Shofar Shevat/Adar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
February 2012
From the Rabbi’s Desk Many years ago, a good friend of mine, a member of our little Reform congregation in Winnipeg, got it into his head that he should be the next president of the congregation. When someone else was chosen by the nominating committee, he sued the congregation; the judge threw the suit out of court. I relate this story to make the point that the internal politics of a synagogue are a breeding ground for factions, for power struggles and for enlarged egos. This applies to all synagogues, in all places, at all times. We all know the story of the Jew finally rescued on a tiny tropical island, who shows his rescuers the two synagogues he built there, the one he goes to and the one he would never go to. He’s the only person on the island, yet he gets into synagogue politics without hesitation! I had thought, for the first 13 1/2 years of my service to JFC, that we had escaped the curse of internal politics, and it really did seem that way. This was especially gratifying because I am well aware that my predecessor’s 2 years here were fraught with just those kinds of problems. The secular year just concluded was a year of internal politics and this turbulence has really distracted us from doing the job we are here together to do: to create and nurture community, so that we are a source of comfort, inspiration, and joy for each other and for our community as a whole. If this congregation is to succeed, then we have to get back to our real purpose, and put factionalism aside. I ask you to join me in this. From the Rabbi’s Desk President’s Message Service Schedule Recent Donations to JFC Early Childhood Center The Religious School Kids Ask the Rabbi
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We have shaken up the JFC Shabbat schedule and introduced several new elements, in the hope of meeting more people’s needs, and offering more opportunities for congregants to get to know each other. I hope you will take advantage of them. These include more Youth Group led services; some early services for pre-schoolers and their families; some pot-luck-dinner-and-laterservices; some musical services; in addition to all the usual programmatic Shabbatot (grade services, festival and holiday services, etc). On Saturdays we have added a few lunch n learn programs, from 11 am till 1 pm, to return to the tradition of study and thinking about important Jewish matters on Shabbat. Beginning in February, on Tuesday evenings (except the 2nd Tuesday, when the Ritual Committee meets), I am offering a Beginners’ Hebrew class, at 7:30 pm. If you cannot read Hebrew, this is the class for you…you will learn to follow in the prayerbook, and even to read aloud correctly; comprehension is another matter, requiring much more time than a class once a week. But you can learn to read Hebrew this way, and you will certainly increase your comfort in services. The Board of Trustees has also scheduled a list of social events, intended to give congregants an opportunity to get to know each other, outside of services. These activities range from a revival of the Women’s Group to a series of sporting activities: golf; tennis; and skating; some for the whole family and others for adults only. I hope you’ll support these as well. And there will be a series of fundraising events also.
JiFTY Birthdays/Annivs/Yahrzeits Ask the Rabbi February Oneg Hosts Donations Form JFC’s February Calendar
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Page 2 Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 e-mail: jfc@bestweb.net
jewishfamilycongregation.org
Rabbi Carla Freedman jfc@bestweb.net Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantorbd@aol.com
School Director Leslie Gottlieb lesliejo0312@gmail.com Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jfceccenter@gmail.com Temple Administrator Jolie Levy jfcoffc@gmail.com
Board Of Trustees Richard Mishkin, President 914-764-8305; Mark Lavin, Vice President; Polly Schnell, Vice President; Hal Wolkin, Chief Financial Officer; Carrie Kane Diane Richman Elise Serby Patterson Shafer Debra Verbeke Elisa Zuckerberg and Johanna Perlman, Past President
Shofar Editor Jolie Levy
Shofar Printer EnterMarket
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
February 2012
From the Rabbi’s Desk (cont’d) Without successful fund-raisers, we cannot operate the congregation. We are well aware that everyone is experiencing the financial pinch of the current economy. And so is JFC. But, in the spirit of pulling together to put JFC back on track this year, we are counting on you to support these events as well. They all have a social component to them, and should be fun. The generic term for a Jewish house of worship is the Greek word, synagogue. This word is a good translation of the Hebrew, beyt knesset, which means “house of assembly”. Archaeology has shown that there were synagogues in ancient Israel, even while the Temple stood in Jerusalem. Worship was originally the exclusive function of the Temple, while the synagogue served as the community’s meeting place; after the Roman destruction of the Temple, the synagogue became the house of worship, too.
So we are on good firm ground in seeing our synagogue as the community’s place of assembly, for all sorts of activities. But the primary function of this and every other synagogue is simply the Jewish community’s home. Since our building was originally a home, this place has a much warmer feel than many larger places that somehow feel like institutions. The question is, are you at home here? And another question is, what will you do to make our community’s home more inviting and comfortable for yourself, for others in the congregation, and for the newcomers we need to keep our congregation vibrant? I invite you to join me in what it takes to make this place warm and welcoming, safe and secure.
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!
We now have a Facebook page! If you are on Facebook, go to: http://facebook.com/ jewishfamilycongregation and like us!
JFC’S 7TH ANNUAL COMEDY NIGHT Feb. 11, 2012 See page 9 for more details.
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President’s Message by Richard Mishkin As many of you read in my email of December 15th*, the JFC Board of Trustees approved a motion to extend Rabbi Freedman's contract through June 30, 2013. Her current contract would have ended on June 30, 2012, if not for this extension. The Board has heard from many congregants in numerous forums. A large group of congregants attended our annual meeting in June and, over the past six months, we have received letters and phone calls from members who wanted to make sure we knew how they felt and why. We have held focus groups, conducted face-to-face interviews and undertaken phone interviews. It is clear that the views of the congregation with respect to the process to be used in making a decision with respect to renewal of Rabbi Freedman’s contract vary greatly. It is equally clear that the views of the congregation with respect to what the ultimate decision should be vary greatly. The Board is committed to listening to them all, but what is also apparent is that our membership has been energized by this issue. Boards have long sought more engagement from congregations – members willing to do the work that needs to be done to maintain the family community based principles on which we were founded, and to provide for financial stability. So from my point of view, as President of your Board, ironically, controversy has brought us together and we now have many more congregants willing to give of their time. There was a special telephonic Board meeting held on January 26th for the purpose of identifying a way to involve members of the congregation in developing a process to address the decision concerning Rabbi Freedman’s contract. In addition, we discussed the need to take a fresh look at JFC’s present and future financial capacity as the Board believes that having a clearer vision of our financial future is important to decision making, including decisions relating to its Clergy. We are now fortunate to have Hal
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Wolkin and Donn Henshaw involved as our Chief Financial Officer and Controller, respectively, guiding us through this process. There is a regular Board meeting scheduled for February 2nd in which we will continue to address these subjects. We realize that the decision concerning Rabbi Freedman’s contract must be based upon many considerations and that financial capacity is just one of those. We have an opportunity now that we did not have before, to take advantage of Hal Wolkin’s and Donn Henshaw’s substantive financial backgrounds to gain a considerably greater understanding of JFC’s financial capacity, and we think that doing so is important. We have been and will continue to be in close contact with the URJ, in particular with Rabbi Marcus Burstein, who is our congregational representative, and Rabbi David Wolfman, whose job is to help Congregations resolve issues where membership is split, including as it relates to clergy. We are also seeking the help of congregants who have ideas to share. We want to thank all of you who have been so forthcoming during the past several months. We will continue to reach out to the congregation for suggestions for bringing all of us together as a Jewish Family as we plan for the future. *The original message was emailed to all JFC members. If you are not receiving email blasts or would like them to go to additional family members or to another email address, please contact the office so they can update your information.
With best regards,
Richard Mishkin, President, JFC Board of Trustees
THE
DATE
PURIM CARNIVAL SUN., MARCH 4 12:00 - 2:00 ALL ARE WELCOME!
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SERVICE SCHEDULE FEBRUARY Feb 3/ Shevat 11
7:30 pm
Shabbat Shira (mi khamokha-thon) With Cantor Ben-David and the JFC Choir Parshat B’shallakh Ruth Ossher chants Torah
Saturday, Feb 4
10:00 am
Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, Feb 10/ Shevat 18 Saturday, Feb 11
7:30 pm
Youth Group Rock Shabbat
10:00 am 11 am-1 pm
Shabbat Morning Service Lunch N Learn+++
Friday, Feb 17/ Shevat 25
6:30 pm 8:00 pm
Pot Luck Dinner*** Shabbat Sh’kalim^^^ Parshat Mishpatim
7:30 pm
Parshat Truma
Friday, Feb 24/ Adar 2
+++Lunch N Learn is an opportunity to discuss a topic on Shabbat afternoon, over lunch…bring your own
dairy or veggie lunch, and join us for a consideration of the critical Jewish values we want to transmit to the next generations. *** Please bring a veggie or dairy dish to share with six people. This time, our theme is Israeli food. If you need recipe ideas, please contact Rabbi Freedman, who will gladly share her new Israeli cookbook. These dinners have proven very enjoyable…doing the familiar blessings, sharing a meal, singing Shabbat table songs, and then cleaning up so we can enjoy the service. Do join us! ^^^ Shabbat Shkalim is the first of five special Shabbatot that lead us to Passover.
Want to learn to chant torah? It’s stimulating, rewarding, and you get to meet some great people! Join Ruth Ossher on Tuesday evenings to learn Torah Cantillation, the system for chanting Torah. The first seven classes cover the system; the following six classes review this material. In this hands-on class, each student picks a Torah portion early on and prepares it to chant at a JFC service. Each student is given plenty of support, and there is always a gabbai (person to help out) when Torah is chanted at services. Classes will be held from 7:45-8:45 on Tuesdays, Feb. 28 through June 19 (no classes on 3/27, 4/3,4/10, 6/12). The cost of the 13 classes is $260, plus an additional $40 text fee. For those students who have taken the classes in the past and would like to come in for specific sessions only, the cost is $20 per class. A minimum of four students is required in order to run this class. If you are interested, please contact Ruth Ossher at ruthossher@gmail.com.
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Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center Where Family is our middle name
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO REGISTER! Please visit our website at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
Recent Donations to JFC General Fund Stephen & Robi Margolis Stephen & Robi Margolis Susan Stillman Susan Stillman
In Memory Of Freda Schuler In Memory of Bernard Shuler In Memory of Julius Fuchs In Memory of Bernard Shuler
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Pearl Feldman Pearl Feldman
In Memory of Nathan Bell In Memory of Sarah Feldman
HIGH HOLY DAY DONATIONS Heidi Auerbacher & Ilene Benjamin Peter & Liza Breslin David & Carrie Kane
IF ANY DONATIONS ARE NOT LISTED, KINDLY CONTACT THE JFC OFFICE AND LET US KNOW.
Did you know… A donation to the JFC-URJ Camp Fund helps send children to summer camp who would not otherwise have this privilege. Memories that will be cherished forever. Thank you for remembering this fund!
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The Early Childhood Center Jane Weil Emmer, Director
It is that time of the year, when our friends and family with children of age, are looking for a pre-school for their little ones. It is my hope that you are enthusiastic about the quality of programming that we offer. It is also important that our prospective families believe in our philosophy. What is our educational philosophy at Jewish Family Congregation Early Childhood Center.? Funny you should ask‌ We believe that children deserve early childhood experiences that develop their multi-faceted potential and increase their love of learning. Mutual respect between teachers, children and families are hallmarks of our school. Teachers build on the perceptual and cognitive powers of children. Experiences are provided that meet children’s needs and stimulate learning in all developmental areas, physical, social, emotional and intellectual. Each child is viewed as a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth and development. Different levels of ability, development and learning styles are expected, accepted and used to design appropriate activities. Our family engagement approach is reflected in everything we do, from how families are welcomed in the morning, to communication about each child to make parents partners in the educational enterprise, to the ways we engage families in Jewish life and learning. Jewish values and ideas are the lenses through which we view our play-based, academically rich curriculum. We focus on interpersonal interactions as well as fostering independence. We provide opportunities both indoors and outdoors with an emphasis on relevant experiential learning. Below, please find a few suggestions on important things to look for in a good early childhood program. This list is a summary of the recommendations of the National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC.
Children spend most of their time playing and working with materials or other children Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials; props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group. The classroom is decorated with children's original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups throughout the day, not just at group story time. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children's different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. When you assess our program, you will find that we excel in all areas listed above. We focus on each individual and at the same time build a community of learners. Our curriculum provides opportunities for exploration both indoors and outdoors. The classrooms are literature rich environments. We all should be very proud of the superior Early Childhood Program at Jewish Family Congregation. Please help us spread the word!
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Call 914-763-3028 To RSVP or for more info
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- - - Lots of new vendors! - - Check website for details.
rs ndo e v new wish to s d d t rip a ou don’ ting an e c S h t If y Wi crea ll th Shop e time! onsider an get a proall th r now, c ou too c s to this help r orde unt so y update ffice fo o O w c ac ing ne he JFC unt! t exci ! Call t ur acco a gr m ng up yo i sett
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The Religious School Leslie Gottlieb, Director
A few weeks ago I was home one morning, and the phone rang. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s not. The caller ID announced, “Out of area” and I must admit my initial reaction was not a generous one-- but I decided I could challenge myself to be a person of peace and respond to yet another interruption from Verizon with a kind, “No thanks.” What a surprise it was to find out who was calling and from where…. Harris Henshaw, JFC former student, mentor and Youth Group member (and current JFC member) was calling from Sderot, Israel. Some of you may recall that for several years in a row, the Religious School supported the efforts of the JNF (Jewish National Fund) as they tried to raise funds to help build a totally secure underground playground for the children of Sderot, a fairly poor town right on the Gaza border. Sderot was, for many years, the daily target for those in Gaza looking to cause harm to average Israeli citizens going about their days—whether it was Kassam rockets or rocks, children were at risk as well as all others—on a daily basis. ( According to Wikipedia: The Qassam rocket (Arabic: Ṣārūkh al-Qassām; also Kassam) is a simple steel artillery rocket developed and deployed by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas. Three models have been produced and used between 2001 and 2011.) President Obama while campaigning for the 2008 election went to Sderot and publicly spoke about the fact that if his daughters lived there, he would want to do everything to stop the violence to protect them. Harris was in Sderot-- and at the time of his call was standing at the entrance of what we decided was an ordinary bunker-- one with a small play area—but he was so excited because he thought he was standing in front of the playground that JFC helped to build. We sent the JNF over $1,000 over a span of two years but we did not make the $1,800 cut-off which would have secured our synagogue’s name on the permanent plaque which resides on the wall of the playground. Nevertheless, it was a big deal to our students and members at the time and many will still recall the fund-raiser kickball game we all played one Sunday morning (the Rabbi, too!) in mid-winter in some very deep snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To think that through Birthright Israel -- which our school tzedakah program supports each year which helped send Harris and many thousands like him to Israel every year—that Harris not only made it to the Jewish Homeland but that the connection to JFC went even further so that he felt pressed to call me from a town we helped years
ago!!!! This put an enormous smile on my face-- and this is the kind of thing that propels me every day to come to work at JFC with energy and passion. I am always searching for new ways of connecting our kids to our faith and traditions. I am very grateful for this opportunity. Only ten minutes after I hung up with Harris, feeling a great sense of satisfaction from his call, one of my dearest old friends called to say that her 23 year old son (who had met a girl two years ago on his Birthright trip) was in Israel at that very moment with his girlfriend and her family who lives there (her father is Israeli). He had just proposed to her as he stood at the top of a unique staircase in Tzvat (in northern Israel) thought to have special powers of bringing two people together for life. Amazing. Two Birthright stories in a row on one morning! They say good things come in threes. Just the day before, I wrote out a check from our school’s tzedakah account to Birthright to help them with their annual appeal. The circle was complete. Now we are waiting for Harris to arrive home so that he can bring in his slideshow to the Religious School kids for their enjoyment. One generation has to do provide excitement for the next one right behind it. As you realize, we, as educators and parents, need to perpetuate this cycle over and over. We are obligated to teach the next generation but our kids need to understand their role in all of this. Their job is to generate excitement for those younger who are watching and listening. And coincidentally, I just got an email as I write this, from someone at Birthright asking me to recommend future enrollees for their upcoming registration in February. Maybe good things come in fours now?? I just gave her the names of my sons (22 and 25) who have never been to Israel. Their sister was there for a month two years ago, and we have been there but without the kids. I hope they get to go with Birthright. It is a very noble way to donate dollars if you plan to allocate money to a Jewish cause. All of your children can benefit from it for as long as the funding lasts. In any case, I am giddy with a feeling that what we do here at JFC and in the Religious School really does matter to some in that they, on their own at a certain stage, reach out for ways to stay a part of the Jewish scene long after their years here. I am tempted --just a little bit if not more- to say that we help set the stage for our students’ lifetime relationship-- with their Jewish selves. If we do not help them create Jewish identities, then we fail at what’s most important.
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Todah Rabbah From The Religious School to…
All of the families who came to the RS Bring a Parent to Religious School day in January! All of the parent chaperons who plan to sleep at JFC next month at our Youth Group’s Shul- In!! The Youth Group for planning this month’s Rock Shabbat on February 10! Karen Blum for her help with Youth Group last month!
Kids Ask the Rabbi Question: What is Tu B’Shvat, and how do we celebrate it?
Answer: Tu B’Shvat is actually a date…the 15th
day of the month of Shvat. About 2000 years ago, the famous rabbi Hillel and his students established that date as the one to use in calculating the age of a tree, for the purpose of knowing when it is permitted to eat the fruit of the tree (the Torah forbids eating the fruit of a tree till it is 5 years old). They decided that, once the sap starts rising in a tree, a new year of fruit bearing has begun, and so, this date, the 15th of Shvat, became known as “the new year of the trees”. Amongst people of European Jewish ancestry, we celebrate by eating things that grow on trees in Israel. So we will eat dates, grapes, oranges, figs, olives, grapefruit, etc. Some of these, like oranges, grapefruit, and even avocadoes certainly grow on trees in Israel now, but did not grow there naturally; they were imported and have done very well in Israel’s soil and climate.
with a tiny bit of red mixed in, to symbolize the earliest flowers of spring. The thirds glass is half red, half white, to symbolize the emergence of many flowers, and the fourth is all red, to symbolize the bold colours of summer. The other thing done to celebrate Tu B’Shvat is the planting of trees…not here (at this season!), but in Israel. When the earliest Jewish pioneers came from Europe in the late 19th century, they found the land empty of trees, so they began to collect donations to buy trees, to change the land from barren to fruitful. And they succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination. We continue to send money to Israel to plant new trees there, and you can do that through the Jewish National Fund.
You could also plant some things indoors here, like parsley seeds, which, if grown under special lamps, will produce enough parsley for your family’s seder plate for Pesakh. Tu B’Shvat is exactly 2 months before Pesakh (except in a leap year, when A tradition has grown up that, at a meal to celeit is three months earlier…this is not a leap year brate Tu B’Shvat, we also consume 4 glasses of on the Jewish calendar). And Tu B’Shvat is one wine or grape juice, just as we do at a Pesakh se- month before Purim! So when we eat the things der. But there’s an interesting twist to this. The that grow on trees in Israel, we know that spring first glass of wine (or grape juice) is white, to is not that far away! symbolize the winter. The second glass is white
Next Midnight Run: March 17, 2012
Don’t forget to check out the JFC Blog! Go to www.jfc.rjblogs.org
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Harris Henshaw's Trip to Israel was with Taglit Birthright Israel! Taglit-Birthright Israel provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. TaglitBirthright Israel's founders created this program to send thousands of young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel as a gift in order to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; to strengthen the sense of solidarity among world Jewry; and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people. The JFC Religious School supports Taglit Birthright Israel through its tzedakah fund!!!!!
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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.
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Pot Luck Dinners at JFC Enjoy dinner with fellow members and friends before Friday night services.
NEXT POT LUCK DINNERS: Feb. 17, May 18 , June 2
WJCS Offers Bereaved Spouse Support Group
Bereaved Spouse Support Group, offered by WJCS Pathways to Care, will meet on Tuesdays (Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14 & 28 and March 13 & 20) from 5:00 – 6:30 PM at WJCS 141 North Central Avenue, Hartsdale. Suggested donation of $60 for the six-week session. To register, contact Jane Slevin, LMFT, at 761-0600, X143 or jslevin@wjcs.com.
-- SAVE THE DATE -MARCH 20
ECC BOOK SWAP 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
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JiFTY By Jessica Sheptin
Over the past few weeks, JiFTY has been planning a shul-in to be held at the Jewish Family Congregation on March 3 – 4, 2012! A shul-in is when various Youth Groups travel to other synagogues and sleep overnight. Jewish Family Congregation has hosted a number of times in the past, and everyone enjoys these get-togethers! A shul-in normally has a theme, and JiFTY’s theme this year will be Pixar movies (such as Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc to name a few). The members of JFC’s Youth Group are looking forward to this exciting event! These pictures are from a recent shul-in.
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Please call the JFC Office when any relevant information arises or changes so all Birthday, Anniversary and Yahrzeit listings are accurate and up to date. JFC can only list names/dates that have been reported to us.
BIRTHDAYS Elizabeth Amerling Kase Aufsesser Kenneth Aufsesser Karina Barth Blake Berg Lowell Berg Brian Besterman Lisa Block Joshua Blum Zander Bolgar Peter Breslin Michael Carson Ellie Carter Rosie Ceisler Jillian Chipman Jeff Dodes
Charlotte Dutka Ethan Falconer Guss Firestein Leah Alana Friedman Victoria Friedman Iris Glass Ellen Goldstein Iliana Hellinger Jacob Hellinger Donn Henshaw Drew Hoffman Eugene Kahn Carrie Kane David Kane Adam Kirker Ryan Kirker
ANNIVERSARIES David & Carrie Kane
Hannah Klotz Benjamin Kurlander Yvonne Lerner Paula Levine Claire Lichtman Catherine Lipper Ian Marceau Robi Margolis Daniel Minnock Morgan Minnock Johanna Perlman Jennifer Pink Joseph Pink Adam Portnoy Joel Portnoy Sandy Radin
Aviva Salpeter Ethan Serby Alan Sheptin Zachary Sheptin Alexandra Slogoff Madeline Slogoff Zachary Sobel Eli Tubbs Pia Vandervelden Jill Waldman Zayla Waldman Michael Waxman Michael Wein Nita Weissman Laurie Wolkin
YAHRZEITS Bessie Belsky Joseph Drawec Judith Eydenberg Sarah Feldman Walter Goldman John Grzymala Gertrude Hodes Miriam Isaacs Ruth Kahn Charlene Lavin
Mary Lazarus Philip Levens Solomon Lichtbach Marcy Lissau Daniels Helen Rosenblum Joseph Rosenhouse Charlotte Stadler Jacob Stern Arthur Stoll Norton Worster
Have you considered celebrating significant birthdays and anniversaries with a leaf on our Simcha Tree of Life? Call the JFC Office for details.
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Next Midnight Run: March 17, 2012
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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ASK THE RABBI Question: I know that certain prayers are supposed to be said standing up, during a service. But what about people who cannot stand? Answer: This raises the interesting question, more broadly speaking, of what accommodations Judaism makes for those who are “differently abled”. First, your specific question. There are indeed prayers that are supposed to be offered while the person is standing upright. However, as you correctly imply, that does not apply to everyone. Certainly today we acknowledge that some people cannot stand upright (or stand at all), and that need not disqualify them from prayer. I specifically say, prior to the Yom Kippur service, that as the day wears on and one grows weak with hunger, a person may not be able to stand for the long sections of the service where standing is expected. Only the individual can know what s/he can do, and that is nobody else’s business. So, during the rest of the year, we simply assume that those who can, will stand for certain prayers, and those are not standing are not able to do so. In regard to the more general matter of accommodating people with disabilities, Judaism has altered its expecta-
tions as medical science has allowed us to understand the limitations that certain conditions create. In ancient times, for example, deaf people were considered uneducable because they didn’t communicate with others, but today we know that sign language and modern technology can enable the deaf to communicate well; there are, in some large cities, whole congregations of deaf people, who relish their religious experiences. Our sages of long ago thought that people with intellectual deficits were incapable of fulfilling religious obligations, and so they were exempt (as were women and minors…a subject for another time). But today, we know that religious experiences can be tailored to the specific needs and abilities that people have. So there are rabbis and communities doing exactly that. The bottom line is that Judaism adapts to its time and place. There are those who like to think that Judaism has never changed at all, but that argument cannot be supported by the facts. And the subject of the differently abled is one indication of the ways in which Judaism has changed a lot in our own time.
Todah Rabbah from the ECC to: All of our Mystery Readers this month: Rabbi Carla Dina Zusel Susan Shapiro Meredith Rudin
Jen Carter Laurie Hammer David Fried
Whitney Wasserman Patty Ivry (Dylan Cooper’s Grandma) Tara Kauftheil
Meredith Rudin for handling our Scholastic Fund Raiser Cantor Kerry for sharing his music.. .and Baxter too! Pat Shafer for fixing our fence in the playground. The parents in the ECC for their donation to the Eisner/Crane Lake Scholarship fund in honor of Jane . The ECC Committee for your wonderful support and energy!
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Priority________________ Date received___________ Check #_______________ Application for 2012-2013 School Year Child’s Name __________________________________________________ Gender _______________
Date of Birth _________________________
Home Address_________________________________________________ Home Phone_____________________________ Parent Name__________________________________________________ Parent Occupation______________________________________________ Business Address___________________ Business Phone_______________ Cell Phone___________________
E-mail_____________________
Parent Name__________________________________________________ Parent Occupation______________________________________________ Business Address___________________ Business Phone_______________ Cell Phone___________________ Other Children: Names/Ages
E-mail_____________________
__________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________
Please Check Appropriate Class 2-day 2’s_______ 4-day 3’s_______ 5-day 3’s_______
3-day 2’s _______ 4-day 4’s _______ 5-day 4’s _______
M/W/F 9:30-11:45 M/T/W/F 9:15-12:00 M-F 9:15-12:00
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
February 2012
TUITIONS FOR 2012-2013 The tuition can be paid in full or in three equal installments: April 27, 2012
June 29, 2012
September 28, 2012
Please include a non-refundable $350 deposit made payable to JFC ($50 registration fee; $300 will be applied to tuition). Mail to: Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590
FEBRUARY ONEG HOSTS FEBRUARY 3 Michael Horwitz & Fran Apfel Tammi Jacobs Shulman
Please find a substitute if you cannot host your assigned Oneg.
FEBRUARY 10 GRADE 3 SERVICE
FEBRUARY 17
Please contact the JFC Office with the name(s) of the new hosts.
Allison & Leonardo Junquera David & Carrie Kane
FEBRUARY 24 Terry Kalter & Marcia Sher-Kalter Andrew & Dayna Kaplan
Please contact your Board Host if you have any questions.
FEBRUARY BOARD HOST: Diane Richman (914) 763-0575
Shevat/Adar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Dear Leslie, We asked you for a lot in 2011, and you responded. You responded to the worst fire in Israel's history and provided Israel's firefighters with millions of dollars' worth of new equipment. You planted more than 20,000 trees to honor Gilad Shalit's homecoming. You contributed to Israel's water supply by doubling your impact with our gift-matching campaign, and you developed new communities in the Negev. That is only the beginning of what we were able to achieve together. Our work never ends. I am sure that we will need your help just as much in 2012 and for many years to come, but today, I am simply writing to say thank you. Thank you for your support and for continuing to believe in the work that JNF does and will continue to do for the land and people of Israel. I look forward to working alongside you in 2012. With my very best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2012, Russell Robinson CEO, Jewish National Fund P.S. - It's never too early to start thinking about your 2012 contributions.
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.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
February 2012
Shevat/Adar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
February 2012
Shevat/Adar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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Thank you to all those who shop at DeCicco’s Family Market in Cross River and have remembered to tell the cashier that you are a member of JFC. We’ve received our first check already! Remember, each time you shop at DeCicco’s, just tell the cashier you a JFC member before ringing up your order. JFC gets a rebate from your purchase. It’s that easy! (You may still use your DeCicco’s cards…)
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
February 2012
Shevat/Adar 5772
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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February 2012 Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
2
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP
3
6
Sat 4
Gr. 7 9-10:45 NFTY Winter
(Ashkenazi Service Kallah postponed to 5/18)
Bd Mtg Gr. 4-6 ECC 9:00-12:00 PAJAMA DAY Gr. 7 4:20-6:15 NFTY Winter Kallah
ECC
ECC Staff Mtg. 12:15
THURSDAYS: K-3: 4:15-6:00 CC: 6:15-7:15 YG: 7:15-8:15
5
Fri
SHABBAT SHIRA
Shabbat Shira Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
7
8
9
ECC
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP/YG ECC Gr. 7 9-10:45 Tu B’Shvat Celebration Gr. 3 Service Lunch ‘N Learn
Tu B’Shvat
Beginners’ Hebrew 7:30
RS Early Registration begins (ends 3/14)
RS Staff Mtg 6:15-7:15
10
YG ROCK SHABBAT Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
11
11:00-1:00 7th Annual Comedy Night 7:30-10:30
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Gr. 4-6 9:00-12:00
ECC
ECC
ECC
K-3/CC/SMP
ECC
NO Gr. 7
Kids Knesset 11:10-11:30
Kids Knesset 5:10-5:30
Gr. 7 4:20-6:15 Pre-Purim Pizza Planning Party
Dinner 6:30 Service 8:00
Ritual Mtg 19
20
21
22
23
24
PRESIDENTS’ WEEK NO ECC OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSED 26
27
28
29
ECC
ECC
ECC
Beginners’ Hebrew 7:30 Torah Cantillation 7:45-8:45
YG Collection begins - WJCS disabled adults seder
PRESIDENTS’ Gr. 7 WEEK 4:20-6:15 NO RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
Service 7:30 Tot Shabbat
JEWISH FAMILY CONGREGATION
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Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Rd/Rte. 123 P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590
CURRENT RESIDENT OR
Non Profit Organization Postage PAID White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022