May 2015 - Iyar/Sivan 5775

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Iyar - Sivan 5775/ May 2015

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

May Shabbat and Holiday Services Schedule Shabbat Kedoshim, Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27 May 1 7:30 pm Shabbat Services featuring Kindergarten and Grade 1

May 2

10:30 am

Shabbat Services

Shabbat Emor, Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 May 8 7:30 pm Shabbat Services Abigail Dodes hosts a Bake Sale as one of her Tzedakah projects.

May 9 10:30 am Shabbat Services including Bat Mitzvah of Taylor Hoffman Shabbat Behar – Bechukotai, Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34 May 15 7:30 pm Shabbat Services Free Babysitting May 16 10:30 am

Shabbat Services including Bat Mitzvah of Molly Silva

Shabbat Bamidbar , Numbers 1:1 – 4:20 May 22 7:30 pm Shabbat Service ECC enjoying the playground.

May 23 10:30 am Shabbat Services including

Bat Mitzvah of Ella Blum Shavuot May 24 10:00 am Shavuot and Yizkor Services with Temple Shearith Isreal

Shabbat Naso, Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 May 29 7:30 pm Shabbat Services Including Confirmation Service and Graduation Shabbat May 30 10:30 am

Karen Blum’s fourth grade class making matza break up.

Shabbat Services including Bat Mitzvah of Abigail Dodes

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

From the Rabbi’s Desk Sharing Our Voices in Three Constructive Ways -- In Israel, In the USA, and In New York State The deadline for articles to appear in JFC’s Shofar comes several weeks before the first of the month. While this can prove to be challenging, sometimes the early deadline works to our advantage. Laurence Furic and Kathleen Sakowicz provide excellent attention to sharing our messages in advance of the print publication of the Shofar through electronic means -- primarily in a special e-blast notification and on our JFC website.

Hopefully you will be able to read this message before the end of April. As you know from attending Shabbat and holiday services during the last several months, the World Zionist Organization (WZO) currently is holding a worldwide election for Jews to direct funds inside Israel to various organizations. As a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the American Reform Zionist Association (ARZA) represents Reform, liberal Jewish values in Israel. At the WZO elections held every 5 years, Jews over 18 years old can vote to direct funds towards groups with similar values in Israel. Funds are distributed in direct proportion to the number of votes received, and millions of dollars are at stake. Please vote before April 30 -- your vote makes a difference and will support such areas as women’s rights and gender equality and religious equality in Israel. Go to www.urj.org and follow through onto the ReformJews4Israel website. You will need a credit card for the $10 registration fee; please be in touch with me if this fee presents a financial challenge to you. It is critical to support our Reform principles in Israel at this time.

At the end of April, I will travel to Washington,

DC, to participate in the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s Consultation on Conscience.

Last year I was honored to become a Brickner Fellow, a fellowship awarded to rabbis to learn about how to better incorporate social justice topics in congregational life. Over 20 rabbis gathered for four days of study last year, and we have continued to study with teachers from all over the country by webinar. The Consultation on Conscience brings together 500-600 primarily Reform Jews from around the USA to hear from top government officials and to lobby for issues important to the Reform Movement, and the Brickner Fellows program will enable me to attend. Using Reform Judaism’s religious principles, the Consultation on Conscience focuses on areas of economic justice and poverty issues, LGBT rights, environmental and sustainability issues, reproductive choice, immigration, health care, Israel, churchstate and first amendment issues and others. I have attended this biannual conference several times in the past, and look forward to learning from top leaders and then lobbying our elected officials in Washington, DC. To learn more about the conference, go to www.rac.org or speak with me afterward.

Finally, at a more local level, I will participate in the Reform Jewish Voice of New York State Advocacy Day in Albany, NY, on Monday, May 4. As in almost every year since I moved to New York, I have traveled to Albany to learn about important issues affecting our community and then lobbied elected officials about those topics. There is still time to join me and others from throughout New York State by registering at www.rjvnys.org. I would love to see you there!

I hope that you will join and support me in sharContinued on page 10

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

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

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

JFC Members in the Community--------

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

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

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road P.O.Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org ----------------Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein, D.Min. rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org ---------------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

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

From The Presidents

by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin Co-Presidents’ Message JFC’s exploration of the possibility of forming a union with Temple Shearith Israel (TSI) continues to make progress.

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:

The joint teams we and TSI have created for the purpose of the exploration of a union continue to meet and accomplish significant results:

The many documents and projections that are necessary in order to provide the Boards and congregants of each synagogue with the information they will need in order to determine whether a union is the right path are being prepared. We believe the case for a union is compelling and we expect that both Boards will determine that a union is in the best interests of each synagogue and the larger community.

If both Boards do decide to recommend a union, they each will call a separate, special meeting of their congregants for the purpose of voting on a union. We anticipate that these special meetings will be held on or about May 31. The congregants of each synagogue will receive in writing and in advance of the meeting all the detailed information they will need to make a decision.

Leslie and the Education Team are going about the business of building a new religious school. Leslie is building out class schedules, identifying teaching responsibilities and putting the student mentor program in place.

The Finance and Legal Team is close to finalizing financial projections of what a united synagogue would look like. These projections will be a part of the materials sent to congregants in advance of a meeting to vote on a union.

The Ritual Team continues to chart the future ritual practices of a united synagogue.

The leadership of both synagogues are working jointly with Rabbi Burstein and Rabbi Reiner of TSI to agree on new employment agreements that would ensure that both are Rabbis of a united synagogue. As the work is being undertaken, the Rabbis continue to create a vision of what the rabbinate of a united synagogue would look like, particularly from the perspective of the enrichment that two extraordinary Rabbis could bring to the combined community.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

From the Religious School

By Leslie Gottlieb

What a Successful School Feels Like Recently writer Kate Taylor wrote about a charter school in Harlem and the discussion turned to teacher turnover and student success. One teacher who left the profession quite young to attend Yale Law School was quoted as saying, “You’re being treated like you’re on the trading floor at [a stock trading company] while you’re teaching in Harlem.” She was talking specifically about the pressure at the charter school, as she saw it; she left her post-- and the profession lost yet another talented educator. At many religious schools, constant teacher turnover is an issue, and there are great merits to the retention of a group of talented teachers, especially in the congregational school setting; talented teachers who can remain committed to one place over a long time help to create a stable strong school.

Taylor writes, “One consequence of the competitive environment is a high rate of teacher turnover.

Some teachers who left said that the job was too stressful. Others said they left because they disagreed with the network’s approach, particularly when they believed it was taken to extremes. In an internal email that some former teachers said typified the attitude at some schools, one school leader said that students who were lagging should be made to feel ‘misery.’ Suspension rates at [this network of] schools, compared with public schools, are higher.

As for the teachers who said they did not like the environment, [the creator of the charter network] said: ‘Most of the people who leave are a little angry, like they don’t like their work and they don’t seem happy teaching, and we really can’t have people who don’t love it.’ “For students studying Jewish culture and Hebrew, our goals are different and so are our assessment needs; we should always look to personalize education as much as possible.

Teacher turnover is a real problem for some schools whether or not they are charter schools. Even for the business world, too much worker turnover can destroy an enterprise. An analysis published by a business school professor I reviewed recently discussed how detrimental too much worker turnover is— and in this case it proved to be a strong contributing factor in the failure of a spa business that kept losing clients over the course of many years. The article talked about incentives used to engage the staff

at the spa-- and ways in which to attract and keep members and new clients. Looking at that model, using a committed staff of trusted teachers for us is a good place to start-- and that is what our parents at the Religious School can expect.

I have always felt, as a student, teacher and school director, that learning should be part of a nonthreatening, supportive, nurturing, fun and spirited environment. Many schools use ultra-strict methods to enforce good behavior. Many classrooms across the country use behavior-coding systems to reinforce classroom management standards. The culture of a school and its administration will determine what are acceptable measures for controlling and motivating students clearly, and I pass no judgment here, whatsoever; local school systems look at their own needs with great care before adopting standards for its classrooms.

Good teachers and principals are everywhere-- but the vibe of the school and its rules and leadership must stand behind the idea that a successful school should start out as a happy place where everyone involved feels progress is attainable—teachers, parents and students. As the Jewish professional educator Jed Luchow once told me, “No one at any age goes anywhere… to fail.”

In our current secular system, many parents (this year some 1,800 NYC students—according to a report on NPR-- stayed home when the ELA tests were given, a choice made by their parents). As in every generation, teachers, parents and students are re-evaluating standards for success—sometimes on their own. These are interesting times.

Every school is a small universe-- with myriad personalities, a physical environment with walls and windows, rules, books, file cabinets… but more important than anything else—each place has a definite and unique vibe. Every school we have attended or have worked at or entered gives us a certain feeling. With students and teachers gone over the summer months, a school feels lifeless, something in suspension. When the activity begins in the fall, there is a palpable excitement that should be felt by all who enter the halls. It is the energy of youth, the quest for knowledge and growth—and the dedication of committed educators—that combine to give the air itself a sense of wonder and magic. One has

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

From The Early Childhood Center

by Jane Emmer

Change is good, and change can be a teachable experience.

This fall we will move our school to a new location, and I could not be more excited about creating something new, exciting and fresh. As we begin to look at our new space we keep in mind what makes a good preschool environment and how our students learn?

We know that children learn best when they: 

Feel safe and secure in their environment. Children should feel that their teachers like having them around and that they are important to them and to the classmates. Children learn best when activities and materials offer just enough challenge—they are neither so easy that they are boring nor so difficult that they lead to frustration. For instance, most preschoolers don’t have the self-regulation skills needed to sit still and listen to an adult talking for long periods of time. Instead, they need to be actively involved and engaged in their learning. 

Can connect what they learn with past experiences and current interests.

Learners of any age—and especially young children—understand and remember new things that relate to the experiences, knowledge, and skills they already have. A new thread of learning stays with the child when it is part of a fabric, not an isolated strand.  Have opportunities to explore and play. Preschoolers need materials and equipment that will spark their interest: they thrive when they are able to experiment, test things out for themselves, and draw their own conclusions. For instance, when a preschooler sets up boards at different heights and watches how far marbles roll down each one, he is learning about inclined planes and experiencing the scientific method.

Our classrooms might look different, but our core beliefs and values will remain the same.

I would love some input from alumni, alumni parents, professional educators or just those who want to help. If you would like participate in a brainstorming meeting, please call me at 914-763-3028.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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From The Ritual Committee

By Michael Salpeter, Chair

While at Passover Seders this year, I once again listened to the story of the Exodus, however, this year it had a special meaning to me. I focused specifically on what an article on www.jewishhistory.org refers to as “The Wilderness Years” and how it relates in a rather singular way to us today as Reform Jews.

This article specifically state, “Victories and triumphs inevitably are followed by letdowns, frustrations and disappointments.” The Israelites were faced with lack of food and water. They were attacked by Amalek.

Moses had to deal both with balky people and an equally balky Adonai. The Israelites complained that perhaps they had it better in Egypt as slaves than they had as nomads roaming the wilderness of the desert. Of course to top off all the negatives was the decision by Adonai to not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land, even perhaps teasing Moses by allowing him to see it.

Today as Reform Jews, we may at some point in our lives be faced with parents, other relatives or friends who have entered their “Wilderness Years” of dementia. These individuals may ultimately end up roaming through their remaining years, relying on us as caregivers to guide them much the same way that the Israelites relied on Moses. In the document written by the URJ entitled, “Jewish Approaches to Alzheimer’s and Dementia*” that not only should the affected person be supported, but the caregivers as well. Not only are the family members under stress by watching the deteriorating condition of their loved one, they may also be feeling the strain of the financial consideration of both the patient and family, resulting from increased costs of care.

We can learn from our ancestors that ultimately after wandering the wilderness they were able to enter and enjoy the Land of Canaan, perhaps after our loved one has concluded his wandering that we can reach our own land of comfort. Being a member of a community such as we have created at JFC can help us accomplish this feat. *http://urj.org/kd/_temp/BE508511-1D09-6781-A1B51FCD52CC68FD/Alzheimer%27s%20and%20Dementia%20 Study%20Guide.pdf Featuring local vendors such as Felice Jewelry, Bise, Groove, Lyn Evans, Suburban Couture, Audrey Road, Beauty Counter, Mark and Graham, Wildtree, Ridgefield Ski and Sport.

$55/Sisterhood members, $65/non-Sisterhood members

Send check made payable to TSI Sisterhood to Attn: Lynn Broder, Temple Shearith Israel, 46 Peaceable Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 or visit: Sisterhoodsipandshop.brownpapertickets.com (convenience fee applies) All proceeds benefit the Sisterhood.

Contact Lisa Kurtz (lisark9@yahoo.com), Kate Alvarez (kateabrodsky@gmail.com) or

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

Ask the Rabbi Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot?

The festival of Shavuot this year begins on Saturday, May 23 and continues on Sunday, May 24. Members of TSI will join us at JFC for a Shavuot service on Sunday, May 24 at 10 am. In addition to sharing prayers and studying Jewish texts, it is customary to read from the Book of Ruth, one of the Five Megillot (of Five Scrolls) of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Book of Ruth contains only four chapters, yet its powerful story figures prominently in Jewish tradition and the holiday of Shavuot. We read from Ruth on Shavuot because of the harvest theme contained, which parallels the harvest theme of the first fruits offered on Shavuot. Ruth essentially converts to Judaism when she speaks these famous words to her mother-in-law Naomi: “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.� (1:16) Ruth accepts the laws and customs of the Jewish people, just as we accepted the Torah from God on the holiday of Shavuot. Finally, tradition states that King David, the great-grandson of Ruth, was born and died on the holiday of Shavuot.

Shavuot is the harvest festival of first fruits and has the same importance in the Torah as Sukkot and Passover.

Similar to those holidays and on Yom Kippur, we share special prayers of remembrance as part of the Yizkor service embedded in the Shavuot liturgy.

Please join us for Shavuot and Yizkor services in the middle of your Memorial Day Weekend this year. We promise you will be uplifted by the story of Ruth and our sharing.

May Oneg Shabbat Hosts 5/1/2015

Kindergarten and Grade 1

5/8/2015

Steven and Melissa Goodstein Jeff and Cyndi Dodes

5/15/2015

Andrew and Nicole Rose Leonardo and Allison Junquera

5/22/2015

Andrew and Nicole Rose Robert and Emily Rauch

5/30/2015

Ellen Barth Drew and Mindy Hoffman

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

JFC Members In The Community

By Dawn Kessler

Eleven years ago, I was given an opportunity as an educator that would change my life professionally and spiritually. As a Special Education history teacher at Ossining High School.

I was asked if I would like to attend a meeting of the Educators Planning Committee of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. At this point, I didn’t really know much about the Holocaust other than what was briefly taught in my classes. I also had never had an opportunity to speak to a survivor.

All the students work on an action plan that is then implemented within each represented school during the Upstander Week that is recognized by Westchester County. For the past eight years, I have brought students from Somers High School to the institute and have worked with them on implementing activities for Upstander Week. This year it is the week of May 18. We have a student created group called RISE, Representatives Inspiring Social Equality, a group that I advise. We have had guest speakers and activities that the students conduct to raise awareness for atrocities I attended my first meeting and heard in the world. HHREC also sponsors guest speakabout an opportunity to attend a teacher trip ers throughout the year, movie viewings, and to Washington, DC, to visit the memorials and plans a Yom Hashoah Service at the Garden Of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Remembrance in White Plains, NY. As a member (USHMM). This was just the beginning of what of this organization, I recently was given the ophas become my passion. When I walked off the portunity to attend a two-week trip for educators elevator at the museum and was staring at the to Germany and Poland. We visited two concenphoto of the liberation of the camp, I asked myself, tration camps and met with many groups in both “How could someone have survived such cruel Germany and Poland. This trip changed the way and inhumane treatment?” and “How could I not I teach the Holocaust to my students, and most have known more about their stories?” importantly, as a newly converted Jew, I was given the opportunity to walk where other Jews have For the next two years, I attended every walked and learned what happened and what is workshop I could to familiarize myself with the happening now “to never forget.” I continue to history of the Holocaust and to learn about stories meet survivors from all forms of human rights of the people. I applied and attended the Belfer violations and listen to their stories so that I may Conferences and the Belfer Next Step Conferenc- somehow retell their stories. es conducted through the USHMM for teachers.

I met survivors, listened to their stories, learned I am also on the Executive Board of the facts, and created a collection of biographies, his- Somers Holocaust Commission. Every year, the torical reference books, and other literature that students of North Salem High School and Somers have enhanced my knowledge and also provided High School create projects depicting a human the opportunity for my students to learn more. rights violation. These projects are displayed during the Yom Hashoah service that is planned by Throughout the years, I have been inthe teachers of the hosting school. As a teacher in volved and continue to be involved in many difSomers High School, I have been involved in planferent organizations connected to the Holocaust. ning many of these services.

As a member of the Educators Planning Committee, a part of the Holocaust and Human Rights Throughout the years, I have made many Education Center (HHREC), we work diligently contacts with people who help me to continue to to educate students throughout Westchester and build my knowledge of these atrocities that I hope Fairfield Counties on topics of the Holocaust and one day may never happen again. Until that day, various Human Rights Issues. Annually, we hold I strive to educate my students and my own two a Student Institute for Leaders in which we have boys to be Upstanders and to help them know that over 300 students from across the county attend. they have the voice to make a difference.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Continued from page 3 - Presidents Message

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

We continue to undertake events together or include the other in our programs:

On Saturday, April 4, we celebrated Passover as one community at a wonderful Seder at TSI led

by Rabbis Burstein and Reiner. The Rabbis brought interesting new dimensions to the Seder and it was an extremely warm and embracing evening.

As we have previously noted, the clergy and lay leadership of the legacy synagogues decided that each would cancel its own Shabbat service from time to time and instead attend services at the other synagogue. On April 10, a joint service led by Rabbis Burstein and Reiner and Cantor Deborah KatchkoGray was held at TSI. The feedback from these joint services has been quite strong.

On April 22, the JFC men’s club will participate in a TSI men’s club dinner at which entrepreneur and inventor Jay Scott Walker, a TSI member and a founder of Priceline.com, will be the featured speaker.

On Thursday, May 7 at TSI, the JFC and TSI choirs will sing together for the first time.

On Saturday, May 16, we will hold a Spring Gala together at TSI, featuring cocktails, dinner, an auction and entertainment.

The Boards of each synagogue will have a joint meeting soon to discuss an approach for identifying a name for a united synagogue.

The exploration of a union has been a careful and thoughtful process, conducted over many months and involving many people from both congregations. While our values and goals are remarkably similar, we sometimes have brought different perspectives and concerns to the table. We’ve been able to resolve all of them together. While there is still more work and analysis to be done, we continue to be extremely heartened by the picture that is emerging of a united future, if the congregants decide that a union is the right path.

Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin

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Continued from page 2 - Rabbi’s Desk ing our voices in constructive ways, learning about important issues affecting our world and advocating for justice. If you cannot attend in person, please consider supporting these critical issues with a donation to one of the groups or to JFC to enable others to attend.

Thank you for sharing your voices in constructive and meaningful ways, Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein Continued from page 4 - Religious School

to imagine hearing birds on a sunny spring morning to accurately describe the beauty that is a happy school.

It is a place that everyone wants to be at and no one wants to leave. This is the kind of school experience we hope to achieve going forward.

And this is what is has felt like to have been part of the school at JFC—this past year and in all the years I have been involved (twenty as a teacher and fifteen as Director of Education). I have worked in many places and I have come to love many students and my colleagues much like family—but never before has a place felt more like a happy home to me than here in South Salem. The challenge for all of us and for me, personally and professionally, is to bring this magical feeling across the state line to our new home in Ridgefield. We can do it, but we must lock arms and do the work together.

In Pirke Avot we are taught that we are not required to finish the work—whatever that work might be; we are required to begin it and not to desist without a proper effort. I hope we all move forward together to begin the work of creating a happy meaningful religious school in which everyone can strengthen each other—in order to support our children. I hope it is a place that feels Jewish and not a place that simply teaches skills related to Jewish practice without reinforcing those values. I can be a part of that kind of place—and so should you!

Thanks to all for a truly great school year in a very happy place.

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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  Shopping at Amazon through Jewish Family Congregation website 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

 Each time you shop at DeCicco Market, tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your order. JFC will receive a rebate from your purchases.

Thank You For Your Generous Support!

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2015-16 Religious School Program Schedule

Grades K-6- One Day a Week Program Early Tuition Rate Deadline: May 15, 2015 – Online Registration Now Available

Grades K-1: Thursdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music) or Sunday 10:15-12:00 pm (includes service/music) Grades 2-3: Thursdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music) Grades 4-6: Sundays 9:00 am-12:00 pm (includes service/music) Enrichment Day Option-Additional Class Meeting Day-Combined Grade Classes (includes service/music) Grades K-2, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grades 3-4, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grades 5-6, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grade 7 (B’nai Mitzvah): 2 day-a-week program plus tutoring Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music) plus Sundays 10:15 am-12:00 pm (includes service/music) plus 24 half hour private B’nai Mitzvah tutoring sessions- arranged individually plus Additional attendance required at several Friday & Saturday Shabbat services Confirmation I & II: Weekly pizza dinner, Thursdays, Grades 8 & 9 - 5:30-6:15 pm Grade 8/Confirmation I Class (Confirmation is a 2 year program): Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 pm Grade 9/Confirmation II Class: Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 pm Student Mentor Program- SMP-Teaching Training Program: New Grade 9 (& up) students enroll Weekly assistant teaching participation (Sunday, Wednesday or Thursday) plus pedagogy class (year one only), Sundays 9:45-10:15 am Student Leaders Program- SLP- Grades 9-12 Individualized leadership/volunteer/aide opportunity Program participation to be arranged individually Grade 9 Mentors & Leaders: salaried positions/posts assigned individually, Student Mentor Program students continue in grades 10-12 without instructional class to assist teachers or lead classes as instructors NFTY/NAR & BBYO Youth Groups (Grades 8-12) Each Youth Group meets twice a month NFTY meets Thursdays, 7:15-8:15 pm following Confirmation I & II BBYO meets on Sundays, time TBD and runs independent of the Religious School Confirmation students are all YG members Grades 10-12: Post Confirmation (1X month), Tuesdays 6:15-7:30 pm

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Religious School S.T.A.R.S. Program Sunday, May 3

Each student needs to attend the same number of services as his/her grade in order to attend the party on May 3 at 10 am.

Use your STARS sheet to keep track of the dates and/or sign in using the Big Binder in the Youth Lounge whenever you arrive for Shabbat. Call or email to say you’ll be attending!!

STARS kids come from 10-11 am for all the fun they can fit in.

From 11 am- 1 pm the entire school and congregation can join us but bring some spending money as this is our spring school fundraiser and we are counting on your support!

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REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! WE NEED THREE DOZEN MORE VOLUNTEERS HELP US HELP OTHERS....RSVP TODAY!

TSI’S 5 ANNUAL MITZVAH DAY th

Sunday, May 3rd, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Work on a team to help a local agency, individuals or TSI with a task (i.e. food pantry work, outreach to hospitalized children, gardening, crafts with seniors) Members and non-members of all ages welcome!

Perform a mitzvah as a family, individual or for a bar/bat-mitzvah!

Schedule:

12:00 - 12:30 (after Sunday school): Pizza kick-off and mitzvah assignments 12:30 - 1:00: Travel to work site /set up 1:00 - 3:00: Work 3:00 - 3:30: Travel back to TSI 3:30 - 4:00: Ice cream celebration and slide show of volunteers at work sites

Registration Required: contact Debbie Landzberg/Social Action Committee dlandzberg@gmail.com or 914-763-3199 IMPORTANT: Please be sure to provide us with the following information *Names of participants *Number of adults *Number of children *Ages of children *E-mail address *Telephone number *Special skills/interests *Limitations

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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Confirmation and Graduation Shabbat Services 5775 Friday, May 29, 7:30 pm Join us at this special Shabbat Service where we will honor our graduating high school students and our three confirmands

Ally Andrade, Aaron Cohen, and Wynter Schnell Each will share a few thoughts on this special occasion.

Festive Ice Cream Sundae reception to follow Graduates will receive a blessing from Rabbi Burstein as they embark on a new phase in life.

Students will also receive a gift from JFC. Please let us know by Monday, May 25, if you will be attending: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org

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

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Register Today Early Childhood Center at TSI Jewishfamilycongregation.org

We proudly offer programs that emphasize our philosophy of child-centered and engaging academic curriculum through a Jewish lens.

Please call to schedule a tour!

Jane Weil Emmer, Director Located in Ridgefield, CT near the South Salem, NY Border

www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

(914) 763-3028

Weekly Young Community Shabbat Celebrate with songs, stories, and snack.

Fridays 11:30 am - 12 noon

Open to all

Two’s program

Monday,Wednesday and Friday 9:15 am - 12 noon (2 or 3 day option)

Three’s & Four’s program Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:15 am - 12 noon

Fostering Jewish values and traditions.

Summer Fun June 30-August 6, 2015 Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday Weekly Sign Up 9:30 am - 12:15 pm Call for details

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

Donations Early Childhood Center Fund Seth and Cassie Hollander General Fund Vivian Sager in memory of Carole Alexander Doris Hettmansberger in memory of Milton Rubin, Martin Bressler, Dorothy Martin & Cantor Ben-David Robi Margolis in memory of Arthur Margolis Karen Taylor and Dave Kaminer Religious School Fund Elizabeth Strasser and Steve Silvera in memory of Carole Alexander Ronni and Allen Horn in memory of Arthur Margolis Dr. Resa and Charles Fremed in memory of Cantor Kerry Ben-David

Donations made after the tenth of the month will appear in next month’s Shofar.

Anniversaries Rabbi Marcus Burstein & Eric Larson John & Karen Conti Matthew Duckett & Elisabeth Rich David & Amy Fischer Bryon & Victoria Friedman

Kenneth Kurzweil & Suzanne Sunday Graeme & Catherine Lipper Eric & Meredith Rudin Mitchell & Jodi Waxman

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

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

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

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

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

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

Birthdays David Baum

Hayes Firestein

Philip Levens

Tyler Alexander

Sydney Fried

Wendy Lipp

Daniella Amerling

Laurence Furic

Ethan Lipper

Phyllis Amerling

Allison Glass

Debra Paget

Theodore Bloch

Zachary Gottlieb

Forrest Rappaport

Isaiah Blum

Jackie Kalter

Michael Silva

Samuel Blum

Nathaniel Kaplan

Molly Silva

Dr. Robert Bolgar

Dawn Kessler

Daniel Storfer

Jacob Breslin

Jake Kessler

Steven Vandervelden

John Conti

Peter Kessler

Alexander Wattles

Abigail Dodes

Marc Kutscher

Susan Westlake

Alix Drawec

Eric Larson

Jack Wilson

Yahrzeits Nathalie Fried Alexander

Marilyn Eslofsky

Andrew Hyman

Anne Elizabeth Raynor

Ruth Auerbach

Arnold Eydenberg

Mary E. Keleher

Edith Redman

Eleanor Aufsesser

Murray Fischberg

David Leitner

Thelma Reichenthal

Abraham Belsky

Josephine Rothman Fuchs

Rose Leitner

Emmy Sternberger

Bernard Benjamin

Ramon Garay

Claire Levens

Ludwig Sternberger

Mary Benjamin

Abraham Goldfield

Alan Levinsohn

Lisa Stoll

Helen Bergson

Phyllis Goldfield

Arthur Margolis

Barbara Traynor Stoll

Mickey Conn

Lillian Gordon

Esther Oks- Ponczyk

Fay Goodman Weisberg

Emilia Custodio

Shirley Grossman

Joshua Ponczyk

Charlotte Dutka

Harlan Hettmansberger

Diane Ravitch

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Iyar - Sivan 5775 / May 2015

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

Rabbi Burstein and Lucas at Young Community Shabbat.

Current Resident Or

Upcoming Events Friday, May 8 Saturday, May 16 Sunday, May 24 Friday, May 29

Religious School Teacher Recognition Shabbat Spring Gala Shavuot Service Confirmation and Graduation Shabbat

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