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The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N
November 1, 2014 • PARSHAT LECH LECHA • 8 Cheshvan 5775
The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700
Erev Shabbat 5:37PM Candle Lighting 5:45PM Minchah
Shabbat 7:45AM Hashkama Minyan 8:30AM Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine 9:00AM Shacharit 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind 9:30AM Young Leadership, Mussaf with Cantor Berson (5th floor) 10:00AM Youth Groups, 2-year-olds: lower level; 3-4-year-olds: lower level; 1st-3rd graders: 7th floor; 4th-6th graders: 7th floor Youth Department Evacuation Drill: Weather permitting, children will be evacuated to the corner of 86th and Columbus and will then return to The Jewish Center. Pick up will be at the usual time and location. 10:03AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema Youth Department Mishnayot Class will resume next week 12:30PM Young Leadership Shabbat Fiesta (5th floor)
With thanks to our Kiddush Sponsors: Community Kiddush, Avi Schwartz in honor of the dedicated clergy, officers, and volunteers of The Jewish Center Community Kiddush, Hannah & Scott Topiel in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Susan Topiel
3:30PM Bikkur Cholim and Bikkur in the Home. Meet at the Westmont, 730 Columbus Avenue Parent-Child Learning will resume next week 4:40PM Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 4:40PM 39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind 5:25PM Minchah (Shabbat afternoon groups will resume on November 8th) Seudah Shlishit Speaker: Dr. Asael Lubotzky, author of Min Ha-midbar V'halivanon (see page two for his complete bio) With Thanks to our Seudah Shlishit Sponsors: Anne Friedman, Saul Finkelstein and Family in memory of Anne’s father, Herman P. Friedman Veronica & Erwin Muth in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Erwin's father, George Muth
6:35PM Shabbat concludes Don’t forget to change your clocks!
— DAILY SERVICES —
Sun., November 2 Daylight Savings Time Ends Shacharit 8:30AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 4:35PM
Mon., Nov. 3 - Thur., Nov. 6 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 4:35PM
Fri., November 7 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Candle Lighting 4:29PM Minchah 4:35PM
Women's Tehillim Group - Mon., November 10 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more info at 212-877-1176.
SHABBAT MORNING • Halacha Confronts a Dynamic Society: Texts, Values, and Historical Change SEUDAH SHLISHIT • From Debate to Dialogue: The Challenges and Transformations of Jewish-Christian Interaction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ruth and I. Lewis Gordon professor of Jewish History, Dean of the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and Director of the Beren Department of Academic Jewish Studies at YU.
Sponsored by Drs. Abbey and Eric Wolf in memory of Mr. Isidore Zweig z"l and Mr. David Wolf, z"l
SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE • SHABBAT, NOVEMBER 7-8TH
DR. DAVID BERGER
SHABBAT DINNER WITH DR. DAVID BERGER NOVEMBER 7 AT 5:45PM We invite you to join us for Shabbat dinner with Dr. Berger.
Committee: Anne & Saul Finkelstein, Shira Orenstein & Daniel Kahn, Johnny Glaser, Audrey & Gary Menachem, Rose Lynn Sherr, and Malka Strasberg. Please visit our website for more information and to register. Prices: $50 for members, $55 for non-members , $25 for children (ages 3-8)
Please email Eliane if you would benefit from babysitting services. DESSERT AND SPECIAL TALK WITH DR. DAVID BERGER AT 7:45PM How and When Will the Messiah Come? Messianic Ideas, Calcula-tions, and Movements in Jewish History
Following dinner everyone is invited to a dessert and special talk by Dr. Berger. This program is free and open to the community.
Sponsored by Drs. Abbey & Eric Wolf in memory of Isidore Zweig z"l and David Wolf, z"l
Contemporary Perspectives on Fertility: Freezing Eggs and the Future of the Jewish Family
Please register online. See page 2 for more information.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH AT 8:00PM
A CONVERSATION WITH RABBI MORDECHAI WILLIG AND DR. JOSHUA KLEIN
November is Membership Month at The JC
Become a member by November 30th and save 20% on the annual membership fee.
Apply for membership online at www.jewishcenter.org or pick up an application in the lobby.
DAILY (except Shabbat) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi, 7:45AM
MONDAY A Talmudic Study of the Shema with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind, 8:00PM
TUESDAY Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:45AM
Nosh and Drash with Dr. Adena Berkowitz, 10:15-11:30AM
Heroines Sadye and Henry Bayer Chumash Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 7:00PM
WEDNESDAY Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:45AM
Women of the Bible with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 11:00AM
Words from the Wise - The Book of Proverbs with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 8:00PM
The Next Level with Rabbi Mark Wildes, 8:00PM
THURSDAY Innovation & Conservation: Ancient Judaism & Christianity with Rabbi Ari Lamm, 8:15PM
SHABBAT Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:30AM
Ramban on the Weekly Parsha with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 9:15AM
Youth Department Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Daniel Fridman
Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty, 1 hour before Minchah
Parent-Child Learning with Rabbi Daniel Fridman
39 Melachot (through December 27) with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind
JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY FALL SEMESTER FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT RABBI DOVID ZIRKIND AT [email protected].
During the Second Lebanon War, Officer Asael Lubotzky of the esteemed Golani Infantry Brigade, was admit-ted to Rambam Health Care Campus after being seriously wounded. From the moment he began to receive treatment in the field and up until his arrival in the hospital, none of the treating doctors imagined that his right leg could be salvaged. After many surgeries and months in the hospital, Lubotzky was able to walk. The book, From the Wilderness and Lebanon, written about his inspiring story of hope, determination and resilience was published and quickly became a best-seller in Israel. He is currently a doctor and is married with two children.
SEUDAH SHLISHIT SPEAKER: DR. ASAEL LUBOTZKY
FALL SEMESTER AT THE JC INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, AND A GROWING JEWISH WORLD
INNOVATIONS IN ISRAEL
Public Lecture by Yossi Siegel Shabbat, December 6th at 11:00AM
Israel's Water Story: Lessons For a Water-Stressed World
JC member Yossi Siegel is a founder of Beanstalk, a brand-licensing agency, and of Sixpoint Partners, an investment bank. He is currently at work on a book on
Israel’s water resources.
INNOVATIONS IN PRAYER
Public Lecture by Rabbi Yosie Levine
Shabbat, November 22nd at 11:00AM
A Revolutionary Prayer: The Story Behind the First
Hebrew Prayer for a Democratic Government
INNOVATIONS IN JEWISH LAW
Scholar in Residence • Dr. David Berger Shabbat, November 7th at 11:00AM
Halacha Confronts a Dynamic Society: Texts, Values, and Historical Change
INNOVATIONS IN MEDICINE
A Conversation with Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Dr. Joshua Klein and Rachel Tuchman
Contemporary Perspectives on Fertility: Freezing Eggs and the
Future of the Jewish Family Monday, November 10th at 8:00PM
Please visit our website to register.
RABBI WILLIG is the Rosh Yeshiva at the Mazer School of Talmudic Studies and a Rosh
Kollel at RIETS.
DR. JOSHUA KLEIN is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and fertility specialist.
RACHEL TUCHMAN is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).
INNOVATIONS IN HISTORY
Innovation & Conservation: Ancient Judaism & Christianity with Rabbi Ari Lamm Thursdays at 8:15PM
The destruction of the Second Temple was a formative event not just for Jews, but for Romans and early Christians as well. Insofar as much of what we take for granted as part of our modern existence took shape during the following few centuries - from rabbinic Judaism, to the Roman foundations of modern law, to the Catholic Church - this course will ask two crucial questions: 1) How much of what developed during this period represents innovation? 2) In what ways can we speak of 'continuity' during this era of religious and political ferment?
JC Online - Become a fan for the latest news and events. Facebook.com/TheJewishCenterNY
Mazal Tov to Yael Feder-bush for being named an Orthodox All Star by Jew in the City and will be honored on December 2nd.
COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
MAZAL TOV Shira & Philip Pockriss on the birth of twin girls.
Joan & Dr. Henry N. Lieberman on the marriage of their grandson, Dovid Pamensky, to Avigayil Poupko in Jerusalem
Tiki & Simcha Lyons on the occasion of the Bar Mitz-vah of their grandson Alexander, son of Rachel & David Lyons
Lynn Montz & John Leubsdorf on the recent Bar Mitzvah of their son, Noah.
Ruda Fiedler on the engagement of her granddaugh-ter, Jenny Ringelheim to David Eckstein.
THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to Stephen Rutenberg and Lois Burak who are our ushers this Shabbat.
THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our ded-icated CSS members for providing the security for our synagogue this week.
CONGRATULATIONS TO HILARY GARDENSWARTZ, JUDITH ROSENBAUM, STEPHEN RUTENBERG AND ALL THOSE RUNNING THE NYC MARATHON THIS SUN-
DAY!
EARLY MINCHAH BEGINS NEXT SHABBAT
WELCOME, MATNASIM DELEGATION! The JC is honored to host the leaders of Matnasim, the Israel Association of Community Center’s, during their annual trip to the U.S.
JC TRIP: PESACH 2015 IN ISRAEL The Jewish Center is organizing an extraordinary journey to Israel this Spring. There is no better way to express your solidarity with Israel than to be there. Email at [email protected] if you are interest-ed in joining the trip.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: WOMEN AND THE MIKVAH EXPERIENCE (WOMEN ONLY) Monday, November 3rd at 8:00PM at Lincoln Square Synagogue (180 Amsterdam Ave. at West 68th St.)
A panel and community conversation featuring: Sarah Robinson, MA, LMSW, and Rebbetzin of Lincoln Square Synagogue; Lisa Septimus, Manhattan Yoetzet Hala-cha, and Rebbetzin of The Young Israel of North Woodmere; Layaliza Solveichik, Congregation Shearith Israel, The Spanish and Portuguese Syna-gogue; and Community Leaders. Moderated by Dr. Adena Berkowitz, Scholar in Residence, Kol HaNeshamah.
Please RSVP for this free event at lss.org/Mikvahevent
Co-sponsored by: The Jewish Center, Congregation Ohab Zedek, Congregation Ramath Orah, Congregation Shearith Israel, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, Kol HaNeshamah, KRA, Manhattan Yoetzet Halacha Committee, West Side Institu-
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
YOUTH DEPARTMENT
UPCOMING EVENTS
CARLEBACH DAVENING & SHABBAT ACROSS THE JC
Friday, November 14 The evening will begin with Carlebach-style davening led by Cantor Chaim David Berson, followed by a hot kiddush. Afterwards, we will host a Hospitality Shabbat throughout The JC community. This is a great opportunity to meet our diverse community over an intimate Friday night dinner and network with like-minded members and professionals. If you would like to host, be hosted, or be on the planning committee, please email Eliane at [email protected].
ANNUAL CLOTHING DRIVE
Sunday, November 16 from 10:30AM - 1:30PM Even if you have worn them already, or don’t want to, your clothes can still perform good deeds by being donated to our clothing drive. For more information and to get involved as a volunteer, please visit our website.
BOOK CLUB MEETING: MY PROMISED LAND: THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF ISRAEL BY ARI SHAVIT Sunday, November 16 at 7:30PM at the home of Dinah & Andy Mendes (262 Central Park West) Our theme for The JC Book Club this year is Holy Land: Spotlight on Israel. Each meeting is led by a discussant and is followed by refresh-ments and socializing. We begin with My Promised Land, Ari Shavit’s complex and lyrical narrative history of Zionism and the state of Israel. Professor Jerome Chanes will be the discussant. All are welcome to join the book club. If you have any questions, please email Dinah at [email protected].
ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PRIVATE TOUR AT THE JEWISH MUSEUM: HELENA RUBINSTEIN: BEAUTY IS POWER Monday, November 24 at 11:15AM This is the first museum exhibition to focus on the cosmetics entrepreneur Helena Rubinstein (1872 – 1965). Rubinstein – as businesswoman and arts patron – helped break down the status quo of taste by blurring the boundaries among commerce, art, fashion, beauty, and design. Join us for a private tour. The tour will cost $20. Please register on our website.
To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at [email protected]
YOUTH BIKKUR CHOLIM ORIENTATION AND VISIT • Shabbat, November 8 at 3:00PM (5th floor dance studio) Please join us for another wonder-ful year of our popular Bikkur in the Home program for 5th the 8th graders. We will be meeting at 3:00PM for an orientation and to divide up for visits to homebound seniors. RSVP to Beth at [email protected].
MUSICAL HAVDALAH BEGINS NOVEMBER 8
BOUNCE! • Saturday Night, November 15 Join the Youth Department for a trip to Bounce!, the exciting indoor sports complex where kids of all ages can jump and flip around on
their interconnected trampoline floors, play trampoline dodgeball, and dunk on their slam dunk lanes! Contact [email protected] for more information.
Save the Date: FAMILY
MINYAN • Friday, November 21
Save the Date: TEEN MINYAN •
Shabbat, November 22
PRE-CHANUKAH FAMILY
DINNER • Shabbat, December 5 Enjoy dinner and spend time with old friends while making new ones. Plus: Tot Shabbat, relay races and games with Roll Joel and Super Soccer Stars! Mark your calendars and spread the word. We hope to see you there! If you would like to join the host committee, please email [email protected].
Yosie Levine Rabbi
Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi
Chaim David Berson Cantor
Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar
Rabbi Ari Lamm William Fischman Resident 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
Of All the Shops In All the World… Rabbi Ari Lamm, Resident Scholar
Once upon a time, Abraham worked in his father’s idol shop. A spiritually precocious youngster, Abraham intuited the inherent worthlessness of his retail stock and sought publicly to demonstrate this by smashing his father’s idols while pinning the carnage upon the idols themselves who, Abraham explained, had sustained damage while engaged in a destruc-tive melee. When his audience dismissed this possibil-ity, Abraham pointed out that even they, while pro-fessing to worship their idols, deep down conceded that the idols were powerless; let’s then end the cha-rade, Abraham argued, of attributing power to mere trinkets and instead reflect upon the transcendent potential inherent in the radical monotheism that Abraham had begun to espouse. I don’t remember precisely when, but I do remember one year being surprised that this story is not found in the Biblical text, but rather in rabbinic literature1. As I eventually became more sensitive to Chazal’s subtle exegetical genius and narrative virtu-osity, I began to appreciate that this story – along with a cluster of others – highlights a feature of the Biblical narrative that troubled Chazal, namely: why was Abraham chosen as the recipient of God’s cove-nant? Scripture itself provides nary a hint. The ninth-century work, Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, provides a tantalizing solution to this problem. Therein we encounter the claim that God, in truth, chose Abraham through a lottery – Abraham’s elec-tion was the result of chance2. In other words, Abra-ham was chosen not because of any prior qualifica-tions – deeply impressive though they no doubt were. In fact, we don’t know why Abraham was chosen – perhaps the selection was arbitrary, or perhaps God has His reasons but kept them to Himself. But once Abraham was given the opportunity to serve the Mas-ter of the Universe – though perhaps he knew not why – he sought with singular devotion to exemplify the highest ideals of spiritual accomplishment.
In this respect, Abraham differed from those great bearers of spiritual potential who preceded him. Ad-am, for instance, embodying humanity in its most pris-tine state, was given a single command and failed even at that. Noah, although a righteous man, ulti-mately could not bear the weight of the great re-sponsibilities placed upon his shoulders; it is telling indeed that his first act upon exiting the Ark is to lose himself in drink. The tragedy of these figures was of promise unfulfilled. Greatness was prepared for them, but they were not prepared for greatness. But Abraham was different. He had no prior qualifications – he did not have Adam’s industrious-ness; he was not a world-renowned “righteous and pure-hearted man,” as was Noah. Abraham was an unremarkable man toiling in relative anonymity in the vast expanse of the Fertile Crescent. But when he heard the call of God’s Voice – when he was given the opportunity to enter into a covenant with the Al-mighty – he rose to the occasion. Over the coming months and years our com-munity will have to confront many significant challeng-es spanning the realms of halacha, sociology and so much in between. Much ink has been and will be spilled on the root causes of these challenges – on answering the question, “why?”. This is a worthy task, to be sure, but let us always remember that our charge, regardless of why we face the obstacles that we do, is to be resolute and unified in facing our challenges head on – in rising to the occasion as did Abraham so many ages ago. 1 See BR 38.28. This is only one among a diverse coterie of source attributing to Abraham righteous behavior or accurate theological speculation prior to his encounter with God. See Nedarim 32a, Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer 26, Eliyahu Rabbah 5.27, and many others. 2 See PdRE 24.
INNOVATIVE • CREATIVE NURTURING • COMMUNITY
YESHIVA KETANA OF MANHATTAN
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Monday, November 10th, 7:45PM
At Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan Conveniently located at
346 West 89th Street at Riverside Drive
For boys & girls ages 2-6
For more information, please call Mrs. Rochel Gruen 212-769-1790 x205 or email [email protected]
This is a paid advertisement.
