march 2015 - Congregation Sons of Israel

Transcription

Congregation Sons of Israel
CONTINUING THE VISION — BUILDING OUR FUTURE
MARCH 2015
10 Adar—11 Nisan 5775
MARCH DATES TO REMEMBER:
Mar. 4
Mar. 4, 4:30-6:00
Mar. 4, 7:00
Mar. 8, 9:00-11:00
Mar. 8, 11:00-1:00
Mar. 10, 12:30
Mar. 10, 7:30
Mar. 13, 6:00
Mar. 14
Mar. 15, 9:00-1:30
Mar. 17
Mar. 20, 7:00
Mar. 21, 10:30
Mar. 21, 11:00
Mar. 22, 9:00-11:00
Mar. 26, 7:30
Mar. 27
Mar. 29-Apr. 12
Apr. 1, 11:00
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. EREV PURIM.
PJ Library Purim Program
Megillah Reading & Rollerblading
Alef Siddur Cover Workshop
Purim Carnival
HaMishpacha Luncheon. Rabbi Kane
shares an AIPAC Recap.
Sisterhood Bunco Night (see page 18)
NS Shabbat dinner and Tot Shabbat
USY Shul-In
BLOOD DRIVE
NS pictures. See page 8 for times.
Gimel Shabbat, Shabbat Rocks/Family
Night
Family Shabbat
Tot Shabbat
Family Passover Workshop
Texas Hold ‘Em and March Madness
NO NS. Parent/Teacher Conferences.
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL.
SPRING VACATION.
Nursery School Seder [note date change]
More info on page 12!
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6
page 7
page 8
page 9
page 9
Adult volunteers
are needed to sell
tickets and food.
Please let Roni know if you
are available to help.
More info
on page 18!
PROJECT EZRA
PASSOVER FOOD DRIVE
Join CSI in providing Kosher
for Passover food for Jews
on the Lower East Side.
&
USY & Kadima Events
From The Rabbi
Kol Nidre Pledges (cont’d)
Cantorial Notes
Nursery & R.S. News
Religious School News
Nursery School Picture Times
Mazal Tov and Condolences
Babysitters
sunday, march 8
11:00-1:00
Recent Donations
Texas Hold ‘Em Form
Purim Happenings
Men’s Club Yom Hashoah
This Month’s B’Nai Mitzvah
Blood Drive Information
Calendar
Breakfast Run Information
From our Rabbinic Fellow
See page 26 for more details!
page 10
page 12
page 14
page 15
page 16
page 17
page 19
page 20
page 24
Miss Chocolate Order Form page 25
Social Action Committee
page 26
Project Ezra Passover Drive
page 26
Birthdays and Anniversaries page 28
Sisterhood News
page 29
Passover Guide
page 30
Sale of Hametz Form
page 32
Advertisements
page 33
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!
Page 2
1666 Pleasantville Road
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
Phone: (914) 762-2700
Fax:
(914) 941-3465
www.csibriarcliff.org
[email protected]
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
(adopted 1999, revised 2007):
Congregation Sons of Israel is
an egalitarian, Conservative
synagogue
dedicated
to
imparting Jewish values and
traditions from generation to
generation in a welcoming
participatory
environment.
We are a caring community
committed to lifelong Jewish
learning, the observance of
mitzvot, meaningful prayer
and charitable deeds. We
promote spiritual, cultural and
social connections within our
community, to the State of
Israel, and to Jews worldwide.
Rabbi Steven C. Kane
[email protected]
Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz
[email protected]
Educational Director:
Roni Shapiro Ben-David
[email protected]
Synagogue Director:
Ellen Green Johnson
[email protected]
School Admin./Office Mgr.:
Doreen Gioio
[email protected]
OFFICERS:
Jack Zinn, President
[email protected]
Steven Bender, VP
Aaron Gershowitz, VP
Lisa Goodkin, VP
Roberta Kay, VP
Bob Margolies, Treasurer
[email protected]
Eric Nadler, VP, Secretary
Andrew Kagan, Past President
Bulletin Editor:
Jolie Levy
[email protected]
Bulletin Printer:
THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IN THE
APRIL BULLETIN IS TUESDAY, MARCH 10.
March 2015
March 2015
Page 3
FROM THE RABBI
Steven C. Kane
Most of us were born after World War ll, and so we have
no direct memory of what the world was like in the middle
of the 20th century. Yet, it is likely that our parents or
even grandparents fought in the "war to end all wars", and
they have passed some of those memories down to
us. One of those memories was that in the wake of the
Shoah, perhaps the greatest human tragedy in Jewish
history, it appeared that real anti-Semitism was finished,
that the threat to Jewish lives was no longer significant. It
was one thing to have quotas in colleges (so we created
Brandies University), or to keep us out of certain country
clubs (we just built our own, bigger and better) or not allow us into certain professions (we became doctors and
lawyers, not bankers), but it seemed that the world now
realized that if someone could seek to murder an entire
people once, it could do it again, and armed with that
knowledge it would never happen again.
During the last quarter of the 20th century it seemed to
many of us that this idea continued to advance. Quotas in
colleges disappeared and most Ivy League school flourished with Jewish populations that approached 30% or
more. Almost all professions were now open to us, and
while there were still more than a few country clubs that
had no Jews, that was not such a big deal. The great
Jewish populations that remained at risk after the second
World War war ended were rapidly finding their way to
freedom. There were still 3 million or so Jews in the former Soviet Union, but towards the end of the 1970's emigration increased from a trickle to more than 50,000 a
year. In the 1980's the first airlift of Ethiopian Jews occurred, and Israel became the first country in the world to
welcome thousands of Africans "back home". Finally, in
1993 the Oslo Peace Accords were signed, and Israel
began to normalize relations with some of its former enemies, including Egypt and Jordan. It felt like we were finally on the way to being able to simply live our lives as
Jews in whatever country we lived in; we were as safe as
any other citizen. We would no longer be targeted for violence simply because we were Jews.
HaMishpacha
With Rabbi Kane
Tuesday, March 10, 12:30 p.m.
(LUNCH WILL BE SERVED)
JOIN RABBI KANE FOR A RECAP OF
THE 2015 AIPAC CONFERENCE
As the saying goes, "that was then, this is now". While
we feel (relatively) safe in the United States, over the past
few months we have seen terrorists target the idea of a
free press, and then Jews. We have witnessed radical
Islamists who first target society in general, and then attack specific Jewish targets like synagogues, most recently in Copenhagen, and a kosher grocery in Paris. If you
want to see how people really feel about Jews in Europe,
watch the You Tube video, "10 Hours of Walking as a Jew
in Paris".
As always, we turn to our tradition at times like
these. Shortly, we will celebrate the holiday of Purim. The
evil Haman represents those who would try to wipe us out
from the face of the earth. He says to King Ahasueras,
"There is a certain people, scattered and dispersed
among the other peoples of your realm, whose laws are
different from those of any other peoples...it is not in Your
Majesty's interest to tolerate them" (Esther 3:8).
How is it that we triumphed in the end? Victory began
when Queen Esther, whose religion/nationality was hidden, revealed to the king that she was a Jew. In other
words, when she embraced her Judaism, redemption
came! That is a great lesson for all of us. The only way
we can defeat the Hamans of the world, whether they
lived 2500 years ago or flourish today (many from that
very country Haman came from, Persia, today called Iran)
is to embrace our Judaism, to celebrate our traditions and
make Judaism an important part of our lives. Each week
as Shabbat ends, we quote the words of the Book of Esther (8:16) , "The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor" adding our own words, "so it should be
for us". We fight those who hate us by immersing ourselves in our tradition, celebrating and rejoicing in it. So it
should be for us.
Lhitraot,
HaMishpacha means “the family.” This
is a group for couples and singles over
65. Each month, a different musical,
cultural, social or educational program
will be presented.
For more information, please call
Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz at 923-0175.
GREET OLD FRIENDS/MEET NEW ONES!
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March 2015
KOL NIDRE 5775
[It’s never too late to make a contribution!]
Every contribution helps us to meet our annual operating budget.
Thank you to those whose donations were already received.
We will publish more names as they come in.
Recent contributions:
Marc & Beth Roth
Sharon Orenstein
Dear Parents:
We are pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Every day
at our nursery school is special with loving teachers and incredible children! We are very proud of
our program.
A detailed description of what we do here at CSI can be found in our parent handbook. You may
also call the office or e-mail us to arrange a time for an individual visit to meet with me, discuss our
program and spend some time in the classrooms.
In addition to all that we offer our students, the CSI Nursery School has an active parent’s association, which is a great way for parents to connect with one another. If you have a child not yet ready
for Nursery School, we have a “CSI Playgroup” program for under 2’s. Contact the office for more
information. As if that wasn’t enough, CSI has a fantastic Summer Camp, which includes a special
“almost 2's” program. Contact Aimee Axelrod, Camp Director or check the CSI website.
Of course, all Nursery School families are welcome to join as CSI members at any time. Those who
are members enjoy a tuition discount, which you will see outlined in the registration packet. While
the CSI Nursery School is an active part of Congregation Sons of Israel, children of all faiths are
welcome and comfortable with us. And finally, if you are looking for either an early drop off or afternoon enrichment please contact Kid’s Karousel ([email protected]) which meets at CSI.
All registration forms and the parent handbooks are available on our website (csibriarcliff.org).
We are happy to share that our fee schedule is all inclusive. Tuition fees include the cost of snacks
for the year and the Nursery School Shabbat dinner. You will not be asked to pay for anything additional.
Sincerely,
Educational Director
March 2015
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CANTORIAL NOTES
Hazzan Jeffrey Shiovitz
I feel a little apologetic about writing in a serious
vein for Purim, but as dear as the silly side of Purim
is to me, I think there are deep lessons to be
learned in the midst of the frivolity. The Purim story
is about telling the truth.
To begin with, the story itself is clearly a fable with
no foundation. The Bible challenges us with an outrageous story that defies possibility. How do we
read this tale? Where is our demand for probability,
or morality, or God’s presence to reassure us somehow that these bizarre events have some ring of
truth? The story turns on moments of truth and
falsehood.
Vashti is vanquished because she won’t let the
king’s reality overshadow her own. Esther is admitted to the harem because she doesn’t tell the
truth about her Jewish heritage. Mordecai sets up
the deception. Haman can’t stand it that Mordecai
stands (literally - he won’t bow) for the truth of his
heritage. It’s as though Haman loses the truth of his
own power and status just to confront Mordecai’s
truth. Esther grows so comfortable with her status
in the palace that she does not want to jeopardize
herself by telling the king what really is about to
happen at the hand of Haman. The king can’t tell
real from unreal.
Even when Haman is ultimately unmasked and vanquished because Esther finally tells the truth, unlikely events test our imagination. When the king first
learns of Haman’s guilt, he leaves to go for a walk,
as if to turn his back on the truth he has just
learned. It is true that the king cannot contravene a
previous decree, and so the king won’t call off the
plan to kill the Jews? Is he being more true to his
monarchy by insisting that Persia’s citizens slaughter
each other?
Truth is basic to all relationships. Could you love
someone you could not trust? Is there any hurt so
deep as the betrayal of a lie? Friendships are made
and lost on the reliabilty of words between people.
Jewish tradition at every turn tries to make us aware
of the powerful impact of the words we speak. And
we are challenged to make sure that the deeds we
do and the words we speak are of one expression.
One of the ways to read the Purim story is to see
that God never is mentioned and seems to be ab-
sent in the narrative. Maybe we can understand
that where people are not truthful, God is not present.
In the midst of our silliness on Purim, make a little
space for being horrified by the absence of truth in
this story. Feel it viscerally. In Psalm 145, words
familiar in our liturgy as Ashrei, we say in verse 18,
“God is near to all who call, to all who call upon God
in Truth.” We must listen closely and carefully to
each other, and rely on our own truthfulness to
summon God’s presence into our lives.
Oh, I just can’t resist a little Purim wisdom:
“Percussive maintenance” is the art of beating on an
electronic device to get it to work.
Good advice is something a person gives when he is
too old to set a bad example.
Why are gas station bathrooms locked? Are they
afraid someone will clean them?
Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the
sweaty things!
WANT TO JOIN THE CSI CHOIR?
If you sing tenor or bass and would
like to sing with the CSI Choir, please
call either Judy Boehr (762-1984) or
Cantor Shiovitz (923-0175).
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March 2015
March 2015
Page 7
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS
Roni Shapiro, Educational Director
Be happy! Adar is here, and that means Purim is
coming!
In all of our programs, we will be reading the story of
how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people against
the evil Haman. Besides lots of fun, we will focus on
two underlining themes of Purim: being proud of
who you are, and standing up for what you believe.
Megillah reading and fun programs: On March 4,
children aged up to 2nd grade come in costume from
4:30-6:00 for our PJ Library Purim extravaganza. We
will parade in costume, play Purim games, eat
hamentaschen, do arts & crafts, hear some Megillah,
eat a light dinner and, of course, make lots of noise
to block out Haman’s name.
*Alef class (3rd graders), there are no Religious school
classes that day.
For our 3rd graders through adults, at 7:00 we will
start our Megillah reading with groggers, noise makers, and a rollerblading party. If you have your own
skates bring them, otherwise Roller America will provide them. Come in costume and get special goodies!
Wear a costume that is rollerblading friendly!
*There is no Religious school that day so that all may
do their homework and then come join the fun!
Bar/t Mitzvah Credit Alert! Come in costume, Dalet
& Heh, to the 7:00 Megillah Reading and get double
credit.
Nursery school Seudah: on Thursday morning,
March 5, our Nursery school will be in costume
(including our teachers) and come together for a silly
breakfast, Purim Shpiel and Purim songs.
Purim Carnival: Sunday, March 8. Save the date.
This is a fun event for all ages. Bring your friends.
Tickets will be sold that morning. Rides, carnival
games, prizes, food and fun.
11:00-1:00 all are welcome!
Religious school will come for regular classes 9:0011:00 and then go to the carnival.
Don’t forget to see Tyler Cohen or Melissa Stern
about our Kids Kloset children’s clothing collection
that morning.
Kadima & USY: Come help set up the carnival Saturday night, March 7, and work the carnival on
March 8.
Baking: Who makes Hamentaschen? In
this synagogue, if you are between the
ages of 2 and 18, you will be baking
Hamentaschen!
Mishloach Manot: goody bags – yes all ages make
Mishloach Manot (Purim goody bags) and are supposed to give them to someone to wish them a Happy Purim. Regretfully, they usually get eaten before
they make it home. Sorry, probably won’t be healthy.
Food to the needy: It is traditional on Purim to feed
the hungry. Even when we are rejoicing and feasting
on yummy food, we help others. See Elan Roth’s list
of needs for our Midnight Run- Breakfast Run scheduled for March 15 (page 18) and our Project Ezra
Passover Food Drive (page 24) needs.
Guess what? Passover is coming!
Our kindergarten, first, second and Lev classes will be
coming together with their families on March 22 to
learn about Passover (page 30). Don’t miss the fun!
JUNIOR CONGREGATION
KADIMA SERVICE
A special learning service for Alef, Bet and Gimel
A special learning service for 6th and 7th graders
Saturday, March 7, 14
11:00-12:00
YES! SERVICE CREDIT IS GIVEN!
Saturday, March 21
10:30-12:00 (Upstairs)
YES! SERVICE CREDIT IS GIVEN!
(put your service card in front of the box)
(put your service card behind the tab that says
“Shabbat Morning Attendance behind here”)
Service is led by Tami Drucker
Future Junior Congregation Dates: Apr. 18, 25; May 2, 16
Service is led by Sheera Zuckerman
Future Kadima Service Date: Apr. 18
PLEASE REMEMBER that both Junior Congregation and Kadima Services take place on Shabbat. Children, as well
as anyone else coming inside the building on Shabbat, should be dressed appropriately. Shabbat is a “special”
and holy time, and children should wear “special” clothing. No sweatpants, jeans, sports uniforms, etc.
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March 2015
Have a friend or neighbor interested in synagogue life?
Ask them to contact one of the following:
Roberta Bar-Levav, Membership Chair, at [email protected]
or Ellen Johnson, Synagogue Director, at [email protected].
We welcome inter-faith families!
Interfaith parents are full participants in all life cycle
events, programs, and classes and are welcome
to serve on CSI's committees.
Every Child Deserves A Jewish Education!
Please Support our Lev Program!
Donations are needed to pay for our Lev program for the 2014-2015
school year. Lev means “heart.”
CSI believes that all children, regardless of their developmental,
emotional or cognitive challenges, should receive a Jewish education. These special children are mainstreamed into our classes, or, if
necessary, are placed in a self-contained special Lev class.
Many people in the past few years have given generously to support
our Lev program. Without their support, we could not have given
children with varying emotional, behavioral and learning needs the
opportunity to join our Religious School program. We help children
who range from developmentally delayed to autistic. Thanks to your
generous donations, they, too, can have a Jewish education. Please
make donations to the Mitzner Family Tuition Assistance Fund indicating they are to be used for the Lev Program.
The Gift Shop of CSI, Matanah, is open
during Sunday Religious School hours.
Come take a look at the wonderful gifts
available, some of which are imported
from Israel. For assistance outside of
Matanah hours, please send an email to
[email protected].
PICTURE DAY AT CSI NURSERY SCHOOL
On Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, the photographer will be at CSI to
take our annual nursery school pictures. The schedule is as follows:
March 16:
2’s Toni & Beverley
4’s Aimee & Maris
March 17:
3’s Faith & Sue
3’s Michelle & Tami
4’s Lori & Elizabeth
As always, we will be offering sibling portraits. Sign up in the office.
If you have any questions, please contact the office at 762-2700 or email
[email protected].
March 2015
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Mazal Tov to:
Marc and Beth Roth on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Elan.
Daniel Silvershein and Judy Schwab on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jack.
Robert and Marissa Greenfeld on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Justin.
Richard and Cindy Katz on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, in Israel.
Condolences to:
Libby Spitzer on the loss of her father, Marvin Leonard Heller.
Scott Yules on the loss of his father, Morton “Roy” Yules.
Lisa Zimmerman on the loss of her brother, Eric Vandercar.
We mourn the loss of CSI member Miriam Shignon, wife of Todd Greenberg.
Get Well Wishes to:
David Metzger, Ann Studen
KATYA DIDONATO
SARAH DOLGIN
DANIEL BIRNBAUM
KATIE KATZ
LILY WOOLF
MARISSA LEWIS
WALTER HOLZBERG
ZOE SCHEIER
8TH GRADE
8TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
9TH GRADE
10TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
11TH GRADE
Briarcliff
Briarcliff
Briarcliff
Chappaqua
Chappaqua
Croton
Ossining
Ossining
If you would like to contact one of these
capable babysitters or would like your
name added to our list, please contact the
CSI Office at 762-2700 or email us at
[email protected].
Page 10
CONTRIBUTIONS
(received through February 10, 2015)
CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of Norman Friedman
In memory of Lewis Cohen
In honor of Sarah Shiovitz
In memory of Clara Schoenfeld
Amy & Philip Horowitz and family
Judy Rosof
Stacey & Richard Charney
Henry & Barbara Schoenfeld
CARING COMMUNITY
Thank you to the Caring Community
In memory of Estelle Balog
In memory of Julius Eisenstein
Ellen & Jack Freeman
Nechama Ross
Gilbert Balog
Sylvia & Susan Eisenstein
EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of Chana Ben-David
In memory of Herb Rude
In memory of Marvin Leonard Heller
Ira & Ellen Eisenstein
Ellen & Jack Freeman
Deborah & Richard Yoken
Deborah & Richard Yoken
Sonia & Paul Kleinman
ETZ CHAIM - TREE OF LIFE FUND
In memory of Warren Kahn
In memory of Barbara Marger
In memory of Samuel Cohen
In memory of Marilyn Eisenstein
In memory of Maxwell Frank
Esther Schwartz
Arleen Neustein
Arleen Neustein
Michael & Eleanor Frey
IRA KESTENBAUM BEAUTIFICATION FUND
Mazal Tov on the birth of Rachel Catherine Schoenfeld,
granddaughter of Barbara & Henry Schoenfeld
Ruth & Mel Speier
JEFFREY DITTELMAN/ROBINOV CAMP RAMAH SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Best wishes to Eleanor Frey for a speedy recovery
Rabbi Steven C. Kane & family
Best wishes to Diane Myers for a speedy recovery
Best wishes to Annleah Berger for a speedy recovery
Best wishes to Donna Hannan for a speedy recovery
Faye Dittelman & David Perelman
In memory of Herb Rude
In memory of Stephen Dittelman
Mazal Tov on the engagement of Sid & Joan Schneider’s
daughter, Beth
Mazal Tov on the birth of Grayson Shae, son of
Amy & John Brown-Vignola
Mazal Tov on the birth of Julia Devon, daughter of
Meredith & Craig Sofer
In memory of Harry Fields
Ron Hanover
In memory of Miriam Shigon
In memory of Marvin Leonard Heller
KIDDUSH FUND
In memory of Marion Grosberg
In memory of Lilliam Yohalem
In memory of Mildred Alpert
In memory of Cyril Goodman
Jill & Joel Greenstein
Nan and Allen Banks
Marilyn & Bob Margolies
Alan & Debra Goodman
March 2015
March 2015
KIDDUSH FUND (cont’d)
In memory of Rochelle Kaufman
In memory of Harry Fields
Debra & Alan Goodman
Ron Hanover
MITZNER FAMILY SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FUND
In honor of Abe & Ben Fein
Myrna Fein
PRAYER BOOK FUND
In memory of Lilliam Yohalem
Nan and Allen Banks
RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
In memory of Ray Watt
In memory of David Barish
In memory of Norman Friedman
Richard Watt
Debbie & Elliott Barish
Amy & Philip Horowtiz and family
RACHEL GREENSTEIN CHILDREN'S RESOURCE LIBRARY FUND
Speedy recovery to Eleanor Frey
In memory of Marion Grosberg
RHODA & MEL MILLER TUITION ASSISTANCE FUND
In memory of Faye Stahl
In memory of Warren Kahn
Jane & Richard Taffet
Jane & Richard Taffet
Friends of Judy Rosof
CSI gratefully acknowledges all donations.
We strive to list donations completely and accurately.
If we have missed any, simply let us know and we will make a special acknowledgment immediately!
Your understanding of any inadvertent, human error is very much appreciated!
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by
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Bac
!
d
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ma
March 2015
De
r
la
Join the CSI Men’s Club for
u
p
o
P
&
Thursday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.
Dinner & Tournament
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
$18 for 2014-15 Men’s Club Members
$54 for Non-Men’s Club CSI Members
(includes 2014-15 Men’s Club membership)
BRING A FRIEND (Guests are $36)
————————————————————————————————————
Please count me (us) in on March 26! My check, payable to CSI, is enclosed.
Name(s):
CSI
Men’s Club
Member? Member? Amount
_______________________________________
_____
_____
_____
_______________________________________
_____
_____
_____
_______________________________________
_____
_____
_____
Total enclosed:
_____
Mail to: Jolie Levy, CSI, 1666 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
March 2015
Page 13
Adults to work with students on Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday: These volunteers help in
classrooms or work one-on-one with our children. You do not have to be fluent in Hebrew,
but a basic knowledge of reading Hebrew is necessary. Drop-in volunteers are welcome too.
Teenagers interested in a paying job or community service working with children in our Lev
program on Sundays from 9-11 AM: These volunteers help in classrooms or work one-on-one
with our special needs children. Working with these special needs students is a wonderful
mitzvah and looks great on your college application. Work opportunities for our teens are also available on Wednesdays, and community service is available on Tuesdays. Please contact Roni Shapiro.
PLEASE JOIN THE CSI WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB!
MEETING DATES: MAR. 1
APR. 19
The meetings are all at 7:00 PM at Roni Shapiro’s home: 26 Pocantico Road, Ossining
Books include: Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner (Jan. 25), The Nazi Officer’s Wife by Edith Hahn Beer,
The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich, The Other Half of My Soul by Bahia Abrams, The Fruit of Her
Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz by Michele Cameron, The Girl in the Green Sweater by Krytyna
Chiger, and Women’s Minyan by Naomi Ragen.
OUR MEETINGS ARE FUN AND ENLIGHTENING! MAKE NEW FRIENDS!
Nursery School Parents:
2’s, 3's & 4's Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2015.
There will be no school that day. Babysitting will be available for children while parents are in
for their conferences.
The sign-up sheets are posted outside the nursery school rooms. If you are working or not
able to come in to sign up, please call your child’s teachers at the nursery school and leave a
message for her to call you back. Alternate times for conferences can be arranged with your
child’s teachers for a time that is convenient for you.
If you have any questions or concerns about this matter, please contact me at the nursery
school.
Roni Shapiro
Thank you to the following people for helping to make
our Gimel Family program such a great success:
Zachary Mortman – Levi Strauss
Josh Mathison- Hank Greenberg
Beverley Sarkozi- Golda Meir
David Kolbrenner – Moe Berg
Marc Roth- Albert Einstein
Orit Daly- Jonas Salk
Adam Zagoria Moffet – Louis Brandeis
Toni Band- Lillian Wald
Jamie Cotel- Henrietta Szold
Sonia Mathisson- Gertrude Belle Elion
And a special thanks
to the RS PTA for
sponsoring breakfast!
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March 2015
Purim happenings
PJ Library Purim program
Wednesday, March 4
4:30-6:00pm
*********************************
Megillah Reading and Rollerblading party
(Feel free to bring your own skates if you have any;
if not, we will provide them for you.)
Wednesday, March 4
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Dalet and Heh get double Bar/Bat Mitzvah credit if they come in costume
********************************************
PURIM CARNIVAL- FOR ALL AGES
Sunday, March 8
11:00am – 1:00pm
Food, fun, new games for everyone, air castle, dunk
tank, etc., more games, rides & prizes for young
children. Don’t miss the fun!!!!
March 2015
Page 15
CSI MEN’S CLUB YOM HASHOAH -- LIGHT A YELLOW CANDLE
April 15, 2015
REMEMBER THOSE WHO PERISHED
TEACH OUR CHILDREN NOW MORE THAN EVER!
It has been over sixty years since Nazi concentration camps were liberated, and the Holocaust
that claimed six million Jewish lives came to an end. To ensure that the six million did not die in
vain and that the Holocaust never happens again, CSI Men’s Club will once again join Jews and
others throughout North America by participating in the Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle Program.
As the years pass, the memories of those who fell victim to the ultimate hate crime must not
diminish. That is why we are encouraging your family and every family at CSI to light just one
Yellow Candle on the night of Yom Hashoah Wednesday April 15, 2015. When each family
lights a Yellow Candle, it increases the awareness of the Holocaust and perpetuates our
commitment to our people.
The memory is important because the number of Holocaust survivors is diminishing with each
passing day. As we lose this precious link, those who deny the Holocaust ever happened gain
strength. Sadly, 20% of all high school students lack any knowledge of the Holocaust.
Yom HaShoah candles are a highly visible symbol for keeping the flame alive. Their color
recalls the badges Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe, but their flame inspires
hope that we can yet make our world a tolerant place to live.
As was done last year, the Men’s Club will make every effort to deliver a Yellow Yom Hashoah
Candle to every family so that they can light the light that will continue the memory of those
who perished. If for some reason you do not wish to receive a candle, please let the office know.
We can use your support for this important program. If you can, please help us by sending a
donation to the CSI Yom HaShoah Candle Program and we will recognize the memory in a
future Bulletin. Thank you in advance for your support.
____$18
____$36
____$72
$_____Other
In Memory of:
_____________________________________________________
Name:
_____________________________________________________
Address:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Email:
_____________________________________________________
Page 16
March 2015
MARCH B’NAI MITZVAH
[March 7] My name is Elan Roth. I live in Croton-onHudson with my parents, Beth and Marc, and my two
brothers, Sam and Jacob. My sister, Shayna, is in college.
Hi, my name is Jack Silvershein. I live with my mom, dad,
sister, and dog in the town of Pleasantville. I am excited to
share that my Bar Mitzvah is coming up on March fourth
I am in the 7 grade at Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School teenth, two thousand fifteen! I currently am in seventh
in Croton. When I’m not at school, you could probably find grade at Briarcliff Middle School, where I have enjoyed
me with my friends playing football, basketball or lacrosse, learning and making new friends. At school, I participate in
or just hanging out having fun. This fall I played football for soccer and track on the Middle School teams. I enjoy them
because they’re fun and I get to meet kids from all over
Croton and I am now playing basketball for Croton Modified, TCBL, CYO and CSI, and I am looking forward to play- Westchester. I also play the trombone for the Middle
School Band and will soon be going to NYSSMA in the
ing lacrosse this spring. This year I was elected as my
spring.
school’s Vice President.
In my studies toward becoming a Bar Mitzvah, I have
learned how important it is to perform mitzvot. As a result,
I participated in a CSI Midnight Run last fall. My job was to
bring donated goods consisting of clothing and other items
that were needed in the winter. My dad and I joined other
members of the synagogue preparing dinners and traveled
to New York City in the middle of the night. We packed
small meals and many boxes of clothes and visited four locations. I was so inspired by this experience that I decided
to organize a breakfast run this spring for my bar mitzvah
project. On March 15th, you are all invited to join me at CSI
at 6:00 AM to prepare bagels, eggs and fruit that we will
bring to the city to serve an 8:00 AM breakfast. You can
find my flyers posted around CSI.
For my bar mitzvah project, I volunteered to cook dinner at
Ronald McDonald house. It’s an organization that allows
parents/families to stay close with their hospitalized children. It has been a life-changing experience for me to be
able to help these people in some small way. Providing
some comfort for them by taking the burden of cooking
away from their busy lives was a rewarding way to learn
the Jewish concept of gemilut hasadim, that we should be
caring and kind to others.
Outside of school, I like to hangout with my friends and my
cousins. I also play soccer for Briarcliff in the Westchester
Youth Soccer League. My practices and games take me all
over Westchester and New York City, which sometimes
conflicts with other activities,. Through this I have learned
At home I am the youngest child. I am also the 5th young- to balance and prioritize my commitments, including Heest of 14 cousins. Even though some of my cousins live as brew school. All in all, I have enjoyed Hebrew school; I
far as Philadelphia, we see each other often, especially dur- think I got the chance to learn about Judaism in a nice environment with great classmates. Plus I really like the food
ing vacations and most Jewish holidays. We are all very
(thanks to Roni and all the volunteers)!
close and many of them are learning Torah for my Bar
Mitzvah and will all take part in sharing my special day. I
I would like to thank Roni Shapiro, Cantor Shiovitz, Rabbi
look forward to spending my Bar Mitzvah day with all of
Kane, all of my Hebrew School teachers, my family, and
friends for helping me reach this milestone. I look forward
them and all of my friends.
During my studies I have come to realize that in 50 years I to my Bar Mitzvah!
won’t remember doing any particular homework assign* * * *
ment or all of 7th grade for that matter. On the other hand,
Hi, my name is Justin Greenfeld. I will be called to read my
I will remember everything I did to prepare for becoming a
Torah portion, Vayikra, on March 21st and become a Bar
Bar Mitzvah. Reciting the aliyot, which I have learned have
Mitzvah. I live with my mom, dad, sister, and dog in Chapgreat meaning, will stay with me forever.
paqua, where I attend Seven Bridges Middle School. At
I would like to thank everyone who helped me prepare for school, my favorite subject is social studies, and I recently
this wonderful day. I’d like to thank Roni Shapiro-Ben David took part in Cross Country, where I fought through the
and all of my Hebrew school teachers for their kind words challenges in races and did well. Outside of school, I ran in
of encouragement and dedication to helping me study for the Croton on Hudson Harry Chapin 10k, which raises monthis important event. Thank you Cantor Shiovitz and Rabbi ey for hunger, and I finished within 50 minutes and among
Kane for your encouragement, support and patience with the top of the kids. I also play tennis three or more times a
me for the past year in Bar Mitzvah lessons and for teach- week at an intense and challenging program. I have learned
ing me how to wrap t'fillin to helping me realize the signifi- so much from my coaches and they taught me how to discicance of this special day. I also want to thank my sister
pline myself and to reach and exceed my physical and menShayna for helping me with my D’var Torah, and helping
tal limits. For my mitzvah project, I volunteer at Backyard
me find deeper meaning in my torah portion, and much
Sports. This program gives special needs children a unique
(Continued on page 21)
more.
* * * *
March 2015
Page 17
Page 18
Join CSI Sisterhood for
March 2015
Tuesday, March 10
7:30 p.m.
PRIZES! CANDY!
WINE & DESSERT!
$18 pp.
Watch for more details!
CSI Men’s Club and the Worldwide Wrap
Sunday, February 1
Cantor Shiovitz and Rabbi Kane are joined by:
Aaron Rotter, Rachel Matthison, Isaac Hentel & Caleb Levitt
March 2015
COLOR KEY:
NURSERY SCHOOL
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
YOUTH
IMPORTANT NOTE
March 2015 / Adar-Nisan 5775
Sun
1
Page 19
Mon
10 Adar 2
Tue
11 Adar 3
Wed
12 Adar 4
13 Adar
Thu
5
SHABBAT ends
one hour after
candle lighting time.
Fri
14 Adar 6
Sat
15 Adar 7
16 Adar
Ki Tisa
AIPAC
NS Sign Language
RS Hamentaschen
Making
7:30pm-Sisterhood
Mah Jong
11:15am-Jews In
The News
12:30pm-Yiddish
Club
NS Hamentaschen
Making
4:30pm-PJ Library
Purim
9
18 Adar
7:15am-Minyan
11:00am-Women’s
Torah Study
7:30pm-5 Things about
5 People...Rabbi
Menachem Mendel
Schneerson
8:45pm-Talmud
10
19 Adar
NS Sign Language
11:15am-Jews In
The News
12:30pmHaMishpacha
Luncheon
7:30pm-Sisterhood
Bunco Night
11
20 Adar
NS Johnny Appleseed
Day
8:00pm-De-Mystifying
the Mystical with
Rabbi Adam
15
24 Adar
6:30am-Breakfast Run
9:00am-1:30pm-Blood
Drive
9:00am-Group B Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Class
9:15am-Minyan
Dalet Trip to Lower East
Side
16
25 Adar
NS Pictures
7:15am-Minyan
7:30pm-Sisterhood
Mah Jongg
8:45pm-Talmud
17
26 Adar 18
27 Adar
NS pictures
NS Music
11:15am-Jews In
The News
12:30pm-Yiddish
Club
4:15pm-Heh Passover Supermarket
Challenge
7:00pm-Caring
Community
7:30pm-Executive
Committee
19
28 Adar 20
29 Adar
NS Challah Making 6:15pm-Gimel
Family Dinner &
7:15am-Minyan
Service
7:00pm-Gimel
Shabbat/Shabbat
Rocks/Family
Night
22
2 Nisan
9:15am-Minyan
9:00am-Family Passover
Workshop
Mitzvah Class
11:00am-High School
23
3 Nisan
7:15am-Minyan
11:00am-Women’s
Torah Study
8:45pm-Talmud
24
4 Nisan
NS Sign Language
NS Lockdown Drill
11:15am-Jews In
The News
7:30pm-Board of
Trustees
8 Nisan
26
6 Nisan 27
7 Nisan 28
Tsav
NO NURSERY
7:15am-Minyan
SCHOOL
10:30am9:10am-Service
Parent/Teacher
HaMishpacha
Conf.
Discussion Group
6:30pm-Kabbalat
Shabbat
AIPAC
RS Hamentaschen Making
9:15am-Minyan
10:00am-Learn to Chant the
Haftarah
11:00am-High School
7:00pm-Roni’s Book Club
8
17 Adar
8:00am-RS Staff Meeting
9:00am-Alef Siddur Cover
Workshop
Mitzvah Class
9:15am-Minyan
10:00am-Learn to Chant the
Haftarah
AIPAC
NS Dr. Seuss’ birthday
7:15am-Minyan
9:30am-Dinosaurs Rock
7:30pm-Sisterhood
Executive Board
7:30pm-Men’s Club
7:00pm-Megillah
Reading & Rollerblading
NS Purim Seudah
7:15am-Minyan
6:00pm-Kabbalat
Shabbat
PURIM
NO RELIGIOUS
SCHOOL
BAR MITZVAH
of
ELAN ROTH
CL: 5:32
12
21 Adar
7:15am-Minyan
10:30amHaMishpacha
Discussion Group
13
22 Adar
NS Challah Making
6:00pm-NS
Shabbat Dinner
6:30pm-Kabbalat
Shabbat
7:00pm-Tot Shabbat
11:00am-Purim
Carnival
11:00am-High School
11:00am-Cookies for Kid’s
Club
29
9:15am-Minyan
9:10am-Service
11:00am-Jr. Cong.
14
23 Adar
Vayakhel
9:10am-Service
11:00am-Jr. Cong.
8:00pm-USY Shul-In
BAR MITZVAH
of
JACK SILVERSHEIN
CL: 6:40
25
5 Nisan
NS Waffle Day
8:00pm-De-Mystifying
the Mystical with
Rabbi Adam
21
1 Nisan
Vayikra
9:10am-Service
10:30am-Kadima
10:30am-Family Service
11:00am-Tot Shabbat
BAR MITZVAH
of
JUSTIN GREENFELD
CL: 6:47
9 Nisan 30
10 Nisan 31
11 Nisan
11:15am-Jews In
NS Nature of Things
The News
7:15am-Minyan
11:00am-Women’s
Torah Study
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL THROUGH APRIL 12. SPRING VACATION.
There is no Nursery School April 3-10.
The first Seder is Friday, April 3!
is usually open
Sundays during
Religious Schools.
Page 20
March 2015
March 2015
(Continued from page 16)
opportunity to develop skills and learn a sport. Each week
the volunteers and players meet and you are assigned a
player to help coach. I play basketball with a great kid and
whenever I see him smile, I smile too, knowing that I am
making a difference in his life. This is such a rewarding experience to meet with him and help him do something
that I love. Seven years of Hebrew School has not been my
favorite thing to do, but in the end it all paid off for my bar
mitzvah and future Jewish life. I would like to thank Cantor
Shiovitz, for tutoring and prepping me for my bar mitzvah,
Roni Shapiro, Rabbi Kane, and all of my Hebrew School
teachers. Also, thank you to my family for supporting me
all the way. I couldn’t have reached this milestone without
all of you.
*
*
*
Page 21
for arranging our trip to Israel. I would like to thank my
mom for driving me everywhere, whether it be for my
project, or to Hebrew School, and for supporting me all
the way. And of course, Katie, for just being Katie and for
cheering me on and leading the way. I am looking forward
to my trip to Israel with my parents and sister, aunt and
cousin and grandparents and in becoming a Bar Mitzvah!
*
Hi! My name is David Katz, and on March 26, 2015, I
will be called to the Torah in Israel to read my Torah
portion, Tzav, and to become a Bar Mitzvah. My parents
are Rich and Cindy Katz, and my sister’s name is Katie,
and we live in Chappaqua. I attend Seven Bridges Middle
School, and I am in the seventh grade. In school, I am
involved in band. I play the alto saxophone, and I have
been playing it for four years now. As an extracurricular
course, I play in the Seven Bridges Stage Band (or jazz
band) and wind ensemble. Alongside of that, I am part of
the school shows, this year’s show was Grease. Outside
of school, I take lessons for guitar. I have been playing for
the past three years, and I enjoy it because I can sing
along, unlike saxophone. In addition to that, I swim on the
Rivertown Rays. This is my fourth year on the team, and I
have made many friends in the process. Also, I go to
Camp Eagle Hill during the summer, with my sister.
When I am not practicing my Torah portion, playing
guitar or saxophone or swimming, I volunteer at the
Mount Kisco Child Care Center, in a classroom with three
to four year olds. I have been going there since December,
and I enjoy playing with the kids. In fact, I have made some
young friends there! I hope to continue to volunteer there
past my Bar Mitzvah date, and maybe into next year.
There are so many people I need to thank for helping
me reach this date! And I mean so many. First and
foremost, I would like to thank Roni and all the Hebrew
school teachers that I had: Morah Zuckerman, Morah
Browne, Morah Band, Morah Hartman, Morah Maris,
Morah Kavy and Morah Slutsky for making me have a
great Jewish education. Of course, I would like to thank
Cantor Shiovitz for my lessons every week, and preparing
me for my Bar Mitzvah. I would also like to thank Rabbi
Kane for helping in my Jewish education throughout
the years. In addition, I would like to show my gratitude to
my friends from Hebrew School and school, for supporting
me throughout this whole experience. Last and certainly
not least, I have to thank my family for supporting me
throughout the journey. This especially includes my dad
for practicing with me many a times before the service and
NEWS FROM
THE NURSERY
SCHOOL
P.T.A.
Winter fun abounds in the nursery school!
The snow isn't keeping the kids from enjoying sledding, snowman-making, ice skating
and more. Indoor activities included Bubblemania Jr., which enthralled everyone at
the end of February, and plenty of creativity as the kids created their own personal
masterpieces as part of the Display My Art
fundraiser.
Page 22
March 2015
From The Desk of Rabbi Steven C. Kane:
Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb lives and teaches in Jerusalem. I have asked him to periodically give us a "Report from
Jerusalem," giving us some of the flavor of Israel. Here is the first of those reports:
Grocery Shopping: It’s Different from Whole Foods
My father, a Bostonian all his 94 years, used to go to Shuk Machaneh Yeduda, Jerusalem’s outdoor market,
whenever he’d visit us. He enjoyed the movement, the sounds and the activity, but best of all, to look at the
fresh fruits and vegetables. He loved the onions the size of softballs, the radishes as big as grapefruits. For
him the return of the Jewish people to its land found poignant expression in the variety and quality found in
the produce department.
A visit to the market in Israel is particularly interesting this year. We are in shnat shmita – the special year
when the land is supposed to rest and lie fallow, as the Torah commands in Exodus 23 and Leviticus 25. The
latter source explains this clearly – “When you come into the land I give you… Six years you may sow your
field and prune your vineyard, but in the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath of complete rest. You
shall not sow nor prune, reap nor gather; it shall be a year of complete rest for the land.”
The verses make clear, and this is very important - the mitsva of shmita applies only to Jewish-owned land in
the land of Israel. A Jewish landowner elsewhere may continue to raise crops, and the Jewish consumer
there need pay attention only if the local grocer has fruits/vegetables from Israel, which is not so rare these
days. I was told in England recently that 50% of the peppers sold there are from Israel.
But here in Israel, shnat shmita is very real. In the late 19th century the first chalutzim (pioneers) reopened
an area of Jewish Law that had been dormant for 2000 years. Barely able to eke out a living from the barren
land, they asked the rabbis how they were to manage in the seventh year. Food was scarce in any event, and
of course this was long before modern methods of preserving and storing. Given the stark situation, Rabbi
Isaac Elchanan Spektor of Kovno said the Jews could “sell the land to a non-Jew” for the shmita period, and
thus continue to work it. The heter mechira, as it is called, is stilled used today, and the Supersol on Agron
Street, across the street from the Conservative Yeshiva in United Synagogue’s Fuchsberg Center, has a certificate framed on the wall confirming that the fruits and vegetables sold there were raised on “sold land.”
The “more” religious look down on the “sold land” solution and rely on other alternatives. A recent shop at a
green grocer with a substantial “religious” clientele in my neighborhood was an eye-opener. Every species
had a sign on it. The peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and tomatoes were marked “nochri,” non-Jewish, meaning they are from Arab-owned farms in Israel. The carrots and onions were from abroad (“chul”). Potatoes,
garlic, apples and pears were labeled “shishit” (“6th”); they are from “last” year, even if kept in cold storage
for months. Bananas were “otsar beit din” (from the rabbinical court store houses), based on an ancient
practice where the courts would gather produce still growing in the unworked fields and distribute them to
families as needed. Parsley and scullions were “menutak” (detached); they were grown on elevated
platforms or in hot houses, or hydroponics (in water), none of which are “from the fields.” Five different
mechanisms to meet the legal requirements of shmita. The Arab worker is expert in the fine points of
shmita; he deals with it daily. The owner told me he does not carry “sold land” produce because his clients
won’t buy it, “though I eat it myself,” he confided. As do we.
The shmita year can drive people crazy and prices up, but it reminds us that our “ownership” of things, including land, is ephemeral. Leviticus 25:6-7 says that the land is to be left open in the seventh year. The
owner may take what he/she needs, just like everyone else and the animals. Shnat shmita teaches us to respect the land and to let it rest, and to remember to share what we have with others on an equal basis. In a
world where wealth continues to accumulate in the hands of the few (75.4% of wealth in the US is owned by
10% of the people) and all of us too easily pollute the delicate land on which and from which we live, these
are still relevant and important lessons.
Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, teacher and former Director of the Conservative Yeshiva of the United Synagogue
(USCJ) in Jerusalem, made aliya in 1976 and has lived in Jerusalem since.
March 2015
Page 23
CSI PJ Library knows how to have its bagel and eat it too!
February's program was designed around Aubrey Davis's
book Bagels From Benny. We read the book and learned
about giving to others. The kids created cards for people in
the hospital as well as Israeli soldiers. Then they made bird
feeders out of bagels so that they could recycle food and give to the animals. We then feasted on bagels!
March brings us Purim and for Purim we like to party!!!!! The kids get to grind their groggers during PJ Library's Purim Dance Party! And for those who are not into the dance floor there are some crafty activitiessuch as crown making (because who doesn't need a crown?), and mask designing. Additionally we will be
sampling different flavors of hamentaschen.
Remember now is a great time to snuggle up with a PJ Library Book!
Merrie
Summer is rapidly approaching and teens are considering (or have already decided on) their upcoming summer plans. UJA-Federation of New York's Israel Experience Center continues to help New York Jewish teens
fulfill their dreams of traveling to Israel in an effort to promote and strengthen lifelong commitments to Israel and the global Jewish community by providing both needs-based and merit scholarships. Scholarship
details and eligibility requirements can be found here: http://www.ujafedny.org/find-help/apply-forscholarships/israel-scholarships/.
A limited number of merit scholarships, of at least $1,000 each, are available for New York-area high
school students who will be participating in an accredited Israel summer travel program. Teens entering
10th-12th grades and permanently residing in UJA-Federation’s catchment area (New York City, Nassau or
Suffolk Counties, or Westchester County) can be nominated for a merit award by their New York area synagogue or UJA-Federation of NY network agency. The goal of the merit scholarship program is to award
teens who display leadership potential and a strong commitment to community with a scholarship toward an Israel experience. Merit award recipients are expected to complete a community service project
following their Israel summer experience. Community service projects should be developed with the nominating synagogue.
Each synagogue or network agency can nominate up to two candidates for merit award consideration. Please note: each teen may only receive one merit award for Israel travel, so please do not nominate
any teens who have received merit awards from UJA-Federation in the past.
Scholarship details, eligibility requirements, and the application can be found here. Complete and submit
the nomination form, merit award application, and recommendation letter by Thursday, April 2, 2015.
Submission Information and Questions:
All applicants must be nominated by a UJA-Federation of NY network agency or affiliiated NY synagogue.
Westchester synagogues and agencies:
Please e-mail the nomination form, completed merit award application, and recommendation letter to the
Ellen Thurm at [email protected] by Thursday, April 2, 2015. If you have questions, please contact Ellen
Thurm at UJA-Federation of New York (Westchester office) at [email protected].
Questions from teens or their families can be answered by referring them to the website or to their Israel
program provider. Many Israel program providers have additional scholarship sources, so please refer teens
to them for additional support.
Thank you for your part
in supporting lifechanging Israel
experiences for teens!
Page 24
March 2015
FROM OUR RABBINIC FELLOW & YOUTH DIRECTOR
Adam Zagoria-Moffet
Abracadabra
The Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzira) is the oldest work of Jewish mysticism we have. It dates
to the time of the Mishna (2nd Century CE) and describes the paths through which humans
can begin to approach God. It begins though by laying out a theory - a theory that the entire
world and its contents are combinations of the 22 Hebrew letters and the 10 numerals (the
numbers 1-10). Through these 32 things, Sefer Yetzira tells us, God created everything.
Not unlike contemporary chemistry's understanding of the world as made up of various combinations of
essential elements (remember the Periodic Table?), Sefer Yetzira approaches reality similarly -- except the
building blocks are not molecular structures, but linguistic ones. Meaning, that if you believe that the world is
created through the combination and permutation of letters - then speech is a holy activity.
God uses speech to create - after all, the first chapter of Genesis records precisely that God created through
speaking (“Let there be..."). Those same tools that God used to create the world - we use every day. We use
the letters and numbers to understand ourselves, our world, and each other. Every word we speak and every
thought we think is processed through language.
This gives us both a remarkable power and a remarkable responsibility. It means that we cannot justifiably
ignore the potency of what we say. Even casual conversations take on cosmological significance. Our words
are powerful, and in speaking we are playing with the same tools that God used to create the world. Yet this
is also a burden - the consequences of our speech are severe. Lashon haRa (evil speech), rechillut (gossip)
and motzi shem ra (slander) are serious transgressions in Judaism - each because of the underlying recognition of the power in what we say.
In difficult times such as these, it is ever more important to remember the power of what we say. Whether
for good or for bad, the speech that we use can create and destroy. We should remember, perhaps now
more than ever, that the magical formula so prized by top-hatted men pulling rabbits out of things has its
origin in Hebrew: Abracadabra )"‫ אברא כדברא‬- I shall create what I speak").
March 2015
Page 25
Page 26
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
March 2015
COAT DRIVE
Thanks to everyone who has brought in a warm coat, hats,
and mittens for the benefit of IFCA (Interfaith Community
Action) in Ossining. We have already delivered two carloads of coats that are keeping people in our community warm. The coat drive will continue through March.
By Judy Boehr
PROJECT EZRA PASSOVER FOOD DRIVE
This year, once again, CSI will be providing boxes of Kosher for Passover food to elderly Jews on the Lower
East Side. In many cases, this is the only food they have for the holiday, so please help support this important effort. Bring items from the following food list to CSI and place them in the appropriate boxes in the
lobby.
The drive will continue until Sunday, March 22nd, when we will pack the food for Project Ezra. They will pick
up our boxes on Thursday, March 26th. On Sunday, March 29th, Project Ezra will deliver a box of food to
each of their clients in Manhattan. This is a wonderful family volunteer opportunity and a great opportunity
to see your donations through to their final destination. It is a very gratifying experience.
If you would like to complete a box with all of the items on the list, please let Judy Boehr know. (762-1984 or
[email protected].) Help is also needed to sort the food on Sunday, March 22nd. It's a fun project
that only takes an hour or so, and families and children are welcome!
Some items are very hard to find in Northern Westchester, specifically kosher for Passover jam, canned
fruits, and canned vegetables. All of the items MUST be marked Kosher for Passover. These things are
more readily available in the White Plains area. The Stop and Shop on the Post Road in Mamaroneck is a
good source, as are supermarkets in White Plains, Monsey, and Spring Valley. DONATIONS are always appreciated if you are unable to shop. We will do the shopping for you! Please send your donation to Judy or
leave a check in the Social Action box in the CSI office.
PROJECT EZRA
465 GRAND STREET, 4TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10002
212-982-4124
SHOPPING LIST FOR PASSOVER
PLEASE NOTE: Temple Shaaray Tefila is conducting a seder
for developmentally disabled adults on March 18th. They
are looking for volunteers for this event (to cook, make
phone calls for donations, help serve at the event.) If you
are interested in supporting this meaningful event, please
contact Stacy Topalian at [email protected].
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL FOOD ITEMS MUST BE MARKED KOSHER FOR PASSOVER. THE KOSHER
SIGN ALONE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR PASSOVER USE. IN ADDITION, PLEASE TRY TO CHECK THAT ALL
ITEMS ARE CURRENT AND MARKED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
THE FOLLOWING LIST OF PASSOVER FOODS COMPRISES A PASSOVER PACKAGE DELIVERED TO OUR FRAIL
ELDERS ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ITEMS THAT ARE BOLDED ARE SOMETIMES
MISSING FROM THE PACKAGES. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PAYING EXTRA ATTENTION TO OBTAINING
THESE ITEMS.
2 BOXES MATZO
1 BORSCHT
1 SOUP
1 JAR OR CAN OF GEFILTE FISH
1 JAM OR JELLY
1 DESSERT ITEM (CAKE, COOKIES, MACAROONS, ETC.)
2 CANS OF TUNA, SALMON OR SARDINES
2 CANNED FRUITS
2 CANNED VEGETABLES
1 MATZO FARFEL
1 BOTTLE OF GRAPE JUICE
1 BOTTLE OF VEGETABLE OIL
1 INSTANT COFFEE OR TEA
1 SMALL JAR OF HONEY
NUTS OR DRIED FRUIT (OR ANYTHING SPECIAL
THAT YOU WANT TO ADD)
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR RESPONDING SO GENEROUSLY. IN MANY CASES, YOUR PACKAGE IS THE
ONLY SOURCE OF PASSOVER FOOD FOR EZRA’S ELDERLY.
March 2015
DINOSAURS ROCK
is coming to the
CSI Nursery School
Page 27
C
kies
for Kid’s Club (C.K.C.)
Families of children join the C.K.C. at CSI as we do a
mitzvah. Come bake cookies for families that have
children who are sick and draw pictures for the
children in the hospital.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
11:00-12:00pm
At Congregation Sons of Israel
1666 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor
(914) 762 – 2700
RSVP to [email protected]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2015
9:30 AM
ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US!
FAMILY PASSOVER WORKSHOP
Sunday, March 22, 2015
9:00 -11:00 AM
Dear Shorashim, Prozdor 1 and Prozdor 2 families,
(Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd graders)
Sunday, March 22, we have a special Passover Family
Program. The religious school PTA will be providing a yummy
breakfast, and siblings are invited too!
We hope to see you all.
Happy Passover,
COME Learn and have fun with your children
 Cookies & pictures will be brought to the
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY
 PLEASE BRING 1 SMALL COOKIE DECORATION
ITEM (I.E., SPRINKLES)
 OPEN TO CHILDREN/FAMILIES OF 2 YEAR OLDS
– 7 YEAR OLDS – Bring your friends.
 Looking for volunteers to deliver.
Page 28
March 2015
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
March 2015
The following children are celebrating birthdays during the month
of March and will be called to the bimah to receive a blessing on
Friday, March 20, during our 7:00 PM Gimel Family Night/
Shabbat Rocks service. Only the names of those present will be
called. Please take your name card out of the “birthday box” in
the front lobby and present it to a Ritual Committee usher.
Antman, Sabrina
Ben-Zvi , Stephanie
Bronson, Samantha
Bronson, Taylor
Cohen, Tyler
Daly, Reuben
Daly, Shoshana
Dolch, Jesse
Dolch, Daniel
Dunn, Holden Jacob
Hawson, Brandon
Janowitz, Jacob
Lewis, Benjamin
London, Talia
Makaron, Eli
Platt, Sophie
Rosenbluth, Alex
Rosenbluth, Sophie
Satran, Daniel
Wachtel, Emma
Wasserman, Jolie
MAZAL TOV to our members who are celebrating
anniversaries during the month of March:
Date
2
3
5
6
9
10
13
16
18
18
19
21
25
25
26
27
29
31
Alan & Judith Duke
Jay & Gayle Waxenberg
Mark & Rika Reisman
Daniel & Nancy Cohen
Tony & Stacy Anisman
Andrew Rotter & Rhona Golubock
Steven Saper & Shelley Glick
J. Allen & Andrea Britvan
Mark & Romina Wancier
B. Michael & Susan Thrope
Martin & Anita Amsel
Gilbert & Sharon Balog
Diego Antman & Irit Bomer
Stephen & Sharon Alpert
Eric & Jill Goldstein
Jack & Ellen Greeman
Daniel & Marian Levine
Years
47
30
21
21
12
31
16
35
31
15
17
51
43
14
32
16
56
25
March 2015
Page 29
SISTERHOOD NEWS
By Marion Jablansky, Secretary
Mah Jongg nights are so popular that additional dates
and days have been added to the calendar to allow for
even more members to come and play. If you have always wanted to learn how to play, now’s the time, as
there really is a beginners’ table. The next Mah jongg
game will be Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 at CSI, and then
on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 at CSI. The only requirements are Sisterhood membership and the willingness to
have fun. If you have any questions, please contact
Cheryl Katz at [email protected].
The CSI bulletin and the CSI website are great sources of
information. Continue to read future bulletins, as well as
check the website for future Sisterhood programs.
Also, we are always looking for new ideas, so if you have
any suggestions or wish to lead or help with an activity,
please let us know. Our officers/chairpersons are always
open to new ideas.
President:
Robin Ginsberg
Treasurer/Financial Secretary:
Sharon Richter
Recording Secretary:
Beth Levine
Corresponding Secretary/ Bulletin:
Marion Jablansky
Membership:
Annleah Berger
Mah Jongg Chair:
Cheryl Katz
Gift Shop:
Annleah Berger/ Robin Ginsberg
Jill Greenstein/Marion Jablansky
Sharon Orenstein
Wednesday, March 11, at 7:30 at CSI is Sisterhood’s first
www.WLCJ.org = the website for Women’s
Bunco Night. Bunco is a social dice game involving 100%
League for Conservative Judaism, the orgaluck and no skill (there are no decisions to be made),
nization to which your Sisterhood belongs.
scoring and a simple set of rules. The object of the game
Log in and check it out today!
is to accumulate points and to roll certain combinations.
Gift tip: How about a beautiful trivet from Israel to put
During the 1920’s and the Prohibition, Bunco, a gambling
your hot food on during these cold winter months. The
game, was often associated with a speakeasy, so lawgift shop has a lovely assortment to choose from.
enforcement groups raiding these parlors came to be
known as "Bunco Squads." Bunco as a family game saw a
resurgence in popularity in the 1980’s.
You should have received information to participate in
our Mishloach Manot program. Please complete the
form and return it as directed. By participating in Sisterhood’s Mishloach Manot program, you fulfill the mitzvah
of Mishloach Manot as well as support Sisterhood in its
fund raising efforts.
April 11, Sisterhood Shabbat, is fast approaching. All
Sisterhood members are invited to participate, and all
congregants are invited to attend. If you have not
already done so, please email Roberta Bar-Levav at
[email protected] with any questions and to let her
know how you will participate.
The gift shop will be open most Sundays in March. If you
need anything for Passover, be it a seder plate, Kiddush
cup or hostess gift, the gift shop has it all.
There is always something to look forward to for Sisterhood. Besides Mishloach Manot, Sisterhood Shabbat,
and Mah jongg, there’s an author’s visit, Rosh Chodesh
with Roni, and the new knitting nights. And there are
always surprises ahead.
As you can see, there is a lot going on at CSI Sisterhood.
Please don’t forget to pay your dues. You don’t want to
miss out on any of these or future activities.
Remember to join Sisterhood!
We started our new fiscal year on July 1.
Sisterhood Membership 2014-2015
Please send your $36.00 check for dues
payable to: CSI Sisterhood
and return it with this form to:
CSI Sisterhood
Name_____________________________________________
Phone____________________________________________
Address___________________________________________
Email_____________________________________________
For questions concerning membership or to sign up for
a Sisterhood committee, please call Annleah Berger,
762-5312, or email [email protected].
Page 30
March 2015
THE RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY PESACH GUIDE
This guide, prepared by the Kashrut Subcommittee and approved by the Committee on Jewish Law and
Standards, explains in detail the laws and customs regarding the dietary restrictions of Passover, the rules
that remind us each time we eat of Passover’s messages for us. Some of these guidelines are, frankly, quite
technical and even complicated; that is the result of the special stringency of the Passover rules in Jewish law
and the complex, new ways in which foods are processed in our time. We hope that this guide will enable
Jews to understand what they may eat on Passover and how to prepare their kitchens for the holiday in ways
that are clear and understandable. We do not intend this Guide to replace our rabbi’s guidance on these
matters; on the contrary, any question you have about what is written here or what is missing you should
address to Rabbi Kane.
We have selected portions of the Pesach Guide which we feel are most helpful to you. For the complete
guide, please go to http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/jewish-law/holidays/pesah/
rabbinical-assembly-pesah-guide-5775_1.pdf.
FOODS
The Torah prohibits the ownership of hametz (flour, food or drink made from the prohibited species of leavened grain: wheat, oats, barley, rye or spelt) during Pesash. Ideally we burn or remove all hametz from our
premises which may be effected by donations to a local food pantry.
Prohibited foods:
Since the Torah prohibits the eating of hametz during Pesach, and since many common foods contain some
hametz, guidance is necessary when shopping and preparing for Pesach.
Prohibited foods )hametz) include the following: biscuits; cakes; coffees containing cereal dervatives;
crackers; leavened bread; pasta.
These are foods that are generally made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye (grains that can become
hametz). Any food containing these grains or derivatives of these grains must be certified kosher for Pesach.
Flavorings in foodstuffs are often derived from alcohol produced from one of these grains which would render that food hametz. Such products also need Pesach supervision.
Kitniyot – Ashkenazi Rabbinical authorities added the following foods to the above list of prohibited foods:
beans; corn; millet; peas; rice; soy.
These and some other plant foods (e.g., mustard, buckwheat and sesame seeds) are not permitted for eating
on Pesach. They need not be sold or disposed of before Pesach. The processed products, whether liquid or
solid, from kitniyot are also forbidden by most Ashkenazic rabbinical authorities. These might include but not
be limited to ascorbic acid (vitamin C), corn oil, corn sweetener, and soy oil.
Most Sephardic authorities permit the use of all the kitniyot foods other than those that might have come in
contact with the prohibited grains. Israeli products are often marked “contains kitniyot” and thus Ashkenazi
Jews who do not use kitniyot need to be vigilant when purchasing Israeli products for Passover.
Our Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has permitted the use of peanuts and peanut oil
on Pesach provided said items have proper year round kosher certification and do not contain any hametz
ingredients.
Permitted Foods:
An item that is kosher all year round, that is made with no hametz, and is processed on machines used only
for that item and nothing else (such as ground coffee) may be used with no special Pesach supervision. As we
March 2015
Page 31
learn more about the processing of foods and the ingredients they contain, relying on the kashrut of a product for Pesach without a Passover hekhsher may be problematic. Wherever possible, processed foods ought
to have a Pesach hekhsher from a reliable source. Since that is not always possible, however, our guidelines
reflect some alternatives that are acceptable.
Any food that you purchase with a Pesach hekhsher must have a label that is integral to the package and it
should have the name of a recognizable, living supervising Rabbi or creditable kosher supervision agency if
possible. If the label is not integral to the package or if there are questions regarding the labeling, the item
should not be used without consulting a Rabbi.
NO PESACH HEKHSHER REQUIRED:
Products which may be purchased without a Pesach hekhsher before or during Pesah: baking soda; bicarbonate of soda; eggs; fresh fruits and vegetables; fresh or frozen kosher meat (other than chopped meat);
Nestea (regular and decaffeinated); pure black, green, or white tea leaves; unflavored tea bags; unflavored
regular coffee; olive oil (extra-virgin only); whole or gutted fresh fish; whole or half pecans (not pieces);
whole (unground) spices and nuts.
NO PESACH HEKHSHER REQUIRED IF PURCHASED BEFORE PESACH:
Products which may only be purchased without a Pesach hekhsher before Pesach. If bought during Pesach
they require a Pesach hekhsher: all pure fruit juices; filleted fish; frozen fruit (no additives); non-iodized salt;
pure white sugar (no additives); quinoa (with nothing mixed in);* white milk; some products sold by Equal
Exchange Fair Trade Chocolate.
*It has come to our attention that there is a possibility of grains being mixed with quinoa if it is not under Pesach supervision. The
best option is to purchase quinoa with a Pesach hekhsher, if it is available. Where that is not available, purchase Bolivian or Peruvian quinoa, marked “gluten free” before Pesach. Please make certain that quinoa is the sole ingredient in the final packaging.
Frozen, uncooked vegetables may be processed on shared equipment that uses hametz. It is preferable to
purchase those with a Pesach hekhsher label. One may, however, buy bags of frozen non-hekhshered vegetables before Pesach provided that one can either absolutely determine that no shared equipment was used or
one is careful to inspect the contents before Pesach and discard any pieces of hametz. Even if one did not
inspect the vegetables before Pesach, if one can remove pieces of hametz found in the package on Pesach,
the vegetables themselves are permissible.
PESACH HEKHSHER ALWAYS REQUIRED:
Products which require reliable Pesach hekhsher certification (regular kosher supervision being not sufficient)
whether bought before or during Pesach: all baked goods (farfel, matzah, any product containing matzah,
matzah flour, matzah meal, Pesach cakes); all frozen processed foods; candy; canned tuna; cheeses; chocolate milk; decaf coffee; decaf tea; dried fruits; herbal tea; ice cream; liquor; Grade AA butter; oils; soda; vinegar; wine; yogurt.
Regarding cheeses and non Grade AA butter, an inspection by a rabbi of a local dairy may suffice to resolve
potential questions in some cases.
BABY FOOD:
Baby food with a Pesach hekhsher is sometimes available. Of course, home preparation of baby food, using
kosher for Passover utensils and kitchen items is always possible. Pure vegetable prepared baby food that is
kasher the year round is acceptable for Pesach. The use of kitniyot for babies is also acceptable with care taken that this baby food does not mix with food from the rest of the family. Separate dishes and utensils are
recommended. Most infant formulas are made from soy and the use of kitniyot does not apply to infants.
Thus infant formula products, kasher the year round, are acceptable for Pesach. Here, as in baby foods, the
Page 32
March 2015
bottles, nipples and formula should be kept away from the general kitchen area and clean up should be done
out of the kitchen area (e.g., a bathroom sink).
MEDICINES:
Prescription medicines are permitted. Non-prescription pills and capsules are permitted; for liquids, check
with the rabbi.
PET FOOD:
The issue of pets on Pesach is a complicated one. There are several options:
1. The pet is given, for the week of Pesach, to a gentile who can feed it whatever food is available.
2. Since no hametz is allowed in our possession on Pesach, one could feed the pet either Kosher for
Passover pet food, pet foods with no grain, or food off your own table which is already Kosher for Passover.
Incidentally, kitniyot would be permissible.
3. Some authorities allow for the pet to be sold along with the hametz and, since the pet does not belong to the Jewish owner, regular pet food would be fed. Note that the document of sale would have to include the pet as well as hametz. If you have these pet foods in your home be careful to keep them away from
the general kitchen area. Washing of pet utensils should be done out of the kitchen area (e.g., a bathroom
sink).
NON-FOOD ITEMS:
Any detergents, cleaners, etc. which are not a food stuff and which are not eaten, may be used for Pesach
with no hekhshered supervision. This would include: aluminum products; ammonia; baby oil; bleach; candles;
contact paper; charcoal; coffee filters; fabric softener; isopropyl alcohol; laundry and dish detergent; oven
cleaner; paper bags; paper plates (with no starch coating); plastic cutlery; plastic wrap; polish; powder and
ointment; sanitizers; scouring pads; stain remover; water with no additives; wax paper.
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SALE OF HAMETZ
I hereby authorize Rabbi Steven C. Kane to sell the hametz in my possession, including my
home, place of business and elsewhere in accordance with the requirements of Halacha
(Jewish law).
Name:
_____________________________________________________________
Address:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Signature:
_____________________________________________________________
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM TO:
OR EMAIL TO:
[email protected]
Forms must be received no later than the conclusion of
the Fast of the First Born Service on Friday, April 3.
Rabbi Steven C. Kane
CSI
[NOTE: It is customary to give Tzedakah at the time of sale.]
March 2015
Page 33
Page 34
March 2015
March 2015
Page 35
Make Your Move steps in when
you're feeling overwhelmed by a
move to a more manageable space.
Allow us to guide you or a family
member through this difficult process.
Visit our website or call
for more information.
CSI Website Photographer
www.csibriarcliff.org
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
White Plains, NY
Permit No. 10086
Current Resident Or:
David E. Weiss, D.D.S.
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General & Cosmetic
Dentistry for Adults
and Children
Come see our new
state-of-the-art office!
61 Sunset Drive
Briarcliff Manor, NY
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(914) 941-1890

march 2015 - Congregation Sons of Israel

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