the path seeker - Congregation M`vakshe Derekh

1
THE PATH SEEKER
CONGREGATION M’VAKSHE DEREKH
133 Popham Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 725-3064
www.mvakshederekh.org
Ned J. Soltz, Rabbi
Naomi Chiel, Cantor
Emanuel S. Goldsmith, Rabbi Emeritus
IJoan Silver—Presidents
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775
November 2014
From Our Rabbi’s Desk
Cheshvan can be such a let down.
The emotional highs of Tishrei, which actually begin the week before with Slichot,
cover the entire gamut of Jewish emotion.
We are pensive, apprehensive, remorseful, forgiving, joyous, melancholy, sad,
fatalistic, optimistic, stimulated and sedated. And no doubt dozens more we could
describe.
The whole Tishrei season just seems to end so abruptly
as well. We hardly have time to recover from Yom Kippur before we become engaged in Sukkot. The symbols of etrog and
lulav just end so unceremoniously. The etrog and lulav are discarded or recycled as are the Sukkah decorations. The Sukkah is
packed up for another year.
We now have a whole month with absolutely no holidays. Some mystical commentaries have noted that Cheshvan is
an opportune time for the coming of Messiah precisely because
there are no special observances this month.
As we discussed on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
during services, the absence of holidays actually gives us opportunities that we would not otherwise have if preoccupied with
special days and events. The entirety of both Elul and Tishrei are
dedicated to how we have lived and more significantly how we
potentially may live in the coming year. Imagine two months of
examining our deeds and resolving to change. The process is
even more than just imagining. Ritual, family, tradition, food,
assembly, and just the physical labor of a succession of holidays
all contribute to making us different at the end of the festival
cycle.
Yet different could easily just be a feeling. It could easily become yet another “I should…” in the constant succession of
“I should” that make up all of our lives. Thus we have a month
where there should be few other distractions actually to allow
us to act upon those realizations that the High Holy Day and
Festival observances have stirred up within us.
If we have resolved that we wish to change specific
behaviors or make amends for specific acts, Cheshvan
Is now the time to do it. Cheshvan is the great test for those
resolutions, in fact. A time with fewer activities could either
breed indolence or produce results. We accomplish less when
idle than when occupied. Cheshvan asks whether we can rouse
ourselves to the resolutions of Tishrei or just become complacent and make the results of Teshuva just a fantasy rather than
an action.
Instead of being the easiest Jewish month of the year
without holidays, in many ways Cheshvan can be the hardest.
Our Tishrei selves are tested by our Cheshvan selves. May we
have the strength and resolve to stand up to those tests.
Rabbi Ned Soltz
Kristallnacht Commemoration
Distinguished Lecture: Dr. Christopher Browning and
Dr. Annamaria Orla-Bukowska— November 3
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm—Iona College
Thomas J. Burke Lounge, Spellman Hall—715 North Avenue , New Rochelle, NY 10801
Dr. Annamaria Orla-Bukowska is a social anthropologist in the Institute of Sociology at the JagielDr. Brownig has served as an expert witness in
lonianUniversity in Krakow. Her general field of
"war crimes" trials in Australia, Canada, and
research is majority-minority relations but her
Great Britain. He has also served as an expert
specialization is Polish Christian-Polish Jewish
witness in two "Holocaust denial" cases: the secrelations. She teaches extensively not only for
ond Zündel trial in Toronto in 1988 and in David
various departments of the Jagiellonian but also
Irving's libel suit against Deborah Libstadt in Lonfor the postgraduate programs at the State Musedon in 2000. He is the author of eight books.
um Auschwitz-Birkenau and The Graduate School
for Social Research in Warsaw.
2
L’SHANA TOVAH TIKATEVU
Shanah Tovah to our members and your loved ones
Rabbi Ned and Mary Soltz
Best wishes for a good, healthy year with peace for Israel and all the world
Shirley and Emanuel S. Goldsmith
L’Shana Tovah – best wishes for a wonderful year 5775
to my M’vakhe Derekh family
Iris Farber
Wishing you all a sweet year
Joan Silver
Our best wishes to you and your loved ones now and always
Joan and Norman Coplan
Wishing you all a sweet year
Harriet and Joe Fibel
Wishing you all a sweet year with thanks for the caring
and concerns expressed during our recent illnesses
Lorraine and Bernard Weber
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year
Carole and Evin Rubin
My best wishes to you and your loved ones for
a happy and healthy New Year
Helene Miller
Wishing you all a sweet year
Vera and Mark Kaplan
A happy and healthy New Year to you and yours
Rita and Jack Clark
Our best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to all
Kuniko and Jeff Katz
Wishing you all a sweet year
Randi and Len Newman
Hag Sameach to all my M’vakshe Derekh friends.
All the best! Miss you all
Renee Meer
Wishing you all a sweet year
Sharon Goldfarb
3
& HOLIDAYSHABBAT
Torah and Haftara
November 1
November 22
Torah: Parashat Lech-Lecha
Torah: Parashat Toldot
Genesis 12:1-17:27
Genesis 25:19-29:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:79
November 8
Torah: Parashat Vayera
November 29
Genesis 18:1-22:24
Torah: Parashat Vayetzei
Haftarah: II Kings 4:1-4:23
Genesis 28:10-32:3
Haftarah: Hosea 12:13-14:10
November 15
December 6
Torah: Parashat Chayei Sara
Torah: Parashat Vayishlach
Genesis: 23:1-25:18
Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftarah: I Kings 1:1-1:31
Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-1:21
Dear Members;
Please let us know if there is a simcha in your family. Kindly call or phone Mary Soltz if you
would like to share an important event in your or your loved ones’ lives. Let us all be happy
with and for you.
Mary’s phone: 817-654-9572
E-mail: [email protected]
Please Remember the Poor and the Hungry:
Bring a can or two or package(s) of dry food on Shabbat for the
Food for the Hungry.
Iris is continuing the work she had done with our beloved Izzy,
and will transport collected food to the Church for distribution to those in need.
4
Please Join Us For An Open House
Rabbi Ned and Mary Soltz
Sunday, November 9 - 1:00-4:00 pm
249 Carlton Terrace
Teaneck, New Jersey
RSVP to [email protected] or 817-654-9572
Cora Freedman’s Speech as She Was Honored on Simchat Torah as
Kalat Bereshit
It has been a good experience for me to pull
my thoughts together about my evolving Jewish
beliefs and practices and how I got to M’Vakshe
Derekh.
My parents were the children of immigrants
from the Pale of Settlement and were raised in Orthodox homes. They each became educated-my
father was a lawyer and my mother a teacher, and
as was common for many of the children of immigrants their religion became Socialism.
My brother and I were brought up in Brooklyn with a big Jewish population and we certainly
knew that we were Jewish, but there was very little
practice of the faith or celebration of it in my parents’
home. My brother was Bar Mitzvahed, prepared by
a tutor after my mother discovered that he escaped
from more standard preparation by riding his bike.
My parents did send me to a Jewish Federation
camp-Wel-Met, where we celebrated Shabbat and
got cleaned up and dressed in white on Friday
nights. I have always said that everything that I
learned about Judaism and sex was at Camp WelMet.
And then I went to Smith College where
there was a strict 10% quota for Jewish women and
I experienced anti-Semitism, cloaked as anti-New
Yorkism for the first time in my very sheltered life.
Unfortunately I had few warm memories or positive
feelings or even knowledge about Judaism to sustain me. I had two romances with non-Jewish men,
at which my mother was horrified and begged me to
end, and since I was eighteen I tearfully did.
And then I met the answer to my Jewish problem-MICHAEL FREEDMAN. Michael was the son of
an Orthodox Rabbi, knew all about the practice of Judaism and loved his faith. I have always said that in
our own way, we were a mixed marriage. I was happy
to keep a Kosher home and learn about and celebrate
the holidays. Through Michael I learned an enormous
amount about Judaism-history and practice. But, as is
obvious there are still gaping holes in my knowledgelike knowing how to read Hebrew or even the most
basic prayers. When we first moved to Scarsdale we
joined Young Israel when it still met in the rabbi’s
basement and my children went to Hebrew School
there. Larry performed the entire morning service at
his Bar Mitzvah and when he stood next to me at the
Kol Nidre Service this year, it was as if he had channeled Michael. When Debbie was a freshman in college she announced that she would not come home
for the Holidays unless we joined a synagogue where
she could sit with her father and brother. So we
joined the Scarsdale Synagogue, which is Reform as
you all know. Their services were fine for me and
okay for Michael, but because my children had not
Continued on next page
5
Continued from previous page
gone to Hebrew School there and the congregation
was so large there were very few people whom we
got to know.
Twenty years ago Debbie married Steven who
had gone to the Yeshiva of Flatbush and they send
their 3 daughters to Heschel, a Jewish day school,
where the high school students chose the minyan that
they attend each day-Allie(16) goes to a Feminist
minyan and Sophie(14)to an Orthodox one. Both Michael and I were very pleased that the girls are getting this rich Continued on top of next page
Continued from previous page
education.
Fast forward to five years ago when my beloved husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and died five months later. Each of us got a rabbi
to talk with Michael. Steve Klein of the Scarsdale
Synagogue talked and prayed with Michael throughout his illness and was a great comfort to me. Debbie
got the rabbi of her Synagogue and Larry who tutors
students for the SATs got a former student who was a
rabbi and had served his internship at the Bellevue
prison ward. Michael loved that. When Michael was
sort of out of it Rabbi Klein ended the prayer with
Amen and Michael said that he wanted a Men’s Service and I reminded him that we belonged to a Reform Synagogue. Rabbi Klein helped us prepare for
Michael’s death, plan the service and Shiva and
Michael’s funeral was in the Scarsdale Synagogue.
Judaism is wonderful in that the religion tells you just
what to do at each stage of this momentous transition, tuned in to emotional needs in a mystical way. I
spent a lot of time figuring out what it would say on
Michael’s headstone and it is a quote from Rabbi
Heschel –“The Divine sings in noble deeds.”
Now the problem arose for me. What synagogue would I belong to? Rabbi Klein was retiring
at the Scarsdale Synagogue and the congregation
was enormous. One day when I was walking I met
Jane Solomon,who also had belonged to the Scarsdale Synagogue, and she told me about M’Vakshe
Derekh. I went to the Open House and as it is said
“The rest is history.” Reconstructionist Judaism fits
my view of the Divine and I found M’vakshe Derekh
a very easy place to attend as a single person.
This was one of the first big decisions that I made
for myself as a widow. I think Michael would have
loved it here and been a valuable addition. Sometimes I miss him the most during Services. He
would be wearing his grey pants and blue blazer
and be tall and knowledgeable standing beside me.
M’vakshe Derekh is such a welcoming atmosphere
and offers food for the intellect as well. I am even
trying to learn to read Hebrew and at this point I
want to thank my morah, Helaine Miller, for her gentle patience as I struggle with the alef bet.
Please join us for Rabbi Soltz’s
TWO REMAINING
Fall Lecture Series
Topic:The Documents of the Middle East
November 1 & 8.
Rabbi Soltz will examine sections of the original documents the define Israel, the Palestinians and the peace process.
These will include The Balfour Declaration, Israel’s Declaration of Independence, The PLO
Charter, The Hamas Charter, Camp David, Oslo, the Geneva Convention among others.
It is an ambitious task for 4 weeks but even the highlights of these documents can help provide us tremendous insight into the
complexities of Israel’s situation.
Coffee and Bagels at 8:30—Lecture at 9AM
6
Tributes
From
Jack Chachkes & Jane David
In loving memory of Emanuel Chachkes, Selma Chachkes, and
Cameron David; and appreciation of Jane’s coming to Jack’s
Kiddush
Rita and Jack Clark
In loving memory of Rita’s mother, Eleanor Joseph
Rosalind Chachkes, Louise and Happy Birthday to Jack Chachkes
Larry Davis, Florence and Phil
Dworetzky
Norma and Ed Dworetzky
In loving memory of Norma’s parents, Selma and Emanuel
Chachkes; in honor of Jack Chachkes’ birthday; get well wishes to
Joe Fibel; congratulations to Evin and Carole Rubin on the
marriage of their daughter
To all M'Vakshe Derekh Members,
Your Friends, Neighbors and Art Lovers
There are still two art lectures remaining of the Fall M’vD lecture series.
As always, Art Historian, Irene Wisoff , will continue to expose us and
teach us with her fabulous slide lectures .
The two remaining lectures, will parallel Autumn Museum highlights,
and her lectures will be the following:
Norman Rockwell
Berkshire Museums—The Clark, Mass MOCA
At Irene’s home
For members and guests only (12 people maximum)
This lecture has been postponed to a Sunday in December. Date T/B/A
Matisse
at the Museum of Modern Art
Slide lecture at the Friends Meeting House, Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 2PM
Advertised in Scarsdale papers—Public invited
For Reservations Contact: Joan Coplan @ 914-761-0368
7
Joe Fibel’s Summer Torah Study Class
They Sponsored the Kiddush on October 11th, To honor Joe,
and thank him for his tireless efforts during the summer.
What Better Way?
To commemorate your loved one’s Yahrzeit, celebrate a family or
friend’s Simcha than to send a Tribute or Donation to M’vakshe Derekh?
For those who are not aware, here’s the way it works.
Say that you wish to congratulate your cousin on her Wedding Anniversary.
You send your check made out to the Congregation , and mail it to Carole Rubin, at
164 Stone Oaks Drive, Hartsdale, NY 10530, or hand it to her at Services.
She’s at Shul just about every Shabbat.
Carole then notifies our corresponding secretary, Cora Freedman, who mails out a card to
your cousin congratulating her and her husband on the occasion.
The celebrants are notified, contribution is acknowledged, no need for you to search for just
the right card, and the congregation benefits from a tax deductible (to you) contribution.
A win-win situation….
PS. You may chose to direct your contribution to either the General Funds or Kiddush Fund
Or you may call Carole Rubin for a package of 3.
8
IN THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
MONTH OF CHESHVAN 2014
FRANK ZEBBERMAN
FATHER OF SHIRLEY GOLDSMITH
ERIC JEFFREY SHAPIRO
SON OF GEORGE AND SELMA SHAPIRO
FRANCES GARBER
MOTHER OF HARRIET FIBEL
DAVID GARBER
FATHER OF HARRIET FIBEL
HAROLD BARTH
HUSBAND OF NORA BARTH
HANNI HABER
WIFE OF SIMON HABER
ROSE KADEN
GRAND MOTHER OF MARCIA KADEN CHERRY
NORA BARTH
MOTHER OF ROBIN AND MAURY BARTH
TOBY M. FOX
MOTHER OF DEBORAH FINKELSTEIN WISOFF
MONTH OF KISLEV
2014
Names announced on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2014
LOUIS A. GOLDMAN
FATHER OF MIRIAM CEDARBAUM
BESSIE OSTROWSKY
MOTHER OF SORELLA SCHILLER
MORRIS NEWMAN
FATHER OF LEONARD NEWMAN
RABBI LUDWIG NADELMAN
HARRY KADEN
GRANDFATHER OF MARCIA KADEN CHERRY
HERBERT STEPHEN ADLER
HUSBAND OF SUSAN R. ADLER
YETTA LERNER
MOTHER OF ADA LEVINE
AGATHA GLAZER
MOTHER OF MEYER ,SIMON, SARA,JACK
GLAZER
BLANCHE KENDALL
MOTHER OF SHARON GOLDFARB
9
KIDDUSH SPONSORS
Many thanks to the following Mvakshe Derekh members for fully
sponsoring Kiddush during October:
October 11 – In Honor of Joe Fibel, with thanks for your summer Shabbat morning Torah
Class: Jack Chachkes, Harriet Fibel, Helene Miller, Charlotte and David
Rosensweig, Steve Solomon and Irene Wisoff
October 18 – In Honor of our brother, Jack Chachkes’ 85th Birthday:
Norma Dworetzky, Florence Dworetzky, and Louise Davis
We all appreciate our fellow congregants’ efforts
to make our Kiddushim extra-special, whether in
observance or celebration, in memory or in honor.
If you’d like to sponsor a Kiddush, in full, or in part,
with delicacies from your kitchen, or by underwriting the cost,
just let Rita Clark or Harriet Fibel know.
ANNOUNCING…..
Tribute cards available in packets of 3
Instead of having to call, send a check to Carole Rubin, and have Cora send out the tribute
card, buy a packet of 3 cards.
Then, when you need to send out a greeting, congratulations, or condolence card,
You can act quickly and inexpensively. No need to call anyone, or send a check either.
Tribute cards will be available in packets of 3 for the cost of $18.00 ( minimum)for the three
cards.
They are our own, lovely, preprinted with the Synagogue logo and address and can be
bought from Carole Rubin.
You send the card out whenever you wish, and if you’d like to see it in the Path Seeker, let
Carole know the specifics of your individual Tribute when you send it out.
Call or see Carole to buy them. Send her a check to 164 Stone Oaks Drive, Hartsdale,
New York 10530 Phone: 684-9098
10
Don’t Forget…..November 14
Charity Day at Lord and Taylor
Presale starts November 1 .
Please buy as many tickets as possible, give them to your
friends, and family.
Take advantage of the sales, do your Chanukah shopping, and
help your Congregation at the same time.
The cost of the tickets goes directly to our Congregation, and
the “pool” money is divided among the qualifying participants.
Thank you to all those who participated in our first
M’vD Community Garage Sale.
Thank your Cora for your patience, and generosity in letting us use your driveway, and much
prized bath room, and thank you to our vendors, and donors.
We managed to sell just over $1000 worth of goods, and although it was cold, and the buyers were
not as numerous as we would have wanted, a good time was had by all.
In addition to the obviously much needed funds that were raised,
we did get to rid our homes of some clutter, and helped Big Brothers Big Sisters with the donation
of the left over goods.
11
IN THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
MONTH OF TISHREI 2014
WILLIAM CEDARBAUM
FATHER OF BERNARD CEDARBAUM
HYMAN GOLDSMITH
FATHER OF RABBI EMANUEL GOLDSMITH
ANNA WEISS
MOTHER OF ALFRED WEISS
RUTH FRIEDMAN TURKUS
SISTER OF HELEN TROTT
JOSEPH FIBEL
FATHER OF JOSEPH LOUIS FIBEL
NAT SHAPIRO
FATHER OF JOAN SHAPIRO COPLAN
ALBERT SUSSMAN
FATHER OF KENNETH SUSSMAN
ETHYL RABINOWITZ
MOTHER OF ALAN RABINOWITZ
ADA LEVINE LUTZKY
MOTHER OF IRENE WISOFF
ISIDORE FARBER
HUSBAND OF IRIS FARBER
MONTH OF CHESHVAN 2014
FRANK ZEBBERMAN
FATHER OF SHIRLEY GOLDSMITH
ERIC JEFFREY SHAPIRO
SON OF GEORGE AND SELMA SHAPIRO
FRANCES GARBER
MOTHER OF HARRIET FIBEL
DAVID GARBER
FATHER OF HARRIET FIBEL
HAROLD BARTH
HUSBAND OF NORA BARTH
HANNI HABER
WIFE OF SIMON HABER
ROSE KADEN
GRAND MOTHER OF MARCIA KADEN CHERRY
NORA BARTH
MOTHER OF ROBIN AND MAURY BARTH
TOBY M. FOX
MOTHER OF DEBORAH FINKELSTEIN WISOFF