orz 403 mar/apr news 16.4

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ORZARUAV O L U M E 1 6 , I S S U E 4 A D A R / N I S A N / I Y A R 5 7 6 4 M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 4

Congregation

Revisiting the Prophets: Who They Were,What They Are

NORMAN PODHORETZOr Zarua Birthday Party, March 24, 8:00 p.m.

Norman Podhoretz, editor-at-large of Commentary magazine,

will deliver the Lucy DawidowiczLecture at Congregation Or Zarua’s15th Birthday Party on Tuesday,March 24th at 8:00 p.m. His topicwill be “Revisiting the Prophets:

Who They Were, What They Are.”Mr. Podheretz will also speak aboutLucy Dawidowicz, whom he hasreferred to as the conscience of worldJewry. He frequently published articlesby Mrs. Dawidowicz, author of The War Against the Jews.

Mr. Podhoretz, a Brooklynnative, was a Pulitzer Scholar atColumbia University, from which hegraduated in 1950. He holdsBachelor’s and Master’s degrees fromCambridge University, where he wasa Fulbright Scholar and a KellettFellow, as well as a degree in Hebrew Literature from the JewishTheological Seminary . He has beenawarded honorary doctorates fromJTS, Hamilton College, and Yeshiva,Boston and Adelphi Universities.

A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Podhoretz is a member of theCouncil on Foreign Relations and a former chairman of the NewDirections Advisory Committee, anon-governmental group consultedby the United States InformationAgency.

Mr. Podhoretz is a frequent lecturer and contributor to major

American periodicals. He hasauthored ten books, including: TheNorman Podhoretz Reader: A Selectionof His Writings from the 1950’s throughthe 1990’s (2004); The Prophets: WhoThey Were, What They Are (2002);My Love Affair with America (2000);Why We Were in Vietnam (1982) andBreaking Ranks: A Political Memoir(1979).

Mr. Podhoretz and his wife, thewell-known author Midge Decter, are members of Congregation Or Zarua.

Please join us for this Or Zaruabirthday event. Dessert and coffeewill be served.

IN THIS ISSUE

Youth Education Department.....2

Purim and Pesah .........................3

Yom HaShoah Service ................3

Discussing Death.........................4

Sunday Minyan Programs ..........5

Purim Spiel ..................................5

Hesed Committee ........................6

Jewish Law Course .....................7

Calendar ...............................Insert

PassoverGuidelines.................................8Services...................................10Meal Match/Hametz Forms...11

Shabbat Across Or Zarua ...........9

Or Zarua Community ...............12

Activities Supporting Israel ....15

Book Discussion Series ............16

Norman Podhoretz

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C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 4

CONGREGATION

ORZARUAA CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE

FOUNDED 1989

127 EAST 82ND STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10028

phone:212-452-2310 fax:212-452-2103

www.orzarua.org

DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, Rabbi

DANIEL J. BELLER, President

BARBARA J. BOLSHON, Executive Director

ILANA BURGESS, Youth Education Director

NEWSLETTER

JEANETTE BRIZEL, Editor

PAULETTE SCHNEIDER, Associate Editor

Editor’s Note

The OZ newsletter welcomes arti-cles submitted by Congregants.

Articles should be no longer than250 words and may be edited forlength and clarity. They should besubmitted by e-mail (as an attachment,as well as pasted into the text) to the office at [email protected]. Ifpossible, digital images should behigh-resolution files at 300 dpi.

In order for our newsletter tomaintain a bimonthly schedule, allarticles must be received six weeksbefore the issue date. The deadlinefor the May/June 2004 issue isWednesday, March 24th.

Many thanks for helping the news-letter to appear in a timely fashion.

Youth Education DepartmentBy Ilana Burgess

The Hebrew School had manyinteresting and exciting activi-

ties over the past two months: Weparticipated in the city-wide Zimriyahsong festival. Our students receivedtheir report cards. We started a newprogram to encourage the school family, class by class, to get to knoweach other and to participate in theFriday night service.

Every month, a different class willjoin the Congregation as an activepart of the Friday evening service.After the service, the students con-vene with their parents for dinner. Let me share with you the thoughts of Shira Engel about the evening:

“On Friday, January 16th, theVav class was invited to lead theKiddush and sing L’cha Dodi at theservice. Prior to that, Rabbi Wechslerpaid a visit to our class to talk to usabout the structure of the service and to review some of the prayers and songs. We also talked about the Rabbi’s speech, which was aboutobserving Shabbat. What doesobserving Shabbat really mean? Does it merely mean that we cannotdo business on Shabbat or does it also mean that we cannot have others doing business for us?

Later on, the Vav class got to par-ticipate in the service. We sang with

our youthful voices, then led theKiddush and drank a little wine.Well, let’s just say that our parentsdrank. After the actual service westayed in the sanctuary a little whilelonger to watch the Torah beingrolled to Saturday’s portion.

As a Bat Mitzvah student, I wasdelighted to see the words of theTorah in front of me and to knowhow precious and important they arefor me and for my family.

At dinner I looked around and Iknew that without even a single oneof us, we would not make up the Vavclass of Or Zarua and we would notbe one family joining together forShabbat.

We hoped that Ilana had pre-pared her “famous” stuffed cabbagefor us, but we only had cold cuts.Although we were eating cold cuts,our hearts were warm with conversa-tion, songs and laughter. As Mariellepointed out, ‘Ilana is the first princi-pal I’ve ever seen who can sing.’

In conclusion, this was an enlight-ening experience in our lives. Theevening had the power to bring all ofus together as one family and as animportant part of the Congregation.”

The Youth Department has plansfor more activities and special pro-grams in the future.

TEEN MOVIE NIGHT

Cast your vote for the movie of the night—Kazablan, a comedy, or The Impossible Spy, about the life of Eli Cohen, an agent who was

captured in Syria. The film with the most votes will be shown on Saturday,March 27th at 8:00 p.m. RSVP to Ilana Burgess at 212-452-2310 x15.

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Memory, a central command-ment in our tradition, is

nowhere more evident than in thehaftarah preceding Purim on Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath ofRemembrance, when we recall thehorrible attack of Amalek upon themost vulnerable of the wanderingIsraelites. The upcoming Purim andPesah holidays are also heavilyweighted with the responsibility ofmemory. But what different ways wehave of remembering.

On Purim, we read MegillatEsther. We amplify the reading bydressing in costumes and making a

ruckus, as if reenacting the king’sbanquet and the Jews’ celebration. InPurim Spiels—particularly at OZ—we weave the Purim story into revelryand farce.

Remembrance at Pesah is a moreserious affair. The seder demandsorder above all and focuses less onthe actual Exodus story, which weread during the winter, than on thecommentaries and customs thatstrictly guarantee our remembrance.If Purim is a celebration of our history,Pesah is a study of that history.

These different approaches tomemory are well suited to the two

holidays. The Purim story is repletewith frivolity and chance.The word“purim” itself refers to Haman’s lot-tery for choosing the fateful day ofdestruction. The Pesah story is theextreme opposite: everything is pre-ordained and implemented in terrify-ing detail—the plagues, the instruc-tions for shielding Israelite homesfrom death, even Pharaoh’s rejectionof Moses’s demand for freedom.

These holidays show us that wecan remember our history in levityand in diligence, in silliness and inscholarship. Remembering is an actfor all moods and for all seasons.

PURIM AND PESAH:Celebration and Study

By Ron Meyers

Keep us up to date. Call Lidiya at 212-452-2310 x10 to share your family’sgood news, such as births and marriages, or if there is an illness in your family.Also, be sure the office has your current address and phone numbers.

The New York office of the Anti-Defamation League will

join the Or Zarua community in aspecial service of Holocaust remem-brance on Saturday, April 17th at8:15 p.m. Members of the GreekJewish community have been invitedto tell their stories as we commemo-rate the deportation and destructionof Greek Jewry sixty years ago. The program will be held in thesanctuary.

During the program, we will

acknowledge beloved friends and relatives of our Congregants whowere victims of the Shoah. If youhave friends or relatives whom youwould like acknowledged, pleasecomplete the form on page 14 andreturn it to the office by Wednesday,April 14th. Names submitted in thepast will be carried forward.

You can observe Yom HaShoahat home as well as in the synagogueby lighting a memorial candle onSaturday, April 17th after nightfall.

Yom HaShoah Special ServiceSaturday, April 17th, 8:15 p.m.

Our Goal

100% Participation(at a level comfortable for

each Congregant)

We’re On The Way!

Thanks to all Congregants who have already given.

KOL NIDRE APPEAL UPDATE

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

418

282

Members

Total Participating

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Medical logistics of end-of-life carecan keep the relatives of a dying

patient from “sitting down and talkingwith their loved one about feelingsand fears at a time when support andconnections are desperately needed,”said OZ member Robin Blumenthal,assistant director of social work at Beth Israel Medical Center, at aDecember panel discussion sponsoredby the Hevra Kadisha on “Death,Dying and the Afterlife.”

The audience of OZ members,social workers, physicians, and othersfilling the synagogue library provedthat people more than welcome theopportunity to talk about this sensi-tive subject.

Stressingthe importanceof health careproxies,Blumenthal suggested thatpeople alsodraw up an “ethical will” to transmitvalues to those they leave behind.She recommended that a dying personbe encouraged to engage in a “lifereview” with loved ones, to recollectsuccesses and disappointments.

The other panelists were RabbiHarlan J. Wechsler; Dr. SamuelKlagsbrun, executive medical directorof Four Winds Hospitals and a facultymember at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Jewish Theo-logical Seminary; and Rabbi StephenShulman, chaplain of MemorialSloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Life after death is a Jewish belief,Rabbi Wechsler made clear. “From areligious perspective, the physical isjust the beginning of our existence,”he said. “The immortality of the soullies beyond the reality of the body.That is why we say Kaddish; the living are concerned about thesoul of the one who has died.The one we love is being judgedfor a year.”

Each bereaved personapproaches that year in adifferent way. “There is nosingle way of mourning,”

Dr. Klagsbrun said, and though ourculture doesn’t acknowledge it, theprocess can take “an enormous amountof time. People in mourning don’thave to be ashamed or apologize.”

Nor is anticipation of the eventthe same as the actual experi-

ence, he said, citing the example ofan author who wrote one memoirimmediately after her spouse’sdeath—and a different (and better)account a year later.

As a chaplain, Rabbi Shulmansaid that one of his duties is to

“suggest to families what may beavailable in the tradition.” Eventhose who have previously shunnedthe spiritual may seek it out in theirfinal days. “There are prayers that ask for healing, and others that offerconsolation and closure,” he said.

Reciting psalms as a shomer,organizing shiva minyans at whichmourners can say Kaddish, and helpingthe bereaved observe Jewish laws andcustoms surrounding funerals andmourning are, of course, the provinceof OZ’s Hevra Kadisha.

Vera Silver, co-chair of the groupwith Gerry Solomon, pointed outthat when a synagogue member or a member’s loved one dies, a chain of activities is set in motion on shortnotice by a small group of people.

Silver was struck by the HevraKadisha’s importance to the commu-nity when a mourner told her howcomforting it was, when she arrivedfor the funeral, to see members whohad performed the tahara or served asshomers at the chapel.

“Let’s make attendance in theHevra Kadisha as good as tonight’sattendance,” Silver urged the audience.

DISCUSSING DEATHHevra Kadisha Panel Draws Overflow Crowd

By Martha Mendelsohn

A large, diverse audience welcomed theopportunity to talk with panelists about“Death, Dying and the Afterlife.”

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The OZ Purim Spielers are hard at work creating another musical

extravaganza. This year’s show, TheChacham of OZ, is the seventh spielproduced by our members since 1997.We are a cast of nearly 40 adults andchildren, ranging in age from 3 to 80. All of us look forward to having you join us for the performance onSunday, March 7, 2004. Servicesbegin at 9:00 a.m., followed by theMegillah reading. Then, The Chachamof OZ will be presented, with brunchserved after the performance.

Children will be making groggersand participating in a costume parade.Both adults and children are encour-

aged to dress up as characters fromThe Wizard of Oz.

If you are planning to join us forPurim, remember that we meet at theUJA Ballroom, 130 East 59th Street,near the corner of Lexington Avenue.Please call 212-452-2310 x39 toRSVP. Come early as you will needtime go through a security check. Tohasten this procedure, please do notbring bags, backpacks, etc.

The Hesed Committee will becollecting food donations for theneedy at the Purim Spiel. Please bringat least two different types of non-perishable food items to deposit inboxes as you enter the performance.

The Chacham of OZPurim Spiel, Sunday, March 7th, 9:00 a.m.

March 28th: “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”Following minyan at 8:45 a.m. and breakfast at 9:30 a.m.,on Sunday, March 28th, we will be screening “The Lifeand Times of Hank Greenberg” at 10:30 a.m. This criti-cally acclaimed 95-minute documentary about the Hall ofFame baseball player spotlights Greenberg’s hardships andtravails as a Jewish player in the Major Leagues during the30’s and 40’s. He was recognized as MVP in ’35 and ’40;Home Run Leader in ’35, ’38, ’40 and ’46; and RBI Leaderin ’35, ’37, ’40 and ’46, with most runs in ’38. Greenbergachieved these feats even though he missed four of hisprime years by serving in the U.S. Army during WorldWar II.

May 2nd: Tour of the Lower East SideHave you been to the Lower East Side lately? This area,first home to various immigrant groups and new Americans,is quickly being transformed into a flourishing, trendyneighborhood. Two hotels recently opened, along with amovie theater and some popular restaurants. More new

and renovated buildings continue to appear among theold tenements.

But we can still identify persistent remnants of the old Jewish settlement. Congregant Barry Feldman willlead our Sunday, May 2nd tour, which will include a visitto the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the former ForwardBuilding, the former Garden Cafeteria, the EducationalAlliance, Shtibl Row, Jarmulowsky’s Bank, Eddie Cantor’schildhood home, and more. If you use your imagination,you will hear Emma Goldman rallying at Straus Squareand wander among the pungent pushcarts that linedKhazzer’s Market.

We’re planning lunch at a recently opened kosherrestaurant. There will also be opportunities to shop atKossover’s Bialy Bakery, Gus’s Pickles, other bakeries, anddried fruits/nuts/candy stores. The day will begin with 8:45 a.m. minyan at Or Zarua, followed by breakfast.We will travel together via subway to the first stop on our tour, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Please call 212-452-2310 x39 to RSVP.

SUNDAY MINYAN PROGRAMS

Scenes from the Super Bowl Party:Congregants gathered with their guestson Sunday, February 1st to daven,learn with Rabbi Wechsler, eat kosherfood from Dougie’s, and view the SuperBowl game on a big screen television in the Social Hall.

DAN BELLER

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HESED HAPPENINGS

Annual Purim Donation Drive February 29th–March 12thObserve the Purim mitzvot ofMatanot LaEvyonim (gifts to theneedy) and Mishloah Manot (givingof food and drink) and donate atleast two different types of non-per-ishable food items for our communi-ty’s hungry. Helping those in need isa year-round responsibility for Jews,but on Purim it is a special mitzvahto remember the poor.

From February 29th throughMarch 12th, please leave donationsin the boxes placed in the SocialHall and on the sixth floor. Specialopportunities to donate include theBlood Drive at Or Zarua on February29th and Purim services both March6th at Or Zarua and March 7th atUJA.

Donated food will be distributedthrough the Yorkville CommonPantry, one of the city’s largestproviders of emergency food.Recommended items include dry

milk, pasta, cereal, canned food of allkinds, peanut butter, rice and beans.Don’t just clean out your cabinets—add these items to your shopping listand be prepared to donate. Involveyour children by taking them shop-ping for the drive.

Demand for food packages isgreat in the city’s food pantries. YCP needs our help! Or Zarua dona-tions last year were lower than inprevious years. Please help us tomake this a record year in a time oftremendous need.

Hesed FundYour generous donations to theHesed Fund sustain our weekly mealserving for the NeighborhoodCoalition for Shelter and many otheryear-round projects in our communityand in Israel. Please continue to support the Hesed Fund! ContactLesley Palmer, chair of the HesedCommittee, with project suggestionsor any questions at [email protected].

Join Rabbi Wechsler to celebrate

THE SECOND SEDER

at Congregation Or Zarua

TUESDAY, APRIL 6

8:00 p.m.

Watch your mail for an invitation.

YOM HA’ATZMAUTSERVICE

AND KUMSITZSunday, April 25th, 7:30 pm

Celebrating the 56th anniver-sary of the founding of the

State of Israel, the Or ZaruaCommunity will gather at 7:30p.m. on April 6th for a specialminhah in memory of slain Israelis(Yom HaZikaron) followed byma’ariv for Yom Ha’atzmaut. Thento the Kumsitz—Israeli singing,dancing, and food. The followingmorning minyan will include spe-cial readings for Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Just Say Yes….

In less than an hour, you can bringcomfort and a sense of a strong,

supportive community to a fellow OrZarua Congregant. There’s no fee, nogift to purchase, you don’t even haveto know the person (the need andthe mitzvah is even greater if youdon’t), and your Hebrew might notget past “aleph, bet.” Attend a shivaminyan at the home of a mourner—it’s enough that you and the mournerbelong to the same spiritual home.Minyanim begin with the minhahservice, a brief teaching from theMishnah follows, and the servicethen concludes with ma’ariv.

You might think everyone hasenough friends and family to make aminyan and that you’re not needed.Wrong—you are needed! Perhapsyou’re fortunate enough to think thatif, God forbid, the mourner were you,

enough friends and family wouldattend. Maybe so,but can you imag-ine the powerful sense of communalstrength conveyed at a time ofemptiness and loss when people fromOr Zarua come just because theymight be needed? It’s incredible.

When you receive a notice or seean e-mail, plan to go. And, if youlive in the immediate neighborhoodof an Or Zarua mourner, you mightget a call from the Hevra Kadishaasking you to help a neighbor. So,please, just say “yes”—the rewards areworth it!

CongregationalSeder

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The period leading up to Shavuot,the spring holiday commemor-

ating the giving of the Torah, is aperfect time to study issues relating to man’s role in revelation. MarcAshley will again be teaching acourse between Pesah and Shavuoton aspects of the Oral Torah. Thecourse, “Jewish Law: On WhoseAuthority?,” will examine historicaland theological issues concerning theorigins of the Oral Law and the exer-cise of rabbinic authority. He willhighlight modern debates about thenature of Jewish Law, particularly asit relates to the development of theConservative Movement. No specialprior knowledge is required. The classwill meet on four Sunday morningsfrom 10-11:30 a.m. in the Or Zarualibrary: April 18th, April 25th, May2nd, and May 16th. All Congregants

are welcome to participate in thisdynamic discussion of core issuesconcerning the revelation of theTorah as we move towards Shavuot.Please call 212-452-2310 x39 if you plan to attend.

Jewish Law: On Whose Authority?

Each Shabbat, we have three different grade-level services:

Infant through Kindergarten 11:00 a.m. to noon

Alef Bet Corner1st through 3rd grades 10:00 a.m. to noon

Junior Congregation 4th through 6th grades 10:00 a.m. to noon

Each month, we have a specialHebrew School Shabbat service,which all Hebrew School students in the 3rd through 6th grades areencouraged to attend. Students from other schools are welcome as well.

The next Hebrew School Shabbatservice will take place on Saturday,April 3rd.

OZY SERVICES

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

Teen Movie Night

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

Pre-Israel Day Parade Or Zarua Event

SUNDAY, MAY 23

Israel Day Parade

Save the Dates

To all the citizens of Greater Or Zarua, located in the Kingdom of Shushan:

We are pleased to announce the great event of

MEGILLAH READINGon Saturday, March 6th, after Minhah at 5:45 p.m.

Our esteemed leader, Rabbi Wechsler, will encourage the judges and his loyal court to select the best costumes.

Winners will receive beautiful prizes!

So all princes and princesses of Or Zarua, do not miss this opportunity to

appear in costume on thegreat event of Purim.

On Sunday, December 14th, Or Zarua hosted theDOROT Hanukkah package delivery. Volunteers prepared to visit the homebound elderly with bags of holiday food supplied by the agency.

This guide was prepared for theRabbinical Assembly Committee onJewish Law and Standards by RabbiMayer Rabinowitz. It was accepted bythe Committee on December 12, 1984and is updated annually by RabbiWechsler. Remember that the Kosher for Passover home is a unique and transcendent experience for adults aswell as children. Pesah feels different tothe extent that it is different, and specialfoods and practices are the source ofthese special experiences.

The Torah prohibits the owner-ship of hametz (leaven) during

Pesah. Therefore, we arrange for thesale of the hametz to a non-Jew. Thetransfer, mekhirat hametz, is accom-plished by appointing an agent, usual-ly the Rabbi, to handle the sale. It isvalid and legal transfer of ownership.At the end of the holiday, the agentarranges for the reversion of owner-ship of the now-permitted hametz. If ownership of the hametz was nottransferred before the holiday, the useof this hametz is prohibited after theholiday as well (hametz she-aver alavha-Pesah).

Since the Torah prohibits theeating of hametz during Pesah andsince many common foods containsome admixture of hametz, guidanceis necessary when shopping andpreparing for Pesah.

During the eight days of Pesah,hametz cannot lose its identity in anadmixture. Therefore, the minutestamount of hametz renders the wholeadmixture hametz and its use onPesah is prohibited. However, duringthe rest of the year, hametz follows

the normal rules of admixture, i.e., itloses its identity in an admixture ofone part hametz and sixty parts non-hametz (batel be-shishim). Thisaffords us the opportunity to differen-tiate between foods purchased beforeand during Pesah.

What follows is a general guide-line. However, Rabbi Wechslershould be consulted when any doubtarises. Products containing Kosher le-Pesah labels that do not bear thename of a rabbi or one of the recog-nized symbols of rabbinic supervision,or labels which are not integral to thepackage, should not be used withoutconsulting Rabbi Wechsler.

Prohibited foods include the following: leavened breads, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereals, coffees containing cereal derivatives, wheat,barely, oats, spelt, rye and all liquidscontaining ingredients or flavorsmade from grain alcohol.

According to Ashkenazic custom,the following foods (kitniyot) areadded to the prohibited list: rice,corn, millet, legumes (beans and peas; however, string beans are permitted).The Committee on Jewish Law andStandards has ruled unanimously thatpeanuts and peanut oil are permissible.Sephardic authorities permit the useof all kitniyot.

PERMITTED FOODS

The following foods require noKosher le-Pesah label if purchasedbefore or during Pesah: Fresh fruits,vegetables (for legumes, see above),and eggs.

The following foods require aKosher le-Pesah label if purchasedbefore or during Pesah: All bakedproducts (matzah, cakes, matzah flour,farfel, matzah meal, and any productscontaining matzah); canned or bot-tled fruit juice (these juices are oftenclarified with kitniyot which are notlisted among the ingredients); cannedtuna (since tuna, even when packedin water, is often processed in veg-etable broth and/or hydrolyzed pro-tein); wine; vinegar; liquor; oils; driedfruits; ice cream; yogurt and soda.

The following processed foods(canned, bottled or frozen) require aKosher le-Pesah label if purchasedduring Pesah: milk, butter, juices,vegetables, fruit, milk products,spices, coffee, tea, fish and meat.

In recent years, the number andvariety of Kosher le-Pesah productshas ballooned. They are available inlocal markets as well as in specialPesah stores that appear each year.Patronize these special Pesah stores,for they provide an important serviceto the Jewish community.

DETERGENTS

If permitted during the year, powdered and liquid detergents donot require a Kosher le-Pesah label.

MEDICINES

Since hametz binders are used inmany pills, the following guidelines

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Guidelines for Passover

should be followed: If the medicine isrequired for life-sustaining therapy, itmay be used on Pesah. If it is not forlife-sustaining therapy, some authori-ties permit, while others prohibit.Consult Rabbi Wechsler.

KASHERING OF UTENSILS

The process of kashering utensilsdepends on how the utensils are used.According to halakhah, leaven canbe purged from a utensil by the sameprocess through which it was absorbedin the utensil (ke-voleo kakh poleto).Therefore, utensils used in cookingare kashered by boiling, those used inbroiling are kashered by fire and heat,and those used only for cold food arekashered by rinsing.

Earthenware: China, pottery,etc. may not be kashered. However,fine translucent chinaware which hasnot been used for over a year may beused if scoured and cleaned in hotwater.

Metal: Utensils made entirely ofmetal used in fire (spit, broiler) mustfirst be thoroughly scrubbed andcleaned and then made as hot as possible. Those used for cooking oreating (silverware, pots) must bethroughly scrubbed and cleaned andcompletely immersed in boilingwater. Pots should not be used for aperiod of at least 24 hours betweenthe cleaning and the immersion inboiling water. Metal baking utensilscannot be kashered for Pesah.

Ovens and Ranges: Every partthat comes into contact with foodmust be thoroughly scrubbed andcleaned. Then, the oven and rangeshould be made as hot as possible fora half hour. If there is a broil setting,use it. Self-cleaning ovens should bescrubbed and cleaned and then putthrough the self-cleaning cycle.

Continuous-cleaning ovens must bekashered in the same manner as regu-lar ovens.

Microwave ovens, which do notcook food by means of heat, shouldbe cleaned, and then a cup of watershould be placed inside. Then theoven should be turned on until thewater disappears. A microwave oventhat has a browning element cannotbe kashered for Pesah.

Glassware: Glassware requiresonly a thorough scrubbing beforePesah, or it may be cleaned in a dish-washer.

Glass Cookware: There is a dif-ference of opinion as to whether it isto be kashered. One opinion is that itmust be kashered. After a thoroughcleaning, water should be boiled inthe cookware so that it overflows therim. The other opinion is that only athrough cleaning is required.

Glass Bakeware: Like metalbakeware, glass bakeware may not bekashered for Pesah.

Dishwashers: Clean out the foodtrap or filter, if there is one. After not

using the machine for a period of 24hours, run a full cycle with detergent.

Electrical Appliances: If theparts that come into contact withhametz are removable, they can bekashered in the appropriate way (ifmetal, follow the rule for metal uten-sils). If the parts are not removable,the appliance cannot be kashered.(All exposed parts should be thor-oughly cleaned.)

Tables, Closets and Counters: If used with hametz, they should bethoroughly cleaned and covered, andthen they may be used.

Kitchen Sink: A metal sink canbe kashered by thorough cleaningand then having boiling water pouredover it. A porcelain sink should becleaned and a sink rack used. However,if dishes are to be soaked in a porce-lain sink, a dish basin must be used.

Hametz and Non-PassoverUtensils: Non-Passover dishes, potsand hametz whose ownership hasbeen transferred should be separated,locked up or covered and marked, inorder to prevent accidental use.

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SHABBAT ACROSS OR ZARUAFriday, March 12th, 7:30 p.m.

Coinciding with Shabbat Across America, Or Zarua will celebrateShabbat Across Or Zarua with members sharing Shabbat dinner

with other members in their homes. Shabbat services will begin at 5:40p.m. at Or Zarua and dinner will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Both hosts and guests are being sought. If you would like to be aguest, please return the form on page 14 by Wednesday, February 25th.The Shabbat Across Or Zarua Committee will contact you with thename and address of your host.

If you would like to host Shabbat dinner for four to ten members ofOr Zarua and you maintain a kosher home, please call the Or Zarua officeat 212-452-2310 x10. Hosts will receive information regarding informalstudy and Zemirot (songs) as part of the Shabbat celebration.

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TAKE PART IN OR ZARUA’S

Pesah Meal MatchFirst Night, Monday, April 5th

The first seder is a time to share ancient and modern traditions with familyand friends. It is also a traditional time to welcome a new guest. No wonder

it has been an Or Zarua tradition for members to extend invitations to fellowCongregants who may enjoy joining a home seder.

We invite those members who wish to extend an invitation, and thosewho would like to be included in a home seder, to complete the form on page 11. Please return it to the Or Zarua office by mail at 127 East 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028 or by fax (212) 452-2103. All forms must be received by Thursday, April 1, 2004.

Ma’ot Hittim Fund“AJew should drink four cups of wine at the seder,” the Mishnah says,

“even if they come from the public dole.” Every Jew needs to experi-ence the exodus from Egypt, even the needy Jew who cannot afford to preparefor Passover himself.

Special funds are raised each year before Passover to make certain thatJews without adequate resources will be able to enjoy the holiday. These funds,called ma’ot hittim (wheat money) are forwarded to the Joint Passover Appealin New York and to the New York Board of Rabbis. These two communalorganizations see to it that Jews who cannot make Passover for themselves arenonetheless able to fully celebrate the holiday. The funds also enable Or Zaruato invite Jews to our Community Seder who could not otherwise afford to beat a seder that night. Please give generously to this fund—many will benefitfrom your kindness.

Sell Your HametzPrior to Passover, it is customary to “sell” any hametz in the household to a

non-Jew. This is normally arranged by the Rabbi to ensure compliancewith the requirements of halakhah (Jewish law).

Please complete the form on page 11 and return it to the Or Zarua officeby Thursday, April 1, 2004, to make certain that your hametz is sold beforePassover. It is customary to enclose a contribution to Or Zarua’s Ma’ot HittimFund with your authorization.

SCHEDULE OFPASSOVER SERVICES

5764/2004Monday, April 5

Erev PassoverShaharit, 7:15 a.m.Siyum BechorimMinhah-Ma’ariv 6:00 p.m.Candlelighting 7:04 p.m.

Tuesday, April 6First Day of Passover

Shaharit 9:00 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 7:15 p.m.Candlelighting 8:05 p.m.Congregational Seder 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7Second Day of Passover

Shaharit 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 8Pesah Hol Hamoed

Morning Minyan 7:00 a.m.

Friday, April 9Pesah Hol Hamoed

Morning Minyan 7:00 a.m.Minhah and 6:15 p.m.Kabbalat ShabbatCandlelighting 7:10 p.m.

Saturday, April 10Shabbat Hol Hamoed Pesah

Shaharit 8:45 a.m.

Sunday, April 11Erev Yom Tov

Morning Minyan 8:45 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 6:15 p.m.Candlelighting 7:12 p.m.

Monday, April 12Seventh Day of Passover

Shaharit 9:00 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 7:15 p.m.Candlelighting 8:23 p.m.

Tuesday, April 13Eighth Day of Passover / Yizkor

Shaharit 9:00 a.m.Festival ends 8:20 p.m.

11


Dear Rabbi Wechsler: Please sell all hametz in my possession, at the locations listed below, beforePassover, in accordance with Jewish law (halakhah). Enclosed is my contribution to Or Zarua’s Ma’ot Hittim Fund.

Name ____________________________________________________________________________Apt. No. _____________

Address _______________________________________________City________________________State_____ Zip________

Other Locations (vacation home, office, etc):



Signature _______________________________________________Date______________________________________________

Please complete and return before Thursday, April 1, 2004, to:

DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, RABBI

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA, 127 EAST 82ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028, FAX: 212-452-2103

I would like to participate in a first-night seder as a:(check one)

GUEST

Are you planning to bring children?______If yes, how many and what ages? ________________________________________

Are there any dietary restrictions? __________________________________________________________________________

HOST

How many people are you willing to host?___________________________ Do you have any children? ___________________

How many and what ages?_______________________________________ Do you welcome children as guests? ____________

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________


Telephone _______________________________________________Best time to call ___________________________________

Please complete and return before Thursday, April 1, 2004, to:


Sell Your Hametz / Ma’ot Hittim

Pesah Meal Match

12


Becky & Avi Banyasz, in honor of the birth oftheir daughter, Isabella Noa

Barbara & Martin Bienenstock, in honor ofJarrett’s Bar Mitzvah

Barbara Bluestone & Alan Heller, in honor oftheir marriage

Debbie & James Breznay, in honor of thebirth of their granddaughter, Isabella Noa

Rosa & Alexander Dembitzer, in honor ofRachel’s Bat Mitzvah

Stacy Gitlin & Henry Katz, in honor of theirmarriage

Allen & Valerie Hyman, on the birth of theirgranddaughter, Isabelle

Barbara Kupetzky & Joshua Tannenbaum, in honor of their marriage

Stephanie Katz-Rothman and James Rothman,on the birth of their son, Benjamin Lawrence

Suzan & Daniel Rozen, in honor of the birthof their son, David Avraham

Judith Schneider, in honor of receiving Our Town’s annual OTTY Award

Cherise Solomon-Feld and Randy Feld on thebirth of their son, Joshua

Danielle Gentin Stock & Eric Stock, on thebirth of their son, Zachary Philip

Rabbi Harlan J. Wechsler, in honor of receiving Our Town’s annual OTTY Award

Elaine & James Wolfensohn, in honor of the marriage of their son, Adam, andJennifer Small

Welcome to:Barbara Bluestone Heller & Alan HellerJudith & Stephen GoodmanMichele & David RosenbloomGloria & Burton SchulmanDanielle Gentin Stock & Eric StockAmy Wolf

All contributions listed were received betweenDecember 1, 2003 and January 31, 2004.

Capital Campaign contributions are not listed.

Catherine & Phil Isaac

Vivian & Fred KenvinCathy & Seymour Zises

Aesthetics Committee Members, in honor ofAaron Shelden, and all the hard work hehas done as chairperson of the AestheticsCommittee

Becky & Avi Banyasz, in honor of the baby-naming of their daughter, Isabella

Birgit and Franck Benayoun, in honor of theiraufruf

Barbara Bluestone & Alan Heller, in honor oftheir aufruf

Marilyn & Perry Braunstein, in honor ofSeth’s Bar Mitzvah

Debbie & James Breznay, in honor of Debbie’sAdult Bat Mitzvah

Bobbi & Barry Coller, in memory of Barry’sfather’s yahrzeit

Susan Gotbetter & Tom Berry, in honor ofSusan’s reading from the Torah and Haftarah

Susan & Edward Kopelowitz, in memory ofEdward’s mother, Betty Kopelowitz, on heryahrzeit

Judith & Herbert LukashokRon Meyers, in honor of the yahrzeit of his

grandfather, Sam DumbroffYafa & Alan Nadel, in memory of Alan’s

parents, Bernard and Thelma Nadel, ontheir yahrzeit

Suzan & Daniel Rozen, in honor of the birthof their son, David Avraham

Elaine Schattner & Paul Glasserman, inhonor of Aaron’s Bar Mitzvah

Joan Schulick & Jerry Kramer, in honor of thebar mitzvah of their son, Raymond

Schussler Family, in memory of AlbertSchussler, on his yahrzeit

Yona & Steven Serota, in memory of theyahrzeit of Yona’s father, Luis Burstin

Linda Shulsky, in memory of her father,Arthur Rosenfeld, on his yahrzeit

Anita & Barry Weinstein, in honor of theaufruf of their son, Marc, and Stephanie

Eve Wolf & Owen Lewis, in memory of Eve’sfather, Robert Wolf, on his first yahrzeitand of Owen’s brother, Jason Lewis

Cathy & Seymour Zises, in honor of Natalie’sBat Mitzvah

Elaine & Howard BrownsteinPamela & Mark GoldIsadora & Jesse HechtMartha & Frederick Mendelsohn, in honor of

the marriage of Paulette Gross and JeremyPosner, and in memory of Norman and EttaMendelsohn, on their yahrzeit

Linda & David Paresky, in honor of the marriage of Julie & Mark Paresky

Thalia & Alan SegalMarilyn Shapiro, in memory of her mother,

Sarah Steiman Shapiro, on her yahrzeit

Jacqueline & Yitzchak FrankLorraine & Herbert Shapiro

Joanne & Marc AshleyBarbara & Gilbert BachMarsha & Craig BassonDonald BernsteinIlana BurgessEileen & Stephen CohenGwen & Brett CohenLeslie CornellLinda DershowitzLaurie Dien & Alan YaillenBarry FeldmanMechele & Sander FlaumMiriam FrankelCarla & David GlasserRoz Goldberg & Alan BandlerBilha GoodmanBarbara & Irvin GoldmanSusan Gotbetter & Henry BerrySherry Jacobson & Eugene ZuriffRonnie & John JankoffMarilyn KrulwichLori Lesser & Daniel ShuchmanJudith LewisAndrea & Matthew LustigJane MatthewsLinda & Robert MillerJudith NadlerBeth Goldberg Nash & Joshua NashThalia & Alan SegalSharon Seiler & Charles Spielholz

K O L N I D R E A P P E A L

L I B R A R Y F U N D

M I N Y A N F U N D

K I D D U S H F U N D

D E S I G N A T E D S P E C I A LP U R P O S E F U N D G I F T

C O N T R I B U T I O N S

N E W M E M B E R S

M A Z A L T O V

THE OR ZARUA COMMUNITY

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THE OR ZARUA COMMUNITYRana & David SilverRobyn & Bruce SilvermanBrigitte SionElise StraussAlice & Thomas TischMindy & Marc UtayMiriam WallersteinNaomi Friedland-Wechsler

& Rabbi Harlan J. WechslerJoyce & Marc YasskyNora & Barry Yood

Marcel & Sheldon AdlerWilli & Arthur Aeder, in honor of the wedding

of Jeremy Posner and Paulette Gross Joan & Jerome Badner, in memory of his

father, Hyman Badner, on his yahrzeitAlisa & Daniel Doctoroff, in memory of

Laurence Tisch and Vicki Wimpfheimer; inhonor of the birth of Mimi and BarryAlperin’s granddaughter; and refua shlemato Jack Nash

Mechele & Sander Flaum, in honor of theyahrzeit of Rose Flaum

Jared Greisman, in honor of the wedding ofJeremy Posner and Paulette Gross

Trudy & Robert Gottesman, in honor of themarriage of Jeremy Posner & Paulette Gross

Richard GottliebEllen & Said Hawa, in memory of Salim HawaBeverly & John JacobyDoris & Don Katz, in honor of the birth of

Benjamin Lawrence RothmanMaud & Neal KozodoyNancy & Paul Lewittes, in honor of the

anniversary of Judith and David LewittesMarilyn Moss & Cameron HendershotBonnie Maslin & Yehuda Nir, in honor of

Daniel KlagsbrunHarriet & Leonard MayerDiane Okrent & Aaron Shelden, in honor of

the wedding of Jeremy Posner and PauletteGross and for Shemini Atzeret yizkor

Gail Propp, in honor of Larry NortonThelma RodbellLaura Resnikoff, in honor of Aaron

Glasserman’s Bar Mitzvah and JasonDouglas Boockvar’s brit milah

Joy & Bruce Roberts, in honor of RabbiWechsler’s award from Our Town

Carol Rosenbloom & Ira Kay, in honor ofEvelyn Kenvin

Annette Roth, in honor of her father’s yahrzeitBarbara & Melvyn Rothman, in honor of the

birth of their grandson, Benjamin LawrenceRothman

Leona & Neal Schluger, in honor of the wed-ding of Jeremy Posner and Paulette Gross

Charlotte Schwartz, in memory of Jacob SimonIrene & Sidney Silverman, in honor of

Bonnie Maslin and Yehuda Nir, on their30th anniversary

Ellen & Donald Simon, in memory of MiltonSimon

Vicky Aufhauser Stein, in memory of herfather, Fred Aufhauser, on his yahrzeit

Judith & Henry Sosland, in honor of receivingan aliyah

Ethel Bass & Barry Weintraub, in memory ofEthel’s mother, Anita Bass, on her yahrzeit

Robin Blumenthal, in honor of the marriageof Jeremy Posner and Rabbi Paulette Gross;in congratulations to Leslie Berger &Kenneth Drucker on the arrival of theirdaughter, Bella Ying Shuai; and in memoryof Doris Finkel’s mother, Vicki

Laurie Dien & Alan Yaillen, in honor ofRabbi Paulette Gross and Jeremy Posner’smarriage; and Barry and Mimi Alperin’snew granddaughter

Mina Greenstein, in honor of the aufruf ofJeremy Posner and Rabbi Paulette Gross

Terry Krulwich & Paul PosnerCecilia & Allen Mayer, in memory of Allen’s

aunt, Clara Okrainetz, on her yahrzeit Ruth & Sam PerelsonSuzan & Daniel RozenJudith & Barry SchneiderLorraine & Herbert Shapiro, in honor of

Adar Eisenbruch’s acceptance at JohnsHopkins University

Lynda WertheimAlice & Milton Wolson, in honor of the

yahrzeit of Frank Wolson

In honor of OZ Runners Pam Gold, Dore Hollander and Naama Potok

Michael GoldJoy & Benno Kimmelman, in honor of

Yaakov Shechter and Marc Ashley for conducting Shabbat morning services atMichael’s Bar Mitzvah

Terry Krulwich & Paul PosnerAdena Potok, in honor of Naama PotokLiz, Stephen, Lily Ann & Katie RaynesLynn & Mark SomersteinIn honor of Jonathan Stadin’s birthday

(anonymous)

Elaine & Howard BrownsteinLaurie Dien & Alan Yaillen, in memory of

Alan’s father, Earl Yaillen, on his yahrzeit Joanne FeiermanPatti & Jerry Josepher, in memory of Jerry’s

father, Benjamin Josepher, on his yahrzeitCathy & Seymour Zises

Joanne FeiermanMechele & Sander FlaumJacqueline & Yitzchak FrankFrances FreedmanAnita & Douglas HarrisTerry Krulwich & Paul PosnerCecilia & Allen Mayer, in memory of

Erna Mayer, on her yahrzeitCharlotte SchwartzElyse & Edward SiegelEfry SpectreAlice & Thomas Tisch

Bobbie & Barry CollerBeth Goldberg Nash & Joshua NashRosalie Goldberg & Alan BandlerDiana & Harrison GoldinEvelyn Kenvin & Arthur RosenbloomTerry Krulwich & Paul PosnerCarol Rosenbloom & Ira Kay, in honor of

Arthur RosenbloomEllen & Michael Schwartz

P U R I M S P I E L F U N D

R A B B I ’ S D I S C R E T I O N A R Y F U N D

H E V R A K A D I S H A F U N D

H E S E D F U N D F O RH O S P I T A L I Z E D I S R A E L I

T E R R O R V I C T I M S

H E S E D F U N D

G E N E R A L F U N D

14


I would like the following people to be acknowledged during the Yom HaShoah service on Saturday, April 17th:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________



Please complete and return before Wednesday, April 14, 2004, to:


Yom HaShoah Special Service

I/We would be delighted to be the guest of a fellow Congregantfor Shabbat dinner on Friday, March 12th:

Name (s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Children under age 6 _____________________________________________________________________________________

Children ages 6-12_______________________________________________________________________________________

Are there any dietary restrictions? __________________________________________________________________________



Please complete and return before Wednesday, February 25, 2004, to:

SHABBAT ACROSS OR ZARUA COMMITTEE


Shabbat Across Or Zarua

15


One of our goals as a Congregationis to provide opportunities for

members to enhance their connectionwith the Jewish community. We praytogether on Shabbat and at the dailyminyan, and we celebrate the holidaycycle. Our ritual observances and participation in other Congregationalactivities—the weekly Talmud class,the Purim Spiel, the Hesed and HevraKadisha Committees—help us tobuild a sense of Jewish community inNew York City. As a Congregationand as individuals we are also a partof a larger Jewish community, whichincludes the State of Israel. This year,Or Zarua has provided us with manyways to show our support for Israeland nurture our relationship with thatcommunity as well.

On a rainy day last June, wemarched in the Salute to IsraelParade decked out in T-shirts com-morating the courageous spirit ofIsrael. Parents and children, youngand old, marched together proudlycarrying Israeli and American flags.Or Zarua’s participation, which wasarranged by our Israel Committee,provided an opportunity to show sup-port for Israel in a public forum, asindividuals and as a Congregation.

More recently, 600 pounds ofbooks were collected by ourCongregation in a book drive forIsrael sponsored by the Hesed andIsrael Committees. The books weresorted by volunteers from theCongregation. Children from ourHebrew School were given the oppor-tunity to participate by affixing labelsthat read: “To a child in Israel with

love from Congregation Or Zarua,New York City, NY.” The books willbe delivered to a public school districtin the Negev, to be distributed to adiverse school-aged populationincluding Bedouin children.

The Hebrew School also spon-sored a Hanukkah Family MitzvahDay, during which the children madeHanukkah cards for Israeli soldiersand “get well” hats for sick Israelichildren.

Or Zarua Congregants contributednine of the 75 wedding gowns sent toIsrael since last February as part of aZiv Tzedekah Fund project. Thesatin, tulle and silk dresses go to theRabbanit Bracha Kappach, who dis-tributes them to prospective brides.

Those of us who attend the morning minyan have been

exposed to the variety of Israelibreakfast products available in ourneighborhood markets. The MinyanCommittee has treated us to man-darin orange juice, wonderful cheesespreads and other delicacies fromIsrael in an effort to encourage members of the Or Zarua communityto “Buy Israeli.”

The participation of threeCongregants, “the OZ NYCMarathon Runners,” gave the NewYork Marathon a special meaning forus. The Congregation’s pride in ourrunners was enhanced by the factthat they ran on behalf of Israeli vic-tims of terror, raising over $4,000.The money was donated to HadassahHospital and SELAH (the IsraelCrisis Management Center) to help

provide services to terror victims andtheir families.

We also make an effort to keepCongregants informed about currentevents in Israel by including elementsrelated to Israel in many other pro-grams. The highlight of one SeudahShlishit was a talk by three youngIsraelis about the current situation inIsrael. Or Zarua’s ability to receivenews broadcasts directly from Israelwas tested at last year’s Super Bowlcelebration. This technology is avail-able for use by all Congregants aswell as our Hebrew School.

Without a doubt, the most mean-ingful way to express our love andsupport for Israel and our Israelibrothers and sisters is to spend timethere with them. Or Zarua is proud of those of our members who visitIsrael, choose to spend a sabbaticalyear in Israel, or who send their chil-dren there to travel or to study.

Congregants recently returnedfrom Israel have all brought the samemessage for us: Go to Israel. See thatdaily life goes on with the same vigorand joy as always. Bring this messageback to your friends in the UnitedStates.

In response, we are now planninga Congregational trip to Israel laterthis year. This will give us a chanceto demonstrate our support for Israelin a tangible way and to nourish ourselves by being there. Please callthe office if you would be interestedin participating in this trip or haveideas about other activities theCongregation can sponsor to showour support of Israel.

“For Us and For All Israel”By Debbie Breznay

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA

127 East 82nd StreetNew York, NY 10028


Please join our March14th book discussion

of George Eliot’s “Jewish”novel, Daniel Deronda. Thisfinal novel of Eliot’s contraststhe manner of English aristoc-racy with the dedicated fervorof Jewish nationalists. It is themost complete expression ofEliot’s idealism.

We will meet in the OrZarua library on the 4th flooron Sunday, March 14th at 7:30 p.m. Light refreshmentswill be served. Congregants and theirguests are welcome.

Please mark your calendar alsofor our next gathering on Sunday

evening, May 2nd. EditorJeffrey Shandler will join us to lead the discussion abouthis book, Awakening Lives, a collection of 15 grippingautobiographies submitted to YIVO contests in the

1930’s by young PolishJews coping with personal

hardship, poverty andgrowing anti-Semitism.

If you have a book recommendation, want to

be added to our e-mail roster,or need further information

about our book discussions, contactReed Schneider at 212-860-8611 [email protected].

OZ BOOK DISCUSSION JOIN THE OR ZARUABABYSITTERS CLUB

Are you interested in baby-sitting for some of our

youngest Congregants duringShabbat meals and programs?If so, and if you are at least 12 years old, please call IlanaBurgess, Youth EducationDirector, at 212-452-2310 x15and sign up for an Or ZaruaBabysitting Workshop. Youwill learn activities and skillsfor becoming a great babysit-ter. Community service creditor compensation are availableto certified Or Zarua babysit-ters who assist at an event.

orz 403 mar/apr news 16.4

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