May/June 2012 - Congregation B`nai Yisrael of Armonk

is the Jewish home we share.
We are a community creating positive experiences with individuals of
every age.
is our spiritual center,
where together, our family of families celebrates, commemorates, worships,
learns, nurtures, gives, and grows. We constantly strive to achieve the
beauty that comes from experiencing the world through Jewish eyes.
2 Banksville Road • Box 7 • Armonk, NY 10504 • www.cbyarmonk.org
The Bulletin
May/June 2012
Nisan/Iyar 5772
Salsa Night
Thursday, May 3, 7:00 p.m.
Adult B'not Mitzvah Service
Friday, June 8, 8:00 p.m.
Text in the City
Wednesday, May 9, 12:00 p.m.
Early Service
Friday, June 15, 6:30 p.m.
Musical Munchkins: Mommy and Me Class
Begins Monday, May 14, 11:15 a.m.
Annual Meeting
Thursday, June 28, 8:00 p.m.
Study in the Suburbs
Wednesday, May 16, 12:00 p.m.
Early Service
Friday, May 18, 6:30 p.m.
Rosh Chodesh Luncheon and Study Group
Friday, May 25, 12:00 p.m.
Confirmation Service
Friday, May 25, 8:00 p.m.
Blood Drive
Sunday, June 3, 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
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Justice, justice you shall pursue.
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Judaism as a Religion of Challenge.......................
The Age of Reason................................................
Musically Munchkins: Mommy and Me Class......
Confirmation Service.............................................
Religious School Schedule 2012-2013..................
B'not Mitzvah Service............................................
Klezmer Concert.....................................................
CBY Blood Drive...................................................
Howard J. Peyser Award.........................................
Klezmer Concert
Thursday, May 24, 7:00 p.m.
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‫צדק צדק תרדף‬
—Deuteronomy 16:20
Love your neighbor as yourself.
‫ואהבת לרעך כמוך‬
—Leviticus 19:18
For more than forty years I have been fascinated by our ancestors in ancient Israel, especially at the season of the springtime.
During Passover our tradition teaches us to celebrate our freedom: to remember the Exodus, our people’s liberation from slavery in
Egypt. Just as the shackles of winter recede into our memories, we are called upon to contemplate the degradation of servitude, and the
responsibilities of being free men and women of uncommon privilege. In the season of the springtime our ancestors planted their barley
seeds. Among traditional Jews today, the days following Passover are counted: seven days times seven weeks—forty-nine days between
Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot is the time when we, like our ancestors, celebrate the gift of the giving of the Torah. The great gift of the
Torah was celebrated on the occasion of the first barley harvest of the year.
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Maybe three thousand years ago, during those days between Passover and Shavuot, as the days grew longer and warmer,
the stores of grain from the harvests of the year before must have been running very low. Just as the barley for the first
harvest was beginning to grow, I would imagine that what was left in the root cellars was meager. Our ancestors celebrated
freedom while they fretted over the harvest. Uncertain of whether or not their food stores were going to be sufficient, our
ancestors celebrated their freedom.
That is the kind of life I struggle to understand. I realize that no matter how hard I try, I cannot really imagine the
hardship of those lives lived in the ancient world. In the midst of a lifestyle more difficult than I can fathom, our ancestors,
somehow, with a gift that is to my mind surely a gift of God, created Judaism, our Judaism, a religion of collective
responsibility. Neighbors whose food stores were just as low as everyone else’s were the collective responsibility of the
Children of Israel. Judaism taught them, as our Judaism teaches us, that we are to care for our neighbors, to support them,
to share the bounty of the natural world around us with our needy neighbors. At the same time our ancestors had to take
care of others, they had also to take care of themselves. Our tradition teaches us that for all of the punishing labor of tilling
the soil and sowing the seeds, all of the bounty of the barley field just recently planted does not belong alone to the hardworking family of farmers. The corners belong not only to our neighbors, but additionally to the stranger in the midst of
the Children of Israel. When our ancestors looked into the clay storage jars and saw there was precious little left, they must
have worried about their survival. But still, Judaism taught them, as Judaism teaches us, not all of the harvest belonged to
the farmer, the one who, after the labor required to plant, fretted over the weather.
For our ancestors in the biblical world, and for our rabbis 2,000 years ago, Judaism was a religious experience
rooted in collective social responsibility. If there were a way to discover God in that ancient world where our Judaism is so
securely rooted, our Jewish way to God was not to look up to the heavens, but to check in by looking out for a neighbor’s
well-being, and for the well-being of the stranger who was at that moment in the gates. In that world where the nights were
so dark and long, when the elements were experienced in all of their ferocity, the bitter cold and the scorching heat, in
that harsh environment, our forebears found the fortitude to teach themselves and us about justice. Our ancestors pursued
justice. The pursuit of justice is the gift that was given to us our by our ancestors. Our Judaism is not a religious experience
of personal reward, or feeling necessarily good or bad. Judaism is about moral guilt and social responsibility, and the
burdens that come when we strive to better ourselves only by bettering the lives of those who are our neighbors, including
the stranger in the gates.
The stranger in our gates was, for our ancestors, those who were not of the tribe, those who were not of the clan,
those who may not necessarily have shared the dietary or anti-idolatrous customs of the Children of Israel. The stranger
could have been from a foreign country. Yet our ancestors taught themselves then, and teach us today, that the strangers are
our responsibility. I think about the courage of my grandparents, who traversed frontiers, crossed oceans—some of them
legally and some of them illegally. They were strangers with many complex sets of needs, and they were helped by those
who had open hearts, who extended a caring hand.
All of our neighbors are for us the beginning of our Jewish responsibility. Social justice begins with a profound
distaste and discomfort for injustice, wherever God’s children experience the change of seasons. Our gratitude to God
for the manifold blessings that mark most all of our lives is not sufficient by way of our Jewish religious response to the
world around us. Gratitude for the manifold blessings we too often take for granted may be the beginning, but just the very
beginning. Sentiment is significant, but religious responsibility requires the reaching out of a warm and caring hand to those
who are in need: neighbors and strangers.
Today, as I contemplate the season of spring, I am keenly aware that many of our neighbors are suffering. These
are difficult days. I am both blessed and spoiled as a human being. I am blessed by a family, wonderful children, three
granddaughters, brothers, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law whom I adore, nieces and nephews who touch my heart. I am,
of course, blessed by an extraordinary congregation, and friendships that have endured and flourished over the course of
more than thirty years. Together, all of us created an extraordinary spiritual home called Congregation B’nai Yisrael, located
on the corner of Route 22 and Banksville Road. We are blessed. We are aware of the sources of our gratitude. But even
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With awe I contemplate our ancestors at the season of the springtime, when their stores of grain were running low,
finding the moral and intellectual courage to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I wonder how in that ancient world did
our ancestors discover the moral fortitude required to give of themselves so that they could pursue justice by protecting the
vulnerable in their midst, the orphan, the widow.
So spring arrives yet again. We are aware of our neighbors. We are profoundly moved by our Judaism—the
hard, challenging Judaism where spiritual reward is measured not by how good we feel, but by how much we give to our
neighbors.
—Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz
Rabbi Krantz recorded a web broadcast interview with Bishop Alfred Johnson regarding Shabbat and the significance of Shabbat in our lives.
Rabbi Krantz attended the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in Boston. At the convention, Rabbi Krantz was
elected to be the Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi Krantz attended the annual conference of J Street, the pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby within the American Jewish community, which
attracted 2,500 participants this year. Rabbi Krantz is one of the founders of J Street, involved in the early stages of its formation. At the time
Rabbi Krantz became involved he was the second rabbi in the group; there are now over 700 rabbis involved with J Street.
Rabbi Douglas E. and Joan Krantz attended the annual gala of the New York Theological Seminary. At the gala, Urban Angel awards were
presented. Among the awardees were the Hon. Floyd Flake and the Reverend Elaine Collins Flake, and Michelle Paige Patterson, a health care
professional and former New York State First Lady.
As a faculty member of the New York Theological Seminary, Rabbi Krantz participated for the first time on a panel hearing a doctoral thesis
defense.
Rabbi Krantz delivered the invocation at the Annual Firefighters Dinner Dance. The Dance is a celebration of our appreciation for our
spouses, who endure the odd hours of firefighter rescue calls.
Rabbi Limmer co-chaired the meetings of our Union for Reform Judaism's Commission for Social Action from April 22-24th in Detroit, MI.
This policy-setting group for our Reform Movement decided to meet in Detroit [instead of DC] in order to see first-hand both the devastation
that city has faced along with some promise it holds for a future.
On April 22, Cantor Kobilinsky performed in a concert with seven cantorial colleagues at Temple Beth Torah, in Wellington, Florida.
May 4
Exploring the Ethics of our Ancestors
May 11
Exploring the Ethics of our Ancestors
May 18
Early Service at 6:30 p.m.
May 25
Erev Shavuot: Confirmation Service
June 1
Just What Is A Blessing
June 8
Adult B'not Mitzvah Service
June 15
Early Service at 6:30 p.m.
June 22
First Summer Shabbat Service
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The comedienne Julia Sweeney, best known for her portrayal of the character Pat on Saturday Night Live, has recorded
several comedy/tragedy albums. I call them comedy/tragedy because they’re not straight comedy; they are biographical in nature
and thus include both humorous happenings in her life as well as the struggles she has faced. I first came across them when I saw
a video of her one-woman show, “God Said Ha,” which is largely a chronicle of her brother’s life after he received a diagnosis of
cancer. Since then I have heard her recordings of other similar performances, “In the Family Way,” which details her adoption of a
child from China, and “Letting Go of God,” about her search for meaning in religion and an understanding of God. “Letting Go of
God” is an almost academic exploration of history, science, and religion, and I honestly had some trouble getting to the end, as it was
not so much comedy as it was philosophical. However, one particular story she told has stuck with me, and it was about her Catholic
upbringing and her seventh birthday. I should mention at this point a caveat: I am by no means an expert on comparative religion,
and certainly not on Catholicism, but rather I will attempt to paraphrase her words. On the day of Sweeney’s birthday, her parents
congratulated her and reminded her that she had now reached the “Age of Reason.” Barely remembering from Catholic School
what the term meant, she asked her parents for clarification, and they informed her that everything she had done in the past hasn’t
“counted” in the eyes of God, but now that she was seven years old, she was old enough to know right from wrong. From that day
onward, her acts were her own, and she alone bore the responsibility for them. About a year or two later, Sweeney planned a birthday
sleepover party, only to be shocked when her mother divulged that they had misinformed her about her true birthday! They “aged”
her by a month in order to make the cut-off for the school district minimum age to begin Kindergarten. Not only was she distraught
to learn that she had thus missed out on an extra month of “responsibility-free” trouble-making before having reached the Age of
Reason, she was (gasp) thus a different astrological sign. All of her horoscopes had seemed so accurate, though… She was later
relieved to learn that her new horoscope was also rather accurate. This story, as amusing as it was, made me think about how easily
we can be mistaken by “the surface.”
From the surface, it could be assumed that one’s parents would never lie to their child, or that everyone would be held
accountable in the eyes of God regardless of chronological age, or that one’s horoscope is a perfect fit, and so astrology must have
some truth to it. I’ll admit that I often think of my sign, Libra, with pride; the scales which represent mid-September to mid-October
birthdays represent justice, and, at least for me, one of my greatest pet peeves has always been injustice. I even related the theme of
my sign to its relative concept in Judaism—tzedek, or justice, as we are taught in Deuteronomy, “tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or, “Justice,
justice shall you pursue.” We are also taught, however, not to judge a book by its cover, a prejudice of which I have been guilty many
more times than I would like to admit. I was reading about Judaism’s stance on hypocrisy lately, more specifically what could be
found in our ancient texts about hypocrisy, and I learned that the Hebrew term used for that concept, “tzeviut,” comes from the same
word as “color,” or tzeva. It makes perfect sense; having different colors, or showing different faces, is very similar to the old saying,
“Do as I say, not as I do.” In the Talmud, the quest to strive for non-hypocrisy is based on one of the instructions for the building
of the Mishkan, the tabernacle, much like many observant Jews base their definition of what constitutes working during Shabbat
upon the actions delineated in Torah for the building of the Mishkan. Based on the instruction to cover both the inside and the
outside of the Mishkan in gold, rabbinic scholars interpolated that although the inside of such a structure would rarely be seen, it was
important for the inside to be the same as the outside. Taking that one step further, we should strive to make ourselves alike inside
and out. It’s a daunting task, because it forces us to take a close look at ourselves, and what we say we believe, and what we really
believe. Furthermore, if there is something inside us of which we are not proud, such as some sort of prejudice, should we broadcast
it to the world for the sake of not being hypocrites? That would obviously be even worse. Fortunately, Judaism accepts that we are
not perfect, and provides us with ways to make up for our wrongdoings, both to our fellow neighbor and to God. In the meantime,
however, what can be done to bridge the gap between knowing the divide between what we say and what we are inside?
My best hypothesis is that we are all hypocrites in some way. Perhaps we instruct our children to eat far healthier than we
do, or bemoan the lack of charitable funds for the homeless but never attempt to provide any ourselves. Whatever the case, I think
that is one of the reasons we call ourselves Jews. We have a long heritage of struggling with right and wrong, to make ourselves
better people. The goal is perhaps not to be perfect, for true perfection is unattainable, but rather to keep striving for it, to remind
ourselves regularly and vocally that we are responsible for our actions, but not our thoughts, and to try our best to make the twain
meet. Perhaps if we all strove for that, we would truly be in an Age of Reason.
Musically Yours,
Hayley
Have you been singing in the shower for years and are ready for your public debut?
Then join our choir and sing during High Holy Days!
Contact Cantor Kobilinsky at [email protected] for more information.
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Join us at Congregation B'nai Yisrael
for our Mommy and Me Class
Mondays at 11:15 a.m. beginning on May 14
Children 6 months to 4 years old
$125.00 per family for 8 classes
Whether you have a baby 6 month old or a child that is 4 years old, you’ll find that Musical Munchkins has
designed an age appropriate class tailored to meet your child’s abilities and needs. Step by step and
age by age, our curriculum gently builds skills. By connecting to children with warmth and great fun,
our teachers help your child learn the fundamentals and the joy of music.
To sign up, please contact Joanna Nevins at (914) 273-2220 or [email protected].
We cordially invite you to attend
Confirmation Services on Erev Shavuot
Friday evening, May 25 at 8:00 p.m.
Confirmation Class of 2012
Matthew Berman
Mark Broomer
Will Eickelbeck
Austin Eickelbeck
Samuel Honig
Gabrielle Levy
Adam Markhoff
Abbey Ratafia
Rachael Slap
Kevin Socolow
Congratulations to the confirmands and their families
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We cordially invite you to join us for a
special Shabbat Service
on Friday, June 8 at 8:00 p.m. led by our
Adult B’not Mitzvah Class of 2012
Ellen Belson
Donna Gordon
Michelle Honig
Deborah Katz
Congratulations to the b’not mitzvah and their families
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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHEDULE 2012-2013
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th-12th Grade
Wednesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
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Fridays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
October 12, November 9, December 14, January 11,
February 8, March 8, and April 12
KINDERGARTEN
Sundays, 9:30-10:15 a.m.
September 23, October 21, November 18, December 16,
January 13, February 10, March 17, and April 21
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FAMILY MITZVAH OPPORTUNITY
Join the Caring and Social Action Committee when we host a
KLEZMER CONCERT
Starring The Westchester Klezmer Program
and directed by Kenny Green
Thursday, May 24
7:00 p.m.
A special program at Congregation B’nai Yisrael
for developmentally disabled adults in Westchester County group homes
Please contact Rhonda Moll at (212) 878-1036 if you and your family can help us usher or serve snacks.
Imagine the impact you could make by saving 1, 2 or even 3 lives
by giving just ONE pint at the Congregation B’nai Yisrael
Blood Drive
Sunday, June 3
10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Appointments Appreciated, Walk-ins Welcome!
Contact Felicia Buebel at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
The Blood Drive will be in our classrooms.
Sponsored by the Caring and Social Action Committee
For medical eligibility questions, call 1-800-688-0900. Please bring ID with photo or signature. Eat well and drink fluids before you donate.
For more information, visit www.mydonoradvantage.com. Thanks for being a donor.
If you cannot donate, but still wish to participate in bringing life-saving products to those
in need, please consider volunteering at your local blood drive. For general inquiries, or for
additional information about volunteering, please call 1-800-933-2566.
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Seeking Nominations for
CBY’S ANNUAL HOWARD J. PEYSER SERVICE AWARD
Dear Fellow Congregants,
Once again we are seeking nominations for the Howard J. Peyser Service Award that is presented
annually to a member(s) of our temple whose efforts on behalf of Congregation B’nai Yisrael reflect the
selflessness, commitment and long-term service we remember in the late Howard Peyser.
Howard was a man who participated fully in every aspect of our congregation’s life. From the time
he and his family joined our temple in 1987, until his tragic passing in 2001, Howard was involved. He
served on and chaired a broad range of temple committees, including Program, Membership, Special Events,
Fundraising and Budget & Finance. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1991 and was on the Executive
Committee for five years. Howard was completing his second term on the Board when he was suddenly taken
from us. He will be remembered not only for the breadth and depth of his service, but also for the humility
with which he undertook each task. Howard never sought the limelight, and when we needed him, he never
said no.
The award committee welcomes recommendations from the congregation. Please e-mail your
nominations to [email protected] and put “Peyser Service Award” in the subject line. The deadline for
applications is Friday, May 25, 2012.
As we did last year, this year’s award will again be presented at the Annual Meeting in June. We hope to
see you at this special presentation during the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
Wanda Lockwood
Chairperson, Peyser Service Award Committee
ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, June 28
8:00 p.m.
SHABBAT SERVICE TIME CHANGE
We are beginning to move our Friday night Family Shabbat Services to 6:30 p.m. in order to
adjust our service atmosphere and to afford us new opportunities after our services conclude.
Once every month, our principal Shabbat Service will be at 6:30 p.m.
Our 6:30 p.m. Services will be on May 18, and June 15.
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WORK IN NYC?
EAT LUNCH ON WEDNESDAYS?
Join our clergy for TEXT
IN THE CITY
A monthly opportunity in midtown to connect with Congregation B’nai Yisrael, our Jewish tradition,
and the side of your brain not occupied with your mobile device. This year we will be exploring
Midrash: Understanding our Rabbi’s Interpretations and Imaginations of the weekly Torah Portion
Wednesdays at noon, May 9
Thank you to our hosts, Pryor Cashman LLP located at 7 Times Square, NYC
Lunch will be served, maximum 20 people. You MUST RSVP to Alicia in the temple office at [email protected] no later than the Tuesday prior.
Security precautions require that you show photo ID to be admitted to the building.
Adult Education
S T U DY
in the Suburbs
Join Rabbi Limmer for a monthly lunchtime opportunity for those near Armonk to come
together and explore how key values of our Jewish tradition can enrich our lives and the lives
of our families. Bring your lunch and an appetite for conversation.
Our focus this year will be: Holy, Holy, Holy: Building Lives of Meaning out of the teachings of our Jewish tradition
So please join us Wednesdays at noon, May 16
For questions or to sign up, contact Rabbi Limmer at (914) 273-2220 or [email protected].
Saturday Morning
TORAH STUDY
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Every non-holiday Shabbat morning from October until June, our clergy lead an informal,
participatory discussion of the week’s Torah portion. Come every week, or just once in a while;
bring your breakfast and an open mind.
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We are a grassroots gathering of women who meet each Hebrew month to celebrate the new moon.
We serve lunch, get to know each other, and share in informal programs focusing on Jewish and/or women’s issues.
Rosh Chodesh is a special holiday where we find peace, enrichment, and sisterhood.
Fridays at noon, once a month • Sivan – May 25
Please RSVP if you plan to attend, so we can plan for lunch—or call with any questions. Carolyn Salon 273-8281 or Pearl Vogel 769-7170
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HIGH HOLY DAY SCHEDULE 5773
Sunday, September 16
Monday, September 17
8:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
2:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
Family Service, up to age 10
Tashlich at Wampus Pond
Ritual of casting bread crumbs on the water, symbolic of unburdening our failures
Tuesday, September 25
Wednesday, September 26
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10:00 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
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Kol Nidre Service
Yom Kippur Morning Service
Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish Dialogue
Family Service, up to age 10
Afternoon Service
Memorial and Closing Services
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On Saturday, April 21, we had our most successful Zero Waste Day in the history of the program, with
743 cars coming through in 6 hours. CBY volunteers staffed the Community Center of Northern Westchester's
table, collecting 2,817 pounds of clothing, shoes, and linens. Volunteers drove 11 carloads of donated items to
the Center in Katonah.
Read the Community Center's article about Zero Waste Day: http://communitycenternw.tumblr.com/
post/21732737653/earth-day-2012-the-community-center-pitches-in-at-zero
Many thanks to all who donated items to help our neighbors in need. Many more thanks to those who
gave their time on a Saturday to help: Felicia Buebel, Gary Glauber, Patricia Haskel, Mariel and Bill Katz,
Rhonda and Steve Moll, Penny Shemtob, Jake Sklar, and Alice Rymer Zung, Kendall O'Brien and Olivia
Dumont
We look forward to our next Zero Waste Day in October.
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May/June 2012
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Halle Falk
May 12
Becoming a bat mitzvah means starting my life as a Jewish woman. At Hebrew school, I have learned the
responsibilities and lessons it takes to become a Jew. This journey shapes me the way I am today. I have learned a lot
from this experience and will keep them throughout my Jewish life. My parents and sisters have helped me prepare for
this upcoming experience in my life. When I am not studying with them, I enjoy playing soccer and tennis and hanging
out with my friends.
Ben Harrison
May 19
Being here at CBY, I have discovered that being Jewish is not only having a bar or bat mitzvah and going to
Friday Night services. It is about the Jewish culture, the story of how Israel came to be a country, the Torah so on and so
forth. I will soon become a bar mitzvah, and I believe that it is the end of Hebrew training on Tuesday afternoons, but also
the beginning of a very important time period in my life that will last forever. During this time I will take on all of the
Jewish responsibilities such as performing mitzvot and being the best Jewish citizen I can. On Sunday mornings there is
usually a “build” with a group called Habitat for Humanity. Let me explain. For my mitzvah project, and even after my
mitzvah project I help build houses right here in Westchester, with either one of my parents. A “build” is a term for the
work on a house we do on Sunday mornings. Since I have a niche for building, this is the perfect thing to do for me, even
if I am not willing to get out of bed on Sunday mornings. I have heard from my parents that the first thing my brother,
Will, does in the morning is ask “Where’s Ben?” Although my dad is not the savviest at building houses, he still gets up
every other morning to go to a “build” with me. Every time something is wrong with the TV or the computer and I fix it
like a blink of an eye, my mom usually says “Ben, you need to go to community college so you can drive over and fix the
TV every time it is broken.” I love my family and I am very happy to become a bar mitzvah and overall; being Jewish has
brought challenges and obstacles, but it is worth every second of living the Jewish life.
Cory Weinfeld
June 2
As my bar mitzvah approaches, I understand more and more what it is like to be Jewish. Throughout this whole
process of preparing to become a bar mitzvah, my brother Ross, my sister Leah, and my parents have all been supporting
me with my studies. Ever since I had enrolled in Hebrew school in the third grade my mind has been enriched by all the
knowledge inside the Jewish religion. In my free time I like to play baseball or golf with my dad on the weekends. After
my bar mitzvah I plan to learn more about the Jewish religion, although I know a lot about the religion right now, there is
still so much more for me to learn.
Rachel Broomer
June 2
Being Jewish has always been important to me. As a Jew, I take it as my responsibility to go to Friday night
services, which I often do. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all the support and love they have given
me throughout this exciting process of becoming a bat mitzvah. I have discovered that being Jewish is not just about
going to Shabbat services or going to the High Holiday services; it is about finding your roots and understanding who you
are as a Jewish individual. I have also realized that b’nai mitzvah isn’t just about a party; it’s about growing up as a Jew.
I cannot thank everyone who has helped me enough and I can’t wait to become a bat mitzvah!
Adam Schoenfeld
June 9
When I think about becoming a bar mitzvah, what comes to mind is how grateful I am. Having lived in NYC for
the first eight years of my life, I saw many who were less fortunate than me.
The Pleasantville Cottage School has exposed me to the fact that there are kids who have such bad problems that
they need to live in an institution.
I’m lucky. I live with my parents, my older brother and my dog in a comfortable home in a beautiful town where
I have many friends. I get to go snowboarding, and I get to go to summer camp.
As a Jewish teen, I hope to help others have better lives and to continue to be grateful for what I have.
-11-
May/June 2012
Hannah Applebaum
June 16
In my journey to becoming a bat mitzvah, I have learned the most important part of my Jewish identity is practicing
good values and ethics. What this means to me is doing mitzvot for others in need. I volunteer weekly with mentally
challenged adults and children through an organization called Heroes. I help people with disabilities learn to play tennis.
It really makes me happy to see these people enjoy doing something that others may not have thought they could do. I
also volunteer in The Girl’s Legacy Study at Columbia University. This five-year study will help support research to find
out how differences among young girls and teens are related to women’s breast health later in life. As I approach my bat
mitzvah, I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to have learned so much about what it means to be Jewish and be part of a
special community. This school year has especially taken a lot of work and preparation. I would like to thank my brothers,
Max and Miles, who give me encouragement and to my parents who believe in me.
Daniel Solomon
June 16
There are several things that I have discovered while learning about what it means to be a Jew and preparing for
my bar mitzvah. I learned about how everybody deserves a second chance. For me, this lesson was the most important
lesson that we were taught this year. Sometimes we judge people and their actions without knowing them, understanding
them or where they come from. Many times people who have made mistakes can be changed with education. Other times
we label people because of how they look. Misconceptions such as this can be harmful. These ideas have given me much
to think about. Becoming a bar mitzvah has taught me many important life lessons that I will use.
Congratulations to:
Lawrence and Tami Cohen, in honor of the wedding of their daughter, Taylor, and Lansing Hinrichs III
Helene and William Farrell, in honor of the wedding of their daughter, Lindsey, and Andrew Wohl
Laura Lustbader and David Gould, on the wedding of their son, Steven Lustbader, and Mary Aquino
Ellen and Russell Lewis on the birth of their grandson, Samuel, the son of David and Sara Lewis
In Memoriam:
Robert E. Coulehan, Jr., father of Mary March
David Kovensky, father of Stuart Kovensky
Ruth Weinflash, mother of Jody Konstadt
Gale Narva, wife of Ken Narva, mother of Jennifer, Rachel and Carly
John Friedler, husband of Carole Friedler, father of Elizabeth
To the General Fund from:
Amy and Joel Dworetzky, in memory of David Kovensky
Cynthia Shmerler and Ford Levy, in memory of Ruth Weinflash
To Rabbi Krantz’s Discretionary Fund from:
Lindsey and Andrew Wohl, in honor of their marriage
Pamela Furtsch and Thomas Karoff, in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son, Devon McNeley
Jocelyn and Michael Deutsch, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Marlee Deutsch
To Rabbi Limmer’s Discretionary Fund from:
Stacy & Andrew Kirschner, in honor of the naming of their daughter, Sydney Paige
Ilana and Norman Adler, in appreciation
Jocelyn and Michael Deutsch, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Marlee Deutsch
-12-
Join Rabbi Douglas Krantz
TOUR INCLUDES
3 nights at the Kings Court Hotel in Prague
 3 nights at the Intercontinental Hotel
in Budapest
 2 nights at the Holiday Inn in Krakow
 2 nights at the Polonia Palace Hotel
in Warsaw
 All touring and sightseeing in a deluxe
motor coach
 Breakfast daily
 Welcome dinner in Prague
 Shabbat dinner in Budapest
 Dinner at Beit Warshawa in Warsaw
 Farewell dinner
 Group transfers and airport assistance upon
arrival and departure
 Entrance fees
 Porterage

OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO KIEV,
KIROVOGRAD AND ODESSA
$1,487.00, land only based on double occupancy
2 nights at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Kiev
 3 nights at the Bristol Hotel in Odessa
 Shabbat dinner in Kiev
 Lunch in Kirovograd
 Lunch in Odessa
 Farewell dinner in Odessa
All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon
itinerary in a deluxe motor coach with
an English speaking guide
 All transfers with group
 Entrance fees as per itinerary

& Congregation B’nai Yisrael
on a memorable tour to
Eastern Europe
October 14 - 25, 2012
$2,899.00
Land only, based on double occupancy
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the world’s largest castle
 Marvel at the world’s only remaining
astronomical clock
 Learn about the rich Jewish history of Prague
 See the hidden synagogue at Terezin
 Shabbat services at the Hero’s Synagogue in
Budapest
 Visit the magnificent Dohany Street
Synagogue
 See the revival of Polish Jewry at
Beit Warshawa
 Visit Schindler’s factory, as featured in the
Oscar-winning film
 Make moving visits to Plashow and
Auschwitz-Birkenau
 Drive through the Solvakian countryside
 Go back in time as you tour the medieval
streets of Krakow
 Walk the streets of the Warsaw Ghetto

...AND SO MUCH MORE!
19 Aviation Rd. * Albany, NY 12205 * www.ayelet.com
(800) 237-1517 * (518) 783-6001 * FAX (518) 783-6003
DAY 1, Sunday, October 14, 2012: We depart on our overnight flight to Prague.
DAY 2, Monday, October 15, 2012: Arrival in Prague. Check into hotel. Afternoon tour of Golden Prague, including the 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle,
the Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock and St. Vitus's Cathedral. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Prague.
DAY 3, Tuesday, October 16, 2012: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Jewish interest sites, with a visit to the Old City to view the Josefov, Prague's Jewish
Town with its Old Town Hall, the Alt-Neu Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Jewish Cemetery, and the State Jewish Museum.
Overnight in Prague.
DAY 4, Wednesday, October 17, 2012: Breakfast. Full day tour to Terezin, the former Nazi "model" concentration camp, where we visit the Jewish
Museum, the small fortress and the hidden synagogue, as well as the town of Terezin itself. Overnight in Prague.
DAY 5, Thursday, October 18, 2012: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for our short flight to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Situated on the opposite
banks of the Danube River, the former cities of Buda and Pest are linked by a series of graceful bridges. We enjoy a panoramic bus tour of Budapest,
including Parliament, the Royal Palace, the Castle Hill area, Fishermen's Bastion, Coronation Church, Hero's Square and Gellert Hill. Overnight in Budapest.
DAY 6, Friday, October 19, 2012: Breakfast. We begin our day at the Raul Wallenberg Memorial Statue, and then visit the Dohany Synagogue, the 2nd
largest synagogue in Europe, and continue on to the Jewish Cemetery and Museum. In the evening there will be Shabbat services at the Hero's Synagogue,
followed by Shabbat dinner together. Overnight in Budapest.
DAY 6, Saturday, October 20, 2012: Breakfast. Optional morning Shabbat services available at one of the local Reform congregations. Day at leisure.
Overnight in Budapest.
DAY 7, Sunday, October 21, 2012: Breakfast. This morning we depart for Krakow, driving through the lovely hills and countryside of Slovakia, past the
Tatras and into the Great Plains of Poland. On arrival, enjoy a city tour that includes Wawel Castle, St. Mary's Church, the Renaissance Cloth Hall and other
ancient landmarks. Dinner and overnight in Krakow.
DAY 8, Monday, October 22, 2012: Breakfast. This morning we travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous Nazi concentration camps where many Jews
and others perished in World War II. Here we see the Museum and pay tribute to the victims. Overnight Krakow.
DAY 9, Tuesday, October 23, 2012: Breakfast. Jewish Heritage Tour includes the Old Jewish District, Kazimierz, where we see the Old Synagogue
(a massive fortress-like building erected in the 15th and 16th centuries), the "Temple," and the Ramuh Synagogue. We continue to the Little Museum at the
Drug Store inside the Jewish Ghetto, Schindler's Factory, and the Plashow Concentration camp. We then travel by train to Warsaw and check into our hotel.
We enjoy dinner and hospitality with members of Beit Warshawa, the new Progressive congregation in Warsaw, as we learn more about the Judaism alive in
today’s Poland. Overnight Warsaw.
DAY 10, Wednesday, October 24, 2012: Breakfast. City tour of Warsaw including Chopin's Monument, the Royal Castle, the Jewish Historical Society,
and walk to Old Town Market Square. Afternoon Jewish Heritage Tour including the Ghetto Wall, the Monument to the Ghetto Fighters, Mila 18, Umschlag
Platz and the Gensa Cemetery. Tonight we enjoy a special farewell dinner together and a wonderful gala event! Overnight in Warsaw.
DAY 11, Thursday, October 25, 2012: Breakfast. We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
OR Continue to Kiev, Kirovograd and Odessa
DAY 11, Thursday, October 25, 2012: Breakfast. We transfer to the airport for our flight to Kiev. Transfer to hotel. Visit to International Solomon
University. After dinner enjoy a short walk of the city. Overnight Kiev.
DAY 12, Friday, October 26, 2012: Breakfast. Morning tour of Jewish Kiev including Podol and other historic Jewish neighborhoods. Babi Yar. Two
Orthodox synagogues. Prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Alex Dukhnovy and members of the Hatikva Reform Congregation. Kabbalat Shabbat with Hatikvah Reform Congregation. Overnight Kiev
DAY 13, Saturday, October 27, 2012: Departure by bus to Kirovograd. Lunch, tour and meeting in Kirovograd and continue to Odessa. Overnight Odessa.
DAY 14, Sunday, October 27, 2012: Walking tour of Odessa port. Potemkin Steps. Shopping district. Dinner together. Overnight Odessa.
DAY 15, Monday, October 28, 2012: Breakfast…Tour of historic Jewish Odessa including Brodsky Synagoguge. Sholem Aleichem House. Jabotinsky
House…Sites related to early 20th century Zionist Movement. Lunch at Rosmarin, kosher Israeli-style restaurant. Afternoon tour of modern Jewish Odessa
including Reform Congregation building. Jewish Community Center. Chabad and Ohr Someach Synagogues. Farewell dinner with Jewish community
members. Overnight Odessa.
DAY 16, Tuesday, October 29, 2012: Breakfast. We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
The Memories Last Forever!
Itinerary subject to change
Tour does not include: Airfare. Departure taxes and fuel surcharges (approximately $600.00 per person – subject to change until ticketed), any border taxes or visas, tips to
guides, driver and dining room waiters ($15.00 per person, per day, pre-collected), travel insurance (highly recommended), or items of a personal nature. The single supplement
for the main tour is $1,099.00 per person. The extensions is $1,487.00. The extension single supplement is $599.00. CANCELLATION POLICY: $100.00 per person charge if
cancelled once booked plus any applicable airline penalties. $250.00 per person plus any additional airline penalties charged if cancelled 60-31 days before departure. 100%
penalties apply if cancelled 30 days or less before departure. Please note that this price reflects a cash discount and is only for payment by cash or check. If you wish to
pay by credit card, the land only price is $2,976.00 and the single supplement is $1,132.00. The extension price is $1,532.00 and $617.00 for the single supplement.
Disclaimer: Ayelet Tours, Ltd., Rabbi Douglas Krantz and Congregation B’nai Yisrael act only as agents for the tour members in making arrangements for hotels, transportation, touring, restaurants or
any other services in connection with the itinerary. We will exercise reasonable care in making such arrangements. However, we do not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss,
accident, delay or irregularity to person and property because of an act of default of any hotel, airline carrier, restaurant, company, or person rendering any of the services included in the tour. The right is
reserved to cancel or change itineraries, accommodations, speakers or scholars, operation staff or to substitute comparable service without notice. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any
tour passengers should such person's health or general deportment impede the operation of the tour to the detriment of the other tour passengers.
Yes! I want to join Rabbi Douglas Krantz & Congregation B’nai Yisrael on this tour to Eastern Europe
 Land & Air
 Land Only
in October 2012!
I am sending this form with a $500 per person deposit, payable to Ayelet Tours.
 Optional
Extension
*Please include a copy of the front page of each person’s passport.*
Passport must be valid for 6 months past travel dates.
Name as it appears on passport (including middle name):_____
Address:
Passport No.:
City:________________________
Expiration:
State:
ZIP:
Date of Birth:________________________
Phone:
Email:
Pay by credit card: __MC ___Visa ___Disc __ AmEx #___________________________ Exp:________ Security Code:__________
Sharing with another registrant (registering separately)? Please note name here:_______________________________
Ayelet Tours, Ltd. * 19 Aviation Road * Albany, NY 12205
(800) 237-1517 * (518) 783-6001 * FAX (518) 783-6003 * e-mail: [email protected]
14
13
27
1st and 2nd Grade
Last Session
20
7
6
Memorial Day:
Office Closed
28
6th Grade Last Session
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m.
21
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m.
Monday
Sunday
May 2012
Executive Commitee
8:00 p.m.
29
5th Grade Last Session
22
Committee Meetings
8:00 p.m.
15
8
Board of Trustees
8:00 p.m.
Tuesday
1
30
3rd Grade Last Session
23
Study in the Suburbs
12:00 p.m.
16
7th Grade Mitzvah Fair
Text in the City
12:00 p.m.
9
Caregivers Support
Group 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday
2
31
Klezmer Concert
7:00 p.m.
4th Grade Last Session
24
17
10
Salsa Night 7:00 p.m.
Thursday
3
Family Shabbat:
Confirmation Service
8:00 p.m.
Rosh Chodesh
Luncheon & Study
Group 12:00 p.m.
25
Early Service 6:30 p.m.
18
Family Shabbat
8:00 p.m.
TOT Shabbat 5:30 p.m.
11
Family Shabbat
8:00 p.m.
Friday
4
26
Ben Harrison
bar mitzvah 5:00 p.m.
Carly Adelsberg
bat mitzvah 10:00 a.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
19
Halle Falk bat mitzvah
5:00 p.m.
Shawn Bernard
bar mitzvah 10:00 a.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
12
Nicole Hirsch
bat mitzvah 5:00 p.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
Saturday
5
24
17
10
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m
25
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m.
18
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m.
11
Musical Munchkins:
Mommy and Me Class
11:15 a.m.
4
3
CBY Blood Drive
10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Monday
Sunday
June 2012
Executive Commitee
8:00 p.m.
26
Committee Meetings
8:00 p.m.
19
12
Board of Trustees
8:00 p.m.
5
Tuesday
1
27
20
13
Caregivers Support
Group 7:00 p.m.
6
Wednesday
2
Annual Meeting
8:00 p.m.
28
21
14
7
Thursday
3
Family Shabbat
8:00 p.m.
29
Family Shabbat:
First Summer Service
8:00 p.m.
22
Early Service 6:30 p.m.
15
Family Shabbat:
Adult B’not Mitzvah
Service 8:00 p.m.
8
Family Shabbat
8:00 p.m.
Friday
1
30
23
Daniel Solomon
bar mitzvah 5:00 p.m.
Hannah Applebaum
bat mitzvah 10:00 a.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
16
Adam Schoenfeld
bar mitzvah 5:00 p.m.
Benjamin Frieden
bar mitzvah 10:00 a.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
9
Rachel Broomer
bat mitzvah 5:00 p.m.
Cory Weinfeld
bar mitzvah 1:00 p.m.
Torah Study 9:00 a.m.
Saturday
2
CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL OF ARMONK
2 Banksville Road at Route 22 • Box 7 • Armonk, New York 10504-0007 • (914) 273-2220 • Fax (914) 273-2285
A wonderful way to acknowledge those we love is to contribute to the Temple in honor of birthdays,
anniversaries, holidays, yahrzeits, high school and college graduations, b’nai mitzvah, weddings, births....
or any other special occasion.
_____ General Fund (supports all aspects of the community’s works, including all our Religious School)
_____ Capital Fund (supports capital projects associated with the building and the grounds)
Discretionary Funds:
_____ Rabbi Krantz’s Fund
_____ Rabbi Limmer’s Fund
_____ Cantor Kobilinsky’s Fund
Donor Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________________________
In honor of ___________________________________ on the occasion
of_____________________________________
OR
In memory of
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Please send an acknowledgement card to:
Name _____________________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Make check payable to Congregation B’nai Yisrael. Mail to: CBY, 2 Banksville Road, Box 7, Armonk, NY 10504
Thank you for supporting Congregation B’nai Yisrael
914-273-2220
FAX 914-273-2285
ADVERTISEMENTS
Selling a Car, Truck or 4x4?
Help CBY by donating a vehicle
you no longer need.
Donating your vehicle is safe, fast, and tax deductible.
Some restrictions apply. This service is provided free to the temple.
For more information, please call
Auto-Line Enterprises at (914) 681-1757
& %259)87`0-1-8)(1)1&)67,-47
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THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PAST PRESIDENTS
Executive Committee
Lewis Schaffer
John Stern
Lawrence Fox
President
Ross Honig
Vice President, Finance
Lisa Mazure
Vice President, Programs; Caring and Social Action
Brian Socolow
Treasurer
Debra Ezratty
Secretary
Ivy Levien
Member-At-Large
Michael J. Gross ‫ז״ל‬
Mike Jacobs
Lyle Halperin ‫ז״ל‬
Ann Leber
Ellen Bernstein
Charles Shapiro
Robert Regal
Members of the Board
Marilyn Heimerdinger
Shelly Jacob
Allison Berman
Felicia Buebel
David Brody
Caring and Social Action
Sheldon Ganis
Barby K. Siegel
Liz Goldman-Sider Communications
Joel Dworetzky
Brian Kaminer
Frederic J. Siegel
House and Grounds
Neil Katz
William Katz
Kara Klein
Membership
Martin Schwimmer
Rich Waksman
Budget and Finance
David Zimmerman Jewish Identity Program
Temple Phone
273-2220
MAIN OFFICE SCHEDULE
Temple Fax
273-2285
Monday-Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz
[email protected]
Friday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Rabbi Seth M. Limmer
[email protected]
Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky
[email protected]
Monday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ava Saperstein
Administrator
[email protected]
Tuesday
12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Rosie Aronin
Staff Secretary
[email protected]
Wednesday
11:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Alicia Allison
Communications/B’nai Mitzvah Program
Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Bulletin Editor
[email protected]
Sunday
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cookie Markhoff
Assistant Educator
[email protected]
Joanna Nevins
Religious School Assistant
[email protected]
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL OFFICE SCHEDULE