Picture - Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El
Transcription
Picture - Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El
Clergy and Staff JEFFREY C. BROWN • Rabbi [email protected] Board of Trustees CHANIN BECKER • Cantor [email protected] ILYSE GLICKMAN • Director of Congregational Learning [email protected] ROBERTA ARONOVITCH • Executive Director [email protected] JODY GLASSMAN • Nursery School Director [email protected] SARAH METZGER • Director of Youth Engagement [email protected] SYNAGOGUE OFFICE • [email protected] MELANIE APPELBAUM • Marketing, Communications & Public Relations Director [email protected] Donna Vitale Ruskin – President Joel Wagman – Executive Vice President Steven Eigen – Treasurer Jules Natowitz – Secretary Joy Bertan Karen Chapro Sara Feinstein Ron Katter Alison Litofsky Jeff Margolin Ellen Miller-Wachtel Jonathan Paul Beverly Picker Scott Rothstein Emily Scherer Steinberg Tom Vogel Jeff Zelkowitz Professional Staff Emereti Ex-Officio STEPHEN A. KLEIN ........ Rabbi – SSTTE ........................................... [email protected] Members of the Board KERRY BEN DAVID z’l .. Cantor - SSTT ALAN HOCHBERG ......... Exec. Director – SSTTE GARY KATZ .................... Exec. Director – SSTTE MARILYN SHEBSHAIEVITZ Exec. Director – TE PHILIP ARONSON ........... Exec. Director – TE REBECCA SHUBERT ...... Educator – SSTTE Any questions, please contact us either by Email: [email protected] Phone: 914-725-5175 Fax: 914-725-4551 Care2Connect Christine Ginsberg Communal Worship Harvey Tessler Victor Goodman Connected Congregations TBA Early Childhood Education Jules Natowitz Family Events Alison Litofsky Funds Investment James Shifren Jim Siegel Governance Task Force Karen Chapro Grounds Committee Madelaine Eppenstein Tara Tyberg Library Millicent Baschkin Barbara Ginsberg Randee Horowitz Life-Long Learning TBA Marketing & Public Relations Stuart Pearlman Eric Schoen Emily Scherer Steinberg Brotherhood Co-Presidents Dan Alpert David Nodiff Richard Primoff Membership/Community Alison Litofsky Scott Rothstein Communal Worship Harvey Tessler Victor Goodman Honorary Trustee Barbara Chesler Strategic Planning Ellen Miller-Wachtel United Interfaith Food Bank Larry Eidelberg Elinor Wharton SCARTY Co-Presidents Noah Steinberg Jenny Appelbaum Welcome! Committee and Program Chairs Budget & Finance Steven Eigen Tom Vogel Women of SSTTE Co-Presidents Susan Lippmann Beth Quinn Sandy Rothstein Marilyn Shebshaievitz PJ Library TBA Religious School TBA SSTTE Seniors Aaron Plum Social Action/Tikkun Olam Karen Chapro Elinor Wharton Women of SSTTE Co-Presidents Susan Lippmann Beth Quinn Sandy Rothstein Marilyn Shebshaievitz Brotherhood Co-Presidents Dan Alpert Richard Primoff David Nodiff Shalom Newsletter DEADLINE The Shalom is partially funded by the Women of SSTTE. If you have ideas for a new article please contact Roberta Aronovitch, Executive Director at 914.725.5175. The Shalom is published monthly (except for July & August). The Deadline for the June 2016 Shalom is May 6, 2016. In order to meet the publishing deadline, please submit information on a timely basis. TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER: Nava Tehila FUNdraiser Sharing Shabbat Worship Mazel Tov From Our Rabbi Communal Worship What’s Happening at Scarsdale Synagogue Calendars for May & June Tikkun Olam / Social Action Director of Congregational Learning Director of Early Childhood Director of Youth Engagement Cycle of our Congregational Family Advertisements WORSHIP p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. p. 10 4 11 3 4 5 6 7-11 12-13 14-15 16 17 18 19-20 ARE YOU RECEIVING DUPLICATE EMAILS? If you are receiving duplicates of our emails, please call us at the office to let us know at 914-725-5175 or email [email protected] WHAT ARE THE FUNNY LOOKING CODES? They are called QR codes. To scan the codes, download "NeoReader" (or any QR code reader) from the app store. Then use your mobile device to scan the code which will take you directly to the applicable web page (yes, you MUST have a mobile device. This cannot be done from a desktop.) Questions: Contact Melanie Appelbaum at [email protected] and she will be happy to help you! RELIGIOUS SERVICES FRIDAY, MAY 6 5:30 p.m. First Fridays for Families; Grades PK-2 7:45 p.m. Chavurah Service FRIDAY, MAY 20 Sharing Shabbat – No Services SATURDAY, MAY 21 10:00 a.m. Shabbat BaBoker with Nava Tehilla FRIDAY, MAY 13 8:00 p.m. Shir Shabbat Service SATURDAY, MAY 14 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service & Bar Mitzvah of Zach Rosenberg 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 27 6:15 p.m. Ma'ariv Service Havdallah Service & B’not Mitzvah of Alyssa & Madison Youngstein YOM HASHOAH, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 7:00 P.M. “Please join Rabbi Brown and Scarsdale Synagogue teens as we mark our annual observance of Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day - with our friends from Shaarei Tikvah at Shaarei Tikvah (46 Fox Meadow Rd., Scarsdale). Please be in touch with Rabbi Brown if you have any questions!” 3 MAZEL TOV Zach Rosenberg May 14 Zach is a 7th grader at the Ardsley Middle School. His favorite activities are baseball and basketball. He goes to Camp Chipinaw over the summer for 7 weeks. A memorable experience for him was when he won the allaround camper for all of boy’s side in camp, the biggest award for boys. For his community service he prepared meals and packed clothes for the homeless at Ardsley Cares Day. 4 Madyson Youngstein May 14 Madyson is a 7th grader at the Edgemont High School. Her favorite activities are playing basketball, softball, tennis and she also likes to bake. Her best subject in school is Math, but she also likes Science and Latin. A memorable experience for her was when she met her best friend, Ricki. For her community service she helps her mom at her camp, Beth El in the summer. Alyssa Youngstein May 14 Alyssa is a 7th grader at the Edgemont High School. Her favorite activities are playing basketball and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite subject in school is Science. For her mitzvah project she is making pillows for kids in the hospital. FROM OUR RABBI Dear Friends: I hope this finds you and your family doing well! This year, the month of May occupies the slice of the Jewish calendar that falls after Passover but before Shavuot. Tradition teaches that we count the omer during this seven week period, thereby linking one holiday to the next. This is not just a season of counting. It’s a season of accounting, and taking stock of ourselves, and the goals we set. In that vein, I wanted to return to my vision for the future of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El. As some of you may recall, I shared a detailed vision statement in the context of my Rosh HaShanah Day 1 morning sermon back in the fall. (You can find the sermon online at http://goo.gl/QIAqwi.) Here’s my omer-accounting of my vision for the future, and the successes we’ve had in working toward it. (1) Scarsdale Synagogue is built on the notion of inclusivity, where everyone matters. Following nearly three years of careful study and reflection, our Board recently approved a sweeping change toward a Pledge Commitment model of financial giving here at the synagogue. We believe that our community will become ever-more-inclusive, as we affirm to current, former, and prospective members that being connected to Scarsdale Synagogue is about so much more than a person’s ability to pay. That same sense of inclusivity is reflected in the fact that: our Religious School has launched Kulanu (all of us) to better meet the needs of students with diverse learning styles; we held salons earlier this year to examine current events through a Jewish lens, with an affirmation that we must be inclusive of the wide range of political perspectives of our congregation; and, our Temple President has convened a working group to begin studying the feasibility of a capital campaign, one of whose primary goals would be to make our sanctuary safer and more accessible to everyone who worships with us. (2) Scarsdale Synagogue is a Shabbat-centered Jewish community. Beyond our lifelong learning and communal Jewish volunteerism, we seek a community where our membership has the chance to affirm its Jewish identity through regular and meaningful Shabbat engagement. This year we strengthened our Shabbat BaBoker experience on Saturday mornings - several of which were specifically designed as intergenerational Shabbat experiences. (Shabbat BaBoker is our informal Shabbat morning minyan filled with song, study, and a delicious meal that meets periodically throughout the year.) We continued to broaden the reach of our Sharing Shabbat initiative to encourage members to have Shabbat dinner in one another’s homes. We organized an Adult Retreat (new for this year), during which we reflected on the themes of Shabbat for an entire weekend! And we even began a Shabbat hiking group, to experience Shabbat in nature. (3) Scarsdale Synagogue is a place where relationships matter. A synagogue isn’t just a place that we come to in order to engage Judaism and its values. It’s a place where we do that communally. Together. In theory, every programmatic initiative we do, and certainly all of the ones already mentioned above, seek to reinforce, and build on, this core value. Beyond those, let me discuss my own personal attempt to build relationships with each and every one of you. I am in the midst of reaching out to every single household in the congregation this year “just because.” As of this writing (in early April) I’ve managed to reach about one third of you (or your answering machines). Many of those contacts have resulted in delightful schmoozes - it has been a pleasure to get to know so many of you better! The calls will continue throughout the spring and summer. But no need to wait for your phone to ring! I’m always available to schedule time at your request. Feel free to email or call to make an appointment. The end of the school year isn’t just an opportunity to take an accounting of my vision. It’s also a chance to for us to do the same with your vision! I hope we’ll have the chance to sit together soon, so that you can share with me the hopes and dreams of the future that you carry…for yourself, your family, and for our shared community. With kindest regards, Rabbi Jeffrey Brown 5 COMMUNAL WORSHIP Saying Kaddish (Part 2) By Michael Luskin Shortly after my mother died (in 2012), I wrote a CWC column in “Shalom” called “Saying Kaddish.” It was mostly about saying Kaddish for those we knew. Now I write about saying Kaddish for those we never knew, and in particular, Holocaust victims. This column is prompted by a trip Judy and I took a year ago to Warsaw, Krakow (including Auschwitz-Birkenau), and Berlin and by the upcoming Yom HaShoah (May 4-5 this year). Our trip was a long time coming. I’d never been keen on confronting what I knew I’d see. What is this fear of visiting a concentration camp, a death camp? Why so anxious? In Krakow, at the Remu Cemetary Synagogue, I spoke with an Israeli tourist. He told me that he, too, had felt anxious about his planned visit to Auschwitz, but then he added: If my father could survive two years at Auschwitz, then I can survive two hours there. He was right. I lost the anxiety. I made the visit. It was so empty. We are brought up on images of Nazi genocide: packed cattle cars; men, women and children lined up on the railroad platform at Birkenau so the SS could sort and separate them; crowds being pushed into the gas chambers; skeletal, wide-eyed survivors in their striped prison garb, staring out of their shelf-like bunks at their liberators at the end of the war, too weak to move. But now there is no one in the single cattle car that sits there. The platform is empty. The gas chambers and crematoria lie in ruins. The bunks are vacant. The suffering, the horror, are all left to the imagination. But our imaginations are informed by those iconic photographs, the ones we’ve all seen and know by heart. I can’t say which has had more impact on me in the end: the empty, silent camp, or the photos, or the interplay between them in my mind’s eye while standing there. Ingraining those images in our minds and those of our children and their children is as important as the visit itself. So, who were the victims? Yad Vashem has created a small museum in one of the buildings at Auschwitz. One of its rooms contains drawings done by child-victims of the Holocaust, faithfully hand-copied on the walls of the room in pencil and crayon at child height. One of them is of a wicker basket of flowers in bloom and is captioned, in French, “Pour Maman,” for my mama. Another iconic image, etched in my mind’s eye forever. But what has this got to do with me? 6 Both Judy’s and my families came to the U.S. before World War I, so the Holocaust wasn’t about us. Wrong, so wrong. Six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust; four million have been identified. One of the rooms in the Yad Vashem exhibit at Auschwitz contains a Book of Names, a print-out of the four million known victims, listed alphabetically by name, birth date, home town, and date and place of death. The Book fills the room. There are dozens of Luskins in it. Some must be family, those who stayed, or their children. My cousins, many times removed no doubt, but family; family I never knew. So, yes, me. I will not forget the Book. On a lighter note, we spoke with the owner of the bookstore in the Old Town of Kazimierz, across from the Remu Cemetary Synagogue where we started our walking tour of this part of Krakow. She told us about the filming of the ghetto scenes in “Schindler’s List,” which were shot in this square. She told us of the inconvenience – having to cover her windows and close her store – and she told us of her amazement at the artificial snow falling in June. But the image that says “What?!” and sticks in my mind is her description of the crew’s and actors’ lunch breaks, when she’d see rabbis dining with SS soldiers! This didn’t happen in real life, of course, but what if…. What if history had played out differently? We lost those Luskins and the four million who’ve been identified and the two million who haven’t. They are all someone’s family, and there is no better reason to rise together than to remember them with a communal Kaddish. The prayer itself is familiar and comforting, with its rhythmic repetition, its alliteration. Many rock and sway as they recite it; it literally moves us. It is always said in public (a minyan is required), and its completeness depends on the entire congregation’s responses: “Amen” and “Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varakh….” and “B’rech hu” and “T’ush b’chatah….” It’s comforting to know that the prayer that we know so well is the same prayer, recited in the same way, as was the prayer recited by those in whose memories we pray. The connection is palpable. We rise as one congregation to remember our own families and all the people in those pictures we can never forget, all the children who scratched “Pour Maman” on the wall, all of those named in the Book of Names, and all of those whose names we’ll never know. I used to think that we rise together to remember these victims because they had no one to say Kaddish for them, but that’s not right. They have us. They, too, are family. WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SCARSDALE SYNAGOGUE WOMEN OF SSTTE Women’s Interfaith Luncheon WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 AT 11:30 A.M. To RSVP Online for Any of Our Events, Visit: bit.ly/ssttewomenevents Board Meeting & Speaker WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 AT 10:30 A.M. All members are invited to attend. We welcome back our snowbirds and work on upcoming events. Following the meeting we will have a special Lunch and learn program. See p. 9 for details. We’re Going to Caramoor WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7; 9:30 A.M. Reservations accompanied by checks must be received by June 22 so we can confirm our space. Yes, it may seem strange to make plans for September, now…but we like to look ahead. The Women of SSTTE has reservations to attend a wonderful Flamenco Dance presentation, tour the Rosen House at Caramoor, and have lunch on the grounds. We will carpool from the Synagogue. Cost is $65 for members of Women of SSTTE and their spouses; $75 for non-members. We will be leaving the Synagogue at 9:30 a.m. Please let us know if you can drive or if you will need a ride. Reservations may be made on the website (URL at top of this page) or by sending an email to [email protected] or calling the Synagogue office, 914725-5175. The Roles of Women in Judaism and Islam: A Women’s Panel Discussion WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 AT 11:00 A.M. Cantor Becker, Rabbi Glickman, and representatives of the Islamic Women’s Council, Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan and Paula DesrochersYakout, will join us for an insightful discussion and question and answer time regarding the roles of women in our religions. Find out how we are alike and explore our differences. Following the Discussion, you are invited to be the guests of the Women of SSTTE for lunch and a chance to socialize and speak informally with our guests. Lunch is being sponsored by the Women of SSTTE Special Action Fund in loving memory of Maxine Jacobson. Please RSVP by May 18 on the website (URL at top of this page) or by sending an email to [email protected] or calling the Synagogue office, 914-725-5175. If you need a ride, let us know. Mah Jongg Cards We have the newest Mah Jongg cards available! To get yours email Barbara Ginsberg, [email protected] or stop into the Mazel Tots office and see Jody Glassman. Update on the Scotland Project See. p. 15 for details. All Scarsdale Synagogue women are invited to join with the Women of the Scarsdale Hartsdale Women’s Interfaith Council for a luncheon at the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church. The program begins with a Sanctuary Talk followed by lunch featuring a speaker on Climate Change and Sustainability. Tickets are $20 each. RSVP on the website (URL on top of this page) For more information or reservations email [email protected]. Spring Mah-Jongg Tournament SUNDAY, MAY 15 - 9:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. It’s that time again! There are a few spaces left. For $50, you will have a light breakfast, a delicious lunch, and the opportunity to play many rounds of MahJongg and win cash prizes. Space is limited so make your reservation early. You can register on the website (URL below) and send your check to us in care of the Synagogue Office. Reservations are filling up, so respond quickly to reserve your seat!!! RSVP: bit.ly/ssttemj Come and eat at California Pizza Kitchen!! WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 Bring the Flyer in this issue (on p. 8) of the Shalom and join us anytime on Wednesday, May 18. The Women of SSTTE will receive 20% of whatever you spend. These proceeds help us to support our Synagogue and the worthwhile projects we do. Additional flyers are available on the website and at the Synagogue. Please distribute them to your friends and family and ask them to help support our programs. Spring Luncheon, June 1, See p. 11 for details 7 WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SCARSDALE SYNAGOGUE FUNdraiser in support of Women of SSTTE: Women’s Group Supporting the Synagogue & other Causes Wednesday May 18th 2016 All Day!!! Valid at the following location: California Pizza Kitchen 365 Central Park Ave Scarsdale NY 10583 (Just north of Hartsdale Post office) 914-722-0600 8 WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SCARSDALE SYNAGOGUE JUDAICA We have been called..”THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK” The Judaica Shop will hold a SPRING BOOK SALE SUNDAY – MAY 22ND from 9:00 A.M. to 12 NOON Selections for both children and adults will be available – books to Educate, Enlighten, and Entertain Books on Jewish History, Religion, Art, Archeology, Cooking, Bible Stories, and beautiful Coffee Table volumes plus Judaica Jewelry and many other Gift Items Your purchases are at discount prices, and help support important projects at the Synagogue. Plan to join us for this exciting event! For more information, contact: Barbara Baron Mitzie Stein 914-693-3131 914-723-0138 Brotherhood to Sponsor BBQ SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 5:00 P.M. For those of you who are not aware, the Brotherhoodsponsored annual Scarsdale Synagogue spring BBQ is quickly approaching. It is an extremely fun event and all are welcome. As always, there will be large amounts of delicious hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken and we will need your help to make sure there are no leftovers. That would be a shanda! It is one of the really nice social programs of the year, which reinforces a sense of community amongst our members. It is a great outdoor, spring event. We are always looking for ways to make this event more fun, so if you have any suggestions or are willing to help at the grill, please email us at [email protected]. Best regards, Dan Alpert, Richard Primoff and David Nodiff SSTTE Seniors Lunch at Seafood Central (Trader Joes Mall) TUESDAY, MAY 3 AT 1:00 PM Coffee and Conversation TUESDAY, MAY 17 AT 1:00 PM Meet at the synagogue as we welcome back our snowbirds. There will be no meeting May 10. If there are any questions please call (914) 963-4093 Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings and programs. We Honor Our Builders FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 8:00 P.M. Join us for a special Shabbat service as we will honor our Synagogue’s history, and the longtime members (who have been with us for 18 or more years) who helped to build our congregation and who continue to make our synagogue the special place it is today. We are especially delighted that our Rabbi Emeritus, Steve Klein, will join Rabbi Brown and Cantor Becker in co-leading the service and celebration. Festive Oneg Shabbat to follow! The Women of SSTTE Present: LUNCH & LEARN WITH RABBI BROWN (open to the entire congregation and friends) WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 AT 12:30 P.M. Following lunch Rabbi Brown will share candid reflections and photos from his social justice mission to the Dominican Republic earlier this year. He'll especially focus on the plight of women in the Dominican Republic....exploring how the poverty and racism of the country come together to create significant genderbased barriers to equality in Dominican life as well. Although there are many challenges in the Dominican Republic, Rabbi Brown's presentation will also reflect the tremendous hope that exists there for positive change in the future, and how we can be a part of those exciting social justice efforts. Lunch is $10 per person and you must RSVP by May 6 on the website (URL at top of this page) or by sending an email to [email protected] or calling the Synagogue office, 914-725-5175. If you need a ride, let us know. United Interfaith Food Bank Sort & Repack Sessions TUESDAY, MAY 3 at 9:00 a.m. TUESDAY, MAY 17 at 7:00 p.m. Concerned about hunger, an issue our Food Bank volunteers have been working tirelessly to address for a decade now. 9 WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SCARSDALE SYNAGOGUE 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SCARSDALE SYNAGOGUE Machar: Join Us as We Strengthen our Synagogue Leaders of Tomorrow Machar (Tomorrow) will begin in September as a yearlong opportunity to get to know one another, learn together and grow toward service in the leadership of our congregation and Jewish community. Stay tuned to your emails and the monthly Shalom for more information ARZA Since the establishment of the State of Israel, four new holidays have been added to the Jewish calendar. In Israel, these holidays are observed as national holidays. May holidays include: Sharing Shabbat Friday, May 20 Join us for the last Sharing Shabbat of 5776. If you have special requests for dinner assignments, please let us know, but we hope you will take this as an opportunity to get to know new people in our community. RSVP by May 16: [email protected] Yom Haatzmaut, MAY12th, Israel Independence Day, marks the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. Yom Hashoah, MAY 5TH, Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom Hazikaron, MAY 11TH, a Memorial Day for soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the War of Independence and in other subsequent battles. RSVP for the Celebrate Israel Parade by May 1. See p. 16 for details. For more information: reformjudaism.org click on Jewish holidays. Gladly check off ARZA membership on your dues statement, knowing that you are building and supporting an inclusive, pluralistic, democratic Israel. Any thoughts or questions, about ARZA, please be in touch with Gloria Lewit 11 CALENDAR ~ May 2016 ~ Nissan – Iyar 5776 Sun Mon Tue Wed 1 2 NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Mazel Tots & Songs for Seeds Open House 4:00 p.m. Joint Yom Hashoah w/Shaarei Tikvah 7:00 p.m. 8 9 Happy Mother's Day! 3 Food Packing & Sorting 9:00 a.m. Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. Seniors Lunch 1:00 p.m.; off-site 4 Women's Interfaith Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Yom Hashoah at Shaarei Tikvah 7:00 p.m. 10 Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. Talmud 8:00 p.m. 15 Shorashim 9:30 a.m. Mah Jongg Tournament 9:30 a.m. Madrichim Workshop 11:15 a.m. Mazel Tots & K'tanim Friendship Workshop 11:00 a.m. 16 Jewish Food Policy Study Group 6:15 p.m. Communal Worship Cmte. Mtg. 7:30 p.m. 22 Last Day of Sunday Religious School Judaica Sale 9:00 a.m. STEWEY Messy Olympics 11:00 a.m. 29 Thu 5 Mussar Study with Cantor Becker 7:30 p.m.; offsite Fri Sat 6 First Fridays for Families - PK-2 5:30 p.m. Chavurah Service 7:45 p.m. 7 Love My Park Day 9:30 a.m. Team Tikkun Volunteers at ASPCA Pet Fair 10 a.m. Annual Fundraiser 7:00 p.m. 11 12 Women of SSTTE Board Mtg 10:30 a.m. Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Brown 12:30 p.m. Mazel Tots Challah Baking 7:30 p.m. 13 Shir Shabbat Service w/Youth Group honoring H.S. Seniors 8:00 p.m. Scarty Shul-in 7:00 p.m. 17 Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. Seniors Coffee & Conversation 1:00 p.m. Food Packing & Sorting 7:00 p.m. Jewish Literacy 8:00 p.m. 18 Last Day of Religious School 20 Sharing Shabbat 6:00 p.m. 14 Shabbat Morning Service & Bar Mitzvah of Zach Rosenberg 10:30 a.m. Havdallah Service & B’not Mitzvah of Alyssa & Madison Youngstein 4:30 p.m. 21 Shabbat BaBoker With Nava Tehilla 10:00 a.m. SCARPE Diem Basic Training 6:00 p.m. 23 Board of Trustees Mtg. 7:30 p.m. 24 Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. 25 26 Panel Discussion on Roles of Women in Judaism/Islam 11:00 a.m. 30 Memorial Day 31 Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. 19 California Pizza Kitchen Fundraiser Offsite; All day Mussar Study with Cantor Becker 7:30 p.m. 27 Ma-Ariv Service 6:15 p.m. 28 OFFICE CLOSED NOTE: Religious School meets Sundays 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Team Tikkun meets Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. 12 CALENDAR ~ June 2016 ~ Iyar Sivan- 5776 Sun Mon Tue 7 Food Packing & Sorting 9:00 a.m. Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. Seniors Lunch 1:00 p.m.; off-site Jews as the Chosen People 7:00 p.m. 14 Study Chavurah 10:30 a.m. Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Women of SSTTE Luncheon (off-site) 1:00 p.m. 3 Service Honoring Our Builders 8:00 p.m. 4 Shabbat Service & Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin Sonenshine 10:30 a.m. 8 Women of SSTTE Board Mtg 10:30 a.m. 9 10 Confirmation Service 7:30 p.m. 11 Shabbat Morning Service & Bar Mitzvah of Noah Pomerantz 10:30 a.m. 15 Communal Worship Meeting 7:30 p.m. 16 17 Chavurah Service 7:45 p.m. 18 24 Ma-Ariv Service 6:15 p.m. 25 5 Celebrate Israel Parade 11:00 a.m. Annual Congregational Mtg. & BBQ 4:00 p.m. 6 Mussar with Cantor Becker 7:30 p.m. 12 13 Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30 p.m. 19 20 21 22 Seniors Coffee & Conversation 1:00 p.m. Food Packing & Sorting 7:00 p.m. Jewish Literacy 8:00 p.m. 23 26 27 28 30 29 We are now transitioning into an environmental facility by using biodegradable products throughout the synagogue. 13 TIKKUN OLAM/SOCIAL ACTION I LOVE MY PARK DAY SATURDAY, MAY 7TH Join in an exciting statewide event to celebrate and enhance New York’s parks and historic sites. Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park; 9:30 AM - 03:00 PM (914) 941-8536 Improve the Aqueduct trail by lopping vines, removing invasive bushes and plants and by picking up trash along the trail and by the riverside. They will have the opportunity to work in teams alongside experienced naturalists to attack the specific plants. There will be tasks for those with various skill levels; no experience necessary. Contact event coordinator Diane Alden for more information: [email protected]. Registration: Required Rockefeller State Park Preserve; 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (914) 631-1470 As part of this ever popular, state-wide event, we will continue the habitat restoration project that we began two years ago. All ages are welcome. Last spring, four generations of a local family participated. Contact event coordinator Jessika Creedon for more information: [email protected]. Registration: Required Bear Mountain State Park; 9:30 AM - 03:00 PM (845) 786-2701 Come join us at Bear Mountain State Park in celebrating the fifth annual I Love My Park Day! Project 1: Garden Care and Invasive Management at Stairs leading to Pool and Trailside Museums and Zoo. Wear old clothes, closed toed shoes, and work gloves. Project 2: Trash Cleanup around Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain State Park. Volunteers clean up trash at the lake's edge and around the park. Contact event coordinator Elaine Brown for more information: [email protected] Registration: Required. For further information: http://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark CARE2CONNECT Our Care2Connect committee has one main goal – to reach out and support fellow congregants throughout various lifecycle events. Members of our committee are here for you, in good times and in hard times, offering support and a helping hand when needed. Throughout the years, we have provided words of congratulations for births, marriages and bar/bat mitzvahs, words of sympathy when those among us have lost loved ones, and words of support when others are not doing so well. New volunteers are always welcome! There are no meetings to attend or events to schedule on your calendar. Just let us know what you are interested in doing, how often you are available and the best way to reach you. There is no requirement for what you would need to do, we are happy to work within your comfort level to help you get involved. Then, when a need arises that you are comfortable with, our committee will be in touch. Whether you can help out once a month or once a year, it all adds up to a more supportive and caring temple community! Tikkun Olam,Together. Other services our network of member volunteers provide include: Providing/Delivering Meals to homebound members or families during a health crisis; Checking in via telephone with the ill, elderly and/or homebound; Visiting an ill or homebound member; Transportation to a doctor's appointment for an ill or non-driving member; Hosting a single or widowed member for a holiday meal; Transportation to services (when available) for an elderly or non-driving member. If you know...of a Synagogue member who is ill or in the hospital, call the office and let us know. This way the Rabbi and Cantor can visit and Care2Connect can provide timely support. Don’t assume that we know---we will only know if you tell us! For more information, to volunteer or to let us know of a Congregant who could use our support, please contact Christine Ginsberg at [email protected]. 14 TIKKUN OLAM/SOCIAL ACTION Scottish Jews Benefitting from American Jewish Community Donations Written by Professor Joe Goldblatt Did you know that Scotland is one of the few countries in Europe and in the world that has no official legislation banning anti-Semitism activities? The reason for this is that in our 1,000 year old history we have never needed this legislation. However, in recent days, things have dramatically changed. In 2015, there was a 40% increase in anti-Semitism activity in Scotland. Eight individuals who used social media to espouse hatred toward Jews were arrested, sentenced, fined or warned. Their actions were believed to have been motivated by the Israel – Palestine conflict last year. In an effort to combat future anti-Semitism activities in Scotland, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities received a small grant from the Scottish Government to train volunteers to go into public schools and speak about what it means to be Jewish in Scotland. Fifteen volunteers were trained over several months. However, the volunteers needed tools to better communicate the rich experience of the Jewish people in Scotland to young children. Therefore, I stepped forward and offered to collect Jewish objects for boxes for each of our 32 local authority school systems. This would have been a daunting task without the immediate help and enthusiasm of Scarsdale Synagogue's congregant Beth Quinn and many of you. As a direct result of your generosity the Jewish Objects for Education in Scotland (JOES Boxes) are now being used in local schools throughout our country. The boxes contain typical Jewish ritual objects, a curriculum guide and even miniature complete Torahs. They also include charity boxes that were decorated by the children my wife teaches in the local religious school of our synagogue. Many of the children who are experiencing JOES Boxes have never met a Jewish person. Therefore, it is very special for them to meet one of our volunteers and learn that we are so much like them. However, we have different objects to share which they find fascinating. It is our hope that future generations will have less opportunity to promote anti-Semitic activity due to this innovative program in our public schools. If you would like to donate objects of funds to support JOES Boxes please contact Beth Quinn at [email protected] or myself at [email protected]. One day I hope I have the opportunity to thank our American donors in person, however, in the meantime, please accept my heartfelt thanks on behalf of the 10,000 Jews in Scotland who are benefitting from your generosity. Scotland Project Thank you to everybody who supported this wonderful project. We have met our goal and the educational process is continuing in the Schools of Scotland. We are in regular communication with the leaders of the program and will keep you posted on the progress 15 DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING It’s hard to believe it’s already May - what a great year we have shared together! There are so many successes to highlight. Here are just a few: Our Sunday mornings begin as a school community with Kehillah! where we connect through song and story and as we explore Middot (Jewish values for everyday living) together Our K-6 students have deepened their understanding of Jewish life and traditions through our enhanced art program We launched Ivrit Binu’ah (Hebrew Through Movement) in our younger grades as a groundbreaking way to encounter and explore our sacred language Our 4th-6th grade students delve deeply into Tefillah (communal worship) through creative immersion in art projects, basketball games, and midrashic interpretations. The 4th grade class took a leadership role in encouraging food donations from our student body that directly support the United Interfaith Food Bank Cantor Becker introduced an “Introduction to Torah Trope” unit with our 6th grade students Our Team Tikkun students participated in our Purim celebrations – such a fun evening!…and so much more! The year is not over – we have lots of fun yet to come – but I do want to highlight our end of year gathering and celebration on Sunday May 22nd as we close out our 2015-2016 school year with a fantastic program run by our very own Madrichim (student teachers)! This is definitely not a morning you will want to miss! And don't forget the Celebrate Israel Parade on June 5. Deadline to purchase your t-shirts is May 1 (a safety requirement for marching this year). And finally, let me offer a word of gratitude and thanks to all of you, dear families. As I near the conclusion of my first year here at Scarsdale Synagogue I am deeply moved by the spirit of community I have encountered. Moving forward, I look forward to continuing to forge and deepen my relationship with each and every one of you. I’d like to end with the words of the Shehecheyanu, a blessing that marks sacred moments and experiences in our lives: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam shehecheyanu vi-kimanu vi-higiyanu la-z'man ha-zeh. (Praised are You, God, who created the world, who grants us life, who sustains us, and who brings us to this very moment). Together We Grow, Rabbi Ilyse Glickman 16 DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD MAZEL TOTS The children at Mazel Tots are looking forward to so many fun things in May. Spring has finally arrived and we are enjoying all the changes spring brings to our new playground! The garden is blooming, the trees are flowering and the birds are singing! We are also getting busy planning our Mother’s Day Tea. Each class has their own Mother’s Day celebration, where the children make their Mom’s gifts as well as prepare a lovely brunch for them. We’ll also have a Teacher Appreciation Shabbat and have the chance to thank our fabulous teachers. We still have some space for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds in our June Mini-Camp program. The MiniCamp will be in session from May 31st through June 22nd. It’s a camp-like program that bridges the time between the end of Nursery School and the start of most summer camp programs. Children born between 2011 and 2014 are welcome to join us. Temple membership or prior experience in our school is not required. The fee for this program is $850 for 2’s, 3’s and 4’s and $650 for the Toddlers. If you are interested in knowing more about this program please call our Nursery School office at 723-3001. Once again, we will be offering our summer camp program called - Summer Stars. The camp will run from June 27th through August 12th. The program will serve Toddlers through those entering Kindergarten. We’ll feature sports, cooking, music, arts and crafts, water play, karate, yoga, soccer, storytelling and more! Toddlers will meet Monday through Wednesday 9:00-11:15, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s and 5’s will meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Mazel Tots and K’tanim will join forces once again for a program on friendship! SUNDAY, MAY 15TH – 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. There will be: stories and songs about friendship, friendship bracelets, a fun project involving fruit, and SO MUCH MORE! Parents are welcome to stay. Maybe you’ll make some new friends, too! Just a reminder, if you have not yet seen our school and are interested in a space for next year, please call to arrange an appointment. Our fees for the 2016-17 school year are as follows: 3-day 2’s 5-day 2’s, 3’s or 4’s $5600 $7750 If you have any questions about Mazel Tots or Summer Stars- feel free to contact me. I love talking about our Early Childhood Programs! I look forward to talking with you! Jody Glassman, Director 17 DIRECTOR OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT Wow, April sure was a fun month. Tax day! Passover! My birthday! April Fool’s Day! Aaaah, so much fun!! This year, we’ve had some great success with our newest youth group, SCARPE DIEM (for grades 6 and 7) and last month our synagogue set the record for sending more kids to Junior Youth Group Kallah than any other synagogue in the NY area region. Not that it's a contest, but if it were, we would have won. Go us! We also had a blast celebrating Havdallah and bowling goofily at Bowlmor with SCARTY and friends. Our K’tanim cuties also had a fun time playing live action Mario Kart with the help of a few of our lovely Madrichim (teen guides). Don’t worry, folks. No bananas were harmed in the process. STEWEY also had the chance to build community through the majesty of art while painting their very own masterpieces at Painting with a Twist. Later on in the month, our members of Team Tikkun were joined by members of SCARTY to spread some joy and Pesach spirit over at the Bristal Assisted Living Facility in White Plains. The residents said that our visit was the highlight of their week! But enough about April. April is SUPER over now. Let’s see what’s on deck for May! Volunteering at the Westchester ASPCA Pet Fair in Yorktown Heights! Saturday, May 7th – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at FDR State Park, Yorktown Heights. This is part of our 8th and 9th grade curriculum in Team Tikkun, but we’d love to invite ALL teens who love animals and want to support this wonderful paws. or cause. Parents and furry four legged friends are welcome to join as well! SCARTY Shul-in! Friday, May 13th – Saturday, May 14th – Join us for Shabbat services on Friday night as we honor the graduating High School seniors and the rest of the youth group members who’ve been hard at work all year. After services are over, we’ll be spending the night here for a TV-themed shul-in! More details to come. Mazel Tots and K’tanim will join forces once again for a program on friendship! Sunday, May 15th – 11:00am – 12:00pm immediately following Religious School. There will be: stories and songs about friendship, friendship bracelets, a fun project involving fruit, and SO MUCH MORE! Parents are welcome to stay. Maybe you’ll make some new friends, too! An evening of basic training with SCARPE DIEM! Saturday, May 21st – 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Open to all 6th and 7th graders. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in the Israeli Army, now’s your chance to find out! This will be way more fun, though, because SCARPE DIEM isn’t currently at war with anyone. But when we are, we’ll sure be ready! Come celebrate Havdalah, get down n’ dirty, and learn how to behave like a soldier from a real live Israeli. This will be similar to the Messy Olympics described below, but with more camouflage, water pistols, falafel, and nerf ammo. STEWEY Messy Olympics! Sunday, May 22nd – 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. immediately following Religious School. This program is open to our 3rd through 5th graders. Be prepared to get messy while we shave balloons, sift through gooey things, hit me in the face with a pie (maybe), and all kinds of other messy, fun things. Bring clothes that you don’t particularly care for and an extra change of clothes might be wise, too. Questions? Comments? YouTube videos of pugs and dolphins becoming friends? Send me a message! I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading! Sarah Metzger Director of Youth Engagement K’tanim Painting with a Twist 18 SCARTY Bowling at Bowlmor Jr. Youth Group Kallah at Camp Kutz CYCLE OF OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY IN REMEMBRANCE The Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El recognizes with sorrow the passing of: Barbara Sue Greenberg, mother of Michael Greenberg Lenore Abrams, Aunt of Judith Elkins MAZEL TOV Laura Hirschberg, daughter of Arlene Popkin, on the staging of her new play Verona Walls at the WorkShop Theater in NYC. The play was directed by DeLisa M. White Dr. Marcus & June Reidenberg on the marriage of their grandson, Jeremy Reidenberg, to Caitlin Murphy Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg on the birth of their granddaughter, Ruby Madeline Ganci, great granddaughter of Aaron Plum, parents are Lindsay & Alec Ganci Jeff & Samantha Reemer on the birth of their son, Blake Ethan Reemer, brother of Madelyn Reemer Jonathan & Kymberly Kaufman on the birth of their son, Jaxson Kaufman, brother of Skylar Kaufman We appreciate the thoughtfulness of those who support Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El by remembering and honoring their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions. Cantor’s Discretionary Fund PAULA LESTER in memory of her mother, Esther Lester EDWIN & BEVERLY PICKER in loving memory of Gregg Feinstein, brother of Sharon Charles; in memory of Rita Levik, mother of Carol DeBear; in honor of the engagement of Rebecca Cohen to Robert Schliessman, daughter of Gerald & Stefani Cohen SHARI JACOBSON THOMAS in memory of her mother, Maxine Jacobson and in appreciation to Cantor Becker THOMAS & MARCY VOGEL in memory of his mother, Helen Vogel General Tribute Fund HAROLD & ROSALIE CITRON in memory of his mother, Esther Citron GERALD & STEFANI COHEN in memory of his father, Abraham Cohen; in honor of the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Cohen to Robert Schliessman RICHARD & MARLENA CORN in memory of Maxine Jacobson; Stanley Landsberg, grandfather of Rabbi Brown STEVEN & ELAINE EIGEN in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg RUTH GERSHON in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg DOROTHY GOLD in memory of her father-in-law, Robert Gold VICTOR GOODMAN & ELAINE LAURENCE in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg MICHAEL & PHYLISS GRODOFSKY in honor of Harold Citron’s birthday EDWARD KAMINSKY in memory of Ben Kaminsky JANE KAPLAN in memory of her father, Walter Gruber IRWIN & DIANE LEVY in memory of her parents, Laura & Robert Kleiman LISE MINOVITZ & ERIC FREY in memory of his mother, Martha Jeanne Frey DR. STUART & MERYL MOSER in honor of Karen Chapro receiving the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award ALAN & JULES NATOWITZ DR. FREDRIC & STACEY NEWMAN in memory of her father, Wallace J. Clarfield LEE & LORI PARKS in memory of her mother, Renee Parks MITCHELL & BARBARA ROSS in memory of his father, Albert Ross SCOTT ROTHSTEIN & ELIZABETH TROOP in memory of Morty Pincks; Helen Vogel, mother of Tom Vogel TOM RUSKIN & DONNA VITALE RUSKIN in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg; in memory of Barbara Sue Greenberg, mother of Michael Greenberg PHOEBE SARNA on the birth of her great granddaughter, Billie Hazel Goldberg 19 CYCLE OF OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY DAN SCHUCHAT & LORI LAUBICH in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg KATHY SPARROW in memory of her father, Max Rubin; her father-in-law, Maxwell Sparrow MUTSUKO STEIN in memory of her mother, Nobuko Tanouchi; her husband, Emil Stein BARBARA STOCK in memory of Rose Gaffin JEANETTE TEITELBAUM in memory of her mother, Ethel Kahn THOMAS & MARCY VOGEL in memory of his mother, Helen Vogel KERRY WONG in memory of her grandmother, Lillian Bader Interfaith Food Pantry JOEL & PAULA KUDLOWITZ in memory of Morty Pincks SCOTT ROTHSTEIN & ELIZABETH TROOP ROTHSTEIN in honor of Karen Chapro receiving the Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award; in memory of her brother, Jerry Troop Playground Enhancement Fund LEON & MARILYN SHEBSHAIEVITZ in honor of her traveling buddy, Jody Glassman Rabbi Brown’s Discretionary Fund SHARI PRESS in honor of the Wedding Anniversary of Dr. David Kudlowitz & Elioria Noetzel PAUL & SANDRA ROTHSTEIN in memory of Stanley Landsberg, grandfather of Rabbi Brown; Morty Pincks THOMAS & MARCY VOGEL in memory of his mother, Helen Vogel Rabbi Stephen Klein’s Youth Initiative SHARI PRESS in memory of her father, Jesse J. Press Rabbi Klein’s Bible Study in memory of Morty Pincks ADELE FINKELSTEIN RUTH GERSHON MARILYN MALOFF RITA REICH JUNE REIDENBERG BARBARA ROSENBLUM ELISABETH SCHWERD JEANETTE TEITELBAUM LINDA ZELTNER Women of SSTTE Fund DR. HENRY & BARBARA GINSBERG in honor of the birth of Billie Hazel Goldberg, great granddaughter of Phoebe Sarna; in honor of the birth of Ruby Madeline Ganci, granddaughter of Dr. Robert Rosenberg & Ellen Plum Rosenberg 20 CECILIA PFEIFFER in memory of her parents, Irving & Mary Bronitz; her father-in-law, David Pfeiffer; her great uncle, Murray Pollack DAVID & SUSAN POMERANZ in memory of Maxine Jacobson SHARI PRESS in honor of the birth of Billie Hazel Goldberg, great granddaughter of Phoebe Sarna; in honor of Marilyn Shebshaievitz’s birthday CYNTHIA RANKOWITZ in memory of Maxine Jacobson RITA REICH in honor of the engagement of Gregory Mann, grandson of Newton & Susan Schiller, to Natasha Kostek CHRISTOPHER & NANCY SMITH in memory of Maxine Jacobson ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERTISEMENTS ...Westchester’s Outstanding Day Camp... In Scarsdale, NY A SUMMER TRADITION FOR 88 YEARS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 3-13 Full Day Programs for children ages 3 to 13 Mini Day Program for 3 and 4 year olds Door-to-Door air-conditioned transportation and lunch daily FOR INFORMATION, CALL (914) 949-8857, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.CAMPHILLARD.COM Directors: Jim and Jon Libman One Family Four Generations Est. 1929 Proud to be Westchester County’s only funeral home providing the Jewish Community with a private, separate facility and no conglomerate affiliation. …It makes a difference ZION MEMORIAL CHAPEL 785 E. Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914-381-1809 www.zionmemorialchapel.com Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El 2 Ogden Road Scarsdale, NY 10583 Address Service Requested Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID White Plains,NY Permit #1380