The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning 131 W. 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 • www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N

JANUARY 29-30, 2016 • PARSHAT YITRO• 20 SHVAT 5776

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EREV SHABBAT 4:50PM Candle lighting 4:55PM Minchah SHABBAT 7:45AM Hashkama Minyan (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class will resume next week 9:00AM Shacharit (3rd floor) 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Noach Goldstein, William Fischman Rabbinic Intern, What is the Tenth Commandment? (The Geller Youth Center) 9:30AM Young Leadership Minyan (The Max Stern Auditorium) 9:39AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:00AM Youth Groups, Under age 3, 3-4-year-olds and 5-6-year-olds: Geller Youth Center; 2nd-3rd graders, 4th-6th graders: 7th floor Hot Community Kiddush (The Max Stern Auditorium) WITH THANKS TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Community Kiddush, Ruby & Joseph Gottlieb in observance of the yartzeit of Joseph's father, Arthur B. Gottlieb Community Kiddush, Miriam Gutwein Klein & Alex Klein in commemoration of the yartzeit of Miriam's mother, Janice Gutwein, Yachad bat Pinchas HaLevi Community Kiddush, Mindy & Brian Pfefferman in honor of the birth of their twin daughters 12:40PM Early Minchah (3rd floor) 2:45PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Ave.) 4:45PM Minchah (3rd floor) Shabbat afternoon groups will resume next week 39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind will resume next week Israel Friedman Daf Yomi Seudah Shlishit Speaker: Rabbi Shaul Robinson, The Truth Will Set You Free - The 10 Commandments in a New Light WITH THANKS TO OUR SEUDAH SHLISHIT SPONSORS: Rina Krautwirth in memory of Sylvia Krautwirth Hadassa & Andrew Waxman in honor of Mya’s Bat Mitzvah 5:51PM Shabbat concludes Parent-Child Learning will resume next week

WOMEN'S TEHILLIM GROUP • Monday, February 1 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more information at 212-877-1176.

DAILY SERVICES

Sun., Jan. 31 Daf Yomi 7:45AM Shacharit 8:30AM Minchah 5:00PM

Mon., Feb. 1 - Thurs., Feb. 4 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 5:00PM

Fri., Feb. 5 Daf Yomi 7:45AM Shacharit 7/8AM Candle light-ing 4:59PM Minchah 5:05PM

MAY AND SAMUEL RUDIN LECTURE THE AMERICAN FAITH AT WORK AND AT HOME ERICA BROWN IN CONVERSATION WITH

DAVID GREGORY Sunday, March 13 at 7:30PM

Join us as our two speakers discuss their recently published books about faith and religion. David Gregory is a television journalist and the former moderator of NBC News' Sunday morning talk show, Meet the Press. Book signings by both Erica Brown and David Gregory to follow the lecture.

An all-female talent show, by women, for women, helping women. This female initiative gives women artists the opportuni-ty to perform in front of an all-female audience. If you would like to participate, and for more information, please see page 3.

LADIES GOT TALENT Audition: Sunday, January 31 from

10:00AM-5:00PM Performance: Sunday, March 6 at 7:00PM

To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at astrum@jewishcenter.org

DAILY (except Shabbat) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty, 7:45AM

MONDAY The Gift of Giving: The Laws and Ethics of Tzedakah with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind will resume next week at 8:00PM

TUESDAY Ultimate Values and Ultimate Sacrifice: Kiddush Hashem and Martyrdom with Rabbi Noach Goldstein, William Fischman Rabbinic Intern, 7:45-8:30AM

Nosh and Drash with Dr. Adena Berkowitz, 10:15AM Jewish History: Judaism in a Christian Empire with Rabbi Ari Lamm, 7:15PM

David, King of Israel: Sadye and Henry Bayer Chumash Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:00PM

WEDNESDAY Women of the Bible with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 11:00AM

The Lives and Art of the Artists of the Holocaust with Ronit D. Appel (February 10, February 24 and March 2), 7:15PM. Space is limited. To register please email eliane@jewishcenter.org

Parsha/Haftarah Round Table with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:15PM Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 8:00PM

The Next Level with Rabbi Mark Wildes, 8:00PM

SHABBAT Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:30AM

Hashkama Shiur with rotating JCU Faculty, 9:15AM

Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty

39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind

Parent-Child Learning with rotating JCU Faculty; check the bulletin weekly for times

JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY WINTER SEMESTER For more information visit our website or contact Rabbi Dovid Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org

Dear JC Members Past and Present,

Over the next couple of years we will mark the 100th Anniversary of the founding of The Jewish Center. The Centennial offers a unique opportunity to honor our rich history and celebrate our many accomplish-ments while looking forward to the next century of our synagogue's growth.

Your input is highly valued to make The Jewish Center's Centennial meaningful, relevant and commemo-rative. We are eager to learn from you which kinds of activities, programs and celebrations to consider.

To help organize the planning process, we recently contracted with Beth Schonberger and Gadi Aronson. Beth and Gadi have already gotten the ball rolling and have put together a survey to gain your feed-back. Your thoughtful replies will not only help prioritize various ideas that have already been suggest-ed, but will also offer you the opportunity to suggest additional ideas as well.

We look forward to your responses and kindly ask that you visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/5XPSBWC and complete the survey in a timely manner.

Thank you in advance. We are eager to hear from you and work with you. Together we will make this a centennial to remember.

Sincerely, Your Centennial Chairs Andrew Kaplan, Andrew Steinerman and Rachel Wolf

HELP US PREPARE FOR THE JEWISH CENTER’S CENTENNIAL

LAST WEEK’S VOLUNTEER PROJECT in conjunction with Tov B'Yachad

LAST WEEK’S TU B’SHVAT SEDER in conjunction with Kol HaNeshamah

To advertise or list an announcement in The Jewish Center Bulletin, please contact us at eliane@jewishcenter.org

MAZAL TOV Mindy & Brian Pfefferman on the birth of twin daughters. Mazal tov to grandparents, Debbie & Elliot Gibber

Tamar & Irwin Major on the engagement of their daughter, Orli to Nathan Gelman

THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our dedicated CSS members for providing the security for our synagogue this week.

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to our ushers Steve Graber and Virginia Bayer Hirt.

SEUDAH SHLISHIT SPEAKER ON FEBRUARY 6: DAVID ROSENN, YOU SHALL SURELY LEND: A

CONTEMPORARY

TAKE ON A

TRADITIONAL

MITZVAH David Rosenn is the Executive Director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society. HFLS provides a range of interest-free microfinance loans and education programs that help New Yorkers address pressing financial needs and achieve economic independ-ence.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS YOUNG LEADERSHIP DOROT WINTER PACKAGE DELIVERY

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 AT 10:00AM AT DOROT (171 W. 85 ST.) Come share joy and warmth during this cold winter with an elder in a meaningful way by delivering a package of traditional holiday foods and visiting for about an hour. Our YL delegation will meet at DOROT for a short orientation followed by a one hour visit with a senior. To RSVP or for more information, contact yl@jewishcenter.org.

LADIES GOT TALENT AUDITION: SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 FROM 10:00AM-5:00PM PERFORMANCE: SUNDAY, MARCH 6 AT 7:00PM An all-female talent show, by women, for women, helping women. This female initiative gives women artists the opportunity to perform in front of an all-female audience. If you would like to audition, visit our website to complete the appropriate form. Tickets cost $15 for JC members and $20 for non-members. Visit our website to register. The show will be followed by an all-female dance party. Questions should be directed to ladiesgottalent@gmail.com.

SISTERHOOD PRESENSTS: PAINT WITH ME TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 7:00PM - European wine and cheese tasting; 7:30PM - Paint a European masterpiece This is your chance to meet your inner artist in a relaxed, fun setting. The teacher will guide you step-by-step through the process of replicating the event’s featured painting. The class is perfect for beginners, as well as more advanced artists. Participants will learn technique and art terms along the way. Each participant will go home with her own masterpiece. All supplied will be provided at the event. The program costs $36 per person and $50 to sponsor. Please visit our website to register.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CHILDREN, JOIN US FOR ADON OLAM Children ages 2-6 are encouraged to come to the bimah during the Cantor’s recitation of Kiddush and then sing Adon Olam.

YOUTH GAME NIGHT MOTZEI SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 6, GRADES 1 THROUGH 6 - 6:45 -8:15PM, GRADES 7 AND UP - 8:30 -10:00PM Visit our website for more information and to register.

TEEN MINYAN SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 20 AT 9:30AM

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY KIDDUSH SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 20

MOVIE NIGHT: E.T. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 All those ages 7 and up are wel-come. Visit our website to register.

ITALIAN COOKING CLASS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Come join us for a fun cooking class where we will prepare

gnocchi with marinara sauce, zucchini fries and tiramisu. For ages 10 and up. Visit our website to register.

SPORTS NIGHT WITH DUBE ZONE MOTZEI SHABBAT, MARCH 12 Take part in a variety of sport activities and stations with Dube Zone coaches. Visit our website to register.

TEEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING SESSION WITH ERICA BROWN SUNDAY, MARCH 13 FROM 9:00AM-12:00PM Erica Brown, a leadership expert, will teach current youth leaders and any teen who are interested in working as youth leaders to inspire and communicate with children and families and about conflict management. To RSVP or learn more about the program, contact Jenn and Gaby.

SAVE THE DATE: PURIM CARNIVAL SUNDAY, MARCH 20 FROM 11:00AM-3:00PM If you are available to volunteer at the carnival, please contact Jenn and Gaby Minsky.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS & UPDATES For more information contact our Youth Directors at jennandgaby@jewishcenter.org.

Yosie Levine Rabbi

Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi

Chaim David Berson Cantor

Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar

Ari Lamm Resident Scholar

Erica Brown Community Scholar

Noach Goldstein William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Aaron Strum Executive Director

Eliane Dreyfuss Glassman Director of Programming

and Communications

Jenn & Gaby Minsky Youth Directors

OFFICERS Avi Schwartz President

Andrew Borodach First Vice President

Andrew Kaplan Vice President

Mark Segall Vice President

Rose Lynn Sherr Vice President

Michael Jacobs Assistant

Vice President

Yaron Kinar Treasurer

Len Berman Assistant Treasurer

Miri Lipsky Secretary

Ilana Gadish Yoetzet Halacha 646-598-1080

nycyoetzet@gmail.com

Jewish Center Chevra Kadisha

212-724-2700 x555

UWS Mikvah 212-579-2011

Hatzalah 212-230-1000

Eruv Status 212-724-2700 x4

Clergy & Staff

Phone Numbers

To Listen, and then, To Speak Rabbi Daniel Fridman, Resident Scholar

As the cornfields of Iowa beckon the entire nation this coming week, it would seem that the political winds continue to blow in favor of the so-called ‘outsider.’ While many perceive this development as unprecedented, this week’s sedra should remind us that the outsider often has a surprisingly substantial contribution to provide. The fact that Yitro is the intellectual architect of the halachic judiciary, and not his divinely inspired son-in-law, is an eternal testament to this capability. In consideration of Yitro’s audacious, unsolicited critique of the status quo ante, it is tempting to see Yitro in somewhat unfavorable terms. After all, given the remarkable series of events which had just transpired to this nascent nation, events which Yitro himself exclaims are all the direct work of the Almighty, ‘greater than all other gods’, one might have imagined a greater degree of modest reti-cence on Yitro’s part. What, and who, gave Yitro the license to speak so freely? Perhaps the answer to this question, to a great ex-tent, can be found in the very first word of this week’s sedra, וישמע. Before Yitro shares his own view, he listens, he opens his heart and mind to the events which were changing the world around him. As detailed extensively in rabbinic literature, Yitro left a position of security, prominence, and pres-tige, to pursue authenticity in the desert. Yitro made profound changes to his own life, according

to many views, becoming the first ever convert to Judaism, because he was willing to accept truth whatever its origins. To my mind, what gives Yitro the license to speak in such a forthright, original manner, is the very fact that he had an irreproachable record as someone who knew how to listen carefully. When a person has a demonstrated record of commitment to the truth, and recognizes the views of others as often as he advocates his own, his suggestions are just that much more credible. Sadly, for all of us, the very specter of a political discourse, over this coming year, in which candidates would acknowledge, unapologetically, the superior ideas of opponents, seems almost laughable. We have grown accustomed to hearing literally every single candidate aver, with near certainty, that he, or she, is correct about everything. Could any of us even imagine a single candidate, on either side of the aisle, publicly conceding that an opponent had the better proposal on a particular topic? Do we have any doubt that this reluctance itself is rooted in an awareness that the electorate prefers machismo and false confidence to intellectual integrity and honesty? In many ways, leadership is but a mirror of society at large. Even one Yitro, apparently, is a very hard find.

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY SEFARIM SALE FEBRUARY 7 – 28 AT 2495 AMSTERDAM AVENUE

Don’t miss the world’s largest Jewish book sale completely run by Yeshiva University students. For more information visit theseforimsale.com.

When shopping at the Seforim sale, please use the coupon code TJC and a portion of your purchase will be donated to our shul.

Sundays: 10:00AM - 10:00PM Monday - Thursday: 7:30PM - 10:30PM Friday: Closed; Saturday: 8:00PM - 11:00PM

Johnny Glaser's mother needs a bone marrow transplant. The family has teamed up with Gift of Life registry to hold a bone marrow drive, which only entails a cheek swab. If you are between 18 and 44 years old, it is FREE! PLEASE COME AND HELP SAVE A LIFE!

BONE MARROW DRIVE SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 FROM 11:30AM-3:30PM AT LINCOLN

SQUARE SYNAGOGUE