Donor Wall in our entryway, and in the future will be recognized on our website, at a special Shabbat service and in the Shofar. But as important as that special level of dues is to JFC’s revenue—and we encourage all who can afford to support JFC at such level to do so—sustainability isn’t only about dues payments. It’s also about a special engagement with and commitment to JFC. Over the next few weeks, we will challenge the Board of Trustees to define more clearly what makes a JFC member a Sustaining Member, so that we can properly expand our definition and acknowledge those who are essential to our sustainability. We welcome your thoughts on this matter as well.

Just as many of us make resolutions at the beginning of the secular New Year, we think that the beginning of JFC’s fiscal year is a great time for each of us to resolve to increase our engagement with and sharpen our commitment to JFC. There are many ways, of course, to do this. During the summer months, we intentionally adopt different starting times for Shabbat services from time to time, so to align with the slower, more relaxed rhythms of summer. Our July open house and Shabbat barbecue will be in the books by the time this issue is in your hands, but there will be an early Shabbat in the Great Outdoors at 6:30 on August 15. If you haven’t been to one of these, bring a dairy picnic dinner, join us in song and observe Shabbat on our beautiful and idyllic property. If you’ve never served on a JFC committee, we are always in need of additional hands. Chanting Torah on the High Holy Days is a uniquely meaningful way to make a contribution to the JFC community. But whatever you do, help sustain JFC by renewing your membership if you haven’t already, paying dues at the Sustaining Member level if you can and deepening your engagement in the ways that are meaningful to you.

Here’s wishing you a happy and meaningful fiscal new year.

Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin

Don’t forget to stop in and check out the JFC Gift Shop!

If you are interested in purchasing anything, please let us know in the JFC Office.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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2014-2015 JFC Religious School Check out the complete calendar on our website

First Monday

First Sunday

September 15

September 14

Regular School Day 9 am—12 noon 11:30 –12:00 pm service Parents welcome

HHD Food Drive: Monday, October 6, 4:15 pm Meet at JFC 6 pm pickup in Katonah at La Famiglia Note: Not a regular school day

Friday Shabbat Grade Services First Thursday September 18

7:30 pm Grade K & 1 May 1 Grade 2

March 13

Regular School Day

Grade 3

February 27

4:15—6 pm

Grade 4

January 23

Grade 5

December 12

Grade 6

November 14

Grade 7

October 15, Wednesday

5:30 –6 pm service Parents welcome 6:15—7:15 pm Staff Meeting

Simchat Torah

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

What better way to wish family, friends and business associates a “Sweet and Healthy New Year” than sending honey?

Isn’t this a great way to send your New Year wishes?

Rosh Hashanah HONEY Fundraiser

Support Our Sisterhood

This distinctive 8-ounce jar of kosher honey arrives in time for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, decorated with a festive label, and includes a personalized card reading “L’Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” This card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to JFC’s Sisterhood.

Your cost is $10.00 per jar plus $4.00 shipping and handling fee.

To order honey go to www.jewishfamilycongregation.org, click on the honey link or go directly to www.orthoney.com/JFC and follow the step-by-step instructions.

For more information, please contact

Chairperson: Linda Lederman Phone: 914-232-7245 E-mail: Lynled@aol.com

If you don’t have internet access, request an order form from Linda Lederman.

914-232-7245

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish FamilyCongregation SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP

We invite you to renew your annual membership in the JFC Sisterhood. We have had a wonderful year! We hope you will continue to be a part of something that is energizing, engaging and enhancing to our synagogue and our community.

JFC SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP FORM For Sisterhood membership renewal or to become a new Sisterhood member, please complete and return this form along with a $45 membership fee. Please make checks payable to JFC SISTERHOOD. We welcome JFC and Non-JFC members. For additional information please contact: JFCSisterhood@gmail.com NAME:_____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ EMAIL:____________________________ PHONE #:_________________________ JFC MEMBER: ____YES ____NO Return form & payment to: JFC Sisterhood, 111 Smith Ridge Rd, South Salem, NY 10590

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish Family Congregation 5775 - High Holy Day Services - 2014

(Services take place in the JFC tent unless otherwise noted.)

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SERVICES and are non-transferable

SELICHOT Selichot

Saturday, September 20 location to be determined

ROSH HASHANAH

Rosh Hashanah Evening Wednesday, September 24 Rosh Hashanah Morning* Thursday, September 25 Special Services Youth Service (ages 7 - pre-B'nai Mitzvah) JFC Sanctuary Tashlich, Lewisboro Town Park, Route 35 Children's Service (families with children under age 7) JFC Sanctuary Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Morning* Friday, September 26 JFC Sanctuary

YOM KIPPUR

Kol Nidre Friday, October 3 Yom Kippur Day* Saturday, October 4 Music and Meditation Service Concluding Services (Afternoon, Healing, Yikzor, and Neilah)* Special Services Youth Service (ages 7 -pre-B'nai Mitzvah) JFC Sanctuary Children's Service (families with children under age 7) JFC Sanctuary

* Childcare available in building Immediate Family Member tickets $72/person, $288/maximum Non member tickets $360/person, $720/maximum** **non member ticket costs may be applied to membership dues if you join before December 2014

Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road/ Route 123 South Salem, New York 10590 (914) 763-3028 fax (914) 763-3069 office@jewishfamilycongregation.org

8:00 pm

7:30 pm 10:00 am 10:30 am 1:30 pm 2:45 pm 10:00 am

7:30 pm 10:00 am 3:00 pm 4:00 pm 10:30 am 2:00 pm

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

JFC Religious School Calendar 2014-2015 / 5775 S 7 14 21 28

M 1 8 15 22 29

September T W T 2 3 4 9 10 11 16 17 18 23 24 25 30

F

S

5 6 12 13 19 20 26 27

January S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 May T W T

F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 S

M

Symbol Legend School Days NO School on these days

YG HHD Services

Rosh H. 9/25 10:30-11:30 AM Yom K. 10/4 10:30-11:30 AM

Leslie Gottlieb, Director of Education (914) 763-3028 Ext. 24

October W T 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30

S

M T

F

November M T W T F

S

S

S

3 4 10 11 17 18 24 25 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

February S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

March T W T F S 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 31

S M 1 2 8 9 15 16 22 23 29 30

Open House February 26

S 7 14 21 #

December M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 April

S

M

T

Open House April 23

5

6

7

12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28

W 1 8

T F 2 3 9 10

S 4 11 15 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 29 30

Early Registration for 2015-16 February 11 to March 18—Discounted Rates!!

First Class Dates Parents invited 11:30AM –12PM

Mon., 9/15- Gr. 7 4:15 at JFC Gr. 7 HHD Food Drive Thurs., 9/18- K-3 4:15-6PM Parents invited 5:30 –6PM

Thurs.,9/18- Confirmation (6:15-7:15 PM) Thurs., 9/18- Student Mentor Program– SMP 3:30-6:00 PM Thurs., 9/18-Youth Group 7:15-8:15 PM

8/28-

Board Meeting 4-5 PM

9/15-Board

Meeting

4:45–5:45 PM

9/18 10/2 10/23 11/6 11/20 12/4 12/18

Chanukah party

RS Committee Meetings

RS Staff Meetings

Wed., 12:30-1:30 PM

Sept 18 Dec 4 Feb 26 May 21 7:00 pm Staff Dinner

Sept 10 Nov 5 Jan 14 Mar 25

NFTY/NAR Activities

Youth Group

Thurs., 7:15-8:15

Sun.9/14-Grs. 4-6 9 AM-12 PM

Thurs., 6:15-7:15

1/8 1/22 2/5 2/26 3/5 Purim

Service,

3/19 4/16 5/7-

YG Party 6:15-7:30 PM

LTI NYC – 9/14 Fall Kallah– 11/14-11/16 Winter Kallah– 1/9-1/11 Albany Social—3/1– 3/2 Elections/NYC– 3/15 Jr.Youth Kallah– 3/27-3/29 Spring Kallah– 4/24-4/26 Gala—5/9

Kids Knesset Meeting Dates

Post Confirmation Meeting Dates

Sundays 10/9, 12/14, 3/8,

Nov 18 Dec 9 Jan13 Feb 10 March 10 April 14 May 17 - Trip

Thursdays 10/2, 12/11,2/5

lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.com lesliejo0312@gmail.com

Important Dates: Book Fair– Oct 19– Oct 26

Grade Services/Onegs 7:30 p.m.

Purim Carnival– Sunday, March 1

Tues., 6:00-7:15 pm

Grade 7– 10/15, *Wed 7:30 PM Simchah Torah Grade 6 11/14/14 Grade 5 12/12/14 Grade 4 1/23/15 Grade 3 2/27/15 (Rock Shabbat) Grade 2 3/13/15 Grades K/1 5/1/15

Schedule changes will be announced by email AND posted at (914) 763-3028 ext. 24 for weather-related closures

www.JewishFamilyCongregation.org

RS STARS Party & Carnival– Sunday, May 3

Torah Chanters and Readers Wanted!

On High Holy Days, our lay people at JFC take the lead in reading and chanting of our most ancient texts. If you are interested in chanting Torah or reading for the High Holy Days please contact Rabbi Burstein at: rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org as soon as possible.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish Family Congregation Religious School presents the‌

Kids Knesset Student Government Program: Grades K-6 Just think‌you can volunteer to be one of two student representatives for your grade in order to help make important decisions about our school.

There will be several meeting dates throughout the school year (with the school director) and the other student representatives.

Meetings will be: Thursdays and Sundays during Religious School.

See calendar for exact dates.

You can also volunteer to help run many Religious School special events as a student leader!!

Volunteer by filling out this form. Submit it to Leslie Gottlieb or send an email to: lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org Who should volunteer?

Anyone who believes that he/she can help to create and plan great programs for the school!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------Return this section or email information!

Name___________________________________ Grade in Sept. ___________

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

JFC Religious School Fundraiser- Challah Program --From Steve’s Bagels of Ridgefield-****************************** Want to make Shabbat a special time in your home?

A fresh-baked challah on hand can help distinguish Friday evening dinners from all the others.

--All proceeds go to the Religious School Fund— Challah will be distributed during our K-3, YG & Confirmation program on Thursdays. All school participants/congregants may register if Thursday pick up is possible. Each challah will be wrapped in a plastic bag so that it will be fresh for Shabbat. If your child is absent, we will hold it for you until noon on that Friday. If we do not hear from you, the items will be donated to that week’s Oneg Shabbat.

2014-15 School Year: Cost- $143 ($6.50 each) 22 Thursdays/Dates of Delivery: October 2- April 22 ************************************** Please return by Thursday, September 18

2014-15 JFC Religious School Challah Program Student’s Name: _____________________________________ (last) (first) Grade:________ Thursday Religious School Teacher: __________________ or ___YG ___Confirmation Check # ___ Amount paid $_______

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 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

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Donations General Fund Jeff Berg & Debra Paget in memory of Phyllis Goldfield Rabbi Discretionary Fund Tyler and Hilary Hughes in honor of Rabbi Burstein for Carter’s naming Lee Blum in memory of Ed Blum Sisterhood Wendy Lipp

Jewish Family Congregation Religious School presents the…

Kids Knesset Student Government Program: Grades K-6 Just think…you can volunteer to be one of two student representatives for your grade in order to help make important decisions about our school.

There will be several meeting dates throughout the school year (with the school director) and the other student representatives.

Meetings will be: Thursdays and Sundays during Religious School.

See calendar for exact dates.

You can also volunteer to help run many Religious School special events as a student leader!!

Volunteer by filling out this form. Submit it to Leslie Gottlieb or send an email to: lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org Who should volunteer?

Anyone who believes that he/she can help to create and plan great programs for the school!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------Return this section or email information!

Name___________________________________ Grade in Sept. ___________

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Please join us for

JFC’s Special 5775 High Holy Day Children’s Services

Rosh HaShanah

Thursday, September 25 at 2:30 pm * In the Sanctuary *Join us at 1:30 pm for Tashlich

Yom Kippur

Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 pm In the Sanctuary

Lewisboro Town Park

Don’t forget to bring bread

Friends and family are welcome as long as they contact our office in advance.

Our Children’s Services are designed especially for children age 7 and younger.

Please join us for special songs and prayers with

Rabbi Burstein and Cantor Ben-David

Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road, South Salem NY 10590 914-763-3028 www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Jewish Family Congregation Babysitting 1st and 3rd Friday of the Month Babysitting is available for children 8 and under on the first and third Friday of the month from 7:30 - 8:30 pm Please contact the office with any questions or to sign up

office@jewishfamilycongregation.org 914-763-3028

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Ushers Needed For High Holy Day Services Contact the ritual committee to volunteer ritual@jewishfamilycongregation.org

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Birthdays Zachary Amerling

Nate Fishkin

Adam Andrade

Michael Gitlitz

Samantha Berg

Kenneth Gordon

Richard Bersch

Dr. Allan Gottlieb

Cole Brand

Debra Cohen

Eva Schenk

Lillian Gilbert

Charlotte Bellinson

Jason Breslin

Alan Sanders

Abbey Grzymala Alexander Junquera Peter Kaplan

Rick Cohlan

Spencer Kaplan

Matthew Duckett

Hillary Lavin

Jane Emmer

Anthony Senese Aspen Shafer Skylar Shafer Steve Shainmark John Stern J. J. Stevelman Zoe Vandervelden Daniel Westlake

Dylan Leitner

Sally Firestein

Justin Lipper

David Firestein

Luca Lipp

Dillon Firestein

Rebecca Mishkin

David Fischer

Elisabeth Rich

Andrew Fishkin

Yahrzeits Rheba Alpert

Abraham Feldman

Claire Markham

Edith Sherr

Ferdinand Aufsesser

Richard Glass

Edward Joel Mendell

Hugo Sternberger

Jerry Blum

Julius Goodman

Dax Nemerov

Janet Treitman

Sadie Dutka

Lila Gordon

Kenneth Rosenthal

Theresa Ehrman

Charles Karsch

Henry Salmon

Sam Feinleib

Leo Klotz

Joseph Salpeter

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Anniversaries Frank & Susan Andrade

Andrew & Amy Fishkin

David & Erica Levens

Jeffrey Berg & Debra Paget

Allan & Ellen Goldstein

Harold & Ruth Ossher

Theodore Bloch & Lisa Block

Lawrence & Leslie Gottlieb

Harry & Sandra Rosenhouse

Adam & Robyn Cohen

Richard & Lydia Hellinger

Fulvio Segalla & Wendy Lipp

David & Sally Firestein

Peter & Dawn Kessler

Steven & Judy Vandervelden

A Big Thank You to: Phyllis and David Amerling and Catherine Lipper for gardening.

The Sisterhood for hosting the Oneg Shabbat at our open house BBQ.

Easy ways to Support JFC  Become a Sustaining member. your generosity will enables JFC to provide memberships to families and individuals facing financial difficulties.

 Donate to one of the many JFC funds. https://www.dropbox.com/s/xiy0z2mezxoop9x/DonationsContributions.pdf

 Volunteer for one of our committees - a great way to support JFC and help the community  Shop at Amazon through Jewish Family Congregation website, which gives us a commission on all purchases. This is a convenient way to support JFC and a convenient way to shop. http://www.amazon.com/?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&link_code=hom&tag=jewishfamil0e-20

 Shop at DeCicco Market and tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your order. JFC will receive a rebate from your purchases.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Av - Elul 5774/ August 2014

Non Profit Organization Postage PAID White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022

Summer fun at JFC

Current Resident Or

August 15 Shabbat in the Great Outdoors September 12 ECC Back to School Picnic 10 am September 19 Unity Shabbat with ECC, Open to all 11:30 am September 20 Selichot September 24 Rosh Hashanah

Make sure to check out our calendar for up to date events at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org