The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning 131 W. 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 • www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

FEBRUARY 1, 2020 • 6 SHEVAT 5780 • PARSHAT BO

The Jewish Center SHABBAT BULLETIN

EREV SHABBAT 4:53PM Candle lighting 4:55PM Minchah (Main Sanctuary, 3rd floor) 5:15PM Young Leadership Kabbalat Shabbat (1st floor) Young Leadership Dinner (5th floor, pre-registration required) SHABBAT 7:45AM Hashkama (4th floor) 8:30AM Israel Silverstein Rambam Shiur with Rabbi Yosie Levine 9:00AM Shacharit (Main Sanctuary, 3rd floor) 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Noach Goldstein, Why You Have to Know What You’re Doing When You Bring the Korban Pesach 9:30AM Young Leadership (1st floor) 9:40AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:00AM Youth Groups 11:00AM Public Lecture with Rabbi Yosie Levine, In Defense of the Rabbi Doctor: Deism and Dissent in Eighteenth-Century London Followed by special kiddush in celebration of the completion of Rabbi Levine’s doctorate 12:40PM Early Minchah (4th floor) 2:45PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Ave.)

4:45PM Minchah (Main Sanctuary, 3rd floor) Daf Yomi (1st floor classroom) Seudah Shlishit Rabbi Noach Goldstein Shiur with Rabbi Elie Buechler, Our Siddur: Its Text and Meaning 5:54PM Shabbat Concludes Parent Child Learning with Rabbi Yosie Levine THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Community Kiddush: Rachel Wolf & Andrew Borodach in honor of Rabbi Dr. Yosie Levine on completing his doctorate Karan and Federbush families on the occasion of the birth of their baby grandson, born to Dana Federbush and Edward Karan Ruth & Larry Kobrin, in celebration of the engagement of their granddaughter Yaira Kobrin to Solomon Wiener and in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of Larry’s mother, Hortense Kobrin, Chaya bas Yaakov Aharon v’Esther Rayzel, and Ruth’s mother, Aurelia Freedman, Fradel bas Yekutiel Zalman v’Rochel George Messel and Family in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of George's mother, Esfir Messel Tiki & Simcha Lyons in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of Tiki's father, Rabbi Tibor H. Stern

Sunday, Feb. 2 7:45AM Daf Yomi 8:30AM Shacharit 5:00PM Minchah

Mon. Feb. 3– Thur. Feb. 6 7/8AM Shacharit 7:45AM Daf Yomi 5:00PM Minchah

Friday, Feb. 7 7/8AM Shacharit 7:45AM Daf Yomi 5:02PM Candle lighting 5:05PM Minchah

WOMEN’S TEHILLIM GROUP: Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:15PM

Contact Joyce Weitz for more information at 212-877-1176

DAILY SERVICE TIMES

Public Lecture with Rabbi Yosie Levine Shabbat, February 1st, 2020 In Defense of the Rabbi Doctor:

Deism and Dissent in Eighteenth-Century London Followed by special kiddush in celebration of the

completion of Rabbi Levine’s doctorate.

MAZAL TOV Dana & Edward Karan on the birth of a baby boy. Mazal to

grandparents, Dora & Emanuel Federbush and Dr. Val & Annette Karan. Mazal

Tov to older siblings Jordan, William and Charlotte Karan

and to aunts and uncles Yael & Rob Lebowitz, Judy & Rodney Greenwald and Drs. Suzie & Yosef Kilimnick and families. The bris will take place on

Shabbat

MAZAL TOV Aaron Strum and family on the occasion of Shlomo's Bar Mitzvah

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS

Naomi Goldman and David Pfeffermann

Thank you to our CSS

members whose efforts help maintain a safe shul for our

community.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCECMENTS

POM Bingo Night Fundraiser To benefit Peace of Mind Motzei Shabbat, February 8th

Dairy Buffet, Wine & Beer Fun for the whole family!

Great Prizes! Visit jewishcenter.org to register!

Community Wide Mix & Match Dinner Friday February 21st

Followed by a Dessert Reception with Chazzan Avi Perets

Sign up to become a host or be hosted by members. Fill out the online form to participate in

this annual event!

Young Couples Mix-'n-Match Shabbat Lunch Build community with old and new friends!

Shabbat, February 8th 1:00PM - Private lunches

3:30PM - Communal Dessert at the Jewish Center To register, visit jewishcenter.org.

Oneg Shabbat Carnival February 2nd from 11:00AM-3:00PM

Join Oneg Shabbat for their annual family fun day filled with bouncy houses, face painting, baby sing-a-longs, balloons and more! All net

proceeds go to benefit Oneg Shabbat of the West Side!

SOLD OUT

Speaking Across Differences A Collaboration between The Jewish Center and

Congregation Ansche Chesed Sunday, February 2 at 10:00AM at The Jewish Center

This workshop will surface core issues of concern around Israel, and strengthen participants’ capacity to speak, listen and learn across

disagreement.

SHABBAT SCHEDULE

Save The Date! Celebrate 2nd Seder at The Jewish Center

April 9th, 2020 Rabbi Joseph & Ruth Schwarz invite the community to join them for a festive and collaborative 2nd Seder, hosted at The Jewish Center. Our seder is open to children and adults of all ages, with opportunities to share Divrei Torah and the songs of Pesach from your home with all of us. Details and

registration will be available soon. This year's Seder is being catered by Menagerie of Englewood. To join our planning commi t tee p lease contac t Aaron St rum a t astrum@jewishcenter.org.

Calling all members of The JC Youth Department!

Rabbi's Riddle Solve the riddle, win a raffle ticket! If you think you know the answer,

email ylevine@jewishcenter.org. Children with the correct answer will be entered into a raffle. Children are welcome to enlist

parents or other adults for support.

The Riddle: The name of a great medieval rabbi (who lived in Egypt and shared a first name with a key character in the Exodus story) is alluded to in our parsha. The first letter of four consecutive words form the acronym by which he is commonly known. What are the four words that form the hint? (For two bonus points: In what

year was this great rabbi born? When did he die?)

Last week's riddle: What does the phrase “kol

magefotai” mean?

Answer: The term כל מגפותי may refer to either the plague of hail or the plague of the first-born. If the former, hail may be said to

contain within it various plagues.

Congratulations to those who solved last week’s riddle!

Avi Flatto-Katz Daniel Wagman Sarah Wagman

MONDAY Women’s Talmud With Rabbi Noach Goldstein at 8:00PM (Resumes on Feb.10)

TUESDAY Talmud (Masechet Chullin) Rabbi Noach Goldstein at 7:45AM-8:30AM Nosh and Drash With Dr. Adena Berkowitz 10:15AM-11:30AM For women only.

WEDNESDAY Women of the Bible Rabbi Yosie Levine at 11:00AM UWS FAQ’s:(YL) Shabbat, Kashrut and Much More. Rabbi Elie Buechler and Rabbi Noach Goldstein at 8:15PM

SHABBAT Israel Silverstein Rambam Class Rabbi Yosie Levine at 8:30AM Our Siddur: Its Text and Meaning Rabbi Elie Beuchler Pre-Mincha

Daily: Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty at 7:45AM

JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY CLASSES HAVE RESUMED!

For more information visit our website or contact Rabbi Elie Buechler at ebuechler@jewishcenter.org

TUESDAY New!

The Garden of Eden The Henry and Sadye Bayer

Chumash Class Rabbi Yosie Levine at

7:30PM Where did humankind go wrong? Does imperfection mean that we are destined to sin? What constitutes the road back and how does one find it? Join us for this special six-part series as we return to the garden to explore these timeless questions.

Movie Night -Featuring Ratatouille! February 1st, 6:30-8:20 PM Elementary School Children are invited to the movie theater in Sarah Cromwell's building (address will be provided to the registrants). Light snacks will be provided. There is limited seating in the movie theater so be sure to reserve your spot early. Please register on The JC website.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT

Teen Minyan Shabbat, February 8th followed by a Teen Kiddush Thank you to our kiddush sponsors: Jessica Gross & Larry Klein and Sarah & Stuart Milsetin If you would like to sponsor kiddush please email Yoni at yoni@jewishcenter.org SAVE THE DATE Youth Shabbat Shabbat March 14th Details to follow.

Thousands of Israeli combat solders transition from military life to civilian life annually. POM is a nine-month therapeutic intervention which provides space and time for IDF veterans to process their combat experiences, including a week hosted by a Jewish community abroad. The veterans emerge with strengthened emotional and mental health, allowing for a healthier transition from military to civilian life. The JC Community is proud to continue partnering with POM and will host a former IDF combat unit from March 15th to March 22nd. In order to make this program a success we need your help! The Jewish Center will be hosting a Bingo Night Fundraiser on Motzei Shabbat February 8th, to raise money to cover the costs of the week-long program. Questions? Email POM@jewishcenter.org.

Motzei Shabbat, February 8th POM Bingo Night Fundraiser To benefit Peace of Mind Dairy Buffet, Wine & Beer Fun for the whole family!

Great Prizes! Visit jewishcenter.org to register!

PEACE OF MIND (POM) IS COMING BACK TO THE JEWISH CENTER! MARCH 15TH-22ND, 2020

WOMEN'S READING OF MEGILLAT ESTHER

The Jewish Center, together with Kol HaNeshama and MJE, will be holding our annual women's reading of Megillat Esther on Purim Day, Tuesday, March 10th. Women and girls (ages 12 and up) who are i n t e r e s t e d i n reading, please contact N a o m i G o l d m a n at naomi_goldman@yahoo.com.

MISHLOACH MANOT PACKAGING

SUNDAY MARCH 8, 2020 Join us in a simple and meaningful mitzvah! Every Purim, families of the Jewish Center deliver mishloach manot to elderly/homebound members of our community. We invite kids and parents to help us package the mishloach manot. (details to follow) *If you are interested in reading for homebound seniors please contact Rabbi B u e c h l e r a t ebuechler@jewishcenter.org.

MATANOT L’EVYONIM Please remember to s e n d M a t a n o t L'evyonim, gifts to the poor, before Purim. The amount given should be sufficient to assist at least two different people with their Purim meal. Checks made out to the Rabbi Leo Jung M e m o r i a l F u n d earmarked "Matanot L'evyonim" that are received before Purim March 9, 2020 will be distributed to the poor on Purim day to fulfill your obligation.

MEGILLAH READING We would like to provide everyone with the opportunity to hear the Megillah on Purim. If someone you know will not be able to leave home on Purim, or if you would like to volunteer to read Megillah for the homebound, please contact Rabbi Buechler at ebuechler@jewishcenter.org or 212-724-2700.

MISHLOACH MANOT TO IDF SOLDIERS

Send baskets filled with Israeli products and bakery goods to IDF soldiers in Israel. Packages will bear a card noting your name with a Purim greeting. To donate please visit www.connectionsisrael.com/the-jewish-center-nyc

PREPARING FOR PURIM

LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY: ESTHER AND DIASPORA POLITICS Sunday, February 23 at 7PM

Erica Brown in conversation with Aaron Koller

In celebration of the publication of

The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile

Sponsored by Ardell Borodach and Rachel Wolf & Andrew Borodach, Kira and Julia and co-sponsored by 929 English in

commemoration of the second Yahrzeit of Dr. Georld Borodach, Yaakov Nissan ben Avraham ve’ Hessie

To register visit jewishcenter.org

February 2-23 Don’t miss the world’s largest Jewish book sale

completely run by Yeshiva University students. For more information visit theseforimsale.com. When shopping at the Seforim sale, please use the coupon code TJC and a portion of your purchase will be donated to our shul. This is a wonderful time to consider making a gift to enhance The Jewish Center’s Al and Sylvia Baris Library housed in our Beit Midrash. Donate online at www.jewishcenter.org or contact Rabbi Elie Buechler for more information.

WJCA - Women's Jewish Center Athletics recruiting all teenage girls grades 7-12

to take on their Rebbetzins and The JC Female Leadership in the second ever

JC WOMEN-TEEN BASKETBALL GAME SATURDAY NIGHT FEB 29TH

Please email Rachel Levine asap to reserve your spot on the team at rachel.levine1@gmail.com

Dr. Yosie Levine Rabbi

Eliezer Buechler Assistant Rabbi

Noach Goldstein Assistant Rabbi

Ora Weinbach Community Educator

Shua Brick

William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Aaron Strum

Executive Director

Batsheva Leibtag Director of

Programming and Communications

Sarah Cromwell Youth Director

Yoni Stokar

Teen Coordinator

OFFICERS Andrew Borodach

President

Mark Segall First Vice President

Len Berman Vice President

Aliza Herzberg Vice President

Michael Jacobs Vice President

Scott Black Treasurer

Daniel Solomons Assistant Treasurer

Naomi Goldman Secretary

LOCAL RESOURCES

Yoetzet Halacha Shiffy Friedman

nycyoetzet@gmail.com 646-598-1080

Jewish Center

Chevra Kadisha 212-724-2700 x555

UWS Mikvah

212-579-2011

Hatzoloh 212-230-1000

Manhattan Eruv

For a current map, visit eruv.nyc

Outside, Inside Parshat Bo

Ora Weinbach, Community Educator

As Bnei Yisrael prepare to leave Egypt, God gives them their very first commandments. He instructs them how to prepare their very first Paschal lamb. God commands them to paint the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel of each house in which it is eaten. (Exodus 12:7) This is traditionally interpreted as the final act signifying a household’s completion of the commanded korban pesach. Having completed this mitzvah, the household is officially included in the Israelite nation, having publicly and visibly distinguished itself as people who follow God. The occupants of the home are aligned with God and have signaled to God that their house should therefore be saved from the Death of the Firstborn. However, a few verses later, the text shifts and seems to provide a subtly different rationale. “And the blood will be for you, as a sign on your houses, that you are therein. And I [God] will see the blood and I will pass over you.” (12:13) The pasuk says that the blood is a sign “for you,” implying that the purpose of painting the doorposts has nothing to do with the Egyptians, God, or even other Israelites. Instead, it is about each individual Jew! Based on this text, the Midrash suggests that the blood was actually painted on the inside of the doorposts, not the outside. Thus, the sign was “for you,” the people who lived inside the house and ate the korban pesach, rather than a public declaration. While this more interior and personal take on the commandment would undoubtedly require amendments to the depictions in most kindergarten

haggadot, it makes more sense theologically. As Rabbi Yishmael points out in the Midrash (which Rashi quotes in his commentary on this pasuk), God does not need help knowing who did or did not complete the commandment. Rabbi Yishmael used to say: Is not everything revealed before Him, as it is said: ‘He knows what is in the darkness…’? (Dan. 2.22) And it also says: ‘Even the darkness is not too dark for You,’ etc. (Ps. 139.12). God instructed the Israelites to paint their doorposts with blood, but not for God’s sake, not even for the Egyptians’ sake. It was “for you.” By looking at the lamb’s painted blood while eating the first korban pesach, Bnei Yisrael remind themselves of their personal commitment to the mitzvot. It was a visible reminder that they completed their first commandment. In crafting this mitzvah, God provides not only a list of expectations, but also a lesson in how to fulfil them in the best possible way. God emphasizes the importance of serving God for oneself, without any expectation of external recognition. He creates a model from which the Jewish people’s relationship with mitzvot is born. We need not publicly plaster our good deeds to evidence our relationship with God. We do not have to concern ourselves with the petty judgment passed by our fellow humans. Rather, this midrash reflects our belief that God alone perceives all of our actions. God judges us omnisciently and therefore wholly truthfully. We complete mitzvot and cultivate a relationship with Hashem through private and genuine service. It really is the inside that counts.

ISRAEL UPDATE February 1, 2020

The International Community Calls for Direct Peace Negotiations Following the release of a U.S. peace framework for Israel and the Palestinians, nations throughout the world have called for both sides to come to the table for direct negotiations. We have long believed that direct Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy is essential to create a durable peace and lasting two-state agreement that effectively addresses the concerns of both sides. Unfortunately, the Palestinian leadership has continually refused direct talks with Israel for the last several years. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Australia, Poland, the U.K., Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco and Columbia are among some of the nations that have released statements calling for direct talks. Follow AIPAC on Twitter for more statements from the international community. Our synagogue partners with AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby, in educating our community on issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. We encourage you to learn more by contacting AIPAC at (202) 639-5200 or by visiting www.aipac.org.

JEWISH CENTER JOURNEY TO POLAND

Mark your Calendar Jewish Center Journey to Poland

June 22nd-28th, 2020 *Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of

the End of WWII and the Liberation of the Concentration Camps

*A Historical and Educational Journey Ex-ploring Hundreds of Years of

Jewish Life in Poland Visit jewishcenter.org for details and regis-

tration.