January 2015 Shofar - Tevet/Shevat 5775

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Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

January Shabbat Service Schedule

Shabbat Vayechi, Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 January 2 7:30 pm Shabbat services Free Babysitting Shabbat Shemot, Exodus 1:1 – 6:1

Leah Rendon, an ECC Student, giving Tzedakah.

January 9 7:30 pm Shabbat services

Featuring Grades 4 and 5

Members of Temple Shearith

Israel of Ridgefield, CT, visit JFC January 10

10:30 am

Shabbat Services

Shabbat Va’era, Exodus 6:2 – 9:35

Midnight Run participants

January 16 7:30 pm Shabbat Services Free Babysitting Shabbat Bo, Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 January 23 7:30 pm

Shabbat Service

January 24

Shabbat Services

10:30 am

Shabbat Shira, Exodus 13:17 – 17:16

Religious School students celebrate Chanukah

January 30 7:30 pm Shabbat Services Featuring the JFC Choir January 31 10:30 am

Shabbat Services

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

From the Rabbi’s Desk Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class Up and Going Jewish learning is very important to me as a rabbi, both as a student and as a teacher. I especially love teaching people of all ages, figuring out what interests them in our history, culture, and tradition. Not only do I try to model Jewish principles and values in my life, but I strive to bring them alive to our congregation. Jewish law has something to say about every aspect of our lives, all with the intent of making us better people and connecting us to a world that is larger than our own personal interests.

Engaging in Jewish study with adults is particularly rewarding. Life experiences influence our perspectives and understanding of traditions, rituals, and customs. Even with minimal exposure to Jewish prayer and holidays, the proverbial light bulb goes off again and again as people see the connections between principles and practice in daily life and in the Jewish cycle of our calendar.

Our Adult B’nai Mitzvah class has met for three sessions by the time you receive this. Not only is it wonderful to share the journey with adults who want to study Judaism from an adult perspective, but it also connects us to each other. We share more than knowledge, as we share how these teachings influence our thinking and our lives.

In an effort to try to welcome more students to this learning opportunity, the class has agreed to experiment with other students joining by telephone or video. The schedule of classes and topics is listed below. Our text is A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism

as a Spiritual Practice by Michael Strassfeld. If you would like to join our class for a particular session or for all sessions, we welcome you! You can participate in person, by telephone, or by video -- just let me know in advance, and we will figure out the technicalities. We will keep close to the syllabus, although you can always be in touch with me before or after each class to ask additional questions. Our sessions are on Wednesday afternoons and last for 60 minutes -maybe you can even join us from work on your lunch break? Even if you cannot join us for these sessions, I encourage you to get a copy of this wonderful book.

Knowing that several members of our congregation are studying the same text can open up meaningful conversations for all.

And just so you know… at this point, only one student is interested in participating in a ceremony as an adult bat mitzvah. Most students simply enjoy our learning, brushing up on their knowledge or acquiring new understanding of Jewish traditions. There is no Hebrew requirement necessary, nor is there any expectation to lead a service. Of course, that is a possibility if you would like to do so.

I look forward to having JFC members join us in the months ahead!

Rabbi Marcus Burstein Please find schedule on page 8.

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

Ritual Committee---------------- Page 6

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

Social Action ----------------------Page 6

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

Ask The Rabbi-------------------- Page 7

3 Page Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O.Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

From The Presidents

by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin Co-Presidents’ Message

Since our last message, JFC has accelerated the exploration of the possibility of forming a union with Temple Shearith Israel (TSI). We and the Board of email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org Trustees continue to be fully committed to keeping JFC congregants informed of the status of the exploration, and to making transparency and can----------------dor two of the essential hallmarks of that exploration. Because the members of Rabbi JFC will make the final determination as to whether JFC and TSI should form Marcus L. Burstein, D.Min. a union, it is essential that we keep you apprised so that you will be able to rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org make an informed decision. Here are some of the more important steps we’ve taken since we last wrote, and those we expect to take in the next month or so: Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantor@jewishfamilycongregation.org

---------------Director of Education Leslie Gottlieb lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org Administrator Kathleen Sakowicz ksakowicz@jewishfamilycongregation.org Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jemmer@jewishfamilycongregation.org -------------------Glenn Kurlander Co-President Hal Wolkin Co-President president@jewishfamilycongregation.org Josh Blum, First Vice –President Polly Schnell, Second Vice-President Robyn Cohen, Treasurer Suzanne Sunday, Secretary executive@jewishfamilycongregation.org Karen Conti, Trustee Jon Glass, Trustee Mindy Hoffman, Trustee Robi Margolis, Trustee Paul Storfer, Trustee Bonnie Wattles, Trustee Richard Mishkin, Ex Officio board@jewishfamilycongregation.org Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin Shofar Printer Copy Stop Royal Press

- The last of four JFC congregational meetings was held, the purpose of which was to give you an opportunity to discuss your observations, hopes, needs, concerns and fears. From our perspective, these meetings have been extremely valuable, and a number of very good ideas have been developed as a result.

- Many of the joint teams we and TSI have created for the purpose of the exploration have met; some have had several meetings. Reflecting the prominence of the religious school and its centrality to the viability of any possible union, the Education Team has had numerous meetings and is significantly advanced in its work. Teams focusing on Ritual and Governance have had multiple meetings and are making considerable progress. As we write this, other teams focused on the nuts and bolts of any possible union, such as operations, building and finance, will be meeting within the next few days.

- As a reminder, the goal of the JFC Teams is first, to work independent of TSI to define JFC’s values, vision, defining attributes, strengths and weaknesses in the given area, and then to come together with the TSI counterpart Team to assess compatibility and what the two synagogues might seek to create together in a union, so that the combination draws on the strengths of each community to build a new, united synagogue that is stronger, more robust, richer and more sustainable than either could be in isolation.

- The Board has named a few congregants who are not serving on the Board but who are reflective of the diverse makeup of JFC, together with a few current Board members, to form an “Advisory Team” that will offer the leadership of JFC advice and insight as we continue to explore the possibility of a union.

The members of the Advisory Team are Bobbie and Rick Cohlan, Amy Fishkin, Dawn Kessler, Robi Margolis, Josh Blum and the two of us.

- As we have previously explained, the clergy and lay leadership of each synagogue has decided that each synagogue will cancel its own Shabbat service on two different evenings and instead attend services at the other synagogue.

Thus, on December 12, JFC congregants were invited to attend the Shabbat evening service at TSI, which was led by Rabbi David Reiner and Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray. This gave JFC congregants who had never visited TSI an opportunity to see TSI’s building and to experience a typical TSI worship service. On Friday, January 9, TSI congregants will be JFC’s Continued on page 8

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

From the Religious School

By Leslie Gottlieb

The Other Son

ated on the screen. The film creates a hotbed of thoughts and reflections for the audience. This is a personal nightmare we have all imagined—not

Everyone in the film was green… or a shade of green… Palestinians and Israelis, alike. This time, it wasn’t a bad DVD from Netflix. After watching an

being authentically who we think we are. A Times writer reviewing the film put it this way: Is who you are determined by the genetic fingerprints of your

entire foreign film with subtitles, We later learned that

biological inheritance or by the influence of your

one of the cable wires that controls the coloration

environment?

feature for our television was loose. A simple wire reattachment fixed the problem. Watching a movie in this strange hue was more than mildly distracting.

We nearly shut it off because it was such a disappointing visual experience. But when the film concluded, I thought about the odd symbolic value this color effect had to understanding one of the film’s central messages: We are—whether green, brown, white or black-- all simply human in the end.

Our Youth Group watched this film in two installments last month. It got rave reviews from our student members. I even got a few emails from Youth Group parents remarking that their sons and daughters really found the film riveting. For me, one of the most important moments in the film comes when one of the central characters, brought up entirely as a Jew who later learns his biological parents are Palestinian, hears from the Rabbi that the other boy born to Jewish parents is actually the real Jew-- even though he was brought up as a practicing Muslim. He begs the Rabbi to consider his plight… that after personally experiencing brit milah, circumcision, yeshiva training and bar mitzvah—that he is very much a Jew. Of course the discussion about what makes one a Jew is at stake here for the audience’s reflection, as well. The teens at JFC could strongly relate to these characters and this dilemma on a

Although not exactly like Shakespeare’s Com-

personal level.

edy of Errors, this switched-at-birth drama creates panoply of questions for viewers. In that two new infants could be given different parents in the hospital in which they were born is disturbing enough-- but when you add in the fact that the boys are from such differing cultures, ones so super-charged with historical and political influences, you can easily imagine the tension cre-

I highly recommend that you see this film. It is a perfect way to bring a group of friends or family with adult children together in order to initiate a very worthy discussion—but I think it is not appropriate for children under thirteen unless there is a lot of explaining to go along with the viewing.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

From The Early Childhood Center

by Jane Emmer

From the Early Childhood Director I have long loved this poem below, as it represents the true importance of a partnership between parents and a school. We continue to strive to create an environment of compassion, enthusiasm for learning and growing here at the Early Childhood Center at JFC. We thank you for your support of what occurs in our classrooms and encourage you to take an active role in your child’s education.

I look forward to our continued relationship, as we work together to sculpt educated, committed, and caring young learners.

I dreamed I stood in a studio And watched two sculptors there, The clay they used was a young child’s mind And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools she used were books and music and art; One was a parent with a guiding hand and a gentle loving heart.

And when at last their work was done They were proud of what they had wrought For the things they had worked into the child Could never be sold or bought.

And each agreed she would have failed if she had worked alone Dillon Martin

With this in mind, I ask you to join our parent committee as we begin the process of growing together and thinking of next school year. Please look in our weekly email for meeting dates and times

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

From The Ritual Committee

By Michael Salpeter, Chair

This past weekend I attended my son Dylan’s graduation from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), a specialized institution whose graduates are all scientists or engineers. After listening to a myriad of speeches and award presentations, I became aware of the variety of principles and projects in which the faculty and students participate. Some of the projects that stood out were teaching inner city students to appreciate the out-of-doors in the country; bringing electric power to isolated villages in Peru through solar panels; providing clean drinking water to areas of Honduras; researching coral reefs around the world; finding alternative materials in the manufacturing of paper; and painting homes in the Syracuse area. The motto of the college sums up their goal -- “Improve your world.”

After reflecting on the aims of ESF, I realized how similar they are with one of the tenets of Reform Judaism -- Tikkun Olam, or Repairing Our World. With the beginning of yet another secular year, it is the time for us as Reform Jews to focus on those things we can do to fulfill some of the 248 positive or proactive mitzvot we are commanded to perform. Some of these may include providing food through the Community Center of Northern Westchester, donating money to your favorite charity, participating in a Midnight Run, or volunteering in an organization that provides health care or other services to indigent people.

On behalf of the members of the Ritual Committee I wish you and your family a happy new year and hope we all can find the energy to improve our world.

From The Social Action Committee

By Debbie Lavin

The Social Action group has been busy this fall! We had a successful Blood Drive on November 11. We had 40 volunteers who were able to donate a total of 24 units of blood. The number of volunteers was somewhat down from previous years -- hopefully next time, we will have increased numbers of volunteers to donate. This is a lifegiving mitzvah. Thank you to Ted Bloch for his invaluable help.

We had a successful Midnight Run on December 6. It was a very rainy night, and everyone got soaked, but it was a gratifying experience. We distributed bag dinners, hearty soup, toiletry kits, warm clothing including new underwear and socks, blankets and coats to around 50 homeless men and women. They were very appreciative.

We were able to get back in our vehicles, but the homeless people were out all night in the rain, hopefully under some kind of sheltering overhang. It makes us all count our blessings. We want to thank everyone who participated: Polly Schnell made a delicious giant pot of hearty soup and helped us to organize our clothing and toiletries (especially finding our toiletry kits which had been placed in another room!); Hillary Lavin assembled many toiletry kits; Harrison Lavin helped lug many bins of clothing and toiletries to and fro. Thank you to all those who came on the run and donated packages of new underwear and bag dinners: the Blum family, Josh, Michelle, Sam, Isaiah and Ella; the Rauch family, Rob, Emily, Jacob, Joshua and Max; Carly and Allan Goldstein; Judy and Pia Vandervelden (and her friend); and Noah and Ethan Falconer. And many, many thanks goes to Pat Shaffer whose tireless efforts involved helping to organize clothing, picking up the Midnight Run van and leading the group into the city for the run itself. The Midnight Run is always an eye-opening and gratifying experience.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Ask the Rabbi Jewish Garb and Looking Jewish Although you might not think that there is a way to “look Jewish,” in fact, our clothing and appearance are two of the ways Jews have been identified throughout history. Only in the last 200 years or so since Reform Judaism altered the way Jews dressed did it become much more challenging to figure out who is Jewish from what we wear.

The principle that underlies all clothing and our appearance in general is “tzniut” -- the principle of “modesty.”

Throughout history, both men and women were to dress in ways that would not emphasize their physical body; this mostly meant that people covered their bodies with clothing and did not allow a significant amount of skin to be shown. Although we are a Reform congregation and do not have the same values as some other Jewish congregations, we also realize that people should wear clothing that is respectable and not revealing, both inside and outside the synagogue.

The torah prohibits men dressing in women’s clothing and vice versa. Deut. 22: 5 states, “A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear woman’s clothing…” This verse has been interpreted by Orthodox communities in a way that prohibits women from wearing pants, for example.

In addition to secular clothing, several differences exist in traditional Jewish ritual clothing that allowed people to identify someone as Jewish from afar. Traditionally men wear a kipa (Hebrew) or yarmulke (Yiddish) as a head covering during prayer; some wear one all the time as a way to show respect for God. Also during morning prayer, men traditionally wear a tallit or tallis (prayer shawl) and tefillin during prayer. Because tallit and tefillin need to be worn at certain times -- and because from a traditional point of view women are exempt from performing mitzvot that have to be done at certain times -- traditionally only men could wear tallit and tefillin. Since women have full equality in liberal Jewish communities, now women also can choose to wear a tallit or tefillin at the same times men would. Some Jewish men wear a type of “small tallit” or a “tallit katan” under their shirts; it is a type of poncho/undershirt that has fringes hanging off its four corners. These fringes are called “tzitzit,” and come from the commandment in Numbers 15:38-39, which states, “Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages … That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of Adonai and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge.” These are the same tzitzit that we have on a tallit. Jewish clothing is designed to remind us to observe the commandments.

You may have seen some ultra-orthodox men with curls around their ears. These curls are called “peyot” or “payis,” which means “corners.” Leviticus 19:27 states, “You shall not round off the side-growth on your head, or destroy the side-growth on your beard.” In a way to emphasize that they are not shaving the corners of their head, they let this hair grow long; sometimes they even shave the rest of their head to further emphasize this difference.

Although norms and fashion change all the time, our clothing still can be used to identify us and to show respect for ourselves, our traditions, and our God -- during prayer and during other moments of our lives.

--------------------------If you have an Ask The Rabbi question, please email Rabbi Burstein at Rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Continued from page 3 - Presidents Message guests for a service led by Rabbi Burstein and Cantor Ben David, and will have the chance to experience a typical JFC service, as well as the vitality of our religious school, because religious school students from Grades 4 and 5 will participate in the service that evening. On one date in the future, a Shabbat service jointly led by the clergy of both synagogues will be held at JFC and on a second date, one will be held at TSI. These joint services will give us the opportunity to begin to see the possibilities for a combined service.

- We are planning other shared events and celebrations to give the congregants of each synagogue the opportunity to get to know one another better.

To sum up, the exploration continues to move ahead and is picking up steam. We continue to be extremely encouraged by what we’ve learned about TSI, their values and their hopes for a united community. At every opportunity, the members of the various Teams have been able to work together collaboratively and respectfully to address sensitive and challenging issues. At all times, we and TSI have been driven by one overarching principle: the necessity of ensuring the survival of a rich, thriving and robust Jewish community in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Our optimism about the prospects for achieving that goal continues to grow.

Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin

Adult B’Nai Mitzvah Class Schedule A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice by Michael Strassfeld Drop-ins are welcome and do not have to be part of any public, official ceremony. It is also possible to join by phone or video with advanced notice.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Religious School Chanukah Celebration

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Long-time JFC member and teacher

Rona Salpeter

is available to help with: babysitting, house sitting, animal care—& all jobs requiring a loving caring individual!

References are available upon request.

Contact Rona at # 914-643-8176.

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

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

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

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

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

We have a tremendous opportunity to influence and impact what happens in Israel and all one needs to do is simply VOTE! The elections for the World Zionist Congress are once again upon us, and we need every single member to be loud and to be counted.

The purpose of the World Zionist Congress is to discuss the burning questions facing the Jewish world and to vote on how to deal with these issues. The math is simple: Electing a large ARZA/Reform Movement delegation to the next World Zionist Congress (WZC) will strengthen Reform Judaism’s call for the values and ideals we cherish – like equality, egalitarianism and peace – and will grant the Reform movement greater influence to shape what it means to be Jewish in the Jewish State.

For more information and to vote go to www.reformjews4israel.org

Come celebrate Michael Salpeter’s 60th Birthday January 10, 2015 Shabbat Services at 10:30 am Michael will be chanting from Parshat Shemot Followed by a Kiddish luncheon All are invited Hosted by the Salpeter family.

Kindly RSVP by noon, Monday, January 5 office@jewishfamilycongregation.org

Anniversaries Allan & Alice Gottlieb

Ian & Sigal Leitner

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

ETHICAL WILLS What do you leave to your children besides your jewelry?

An ethical will is a document written to communicate values and wisdom, history, stories, and love from one generation to another. It preserves who you are and what matters most to you. It is a way for you to be remembered and to make a real difference. Ethical wills are spiritual in nature and communicate and preserve your values.

Please join Rabbi Burstein Sunday, January 11, 9:15 am —10:15 am as he discusses ethical wills and how to create them.

Topics include: 

How to decide on topics



How to organize and write what you want to say



How to prepare an ethical will



How to convey the ethical will

RSVP by noon Monday, January 9

There is no agony like bearing the untold

office@jewishfamilycongregation.org

story inside you. ~ Maya Angelou

914-763-3028

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

JFC Men's Group/TSI Brotherhood Dinner 38 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

Tuesday, January 20, 7 pm Jewish Family Congregation’s Men’s Group and Temple Shearith Israel’s Brotherhood are jointly holding a dinner at Bareburger in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Come catch up with old friends and meet new neighbors.

We hope you can join us. $29 includes meal, tax and gratuity Please RSVP before noon, Friday, January 16 by emailing mensgroup@jewishfamilycongregation.org or by calling the JFC office at 914-763-3028.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Judaism and the Five Senses

Judaism and Chocolate With Rabbi Deborah Prinz Taste Saturday, January 31, 8 pm Event to take place at a member’s home close to JFC

Judaism and Chocolate With Rabbi Deborah Prinz Explore the surprising Jewish connections to chocolate in this astronomic and historical adventure through cultures, countries, centuries and convictions.

Rabbi Prinz’s book, The Chocolate Trail will be available for purchase. $10 donation requested For location and to RSVP contact the office by phone 914-763-3028 or by email office@jewishfamilycongregation.org by noon, Monday, January 26 Jewish Family Congregation, 111 Smith Ridge Road, PO Box 249, South Salem, New York 10590

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Sunday, February 1 9 am-12 noon Join us this morning for our annual‌ Grades 4-6

Bring a Parent to Religious School Follow your child’s schedule and stay for as long as you like!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

JFC’s 10th Annual

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Tom McTiernan

Comedy Night!

February 7, 2015 8:00 pm

Join us for a night of fun with friends, drinks, a dessert buffet and lots of laughs!

Raffle Tickets!

Tom McTiernan is one the East Coast’s best comedians. He has appeared at New York City’s and Los Angeles’ best comedy clubs including Comic Strip Live, The Gotham Comedy Club, and The World Famous Improv. On television, Tom has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Stand, Up Stand Up” and NBC’s “Friday Night.” Tom has also worked in Atlantic City and Las Vegas where he has opened for numerous acts including Tom Jones and Blood Sweat and Tears.

Robin Fox

$30 each or 4 for $100

Chance to win a fabulous week-long vacation in Narragansett Bay, RI!

Tickets

$50.00 each until January 1st $60.00 each after January 1st Tickets and raffles may be purchased online at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

Call 914-763-3028 with any questions

Robin Fox spent 17 years as a New Jersey stay-athome mom. This “Real Housewife” was the funniest lady at the PTO and bus stop but one day decided to move her act to the comedy stage and has audiences roaring ever since. She can be seen at regularly at Gotham Comedy Club and Broadway Comedy Club. On Television, Robin appeared twice on “Nickmom Night Out!.” Robin has been on We Entertainment television and on Lifetime TV. Robin was a “Hot Topic” of Conversation on ABC’s “The View.”

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Donations Caring Committee Susan Westlake In memory of Denise Fuchs General Fund David & Phyllis Amerling In memory of Jack Bergson Jeff Berg & Debra Paget In memory of Denise Fuchs Laurence Furic In memory of Denise Fuchs Sheldon Golfarb & Amy Weber In memory of Denise Fuchs Doris Hettmansberger In memory of Al Rubin, Yale Rubin, Betty Rubin and Bill Goldman Debrah Jospe & Ronald Watkins In honor of Sebastian Wallach’s Bar Mitzvah Roberta Margolis In memory of Freda Shuler Vicky Weiss/ JJHS Faculty Assoc. In memory of Denise Fuchs Music Fund Eric Sherr and Michele Auerbach In honor of Cantor Kerry Ben-David on the occasion of Heather and Elyse Sherr’s B’Not Mitzvah Rabbi Discretionary Fund Alan & Laura Steinhorn In honor of Rabbi Burstein’s HHD service Religious School Discretionary Fund George Tabach Donations made after the tenth of the month will appear in next month’s Shofar.

January Shabbat Oneg Hosts Date Host Family 1/2/2015 Ken Kurzweil and Suzanne Sunday Robi Margolis 1/9/2015

Grades 4 and 5

1/16/2015

John Gryzmala and Linda Lederman Richard and Lydia Hellinger

1/23/2015

Jeffrey and Elizabeth Klotz Terry Kalter and Marcia Sher-Kalter

1/30/2015

Glenn and Deborah Kurlander Hal and Laurie Wolkin

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

High Holy Day Appeal Donations Phyllis & David Amerling

Glenn & Deborah Kurlander

Richard & Sandra Auerbach

Ken Kurzweil and Suzanne Sunday

Ken Aufsesser

Martin & Henriette Kutscher

Jeff Berg & Debra Paget

Mark & Debbie Lavin

Samatha Berg

Laura Levenson

Joshua & Michelle Blum

Ken Levinsohn & Ellen Strauss

Lee Blum

Wendy Lipp and Fulvio Segalla

Robert Bolgar & Andrea Snyder

Graeme & Catherine Lipper

Arlene Burstein

Warren & Karen Lustig

Marcus Burstein & Eric Larson

Robi Margolis

Marvine & Yvette Carp

Douglas & Gayle Mazlish

Adam & Robyn Cohen

Richard & Cathy Mishkin

Rick & Bobbie Cohlan

Harry & Sandra Rosenhouse

John & Karen Conti

Micheal & Rona Salpeter

Liz & David Cooper

Gordon & Polly Schnell

Jane Emmer & Stu Tygert

Alan & Lisa Sheptin

Stuart Feldman

Paul & Kathleen Storfer

David & Sally Firestein

Harvey & Meryl Tattelbaum

Peter & Wendy Fried

Ed & Debra Verbeke

Laurence Furic

Michael & Emily Wein

Janet Gabor

Bonnie Wattles

Michael Gitlitz & Rita Landman

Susan Westlake

Jon & Iris Glass

Hal & Laurie Wolkin

Lawrence & Jacquelyn Goldman

Jay Zaslow & Samantha Rai

Larry & Leslie Gottlieb

Fred & Marcia Zuckerberg

Richard & Lydia Hellinger

David & Elisa Zuckerberg

Drew & Mindy Hoffman Barry Korn

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Notes by

Nancy, Inc.

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

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

MB TUTORING Hundreds of students helped to excel

Malcolm Brown MIT Chemical Engineer B.S., M.S.

Prep

• SAT, PSAT & ACT

Math

• 7th & 8th Grades • High School sequence • Calculus

Science • Chemistry  Physics • Earth Science For further information, contact: Telephone: (914) 533-5468 E-mail: malcolmbro@aol.com Registered State tutoring. Serving Westchester and Fairfield

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

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JFAB

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

Jewish Family Alliance for a Better-World Community Action Group

Community action group for parents, children, family and friends Monthly meetings at Jewish Family Congregation Thursday meetings during RS will take place regularly for those interested!

Come to the meeting, share your thoughts and get involved!

How can we create a better world?

Become an upstander Prevent bullying Prevent anti-semitism & hate Build relationships with other communities Work with the Junior Newtown Action Alliance Work on gun safety issues Make social media safe for everyone

Adult Chairs: Leslie Gottlieb, Dawn Kessler, Karen Blum, Michele Auerbach Youth Chairs: Heather Sherr, Elyse Sherr (Adults & Teens Welcome to Join!!!)

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Please join us Friday Mornings for Shabbat Song and Snack With your toddlers and babies!

11:30 am -12:00 noon RSVP - 914-763-3028

Rabbi Burstein will lead us in song and Shabbat fun! We will all gather together in the sanctuary at JFC at 11:30 am. After singing we will enjoy a snack prepared for us by the children in the Early Childhood Center.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Birthdays Sandi Auerbach

Marina Fried

Martin Kutscher

Marjorie Schiff

Robert Bellinson

Jonathan Glass

Patricia Lerner

Savannah Shafer

Robyn Bellinson

Jacquelyn Goldman

Douglas Mazlish

Eric Sherr

Juliette Bellinson

Lawrence Goldman

Gayle Mazlish

Traci Silva

Batyah Ben-David

Allan Goldstein

Matthew Meister

Andrea Snyder

Cantor Kerry Ben-David

Brooke Goldstein

Richard Mishkin

Natanya Stark

Cecelia Bersch

Rachel Gordon

Sam Mishkin

Kathleen Storfer

Andrew Blum

Gregory Hoffman

Adam Ozols

Paul Storfer

Michelle Blum

Kristopher Kahn

Emily Rauch

Suzanne Sunday

Rabbi Marcus Burstein

Lisa Katz

Joshua Rauch

Riannah Wallach

Robyn Cohen

Elinor Klein

Sandra Rosenhouse

Richard Weiser

Karen Conti

Glenn Kurlander

Michael Salpeter

Donna Finkelstein

Kenneth Kurzweil

Rona Salpeter

Emily Fishkin

Eric Kutscher

Dafne Sanchez-Aldama

Yahrzeits Nathan Bell

Solomon Fremed

Grayce Romeo

Robert Belsky

Helene Fuchs

Bernard Shuler

Joan Berg

Julius Fuchs

Louis Steinhorn

Joan Fields Berg

Theodore Garfiel

Ruth Segel Sunday Davis

Douglas Birdsall

Helene Kutscher

Arnold Treitman

Oliver Cohlan Hughes

Michael Mishkin

Helen Worster

Stephen Crown

Bernard Raider

Norma Zucker

Joseph Elias

Lawrence Stewart Raynor

24 Page

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tevet - Shevat 5775/ January 2015

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

Rabbi Burstein during young community Shabbat.

Current Resident Or

Upcoming Events January 9 JFC hosts TSI for Shabbat Services January 10 Michael Salpeter’s Birthday Celebration January 11 Ethical Will Discussion January 31 Judaism and the 5 Senses February 1 Bring a parent to Religious School February 7 Comedy Night

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