june 2015 - sivan/tammuz 5775
DESCRIPTION
Jewish Family Congregation Newsletter - The monthly bulletin of a vibrant Reform congregation in South Salem, NYTRANSCRIPT
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20151
Sivan 5775/ June 2015 Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
June Service Schedule
Shabbat Beha’alotecha Numbers 8:1 – 12:16
June 5 7:30 pm Shabbat Services including
Cantor Sheera Ben-David
Freebabysitting
June 6 10:30 am Shabbat Services including
Bat Mitzvah of Ava Goodstein
Shabbat Shelach Numbers 13:1 – 15:41
June 12 7:30 pm Shabbat Services
June 13 10:30 am Shabbat Services including
Bat Mitzvah of Emily Wein
Shabbat Korach Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
June 19 7:30 pm Shabbat Services
Freebabysitting
June 20 10:30 am Shabbat Services including
BatMitzvahofJulietteBellinson
Shabbat Chukat Numbers 19:1 – 22:1
June 26 7:30 pm Shabbat Services at
Temple Shearith Israel,
Ridgefield,Connecticut
ECC visits the Katonah Art Museum.
Religious School Services.
Moms at the Religious School STARS Party!
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20152
I recently had the opportunity to study again with Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, one of my profes-sors at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He spoke to the Westchester Board of Rabbis at our concluding study session of the year. For almost two hours, Rabbi Hoffman pre-sented to the gathered rabbis an overview of his upcoming book, Rethinking Synagogues in the Age of Anxious Identity. As soon as the book is published, I plan to get a copy to read. Hopefully several members of JFC will read it as well and join me in learning from this important Reform, Jewish scholar.
After going through a history of religion in general beginning with the Enlightenment and continuing through the period ushering in the era of modernism (a history that applies to almost all religions), Rabbi Hoffman eventually rede-fines Judaism as “a rolling conversation about everything.” Judaism is so much more than one specific label -- it is a religion, culture, civiliza-tion, nation, and more. Rabbi Hoffman believes that the role of religion is to give people a sense of deep self, helping them understand who they are at their core. As a culture filled with wisdom literature through the centuries and millennia, Judaism offers us the vocabulary to engage in conversations about who we are at our most fundamental and intimate level. Through Jewish experiences and education, we learn to express ourselves, our beliefs, and our values. Judaism provides the words that define our essence.
I was fascinated by the study session, and it made me think of many ways to enhance the lives of JFC members. Central to this concept is the necessity for Jews to engage in the conversation in the first place. As members of JFC, you have
access to traditions and resources that can help you express yourself as a Jew and as a human being. Through teaching and prayer, celebrat-ing holidays and lifecycle events, I hope to share the history, laws, lore, and language of the Jewish people, ultimately helping you be the best person you can be.
I get frustrated and am baffled when our young members -- after spending a significant amount of time and effort becoming familiar with our prayers and traditions preparing to celebrate their coming-of-age with a communal ceremony -- do not return to synagogue after their bar/bat mitzvah ceremony. After finally learning some of the vocabulary of our amazing tradition, they -- and too many of their families -- literally walk out of the conversation that Judaism offers them. They drop their temple membership and choose to effectively end the conversation they spent years preparing for. Their vocabulary is stunted, until and if at some point they rejoin the conver-sation, sometimes decades later. Sometimes they do not ever return.
Living in our world is challenging on so many levels. Luckily, we have an incredibly rich culture and set of teachings that can help us in almost every way.
Please don’t end the conversation! And please be in touch with me if you would like to deepen your level of Jewish knowledge and conversation -- that it what I am here for!
I look forward to continuing our conversation for many moons ahead.Thank you for joining me and our community on the journey!
From the Rabbi’s Desk
Presidents’ Message--------------Page 3 Religious School-------------------Page 4Early Childhood Center-------- Page 5Ritual Committee---------------- Page 6
Ask The Rabbi-------------------- Page 7Social Action Committee------Page 8
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20153
Jewish FamilyCongregation
111 Smith Ridge RoadP.O.Box 249
South Salem, NY 10590Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069
email: [email protected]: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
-----------------
RabbiMarcus L. Burstein, D.Min.
----------------Director of Education
Leslie [email protected]
Administrator Kathleen Sakowicz
Early ChildhoodCenter Director
Jane Weil [email protected]
--------------------Glenn Kurlander Co-President
Hal Wolkin [email protected]
Josh Blum, First Vice –PresidentPolly Schnell, Second Vice-President
Robyn Cohen, TreasurerSuzanne Sunday, Secretary
Karen Conti, TrusteeJon Glass, Trustee
Mindy Hoffman, TrusteeRobi Margolis, Trustee
Paul Storfer, TrusteeBonnie Wattles, Trustee
Richard Mishkin, Ex [email protected]
Shofar EditorBryan Wolkin
Shofar PrinterCopy Stop
Royal Press
From The Presidents by Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin
By the time you receive this, JFC will have held its 2015 Annual Meeting and members of JFC will have voted on perhaps the most momentous matter ever to face our congregation—the question whether to come together with Temple Shearith Israel to form a new synagogue, one that draws on the strengths and traditions of both to build a more relevant, energetic and sustainable Jewish community. Thus, as we write this message, we find ourselves in an odd posi-tion: after months and months of exploration, discussion, debate, analysis and planning, by the time you read this, the matter will have been decided, but as we write this message the outcome is entirely unknown.
Both of us hope passionately, as we have for many months, that by now the members of JFC and the members of TSI will have voted overwhelmingly to form a union. If that indeed has happened, that outcome does not make this message moot; indeed, in all the ways that matter, the vote to form a union is simply the first step along a path that ultimately will unite us. In other words, not only will there be much more work to do and many more challenges to face, but the vote itself doesn’t make us who we will become—it simply gives us the power to become something new. And with that observation in mind, an observation that is rooted in the power and optimism of potentiality, we want to address not only those who voted in favor of a union, but especially those who, because of doubts or concerns or even fears, may have abstained or voted against a union.
We believe as sincerely as we’ve ever believed anything that the power to shape our future as a synagogue lies in our hands. Not ours as officers, and not the Board’s’, but all of our hands as members. In other words, if the vote was in favor of a union, we can make our new synagogue anything we want it to be. That realization should be immensely comforting, even liberating, to those who abstained or voted no. If you decided that you were unable to vote yes because of concerns you had about what the new synagogue would feel like, we ask you not to turn away but instead to work with us to ensure that your fears are not realized. Stay involved and help to shape the future. Because our future is not pre-ordained—it is ours to make together. If enough of us—no matter how we voted—decide that we will have a warm, welcoming, energized, exuberant synagogue, then that’s what we’ll have. If we commit ourselves to seeking greater relevance and meaning, providing richer and more diverse programing, then that’s what our new synagogue will offer. If our vision for worship is rooted in song and energy and joyful rejuvenation, then that’s what our worship services will feel like. All of it is within our control; it’s all up to us, no matter how we voted.
Undoubtedly, if the vote was in favor of a union, there will be an ending of sorts—at a minimum, an ending of JFC as an entirely separate entity. But whatever we wish to preserve of JFC—whatever anyone of us found special and wonderful and essential—can be preserved within a new synagogue if we want to preserve it.
Continued on page 8
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20154
From the Religious SchoolBy Leslie Gottlieb
Thank You
Notonlyisthenumber180tentimeseighteenorchai…it is also the number of Shofar columnsIhavewrittensincebecomingDirectorofEducationfifteenyearsagoatJewishFamilyCongregation’sReligiousSchool.Youhaveto imagine the smile that came to my face upon doing themathfortwelvemonthsforallthoseyears.Itwouldinterestingtorereadthemallinordertotellthestoryofthose years and what was relevant to write about through thosetimes.Butitwouldbetoomuchlikere-watchingthe Madmenseries--andcertainthingsmightbebetterleftundone.Itwouldcertainlybebittersweettoseeallofthe old JFC photos used in those Shofar editions…lookingatblackandwhiteimagesofallthetoddlersthen…nowmarriedand/orwellintotheiradultcareers.
In fact, so many families have come and gone over this decade and a half period with me as director of the school.Morethanthat,ourfamilyhasbeeninvolvedwithJFCsincethedaysofourrentingspaceatthechurch.Mytwenty-eightyearoldsonwasinmyfirstclassasathirdgradersonowthisfamilyislookingattwodecadesofattachmenttothiscongregation.IfitwerenotfortheDirectorofEducationatthattime,DafneSanchez-Aldama,andherpowerfulpersonality,itislikelythatIwouldhavenevertraveleddownthisparticularroad.JFCwasjustwaitingtofindme,anditdid.
Marching our Torah scrolls down Route 123 with a police escort the year we bought the building we now call home, our twenty-two year old daughter was in an um-brella stroller that day --and the two boys were running up ahead with Paul and Kathy Storfer as they sang and playedguitarwhilewalking.WhenwegottoJFC,wesatinchairsfacingtheawning(wasitredbackthen?)andRabbiRossmanandothersspokeofournewfutureto-gether.Itissadandhappytothinkofallthoseyears.Myfavoritephototodate(nottobelocated,sadly)istheoneofKathyonherkneesmoppingupaspillatthedoorwaytothekitchenoftheonegroom.Shewasyoungandsowereweall.Somedidnotstayforthejourney,butmanydid and we have grown old together—and hopefully most ofuswillmakethisnewvoyagetoRidgefield.Itisanexcitingtimeforsure--butonetotallylacedwithemotionforme.
KarenandStephanieBlumandIwerecleaningtheatticrecentlyinanticipationoftheschoolmergerandwecameacrosscountlessitemsofmemorabilia.Naturally
someboxeswerefilledwitholdcopiesofreportcardsandclassphotos—anditemslikethatsetbacktheclean-ingprocessaswereminisced.StephaniesentaphotoofoneofEllenElias’veryoldlessonplanstoherfromtheatticofJFCtoFloridawhereKennyandEllenarenowspendingwinters.Luckykids!
IthinkaboutalltheteenswithwhomIhaveworkedthroughtheYouthGroupand/ortheMentorProgram.There is a special closeness there that never fades for me.Andthentherearethestaffmemberswhoaremuchmorelikefamilythanco-workers.Wehavegottenalongfamouslyforyearsandyearsandthatisnoexaggeration.Havingtakenthedirector’smantlefromRuthOssherfifteenyearsago,itisremarkablethatwecouldmakethattransitionsosuccessful.Theofficestaff,JaneandherteachersandLaurenceFuric—areallincrediblyspecialtome.TheRabbisnaturallyfillauniqueplaceinmylifeand Rabbi Carla and Rabbi Burstein have meant so much tomeandcontinuetodoso.Willalwaysdoso.IcanhardlyspeakofCantorKerrywithoutthinkinghewillstillwalkintotheroomtobrighteneveryone’sdaywithouttrying.Thesearethememoriesofaplacelikenoother,and although I am thrilled to be the director of the new school, all of this new happiness comes at a steep price foruswhohavespentsomuchtimeatJFCinourhomeat111SmithRidgeRoad.
I will remember the white peonies at the entrance to the driveofourspectacularproperty…alloftheminunisonbowing down as if they were hearing the Great Aleinu attheHighHolyDays.Iwillrememberwheeling--intothe tent for many years-- my dear father now gone from us-- and the funerals of both my parents in the building fifteenyearsapart.Ourchildren’sb’naimitzvahservicesand all of the children who became commandment ac-countableundermywatchwillstaywithmeforever.
I will remember the enormous deer running past my of-ficewindowlikehorses,theMollyandGregorymemorialandtheceremonyNoahSklarinledaftercreatingandin-stalling it, the lawn on which countless babies and young childrenhaverompedatalloursummerbarbeques(SITGO,tobesure),andtheparkinglotonwhereourpastYouthGroupmemberssanghavdallahsongs—theirfaceslit only by candles and three stars as night fell, sleeping inthepurpleroomandshakingmyheadinthemorningthinkingthatIhadreallylostitforsure…allthiswithasmile,itneverfeelinglikeIwasatworkatall.
Continued on page 8
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20155
From The Early Childhood Centerby Jane Emmer
We have shared a magical year at the Early Childhood Center. We are excited about moving to our new home and making it feel as special as 111 Smith Ridge Road. We would love your help and expertise in creating our new space. If you would like to help in anyway, please give me a call. As we prepare for our move, we will need to say goodbye too. Saying goodbye is a lifelong process. Throughout our lives we say goodbye to people, things, and routines. As the school year comes to a close, children will be saying farewell to teach-ers, friends, and a daily routine they have come to expect. Even young children may experi-ence goodbyes as classmates go away on vacation or they transition to our new building.
With a little planning, saying goodbye to teachers and friends and moving from one class to another, or from school to summer, can be fun and exciting.
Emotions are OK but be encouraging. Our children's reactions may take many forms, of-ten happy and sad at the same time. Talk to your child about the positive things. Too much talk about how hard it is to say goodbye can sometimes make our children more upset. While we should never ignore our children's feelings, it's also important to be encouraging. What to Do at Home
After saying goodbye, help your child establish a new routine, stay connected to old friends if possible, and prepare for the following class or school year. Here are some ideas:
Have a summer routine. Whether they attend summer camp or spend the summer at home, children of all ages find comfort and security in simple routines. Though summer rules may be more relaxed, it’s helpful to establish some about snacking, the use of electronics, spending money, etc.
Arrange ways for your child to see friends. Many children worry that they may lose their friends if they don't see them. It's harder to coordinate times to get together once summer has started. Schedule and plan a few play dates before school is out. Collect addresses and phone numbers of friends.
Letting go of the security of the familiar, embracing a new opportunity, and exploring the un-known take courage. Helping our children adapt to new situations can ease our minds while giving our children meaningful keepsakes and fun summer experiences.
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20156
From The Ritual CommitteeBy Michael Salpeter, Chair
Earlier this week I was speaking with a professor of religion from Fordham University about the importance of spirituality in religion. She was stating that although many people may not believe in the notion of a personal God – or a concept of a God who does not observe or influence our daily activities -- they feel a spiritual connec-tion to their religion. We are probably aware of certain cultures around the world in which the spiritual connec-tion is paramount. For example, with the rising popularity of yoga in our society, practitioners of this art are perhaps feeling the spiritual connection that people in regions such as India have been feeling for the past two millennia. In Japan, where a combination of Buddhism and Shinto is the predominant religion, spirituality is most important as there is no belief in a single deity.
Most Jewish people have heard of the mysticism of Kabbalah, the spiritual study tradition of our religion. Ac-cording to the Kabbalah Centre, Kabbalah is a way of looking at the world that can connect us to the fulfillment we seek in the world. Of course, by no means is Kabbalah the only way to achieve that fulfillment. For many Jews, performing mitzvot helps us feel closer to both our religion and to other people. By aiding our communi-ties through tikkun olam (repairing the world) many times we feel a sense of achievement.
Many of the practices that we experience at JFC are geared to helping us reach a level of spirituality in Judaism. Whether it is by attending Shabbat services, special gatherings such as a healing service or meditation service, or by attending the various special events that are held during the year such as adult education courses or the re-cently developed adult b’nai mitzvah program, we strive to include all members of our congregation in the quest for spiritual fulfillment.
The rabbi and the members of the ritual committee look forward to you joining us in your Jewish journey and are open to ideas you may wish to see us incorporate in our practices.
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20157
What is the most famous mitzvah/commandment in the torah?
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, a contemporary rabbi and prolific author, says “Love your neighbor as yourself” from Leviticus 19:18, but probably because many Christians think this this principle originated from Jesus in Mat-thew 22:39.
The Jerusalem Talmud in Tractate Nedarim (9:4) states that “Love your neighbor as yourself,” … is the major principle of the Torah.
Many Jewish scholars throughout history have tried to interpret the true meaning of this verse.
In Pirke Avot 2:15 (The Ethics of the Sages), another section of the Talmud, we read “Let your fellow man’s honor be as dear to you as your own.” Rabbi Nathan, a second century rabbinic sage, writes in his commentary on Pirke Avot “Is it possible [to be as concerned about another person’s honor as about one’s own? Rather] this teaches that just as one looks out for his own honor, so should he look out for his fellow man’s honor. Just as he desires that there should be no smear on his good name, so must he be anxious not to smear the reputation of his fellow man.
A Hassidic rabbi named Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev who died at the beginning of the 19th century taught, “Whether a man really loves God can be determined by the love he bears toward his fellow man,” who is created in God’s image.
Perhaps it is ironic that the most famous and most important commandment is the one that is so hard to do. Then again, maybe it is not ironic at all...
Ask the Rabbi
June Oneg Hosts
Date Hosts
6/5/2015 Ellen Barth Robert and Robyn Bellinson
6/12/2015 Allen Gabor and Lisa Papernick Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman
6/19/2015 Jon and Iris Glass Ian and Sigal Leitner
6/26/2015 Robert Bolgar and Andrea Snyder Matthew Meister and Dafne Sanchez-Aldama
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20158
A group of JFC members attended the very successful Mitzvah Day at TSI on Sunday, May 3, 2015. There were over 130 people working at the Mitzvah Day, of all ages. It was a very inspiring event and portends well for social action involvement in the future. Among the JFC attendees were Debbie and Mark Lavin, Stacy and Julia Neumann, Traci and Molly Silva, Amy Fischer and Robyn Cohen. Forgive me if I missed anyone. There were at least nine different activities accomplished, including creating fleece blankets for a domestic abuse shelter, food collection at the grocery store for local food pantries, creating embroidered book marks for the elderly, visiting a nursing home to do recreation activities, washing the windows at the housing for elderly, creating other craft projects for the children’s hospital, planting potted flowers and baking cookies for different organizations and so forth. There was much enthusiasm and pizza and ice cream sundaes for the workers! The event was organized by Debbie Lan-dzberg of TSI, and she had at least nine other members who were each in charge of running the differ-ent activities. The level of volunteerism was terrific!
Social Action Committee
A contemporary reflection on Maariv Aravim begins “This is an hour of change. Within it we stand uncertain on the border of light. Shall we draw back or cross over?” Hoping that the vote has been in favor of creating a new synagogue, we also hope that those of you who abstained or voted no still will join us in crossing over, even if you do so only tentatively. If you can’t yet, we understand. You’re important to us, no matter how you voted, and it’s OK to continue to stand uncertain on the border if that’s all that feels comfortable. Part of us will continue to stand with you, even as we cross over. To paraphrase a meditation from our siddur, and continue the metaphor of borders, we stand now on the parted shores of history, some of us believing, and some of us perhaps still doubting, “that there is a better place, a promised land; that the winding way to that promise passes through the wilderness. That there is no way to get from here to there except by joining hands, marching together.” Please march with us if you can; if you can’t, we urge you to stay involved, even if that means only standing on the border, until the future becomes clearer.
Glenn Kurlander and Hal Wolkin
Continued from page 3 - Presidents Message
Ifwetakethissteptogethernowitwillfeellikeafamilyleavingahometogether—findinganewonewithnewfriendsandpossibilitiesjustashortdistanceaway.Let’smakenewmemoriestheretogether.Iinviteyoutojoinmeonthisjourneyforanother180monthsormore…
TodahRabbahto…
Allofyou!
Continued from page 4 - Religious School
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 20159
www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
Shabbat of Song Friday, June 5, 7:30 pm
Jewish Family Congregation, 111 Smith Ridge Road, PO Box 249, South Salem, NY 10590 914-763-3028 [email protected]
Join us for a service of Song, Spirit and Celebration with Cantor Sheera Ben-David.
We will unveil a new program that will grant scholarship funds in memory of our beloved
Cantor Kerry Ben-David.
Cantor Sheera Ben-David has spent her life immersed in the Jewish community. After receiving a BFA from New York Univer-sity – Tisch School of the Arts, Cantor Ben-David began her cantorial career here at Jewish Family Congregation.
As an extension of her love and de-votion to music, she is an award winning cabaret singer. She has delivered multiple critically-acclaimed runs at the former Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel, The Royal Room of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, and other pop-ular venues around the country where she received rave reviews from The New York Times.
Currently, Cantor Ben-David is com-pleting her studies at Hebrew Union College. Cantor Ben-David lives in Manhattan with her husband, Steven Miller and their two young boys, Baxter & Shadow.
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201510
Long-time JFC member and teacher
Rona Salpeteris available to help with:
babysitting, house sitting, animal care—& all jobs requiring a loving caring individual! References are available upon request.
Contact Rona at # 914-643-8176.
Shopping at Amazon through Jewish Family Congregation website gives us a commission on all purchases.
This is a convenient way to support JFC and a convenient way to shop.
http://www.amazon.com/?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&link_code=hom&tag=jewishfamil0e-20
Each time you shop at DeCicco Market, tell the cashier you are a JFC member before ringing up your
order. JFC will receive a rebate from your purchases.
Thank You For Your Generous Support!
Easy ways to Support JFC
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201511
2015-16 Religious School Program Schedule
Grades K-6- One Day a Week Program Early Tuition Rate Deadline: May 15, 2015 – Online Registration Now Available
www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
Grades K-1: Thursdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music)
or Sunday 10:15-12:00 pm (includes service/music) Grades 2-3: Thursdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music) Grades 4-6: Sundays 9:00 am-12:00 pm (includes service/music) Enrichment Day Option-Additional Class Meeting Day-Combined Grade Classes (includes service/music) Grades K-2, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grades 3-4, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grades 5-6, Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm Grade 7 (B’nai Mitzvah): 2 day-a-week program plus tutoring Wednesdays 4:15-6:00 pm (includes service/music) plus Sundays 10:15 am-12:00 pm (includes service/music) plus 24 half hour private B’nai Mitzvah tutoring sessions- arranged individually plus Additional attendance required at several Friday & Saturday Shabbat services Confirmation I & II: Weekly pizza dinner, Thursdays, Grades 8 & 9 - 5:30-6:15 pm Grade 8/Confirmation I Class (Confirmation is a 2 year program): Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 pm Grade 9/Confirmation II Class: Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 pm Student Mentor Program- SMP-Teaching Training Program: New Grade 9 (& up) students enroll Weekly assistant teaching participation (Sunday, Wednesday or Thursday) plus pedagogy class (year one only), Sundays 9:45-10:15 am Student Leaders Program- SLP- Grades 9-12 Individualized leadership/volunteer/aide opportunity Program participation to be arranged individually
Grade 9 Mentors & Leaders: salaried positions/posts assigned individually, SMP students continue in grades 10-12 without instructional class to assist teachers or lead classes as instructors NFTY/NAR & BBYO Youth Groups (Grades 8-12) Each YG meets twice a month NFTY meets Thursdays, 7:15-8:15 pm following Confirmation I & II BBYO meets on Sundays, time TBD and runs independent of the Religious School Confirmation students are all YG members Grades 10-12: Post Confirmation (1X month), Tuesdays 6:15-7:30 pm
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201512
Summer Shabbat Schedule 6 pm Friday Services at Temple Shearith Israel:
July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, August 7, August 14, August 21
Last Friday of July and August at Jewish Family Congregation
Barbeque 6 pm, 7:30 pm Services
July 31 and August 28
Please RSVP one week before the event to:
Jewish Family Congregation, 111 Smith Ridge Road, South Salem, NY 10590 914-763-3028 Temple Shearith Israel, 46 Peaceable Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 203-438-6589
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201514
Donations
Early Childhood Center Fund
Seth and Cassie Hollander
General Fund
Vivian Sager in memory of Carole Alexander
Doris Hettmansberger in memory of Milton Rubin, Martin Bressler, Dorothy Martin & Cantor Ben-David
Robi Margolis in memory of Arthur Margolis
Karen Taylor and Dave Kaminer
Religious School Fund
Elizabeth Strasser and Steve Silvera in memory of Carole Alexander
Ronni and Allen Horn in memory of Arthur Margolis
Dr. Resa and Charles Fremed in memory of Cantor Kerry Ben-David
Donations made after the tenth of the month will appear in next month’s Shofar.
Heath & Danielle BenderPeter & Liza Breslin
Rick & Bobbie CohlanRoger & Jo Drawec
Allen Gabor & Lisa PapernikSteven & Melissa Goodstein
Terry Kalter & Marcia Sher-KalterGlenn & Deborah Kurlander
Shaun Levine & Marnie Cohen- LevineRichard & Catherine Mishkin
Richard & Johanna PerlmanAlan & Jeanette SandersGordon & Polly Schnell
Steve & Cheryl ShainmarkAlan & Lisa Sheptin
Michael & Traci SilvaJohn & Barbara SternPaul & Peri StevelmanMichael & Emily Wein
Hal & Laurie Wolkin
Anniversaries
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201515
Don’t forget to stop in and check out the JFC Gift Shop!
If you are interested in
purchasing anything, please
let us know in the JFC Office.
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201516
Malcolm Brown
MIT Chemical Engineer B.S., M.S.
Pr ep • SAT, PSAT & ACT
Math • 7th & 8th Grades• High School sequence• Calculus
Sc i en c e • Chemistry Physics
• Earth Science
For further information, contact:
Telephone: (914) 533-5468 E-mail: [email protected] Registered State tutoring. Serving Westchester and Fairfield
MB TUTORING Hundreds of students helped to excel
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201517
Annual Westchester Jewish Music
and Arts Festival
Save the Date
Free and open to all !
For More information contact The Westchester Jewish Council at 914-328-7001 or
The Westchester Jewish Council, The Westchester Klezmer Program, Kol Hazzanim - The Cantors of
Westchester in cooperation with Westchester County Parks are proud to present the 41st Annual Westchester
Jewish Music & Arts Festival
The Festival will feature:
From the Jewish community of France, a special appearance by Welt
performing the songs of the Yiddishland and more ▪
Nafshenu ▪
A Shmear of musical mayhem with Bobby Doowah ▪
Cantor Randy Herman ▪
Members of Kol Hazzanim - the Cantors of Westchester ▪
The Westchester Klezmer program ▪
Israeli dancing sponsored by Camp Zeke
Family Fun Activities
Israeli Dancing Vendor Exhibition
area including Jewish Art and Judaica
Information on Westchester’s
Jewish organizations Kosher food
available for purchase
Rain or Shine
Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kensico Dam Plaza,
Valhalla, NY
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201519
Birthdays
Jonathan Auerbach
Newton Bersch
Samuel Breslin
Brian Chipman
Shoshana Chipman
Julie Conti
Roger Drawec
Robert Fischman
Alison Ganis
Daniela Goldman
Ava Goodstein
Martha Gordon
Renna Gottlieb
Max Grzymala
Doris Hettmansberger
Andrew Junquera
Emily Klotz
Mark Lavin
Spencer Levine
Shaun Levine
Talia Levinsohn
Graeme Lipper
Danielle Ossher
Alexander Ozols
Lisa Papernik
Alex Perlman
Max Polinsky
Nathaniel Rappaport
Abigail Rudin
Jonathan Rudin
Meredith Rudin
Sarah Senese
Tony Senese
Heather Sherr
Elyse Sherr
Noah Sklarin
Andrea Stegman
Barbara Stern
Samantha Stevelman
Byron Wilson
Hal Wolkin
Adolph Joseph Auerbacher
Yehuda Ayash
Norda Berlin
Judith Birnbaum
Estelle Bloch
Ed Blum
Maurice L. Cohen
David Dutka
Indy Goldman
Marlene Ellen Klotz
Tim Neary Tuesday
Lillian Paget
Ruth Pottish
Martin Shapiro
Col. Bland Ballard Simmons USAF Ret
Philip Stein
Bernard Yegelwel
Clarissa Zaltzberg
Yahrzeits
Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Sivan 5775 / June 201520
Non Profit Organization
Postage PAID
White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022
Current Resident Or
Make sure to check out our calendar for up to date events at www.jewishfamilycongregation.org
Zach attack at Religious School!
Upcoming Events
Friday, June 5 Shabbat Services including Cantor Sheera Ben-DavidFriday, June 12 ECC GraduationFriday, June 26 Shabbat Services at TSI, 7:30 pmFriday, July 3 Summer Shabbat Services begin at TSI, 6 pmFriday, July 31 Barbeque at JFC 6 pm