The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N

May 2-3, 2015 • Parshiot Acharei Mot/Kedoshim • 13 Iyar 5775

Erev Shabbat 7:00PM Minchah 7:34PM Candle Lighting

Shabbat 7:45AM Hashkama Minyan 8:30AM Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine 9:00AM Shacharit (3rd floor) followed by the Martha Sonnenschein Memorial Lecture by Arna Poupko Fisher, The Holy Heights of the Hu-man Heart: Family, Friends and Faith 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, Sefirah- A Time for Mourning, Part II? 9:24AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 9:15AM Young Leadership Minyan (The Max Stern Auditorium) 10:00AM Youth Groups, 2-year-olds, 3-4-year-olds and 5-6-year-olds: Geller Youth Center; 2nd-3rd graders, 4th-6th graders: 7th floor 11:00AM Youth Department Mishnayot Class for grades 1-4 (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) Community Hot Kiddush (5th floor)

With Thanks to Our Kiddush Sponsors: Rachel & Daniel Solomons invite the entire congregation to a Kiddush in celebration of their son Aaron's recent Bar Mitzvah over Pesach in Jerusalem Sonnenschein Family in memory of Martha Sonnenschein Vivian & Daniel Chill in memory of Vivian's father, Harold M. Ja-cobs whose yahrzeit is on Lag B'Omer Rebecca & Emilio Krausz in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Re-becca's father, Aaron Green, z”l Paulette & David Meyer in memory of Manfred Meyer

4:00PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Ave) 5:30PM Parent-Child Learning with Rabbi Daniel Fridman (grades 1-4 are welcome) 6:40PM Shabbat Afternoon Jewish History Series: Arna Poupko Fisher, Subversive Stories, Sanity and Survival: The Transformative Power of the Biblical and Rabbinic Narrative 6:40PM Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 7:25PM Minchah, Shabbat afternoon groups Seudah Shlishit Speaker: Arna Poupko Fisher, Is there an Ethic Be-yond Halacha?

8:34PM Shabbat Concludes

THE JEWISH CENTER ANNUAL DINNER

Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Guastavino's

Guests of Honor STEVE GRABER

MARVIN FORTGANG

Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung Memorial

Award MARNIE & SCOTT

BLACK

Community Service Award DINA BURCAT

HONORING

MARTHA SONNENSCHEIN MEMORIAL LECTURE BY ARNA POUPKO FISHER, THE HOLY HEIGHTS OF THE HUMAN HEART: FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FAITH

Shabbat, May 2 at 11:00AM

Please see the insert for complete schedule and bio.

MEMORIAL DAY LECTURE BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL HOWARD BROMBERG Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM

Please join us as we host dozens of active duty US Marines and veterans of the US armed services. We will honor the memories of our fallen soldiers and pay tribute to the brave men and women who protect this great nation.

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

— DAILY SERVICES —

WOMEN'S TEHILLIM GROUP Monday, May 11 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more info at 212-877-1176.

Sun., May 3 Daf Yomi 7:45AM Shacharit 8:30AM Minchah 7:40PM

Mon., May 4 - Thur., May 7 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 7:40PM

Fri., May 8 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 7:00PM Candle Lighting: 7:40PM

MAY & SAMUEL RUDIN LECTURE FEATURING DANIEL LIBESKIND, THE SHAPING OF MEMORY FROM BERLIN TO GROUND ZERO

Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00PM

An international figure in architecture and urban design, architect Daniel Libeskind is renowned for his ability to evoke cultural memory in buildings of equilibrium-defying contemporaneity. He is known for his work as the planner of the World Trade Center rede-velopment and designing the Jewish Museum of Berlin. A limited number of seats remain. Please visit our website to register.

Jewish Museum of Berlin

4TH ANNUAL KETER TORAH AWARDS HONORING DR. ADENA BERKOWITZ AND MICHELLE CHREIN Shabbat, May 16 following 9AM Services

Please see the insert for more information.

DAILY (except Shabbat) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi, 7:45AM

MONDAY Innovation & Conservation: Ancient Judaism & Christianity with Rabbi Ari Lamm, 8:00PM

TUESDAY Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:45AM

Nosh & Drash with Dr. Adena Berkowitz, 10:15AM

From Zionism to Zion: The Journey of Modern Israel with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:00PM (last class on May 5)

WEDNESDAY Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:45AM

Women of the Bible with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 11:00AM

Iyun Tefilah: Study of Prayer with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 6:30PM

The Next Level with Rabbi Mark Wildes, 8:00PM

THURSDAY From Supervision to Competition: Business Ethics and the Jewish Consumer with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind, 8:00PM through April 30 and then at 7:00PM

SHABBAT Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:30AM

Ramban on the Weekly Parsha with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 9:15AM

Parent-Child Learning with Rabbi Daniel Fridman

Youth Department Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Daniel Fridman

Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with JCU Faculty, 45 minutes before Minchah

39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind

JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY SPRING SEMESTER THROUGH JUNE 18

May 9: Rabbi Adam Mintz, The Chevra Kaddisha Comes to America: Burial Policies in Early American Orthodoxy

May 16: Rabbi Daniel Fridman, Shiur in Tribute to Rabbi Lichtenstein

May 30: Professor Jonathan Helfand, Deciphering an Inscription: A Family at the Crossroads of Modern Jewish History

June 13: Professor Sharon Flatto, Who is a Jew?: The Case of the Marranos - the First Modern Jews

JEWISH HISTORY SERIES SHABBAT AFTERNOONS, ONE HOUR BEFORE MINCHAH

Daniel Libeskind, B.Arch. M.A. BDA AIA An international figure in architecture and urban design, architect Daniel Libeskind is renowned for his ability to evoke cultural memory in buildings of equilibrium-defying contemporaneity. Informed by a deep com-mitment to music, philosophy, and literature, Libeskind aims to create archi-tecture that is resonant, original, and sustainable. Born in Lódz, Poland to Holocaust survivors in 1946, Libeskind immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Daniel Libeskind established his architectural studio in Berlin, Ger-many, in 1989 after winning the competition to build the JEWISH MUSEUM IN BERLIN. In February 2003, Studio Daniel Libeskind moved its headquarters from Berlin to New York City when Libeskind was selected as the master planner for the WORLD TRADE CENTER REDEVELOPMENT. His practice is involved in designing and realizing a diverse array of urban, cultural, and commercial projects interna-tionally. The Studio has completed buildings that range from museums and concert halls to convention centers, uni-versity buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and residential towers. As Principal Design Architect for Studio Daniel Libeskind (SDL), Libeskind speaks widely on the art of ar-chitecture in universities and professional summits. His architecture and ideas have been the subject of many articles and exhibitions, influencing the field of architecture and the development of cities and culture. He lives in New York with his wife and busi-

ness partner, Nina Libeskind.

A limited number of seats remain. Please visit our website to register.

Jewish Museum of Berlin

World Trade Center redevelopment

YOUNG LEADERSHIP PRE-SHAVUOT DINNER Friday, May 22

Kick off the three-day chag with this annual Young Lead-ership sell-out event. Visit our website for more infor-

mation and to register. Please email yl@jewishcenter.org with any questions or to get involved.

HERB LAUER TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT KICKS OFF WITH

A SPECIAL SESSION CO-TAUGHT BY RABBI YOSIE LEVINE AND DR. ERICA BROWN

Saturday, May 23 at 11:45PM Shiurim and classes throughout the night

WOMEN AND GIRLS’ MEGILLAH READING

May 25th at 6:00PM

MEN AND BOYS’ LEARNING May 25 at 6:00PM

FAMILY SHAVUOT DINNER WITH DR. ERICA BROWN

May 25 Following Women and Girls’ Megillah Reading and Men

and Boys’ Learning, families are invited to celebrate Sha-vuot together. Join us for a light dinner and conversation

with JC Community Scholar, Dr. Erica Brown.

SHAVUOT PROGRAMS AT THE JC FRIDAY, MAY 22 - MONDAY, MAY 25

MAZAL TOV Rachel & Daniel Solomons on the occasion of Aaron's bar mitzvah which took place in Israel over Pe-sach

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to Steve Graber and Mindy Horowitz who are our ushers this Shabbat. THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our dedicated CSS mem-bers for providing the security for our synagogue this week.

COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Congrats to Susan Canter on receiv-ing the Nathan K. Gross Community Service Award at Congregation Ohab Zedek's upcoming annual din-ner.

CONDOLENCES We regret to inform you of the pass-ing of Herbert Knobel, father of Jew-ish Center member, Estie Knobel. Shivah will be observed through Fri-day afternoon at the Knobel home, 1401 Ocean Avenue apartment 14A. Estie can be reached by phone at 718-253-4758. THE ANNUAL WEST SIDE MIKVAH FUNDRAISER Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30PM at 535 West End Avenue The Rebbetzins of the Upper West Side cordially invite the women of the community to celebrate and sup-port The West Side Mikvah. Guest speaker: Rebbetzin Rivkah Slonim, Total Immersion: An Honest Look at the Place of Mikvah in Our Lives. Reg-ister and learn more at www.westsidemikvahfundrasier.com.

GRADUATION KIDDUSH Shabbat, June 13 Join us as we celebrate the academic achievements of our community grad-uates. From preschool to PhD, if you, a family member or a friend flipped a tassel this spring, please let us know by contacting Eliane at eli-ane@jewishcenter.org. If you would like to sponsor the Graduation Kid-dush, please contact Aaron Strum at astrum@jewishcenter.org or Yitzy Sprung at yitz@jewishcenter.org.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

BOOK CLUB MEETING Sunday, May 10 at 7:30PM at the home of Maureen & Laszlo Marcus This year the Book Club theme is Holy Land: Spotlight on Israel. We conclude our book club series with Yossi Klein Halevi’s Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided A Nation. This book is an account of seven para-troopers who participated in the reunification of Jerusalem in the ’67 war and the unfold-ing of their lives and ideology in the decades that followed. For more information and to RSVP email bookclub@jewishcenter.org.

LINCOLN AND THE JEWS - A GUIDED TOUR WITH RABBI YOSIE LEVINE Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00AM As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's passing this spring, join Rabbi Levine for a special tour of this limited-run exhibit at the NY Historical Society. The exhibition explores the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and his Jewish contempo-raries. For more information and to register, email batsheva@jewishcenter.org.

SISTERHOOD ANNUAL BRUNCH Sunday, May 17 at 10:30AM Spice up your life at Sisterhood’s spring brunch. Join us at the home of Rachel Wolf for a presentation by Lior Lev Sercarz of La Boite a Epice. The Israeli-born Sercarz, who trained as a chef in France, creates personalized spice blends for A-list clients including the chefs at the French bread company Poilane, and New York’s Le Bernardin. Enjoy learning to take home cooking to the next level. For more information email sisterhood@jewishcenter.org.

YOUNG LEADERSHIP PRE-SHAVUOT DINNER Friday, May 22 Kick off the three-day chag with this annual Young Leadership sell-out event. Visit our website for more information and to register. Please email yl@jewishcenter.org with any questions or to get involved.

BIKKUR CHOLIM LUNCH Shabbat, May 30 at 12:45PM Come support and learn about the Bikkur in the Home and Bikkur Cholim programs! Pro-ceeds from the lunch go to help support the Bikkur Cholim projects - birthday cards, holi-day packages and flowers for the homebound. Registration will open shortly. CELEBRATE ISRAEL PARADE Sunday, May 31 from 11:00AM to 4:00PM Join The Jewish Center at one of the largest gatherings in the world in support of Israel. Celebrate the 67th anniversary of the State of Israel as we march up Fifth Avenue.

CHILDREN, JOIN US FOR ADON OLAM Children ages 2-6 are encouraged to come up during the Cantor’s recitation of Kiddush and then sing Adon Olam together.

ART CONTEST: WHAT ISRAEL MEANS TO ME Entry Date: May 3 Winners announced: May 17 JC youth of all ages are invited to take part in a contest that focuses on what Israel means to them. Paint, draw, photograph or sculpt something that tells us about your relationship with Israel, and submit by May 3. Entries will be judged by world-renowned artist Tobi Kahn and photogra-pher Shulamit Seidler-Feller. The artwork should be signed on the back, to allow for blind judging. The winner will be declared

on Yom Yerushalayim, and the three top entries will be displayed on the 7th floor. The winner will also receive a large Israeli flag and two books exploring Israel's past and present. Questions? Email yitz@jewishcenter.org

MEET THE MARINES! PIZZA WITH OUR SOLDIERS IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00PM Prior to The JC Memorial Day lecture, we invite our youth to join US Color Guards and Soldiers for dinner and a short Q&A. To register, sponsor and for more information please contact Yitz.

WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' MEGILLAT RUTH READING Monday, May 25 at 6:00PM

YOUTH DEPARTMENT

To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at astrum@jewishcenter.org

Yosie Levine Rabbi

Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi

Chaim David Berson Cantor

Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar

Erica Brown Community Scholar

Ari Lamm William Fischman Resident Rabbinic

Scholar

Aaron Strum Executive Director

Eliane Glassman Director of Programming

and Communications

Yitzchak Sprung Youth Director

OFFICERS Avi Schwartz President

Andrew Borodach First Vice President

Andrew Kaplan Vice President

Mark Segall Vice President

Rose Lynn Sherr Vice President

Michael Jacobs Assistant

Vice President

Yaron Kinar Treasurer

Len Berman Assistant Treasurer

Miri Lipsky Secretary

Lisa Septimus Yoetzet Halacha 917-382-9008

Chevra Kadisha 212-724-2700

UWS Mikvah 212-579-2011

Hatzalah 212-230-1000

Eruv Status 212-724-2700

Clergy & Staff

Phone Numbers

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team Rabbi Dovid Zirkind, Assistant Rabbi

The box score for Wednesday’s outing between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles will show nothing unique for the history of base-ball, but the circumstances surrounding the game were truly one for the books. With the city still very much on edge, fear of ongoing rallies, pro-tests and looting still a serious possibility, Major League Baseball allowed the game to go on, but no fans were allowed in Camden Yards. The sounds and images are eerie. The stadium that seats tens of thousands, the hub of Baltimore’s most passionate locals, closed off for the safety of its fans. I still remember the debates about how quickly America’s pastime should resume after 9/11, and here the same question was being raised, but localized to my home town. While it’s been quite some time since I lived in Baltimore, my personal connection is still very strong. I remember the All Star Game of 1993, my summer working at the Kosher Stand and all my Cal Ripken Jr. memorabilia, which still hangs on the walls of my childhood home. But of course, my strongest emotions this week were not connected to baseball, but to my family and friends overwhelmed with uncertainty. Anger quickly became protest, protest led to violence, and then a state of true emergency. For many, their home town pride has been flattened, ashamed of the people’s disappointment in law enforcement, disgraced by the citizens reckless and destructive, nonsensical violence. While oth-ers remain steadfast in their commitment to the town, all agree things need to change. Parshat Acharei Mot concludes with a clear warning about the responsibility placed on the occupants of Eretz Yisrael. If we are to make the land our home, to build our future upon it, we must maintain its inherent sanctity. If our society

erodes in the manner of those who came before us, the land will spit us out, in the way it ex-pelled its previous tenants. And yet, the Ramban observes, that the context of this warning is sur-prising. We would expect a conversation about the sanctity of Israel to include the mitzvot hati-luyot ba’aretz – the commandments involving the land. Logic would dictate that the sanctity of Israel is achieved when the land is used correct-ly, when the shmitta year is observed, when Te-rumah is taken from its crops. But those mitzvot make no appearance in our Parsha. The emphasis of Parshat Acharei Mot, the laws which it enumerates, are those of idolatry and adultery. Clearly then, the Torah informs us of two methods of sanctity; not just what we do with our land, but how we live upon it, will de-termines it kedusha. Some places are kodesh because they are endowed with an unshakable destiny; others will never achieve that privilege. But every morsel of earth that humanity calls home has the potential to become great. It is with tremendous pride that the Baltimore Jewish Community has taken this week to show its solidarity with the entire city and at the same time express its communal hakarat hatov to the Law Enforcement agencies that have treated them with such courtesy for over a century. But this sad week is a cautionary tale, that reminds us how much work there is left to be done. As I continue to pray for the safety and well being of my home town, my family and my neighbors, I am all the more cognizant of our calling, to build communities of kedusha, in Eretz Yisrael and around the world, where morality and dignity are afforded to all, by the agencies built to protect them, but first and foremost, from one citizen to the next.

Please join us for three special presentations. Shabbat Morning Public Lecture: The Holy Heights of the Human Heart: The Holy Heights of the Human Heart: The Holy Heights of the Human Heart: The Holy Heights of the Human Heart: Family, Friends and FaithFamily, Friends and FaithFamily, Friends and FaithFamily, Friends and Faith This year’s Martha Sonnenschein Memorial Lecture will discuss "Identity Agents,"* an article authored by Drs. Elli Schachter and Jonathan J. Ventura, of Bar Ilan University. Their study addresses the complexities of transmit-ting "identity" as it pertains to values and religious life, but also helps us understand relationships of all sorts and the essential building blocks of re-lating to others with meaning and authenticity. It is a wonderful and mov-ing read and unearths some very interesting Bndings. *copies are available on our website and in the shul lobby. Shabbat Afternoon Lecture:

Subversive Stories, Sanity and Survival: Subversive Stories, Sanity and Survival: Subversive Stories, Sanity and Survival: Subversive Stories, Sanity and Survival: The Transformative Power of the Biblical and Rabbinic The Transformative Power of the Biblical and Rabbinic The Transformative Power of the Biblical and Rabbinic The Transformative Power of the Biblical and Rabbinic NarrativeNarrativeNarrativeNarrative "The Eicha Problem,"* by Dara Horn, acclaimed novelist and Professor of Literature at Harvard University, will be addressed during the pre-Minchah lecture, "Staying Whole Through Thinking Holy: The Redemptive Power of Personal and Communal Narrative". Dr. Horn's playful and pro-vocative essay, published in a festschrift in honor of Dr. Ruth Wisse, the Martin Peretz Professor of Yiddish Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, is both a commentary and critique of Pro-fessor Wisse's thesis on historical responses to Jewish suMering, and will provide good fodder for our discussion on the power of narrative in con-structing Jewish responses to both tragedy and triumph. *copies are available on our website and in the shul lobby.

Seudah Shlishit:

Is there an Ethic Beyond Halacha?Is there an Ethic Beyond Halacha?Is there an Ethic Beyond Halacha?Is there an Ethic Beyond Halacha?

The Jewish Center Presents the

Martha Sonnenschein Memorial Lecture Featuring

Arna Poupko FisherArna Poupko FisherArna Poupko FisherArna Poupko Fisher Shabbat, May 2

The Jewish Center The Jewish Center The Jewish Center The Jewish Center 131 W. 86th Street • www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

Arna Poupko Fisher, an internationally-noted lecturer, educator and author, currently teaching at the University of Cincinnati, has dedicated her life to Jewish issues, including the challenges and opportunities of Jewish leadership and the capacity for the Hebrew Bible and Jewish philosophy to inform contemporary communal life.

Fourth Annual Keter Torah Awards

Shabbat May 16

Rabbi Shimon said, "There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingship. And the crown of a good name is

superior to them all."

The Fourth Annual Keter Torah Awards will be presented to

DR. ADENA BERKOWITZ and MICHELLE CHREIN on SHABBAT, MAY 16 following Shabbat morning services in the main sanctuary. In the spirit of Shavuot, which celebrates two great Jewish heroines, Naomi and Ruth, the

Keter Torah Awards will coincide with Shavuot, and is an opportunity for the congregation to show its high regard for the outstanding commitment and

leadership of women in our community. The program will be followed by a festive kiddush.

Please mark your calendars and join us for this special event.

If you would like to acknowledge the women of our synagogue, and our honorees, please visit The Jewish Center website - www.jewishcenter.org.

Your donation will contribute towards honoring these women, as well as to support the work of The Jewish Center. Your name will be published in the

program which will be distributed at the presentation.

Keter Torah sponsor - $180 • Rimon sponsor - $72

*All participants in The Jewish Center One Gift program are automatically included as sponsors of the Keter Torah Award. We thank you for your support.

A member of The Jewish Center for eleven years, Michelle Chrein has served as the journal chair for our annual dinner and on the Administrative Commit-tee of The Jewish Center. She is The Jewish Center’s representative for Food Funnel, an organization that picks up and delivers leftover bread to the needy. She’s in regular contact with synagogue members, encouraging their support for a variety of initiatives such as sponsoring kiddush and replenishing the syna-gogue’s supply of chumashim and siddurim.

Dr. Adena Berkowitz initially came to The Jewish Center to say kaddish for her father in 2008, but since then, she and her family have become an integral part of the shul. Adena teaches a weekly Tuesday morning Parsha class - Nosh and Drash - that attracts women from across the demographic spectrum. The annual Chanukah shiur, Tu B’Shevat Seder, Pre-Pesach Shiur and Post-Pesach Challah Bake, run in con-junction with Kol HaNeshamah, which she co-founded, have all become occasions to share Torah thoughts, good food, and spiritual food for the soul.

The Jewish Center ▪ 131 West 86th St. ▪ New York, NY 10024 ▪ 212-724-2700 ▪ www.jewishcenter.org