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Congregation Brethren of Israel Founded 1848 Bulletin Volume 162 No. 8 April 2016
Vassar Temple
Upcoming Events:
April 3 VaTY Lunch Box, p7
Four Cups Passover Course, p6
13 Wise Aging, p6
13 Four Cups Passover Course, p6
14 Book Club, p5
20 Wise Aging, p6
20 Four Cups Passover Course, p6
22 First night Passover Seder, p3
30 New Paths Service, p3
Save the Dates: May 2 Yom Hashoah May 6 VTS Generations Shabbat, p1 May 14 Moveable Feast May 15 Mitzvah Day (VaTY car wash too)
Where You Belong
• Adoptachild’sbagtoshopfor--receiveathankyounotefromchild
• Kids:registertodecorateandstuffbagsatMitzvahDayHQ
Forinformationonsponsoringoradopt-ingabag,pleasecontactJasmaineRussoatjasmainerusso@gmail.comor845-787-509.ForotherinformationaboutMitzvahDay,contactMarianSchwartzatsocialaction@vassartemple.orgor845-849-0025.
Moveable Feast Coming in May!!!
Savethedate-May14th,6:30-9:30pm,forVassarTemple’s2016Move-ableFeast.Backbypopulardemand,wehopetohaveachoiceofatleasteighthouseholddinneroptionsformembersandfriends.Specificmenus,pricing,andotherdetailswillbeannouncedsoon.
Templefamilieswhowishtohostadinnerattheirhomeshouldcontactpresident@vassartemple.org.Pleasesavethedateforthiswonderfuleveningofschmoozingwithfriendsandmakingnewfriends.Greatfood,too!Allforagoodcause-ourbelovedVassarTemple!
Generations Shabbat: May 6th
Pleasecomewithyourfamiliestopray,singandcelebrateourSisterhoodandlongtimemembersatourGenera-tionsShabbatanddinneronMay6th.Thisspecialservice,filledwithruach,isledbyourSisterhoodmembers.Afamily-friendlydinnerwillprecedeser-vices.Generationsmembersareinvitedasourguests.LookformoredetailedinfointheMayBulletin.
Mitzvah Day Registration Opens
DutchessCountyMitzvahDay,adayofcommunityservice,willbeheldSunday,May15th,andon-lineregistrationopensApril1statwww.jewishdutchess.org.Informationabouttheday’seventsandallthemitzvahprojectsyoucanchoosefromisintheAprilissueofThe Voice.Somethingforeveryonefromtotstoseniors…Participateasafamily…Participatewithfriends…Orsimplybringyourselfforanunforgettableexperience.
What’s new at Mitzvah Day?• HQisatTempleBethElonGrand
Ave.(nexttoJCC)• ProjectsatGraceSmithdomestic
abuseshelters• TheBirthdayProject(seebelow)
Old favorites: • Freekick-offbreakfast,9:00am• HistoricCemeteryClean-Up• BriggsFarm(greatforfamilieswith
youngchildren)• AppalachianTrailclearingwithRon
Rosen• PJLibrary-ledmitzvahprojectsor
preschoolersandprimarygrades• DoaTalentShowforseniors,and
manymore!
WhatistheBirthdayProject? Let’sprovidebirthdaypartiesforchildrenwhootherwisewouldhavenone;abagfilledwithbirthdaycakefixings,aspecialtoyandbookreflectingthechild’sinterests,perhapsapartydecoration,agiftcard.
Choose from many ways to help:• Bringboxedcakemix,cannedicing,
boxedbirthdaycandlestodonationboxinourTemplestarting4/30
• Donate$36tosponsorabag--re-ceivethankyounotefromchild
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WheredoIclean?Whatdoesallthismean?JoinmeforanexplorationofthePassoverSeder.Getreadytobeadynamichost,oraneducatedguest.ThreeWednesdays,7:00pmatVassarTemple:April6thWhat is Chametz? Why can’t we
have it on Passover?April13thCups, Questions, Children:
Why are there four of everything?April20thWhat’s new in ancient tradi-
tions? The traditional and the innovative on the Seder Plate.
Dueling Rabbis: A Six-Week Course on Pirke Avot (The Ethics of our Ances-tors)SixTuesdaysApril26th-May31st,7:00pmattheBoardmanRoadLibrary“Getyourselfateacher,acquireforyourselfafriend,andgiveeveryonethebenefitofthedoubt.”(RabbiJoshuaBenPerachia,PirkeAvot1:16).Comeandlearnwhatourearliestrabbishadtosayaboutfaithandethics,dailypracticeandsocialjustice.Thisclasswillbetaughtbychevruta(pairs)ofrabbisfromacrossthePoughkeepsieJewishcommunity.NopriorknowledgeofHebreworJewishtextsisrequired.Comelearnwithusaswelearnfromeachother!
Rabbi Leah Berkowitz
ings.AlongwithSukkot,PesachandShavuotcompriseourthreepilgrim-agefestivals,orregalim, inwhichJewswereencouragedtotraveltotheTempleandmakesacrifices.TodayweelevatetheseholidaysbyrecitingHallel,aseriesofpsalmsofpraise,andYizkor,aprayerinmemoryofourlostlovedones,particularlyifwehavelostapar-ent,sibling,spouse,orchild.
YizkorprayersoriginatedintheYomKippurservice,wheretheyencouragedthecommunitytohonortheirlovedones’memorieswithgiftstotzedaka.Thispracticelaterexpandedtoincludetheregalim,givingusmoreregularopportunitiestorememberourlovedones,inwordsandindeeds.Our Pass-over Yizkor Services will be held at 10:00am on Friday, April 29th.Wanttoknowmore?Thisyear,thereareexcitingopportunitiestolearnaboutthisseasonwiththerabbisinourcommunity:
Four Cups, Endless Questions: Under-standing the Passover SederOneofthethrilling—anddaunting—tasksofbuildingaJewishhomeismak-ingaPassoverSeder.WhatdoIcook?
OnFridayandSatur-daywepraytogetherandschmoozeattheOneg.ButonanygivenSunday,youwillseeVassarTemple
doingMUCHMOREthanteachingourchildren.You’llseethatthereareawholebunchofotherMitzvahsgoingon.Anditisthesynergyandvaluethatwederiveindividuallyandasacommunityfromthebuzzofactivitiestakingplacefrom9tonoononaSundaythatbringsagreatdealoflifetoourTemple.OnagivenSunday,youmightfindoneormoreofthefollowinghappening:aprospectivemembercheckingusout;acommitteemeeting;theMen’scluborSisterhoodinvolvedinaTempleactivity;avolunteerpromotingscriporJudaicatohelpsupporttheTemple;TinyTemple;folksdroppingofforpickingupLunchBoxfood;Rabbispeakingwithafamily;memberskibitzingabouttheTemple,theirfamily,orlifeingeneral.
SundayatVTislikeaminishtetl-aJewishvillage.WeareamicrocosmofJewishlifeinourmostlynon-Jewishcommunity.Themoreeachofusgetstoseeandbewithoneanother,thebetter.ThemoreourchildrenseetheirparentsandotheradultsengagedinthelifeoftheTemple,thebetter.Themoreopportuni-tieschildrenhavetointeractandbepartofthislifeinourlittleJewishvillage,thebetter.Themorepeopletherearearoundandengagedinoneactivityoranother,thebetter.ThisisexactlywhatahealthyJew-ishcongregationlookslike.BeinginthisenvironmentgoesalongwaytohelpyoungpeopleformtheirJewishidentify.And,ithelpsallofustomaintainourownJewishidentity.Eachofuscancontributetotheenvironmentaswellasdrawjoyfromit.So,ifyou’redroppingyourchildoffforreligiousschool,pleasecomeinandstayalittlewhile.Considercarvingouttime
onoccasionalSundaystopickupscrip.OrcomeinandcheckoutourbeautifulJudaicaselectionaslovelygiftsforlovedones.Strikeupaconversationwithsome-oneyourecognizeorintroduceyourselftoothers.Thesanctuaryisaperfectspottotakeamomentforalittlemeditationortoreadabitofscripture.Havealookatourbulletinboardsforinformationonvariousactivitiesandnews.MaybeevendropadonationintotheTzedakahboxtohelpoutthemonth’sgoodcause.Beingpartofavillage,especiallyyourownJewishVillage-thisplacewecallVassarTemple-isallthemorespecialwhenyouareengagedinit.Whenyou’reapartoftheTemple,theTempleisapartofyouandyourJewishidentity!TheimageI’vedescribedhappensasaresultofthechoicesweeachmaketocreateroominourlivesforourlittleJewish VillagerighthereinDutchessCounty–VassarTemple–onanygivenSunday.
Bob Ritter
Rabbi’s Message: Pesach, Omer, Regalim, Hallel, Yizkor: Vocabulary of the Jewish Calendar
AsweputawayourPurimplaythings,theJewishcalendaradoptsamoreserioustone.We
readyourhomesforPassoverguestsandourheartsforacelebrationoffreedom.Weeatunleavenedbreadforsevendays,insolidaritywithourfleeingancestorsandallwhoarenotyetfree.Butevenafterwehaveeatenourlastmatzahball,ourjourneyisonlybeginning.TheHebrewnameofPassover,Pesach,referstothepaschallamb,thesacrificethatboundusintoacovenantwithGod.Butthefulfillmentofthatcovenantdoesnothappenuntil50daysAFTERourreleasefromEgypt,whenwereceivetheTorahatthefootofMountSinai,amo-mentcommemoratedonShavuot.Whiletheseholidaysaresevenweeksapart,theyareconnectedbyanobservancecalledcounting the Omer.Mostlikelythe49daysofcountingoriginallyappliedtocountingsheavesduringthegrainharvest.Todaythisritualreenactsourancestors’waitingtoreceivetheTorah.TheOmerisatimeofausterityandreflection,duringwhichthereisacustomofstudyingPirke Avot,abookofourrabbis’ethicalteach-
President’s Message: Any Given Sunday
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April Worship Services 1 7:00pm FamilyShabbateveningworshipwithRabbi BerkowitzandorganistJosephBertolozzi2 9:00amTorahstudy 10:00am KershenbaumBatMitzvah
8 7:30pm ShabbatEveningServiceswithRabbiBerkowitz, organistJosephBertolozziandcantorialsoloistElisaDugatkin9 9:00am TorahStudy10:00amRolandBarMitzvah15 7:30pmShabbatEveningServiceswithRabbiBerkowitz,organistJosephBertolozziandcantorialsoloistElisaDugatkin16 9:00am Torahstudy10:00am BrownBarMitzvah 22 5:30pm FirstNightSeder23 9:30am NOTORAHSTUDYatVassarTemplebutallare welcometoattendPesachserviceatTempleBeth El 29 7:30pm LastdayofPassoverShabbatServicewithwith RabbiBerkowitz,organistJosephBertolozzi, andcantorialsoloistElisaDugatkin 30 9:00am TorahStudy 10:00amNewPathsService
April Scriptural Readings
2Shabbat Parah Sh’miniLev.11:1-47,Num.19:1-22;Ezekiel36:16-38
9 Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Tazria Lev.13:29-34;Num.28:9-15,Ex.12:1-20;Ezekiel45:16-46:18
16 Shabbat HaGadol Metzora Lev.14:33-15:33;Malachi3:4-24
23 Pesach Ex.12:21-51,Num.28:16-25;Joshua5:2-61
30 Pesach Deut.14:2-16:17,Num.28:19-25;Isaiah10:32-12:6
Rabbi’s Message: Pesach, Omer, Regalim, Hallel, Yizkor: Vocabulary of the Jewish Calendar
Tiny Temple WehadawonderfultimejoininginthebakingfunduringourTemplehamantaschenbakingextravaganza!Ouryoungestparticipantsenjoyedroll-ing,filling,bakingandeating delicioushamantaschenaswepreparedforPurim.Ifyouhaveachildunder5andwouldliketocheckoutourTinyTemplepro-gram,pleasejoinusonApril17thfrom11:00-12:00whenwecelebratePassovertogether.
New Paths Service
JoinusattheNewPathssabbathmorningserviceSaturday,April30that10:00amintheinformal,inti-matesettingofVassarTemple’sEastChapel.ThemovingliturgyoftheNewPathsprayerbookincludesbothtraditionalandcontemporarywritings,mostlyinEnglish,andparticipantsmaybringsupplementalmaterialstoshare.EachNewPathsservice,whetherlayledorrabbiled,providesauniqueandthoughtfulshabbatmorningexperience.Abriefmini-kiddushfollows.Formoreinformation,[email protected],[email protected],ortheTempleoffice845-454-2570.
Families,couples,andsinglesofallagesandgenerations,joinusaroundthetableforVassarTemple’s5thannualFirst Night Passover Sedertobeheldintheso-cialhallFriday,April22ndat5:30pm.Thesederislay-organizedandlay-ledwithashortsederserviceusingauser-friendlyHaggadahandactivitiestomaketheeve-ningfunandmeaningfulforchildren.Complementingthetraditionalritualfoodswillbeadeliciouskosher-styledin-nerfeaturing:home-madematzoballsoup,appropriateappetizers,entréechoicesofeitherchickenorfish,herbedvegetablesides,andselectedPesachdesserts.Ritualwineorjuiceandfoods,plusnon-alcohol-icbeverageswillbeavailable.
• Wecanhandlespecialdietaryre-quirementsifpre-arranged.
• Additionalwinemaybebroughtbyattendeesasdesired.
• Tocoverexpenses,thecostis:Adult:$36;5-13yearold:$10;Underage5:Freewithamaximumof$80pernuclearfamily(parents&children).
Please RSVP BY APRIL 3, 2016bysendingyourcheck(madeouttoVassarTemple)to:VassarTemple,140HookerAvenue,Poughkeepsie,NY12601.Pleaseindicate“Seder2016”,thenumberofadultsandchildren,andthenumberwishingeachentrée(chickenorfish)onthememoline.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsatallabouttheseder,pleasecontactSandraMamis,atseder@vassartemple.orgor914-456-3524.Sederco-chairsareRonRosenandPollyLewis.
VT First Night Passover Seder: April 22nd
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We Need Your Help!Weare,onceagain,askingthatyoubetheeyesandearsinthelivesofourcongregationalfamily.Federalpatientprivacyregulationslimittheinformationthathospitalsmakeavailabletoclergyandvolunteers.WeareencouragingyoutocontacttheTempleofficewhenacongregantisadmittedtoahospitalandwishestohaveRabbivisitduringthehospitalstay.Ourgoalistomeettheneedsofallourcongregants,andwecanonlydothiswithyourhelp.
Condolences to…
RobertKallmanonthepassingofhismother,MarjorieKallman;
JenDahnertonthepassingofherstepsister,JeannieLawrence.
Vassar Temple Bulletin Published monthly Publisher: Marianne Abrams Editors: Sue Lesser and Donna Loshin Technical Support: Bob Abrams
Articles for the May Bulletin must be submit-ted to the Temple office by April 1st. Sorry, we cannot take Bulletin articles over the phone! Articles may be sent via email to [email protected]. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for style, accuracy and length.
Pulpit Flowers Donors
April1:DonatedbytheKershenbaumfamilyinhonorofLindsey’sBatMitzvahApril8:DonatedbytheRolandfamilyinhonorofSam’sBarMitzvahApril15:DonatedbytheBrownfamilyinhonorofAiden’sBarMitzvahApril22:DonatedbyVassarTempleSisterhoodBimahFlowerFund
AnyonewhowishestohonorthememoryofalovedoneortocommemorateaspecialoccasioncandosobysponsoringthesanctuaryflowerswithadonationtotheVassarTempleSisterhoodBimahFlowerFund.ThedonationtotheFundis$55.JustcalltheVassarTempleOfficeat454-2570.
Mazel Tov to… Eric&LoriKershenbaumcelebratingLindsey’sBatMitzvah;
Mark&ShaariRolandcelebrating Sam’sBarMitzvah;
HowardBrowncelebratingAiden’sBarMitzvah;
Dan&EmmaArnoffonthebirthoftheirtwinsons,HenryandMiles.
Sisterhood Judaica Shoppe
OuryearlyPassoversaleisscheduledforApril3rdand17thfrom9:30to11:30am.Wecarryallyourneedsforafes-tivePassovertable:Sederplates,matzahplates,Kiddush,ElijahandMiriamcups,tablecloths,andsomuchmore.WearealsofeaturingsomeveryspecialnewIsraeliartists:• “Hamsah”byEsterShahaf,au-
thenticoriginalcreationssignedbyEster,individuallyhandcraftedcombiningsilver,pewterandSwarovskicrystals
• MezuzotinbrushedaluminumbyAdiSidler,handmadebyIritGal-mor,CaesareaArtsblackcrystalandAluminum
• alargeassortmentofLiorGlushkahamsah.
Passover101willbeonApril17thwithrecipesandsamplestotaste!Don’tmissit!Comeandbrowse…ourpriceswillamazeyou…..noshippingchargeseither!!TheShoppeisalsoopenduringregularTemplehours.FormoreinformationpleasecontactPerlaKaufmanatbrandaliz5@optonline.netor914-456-7309.
Refuah Shelemah
HarryMamis
Follow Rabbi Berkowitz! RabbiBerkowitzisonFacebook,Twitter,Wordpress,andInstagram.Followherandjointheconversation!Twitter/Instagram:@RabbiLRBFacebook:RabbiLeahBerkowitzReadRabbiBerkowitz’sblogat:http://thisiswhatarabbi-lookslike.wordpress.com
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From Our Religious School Director:Finding Our Moral Compass
Inthemiddleofthe16thcentury,aBritishex-plorerandseafarernamedWilliamBoroughwrotea
treatiseabouttheunreliabilityofnavi-gationalchartsthatignoredmagneticnorth.Hecalledhiswork,“A Discourse of the Variation of the Compass, or Magnetical North.”Hispointwasthatonlybyfollowingthecompasscarefullycanonesuccessfullynavigateunknownareas.That’spartone.PartTwoisthis:Inthedecadeslead-inguptothefoundingofthemodernstateofIsrael,aHebrewmavenandallaroundmavericknamedDavidYellininventedamodernHebrewwordfor“compass.”Hischoicewasmatzpen,relatedtothewordtzafon,whichmeans“north.”ForYellin,thecompasswasthatwhichpointednorth.Theancientwordtzafon,whichactuallymeansboth“north”and“northwind,”comesfromtherootTz.P.N.Alsofromthatrootistzafun,whichmeans“hidden.”(Afterall,whoknowswhatliestothenorth?)WefindtzafunintheorderofthePassoverSedercom-inguplaterthismonth.Theafikomenistzafun,whichiswhywehavetolookforit.TherootTz.P.NalsogivesusthewordMatzpun.Inantiquityitmayhavemeant“hiddentreasure.”InModernHebrew,itmeans“conscience.”
Inthisroundaboutway,theHebrewwordsfor“compass”and“conscience”endupsoundingnearlyidentical---matzpenandmatzpun---underscoringaninherentconnectionbetweenthetwoconcepts,andpracticallybeggingustoaskhowacompassislikeaconscience.Perhapsacompasshelpsusliterallyfindourwayintheworldwhileourconscienceisthemoralequivalent.Thecompasstellsuswhichwayisnorthandourconsciencetellsuswhichwayiscorrect.Orperhapstheconnectionisthatboththerightliteralpathandtherightmoralpatharehidden,andourtaskistofindthem…orperhapsboth.Englishalsoemphasizestheconnec-tionbetweenmoralityandliteralnaviga-tionwiththephrase“moralcompass”and,inparticular,withthenotionthatonecanloseone’smoralcompass.Theideaisthatourdaytodayexistencecantakeoneoftwoforms.Wecanbelikethecaptainofashiponitscorrectpath,guidedbyacompass,knowingthatwewillreachourintendeddestinationeventhoughwecannotseeit.Orwecanbelikethecaptainofashipwhoignoresthecompassandendsuplostatsea,nevertoendupwherewewant.Forthatmatter,eventhephrase“lostatsea”hasbothliteralandmoralinter-pretations.
AllofwhichbringsusbacktoPassover,aholiday,afterall,dubbed“theTimeofOurFreedom,”duringwhichwecel-ebrateourfreedomfromEgypt,and,moregenerally,ourongoingfreedom.Withthatfreedom,weknow,comestheabilitytochoosegoodpathsorbadones.Anditturnsoutthatwesometimeshaveanaturalpredilectiontoignorewhatweknowisright.Afterall,ourfirstmajorprojectasafreepeopleoutofEgyptwastobuildandworshipanidolintheformoftheGoldenCalf.Thisiswhyeveryspringwebothrejoiceinourfreedom,withPassover,andbeginamoralaccounting,withthecountingoftheOmer---thatseven-weekperiodoftimefromPassover(andfreedom)toShavuot(andTorah).Thisyearshouldbenodifferent.Solet’sonceagainstartwiththeAfikomen---thesurprisethatistzafun,hidden---andwithitrenewourattentiontothetoolswehaveforfindingourway:thecompassinallofitssurprisingcomplexity,andevenmore,ourconscience.Ignorethem,aswesooftentendtodo,andwefaceunfore-seenperil.Heedthemandwecanlookforward,astheOmerpromises,toarichlifeofTorah.
Chag Samei’ach
Dr. Joel Hoffman
TheReligiousSchoolissteppingoutsidetheclassroomonApril10thfrom9-11:30.GradesK-7areheadingtothePoughkeepsieFarmProjecttoexperi-enceinreal-timeconceptsabouttreesandecologytheylearnedwhilestudy-ingTuB’Shevat.Thechildrenwillbeparticipatinginage-appropriateactivitiesastheylearnaboutourlocalsoilandhealthyfoodsandwillbemakingtheirownsnacks!OurJewishHeritageofsus-tainingtheearth,nature,GodandallitssplendorwillberightbeforetheireyesattheFarm!
Parentsaremorethanwelcometoat-tendthistripwiththeirchildren.Pleasedressaccordingly.Children willgetdirty!Thefeeis$5perchild.Permissionslipswillbesenthomewithparentssowehaveanaccuratenumbertogivethefarmofthoseparticipating.Moredetailswillcomeaswegetclosertothedate.PleasecontactShaariRoland,ReligiousSchoolCommitteeChair,[email protected],withanyquestions.
Religious School Field Trip to Farm
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From Chametz-to-Table
AsPassoverapproachesandyouclearyourcabinetsofchametzinpreparationfortheholiday,wehopeyouwillconsid-erdonatingthesefoodstohelpfeedthehungryinourcommunity.ThisMarchandApril,pleasedropoffyourcannedandnon-perishablegoodsintheCANJAMbin.WewillbaganddeliverthemtofoodpantriesinDutchessCounty.
Happy Passover Nancy Samson
Summer Veggies on the Way!
Doyoulovefreshlocalveggies?Doyouwanttosupportlocalfarmersandalsocontributetoanimportantcom-munityinitiative?Ifso….here’sagreatopportunityforyouandyourfamily!PriHaEmek,nowintoitsfourthyear,isanot-for-profitCommunitySup-portedAgriculture(CSA)initiativethatisgroundedinJewishvaluesconcerningtheenvironment.PriHaEmekisHe-brewforBountyoftheValley.ACSAisacooperativeagreementbetweenafarmerandagroupofpeoplewhoagreetopre-purchaseashareofthefarmer’sproduceforanentireseason.TheCSAgivesmembersaccesstofresh,local,sustainablygrownproduceatcompeti-tiveprices,whilehelpingtopreservefarmlandandbuildingcommunity.PriHaEmekispartneringwithLineageFarminHudson.Eachweekshareholderswillchoosefromawidevarietyofseasonalvegetables,freshlyharvestedanddeliv-eredbyourfarmers, including:lettuce,arugula,saladturnips,kale,Swisschard,broccolirabe,garlicandgarlicscapes,cabbage,tomatoes,onions,summer&wintersquash,carrots,cucumbers,herbs,beans,beets,andradishes.Besidesthegreatveggies,it’sreallyfuntoparticipateandsharefoodideasandrecipeswiththegroup.SeveralVas-sarTemplefamiliesarealreadymembers.And,asanaddedbonus…..thereisnotahugeworkrequirementtojoin;only4-6hoursovertheentireseasonwhichrunsfromearlyJunethroughOctober.ThedistributionisheldweeklyattheHudsonValleyCommunityCenter.
Membershipisopentoanyone,re-gardlessofreligiousbackground.A$36membershipfeeisrequiredfromeachfamilywhichenablesustooffertzeda-kahsharestothoseinneedandprovideprogrammingforourmembers.
FullShare–10differentveggieseachweekfor$500
SmallShare–5differentveggieseachweekfor$300
Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontact:[email protected]
Sisterhood Hamantaschen Baking Day 2016
AllthosetastyhamantaschenthatweateforPurimcouldnothavebeenmadewithoutthehelpofalotofpeople.Justlikeinyearspast,boththesocialhallandthekitchenwerefilledwithpeopleofallagesrolling,fillingandbakingLOTSofdelicioushamantaschen.Itwasahecticdaybutwiththegreatgroupofpeoplewehadhelpingitwasdefinitelyafunday!Thereligiousschoolparticipatedinmakinghamantaschenaswell.I’malwaysamazedathowourstudentsarebecomingextraordinarypastrychefs!LauraBrundageandFernWolfhelpedtheTinyTemplekidsenjoytheirfirstforayintomakinghamantaschen.Fernandherhelpersthenreadiedthirty-fivepackagesofhamantaschentobesenttoourcollegestudentsanddozensmorewerepreparedforoutreachbyBarbaraMindelandRozKaflowitztobedeliveredbyourmanyvolunteers.Thisyearnotasingletraywasburned,thankstoLisaRubenstein,NadineZaritsky,MarciaTanzmanandLisa-SueQuackenbush.Veryimpressiveladies!AlsoastonishingwashowAnnLerman,RonniJarvisandJenDahnertrolledoutandcutallthosehamantaschensoperfectly.Lotsofpeoplecontributedtomak-ingthedaysuchasuccessandwiththetemperatureoutsidehitting60degrees,wedidn’tevenhavetoworryaboutsnow!AhugeTHANKYOUtoallourhelpersanddoughmakers.Wecouldn’thavedoneitwithoutyou!ThisincludesRabbiBerkowitz,LauraBrundage,SusanColodner,JenDahnert,OrianaDani-berg,CarolynFrankel,SherrieGeisler,EveGendron,JanetGreenman,TamaraGruszko,SusanHecht,RonniJarvis,NiliJerome,MeredithKaflowitz,RozKaflowitz,PerlaKaufman,MurielLam-pell,AnnLerman,PollyLewis,DorothyMarkus,BarbaraMindel,DanahMoore,LyndaMorgenstern,AmyHornOclatis,Lisa-SueQuackenbush,LisaRubenstein,NancySamson,AlexSinn,MicheleSinn,RoniStein,MarciaTanzman,ShiraTeich,FernWolfandNadineZaritsky.AspecialthankstoMichelleSinnandMarciaTanzmanformakingglutenfreehaman-taschenandtothoseofyouwhocameearlytohelpwithsetupandstayedlateforcleanup.ThereweresomanypeoplehelpingoutthatI’msureIunintention-allyleftsomeoneoffthislist.Ihopeyouallrealizethatwithoutyourhelpthedaywouldnothavebeenassuccessfulasitwas.
Judy RosenfeldSisterhood Hamantaschen Baking Chair
Four Cups, Endless Questions: Understanding the
Passover Seder
Perhapsoneofthemostthrilling—anddaunting—tasksofbuildingaJewishhomeisputtingtogetheraPassoverSeder.WhatdoIcook?WheredoIclean?Andwhatdoesallofthismean?JoinRabbiBerkowitzforathree-weekexplorationofthePassoverSeder;andgetreadytobeadynamichost…oraneducatedguest.
• April 6:What Is Chametz and Why Can’t We Have It on Pass-over?
• April 13:Cups, Questions, Children: Why Are There Four of Everything?
• April 20:What’s New in Ancient Traditions: The Traditional and the Innovative onthe Seder Plate
WHEN: ThreeWednesdays: April6,13,20at7:00pm
WHERE:VassarTemple
Furtherinfo:[email protected]
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Jewish War Veterans Meet April 10th
ThePrivateHermanSiegelPost625oftheJewishWarVeteransoftheUnitedStateswillholdaregularmonthlymeet-ingonSunday,April10thatCongrega-tionSchomreIsrael,18ParkAvenue,Poughkeepsie.Themeetingbeginsat9:30am.AllpersonsoftheJewishfaithwhohaveservedinanybranchoftheUnitedStatesarmedforces(Active,Reserve,orNationalGuard)arecordiallyinvitedtoattendandparticipateintheactivitiesofthisJWVPost.AsSchomreIsraelisstrictlykosher,nofoodordrinkmaybebroughtintothesynagogue.Forfurtherinformation,pleasecon-tactthePostCommander,[email protected].
Sisterhood Lunch Box a Success
SisterhoodLunchBoxwasaterrificsuccess!Manythanksgotoourmembersandvolunteers.Weprepared,cookedandservedchili,saladandfixingsforthosewhocametotheFamilyPartnershipCenter.ThanksgoouttoJudyRosenfeld,MelissaErlebacher,BriannaErlebacher,LauraBrundage,DanahMoore,JacobMoore,JenDahnert,JudyHarkavy,RoniStein,EllenZelig,NadineZaritsky,RobinPeritz,MicheleSinn,andShaariRoland,ArleneandGilSeligman,andMarianneAbrams.ThankyoutoMarianSchwartzforallofherguidance,Perlafortakingphotos,andLindaBabasforshopping!Ifwehaveoverlookedanyone’scontri-butions,pleaseacceptourgratitudeandapologies.
• April 1-3: NFTY NAR/GER Ju-nior Youth Kallah @ URJ Kutz Camp (6th - 7th graders)
Opento6thand7thgraders,JuniorYouthKallahisanopportunitytogiveouryoungestmembersofNFTYatasteofwhat’stocomewhentheyreachhighschool.Thisweekendlongeventisde-signedtoallowReformJewishstudentsfromallovertheTri-Stateareatomeeteachotherandengageinaweekendofsocialization,funandJewishlearning.TheeventwillberunbyacombinationofhighschoolteensandadultsfromtheTri-StateArea.Registrationfeeas-sistanceisavailable.
• April 3: VaTY Lunch Box
• April 15-17: NFTY NAR Spring Kallah @ URJ Camp Eisner (8th -12th graders)
SpringKallahisaweekendretreatforanyReformJewishteenintheNYArea.TeenscomefromalloverLongIsland,NewYorkCity,WestchesterandFairfieldtospendtheweekendmeetingotherJewishteensfromthroughoutthearea,engaginginmeaningfulconversa-tionsandactionsaroundsocialjustice,participatinginteen-ledprayerandspirituality,mostimportantly,havingfuntogether.Getreadyforaweekend
offun,food,singing,games,andothersurpriseswithover2008ththrough12thgradeReformJews!Registrationfeeas-sistanceisavailable.
• May 15: Mitzvah Day Car Wash
[email protected],suggestionsorwanttoparticipate!B’Shalom
Shira and Dan
VaTy: Upcoming Events
8
AleafhasbeenplacedontheVassarTempleTreeofLifeinhonorofRabbiBerkowitzbyAlimandAnafimcontributors.ProceedsfromtheTreeofLifesupporttheendowmentFund,ongo-ingprograms,andoperations.
Alim ~ Leaves
David&AmyBerkowitzCharles&JoanBlanksteenSamuel&AdriaanFinnermanHoward&EmilyHimelsteinDavid&MarilynMcGaulleyLampellLou&CandaceLewisDr.Harry&SandraMamisDr.Arthur&CarolMenkenMark&KathleenMetzgerBob&MaryRitterJames&MaryAnnRobinowitzRon&MarilynRosenDr.Loren&CharleneRosenthalBrian&HelenSilvermanGloriaTurkAnafim~Branches
JosephAmbash&LillianWeigertDr.AndrewChernack&Dr.BarbaraPaynePaul&AndreaCiminelloRobert&JudithCreedonDr.Paul&BarbaraDworkinMelissaErlebacherRichard&HarrietFeinEdward&VivianGarberDr.Jeffrey&NanGenshaftEric&BarbaraGillmanDr.Jack&FredricaGoodmanDavid&SusanKarnesHechtCantorPatriceKaplanDr.Daniel&MollyKatzMatthew&MurielLampellElaineLipschutzKent&KathyMardonLilaMatlinSteven&MargotRileyPeterBonnieScheerRabbiMayer&AnnSelekmanGilbert&ArleneSeligmanMurray&MarySolomonCharles&RoniSteinLewis&HilaryWrobelNadineZaritsky
Shorashim ~ Roots
Robert&MarianneAbramsDaniel&SusanAlbinderWilliam&SusanBarbashJoseph&JudyBerkowitzCatherineBokorRichard&LindaCantorMartin&EleanorCharwatDorisCohenStephen&JenniferSachsDahnertGeorgeneDreishpoonElisaDugatkinRichardDuVall&LisaRubensteinRabbiLarryFreedmanRabbiJohnFriedman
ArthurGellertRabbiPaul&DeborahGolombL.Arnold&RoslynGoralnickLeonard&BarbaraGreenbergDr.Arthur&MargeryGrotenJudithHarkavyKristinJuddEleanorKatzJoel&ClaudiaKelsonEric&LoriKershenbaumLee&MichelleKleinRichardLevienBrettLubarskyMichael&MarcyLubarskyBarbaraMindelJeremy&DanahMooreDr.Kenneth&AmyHornOclatisEleanorPupkoKurt&Lisa-SueQuackenbushBettyRennerEric&JudyRosenfeldArnoldSerotskyCraig&MicheleSinnJerold&EileenSlateBarbaraSternIra&SherryTackelGlenn&MarciaTanzmanDaniel&ShiraTeichHal&JenniferTeitelbaumRabbiDanielVictorDavid&FernGreenbergWolfEllenZelig
New Leaf onTree of Life
Buy Scrip
Help Yourself Help the Temple
9
Weekly Study at Vassar Temple
“TorahStudy”withtheTemple’sRabbiLeahBerkowitz,whichexaminespassagesfromtheweek’storahportionorhaftorah,isheldSaturdaymorningsat9:00am(noclass4/23).“The Talmud: Modern Ideas from an Ancient Text”istaughtbySeniorScholarRabbiPaulGolombonTuesdaysatnoon.Allarewelcometocome,learnandjoininthelivelydiscussionsatbothclasses--noprevioustrainingrequired!Questions?rabbi@vassartemple.orgor(845)454-2570
Wise Aging Program Resumes April 13th
OnWednesdayevening,April13that7:00pm,Wise Aging resumesafteraWinterhiatus.Wewelcomenewpeople–menandwomen–aswellasthosewhoparticipatedinthefall.TherewillbeanintroductorysessionfornewcomersonApril13thandwewillmeetastheentiregrouponApril20th,bothbeginningat7:00pm.Wewillselectfuturedatesatthattime.IfyouplantocometotheIntroSessionorhaveanyquestions,pleasecall:DebbieGolombat483-7717orLindaCantorat473-1819.
Yiddish Fun!
YouareinvitedtoenjoyanhourofYiddish(broken)conversation,songsandcultureatHudsonValleyCommunityCenter(formerJCC),110S.GrandAve.,Poughkeepsie,onTuesdaysat11:00am.YouorMom&Dad,Grandma&Grand-paarepromisedadelightfultime.FormoreinformationcallRitaFreemanat845-473-4129.
Support our Teen Lunch Box
OurTempleteens,grade8-12,ledbytheyouthgroup,aresponsoringLunchBoxonSunday,April3rdandtheyareseekingdonationsof:3lbs.allbeeffranks1to2dozenpiecesfreshfruit/bananas/grapesYourfooddonations,labeled“ForLunchBox,”canbedroppedoffbeforehandwheneverTempleisopen(non-perishablesintheplasticbinonthecounternearthekitchendoor,perishablesinthefridge).IfyoucanhelppleaseletShira-Teichknowwhatyouwillcontrib-uteatteichs11@gmail.comor(781)492-1244.ChecksmadeouttoVassarTemplewith“LunchBox”onthememolinealsohelpthislife-sustainingprojectandaretaxdeductible.
(RJV) Reform Jewish Voice of NYS Advocacy Group Forming
WerecentlyheldaluncheonfeaturingguestspeakerArleenStein,arepresenta-tivefromtheReformJewishVoiceofNewYorkState,anorganizationwhichiscomprisedofvolunteersfromvari-ouscongregationsandwhosepurposeistopromotestatelegislationaddress-ingtherootcausesofsocialandeco-nomicinjustice,advocateforethicalgovernment,andadvancereligioustoleranceandhumandignitythroughoutthestate.ArleenisamemberofCon-gregationBethEmethinAlbanyandhasservedontheCommissiononSocialActionoftheUnionofReformJudaism,withwhomRJVisaffiliated.
AstherewasalotofinterestinwhatArlenehadtosay,weareforminganadvocacygroupatVassarTemple.Arleenwouldbehappytoreturntogivethemthetrainingtheyneedtosuccessfullyapproachourstatelegislatorsontheseissuesthroughouttheyear,andeveryoneisinvitedtoparticipateinRJV’sannualAdvocacyDayinAlbanyonMonday,May9th.WerecognizethatVassarTempleisapoliticallydiversecongrega-tion,andthisgroupwilldiscusshowwecanengageinadvocacyonanindividuallevel,notasrepresentativesofVassarTemple.
Pleasecontactsocialaction@vassar-temple.orgifyouareinterestedinjoiningtheadvocacygroup.Visitrjvnys.orgformoreinfomationonRJVandtosignontotheire-maillist.
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Memorial Board Plaques
Honor the memory of your loved ones with a plaque on the Memorial Board in the sanctuary. For information, call the
Temple office at 454-2570.
APRIL 15ElsieH.AlbertEliasAltmanFannieBardHarryDegensheinJackJacobsonDr.PaulKoltaiDavidKorobkinAnneLacherPhilipLacherEvelynLanningSadieLiebermanMildredMetlisEvelynPartridgeHerbertRosandKenneth(Mickey)RosenblumSolomonSalbergIdaSalitLouisSchwartzNathan“Toolie”TurkCharlesVolkman,Sr.Dr.FritzWeigert
APRIL 1HermanBaskinHarryBronfeldJeanetteAda CohenMorrisDomesDorothyEsnerDavidH.EttensonHon.JosephH. GellertZoeyRachelGillmanIlseHolzerSamuelKarnesRoseBaumKrautMiltonLevittMorrisS.RosenmannWilliamM.RothsteinTillieSchwartzCoraFrances SolomonPearlTeperman MartinTurk
APRIL 8IsadorAlbinderSamuelBaskinJosephFrankelLorraineGoldbergDr.AlbertGouldIdelIzraelewiczMarthaKatzLillianF.KovacsMorrisD.KovacsMorrisLandauFrancesLazarusJeannetteS.NewmanJoshuaLowePosnerRhonaPrussinMollieRosenbergMorrisRosenbergIdaneEvanSalengerVawnJennifer SalengerEricSamsonMimiL.SchorMaxMichaelSimon,MDMaxSolomon
APRIL 22JesseBarbashHarryBardEvaBleyGeorgeN.FreedmanElizabeth“Libby”HorowitzAlfredKapnerDoreenKimmelDelbertLaLoneDanielLengerJoanMarshallEricMendelNathanL.ReiflerNormanS.ReiflerLesterM.RitterGladysSalbergJuliusSeifJoanSachsShasanGertrudeRosenmannSonkinMarionVolkmanSamuelH.WeismanGertrudeWeissRebeccaWolfson
APRIL 29SidneyCohenRuthEdnaDayAnnaDreishpoonPaulineDublerJacobEttensonFrancesR.FinnermanEdithKaufherrFayePrisanskyKaufmanBeverlyKellyBessieGoldmanLassSimiLevyHesterLoxEdwardMoffitSaraSilbermanEstherStraussMarkSyrkinJ.LouisSumnerAbrahamTavssRobertUttalDr.WolfgangU.Weigert
VassarTemple’sSisterhoodBookClubwilldiscuss,justintimeforPass-over,All Other NightsbyDaraHorn,anhistori-calnovelwhich
takesplaceduringtheCivilWar.ThemeetingwillbeonThursday,April14th,at2:00pm.,intheCommunityRoomofCollegeviewTower,141
FultonAvenue,Poughkeepsie.All Other Nightsexploresraceandreligionin19thcenturyAmerica.JacobRappaport,thesonofawealthyimport-exportfamily,fleeshomeandenlistsintheUnionArmytoavoidanarrangedmarriage.Whenhissuperiorsdiscoverhisuniqueconnections,heissentonespionagemissionsthatrevealanAmericanJewishpopulationdividedbytheMason-DixonLine,butunitedbybusiness,religious,andfamilyties.Ja-cobisorderedtomurderhisownuncle,whoisplottingtoassassinateAbrahamLincoln.Themurderistotakeplaceon
Passover.Basedonrealhistoricalfigures,DaraHorn’snovelhasbeendescribedbycriticsas“multilayered,page-turningsto-rytellingatitsbest,”themixofloveandloyaltyplayedoutinadividedAmerica.Thebookisavailableinpaperbackandthroughthelocallibrarysystem.ElaineLipschutzwillleadthediscus-siontowhicheveryoneiswelcome.ToRSVPorgetmoreinformation,pleasecontactLindaBabasat473-7931orlinda.babas.41@gmail.com.Pleasefeelfreeto
Book Club to Discuss All Other Nights on April 14th
Yahrzeits
11
SusanMatlin LouisShub LilaMatlinMorrisLevine
LilaMatlinRalphParridgeEvelynPartridge RichardPartridgeTessieTurk Steven&ShellyTurkHarveyKaflowitzRoslynKaflowitzRoseBaumKraut DutchKrautNathanielBaum Nina&NicholasKrautSidneyGreenman JanetGreenman&RobinPeritzMarjorieKallman Richard&LindaCantorLillianGerberLillianFeldman RobertFeldmanAnnemarieTeutsch DoiCohenEvelynLanning
James&MaryannRobinowitzBlancheFertig PhyllisRitterMarjorieKallman Morton&RitaAltermanAnnLacher Maury&MiriamLacherEsterG.RheingoldHermanJacobs IrmaJacobsEdwardMoffit Kent&KathyMardonBernardZuckermanAdrianZuckermanNaomiGoldberg D’Arcangelo&Co PollyLewis Ed&VivianGarber Kent&KathyMardon LilaMatlin Dr.&MrsBruceE.Waxman
Richard&LindaCantor JanelL.Aronson
Lewis&HilaryWrobelFannyDeanGorden
BarbaraN.Scheer
Wallace&ElizabethSchwartz ThomasM.Cervone Bill&CarolRhode David&SusanHecht MarieCole Chuck&MarlandBerghorn IrmaJacobs Muriel&MattLampell John&KarenHerring Charles&KarenSimon DoiCohen Steven&AmyEffron Jack&RitaEffron Larry&CindyJacobson
MUSIC FUNDIn Honor of:RabbiLeahBerkowitzonbecomingVassarTemple’srabbi Frank&PaulaSloan
LIBRARY FUNDIn Memory of:NaomiGoldberg JoanReifler
LIPSCHUTZ FUNDIn Memory of:SolLipschutzBenjaminClarfeld ElaineLipschutz
ContributionsRABBI’S FUNDIn Honor of:RabbiLeahBerkowitz’Installation
IvyF.Hoffman&MeganValentine Kent&KathyMardon
In Memory of:MartinL.Lowenthal Charles,Roni&JosephSteinNaomiGoldberg BarbaraAronson
SUSTAINING FUNDIn Honor of:MaryRitterinorganizingFiddler on the
Rooftrip Lewis&HilaryWrobelMarian&RalphSchwartzandNewPathsServices JaneLaLoneDavidLampell’s65thbirthday JanelL.AronsonDan&EmmaArnoffonthebirthof theirtwinsons,HenryandMiles
Bob&MaryRitterSandraMamis&theVTRitualCommittee
forputtingtheInstallationdinnertogetherbeautifully LilaMatlin
In Memory of:JonFranklinKatz EleanorKatzSamuelKarnes TheKarnesHechtFamilyGeorgeMeltzer AlanS.Rubenstein LisaRubensteinRuthParry KathrynMardonIrvingRosenthal
Loren&CharleneRosenthalKurtSimiles SandraMamisRussellOppenheimer MiriamOppenheimer JillOppenheimerAuerbach
Ifyouarelikeme,throughouttheyearyoureceiveperiodicnoticesaboutupcomingYahrzeitsforyourlovedoneswhohavepassedaway.Myfirstre-sponseisusuallytonotetheShabbatob-servanceoftheYahrzeitonmycalendar,andthebuckstopsthere…literally!ButinresponsetotheseimportantYahrzeits,thereisanothersteponecantake,andIamdevotingmycolumnthismonthtoencourageyoutoconsidertakingthatstep:itiscalledtheSustaining Fund.
ThenoticeyoureceiveisnotonlyintendedtoremindyouoftheYahrzeit,italsoprovidesyouwithanopportu-nitytomakeadonationinmemoryofyourlovedone.Contributionsmadeforthispurposearegenerally(thoughnotcategorically)directedtowardTemple’sSustainingFund,andassuch,helpsustaintheoperatingcostsoftheTemple.ThisisanimportantsourceofincomeonwhichtheTemple’sleadershipdependstomakeendsmeet.Startingthismonth,youwillnoticeachangeinthedesign
FUND FACTS – Sustaining Memories and the Temple
andsizeoftheYahrzeitnotice,asameanstoprovideyouwithmoreinformationaboutmakingdonationsandtooffermorepersonalizedwishesontheseoccasions.
SothenexttimeyoureceiveaYahrzeitnotice–newdesignandall–don’tlet“thebuckstopthere.”PleaseconsiderdirectingChai,orwhateveramountyouchoose,tosustainingyourlovedones’memories,andtosustainingourTempleatthesametime.YouwillbedoingadoubleMitzvah.
Jennifer Sachs Dahnert
12
Vassar Temple Bulletin 140 Hooker Avenue
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 845-454-2570
www.vassartemple.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Rabbi: Leah BerkowitzRabbi Emeritus: Stephen ArnoldSenior Scholar: Paul Golomb Religious School Director: Dr. Joel M. HoffmanCantorial Soloist: Elisa DugatkinOrganist: Joseph BertolozziPresident: Bob Ritter 1st Vice-President Mark Metzger 2nd Vice- President: Ron Rosen Secretary: Susan Karnes Hecht Treasurer: Len GreenbergSisterhood Co-Presidents: Laura Brundage & Danah Moore Men’s Club Co-Presidents: Dave Samson & Dave WolfImmediate Past President: Bob Abrams Youth Group President: Brianna Erlebacher
PRSTD STDU.S. Postage
PaidPermit # 11
Newburgh, N.Y.
DATED MAILPLEASE RUSH
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
7pm Family Shabbat Service
29am Torah Study10am Kershenbaum Bat Mitzvah
39am R/S, Gr. K-712pm Lunchbox
4 510am SEP12pm Talmud Study6:30pm Ritual Committee
64:30pm Hebrew School6:30pm R/S Gr 8-127pm Learn about Passover with Rabbi Berkowitz
710am SEP
87:30pm Shabbat Service
99am Torah Study10am Roland Bar Mitzvah
10Religious School Class Trip
11 1210am SEP11am Rabbi’s Lunch12pm Talmud Study6pm VTS Donor Dinner
134:30pm Hebrew 6:30pm R/S Gr 8-127pm Intro Wise Aging7pm Learn about Passover with Rabbi
1410am SEP2pm VTS Book Club7pm Exec Cmte Meeting
157:30pm Shabbat Service
169am Torah Study10am Brown Bar Mitzvah
179am R/S, Gr. K-710am Tiny Temple
18 1910am SEP12pm Talmud Study
204:30pm Hebrew School (last day)6:30pm R/S Gr 8-127pm Intro Wise Aging7pm Learn about Passover with Rabbi 7pm Finance Cmte
2110am SEP
22First night of Passover10am Yizkor ServiceNo Shabbat Services
23PassoverNo Torah Study
24PassoverNo Religious School
25Passover
26Passover10am SEP12pm Talmud Study7pm Omer classon Pirke Avot
27PassoverNo Religious School
28Passover10am SEP7pm Board Meeting
29Passover (last day)7:30pm Shabbat Service
309am Torah Study10am New Paths
April 2016
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