Shofar Kislev/Tevet 5772
Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
December 2011
From the Rabbi’s Desk On Erev Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre evening, I delivered a sermon about the fact that we all come to services as individuals, and we each come bearing a burden of troubles that others don’t really know about. I listed some of the burdens people might bring with them: worries about kids; about aging parents; about jobs; about relationships; about the economy. And I reminded us all that the person sitting near you bears his or her burden along, just as you bear yours that way.
The need for community has been experienced very sharply as we all reeled from the loss of the Friedlander family recently. Though we have each processed this tragedy in our own way, and explored its significance from our own distinct perspectives, we also came together on several occasions to derive some comfort and strength from each other; that is community. But the larger question is, what can we learn from and how can we make something meaningful of these losses?
But our sages phrased all the public prayers of our tradition in the plural. That is glaringly true in the confessions of sins that characterize Yom Kippur. And I made the point that it is very unlikely that anyone has committed all the transgressions we jointly confess to. But by reading them aloud, in the plural, we each cover the sins of which we are personally guilty, and we allow others to confess their own sins, using our jointly raised voices as “cover”, if you will.
One point that needs to be made clearly is that this tragedy cannot be dismissed as an “act of God”. God had nothing to do with this. Our tradition teaches us that humans have free will, that is, we make our own choices. This is reiterated on Yom Kippur morning in the Torah reading from Deuteronomy 30: 19, 20, which says, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose The silent prayers we offer are expressed in the singular, life, if you and your offspring would live, by loving Adonai because each person, praying privately, can take those your God, heeding God’s commands, and holding fast (to words directly to heart. But the words we speak aloud are God)”. I teach our youngsters that we have been given phrased in the plural, so we can all stand under their cover the choices to make, and we are free to make good or bad choices. Our hope is that, with the right kind of parental together. We have been reminded, in recent weeks, that we really and educational guidance, children will learn to make good choices. But because we are free to make those choices, do not know what is going on in someone else’s mind, even while we are saying or singing words together. And there can be no guarantees. we have been reminded of how isolating it is to keep those We have chosen to perpetuate the memory of Molly and Gregory Friedlander by attaching their names to our Relithoughts and feelings to ourselves. gious School Scholarship Fund; this is very appropriate beWhen I wrote that sermon, the kernel of which was suggested by Cantor Ben David, I wanted to present the idea cause their mother, Amy, was very eager to make sure that her kids would continue to learn here, and this fund that, even though we are separate people with our own unique burdens, we are also part of a community, and that will enable other children to have that same opportunity. our salvation from isolation and tsuris lies in that sense of community. From the Rabbi’s Desk Service Schedule December Oneg Hosts President’s Message Ask the Rabbi Donations to JFC Early Childhood Center The Religious School Mazal Tov, Michael Horwitz Yahrzeits/Annivs/Birthdays
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Ladies’ Bazaar Recap D’var Torah JiFTY Jewish Camping JFC Events/Fundraising Brenda Barrie Social Action Committee JFC Pot Luck Dinners Kids Ask the Rabbi Donations Form
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JFC Calendar
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 e-mail: jfc@bestweb.net
DECEMBER Friday, Dec 2/ Kislev 7 Saturday, Dec 3
6:30 – 7:15 pm
Friday, Dec 9/ Kislev 14
7:30 pm Parshat VaYishlakh Guest Speaker Brenda Barrie, author of The Rabbi’s Husband 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service
jewishfamilycongregation.org
Rabbi Carla Freedman jfc@bestweb.net Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantorbd@aol.com
Saturday, Dec 10 Friday, Dec 16/ Kislev 20 Saturday, Dec 17
10:00 am 11:00 am-1:00 pm
6:30 pm 8:00 pm 10:00 am
Friday, Dec 23/ Kislev 27 7:30 pm School Director Leslie Gottlieb lesliejo0312@gmail.com Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jfceccenter@gmail.com Temple Administrator Jolie Levy jfcoffc@gmail.com
Board Of Trustees Richard Mishkin, President 914-764-8305; Mark Lavin, Vice President; Polly Schnell, Vice President; Jeanette Sanders, Secretary; Carrie Kane Elise Serby Patterson Shafer Debra Verbeke Elisa Zuckerberg and Johanna Perlman, Past President
December 2011
Family Service Shabbat Morning Service Lunch ‘n Learn^^^
Pot Luck Dinner***
Parshat VaYaishev Shabbat Morning Service
Chanukah Service
^^^ Since there is no service this Shabbat intended for adults, here is an opportunity to meet to discuss a hot-button issue from a Jewish perspective. Please bring a bag lunch (veggie or dairy) for yourself…we’ll do the blessings, eat and learn together! Please let rabbi Freedman know that you are coming. *** These pot luck dinners have proven to be fun…no need to register…just come with a veggie or dairy dish to share with 6 people (please, no pasta, no pizza)…we do the blessings together, eat and schmooze, and then sing some Shabbat songs; we do the Birkat haMazon, clean up and then celebrate Shabbat at a service. This dinner is kid-friendly…
DECEMBER ONEG HOSTS BOARD HOST: Mark Lavin (914) 232-0756 DECEMBER 2 Laurence Furic Allan & Ellen Goldstein DECEMBER 9 GRADE 5 SERVICE DECEMBER 16 Jack Goldberg & Trudy Wood Edward & Martha Gordon
DECEMBER 23 Allen Gabor & Lisa Papernik Roy Goldman DECEMBER 30 Michael Gitlitz & Rita Landman Lee Goldstein & Charles Dockter
Please find a substitute if you cannot host your assigned Oneg. Please contact the JFC Office with the names of the new hosts. Please contact your Board Host if you have any questions.
Shofar Editor Jolie Levy Shofar Printer EnterMarket
-- ONEG HOSTS -PLEASE REMEMBER NO MEAT GOODIES MAY BE SERVED AT ANY ONEG
Kislev/Tevet 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
President’s Message Adversity can break you or make you, and JFC has certainly had its share this fall. As the President of your Board of Trustees, I am charged with the responsibility of “making us better and growing our community.” I knew assuming this responsibility would not only be challenging, but would also be rewarding. It seems that lately, with every step forward, we have gotten pushed back by some unexpected event requiring an even stronger commitment to carry us through. The purpose of my message is to share with you how we, as a community, have faced these challenges. We began 2011-2012 in July, almost JFC’s 30th year, with a projected budget deficit that is primarily the result of the worst economy any of us has ever experienced. We will not be able to solve the problems that have erupted around the globe, but we have risen to the challenges in our tiny community in significant ways. We had a very successful High Holy Day appeal alleviating some of our budget deficit and easing the financial burden and concern of 27 JFC families who have been hit extra hard by the economy. Without our policy to provide a welcoming Jewish community and education for everyone, these families would have nowhere to turn when, perhaps, they need it most. Leslie Gottlieb copied me on a message from a congregant expressing her gratitude for how our Religious School, through the innovative MARS (Madrachim-led Alternative Religious School) Program, has been doing whatever it can to accommodate people whose needs may be a little different: Hi Leslie; our daughter was so excited to tell me about the class with Andrew Blum. She cannot wait to go next Thursday!! I am thrilled you asked her to be a part of this extra help program. I think it is going to be a positive experience for her. Leslie told me this new program has been so positively reviewed by all involved. Our younger members are making an impact; the Youth Group and the Kids Knesset (student government for grades K-6) help to organize some great social action programs that bring our community to the forefront with respect to caring projects. Also, whenever it comes to activities like the UJA Gift of Chanukah annual toy drive (going on now) and the JFC Book Fair...we are always pleased to find congregants who are happy to help run these programs.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN MAILED. PAYMENTS ARE DUE BY DEC. 31.
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by Richard Mishkin Just when we were starting to get our heads above water with dues, ECC, RS payments being paid on a timely basis and “austerity” agreements by the Rabbi and Staff, we found ourselves drowning under the deluge of Irene. We got through the High Holy Days relatively dry, but it didn’t take long before our parade was rained on; the cancelations and inconveniences set us back, but also served to push us together. Our building was safe and dry, thanks to the new generator that finally went on line a week before the storm, and the momentum continued. The planning process for the year’s social events and fundraisers was under way, with the help and involvement of energetic, young families. The board was also identifying how they might best approach a decision on the Rabbi’s contract, whose term is up on June 30, 2012. Then, we unexpectedly experienced the loss of four of our congregants, and again the forward momentum was lost. The Rabbi, the Cantor, Leslie, Jane, and all our wonderful teachers were as overwhelmed as any of us. But, they instinctively knew that their role, as impossible as it must have felt, was not only to mourn but also to give comfort and support to our children, their parents and to the entire congregation and, with the help of professionals within our congregation and the community, make sense of what happened and to help people grieve. JFC became the focal point for the media. Rabbi Freedman was asked in TV interviews locally, regionally and nationally to explain the inexplicable. What came through was that because of the community we share, we all would come through this experience scarred but able to respect and honor the memory of the Friedlanders. A memorial service open to all was planned with the help of the Town of Lewisboro, but what wasn’t planned was two feet of snow and power outages that lasted, for some, over a week. I started this message by saying “adversity can break you or make you.” What stands out in my mind is how JFC weathered these challenges. The snow finally melted, it became autumn again, the leaves on the trees that were left standing turned red, orange and yellow, and we did what we had to do. In a way, we lost six weeks that at JFC would have been filled with meetings, school, services, focus groups, and Torah study. In our “outside” lives, some of us missed work, hot meals, a warm house, running water, showers, refrigeration. Additionally, we all, including JFC, spent money we weren’t anticipating spending. But we persevered, became closer and stronger as a community, maybe gained some humility. We met the adversity head on and with the help of the JFC community and the local community we have come through these events and are stronger and wiser. As your president, I am proud to be part of this community and I promise to do my part in making us better and growing our community.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
December 2011
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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JFC Early Childhood Center
invites you to join us on the 2nd night of Chanukah
Stories-Songs-Crafts Chanukah Treats Bring your own Menorah for our Community Menorah Light-a-Thon
WED., DEC. 21 5:30-7:00 ASK THE RABBI Question: Is the dreydl game a form of gambling? If it is, why do we encourage our kids to play it?
require a wager in advance of the spin, betting some number of candies on a particular letter. But that is not how Answer: I have always thought of the dreydl game as an the game is played. All the action takes place after the spin and is really about dividing up the pot. educational device…we teach the kids what the four letters on the dreydl mean, in terms of playing the game, Since all start out on equal footing, and the game is rebased on the Yiddish words associated with the letters: started when the pot is empty, I don’t really see this as “nun” is for nisht, meaning nothing; “gimmel” is for ganz, gambling. It might be reasonable to object to giving kids meaning all; “hey” is for halb, meaning half; and “shin” is candy and encouraging them to try to amass a pile of it… for sheet arayn, which means put in. So, depending on but even kids with a sharp sweet tooth tire of this game which letter is face up after your spin, you take nothing after a while, because it is really a matter of luck, with no from the pot, all of the pot, half of the pot or you put more skill involved to determine who wins. The only skill resides into the pot. in spinning the dreydl itself. And since the “pot” tends to be made up of M&Ms or some similar candy, there is no money involved. As a kid I learned that everybody puts 10 (or some other agreedupon) number of candies into the pot, and when all are gone, you start again; that means that someone distributes more candies from the bag. So no one loses for long. In order for this to be a form of gambling, I think it would
Judaism is not famous for being lighthearted and frivolous. Yet on both Chanukah and Purim, there are opportunities for just exactly that kind of behaviour. So I say, let’s not get too serious about a game of dreydl!
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December 2011
Recent Donations to JFC General Fund Michael & Rona Salpeter Stephen & Roberta Margolis Stephen & Roberta Margolis Jeffrey Klotz David Wallick
In Memory of Joseph Salpeter In Memory of Rose Margolis In Memory of Freda Shuler In Honor of Rabbi Carla Freedman In Memory of the Friedlander Family
Molly & Gregory Friedlander Religious School Scholarship Fund Jamie Sirkin In Memory of Molly& Gregory Friedlander Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Renee Mendell Milton & Pearl Feldman Marty Weisberg Jeffrey Klotz Richard & Beth Sklarin The Henshaw Family Milton & Pearl Feldman Allan & Alice Gottlieb Yvette Carp Alexander & Bonnie Wattles Religious School Fund The Henshaw Family URJ Camps Fund Larry & Leslie Gottlieb
In Memory of Edward Mendell In Memory of Abraham Feldman In Memory of Leopold Weisberg In Honor of Rabbi Carla Freedman In Honor of Julia‘s Bat Mitzvah In Honor of Rabbi Carla Freedman & Linda Paulding on the Occasion of Stephen Henshaw’s Bar Mitzvah In Honor of Diana Bell In Memory of Gerhard Bendix
In Honor of the Religious School Staff on the Occasion of Stephen Henshaw’s Bar Mitzvah In Memory of Jerry Blum and Richard Glass
HIGH HOLY DAY DONATIONS/PLEDGES Norman Alexander David & Phyllis Amerling Paul Amerling Sandra Apfel Richard & Sandra Auerbach Kenneth Aufsesser Samantha Berg Jeffrey Berg & Debra Paget Richard Bersch & Amy Selig Ted Bloch & Lisa Block Joshua & Michelle Blum Neal & Karen Blum Robert & Andrea Bolgar Steven Borden Marvin & Yvette Carp Edith Carson Richard & Jennifer Carter Jonathan & Rachel Clott Chuck & Ellen Cohen Adam & Robyn Cohen John & Karen Conti
Richard & Terri Davgin Jeffrey Dodes Jo & Roger Drawec Bella Emmer & Susan Davis Jane Emmer Stuart Feldman David & Sally Firestein David & Amy Fischer Rabbi Carla Freedman Laurence Furic Allen Gabor/Lisa Papernik Michael Gitlitz/Rita Landman Jack Goldberg/Trudy Wood Roy Goldman Allan & Ellen Goldstein Marvin & Chic Goldstein Edward & Martha Gordon Allan & Alice Gottleib Larry & Leslie Gottlieb Richard & Lyda Hellinger Doris Hettmansberger
Drew & Mindy Hoffman Michael Horwitz/Sandra Apfel Eugene Kahn Peter & Jamie Kaplan Emily Kingsley/John Stadler Ellie Klein Glenn & Deborah Kurlander Mark & Debra Lavin David & Erica Levens Gary & Paula Levine Wayne Lopkin/Julie Furo Lorraine & Paul Malamet Shelagh McLean Richard & Catherine Mishkin Mark & Tina Moss David & Leslie Moss John Mucciolo Daniel & Rochelle Papernik Sandra & Harry Rosenhouse Eveline Scheiner David & Iris Schiff
Gordon & Polly Schnell Tony & Jodi Senese Jeanne Shanin Alan & Lisa Sheptin Denise Simon Leslie & Susan Simon Steven Simons Victor Stein John & Barbara Stern Susan Stillman Robert & Barbara Strongin Rabbi Harvey & Meryl Tattelbaum Alexander & Bonnie Wattles Clifford & Sherry Wallach Michael & Emily Wein Linda Wildman Marjorie Schiff/Jack Wilson Hal & Laurie Wolkin Fred & Marcia Zuckerberg
IF ANY DONATIONS ARE NOT LISTED, KINDLY CONTACT THE JFC OFFICE AND LET US KNOW.
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The Early Childhood Center What do we do at Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center? We strive to create a learning environment that instills Jewish values by emphasizing the growth of the whole child. Our nurturing staff works to create an atmosphere, which meets the cognitive, social/ emotional, physical, language, and self-help needs of the students. Teachers make informed decisions based on their knowledge of child development, individual children and cultural and social context. Curriculum integrates the content areas and provides for active exploration and concrete, hands-on activities. What have we done this fall to support our mission? We have been busy providing experiences for each child to grow and gain understanding of the world around them. Our trip to Gossett’s: Some of our classes visited Gossett Brother’s Nursery. They dug for worms; they planted bulbs and picked pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.
They learned about the giant trucks and what they can do. We read a story about Sukkot around the haystacks. We enjoyed a terrific hayride. Brainstorming after the storm: Most of our students and teachers lost power for several days after the October snowstorm. When we returned to school, after our unplanned vacation, we listed the things we liked about not having electricity. The kids shared that they played with their siblings, eat all of the food in our refrigerator, make a fire and help our friends. The 4’s visited Katonah Museum of Art: The exhibit is currently: New York New York the 20th Century. The students learned about New York City (where all of them have visited). The art depicts many places that the children have been, and they appreciated the artist’s interpretation using a variety of techniques. The kids then had the opportunity to create their own art in the learning lab. (Continued on page 8)
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
The Early Childhood Center
December 2011
(cont’d)
(Continued from page 7)
Fireman Tom visited: We had a visit from Fireman Tom. Tom Ritchey shared fire safety information, and we each had the opportunity to climb on the fire truck. Farmer Dale Visited our Garden and our Classrooms: Farmer Dale helped us put our garden to bed for the winter. We pulled out the weeds, and covered the beds with straw… tucked the garden in cozy and tight for the harsh winter ahead. We also planted myrtle to use in our Sukkah some day. Later in the fall, Farmer Dale returned to teach us about the cycle of plants. We planted indoor lettuce gardens in each classroom, and threw in some other seeds to see what happens. We continue to learn in our regular Yoga class: We enjoy Yoga with Stephanie in the Garden Room. The combination of breathing and movement wakes up the whole body and offers inspiration for the learning we do in our classroom and out in the world. All of these experiences support our day to day activities in the classrooms. Each day we read, create, imagine and inspire. We will begin priority registration for next year on December 15th for current students; open to the general public on January 3, 2012. Please share with your friends all of the exciting learning that is going on at JFC ECC!
Todah Rabbah from the ECC to: The Early Childhood Committee – for organizing our 2nd Annual Ladies Bazaar. It was terrific night
and a great fundraiser. A special thanks to Luda Samuels and Elise Serby for chairing the event. Rachel Clott and Dara Marceau for guiding the ECC committee. Rabbi Freedman, Cantor Kerry, Jolie and Kathleen for all that they do to support the ECC. Dale Saltzman (a.k.a. Farmer Dale) for teaching us about harvesting and planting. All of the families who donated books to the ECC from the book fair… list to follow. Jamie Kaplan for the tractor on our playground. David Fried for making our shelves roll. Meredith Rudin for the dress-up goodies for the 3s
We continue to enjoy Yoga with our Yoga specialist, Stephanie Goodkind. December we will finally begin our weekly visits to the library… with special mystery readers!
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The Religious School by Leslie Gottlieb
This year, our Youth Group at JFC is focusing their attention on global hunger; saving the orphaned children of Rwanda (Esther’s Aid) ; and getting books to needy children in our own neighborhoods (Open Door Family Medical Centers). What is it we can do to participate to help recover damaged lives? Some don’t believe that one person can change the world, but we must put our faith in each other as global hunger, our main focus here, is a humanitarian crisis that requires human intervention until it disappears. There is no need for any person to be hungry, the kind of true hunger that steals life. We must commit ourselves as a culture to action. Several months ago, writer Peter Kimeu wrote an essay called, “Remembering a Hungry Childhood.” He posits, “Hunger is an unforgivable disease because it is the easiest one to cure. It is devastating to look east, west, south and north and see that there is nothing green that you can chew. During a drought everything goes yellow and dry. I would walk the roads and search the ground to see if someone has spat out a bit of chewed-up sugar cane. I am not ashamed to say that I would re-chew what I would find. Hunger is dehumanizing. It gets to a level where you do not know how you will survive and you will do anything for a simple kernel of corn.” I agree that this epidemic is particularly cruel because the cure for hunger is food and feeding people is something we can do without extraordinary advances in medical science… and it isn’t even that expensive. It is a travesty that involves complicit governments and indifferent ones. Feeding the poor and underprivileged is the tenant of every religion. Why is it then that we never seem to advance much in this perennial fight? Kimeu is from Machakos, Kenya. He recalls that as a child his mother would direct him to keep water on the fire for hours in the hope that his father might come home with something that required cooking. Almost always, the fires would be put out as food was rarely brought back home. He writes that, “It is a traumatizing situation as a young child to be without food. You see the fear in the faces of your mother and father, despairing that they cannot feed their children. You feel afraid, too, because your parents can’t provide for you. Your stomach is so empty that even when you are thirsty and you take water it makes you dizzy. You get so nauseated your body wants to vomit, but you haven’t eaten. I think about this now as East Africa faces another drought. I think about all the children who are suffering as I did. We see terrible images of hunger, but I fear that we have not seen the worst.” JiFTY (JFC’s Jewish Family Temple Youth) is working under the direction of its two Social Action Chairs, Sierra Shafer and Jackie Kalter (also JFC Student Mentors) to help focus
attention and garner support for our global hunger initiative. They are using information from American Jewish World Service (AJWS) which is trying to create Golbal Shabbatot around the world that includes prayers for those suffering—but more important than that, the services are supposed to awaken in us, as worshippers, a desire to get involved in the crusade. AJWS is also hoping to organize the American Jewish community to learn more about the U.S. Farm Bill that will directly impact the connection we have to local farmers in communities where starvation is a problem. Introducing free food to starving communities, it seems, is not always the best course of action as it eliminates the need for area farm production which in turn devastates the built-in business community there to support its people. If you teach a farmer to farm…. Global Hunger Shabbat is part of AJWS’s ongoing food justice campaign. This fall, the campaign is focusing on mobilizing the American Jewish community to reform policies in the U.S. Farm Bill that negatively impact communities across the globe. The U.S. Farm Bill impacts food prices and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries worldwide. From its guidelines on subsidies to its approach to food aid, this domestically-driven legislation is actually doing a lot of harm across the globe.The Farm Bill is up for revision in 2012 and we have the power to reform it for the better. Over the next two years, American Jewish World Service and our partners will be working to ensure that U.S. agricultural policy does not short-change the world’s small-scale farmers.
Below is a prayer to be recited by those who want to introduce this aspect to the traditions of Shabbat (which began on November 4); a global Shabbat will be adopted by synagogues around the world. Avinu she’bashamayim: On this and every day remember your children, created in Your image, who hunger for bread and thirst for water. Take heed of all those who wander in search of food,whose worlds have gone dark through no fault of their own. We lift up our hands to You for the lives of the myriad children who faint from hunger. Show them mercy and kindness, God, and do not abandon them in their time of despair. Please, Lord, do not let the righteous want for food. Because You, Lord, provide the world with a bounty of food, while we have failed in our responsibility. We have stopped up our ears from the cries of the poor. Open our eyes, Lord, so that we see the suffering of the poor; open our ears so that we hear their cries. Remove the calluses from our hearts so that we may pursue the mitzvah of tzedakah more carefully than all others; instill wisdom and courage within us so that we may empower those living in poverty. Strengthen their hands so that they not be dependent on the gifts or loans of other people, but only on Your full, open, brimming, and generous hand. (Continued on page 19)
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December 2011
MAZAL TOV, MICHAEL HORWITZ JFC’s in-house composer, Michael Horwitz, has been creating original music for our choir, and these often have a haunting and evocative quality to them. If you were in the tent on Yom Kippur afternoon, you heard Michael sing, with Kathy Storfer, his composition, Smoke, a chilling piece about the Holocaust. He has also composed some music for Shabbat, notably a version of V’shamru, and a new setting for the morning text, V’ha-er Eyneynu. And now, Michael is being honoured by having that last piece published in the 6th volume of Shabbat Music produced by the Reform Movement. This is quite an accomplishment, and puts our Michael in the company of such famous composers as Debbie Friedman, Ben Steinberg, Steven Richards, Benjie Ellen Schiller, Bonia Shur and Michael Ochs (among others who have influenced the music of Reform congregations worldwide). The book, which is accompanied by a CD (on which Kathy Storfer sings Michael’s composition) will debut at the URJ Biennial in December. We should all be very proud of this achievement, and we should certainly encourage Michael to keep up the good work! If you have not heard the composition that will be published, you are missing out! We will find a time, perhaps in the coming months, to hold a Shabbat morning service that will enable us top enjoy this remarkable musical accomplishment. Stay tuned. And do offer your congratulations to Michael when you next see him (he’s the tall fellow in the choir, wearing the black hat!).
CHOIR If you would like to join the choir, or for more information, please contact Kathy Storfer at kstorfer@aol.com We welcome all adults -- 13 or older! From the Rabbi’s Desk (Continued from page 1)
Another important thing we can do to lessen the pain of these losses is to be more attentive to each other, to be more present to each other, and to be kinder to each other. This means taking the time to talk to each other, to really listen when we talk together, and to make ourselves available as friends and supporters. It is too easy to assume that we know what is going on in another person’s life, and to judge that person. It is also too easy to avoid being in real communion with others. That means getting past the ways we keep others at a distance. It means getting past our fears of what real self-disclosure would mean. And of course it is important that we continue to build community, for ourselves and for our children. Commu-
(cont’d) nity requires the support of all its members, though perhaps in a variety of different ways. But the first step must be the willingness to participate in that inclusive vision of Jewish community symbolized by all those prayers expressed in the plural form. So I encourage you to get involved in this Jewish community. Drop your own burden of woes at the door and come be part of something larger than yourself for a while. A service? A social action activity? An educational opportunity? A purely social event? Any or all of these? Your call. But come inside, under the canopy of Jewish life, and let your community warm your heart, sometime soon. And come back often.
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Please call the JFC Office when any relevant information arises or changes so all Birthday, Anniversary and Yahrzeit listings are accurate and up to date. JFC can only list names/dates that have been reported to us.
ANNIVERSARIES Richard & Sandi Auerbach David Berger & Jennifer Fisher Kenneth & Cindy Carson Jonathan & Iris Glass Mark & Debra Lavin
YAHRZEITS Aaron Blumenthal Ethel Feinleib David Sol Friedman William Goldman Arthur F. Karsch Lillian Kerner Charles Kingsley Jeff Lederman Isadore Lichtbach Belle Marcus Stern
BIRTHDAYS Fran Apfel Karen Blum Neal Blum Cheryl Chess Ivy Cohen Samantha Dorf Scott Dorf Jo Drawec Jonathan Gabor Ariel Goodstein Tammi Jacobs Shulman Erica Levens Kenneth Levinsohn Daniel Levinson Michael Levinson Emily Lopkin Arel Meister-Aldama
Ted Okamoto Zachary Ozols Zoe Ozols Richard Perlman Ari Rackear-Sturm Emily Sanders Lisa Sheptin Richard Sklarin Peri Stevelman Ellen Strauss Zia Waldman Margot Weisberg Arman Weissman Bryan Wolkin Ella Zaslow David Zuckerberg Elisa Zuckerberg
Malvina Mendell Freda Ossher Alan Perl Rachel Rosenhouse Ruth Rosenthal Yale Rubin Jack Sher Raymond Slater Bertha Waldman Have you considered celebrating significant birthdays and anniversaries with a leaf on our Simcha Tree of Life? Call the JFC Office for details.
-- SAVE THE DATE -Mark your calendars NOW for the following upcoming events at JFC: Sat., Dec. 17 Second Annual Talent Show Sat., Jan. 7 Progressive Dinner Sat., Feb. 11 Adult Comedy Night ‌.and more! WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS!
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December 2011
The ECC Hosted a Ladies’ Bazaar On November 9, 2011, the ECC Committee hosted their “Second Annual Ladies’ Bazaar.” The bazaar featured over 20 vendors and many shoppers. The vendors varied from jewelry, children's and women’s clothing, bags, stationery, exercise gear, scarves and a gold buyer. There were wonderful raffle items; we had many winners! Thank you to those who found contributors to the raffle, those who sold the raffle tickets, as well as those who purchased the tickets. We exceeded the amount of money raised from last year. Many thanks again to Luda Samuels and Elise Serby for organizing this amazing event and to all the volunteers. The bazaar could not have happened with out you!
D’var Torah By Sierra Shafer Nov. 19, 2011
This week’s Torah portion is called Chayei Sarah from the book of Genesis. I have written a d’var torah, or teaching of the Torah. Chayei Sarah means "the life of Sarah" and is about her death at age 127. She is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron and is accompanied by her husband Abraham and their two eldest children about 50 years later after paying the price of four hundred shekels of silver for the graves. This happens even though Abraham remarried to a woman named Keturah. He gains 6 boys from that short-lived marriage, though his heir to all his belongings is still Isaac. Sarah misses the marriage of her child, Isaac to Rebecca. Issac and Rebecca come together when Eliezer is sent with gifts to Charan. Eliezer is given a sign from G--d when Rebecca appears with water for his camel and as a result passes the test. Then Eliezer is invited to Rebecca’s home where he tells his story and later brings Rebecca back to Canaan to meet Isaac during his daily rituals. This is important because they marry after falling in love and he eventually forgets the grief of losing his mother, Sarah.
Looking further into the text, Chayei Sarah expands on what makes you happy in life.“Sarah lived to be 127 years old. These were the years of Sarah’s life,” (23:1). Could this mean that she lived life to the fullest. Was it simply an enjoyable life or simply a long and full life-- or is it both? All we can do in our own lives is to define the meaning of happiness and hope to see it come to fruition. “To be happy does not mean that you have everything you want or everything you were promised. It means, simply, to have done what you were called on to do, to have made a beginning, and then to have passed on the baton to the next generation.” I think the most important thing to be learned here is that we need to fulfill our duties to education and career—but we also must do our work of continuing to teach the generations to come. And maybe, if possible, we will make a lasting impression. After all, we are only human-- just like Sarah and Abraham.
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JiFTY has quite a bit going over the next few months. Our Social Action Vice Presidents, Sierra Shafer and Jackie Kalter, have found a few very worthwhile organizations to By Jessica Sheptin donate to this year. The first one is Esther’s Aid. This foundation was founded in 1999 and helps people who are homeless in both international and local communities. In 2000, the founder Clare Effiong, went to Rwanda and saw the devastation caused by the genocide in 1994. Children were homeless, without parents, living in dumpsters, poorly nourished, and in terrible health. To raise money, JiFTY will be holding tricycle races in the spring and the students at JFC will be able to place bets on which board member they think will win. All proceeds will go to Esther’s Aid. For more information, you can visit their website at www.esthersaid.org. The other organization we will be donating to is Open Door Family Medical Centers. Open Door, which was founded in 1972, helps families who do not have enough money to pay for health care. Every time a child comes in, they are provided with free health care and given a book to take home. Open Door started collecting books about five years ago and has kept their shelves well stocked through donations. Please donate children’s books to this cause. For more information, you can visit their website at www.opendoormedical.org.
JiFTY
DON’T FORGET: CHANUKAH PARTY DEC. 15, 7:15-8:15
Game Night November 18, 2011
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Jewish Camping By Ally Andrade
I'm going to tell you a little bit of what I thought and felt about being at Eisner. I was a first-year camper; this was my first time at sleep away camp. I will tell you about the things I learned, participated in and signed up to do. I will tell you about my first day and many of my experiences, so read on. Eisner is an amazing Jewish sleep away camp in Great Barrington, Mass. On the first day, I had fun learning songs and meeting my bunkmates. Your parents help you set up your area and your bed. Once you are set, you kiss your parents good-bye and try to get them out of your bunk before they embarrass you. At Eisner you make wonderful friends! You can choose your instructional sport, art, or "Funsport." The funsport is called Chugs. The "U" is pronounced by its name. Some of the chugs I did were drama, tennis, biking and fun with animals. Some of the instructional sports I did were tennis, basketball, and softball. I love tennis, so I brought my tennis racket to camp. If you don't have the sports equipment that you need, don't worry the camp has plenty! To sign up for a sport each week you get a piece of paper and a pencil. You number the page from 1 - 6. You write down the chugs you want, 1 being the one you want the most, 6 being the one you’re ok with but you would not mind or be upset if you didn't get it. Each week you rotate chugs.
In drama you do a fun play with other kids. This year's play for Chalutzim and Ofarim was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Though you can't do other art chugs, you still have fun. Sometimes you wish there were more hours in a day. On the first day of camp there is a special welcoming service. Everyone participates in this service. Each person passes the Torah down to each other in their group. On Friday nights there are shabbat services that the lower camp leads. When you lead a service, you either do a dance, a reading or art. After the service ends there is a song session where you sing songs in the Beit Am. After that there is Israeli dancing. On Saturday mornings there is a service and the upper camp leads it. The Torah readings are the only differences. Once or twice every session you have to do toranut. Toranut is when you set up and clean for every meal. You feel the life of the cooks are in the kitchen! The food is great. At the end of the day you go to bed. You love waking up to the new day because you get to have that fun all over again. This was what life was like for me at Eisner. I hope you come here next year. If you come here, I hope you have the time of your life like me!
JFC EVENTS & FUNDRAISING UPDATES The Committee kicked off the year with a meeting in November. It was a great meeting with lots of enthusiasm and positive energy. There have been so many suggestions for fun events that we spent some time selecting the best ideas from the list and solidifying the calendar. Here is what is in store for our members, your friends and families for the next few months. It is our hope that there is something on this list that appeals to just about everyone. Some of the items on the list are meant to be social gatherings, while others noted with ** have a fundraising goal. January 7th - Progressive dinner ** January 29th - Family Skating Party Feb 11th - Adult Comedy Night ** March 11th – Family Bowling Night
April 28th – Casino Night ** May (tba)- Tag Sale ** June 3rd- Early Morning Fishing Excursion July 15th - Golf Outing ** We are also going to be starting two monthly events that we are seeking leadership for: A monthly game night where we hope to feature bridge, bingo, a variety of card games and board games; we are investigating the interest level in a monthly movie club. Please let us know if this appeals to you and if you can assist in the planning or want to participate.
Laurence Furic — jfcwebmaster@gmail.com Jeanette Sanders — crotonjan@aol.com Elise Serby — eserby@aol.com
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Friday, December 9, at JFC: Brenda Barrie Launches “The Rabbi’s Husband” Brenda Barrie recently launched her second novel, The Rabbi’s Husband, in her hometown, Winnipeg, where it achieved number one Best Seller status for two weeks. Other launches for The Rabbi’s Husband will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, where Barrie and her husband lived for eight years. Barrie will also speak at book groups, synagogue and church groups in the Orange County and L.A. (California) area where she now lives. The Rabbi’s Husband deals with characters which appeared briefly in Barrie’s first novel, The Binding. In The Rabbi’s Husband, set several years after The Binding, Rabbi Tovah Feldner wakes one morning to find that her husband, Dan Goldin, has left her and their two children. But, this is not a simple story of desertion. Readers know immediately that these two love each other. As the novel evolves, it takes readers from Minneapolis, where the story begins, following Dan on a powerful personal quest to New York, while Tovah finally recognizes what action she must take to fulfill her promise as a rabbi, now in Southern California. Barrie’s settings are generally places where she has lived, including: Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, MN; and Orange County. In an advance review of The Rabbi’s Husband, David Haynes, author of Somebody Else’s Momma and All-American Dream Dolls among other novels, said “Brenda Barrie does it again. Engagingly and with the deepest compassion, The Rabbi’s Husband explores the intricate connections that bind us together as families and communities. Barrie treats each of her characters with dignity and with such an open heart that I couldn’t help but be moved by every one of them. Their love is as palpable as is their pain, and I turned the pages eagerly, rooting for things to come out well for one and all. This is a truly find novel.” The Rabbi’s Husband is available on Amazon and on Kindle. Barrie’s first novel, The Binding, (2005) is also available on Amazon. The Binding deals with the lives of three men who are the sons of Holocaust Survivors.
Copies of The Rabbi’s Husband will be available for signature that evening. As always, there will be a sign-up list for copies of the book. You will be billed later.
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JFC Social Action Committee November 11th marked the annual JFC Blood Drive, and we want to thank all of you who came to give blood. The drive collected 26 donations, with 5 deferrals. The New York Blood Center was particularly appreciative. They had a greater than normal need because the October storm had caused the cancellation of a number of drives. If you missed the drive but can donate, please contact www.NYbloodcenter.org. As we are moving into winter, we are mindful that it’s getting colder on the streets of New York. Talia Kaufman created a project for Girl Scouts organizing the Midnight Run garage. She was joined by friends and fellow scouts Erika Baron, Katie Strohmayer, Kate Russell and Samantha Lutt. They were able to do a lot of sorting, and washed some of the clothing that was soaked by water coming in from the leaky roof. The clothes were put into the bins and covered with tarps to prevent further soaking. Which brings us to another issue: the need for roofing materials to repair the roof.
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by Patterson Shafer
The Tzedakah of the Month For DECEMBER Is HOMES FOR HEROES FOUNDATION Their purpose is to provide or coordinate financial assistance and housing resources to our nation’s heroes such as military personnel, police/peace officers, firefighters and first responders in need. Selected by the
JFC Social Action Committee
Want to help?
Next Midnight Run: March 17, 2012
Thank you to Talia and her friends. If you would like to donate materials or labor to help repair the roof and protect the clothing, please contact Pat Shafer at 203 731 7641. We have our next Midnight Run scheduled in the spring. We always need clothing, especially backpacks, and volunteers to help prepare food the day of the Run. More information will be coming soon. Please feel free to visit www.midnightrun.org or reach out to Debbie Lavin (debbielav@aol.com) for more information.
Project Hope Chanukah Delivery December 11th at 9:30 Anyone interested should contact Jeanette Sanders (crotonjan@aol.com)
Contact Debbie Lavin (debbielav@aol.com) or Jeanette Sanders (crotonjan@aol.com)
JFC ANNOUNCEMENTS If you would like to “announce” a Simcha in your family, please send the text (pictures are welcome too!) to Jolie Levy at jfcoffc@gmail.com. Announcements must be received by the 15th of the month to appear in the next month’s Shofar. Please feel free to acknowledge your Simcha with an $18 donation to any JFC Fund or with a leaf on our Simcha Tree. Donation forms appear in every Shofar.
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Pot Luck Dinners at JFC Enjoy dinner with fellow members before Friday night services.
Here’s what people are saying:
“I would have to rate it very high on the Zagat scoring system. An extensive menu (from contemporary dishes of unique creativity to those that made me feel like I was sitting in my Bubby's kitchen), the quality of the cuisine worthy of 3 Michelin stars, very attractive decor and exciting and energetic ambiance comprised of a veritable whose who and who is not who at JFC. The Zagat rating would have been even higher if it were not for the service, which did not mirror what I have become accustomed to at most fine restaurants when I arrive. I was shocked when the Maitre D, Michael Salpeter, said my seat was available when I arrived as opposed to saying "your table will be ready in half an hour, why don't you have a drink at the bar. Seriously, the dinner was filled with stimulating conversation, good food, shared experiences and joyful singing. The dinner was a totally open and casual way to spend time with existing friends and make new ones out of congregants who one may say a "Shabbat Shalom" to, but with whom you may have never really had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation. Like a family Shabbat dinner, the JFC dinner ( and we all know JFC is like a family) began the warmth and glow of Shabbat in a special way which carried through for the entire evening.” Marty Weisberg
"We had a marvelous time at the Shabbat pot luck dinner, trying everyone's dishes, catching up on everyone's news and singing great songs. After a crazy week, we're so glad we mustered the energy to attend and in fact found the night tremendously relaxing and enjoyable, and a great prelude to the Shabbat service. It's a wonderful chance to make new friendships and strengthen old ones and we're looking forward to the next one. You're really missing something special if you don't give it a try. “ Deborah and Glenn Kurlander
“Shabbat dinners proved to be an absolute delicious experience: even when the first dinner brought a carb overload, the company and singing made for burning it fast and easy! I enjoyed meeting my fellow congregants and clergy in an informal setting, while we could be seated and discuss the different merits of grain. I find it a really nice opportunity to end our very busy weeks and share smiles and the opening of shabbat in this manner. Food has this power to make us immediately more relax: no wonder there is a blessing for each category! I will make sure I can attend others, hoping to meet new participants who won't know yet that I cheat with what I bring. So don't tell them, please (oops).” Laurence Furic, the lazy cook (but my French dressing is always authentic)
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The Religious School (cont’d) A PRAYER FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN HUNGER AROUND THE WORLD By Rabbi Shai Held
Oh God, speedily bring an end to poverty, so that “[the poor] shall not hunger or thirst, hot wind and sun shall not strike them, for Your mercy will guide them to springs of water.” Fulfill Your promise to those who revere You, as it is written: “God will wipe the tears away from every face.” Then shall we praise you, saying: “God has satisfied the thirsty, filled those who were hungry with all good things.” Amen, and so may it be Your will.
Don’t forget to check out the JFC Blog ! Go to www.jfc.rjblogs.org
Stay tuned to hear more about our Youth Group’s other initiatives like Esther’s Aid and Open Door (we’ll be collecting books at Chanukah for needy children in our area). We are teaching our teenage generation at JFC what it means to change the world… or is it that they are teaching us? Although we as Jews are instructed to teach the next generation (l’ dor va’ dor) it is sometimes hard to tell who is teaching whom… which is a good thing, I feel.
Todah Rabbah to… The RS Committee for their ongoing support The JFC Youth Group (JiFTY) for all of their hard work on last month’s Rock Shabbat The Kids Knesset for organizing the Bake Sale in November to benefit Esther’s Aid
We now have a Facebook page! If you are on Facebook, go to: http://facebook.com/ jewishfamilycongregation and like us!
Give the Gift of Chanukah Please donate a new, unwrapped gift for a child, teen or senior. Simply drop it in the wish bowl in the JFC entryway. (Please bring gift cards to the JFC Office.) Gifts will be brought to the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (a UJAFederation beneficiary).
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JFC CLASSIFIED ALL ADS ARE A FLAT $18 AND MAY NOT EXCEED 50 WORDS. THEY WILL RUN FOR ONE MONTH ONLY. To place an ad, submit the text and your payment to the JFC Office. You may email the text to jfcoffc@gmail.com and either drop off or mail your check (payable to JFC). Credit card payments are also accepted.
WJCS to Host Chanukah Celebration for Developmentally Disabled Persons The WJCS Havorah Program and Westchester Reform Temple will co-host a Chanukah Celebration for Persons with Developmental Disabilities on Wednesday, December 7 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Westchester Reform Temple at 255 Mamaroneck Road in Scarsdale. There will be music, crafts, refreshments and fun. All are welcome and admission is free. RSVP to Gail Oliver at 914-761-0600 X107.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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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Kids Ask the Rabbi Question: I am now a college freshman, living in a Beyond. It becomes a symbolic lighting, I know, dorm, and we have been told that we cannot light candles in our rooms. I know that I will be home for Chanukah this year, but I was wondering what I would do when Chanukah falls earlier in December. So I figured I’d ask the rabbi! P.S. I love being at college!
Answer: I’m glad you love being at college…and also glad that you asked this question.
There are a few ways to handle this challenge. Probably the best way, if you want a menorah in your own room, is to get a little electric menorah, and add the lights each night as you would do with candles. If you think this is cheating because you are not lighting actual candles, consider that what the Maccabees lit was an oil lamp…so our coloured candles are not authentic either! A different in-room solution would be to get a cloth menorah which comes with cloth candles and cloth flames, and treat this as your menorah. These can be found in Judaica shops, in Judaica catalogues, and also in places like Bed, Bath and
but it is better than nothing….
Another solution, at many colleges, is for the Jewish students to assemble each night at the location of Hillel, or the Jewish Students’ Association, and, as a group, to participate in the mitzvah of lighting candles. This is a good way to get to know other Jewish students on campus, and it might just supply you with some hot latkes or some sufganiyot (jelly donuts), also an important part of Chanukah. If there is a synagogue in your community, you might round up a bunch of your campus Jewish friends and go to the Shabbat service during Chanukah. Be sure to call and find out the time. Synagogues welcome college students, and sometimes they can connect students with families hosting a Chanukah dinner or something like that… so you could get a home-cooked meal out of that! And, since you will be home for Chanukah this year, why not join us on December 23 for JFC’s Chanukah service, where we’ll sing all the songs you love? Please keep in touch!
Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center Where Family is our middle name
YOU CAN STILL REGISTER FOR 2011-12! Please visit our website at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org OR call (914) 763-3028
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- - - Lots of new vendors! - - Check website for details.
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December 2011 Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu 1
DECEMBER 2-4: EISNER AND CRANE LAKE CAMPS FATHER-SON WEEKEND
Fri 2
3
K-3/CC/SMP/YG ECC ECC Staff Mtg. K-3: 4:15-6:00 12:15 CC: 6:15-7:15 YG: 7:15-8:15 Creation RS Staff Mtg. Station 6:15-7:15
Bd Mtg
Sat Gr. 7 9-10:45 Lunch ‘N Learn 11:00-1:00
Family Service 6:30-7:15
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5
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Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
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ECC
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP
ECC
Gr. 7 9-10:45
Gr. 7 4:20-6:15
RS Talent Show Submissions Deadline
Creation Station Gr. 5 Service Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
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12
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Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
ECC
ECC
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP/YG ECC
NFTY Social Justice Day
YG Chanukah Party
Gr. 7 4:20-6:15
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Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
ECC
ECC
ECC
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Chanukah (1st Candle)
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Creation Station Dinner 6:30 Service 8:00
Ritual Mtg
Chanukah Cele- Gr. 7 brations (last 4:20-6:15 chance to use “fall” shekels)
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Chanukah (7th Candle)
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Chanukah (8th Candle)
Gr. 7 9-10:45 Bagel Shabbat 9:30 a.m. ALL ARE WELCOME
RS Second Annual Talent Show 5:30-7:00 24
K-3/CC/SMP ECC Chanukah CeleCreation Community brations (last Chanukah & chance to use Station Candle Lighting “fall” shekels) Chanukah 5:30-7:00 (4th Candle) Service Chanukah Chanukah Chanukah 7:30 (2nd Candle) (3rd Candle) Tot Shabbat 29
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WINTER BREAK NO ECC OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSED Chanukah (6th Candle)
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Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
JEWISH FAMILY CONGREGATION
WINTER BREAK NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Chanukah (5th Candle) 31
Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Rd/Rte. 123 P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590
CURRENT RESIDENT OR
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