Shofar - April 2013 - Nisan/Iyar 5773

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar April 2013 Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page

Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation April 2013 www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

Every year since 1953, the State of Israel has observed Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. The original intent was to hold this observance on Nisan 14, which was the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, April 19, 1943. But that is the day before Pesakh, and so the occasion was deferred to Nisan 28, which places it one week before Israel Independence Day. The proximity of the two occasions begs the question of the relationship between the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.

The State of Israel came into being following a dramatic vote in the United Nations to partition Palestine into two separate entities, one a Jewish homeland and the other an Arab state. The vote took place on November 29, 1947, which accords with the prediction made by Theodore Herzl in 1897, that the Jewish people would have a homeland of their own within 50 years.

But how did that happen? There was no hope of such a thing during Herzl’s lifetime (he died on July 3, 1904). The Jewish people enjoyed very little sympathy in Europe and even in North America, to the degree that Hitler could whip his followers into a frenzy with his diatribes against the Jews, and American leaders could feel no need to rescue them. If you read Erik Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts, about the American ambassador to Germany in the early and mid-30s, you encountered the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, anti-Semitismexpressed amongst the diplomats and State Department officials with whom Ambassador Dodd corresponded.

A new book about to be published raises interesting questions about Franklin D. Roosevelt’s place in the history of the Holocaust. It has been conventional wisdom to charge Roosevelt with, at best, indifference to the fate of the Jews in Europe. But the new book, Refugees and Recue: The Diaries and Papers of James G. McDonald 1935-45, volume two in a projected three-volume work, presents new information that shows Roosevelt not only sympathetic to the plight of Europe’s Jews, but also actively working behind the scenes to arrange to rescueEurope’s Jews from Hitler. McDonald was the High Commissioner for Refugees at the League of Nations, then chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Refugees, and later still, the first American ambassador to Israel.

From the Rabbi’s Desk

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Service Schedule--------------Page 3Executive Committee---------Page 4Religious School--------------Page 5ECC-----------------------------Page 7April Calendar-----------------Page 8Kids ask the Rabbi-----------Page 12Ask the Rabbi----------------Page 16

Cantor’s Corner--------------Page 18Sisterhood--------------------Page 18Ritual Committee------------Page 22Social Action Committee---Page 23Youth Group------------------Page 24

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar April 2013 Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar PageJewish Family Congregation

111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249

South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069

e-mail: [email protected] jewishfamilycongregation.org

RabbiCarla Freedman [email protected]

Cantor Kerry Ben-David

[email protected]

School DirectorLeslie Gottlieb

[email protected] Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer

[email protected]

Board Of TrusteesPolly Schnell,

President; Richard Mishkin, Vice President;

Elisa Zuckerberg, Vice President;

Hal Wolkin, Chief Financial Officer;

Glenn Kurlander, Secretary;

Robyn Cohen Michael Gitlitz Ken Levinsohn Robi Margolis

Patterson Shafer Paul Storfer

Suzanne Sunday Bonnie Wattles Richard Weiser

andJeanette Sanders,

Past President

Shofar EditorBryan Wolkin

Shofar PrinterCopy Stop Royal Press

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Eleanor AufsesserAbraham BelskyAmy CohenMickey ConnArnold EydenbergRamon GarayLillian GordonMary HenshawHarlan HettmansbergerMary KeleherSaul Koven

Rose LeitnerArthur MargolisJoseph MartinJoan SobelEmmy SternbergerBarbara Traynor StollFay Goodman Weisberg

Behind the scenes? Yes, because the chances of getting Congress to act openly, given the anti-Semitism that was socially acceptable at the time (late 30s) were negligible. Apparently, Roosevelt was interested in getting the western democracies to accept large numbers of Jews for resettlement in their African colonies. He had at one point pledged to ask Congress for $150 million for the resettlement of Europe’s Jews beyond Hitler’s reach.

But in fact, he actually did not ask Congress for these funds, and he did not even support a bill that would have permitted 20,000 Jewish children from Germany to enter the United States. Some Holocaust scholars continue to think that Roosevelt’s ideas were too grand and implausible to have ever become reality.

We may never know Roosevelt’s real feelings about helping the Jews of Europe during the pre-war years. We do know that as the war progressed, he became more and more involved with efforts to help the British survive the war, and equally involved with efforts to get America into the war in its own right.

Given the degree of anti-Semitism that was current before and during the war, it is remarkable that, a mere two years after its end, the United States voted with the majority to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It just makes sense that as the breadth and depth of the destruction of European Jews became known after the war (perhaps especially through the Nuremburg trials, 1945-49) the free nations of the world had to come to terms with their complicity in the devastation.

But as Jews, we are forced to ask the question: was the death of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust the price we paid to acquire a homeland of our own? And every year, the proximity of the observances of Yom HaShoah and Yom ha-Atzma-ut brings this question back to our consciousness. Israel will now celebrate its 65th birthday, and the war that preceded its establishment recedes into history as time passes. But the timing of these two events will forever remind us of the painful existential question thus exposed, and will connect us to our history even more.

It is not accidental that a major theme of Judaism is “remember”.

From the Rabbi’s Desk (cont’d)

April Yarhzeits

April Service Schedule

Tuesday, April 2/ Nisan 22-----------------------5:30pmYizkor ServicePost Pesakh Pizza Party-------------------------6:15pm

Friday, April 5/ Nisan 25---------------------------7:30pmParshat Sh’miniKindergarten/ Grade 1 & 2 service Honouring Ellen Elias

Saturday, April 6-----------------------------------10:00amShabbat Morning Service

Friday, April 12/ Iyar 3---------------------------7:30pmYom HaShoah observance

Saturday, April 13----------------------------------10:00amShabbat Morning Service

Friday, April 19/ Iyar 10-------------------------7:30pmYom Ha-atzma-ut observanceParshat Akhare Mot/ KedoshimAdam Cohen chants Torah

Saturday, April 20----------------------------------10:00amBar Mitzvah of Aaron Cohen

Friday, April 26/ Iyar 17----------------------------7:30pmRock ShabbatGuest Speaker: Maggie Anton------------------8:15pm

Saturday, April 27----------------------------------10:00amShabbat Morning Service

Friday, May 3/ Iyar 24------------------------------7:30pmParshat B’har-B’huklotai

Saturday, May 4------------------------------------10:00amBat Mitzvah of Alexandria Andrade

Oneg Schedule

4/5 - K/1 and Grade 2 families

4/12 - Wilson/Schiff and Wattles

4/19 - Gabor and Ozols

4/26 - Grade 3

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar April 2013 Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page 54

We write to report on the state of JFC. Our newly expanded 15 member Board of Trustees has become a cohesive force in planning for the future of JFC. Board members and Congregants are communicating more and more Congregants are participating in activities essential to the wellbeing of JFC

We are very pleased to report that in a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees and the Financial Planning Board, which oversees the Endowment Fund, an agreement was reached so that JFC’s operating fund could borrow from the Endowment Fund to cover our expected operating deficit for the current year. We are also pleased to report that, in accordance with JFC’s By-Laws, the Search Committee has recommended to the Board an outstanding rabbinical candidate, and the Board has voted to recommend to the Congregation that such person become our new rabbi. We expect to be able to share the name and credentials of the candidate with the congregation soon and to make arrangements for the Congregation to meet and get to know the candidate.Then, in accordance with JFC’s By-Laws, the Congregation will have the opportunity to vote on whether the candidate should become our new rabbi. This news is cause for celebration and the upcoming, aptly named Gala event, Bridge to the Future, offers the perfect opportunity to do so and it promises to be an extraordinary event.

JFC still faces challenges as is the case with many congregations but we have made much progress. We were divided, talking at each other instead of listening to each other’s ideas for moving JFC into the future but there is now a sense of unity and a sense of direction. We feel that the genesis of this unity and direction can, in part, be attributed to an enlarged Board of Trustees providing for broader congregational representation, formation of a broad based Rabbinical Search Committee, involvement of more members in the important activities of JFC’scommittees, formation of and the outstanding efforts of the new Sisterhood, and the formation and activities of the Men’s Group. There is now a common goal to work together to address the challenges that JFC faces as an institution.

JFC’s financial future is our most significant challenge, and while next year will be better than this year, our financial security will depend significantly upon increasing our membership. We can do this with your help and the time is right. We have always been a warm and welcoming congregation and our Religious School is thriving and is known to be among the very best for its quality of education and the quality of its teaching professionals. The dynamic

programs of our Early Childhood Center are also well known. In fact, the rabbinical candidates that we have interviewed were fully aware of our strengths in these areas and this has clearly helped to attract excellent rabbinical candidates and it will help to attract members to JFC as the word gets out.

JFC’s administration and office is undergoing important changes as well. Kathleen Sakowicz, who had been our Bookkeeper / Office Assistant for years before moving on last summer, is rejoining JFC as its Temple Administrator. In addition, many of you will have met or spoken with our new bookkeeper, Carol Wakeman, who is doing a great job. Those of you who know Kathleen and Carol know how incredibly pleasant and helpful they can be.

JFC’s future depends upon its members. The state of the economy and its impact on the housing market with a decreased influx of young Jewish families to the area have had an adverse impact on JFC’s revenues for some years. Conditions are, however, improving and we can take advantage of this if we undertake a focused effort to manage how JFC’s image and reputation are perceived in the larger community. Each of us can play an important role in presenting JFC to folks who may be considering joining a temple so that JFC can become their temple of choice. Anything is possible if we work together. The Congregation elected a Board that has cast differences aside. The growing number of Congregants willing to give their time and energy to support activities can lead to achievement of significant positive results.

How Can You Help?

You can help JFC succeed by reaching out to Jewish families in the community, especially to younger families to make it know to them that JFC should be their temple of choice. You can help them to appreciate the quality of our Religious School and Early Childhood Center. You can help them to appreciate the warmth of our community. You can help by joining a committee and contributing your time and energy for the benefit of JFC and for the benefit that you will derive from doing so. You are each members of our marketing team and we need your help.

In closing, we would like to remind you to join us on April 6 at our Gala event “Bridge to the Future”. Join us and help celebrate our future; all of us together. This is the perfect opportunity at just the right time.

From The Executive Committee From the Religious SchoolBy Leslie Gottlieb, Director

Our daughter, over many years, has watched The Parent Trap movie at least 100 times. It was purchased for her by my mother several years before she died in 2000-- so there was and is a special significance to her childhood attachment to this film. Young and innocent then, actress Lindsay Lohan is featured in it as well as Natasha Richardson who met her sad fate too early.Now everyone has moved on one way or another. I mention the film because I recently read an essay that used a play on words for its title and it reminded me of the connection. The Parent-Teacher Trap written by Sara Mosle, a grade six English teacher, author and journalist explores the delicate relationship between parents and their children’s teachers.

What exactly is the parent teacher trap-- and why call it a trap? Traps are loaded and set to go off when triggered—and, apparently this touches on the inherent nature of the relationship— but it doesn’t have to be thought of as a trap and it isn’t the way things work at the Religious School. The writer explains that, “The teacher-parent relationship is a lot like an arranged marriage. Neither side gets a lot of say in the match. Both parties, however, share greatresponsibility for a child, which can lead to a deeply rewarding partnership or the kind of conflict found in some joint-custody arrangements.” Fortunately, I am here to report that we at the Religious School see an unending stream of rewarding partnerships.

As a high school teacher for many years, I recall very little contact with most parents in any given school year. We had no Internet and email back then… and this technology may be directly responsible for more parent-teacher contact in today’s world as communicating is so easy (too easy?). For a parent to call a teacher during the workday all those years ago would have required a real reason that would have likely involved the principal in some way. To calla teacher at home in the evening would have been highly unusual unless there was a serious problem. Life this way was not a bad thing in any way; parents intervened when something was very serious (again,

this was high school so the students were usually capable of managing most of their affairs to a great degree). When we talk about younger students in grades kindergarten through the middle school years-- clearly parents need to be more involved andteachers need to make themselves available.

But sometimes when teachers (and administrators) and parents mix to represent children, a stressful situation occurs. Usually patience and understanding from all parties will help, but things can easily go downhill fast if the participants involved are not really listening to each other or coming up with reasonable ideas for problem solving. At JFC, our parents and teachers have had wonderful relationships—almost exclusively—over the years I have been involved(nearly twenty as a teacher here and thirteen-plus as director of education). My staff and I are advocates for each child for whom we are entrusted to teach and care for and I think most of our parents feel this keenly. I would venture to say that our strong reputation as a school comes greatly from the perception that ours is a caring and nurturing environment; our priority is the whole child and his/her well-being because you can’t expect kids to be very good learners if they do not feel a sense of trust and support.

According to the writer of this essay, teachers often feel threatened by parents and many parents feel intimidated by teachers-- and this is a sad reality. “For teachers, the terrain is equally treacherous.” Parents do not want to become over-involved but it is my experience at JFC that most parents know just when it is appropriate to step forward. Just the other day at dismissal, a parent talked to me about getting extra help for her child. The child was a little uncomfortable at first, but when I assured her that I would personally help her until she was confident enough to work with one of our mentors for extra support, she smiled andagreed. Many times students of ours-- in all grades-- will approach me to discuss their issues or concerns and this makes me feel very proud of the relationship we have built with our kids.

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar April 2013 Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page6 7

Our kids talk to their teachers openly all the time. I have collected in my mind quite a lot of, frankly, adorable stories. So much more than book learning happens when we are together. I give our teachers and students all the credit here—but some surely goes to the parents of the school who are our greatest support.

“When parents and teachers have chronic conflicts… as in a bad marriage… both sides are telling the truth, at least from their perspective.” We avoid persistent problems here because we have such an intimate learning environment and we can catch things going off-balance before any real negativity sets in. There are no teacher-student pent up issues and therefore we can side-step the parent-teacher trap because we don’t let things escalate or percolate. We look to make concrete changes to satisfy all parties and to follow up to make sure everyone feels the results.

It is a wonderful thing to see a productive learning environment that yields so many special relationships. This is when education is at its best—when each cohort does its share to keep the entire entity moving forward. I am proud and honored to work in such a magicalatmosphere! I thank you all.

Todah Rabbah to...

The Youth Group (and their parents) for their help with the February Rock Shabbat (the 8 th) andwith the March 2nd Shul-In

The Grade 7 parents and students for their help with the Purim Carnival

The parents who have registered for the 2013-14 RS school year for their children during theearly/discounted period (Feb. 6- Mar. 12) and the Regular Registration (also discounted) period(Mar. 13-Apr. 16)

All of the parents who helped with the RS model seders in March

The Kids Knesset for planning two great events: the Grades 4-6 Rock Around the CalendarHoliday Food Event on April 4 and the Grades K-3 Scavenger Hunt on April 14

From the Religious School (cont’d)

The Early Childhood Center at JFC is a very specialplace. We are working hard and maintaining a wonderful school for as many children as possible. To me, the most important thing in working with young children and their families is FLEXIBILITY. We at JFC are trying new things and looking at the needs of each child in unique ways. Our goal is to encouragegrowth in all aspects of development.

In our continuing effort to meet the needs of thecommunity, the Early Childhood Center at JFC is expanding its class offerings! In September of 2013 we will offer a 4 day a week, non-denominational program for children from ages 3-4 that will continue to emphasize our school’s philosophy of child-centered, play-based curriculum. There will be an optional Friday with Jewish programming available to all who are interested. An emphasis on Shabbat and Jewish holidays will be explored for part of the day on Fridays. Fridays are open to all students. For 2 yr olds, the ECC will offer a non-denominational program onMondays and Wednesdays with an optional Friday with similar format.

We believe that by providing broader options we allow a diversity of children to experience a pre-school community that nurtures the whole child and develops each child’s multifaceted potential through hands-on experiences, well-provisioned indoor and outdoor spaces, and a warm, professional, knowledgeable staff.

Our philosophy does not change with our new offerings. It includes the belief that children are full of curiosity and creativity. Our curriculum is flexible and emerges from children’s ideas, thoughts and observations.The goal of The ECC at JFC is to cultivate within children a lifelong passion for learning and exploration. Learning is viewed as a journey; and education as building relationships with people (both children and adults) and creating connections between ideas and the environment.

Learning is spontaneous. Learning is purposeful and personal. Learning by doing, by experiencing is more lasting than learning secondhand. Learning is most effective and lasting when it serves as a response

to a child’s own inquisitiveness. Young children learn best through firsthand sensory experiences. Young children learn by doing and in many ways. Young children are motivated to learn by their desire to makesense of their world. Young children’s ability to learn is affected by their emotional state. Children learn what they live. Good and bad; inside and outside ofthe classroom.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING REGISTRATION FOR FALL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. PLEASE HELP US TO SPREAD THE WORD!

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to schedule an appointment today to see our wonderful school. Have them call Jane Emmer 914-763-3028 x 15

Flexibility in Early ChildhoodBy Jane Emmer


April Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

-27 Nisan 5773-Gr. 6 Holocaust Program-Gr. 4-6-Yom HaShoah

-4 Iyyar 5773-Gr. 4-6-Gr. 4-6 Scavenger Hunt-Roadside Cleanup-RS Gr. 5 Bake sale

-11 Iyyar 5773-No RS

-18 Iyyar 5773-Gr. 6 NYC Trip-Gr. 4-6-Lag B’Omer

-JFC Closed-No ECC-21 Nisan 5773-April Fool’s-No RS-Pesach VII-10am Movement

-28 Nisan 5773-ECC-RS Gr. 7-10am Kitchen Science

-5 Iyyar 5773-ECC-RS Gr. 7-Tax Day-Yom HaZikaron-10am Movement

-12 Iyyar 5773-Earth Day-ECC-RS Gr. 7-10am Kitchen Science

-19 Iyyar 5773-ECC-RS Gr. 7-10am Movement

-JFC Closed-No ECC-22 Nisan 5773-Pesach VIII-Yizkor/PPPP-7:30pm Conversion

-29 Nisan 5773-ECC-RS 10 Pack 6-7:30pm-12pm Zumba-7:30pm Ritual Meeting

-6 Iyyar 5773-ECC-Yom HaAtzma’ut-12pm Zumba-7:30pm Conversion

-13 Iyyar 5773-ECC-RS Gr. 6 Mtg.-Parents & Students-7-9 PM

-20 Iyyar 5773-ECC-5pm Book Swap and Extreme Draw On-7:30pm Conversion

-23 Nisan 5773-ECC-RS Committee

-30 Nisan 5773-ECC-Rosh Chodesh-10am Music-10:30am Science

-7 Iyyar 5773-ECC-RS Discounted regular admission ends-6pm Mens Group Dinner/Movie-7:30pm Sisterhood Book Club

-14 Iyyar 5773-ECC-Pesach Sheni-10am Music-10:30am Science

-24 Nisan 5773-Kids Knesset: Grs. K-3 Rock Around the Calendar-RS K-3, CC-7:30pmBoard Meeting

-1 Iyyar 5773-JiFTY Electionmeeting-Rosh Chodesh-RS K-3/YG/CC

-8 Iyyar 5773-RS K-3, CC-5:10pm RS KidsKnesset-RS Gr. 5 Bake sale

-15 Iyyar 5773-JiFTY Elections-RS K-3, CC, YG-RS Open House

-25 Nisan 5773-ECC-ECC Staff-RS Grs. K & 1-7:30pm K/1, Gr.2 Ellen Elias Honoring Service

-2 Iyyar 5773-ECC-7:30pm Yom HaShoah Service

-9 Iyyar 5773-ECC-K/L 3 Day Weekend-NFTY Nar Spring Kallah-Yom HaAtzmaut Service

-16 Iyyar 5773-ECC-Rock Shabbat/Gr 3 Service-Author Maggie Anton Presentation

-26 Nisan 5773-Gr. 7, 9-10:45am-Parashat Shmini-7pm Bridge to the Future Gala Event

-3 Iyyar 5773-Gr. 7, 9-10:45am-Parashat Tazria-Metzora

-10 Iyyar 5773-No Gr. 7-Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim-10am Aaron Cohen BM

-17 Iyyar 5773-Gr. 7, 9-10:45am-Parashat Emor

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7

14

21

28

1

8

15

22

29

2

9

16

23

30

3

10

17

24

1

4

11

18

25

2

5

12

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26

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6

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Birthdays

Alexander, NeilAmerling, DavidAmerling, PaulAndrade, AlexandriaAuerbach, RichardBerland, MichaelCarson, KennethCarter, RichardCohen, AdamDockter, NoraDodes, CyndiDrawec, EvyElias, EllenFried, LaurenGoldstein, CarlyGoodstein, MaxGottlieb, Lawrence

Kalter, RachelKaplan, SarahKurzweil, DavidLandman, RitaOkamoto, TomoPaulding, LindaRadin, IkeRaimondi, JacobRappaport, AllysonRappaport, AndrewShapiro, JackShulman, SamanthaSimon, LeslieSklarin, JuliaStevelman, PaulValente, SusanWilson, Miriam

Anniversaries

Donn Henshaw & Abby Plotka-HenshawJack Wilson & Marjorie Schiff

Martin & Tracey Weisberg

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar April 2013 Nisan/ Iyyar 5773 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page10

Donations

Fund From Purpose-Auction Donation-General Fund-General Fund-General Fund-General Fund-General Fund-General Fund

-Grounds Beautification

-Molly & Gregory RSSF-Memorials/Simchas-Music Fund

-Music Fund

-Music Fund

-Music Fund

-Rabbi Discretionary Fund

-Rabbi Discretionary Fund-Rabbi Discretionary Fund

-Religious School Director Fund

-Religious School Director Fund

-Sisterhood

-Michael and Emily Wein-Doris Hettmansberger-Richard and Sandi Auerbach-Robi Margolis-Martin and Tracey Weisberg-Cindy and Kenneth Carson-Allen Gabor and Lisa Papernik

-Allen Gabor and Lisa Papernik

-Paul and Elizabeth Amerling-Robi Margolis-Felice Kempler




-Felice Kempler

-Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman-Allen Gabor and Lisa Papernik

-Felice Kempler

-Felice Kempler

-Judd and Dina Zusel

-April 2013 Gala Donation-In Memory of William Goldman-End of year donation-In Memory of Stephen Margolis-In Memory of Arthur Goodman-Donation for Religious School Advertising-In Honor of Ruth Ossher on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Honor of Jolie Levy on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Memory of Friedlander Family-In Memory of Stephen Margolis-In Honor of Kathy and Paul Storfer of the anniversary of Meryl Honig’s Bat Mitzvah-In Honor of Cantor Kerry Ben-David on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Honor of JFC Choir on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Honor of Kathy and Paul Storfer and David Kane on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Honor of Rabbi Carla on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Meryl Honig’s Bat Mitzvah-In Memory of A . Zuckerman.-In Honor of Rabbi Carla Freedman on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah-In Honor of Linda Pauling on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Meryl Honig’s Bat Mitzvah-In Honor of Leslie Gottlieb on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Meryl Honig’s Bat Mitzvah

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High Holy Day Appeal

Norman and Carole AlexanderPaul and Elizabeth AmerlingKenneth AufsesserEllen BarthDavid Berger and Jennifer FisherRichard Bersch and Amy SeligTheodore Bloch and Lisa BlockJoshua and Michelle BlumNeal and karen BlumRobert BolgarSteven BordenJohn and Karen ContiPaul and Susan DavidRoger and Jo DrawecBea EmmerJane EmmerDavid and Sally FiresteinDavid and Amy FischerLaurence FuricMichael Gitlitz and Rita LandmanRoy GoldmanSteven and Melissa Goodstein

Michael Gordon and Mariana CaneloThe Gottlieb FamilyRichard and Lydia HellingerDoris HettmansbergerMimi HodgkinsDrew and Mindy HoffmanMichael Horwitz and Fran ApfelEugene KahnDavid and Carrie KaneJoel and Laura KaplanPeter and Jamie KaplanGlenn and Deborah KurlanderKenneth Kurzweil and Suzanne SundayMark and Debra LavinIan and Sigal LeitnerLaura LevensonKenneth Levinsohn and Ellen StraussDavid and Dara MarceauRobi MargolisDavid and Leslie MossHarold and Ruth OssherAdam Ozols and Donna Finklestein

Paula Reichler ParkerAndrew and Allyson RappaportKenneth and Donna RayHarry and Sandra RosenhouseMichael and Rona SalpeterAlan and Jeanette SandersGordon and Polly SchnellJodi and Tony SenesePat ShaferAlan and Lisa SheptinAlan and Laura SteinhornPaul and Kathleen StorferRobert and Barbara StronginClifford WallachAlex and Bonnie WattlesMitchell and Jodi WaxmanMichael and Emily WeinRichard WeiserMargaret WeissmanHal and Laurie WolkinDavid and Elisa ZuckerbergFred and Marcia Zuckerberg


Kids Ask the RabbiQuestion: I saw you wearing a jacket with a pin on it, with 4 Hebrew letters…what did it say?

Answer: You are observant! The pin says, in Hebrew, zakhor, which means “remember”. I bought it in 1986 at Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, where it is sold to remind us not to forget what happened during the Holocaust, and even more, to remind us of why the Holocaust took place.

Why did it take place? Because humans forgot to follow God’s teachings. The Torah tells us to treat other people the way we ourselves want to be treated; if we think that, we can never do the kinds of things the Nazis did to Jews and others during the Holocaust. The Torah tells us that all humans are created in God’s image…not physically, but spiritually and morally; if we do that, we will always see the best in people, and we will never consider ourselves better than anyone else.

But during the Holocaust, and in fact in the years leading up to it, humans forgot about these very important lessons from Torah.

What happened in the Holocaust was a complete betrayal of the values we are taught in the Torah. So Yad VaShem sells these small pins carrying the Hebrew word zakhor, remember, to remind us to remember what we are taught, and to remember how to treat people, and to remember whose image we carry in our souls.

Thank you for noticing my pin…and I hope you will remember what it says and what it means, from time to time!

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Everyone Had a Great Time at The Religious School’s

“Bring a Parent Day” This Winter!!


Summer Fun At Jewish Family Congregation

REGISTRATION FORMSummer 2013 9:30-12:15

Child’s Name:___________GenderM/F___Birthdate:____________________Street Address:________________________________________________________Mailing Address:_________________________________________________________Home Phone:____________________ E-mail:__________________________Fall 2013 my child will be attending: 2 year old class: __ (max 3 days per week)(check one) 3 year old class:____ 4 year old class: ____ Kindergarten: _______School :______________________parent name:_________________ Phone:__________________ Cell:_______parent name:_________________ Phone:________________ Cell:__________Siblings Name:_________________ birthdate:_____________________ Name:_________________________birthdate:__________________Local emergency contacts: Name:__________________________ Phone#_____________________ Cell:_________________Name:__________________________ Phone#_____________________ Cell:_________________Child’s Doctor_______________________________________Phone#_______________________Allergies:_________________________________________________________Special Needs/Services:____________________________________________My child will attend JFC Summer Fun: 5 day ($225/wk) 3 day($190/wk)Week of 6/24: _______ ___________Week of 7/1: _, no camp 7/4 or 7/5) ___________ $190 for everyone!Week of 7/8: ________ ___________Week of 7/15: ________ ___________ Week of 7/22: ________ ___________Week of 7/29: ________ ___________

The fee for JFC Summer Fun is $225 per week. 5 mornings per week or $200/wk 3 mornings per week.

Payment is due in full with registration form

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New class offerings at the Early Childhood Center at JFC! We proudly offer non-denominational programs that

continue to emphasize our philosophy of child-centered & engaging curriculum plus flexible schedules.

Two’s program Monday & Wednesday

9:30—11:45 am

Optional Friday with emphasis

on Jewish Culture

Three’s program

Monday - Thursday 9:15—12:00 pm

Optional Friday with emphasis

on Jewish Culture * Lunch Bunch from 12– 1 pm,

two days a week

Four’s program Monday - Thursday

9:15—12:00 pm

Optional Friday with emphasis on Jewish Culture

* Lunch Bunch from 12– 1 pm,

two days a week

Please call to schedule a tour!

Jane Weil Emmer,

Director 111 Smith Ridge Road

South Salem, NY 10590

www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

(914) 763-3028


Ask the Rabbi

Question: What is the real meaning of the word mitzvah?

Answer: The actual meaning of the word is “commandment”. Judaism teaches us that there are 613 commandments in the Torah (various authorities have counted them differently but the total count is understoodto be 613). The central notion is that God is “the Commander”, Israel is “the commanded”, and the Torah contains “the commandments”. So we deduce that we can know both how to please God and how to live a righteous and rewarding life by fulfilling the commandments of Torah.

There are many commandments that our early sages deduced from their reading of Torah. For example, in theTorah we are commanded to make Shabbat “holy”. But we are not told there how to do so. The rabbis taughtthat the word “holy” means “set apart, special”. So they created behaviours and rituals that mark the Sabbath day as separate from the other days. They taught us to light Shabbat candles and not to extinguish them, as people used to do every evening; by leaving the candles to burn out, we make the Shabbat candles different…special, set apart…from candles used on other days. When we light these candles, we say a blessing acknowledging that we are doing so to fulfill the Shabbat commandment.. The rabbis required us to fulfill the commandment to put fringes on the corners of our garments (Num 15:37-41) by putting on a fringed four-corner garment when we pray; when we wrap ourselves in a tallit, we say a special blessing acknowledging that we are doing this particular thing in fulfillment of the commandment.

There are many commandments that are fulfilled by doing a specific ritual, like those above, or like studying Torah or washing hands ritually…and so many more. These are always accompanied by a blessing which mentions asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu (who has sanctified us with commandments and commanded us to…) so we know that we are doing the ritual to mark some action as part of our relationship with God.

Other commandments are about helping others, like providing food for the hungry or clothes for the poor orshelter for the homeless. When we fulfill these commandments, we feel good about helping other people, andwe also know that we are expected to do these things as part of being a good Jew. No blessing accompanies these actions because there are no specific rituals to be done with them. Giving money to important causes is not a ritual, but it fulfills the commandment nevertheless.

But many of these latter mitzvoth are “good deeds”, and because of that, some people think that the wordmitzvah means “good deed”. Not so. Even the ones we do as good deeds are derived from our religiousobligations, that is, commandments.

Jewish tradition teaches us to enrich our lives by fulfilling as many mitzvot as we can each day. The lesson here is that a life full of mitzvot is a life full of serving other people, and a life full of uplifting rituals that please our Creator and ennoble our actions and behaviours all day, every day.

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Mark Your Calendars and...Save The Date!!!

Friday, April 5th, 7:30 PM Shabbat Service

Honoring JFC Religious School Teacher,

Ellen Elias (retiring this spring)

Come and help us celebrate Ellen’s successes over the years!

Also this evening, our ...

K/1 and Grade 2 Students will be making presentations and their parents will be

providing a memorable Oneg Shabbat for all to enjoy. Please join us.


Application for 2013-2014 School Year

Child’s Name __________________________________________ Gender ________Date of Birth ___________________________ Home Street Address____________________________________ Town/State/Zip Code____________________________________ Home Phone ___________________________________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address ____________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address ____________________ Siblings - Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Please Check One: Circle Days : 2’s 2 day _________ 3 day__________ (M – W – F 9:15-11:45) 3’s 4 day _________ 5 day _____ ( M – T – W – Th- F 9:15 – 12:00) 4’s 4 day _________ 5 day _____ ( M – T – W – Th- F 9:15 – 12:00) Tuition Information $250 Non –refundable registration fee must accompany this form. Tuition is p Tuition is as follows:

2 day 2 payments of $ 1,400 due 6/1 and 9/1/2013 (2’s only) total tuition $ 2,800.00 3 day 3 payments of $ 1,400 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (2’s only total tuition $ 4,200.00 4 day 3 payments of $ 1,800 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (3’s & 4’s) total tuition $ 5,400.00 5 day 3 payments of $ 1,966 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (3’s & 4’s) total tuition $ 5,900.00

Early Childhood Center at Jewish Family Congregation ane Emmer – Director 914-763-3028 x 15 J

111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10590

Cantor’s Corner, Pesach 5773By Cantor Ben-David

With the arrival of April this year, we also reach the final days of Passover. This yearly pilgrimage of mind and soul is a powerful statement of several important Jewish qualities. The words we read and sing in the Haggadah, clearly place us, in 2013, in the midst of our ancestors’ incredible journey to freedom! At every turn we are inspired by themes of resilience, rebirth and renewal. The lessons from our peoples’ ancient struggles infuse and inform us, today, in our own personal challenges. As in years past, we carry with us this year a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. In G-d’s divine plan, Nature underscores these burgeoning emotions with the fullest spectacle of her spectacular awakening! As I am about to begin my ninth year as your cantor, I feel that JFC mirrors, in some ways, this feeling of rebirth and renewal. All congregational families have seasons of plenty and occasional times of struggle. During my years at JFC, sharing simchas with many families has given me a special “window’ into the highest moments that are experienced by so many of our congregational families. During many B’nei-Mitzvah Services, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear not only the b’nei-mitzvah students themselves, but their mothers and fathers pour out expressions of great appreciation for the rabbinic leadership that so touched their lives. In their own words, I heard heart-felt praise for Rabbi Carla’s rabbinic wisdom, caring, insightful humor and for a leader who by example, is a role model in living a meaningful Jewish life enriched by our past, we must now wrap ourselves in the enormous possibilities that lie withinour grasp and look to the future that is unfolding before us!

“Chazak, Chazak v’Nitchazeik! Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!”

Very warmly, Cantor Kerry

Our first Rosh Chodesh service on March 12 at JFC was truly one of the best evenings the Sisterhood has ever had. Bonnie Heft, a Ridgefield resident, kindly offered to guide us through our memorable celebration.Bonnie runs Rosh Chodesh services at her Temple B’Nai Chaim in Georgetown, CT and her assistance was much appreciated.

First, we participated in a brief, meaningful service. Then we enjoyed a delicious menu of various Passover dishes prepared by the participants. We hope to continue this Rosh Chodesh tradition in the summer and fallseasons. We hope you will join us the next time.

Last month, the Sisterhood Book Group discussed “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. As always, it was a fun night with good friends and great discussion.

Our next book is “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan-Phillip Sendker. The story is an inspirational and poi-gnant tale that spans the 1950s to the current day. A successful New York lawyer suddenly disappearswithout a trace, and neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be…until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solvingthe mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm thereader’s belief in the power of love to move mountains.

We will meet to discuss this book on Wednesday, April 17th (location to be announced). If you haven’t already joined our book group, we would love to have you participate in this great read and enjoyable night together.

JFC Sisterhood NewsBy Cindy Carson


Religious SchoolS.T.A.R.S. Program

Save the Date: Sunday, May 5th!!

Each student needs to attend the same number of services as his/her grade in order to attend the party on the 5th. Get busy now and start attending Friday night services! The April 26th Rock Shabbat counts for 2 for everyone in grades K-6! Use your STARS sheet to keep track of the dates and/or sign in using the Big Binder in the Youth Lounge whenever you ar-rive for Shabbat.

This year we’ll have a 18’ slide and a Monster Wheels Bounce House on hand to help with the fun!! Snow cones and popcorn anyone?

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 $ as this is our spring school fundraiser and we are counting on your support!

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Friday, April 26th… 7:30-8:15 PM(Also a Grade 3 Service)

*Counts for TWO “STARS” points (grades K-6)*Remember to sign in (Youth Lounge Register)!

Join us for

ROCKSHABBAT

Led by our Youth Group

Special Dr. Seuss Theme!

The entire service will feature Theodore Geisel’s rhyming pattern!!!

&

Also featuring guitarists, Jason Breslin & Gabe Zuckerberg! Service led by Sam Blum!


Ritual CommitteeBy Michal Salpeter, Chairman

Nissan – the month, not the car.

As I am writing this article, the month of Nissan is about to begin. To most Jews this month is most important with the coming of Passover on the 15 th of Nissan. As a matter of fact, even though that Rosh Hashanah is recognized as the NewYear, the month of Nissan is considered the first month of the Hebrew calendar. In Exodus 12:2 we learn that God specifically instructed Moses to make Nissan the first month of the year. Just last week Rabbi Carla addressed this unusualdichotomy in her weekly sermon. For many of us, Passover is considered to be the most important festival of the year with even “secular Jews” participating in some form of a seder with family and friends. Our family has begun a traditionwhereby Rona and I travel to Syracuse to conduct a seder with our children and their friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish alike. I have never met a college student who will turn down a home cooked feast.

Recently, somebody handed me what appeared to be a business card with a declaration in bold upper case letters, “Moshiach is here”, along with a photo of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendl Schneerson. There is a ratherlarge group of his followers who believe that the Rebbe is not actually dead but is hiding as the messiah, while others believe he will return from the grave to assume the title of “Melech HaMoshiach”

On the current website of the Chabad of Holmdel, NJ photos of Rabbi Schneerson cover the bulk of the home page. Further navigating the website takes you to the magazine section, whose article is entitled “Long Live the King”. It is in this article that the author pronounces that the month of Nissan is the one in which King Moshiach will appear, since traditionally it is a month of leadership and redemption . It continues on with the proclamation that if we declare, “long live the king “, then we will merit the reward of having the messiah return.

It is doubtful that there are too many Reform Jews who will agree with this assessment of the appearance of the messiah. In any event, I still find it interesting that there is yet another reason why members of our faith consider Nissan such an auspicious month. Perhaps this will allow you to think about the importance of this month during the festival of Passover.

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Two or three times each year, the JFC Social Action Committee does a “Midnight Run” to New York City to help the homeless with food and clothing. Several of our Bnai Mitzvah students participate as part of their mitzvah project. We are planning the next Midnight Run for Saturday night, April 27.

Supplies

We are low on supplies, and must collect more clothing to take on this run. Please support us by dropping off items at JFC in the “trunk” in the front vestibule. We are looking for gently used MEN’S clothing, including:

• Jeans and Pants• Hoodies and sweatshirts• Shirts, long and short sleeved• Belts• Shoes• Backpacks• Blankets

ALSO, we distribute some new clothing as well. We are greatly in need of bulk (10 in a package) NEW items:

• Size “L” underwear• Size 9-12 athletic socks• Disposable razors• Washcloths• Mini toothpaste tubes

Please ask your dentist if he/she might donate some mini toothpaste tubes. My dentist has donated many over the past couple of years.

Food

We bring dinners to the homeless as well. During the day of the 27th, we need volunteers to make and donate bag dinners. These include a hearty sandwich, fruit, box drink, cookies and a protein bar. Volunteers usually contribute 10 or twenty such meals in brown lunch bags.

We also are seeking one volunteer to make a big pot of hearty soup. Please email [email protected] if you can help out.

Help

There are still openings on the run for those youth or young at heart who wish to participate. Before therun, we need volunteers to help sort and label clothing. This can be done in a group meeting, or you cantake clothing home to label.

Again, please email [email protected] to help. We would greatly appreciate your help for this veryimportant activity. For more information on the runs, visit www.midnightrun.org.

Thank you for your support.

Debbie Lavin

Social Action Committee


Youth GroupBy Jessica Sheptin, Communications VP

Hello, and welcome to JiFTY’s monthly update! As you may remember, last month JiFTY hosted their an-nual shul-in. It was very enjoyable and we met many other teenagers from different synagogues. Everyone was friendly and new friends were made. We bonded through different activities, such as creating superheroes in small groups, playing Apples to Apples, ® and watching Marvel’s The Avengers! We had a fantastic dinner, which included singing renditions of Disney songs. This was followed by a beautiful Havdalah service led by Matt Emmer and Jeremy Fischer. Finally, at around 12:00am, everyone was in his/her sleeping bag, huddled in the sanctuary, ready to fall asleep after an entertaining night. Only eight hours later, we awoke to the smell of toasted bagels and hot coffee (we may or may not have also eaten cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate…what hap-pens at a shul-in STAYS at a shul-in). Overall, the shul-in was fantastic! Anyone who is at least in the 8th grade and not a member should think about joining JiFTY. You will not regret it!

Stay tuned for the next episode of the JiFTY column, which will include our new board members, who will be chosen by JiFTY members in April. Be on the look out!

-Jessica Sheptin, CVP

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ECC

It’s book swap time at the ECC! Please bring your gently used books— from board to chapter— to the JFC on

Tuesday, April 30th 5:30—7:00 pm

Swap & snack !

Trade with a friend or find

something new!

All remaining books will be donated to Reading Dreams

(an American- based nonprofit organization that sends books and other reading materials to

children who need them.)

Books may also be dropped off in the

bin outside the office starting Thursday 4/25

ECC JFC

Hear great

books read by

special guests!

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• Fabulous food and wine pairings from the Kittle House executive Chef Marc Lippman. • Wine tastings from the Kittle House’s extensive and well regarded wine selection which hasbeen the recipient of many awards including the Award of Great Distinction from The Wine

Enthusiast since 2006. • Fantastic music from super DJ, Mike Carson of Max Events

• An absolutely beautiful evening with stunning candlelit décor • Exclusive tour of the “Inner Sanctum” wine cellar for Benefactor ticket holders

To buy your tickets online: http://auctions.readysetauction.com/jfc/

or

if you prefer to pay by check,RSVP to JFC’s office

111 Smith Ridge RoadSouth Salem, NY 10590.

Call 914-763-3028


Non Profit Organization

Postage PAID

White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022

Current Resident Or

Documents

Shofar - April 2013 - Nisan/Iyar 5773