Shofar - November 2013 - Cheshvan/Kislev 5774

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Cheshvan/ Kislev 5774

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

November 2013

November 2013

November Service Schedule:

Parshat Toldot Friday, November 1 – 7:30 pm Shabbat Service

Family Service featuring Grade 6 Free Babysitting Saturday, November 2 – 9:45 - 10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service

Parshat Vayetze Friday, November 8 – 5:30 pm Children’s Service 7:30 pm Shabbat Service Saturday, November 9 – 10:00 am Bat Mitzvah of

Laurel Levinsohn

Parshat Vayishlach Friday, November 15 – 7:30 pm Shabbat Service JFC History Project

Culminating Event

Free Babysitting Saturday, November 16 – 9:45 – 10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service

Parshat Vayeshev Friday, November 22 – 7:30 pm Shabbat Service Saturday, November 23 – 9:45 – 10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service

Parshat Miketz and Chanukah Friday, November 29 – 7:30 pm Shabbat Service

Rabbi Burstein celebrates 100 days at JFC Religious School students bake Challah The ECC students visit Gossett’s Nursery

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

From the Rabbi’s Desk Thanksgiving and Chanukah are Very Close to Each Other… …and Not Just on the Calendar This Year!

The Jewish world seems perplexed and off kilter this year with Thanksgiving being as late as it can ever be and Chanukah falling as early as it does. Although apparently this confluence of calendars happened a few times since 1863 when President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving the last Thursday in November, some calculate that the next time won’t occur for over 79,000 years! (It wasn’t until President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress in 1942 that Thanksgiving became the fourth Thursday of November.)

If your family celebrates Thanksgiving before sunset on Thursday, November 28, it will be the first day of Chanukah. If your family has a Thanksgiving meal after sunset, it will be the second night of Chanukah. Either way, both holidays are very connected…

Thanksgiving celebrates the fall harvest, just like Sukkot. In ancient times before the Maccabees beat back the Assyrian Greeks to regain control over The Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people were not able to celebrate Sukkot in The Temple that year. After purifying The Temple, they then celebrated an eight-day holiday, just like the eight days of Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah that they could not celebrate before. This story appears in the Book of Maccabees I; there was an eight-day celebration of songs and sacrifices upon rededication of the altar. (No mention of the miracle of the oil appears in this version.)

In fact another connection is that we read torah on every day of Chanukah, just like we read torah on every day of Sukkot.

(This is not the case for Passover, the only other multi-day Biblical holiday.) The word Chanukah means “Dedication,” because we were able to use The Temple again for worship in the 2nd century BCE. Finally, a religious and/or philosophical connection between Thanksgiving and Chanukah is that the Puritans who celebrated Thanksgiving had to escape religious persecution to be able to celebrate their religion and freedom, similar to the Maccabees of Biblical times.

So… you may not have realized that Chanukah in many ways is just a different version of Thanksgiving, one that can be celebrated at the very same time this year.

However you celebrate these holidays this year, may they be filled with light and blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Chanukah, Rabbi Marcus Burstein

Religious School-------------------page 3 President’s Message--------------Page 5 Early Childhood Center----------Page 6

Ritual Committee----------------Page 10 Youth Group----------------------Page 10 November Calendar-------------Page 15

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

From the Religious School

By Leslie Gottlieb,

How does Pope Francis-- and his newly revealed thoughts on religion and engagement help us as Jews? In an editorial by Ross Douthat last month, he email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org reports on the pervasive condition of apathy as it pertains to religious affiliations and habits of people from all backgrounds. The polarization of denominations ----------------within a group is striking among Jews but it is not a situation consigned to us Rabbi alone. The whole world is eschewing religion like never before according to new Marcus L. Burstein, D.Min. statistics. How do we keep our mission alive at a place like JFC when the walls rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org of faith are crumbling around us to a large degree? And how do we engage our Cantor children and young adults in a world where intermarriage is another contributor to Kerry Ben-David the possible distinction of Jewish culture with the exception of the Orthodox world cantor@jewishfamilycongregation.org which makes up only ten percent of Jews? How does this affect the way we need to address a Jewish education in the home and at synagogue?

---------------According to some recent research completed by the Pew Research Center ‘s Director of Education Leslie Gottlieb Religion and Public Life Project, Reform Jews in this country make up more in lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org numbers, thirty-five percent, than all other Jewish denominations put together.

Another thirty percent of Jews do not identify with any Jewish sect whatsoever.

Administrator So the picture is strong for Reform Jews for now in terms of participation but is it Kathleen Sakowizc ksakowicz@jewishfamilycongregation.org something that will dwindle with the historical trend and given direction of things?

Douthat writes, “This is not just a Jewish story. It’s been the story of religion in the Early Childhood West for over 40 years. The most traditional groups have been relatively resilient.

Center Director The more liberal modernizing bodies have lost membership, money, morale. And Jane Weil Emmer the culture as a whole has become steadily more disengaged from organized faith. jemmer@jewishfamilycongregation.org There is still a religious middle today, but it isn’t institutionally Judeo-Christian in -------------------the way it was in 1945.”

Glenn Kurlander Co-President The Pope is stirring up a “new evangelization” and a “new springtime for Hal Wolkin Co-President Christianity.” “…Francis seems to be determined to recreate, or regain, the kind of president@jewishfamilycongregation.org center that has failed to hold in every major Western faith,” Douthat writes. So we Jews tucked away in Northern Westchester are not alone. The rest of the country-Richard Mishkin, Vice-President and perhaps much of the industrialized world-- is in need of a renewal of spirit Polly Schnell, Vice-President and commitment to faith. It’s all very interesting pitted against the wider world of Robyn Cohen, Treasurer current events including the backdrop of persistent Islamic religious passion. Some Suzanne Sunday, Secretary executive@jewishfamilycongregation.org folks are willing to die for religion and the others combined include folks who are totally unengaged and perhaps atheist at the core. So why is this important to recognize as we teach our students here at JFC? Josh Blum, Trustee We are a part of this collective narrative even though our membership may seem Karen Conti, Trustee Michael Gitlitz, Trustee like a drop in the bucket. What we do matters—at least to us and our families and Ken Levinsohn, Trustee we help contribute to the tapestry of Jewish life no matter how small our overall Robi Margolis, Trustee numbers in this game.

Paul Storfer, Trustee These surveys to uncover the trajectory of religious practices and trends have to Bonnie Wattles, Trustee address the issue of Jewish identity before they can really tell us anything. The Richard Weiser, Trustee Elisa Zuckerberg, Trustee Pew research tells us that “22 percent of Jews” describe themselves as having no board@jewishfamilycongregation.org religion and identity solely because their parents were Jewish or they were raised -------------with some Jewish traditions. But the percentage of “Jews” who feel they have no religion “has grown with each successive generation” according to an article by Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin Laurie Goodstein in The Times that quotes all of this new research. “32 percent say they have no religion.”

Shofar Printer Whether or not we can sustain assimilation is one question we have to consider.

Copy Stop But what about the question of creating Jewish identity?

Royal Press Continued on next page

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

From the Religious School

By Leslie Gottlieb,

Continued At JFC, we have taken on this challenge in our own way. I suppose every congregational religious school can make the same claim. At JFC we stop to consider how our children and families are coping with these tender questions as they go about their lives. We do not stop this pursuit when kids reach the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. We are committed to their development as Jews especially after this seminal time. This is a pivotal moment in the creation of Jewish identification.

It is this aged person who is really beginning to question his/her lifelong identity and affiliation with Jewish life.

As our students pass through Confirmation Class in Grades 8 and 9 and as they lead others in the Student Mentor Program and Youth Group—we see these individuals creating a road map for themselves… and in many instances their parents are those most amazed by the personal transformation in their children at this time of life when the more normal thing for them to do is to separate away from the traditions of their parents. We have even witnessed parents who back away from their participation/membership while their sons/daughters remain steadfastly tied to their commitment to JFC and Judaism. This is interesting for all involved.

So as it is said… when you save a life, you save the world… I suppose that we are trying our best at all age levels to develop Jewish identities in our students that will resonate with them forever and affect future generations through their personal resolves.

Keyn Yehi Ratzon!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

President’s Message Maybe you’ve heard this one.

A Jew is shipwrecked on a desert island. After 20 years of complete isolation, a passing ship spies his fire one night and comes to rescue him. When they come ashore, his rescuers are eager to have a tour of his island and he’s happy to oblige.

They pass a large, spacious hut he’s built and one of the rescue party asks what it’s for. “This is my house,” he says, showing them around; “as you can see, I have a room where I take my meals, a study and a bedroom that’s cooled by the tropical trade winds.” The rescuers admire the old man’s ingenuity and craftsmanship.

Eager to see more, they walk on for another twenty yards or so and come to another hut, which has a Star of David fashioned out of driftwood over the entrance. “That’s my synagogue,” he tells his rescuers; “studying Torah and praying has brought me tremendous comfort these last two decades.” Intrigued, the rescuers ask to see more of the island.

Together, the old man and the rescue party walk down a path leading away from the synagogue and shortly come to a third hut; it too has a Star of David over the entrance. One of the rescuers says, “hey, I thought you said that other hut was your synagogue; what’s this building?”

“The first one is my synagogue,” the old Jew says. “This is the shul I don’t go to.”

The joke speaks to the sometimes conflicted relationship we Jews have with our synagogues; on a larger level, perhaps the conflicted relationship we may have with Judaism itself; on a larger level still, perhaps even the conflicted relationship we may have with Adonai from time to time. But conflicted is better than no relationship, because we can only be in conflict with those things with which we’re engaged; the things that ultimately matter to us, and sometimes matter the most.

The JFC Board of Trustees recently gathered for a retreat—an opportunity to take a step back from the business of managing JFC on a daily basis and focus instead on bigger picture opportunities. From this broadened perspective, our biggest opportunity is sustaining existing membership and driving new membership, and we think that comes down to providing opportunities for enhanced engagement and increasing JFC’s relevance in congregants’ lives.

While the Board discussed many ways to increase engagement and relevance and many exciting ideas emerged from the retreat, we of course want to hear from you. From your and your family’s perspective, what JFC programs or activities are the most engaging? Which might cause you to increase your engagement in JFC? How can JFC become more relevant to you, to the Jewish community in northern Westchester, to the community as a whole?

We all aspire to keeping JFC vital and vibrant so that it remains the synagogue we go to, often and with joy, energy and reverence. We welcome your thoughts on how we can continue and build on JFC’s success by increasing engagement and relevance. Any member of the Board whom you know would be happy to speak with you on these matters and hear your thoughts; of course, we would, as well. So please reach out to any of us in person or, if you prefer, you may always email us at president@jewishfamilycongregation.org Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Early Childhood Center We had our 1st Fire Drill..

The ECC had its first fire drill of the year. October was Fire Safety month and we had a successful fire drill Monday, October 7. This was a “soft fire drill.” During our science time we each got to try out blowing our own

whistle (no!!! the kids did not bring them home). When Jane and Kathleen blew the whistles we knew just what to do. Later in the month Fireman Tom, from the Vista Fire Department, visited and taught us all about Fire Safety. A big Thank You to Fireman Tom (Ritchey)!

Field Trip To Katonah Museum of Art …

Our Blue Room kids visited the Katonah Museum of Art and explored the indoor exhibit Remix: Selections from the International Collage Center. They had the chance to create their own collages in the Learning Center.

Fall Trip to Gossett’s Nursery.

We visited Gossett Nursery on Monday, October 21. We had a great time on the hay ride and and all of our learning stations. We each had the chance to plant a bulb to take home. We saw great big trucks and had a great time.

SPECIAL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE COMING FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN Our first Pizza Shabbat will be Friday, November 8 at 5:30. We will join together to celebrate Shabbat and enjoy Pizza (RSVP necessary for the Pizza part only!!) Come Sing, Nosh and Learn with Rabbi Burstein and Cantor Kerry. We can’t wait to see you all. To RSVP, -please call Kathleen in the office... feel free to bring friends!

ECC Challah Fundraiser is ongoing. If you need a Challah any week and are not ready to commit for the entire year, please let Jane ext. 15 know by Wednesday morning and the Challah will be ready for you at JFC Friday morning. The cost for a single week is $6.00.

Save the Date: Our school Thanksgiving Celebration will be held on Monday, November 25. All families are invited to join for our feast that our kids prepared. The feast will begin at 11 AM. Please plan on joining us for this yummy treat.

Attention ECC Alumni:

We have gathered a full list of Alumni of our Early Childhood Center… We want to connect with each of you.

Please share your favorite memory of your time at the JFC ECC. Send your memory to: Jane@jfcearlychildhoodcenter.org.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

ECC students visited the Katonah Art Museum

November 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Oneg Schedule

November 1, 2013 Grade 6

Vsiting JFC? Please stop by the office to say hello!

November 8, 2013

Adam Ozols and Donna Finklestein-----914-980-9517 Allan and Ellen Goldstein----------------914-980-9517 November 15, 2013

Josh and Michelle Blum------------------914-763-9082 Drew and Mindy Hoffman---------------914-763-2263 November 22, 2013

Roger and Jo Drawec---------------------914-763-5018

Steven and Melissa Goodstein-----------914-232-8074 November 29, 2013

Andrew and Amy Fishkin----------------914-764-5486 Robert Fischman--------------------------914-763-0230 Board Host

Richard Mishkin--------------------------914-764-8305

Use the Shofar to say‌ Happy Birthday, Get Well, Thanks, or I Remember Sanctuary Chair Plaque $150 Leaf on Simcha Tree $180 Memorial Board Plaque $450

General Fund Caring Committee Fund Social Action Fund Ground Beautification Fund

Don't forget: Each time you shop at DeCicicco's, tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your order.

JFC gets a rebate from your purchase.

JFC—URJ Camp Fund Molly and Gregory RS Scholarship Fund

Rabbi Discretionary Fund Music and Choir Fund Religious School Director Fund Early Childhood Center Fund

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Ritual Committee

November 2013

By Michael Salpeter, Chairman The Ritual Committee – November 2013 “Chanukah, isn’t that the Jewish Christmas”? It is inevitable each year that several non-Jewish people coming into my office ask that question, particularly in the years that Chanukah occurs in the latter part of December. What exactly are the reasons we celebrate Chanukah and why the perceived appearance of similarity to Christmas?

Chanukah is a minor festival in the Jewish calendar.

We are familiar with the story of the Maccabees and the defeat of the Greeks resulting in the rededication of the Temple. The story does not appear in the Torah as it occurred much later than the time it is said the Torah was to have been written. Although the stories attributed to the events of Chanukah are contained in the Books of the Maccabees, these books are not part of the Tanakh (Hebrew bible), rather they are considered apocryphal books.

Around the turn of the 20th century when Jews started emigrating to the United States in large numbers, both Christmas and Chanukah were not celebrated in grandiose fashion. Candles were lit by families to mark the eight days of the festival. Jewish children

were given gelt – either actual coins or the chocolate variety we have come to love. In reading numerous articles, it seems that gift giving for Christmas caught on in popularity in this country in the 1930’s followed by the same practice in Jewish families around 1950, so their children would not feel left out. Unfortunately with the great emphasis on consumerism in this country today it is commonplace for American children to receive a substantial gift for each of the 8 days of Chanukah, whereas in Israel this is not the case. The preparation of traditional foods, plays, songs and crafts are the most popular ways of celebrating the festival in Israel. Despite the history of Chanukah being a minor festival, it has become a favorite of secular Jews, ranking either just before or just after Passover as their most important holiday.

Have we as Americans contributed to this perception of Chanukah as the Jewish version of Christmas? Is this the result of the excesses that corporate America has fomented? Is it okay to lavish gifts upon our children if we so desire? Is the elevation of Chanukah from a minor festival to one of the most prominent times of the year warranted? All of these questions are up for personal reflection and choice.

Youth Group

After leading a successful Yom Kippur service, we got down to the business of growing closer as a group. Since the High Holidays, we’ve had a couple of meetings in which we’ve welcomed new members, gotten to know each other better, and spent casual time together as a group. At our last meeting on October 3rd we built a blanket fort in the garden room for Sukkot, which allowed us to exercise teamwork and cooperation. The weekend of October 11th is the Fall Kallah, a weekend spent doing fun Jewish activities and bonding with members of other congregations; several Youth Group members plan on attending. Soon we will begin work on the “JFC History Project” in which the Youth Group will organize and conduct interviews with members of JFC. So far the Youth Group is having a lot of fun and off to a great start!

By Isaiah Blum

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

The Best of Old World Elegance, Rural Beauty and Modern Amenities Located in a country setting, the newly renovated clubhouse features a stunning ballroom windowed throughout, with panoramic views of a spectacular golf course and surrounding hills.

Parties of all sizes welcome One affair per day Kosher catering available

Salem Golf Club 18 Bloomer Road, North Salem NY 10560 914*669*5485 www.salemgolfclub.org

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

Cantor Ben-David is available to our congregants for all life-cycle needs Call/Text: 917-400-4068 Email: cantorbd@aol.com

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Jewish Family Congregation Babysitting 1st and 3rd Friday of the Month Babysitting will now be available for children 8 and under on the first and third Friday of the month from 7:30 - 8:30 pm Please contact the office with any questions or to sign up office@jewishfamilycongregation.org 914-763-3028 Babysitting starts this Friday, October 18.

Just in time for The JFC History Project Kick Off Event. Come see what this project is all about and enjoy a special oneg.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Religious School grade 4 culture teacher, Sam Ceisler, uses student volunteers to explain the lunar and Gregorian/solar calendars.

November 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

What happens when… once in a lifetime and in history as we know it…

Thanksgiving and Chanukah collide?

At the JFC Religious School… this means we celebrate…

Chanu-Giving!!

The JFC Religious School Kids Knesset (Student Government) is organizing two special holiday events as part of our regular programming on…

Sunday, November 24: 9 AM- 12 PM & Thursday, December 5: 4:15-6 PM (ECC & JFC congregant families with little ones are invited from 4:30-6 PM on December 5/RSVP to Leslie Gottlieb at lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.org) Musical services will be led by Cantor Ben-David and Ruth Ossher on both dates.

Our holiday parties will include latkes and treats to be supplied by parent volunteers.

Special holiday activity centers will be organized for all age groups.

All participants are asked to bring to JFC on these dates cans of: soup, cranberry sauces and vegetables to be donated to The Community Center of Northern Westchester.

That’s the GIVING part of Chanu-Giving.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

November Calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1

-28 Cheshvan 5774 -7:30pm Service

3

4 -1 Kislev 5774

-30 Cheshvan 5774

10 -7 Kislev 5774 -NO RS.

17 -14 Kislev 5774 -12:45 PM Adult Hebrew

24 -21 Kislev 5774

11 -8 Kislev 5774 -BLOOD DRIVE 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM -NO GR. 7 -JFC OFFICE CLOSED

18 -15 Kislev 5774

25 -22 Kislev 5774

6

5 -2 Kislev 5774

12 -9 Kislev 5774

19 -16 Kislev 5774 -Men’s Group Social Event

26 -23 Kislev 5774

-3 Kislev 5774

13 -10 Kislev 5774

20 -17 Kislev 5774

27 -24 Kislev 5774

7 -4 Kislev 5774 -6:30 PM Adult Hebrew -7:30 PM Board Meeting

14 -11 Kislev 5774

21 -18 Kislev 5774

-6:15 PM Staff Meeting

28

-25 Kislev 5774 -Chanukah -JFC OFFICE CLOSED -NO RS

Saturday

2

-29 Cheshvan 5774 -9:45 AM Service -10:45 AM Jewish BLT

8 -5 Kislev 5774 -7:30pm Service

15 -12 Kislev 5774 -7:30pm Service

22 -19 Kislev 5774 -7:30pm Service

29

-26 Kislev 5774 -7:30pm Service --Chanukah -JFC OFFICE CLOSED

9 -6 Kislev 5774 -NO GR. 7

16 -13 Kislev 5774 -9:45 AM Service -10:45 AM Jewish BLT

23 -20 Kislev 5774 -9:45 AM Service -10:45 AM Searching for Hashkiveinu

30 -27 Kislev 5774 -Chanukah

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Religious School Mentors, Teachers and Students...

Learning Together on a Sunday morning!

November 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

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Donations

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

General Fund Alan and Laura Steinhorn In honor of Karen and John Conti for their generous hospitality Grounds Beautification Fund Phyllis and David Amerling Music and Choir Fund John and Barbara Stern In honor of Kerry Ben-David Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Lee Blum John and Barbara Stern In honor of Marcus Burstein’s new journey at Jewish Family Congregation Religious School Director’s Fund Lee Blum

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Anniversaries Richard Bersch & Amy Selig John Grzymala & Linda Lederman Lowell & Nicole Haims Jodi & Tony Senese Eric Sherr & Michele Auerbach-Sherr

November 2013

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Birthdays

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Gail Ascher

Roy Goldman

Harold Ossher

Evan Bender

Steven Goodstein

Joel Ossher

Liza Breslin

Edward Gordon

Freddy Perlman

Oliver Capece

Dylan Gottlieb

Matthew Portnoy

Cindy Carson

Susan Greenberg-Shapiro

Harry Rosenhouse

David Ceisler

Kenneth Hoffman

Rayn Schnell

Eve Chipman

Leonardo Junquera

Maya Schwartz

Reyna Cohen

Aaron Kaplan

Aaron Shapiro

Bobbie Cohlan

Joel Kaplan

Judy Vandervelden

Evan Dodes

Felice Kempler

Sebastian Wallach

Matthew Emmer

Ariella Kramer

Jodi Waxman

Amy Fischer

Harrison Lavin

Lindsay Waxman

Samson Robert Friedman

Sigal Leitner

Calvin Wein

Allen Gabor

Gary Levine

Miranda Wein

Nina Claire Gitlitz

Warren Lustig

Penelope Wein

Andrew Glass

David Marceau

Mira Zaslow

Yahrzeits Jack Bergson

Mordecai Lewittes

Freda Shuler

Mayer Blum

Joseph Victor Meister

Aaron Stillman

Harry Firestein

Freda Ossher

Bernice Strauss

William Goldman

Sheila Ravitch Gitlitz

Edgar Strauss

Hirsh Grossman

Rachel Rosenhouse

David Hoffman

Ruth Rothwax

William Keleher

Al Rubin

Arthur Klein

Betty Rubin

Horst Leffkowitz

Marvin Schattner

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Do you have 1-2 hours to spare each month? JFC could use your help!

On a regular basis, we would love to have your input and help with several projects. We can arrange some activities to fit your schedule, depending on when you are available. Please see below for ways that you might be able to contribute to making our congregation flourish: Editing – An extra pair of eyes are always appreciated when looking at our weekly e-blast and monthly Shofar. You can use your editing skills to help make these publications better and error-free.

Location: At JFC or at home.

Expected time commitment needed: 30-90 minutes.

Back Up Oneg Shabbat Hosts – Unexpected events come up in everyone’s life, and sometimes that includes our Oneg Shabbat hosts. If you sign up, we may call you from time to time to see about filling in for a family who cannot host the Oneg Shabbat.

Location: At JFC on a Friday night.

Expected time commitment needed: 60 minutes on a Friday during the day, 90 minutes Friday night.

Graphic Designing – In order to reach our members and the greater community, we like to create informative and attractive flyers. Help us design publicity for recurring and one-time events.

Location: At JFC or at home.

Expected time commitment needed: 60 minutes.

Back Up Babysitting for Friday Shabbat Services – We intend to provide babysitting for children up to 7 years old on Friday evening during Shabbat services twice each month. Although we have childcare ready, you might be needed to help in a pinch.

Location: At JFC. Expected time commitment needed: 60 minutes on Friday evening, 7:30-8:30 pm

Don't forget to stop in and check out the JFC Gift Shop! If you are interested in purchasing anything, please let the JFC office now.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

The JFC History Project

THE MAIN EVENT Thursday, November 7 5:30-8:30 pm Students, parents, families, members…

YOU are invited to explore, share and record your piece of JFC history:

add your simcha to JFC’s timeline – place your house on a map of our community – record a favorite JFC memory – answer JFC trivia and win a prize – enjoy delicious treats and much more!

FINALE

Friday, November 15 7:30 pm Enjoy special presentations of JFC’s unique history WE HOPE YOU WILL NOT MISS THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT AT JFC!!

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY!!

Any questions, please email Michelle Blum mgblum@optonline.net Mindy Hoffman hoffmd@optonline.net

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Special Children’s Shabbat Service & Pizza Dinner (For children ages 7 and younger)

Friday, November 8

Children’s Service 5:30-6:00 PM Pizza Dinner 6:00 PM

Come join us for a story, music and pizza dinner.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Bring the family! All are welcome.

Please call (914) 763-3028 TO RSVP for pizza Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10590 www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Torah Chanters Wanted

November 2013

Would you like to chant torah on a Friday night or Saturday morning? Maybe it is the anniversary of your bar or bat mitzvah ceremony, or maybe you would like to learn from a new section of the torah. Either way, we will help provide you with the tools to succeed! You can chant as few as three verses – maybe you will get together with a family member or friend to make it a special Shabbat for all of you? We look forward to celebrating with you…

To volunteer and/or to see which dates are available, please be in touch with Rabbi Burstein: rabbi@ jewishfamilycongregation.org

JFC Todah Rabbah List -- People to Thank for November 2013

Phyllis and David Amerling, Cindy Carson,Robyn and Adam Cohen,John Conte, David Fischer, Bryon Friedman, Laurence Furic,Michael Gitlitz, Pete and Zachary Kessler, Gordon and Polly Schnell, Greg Schwartz, Judith Vanderveldon, Arman Weissman and Jennifer Saur for accomplishing everything on the list for JFC Sparkle. Great Job! Thanks to all of the Book Fair volunteers and especially Iris Glass and Robyn Bellinson and their families. Also, we’d like to thank everyone who helped with the set-up and break-down for the Fair.

Thanks to all of the parents of the Religious School and ECC for their help with the RS Chanu-giving Events coming up this month and next and to the RS Kids Knesset for all of their efforts in creating these events.

Thanks to Karen Blum for helping to do grocery food shopping for so many RS and Youth Group activities.

Thank you to Ruth Ossher for leading part of a grade 7 service last month wherein we remembered RS students Molly and Gregory whose yahrzeit was in October.

JFC Route 35 Roadside Cleanup was again a huge success. A big thank you to Ellen Barth, Ted Bloch, Josh Blum, Debbie Lavin, Mark Lavin, Andrea Snyder, Josh Strongin, and Rob Strongin. Great Job!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Michelle Blum visits Youth Group to get involved with JFC’s History Event.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

Jewish Family Congregation Tot Shabbat Children’s Services 2013-14 We at JFC are a welcoming inclusive congregation. We strive to provide many different opportunities for families to celebrate Shabbat…offering times that might be convenient for young families. Please feel free to let us know what works for your family! We welcome your input.

Saturday

Date

Service

10/20/13

10:45-11:30 am -----------------------------------------

Friday 11/8/2013

5:30-6:00 pm Pizza at 6 (RSVP needed/no fee) -----------------------------------------

Friday 12/13/2013

5:30-6:00 pm Pizza at 5 (RSVP needed/no fee)

Rabbi’s Installation Family Service 5:30 PM Shabbat program (upstairs) for those ages 3-7

----------------------------------------Saturday

1/4/2014

10:45-11:30 AM

----------------------------------------Friday 1/10/2014

5:30-6:00 pm Pizza at 6 (RSVP needed/no fee) -----------------------------------------

Saturday

5/31/2014

10:45-11:30 AM

----------------------------------------*Shabbat Child Care- available at weekly Friday night 7:30 PM services from 7:45-8:45 PM. All families are welcome to Shabbat morning services. Please check calendar jewishfamilycongregation.org for exact times. Additional Friday nights will be added.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

November 2013

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

Current Resident Or