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Tishrei/ Cheshvan 5774
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
October 2013
October 2013
Ruth Ossher, JFC Religious School teacher, music leader and internationally recognized Grinspoon-Steinhardt Teaching Award winner, is shown here with students working on Hebrew review.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
From the Rabbi’s Desk Reaching Out by Reaching In Beginning the New Year at JFC was one of the most special in my entire rabbinate. Without going into all of the details of why I feel this way, the best word I can think of to describe the atmosphere for our entire community is transformative. We came into Rosh HaShana services one way, and after hearing the prayers, music, and words of several members of our congregation, we left on Yom Kippur feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and hopeful about our bright future. Thank you again to the many people who made our services meaningful and soulful! My first High Holiday sermon on Erev Rosh HaShana centered on the Art of Welcoming. This sermon and several other additions or changes to our High Holiday experience opening our hearts and were designed to promote a deeper sense of community. One way this happens is by showing care and concern for each other. Please make sure to send me an e-mail if you or a loved one is having a challenge in your life. I would like to be in touch with all members who are hospitalized, have a surgical procedure, or are just in need of some extra support for whatever reason. My hope is that the board, staff, and members of our congregation can help with meals and/or transportation during these difficult times. We may also be able to help connect you with other members who can be supportive. If you are interested in making phone calls, a visit, providing transportation, or perhaps shopping for food for one of our members who needs a little extra attention, please be in touch with me. Hopefully a committed Caring Committee at JFC will provide this support. Part of a being a community is celebrating our achievements as well. Feel free to send e-mails of reasons to celebrate a special moment in your life – it would be great to share that with our congregation in our Shofar or weekly e-blast. Our sense of welcome and sense of community will continue to be enhanced by these meaningful acts of lovingkindness we show each other. I look forward to hearing from you, Rabbi Marcus Burstein
Presidents Message----------------page 3 Religious School-------------------page 4 Service Schedule-------------------page 8 ECC--------------------------------page 13 October Calendar-----------------page 17 Youth Group----------------------page 21
Ritual Committee----------------page 28 Social Action----------------------page 29 Sisterhood-------------------------page 31
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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 email: office@jewishfamilycongregation.org website: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org ----------------Rabbi Marcus L.Burstein, D.Min. rabbi@jewishfamilycongregation.org 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 Bookkeeper Carol Wakeman cwakeman@jewishfamilycongregation.org -------------------Glenn Kurlander Co-President Hal Wolkin Co-President president@jewishfamilycongregation.org Richard Mishkin, Vice-President Polly Schnell, Vice-President Robyn Cohen, Treasurer Suzanne Sunday, Secretary executive@jewishfamilycongregation.org Josh Blum, Trustee Karen Conti, Trustee Michael Gitlitz, Trustee Ken Levinsohn, Trustee Robi Margolis, Trustee Paul Storfer, Trustee Bonnie Wattles, Trustee Richard Weiser, Trustee Elisa Zuckerberg, Trustee board@jewishfamilycongregation.org -------------Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin editor@jewishfamilycongregation.org Shofar Printer Copy Stop Royal Press
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
President’s Message
by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin Community. As we write this, we at JFC, and the Jewish community around the world, are in the middle of the Days of Awe. In our JFC community, Rabbi Burstein has guided us through deeply meaningful Rosh Hashanah services; Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur are just a few days away. Cantor Kerry’s soulful and haunting melodies, and our magnificent choir’s beautiful voices, added immeasurably to the spirit of our Rosh Hashanah worship. We’ve been accustomed to moving services and transporting music for many years at JFC, but there was much about our Rosh Hashanah observance that was new; much that shone a different light on community. On the second morning of Rosh Hashanah we previewed the new Central Conferenece of American Rabbis’ Reform machzor to great reviews. The rich diversity of our community was on display as three congregants from three different generations—Doris Hettmansberger, Josh Blum and Sam Ceisler—talked in deeply personal and entertaining ways about what JFC, the High Holy Days and being part of the Jewish community mean to them. We expanded the reach of community by celebrating a lovely Tashlich service at the Lewisboro Town Park with members of the Pound Ridge Jewish Community. And we renewed and strengthened our own bonds of community as we enjoyed a luncheon at JFC following services on the second morning of Rosh Hashanah. As was the case with all our special summer events, the overarching and unifying theme of all these observances, ceremonies and rituals, new and old, is the power of community: all of
them are about exploring, celebrating and giving thanks for the ties that bind us together as Jews and members of the JFC community. If you joined us on the first morning of Rosh Hashanah, you heard Board members Bonnie Wattles and Michael Gitlitz deliver our High Holy Days Appeal and speak elegantly about the power of community made tangible through JFC’s commitment to open our doors to individuals and families who cannot afford the full cost of membership dues. The High Holy Days Appeal has become one of our defining traditions at JFC: a singular way in which we express our identity as JFC congregants, affirm our ties to the JFC community and discharge our responsibility to preserve JFC’s essential diversity. One of the most precious attributes of JFC is that we offer the sheltering embrace of community to those who cannot pay full dues, often at the time in their lives when they need community most of all. But as Bonnie and Michael explained, that embrace comes at a cost—we need those who can afford to do so to help offset the cost of providing membership to those who can’t afford full dues. JFC congregants, as always, have been generous in offering their support those who have demonstrated legitimate need through financial disclosure, and on behalf of the Board of Trustees and those who anonymously receive assistance, we thank you for your generosity. If you haven’t made a pledge yet, please pledge as generously as your circumstances permit. Thank you and L’shanah tovah, Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
From the Religious School By Leslie Gottlieb
Last month during the Yamim Noraim, the consecrated period between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, at least five people commented to me about a piece that was published around that time in The New York Times. Fortunately I had read it so our conversation took off from that position. The article is, “Bar Mitzvahs Get New Look To Build Faith,” by Laurie Goodstein. Interestingly, the title only refers to “sons of the commandments”… in the plural form commonly used in English, mitzvahs. Where are the daughters in the conversation? That is truly worth examining! No matter. Pandora’s Box has been opened and re-opened-- so why not examine this idea for what it is worth as it pertains to us. Recently, to catch you up to speed if this issue is not on your radar, the Reform Movement has been undergoing a mid-life crisis so to speak. After generations of focusing on B’nai (children) Mitzvah ceremonies and the education required leading up to that special day in a youth’s life, an idea has emerged to combat the notion that the experience holds essential meaning, overall. The new concept deracinates the underpinnings of the philosophy that brought us to the point in where all children enrolled in Reform religious education programs learn familiarity with Hebrew, prayer, mitzvot and the Jewish holidays-- at a minimum. The current argument wraps itself around the fact that many families—and students—feel unengaged. If the child will not eat what you have prepared for dinner, offer something more appealing… is an analogy close to where this idea sits. One could argue it both ways effectively. Make the meal more appealing but keep the ingredients or scrap it all and start from the beginning with something more delectable or even simply agreeable? Since this has everything to do
with your child/ren… you need to be educated and your opinions matter. Goodstein writes, “Thirteen Reform congregations across the nation have volunteered to pilot the change, and an additional 67 are on the runway. Everything is on the table: how or whether to teach Hebrew, whether to delay the ceremony until children are older, and even whether to require children to read from the Torah — now the centerpiece of most bar mitzvah ceremonies and the culmination of years of study. Parents will most likely be expected to play a larger role and emphasis will shift from prayer to social action. ‘I like Torah, I read Torah, I study Torah,’ said Isa Aron, who is helping lead the Reform Movement’s initiative and is a professor of Jewish education at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. ‘But what’s the point of getting your 200 or 300 closest friends and family members together and having your kid read a text they don’t understand in a language they don’t understand?’ ‘Maybe it shouldn’t be such a performance,’ Dr. Aron said. ‘It should be about becoming part of the community.’ Reform leaders say American Jewry unwittingly sowed the seeds of its own stagnation in the 1930s and ’40s when synagogues, to expand their membership, began to require three or four years of religious school attendance as a prerequisite to the bar mitzvah. Synagogues built classroom wings and charged tuition, which became a vital income stream for congregations. ‘We’re living in the religious school industrial complex,’ said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, a senior
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
From the Religious School By Leslie Gottlieb
vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the umbrella organization for congregations.’ ‘We didn’t realize it,’ said Rabbi Bradley Solmsen, the director of youth engagement for the union and a director of the new initiative, ‘but we sent the message to families that if you want to be a bar or bat mitzvah, you have to join the synagogue. And what they heard was, When you’re done, you can leave the synagogue. We’d like to go back to our roots and say, How can we make it a point of welcome and not the exit point that it’s become?’ ” Here is the crux of the program being laid out: “The new initiative by the Reform Movement, a liberal branch that claims 1.5 million of the nation’s estimated 6 million Jews, is called B’nai Mitzvah Revolution (bar mitzvah refers to boys, bat mitzvah to girls, and b’nai mitzvah is the plural if a boy is included). In Los Angeles the campaign has expanded beyond the Reform movement, with Conservative, Reconstructionist and independent synagogues joining, and the Jewish Federation there providing money. (Orthodox Jews, who have day schools and do not have equivalent retention problems, are not part of the initiative.)” Every congregation in the program is designing its own narrative-- and in the end I suspect that what works for one community will not necessarily fit the needs of others. So what is to be done? My feeling is that before you throw out the baby with the bathwater, you need to examine what works, define what is not working and then make the changes required for the program under the microscope to have true meaning for the designated community. You need to firmly establish your overall goals. What will happen to all of our traditions if we give up the entire set of standards we hold just to keep synagogue membership
alive? Are we really just going to become country clubs where members are all Jewish? What is it that we want for our children precisely? Is our response, whatever it may be, enough to sustain our tradition of using Torah as the centerpiece of our religion and Hebrew as the language of prayer? Many could effectively argue that uttering the phonetic sounds of a foreign language is close to moronic—but few argue that chanting a mantra to relax during meditation, a method commonly used for connecting spiritually with oneself and the universe—has little merit. It helps to condition the soul. All things become defined because of the prism in which things are scrutinized. Is there an argument for erasing Hebrew completely from the worship service? Sure. Is there an argument for keeping it as is in balance with English translations? Absolutely. So here then sits the quintessential Jewish introduction to any sentence… “On one hand… and on the other hand….” Shalem Alecheim’s (18591916) character Tevya said so himself in the opening lines of “Fiddler on the Roof” so we know it’s likely to be true! This is prototypical Jewish thought in a nutshell… that there are always at least two good ways of analyzing an isse. We are asked to study Torah with a partner thus producing two reactions. The Torah tells us we need at least two witnesses to corroborate a story. Our legal system counts on this tenet to an extent. So for us at the Religious School at JFC, using some of these broader ideas, we have found a myriad of ways to engage our students, young and old in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Our kids are not leaving us in droves; we keep them going in most cases through their senior year in high school which sometimes energizes the parents to continue as members. The engagement we provide suits them as they grow. Of course, some families do leave
Continued
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
From the Religious School By Leslie Gottlieb
October 2013 Cont. from last page.
by the nearest exit as their youngest child leaves the program, whether it is after grade seven or twelve. Why families are leaving here and there is the real question to consider for me. Our kids don’t reject our program, but often parents are harder to reign in with respect to their level of engagement, to be honest. Some parents limit their outward expectations from their children after grade 7 inviting departure for the whole clan instead of examining the possibilities. But that is their choice in the end, naturally. We teach Hebrew through prayer and try to make the meaning of the worship service attainable, meaningful and powerful to each individual. Worship and temple membership means something else to every individual, so at the school we offer a balance of it all—the study of mitzvot, doing acts of g’milut chasidim or acts of loving kindness-- together, the study of the holidays appropriate to each grade level, an appreciation and understanding of Israel and our connection to it, and a way of bonding with each other and the community in an attempt to repair the world. Our school program helps the individual enter the community and learn the foundations of community and personal worship-- and for that we are proud and, I feel, successful. Some things we approach stir some students (and parents!) more than others. One student might have a gift for chanting Torah and feel an almost magical connection to that while another wants little to do with Hebrew at all, but loves the idea of mentoring others about why our traditions are special. Many of our children (and adults) wrestle with the idea of Gd altogether. Does that make us/them less Jewish? The very name Israel connotes an emotional wrestling match with the Divine. Our liturgy allows for individualism as we come to know Gd in our own way following our own paths. Read the Amidah and see how not only are we looking at the Gd of our forefathers/mothers, but we stop to recognize “his” and “her” Gd as we remember Jacob and Rachel and the others to whom we give praise. We speak of the “Gd of” each matriarch or patriarch. We can offer a lot of understanding through this lense-- and our expectations align themselves with each human being in our care no matter how young. We never look at all of the kids the same way nor should we. Ours is a success story, in my opinion, one person at a time.
JFC has undergone many incarnations over the years… new rabbis, new board leadership, new learning/ studying materials, new renovations to the physical plant, etc. What is not new is our commitment to each other as we explore this Jewish life together. That is not a revolution at JFC but an evolution.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
Oneg Schedule 10/4/2013 (Bat Mitzvah of Carly Goldstein) Cindy and Ken Carson
914-763-8320
Ellen Strauss and Ken Levinsohn
914-533-2878
10/11/2013 David and Marina Fried Jeff and Cyndi Dodes
914-977-3633 914-232-1841
10/18/2013 Tracy Benson
Gail Asher
914-977-3245 914-533-5577
10/25/2013 Steve and Shari Goldberg
914-977-3872
David and Sally Firestein
914-764-4158
Board Host Hal Wolkin
914-533-6496
Donations
Caring Committee Marty Weisberg----------In loving memory of Leopold Weisberg General Fund Wattles Family----------In honor of Jeff Berg and Debra Paget’s kindness, generosity, and friendship Molly and Gregory RS Scholarship Fund Paul and Elizabeth Amerling Rabbi Discretionary Fund Getselevich Family----------With appreciation to Rabbi Burstein for officiating at Michele’s Bat Mitzvah
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
Service Schedule
October 4 Parshat Noach October 11 Parshat Lech Lecha October 18 Parshat Vayera October 25 Parshat Chaye Sarah
Save the Date: December 13 JFC's installation of Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein, D. Min. on December 13. 5:30 PM Family Service and 8:00 PM Service More information to follow
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
JFC Religious School Presents…The U.R.J. Camps
October 2013
Please join us on Friday, October 25 at 7:30 PM for a brief presentation, as part of our Shabbat service, where we will share some great reasons for you to consider for your children one of the URJ Camps including: Eisner, Crane Lake and Harlam Camps next summer ·
Help us to extend our JFC family in the Berkshires!!!
·
Hear authentic testimonials from camp lovers during the oneg Shabbat!
·
Talk to parents of campers who can help answer questions!
·
Listen to a camp representative share the joy of the programs offered!
·
Learn about the upcoming Oct. 18-20 new camper weekend!
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
The New Year at The Religious School
October 2013
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
The New Year at The Religious School
October 2013
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 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
From the ECC
October 2013
by Jane Emmer
Our New Program… Practically Pre-School: Please help me welcome Meredith Eichner. Meredith comes to us from Ridgefield with wonderful enthusiasm and creative ideas. Meredith will be leading our Practically Pre-School program this Fall. Her class will meet Friday mornings and will be a joint adventure for parents or caregivers and toddlers. The innovative curriculum includes structured freeplay, art projects, music, movement, snack and circle time. Shabbat and Jewish holidays will be woven into each Friday morning. The class will be invited to join the ECC for Shabbat with Rabbi Burstein. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested please have them call 914-763-3028 x15
Welcome Back and Welcome New Friends The Early Childhood Parent Committee hosted a back to school picnic on Wednesday September 11, 2013. Each child had a chance to visit their classroom and meet their teachers. It is great to have the sounds of children back in our building.
Alumni Corner - CELEBRATING 18 YEARS!!! We are celebrating the beginning of our 18th year at the ECC. Bobbie Cohlan, our first director has agreed to help organize our celebration. Please help me find all of our alumni and their families to celebrate with us. If you can help plan or have a creative idea to share, please give Jane a call (ext 15).
Keep Summer Alive!
Each year The ECC at JFC hosts a wonderful summer camp. The camp is good old fashioned fun! When asked about their favorite things at summer camp… here are some of the answers: “My friends” – what could be more important? “The art” – always good to add beauty to the world? “I love water slides, car wash, and climbing stuff” - simple pleasures!
Early Childhood Advisory Committee: We are currently forming an advisory committee, to offer professional advice and guidance to the Early Childhood director. If you would like to offer your services please call Jane at JFC extension 15.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
October Calendar Sunday
Monday
Tuesday -27 Tishrei 5774
6 -2 Cheshvan 5774 -Roadside Cleanup -12:15 PM Adult Hebrew
7
8
-3 Cheshvan 5774 -10 AM Science
-4 Cheshvan 5774 -7:30 PM Ritual Committee
13 -9 Cheshvan 5774 -NO RS -Sisterhood Dinner
14 -10 Cheshvan 5774 -JFC CLOSED -NO RS
20 -16 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair
-23 Cheshvan 5774 -11 AM JFC History Day
21
-28 Tishrei 5774 -12:30 PM Committee Meeting
9 -5 Cheshvan 5774
Friday -30 Tishrei 5774 -7:30 PM Service
-6 Cheshvan 5774
-7 Cheshvan 5774 -NO ECC -7:30 PM Service
10
30 -27 Cheshvan 5774
-1 Cheshvan 5774 -10 AM Carly Goldstein BM
5
12 -8 Cheshvan 5774 -NO GR. 7
-14 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair -7:30 PM Service
19 -15 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair -10:45 Adult Torah
25 -21 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair -7:30 PM Service
31
Saturday
18
24 -20 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair
4
11
17 -13 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair -6:30 PM Adult Hebrew
-19 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair
-26 Cheshvan 5774
3
-29 Tishrei 5774 -1st Challah delivery -6:30 PM Adult Hebrew -7:30 Board Meeting
23
29 -25 Cheshvan 5774
Thursday
16
22
28
2
-12 Cheshvan 5774
-18 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair
-24 Cheshvan 5774 -10 AM Science
Wednesday
15 -11 Cheshvan 5774
-17 Cheshvan 5774 -Book Fair
27
1
26 -22 Cheshvan 5774 -10:45 AM Tot Shabbat Fall Service
M
S
5 12 19 26
4 11 18 25
W 4 11 18 25 25
T 5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
T
W 1 8 15 22 29
T 2 9 16 23 30
7 14 21 28
W
S 3 10 17 24 31
S 4 11 18 25
S 7 14 21 28
Rosh H. 9/5 10:30-11:30 AM Yom K. 9/14 10:30-11:30 AM
YG HHD Services
F 2 9 16 23 30
F 3 10 17 24 24 31
F 6 13 20 27
3 10 17 24
M
T 3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
T 5 12 19 26
W 6 13 20 27
T
Jul. 10 Oct. 2 Jan. 8 Mar. 26 May 14
Wed., 12:30-1:30 PM
RS Committee Meetings
7 14 21 28 28
F
F 4 11 18 25
8/29–
3 10 17 24 31
M
12/19
5/6– Tues. 6:30 PM, Staff Dinner
11/21– 6:15-7:15 PM 2/20- 6:15-7:15 PM
9/12– 6:15-7:15 PM
4 11 18 25
T 7 14 21 28 28
S 1 8 15 22 29
NFTY/NAR Activities
6 13 20 27
T
Thurs., 5:10 p.m.10/10, 11/21,1/9,3/13, *Sun 5/4,helpers at STARS carnival
April 2014
T W T F 3 4 5 6 13 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 24 25 BREAK 26 27 WINTER 31
S 5 12 19 26
S 7 14 21 28
Grade 6 11/1/13 Grade 5 12/13/13 (Rock Shabbat) Grade 4 1/24/14 Grade 3 2/28/14 (Rock Shabbat) Grade 2 3/28/14 Grades K/1 4/25/14
Grade 7– 9/25, *Wed 7:30 PM Simcha Torah
Grade Services/Onegs 7:30 p.m.
T W T F 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 SPRING 15 16BREAK 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 25 28 29 30
M
M 2 9 16 23 30
Schedule changes will be announced by email AND posted at (914) 763-3028 ext. 24 for weather-related closures
6 13 20 27
S
S 1 8 15 22 29
December 2013
www.JewishFamilyCongregation.org
LTI NYC – 9/22 Fall Kallah– 10/11-10/13 Social Justice Day-12/8 Winter Kallah– 1/31-2/1 Elections/NYC– 3/9 Spring Kallah– 4/4-4/6 Jr.Youth Kallah– 5/2-5/4 Gala—5/10
5 12 19 26
W
F
F S 11 2 7 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 30 Thanksgiving
T
Kids Knesset Meeting Dates
6:30-8:00 PM
3/20 4/3 Elections 5/8YG Party
Election Meeting
3/6
Shabbat rehearsal
1/9 1/23 2/6 2/20 Rock
6 13 20 27
W
March 2014
5 12 19 26
T
Sun., 11:10 a.m.10/6, 11/24, 1/12, 3/9, *5/4, helpers at STARS carnival
12/5 Chanukah
Shabbat rehearsal
9/12 10/3 10/24 11/7 11/21Rock
4:30-6:00 PM
HHD Rehearsal
6-7:30 PM
Thurs., 6:15-7:15
2 9 16 23 30
S
Youth Group
Summer get together/pizza
party
M
3 4 Veterans’ 10 11 Day Wknd. 17 18 24 25
S
Thurs., 7:15-8:15
S 1 8 15 22
S 5 12 19 26
RS Staff Meetings
Mon., 9/16- Gr. 7 3:15 at JFC Gr. 7 HHD Food Drive
Parents invited 11:30AM –12PM
Sun.9/15-Grs. 4-6 9 AM-12 PM
Thurs.,9/12- Confirmation (6:15-7:15 PM) Thurs., 9/12- Student Mentor Program– SMP 3:30-6:00 PM
Parents invited 5:30 –6PM
Thurs., 9/12- K-3 4:15-6PM
First Class Dates
2 9 16 23
S
W 2 9 16 23 30
February 2014
T 1 8 15 22 29
November 2013
Important Dates: Book Fair– Oct 17– Oct 25 Purim Carnival– Sunday, March 16/ RS STARS Party & Carnival– Sunday, May 4
lgottlieb@jewishfamilycongregation.com lesliejo0312@gmail.com
M
6 7 COLUM 13 Day 14 20 21 27 28
S
October 2013
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Leslie Gottlieb, Director of Education (914) 763-3028 Ext. 24
NO School on these days
School Days
T 1 8 15 22 29
May 2014
7 14 21 28
T
January 2014
T 3 10 17 24
Symbol Legend
M
S
5 6 12 13 19MLK 20 26 27
M 2 9 16 23 30
S 1 8 15 22 29
September 2013
JFC Religious School Calendar 2013-2014 / 5774
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
Anniversaries Paul & Elizabeth Amerling
Robert & Emily Rauch
Neal & Karen Blum
Michael & Rona Salpeter
Brian & Jillian Chipman
Eric & Andrea Stegman
Jeff & Cyndi Dodes
Paul & Kathleen Storfer
Leonardo & Allison Junquera
Jay Zaslow & Samantha Rai
Kenneth Levinsohn & Ellen Strauss
David & Elisa Zuckerberg
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Birthdays
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Frank Andrade
Debra Lavin
Daniel Barson
Kyle Leitner
Anna Bellinson
David Levens
Daniel Bloch
Laurel Levinsohn
Evan Dash
Phoebe Lichtman
Jonathan Elias
Catherine Mishkin
Robby Feldman
Eric Stegman Daniel Stegman Jeremy Tubbs Tyler Reardon Wallach Martin Weisberg Luke Weiser
Robert Rauch
Joshua Fischman
Lauren Rose
Joseph Furic
Eric Rudin
Jonathan Gilbert
Sarabeth Sanders
Shari Goldberg
Jeanette Sanders
Carolyn Goldman
Polly Schnell
Emily Kahn
Greg Schwartz
Sam Kaplan
Amy Selig
Sean Kaplan
Yarhzeits
October 2013
Diana Bell
Gregory Friedlander
Dora Lichtbach
Richard Stanley
Gerhard Bendix
Molly Friedlander
Joseph Meyer Gordon
Jean Steinhorn
Morton Birnbaum
Sam Friedlander
Sylvia Mininberg
Jennifer Laurie Brainerd
Eddy Fuchs
Yale Ossher
Mary Jacobs Bromfeld
Thomas Gabor
Dominic Romeo
Marvin Carson
Helen Garfiel
Anna Schattner
Samuel B. Cohen
Elias Jacobson
Roslyn Schwartz
Leonard Dutka
Esther Kalb
Rachel Sher
David Emmer
Julius Leitner
Philip Silverman
William Fischman
Leroy Ronald Levin
Norma Sklarin
Amy Friedlander
Fegya Levin-Golberg
Leon Spear
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Youth Group
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
A New Year for JFC’s Youth Group
The Youth Group ushered in the new year by leading a children’s service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. It was a multimedia, participatory service that got both the youth group and audience involved. We also celebrated Yom Kippur and once again lead a children’s service that was meaningful for little ones.
On Thursday, Sept. 12, we had our first Youth Group meeting, with some mixers and planned for the coming year. We’re looking forward to an excellent year!
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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
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
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Congregants donated 1592.6 lbs. of groceries for The Northern Westchester Community Center.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
TODAH RABBAH To all of those who helped to get the Religious School off to a successful start To Karen Blum for her help shopping for the Religious School and Youth Group To the Youth Group and the YG Board for the beautiful HHD services led by them last month All of the Religious School Class Parents for volunteering to help the program Thank you to Gossett Brother Nursery in South Salem , Peaceable Farms Nursery in Ridgefield, and Copia Home and Garden in South Salem for generously donating flowers for the High Holy Days. Please be sure to thank them when you visit.
Happy New Year! The Singer Family and Robison Oil Company are proud supporters of the Jewish community! We are pleased to announce that the Jewish Family Congregation is now a Robison customer. Michael Chernick would like to extend $200 FREE OIL to all congregants who sign as *NEW customers with Robison. IN ADDITION, for each *NEW customer that signs with Michael Chernick, Robison will credit $100 FREE OIL to the Jewish Family Congregation account. Please contact Michael Chernick directly at 914-847-0347 or mchernick@robisonoil.com for more information. Â Have a sweet New Year! Â
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Ritual Committee
October 2013
By Michael Salpeter, Chairman 2-3 hours eating and chatting with other JFC members. And it was not only members of the ritual committee who stepped up. Despite losing some key people, the remaining members of the choir gave us some absolutely beautiful music to accompany the rich tones emanating from Cantor Ben-David. I thank everyone involved in providing us with the moving pieces we heard. The youth group conducted their annual service for pre-bnai mitzvah children to a packed sanctuary. Members of the Board of Trustees were positioned at the entrance to the tent to welcome congregants. We had more volunteer ushers present than at any time since I became active in organizing It is no secret that for several years there existed these services. The young people working as somewhat of a chasm among the several factions that babysitters kept the large number of children who seemed to have developed at JFC. This year we were determined to bridge that chasm. The ritual committee were in their care busy throughout the morning. offered High Holy Days honors to members regardless Instead of going on ad infinitum, I will end with the lyrics of an oldies song by the Youngbloods which I of their previous preferences. You probably noticed find apropos to JFC: that during the procession of Torah scrolls around the tent Rabbi Burstein walked within this group and welcomed our fellow worshipers. In just the past Come on people now couple of weeks we decided to conclude Second Day Smile on your brother Rosh Hashanah services with a fabulous luncheon Everybody get together catered by Gary and Paula Levine of Bedford Try to love one another Bagels, who went out of their way to provide us Right now with tremendous quality and quantity of food at a ridiculously reasonable cost. Attendees lingered for Due to a tight publishing deadline I am finding myself writing this article in the week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is too late to write about Sukkot and Simchat Torah, yet it is too early to write about Chanukah, which in case you have not yet heard, is beginning on Thanksgiving this year. After listening to the talks given by Michael Gitlitz and Bonnie Wattles on Rosh Hashanah I decided to elaborate on the theme presented by them, that is, community and what we as a congregation have done to engender that feeling.
New Students in the Religious School Will be honored during our two
Consecration Services
as part of our regular school program on Thursday, October 3 from 5:30-6 PM & Sunday, October 5 from 11:30 AM-12:00 PM Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends are welcome to join us. No RSVP necessary.
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
Social Action Committee Social Action Committee needs help!
Save the Date!
The Blood Drive is November 11. We need some people to help -- put up some posters the week before around town, make phone calls to past donors, and someone to help out on the day of the drive, even one or two hours. Please let Debbie Lavin at DebbieLav@aol.com know if you can volunteer a couple of hours, at your convenience. It is such an important mitzvah. B’nai Mitzvah students: helping with the blood drive could be a good mitzvah project. We need help sorting and labeling the donated clothing for the Midnight Run. You can arrange to take a bag or two home and work on it at your convenience. PLEASE let Debbie Lavin at DebbieLav@aol.com know if you can do this. And if you mentioned it to me before, please let me know again now! This could also be a good Mitzvah Project for a B’nai Mitzvah student, a good Scouting project, or community service project for school.
Repairing the World at the Religious School 2012-13 School Tzedakah Program Donations Donation letters and funds were distributed this summer (or earlier) to the following organizations as part of the RS program. Last fall, students and their teachers decided which charities/organizations to support. Thank you to everyone for making this an important part of your child’s life! Please share this information with your RS child. Grades K/1- Donation to The Bronx Zoo Grade 2 (Ellen Elias’ class)-Somers Meals on Wheels Grade 2 (Rona Salpeter’s class)-Esther’s Aid (Rwandan children’s organization) Grade 3- (Linda Paulding’s class)-Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Child Life Services Department Grade 3 (Ruth Ossher’s class)-Feeding America/Thanksgiving Drive Grade 4- all- Defenders of Wildlife Grade 5- all- Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR) Grade 6- all- Community Center of Northern Westchester/Clothing Drive Grade 7-all- SPCA of Westchester/Items for animals, collected & delivered Thanks again to everyone!!
…plus 11:15a.m. ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL
763-3028 ext. 15
$180 TUITION MUST BE PAID IN FULL AT TIME OF REGISTRATION
Email: ___________________________________________________________________
South Salem, NY 10590
of Rte. 35)
(1 mile south
Rte. 123
111 Smith Ridge Road/
Jewish Family Congregation
Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Home Phone:_____________________________________ Cell:____________________
Home Address___________________________________________________________
Parent’s Name___________________________________________________________
Child’s Full Name_____________________________________DOB__________________
PRACTICALLY PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
SHABBAT with Rabbi Burstein
10:00-11:15a.m.
Fridays 9/27-12/20
Jane Emmer (914)
Please contact
age-appropriate developmental transitions.
each class. Practically Preschool encourages children to explore new materials, work in a group, and make
structured free-play, art, music, movement, snack and circle time. Shabbat and Jewish holidays are woven into
the classroom. The thoughtful, innovative curriculum provides opportunities for socialization and includes
months. A variety of materials are carefully chosen to provide toddlers with a developmentally appropriate opportunity to explore
Practically Preschool, a weekly class, is a joint adventure for parents or caregivers and toddlers up to 24
Early Childhood Center at Jewish Family Congregation
Practically Preschool
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
October 2013
Jewish Family Congregation SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP We invite you to join the JFC Sisterhood. The JFC Sisterhood is focused on energizing, engaging and enhancing our synagogue and our community. We are eagerly coordinating unique social, educational and spiritual programs. These programs strive to build a stronger sisterhood, synagogue and community. JFC SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP FORM
For Sisterhood membership please complete and return this form along with a $45 membership fee. Please make checks payable to JFC SISTERHOOD. We welcome JFC and Non-JFC members. For additional information please contact: cindyfcarson@gmail.com or rosetimes4@sbcglobal.net
NAME:_______________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ EMAIL:____________________________ PHONE #:_________________________ JFC MEMBER: ____YES ____NO
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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar
Non Profit Organization Postage PAID White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022
Current Resident Or
October 2013