Temple Beth El - ShulCloud

The Temple Beth El Bulletin is published monthly September through June.

April Highlights

15:30 pm Kabbal-Tot Shabbat Service6:15 pm Family Shabbat Dinner7:15 pm Family Service with 5th Grade Participation and World Autism Day Commemoration

22nd Annual Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Memorial Concert (Westchester Reform Temple) 8:00 pm

3Brunch w/ Rabbi Maya Leibovich 11:15 am8th Annual Joint Heritage Seder 5:30 pm

8 - 10Scholar-in-Residence, Prof. Lewis M. BarthSee Back Cover for Weekend Programs

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TBE Sisterhood’s Annual Women’s Seder 6:30 pm

14 - 26

Religious School Closed - Spring Recess

19First Day of Passover Worship Service 9:15 am

25Passover Yizkor Service followed byMatzah Brei Breakfast 7:30 am

26Knitzvah Corps 7:30 pm

28Leadership Development - Session (3 of 4) 8:00 pm

29Shabbat Worship Service Service with Auruf forRabbi Geoffrey Mitelman & Heather Stoltz 8:00 pm

BRUNCH WITH RABBI LEIBOVICHSunday, April 3 - See Page 5

YOM HASHOAH SERVICE Sunday, May 1 - See 3

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April 8-10Lewis M. Barth, Rabbi, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus of Midrash and Related LiteratureSee Back Cover

mitzvah day

PESaCh

Scholar-in-residence

April 3, 5:30 pm8th Annual Joint Heritage Pre-Passover Seder together with antioch baptist church of bedford hillsApril 14, 6:30 pmthe tbe sisterhood’sannual women’s sederSee page 11

May 15we come together asa community to performacts of lovingkindness. join us! See page 10

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester 220 South Bedford Road Chappaqua, NY 10514

Office: 914.238.3928 • Fax: 914.238.5735 • Religious School: 914.238.5641 • Nursery School: 914.238.5735

Simchat ShabbatThe Joy of Shabbat Led by Cantor Ellen Dreskin

Saturday, April 169:00 am

Next date: May 7

A special Saturdaymusical service,

which occurs once a monthfrom 9:00 to 9:45 am

for children and adultswith developmental

disabilities and their families.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...Beginning Years... .........................8B’nei Mitzvah..........................15-16Calendar..........................................9Cantor Anesi..................................6Gifts...............................................15Joint Heritage Seder.....................11Joys and Sorrows..........................12Mitzvah Day.................................10Rabbi Davidson..........................3-4Rabbi Mitelman.............................5Religious School............................7Temple Information....................21Tikkun Olam..................................4Women’s Seder.............................11Yahrzeits..................................13-14

Erev Family ShabbatFriday, April 1 at 7:15 pm

wear blue!

A Shabbat Service to commemorateWorld Autism Awareness Day on April 2

5:30 pmKabbal-Tot Shabbat Service

with Singing & Dancing for All Ages 6:15pm

Family Shabbat Dinner7:15pm

Family Service with 5th Grade ParticipationWear blue to support World Autism Awareness

On the evenings of April 1 and 2, prominent buildings across the world – including the Empire State Building – will turn their lights blue to raise aware-ness for autism, and to commemorate the fourth annual World Autism Aware-ness Day. Please join us at Shabbat services wearing blue in support of World Autism Awareness Day. One in 110 children is being diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, one in 70 boys. To learn more about World Autism Awareness Day and Light It Up Blue, please visit www.lightitupblue.org. This service is listed on the site as one of the events by cultural institutions. If you visit the site be sure to view the introduction video song recorded by students for this upcom-ing event.

LIGHT IT UP BLUE!

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May 1Yom HaShoah

May 6First Friday

Shabbat Worship ServiceYom Ha’atzma’ut with

Teacher Appreciation & Graduationplus 7th Grade Participation

May 8Blood Drive

May 15Mitzvah Day

May 23Annual Congregational Meeting

SAVE THE DATE

Dear Friends,

It never fails to amaze me, though by now I should be accustomed to it: our temple group arrives in Israel and something of international significance happens. This year as we were landing in Tel Aviv, Leba-non was bringing a resolution to the United Nations Security Council condemning Israel for its settlement policies. Fourteen of the fifteen Security Council members includ-ing England, France and Germany

supported the condemnation. Only one opposed it: the United States. And the American veto blocked the resolution.

It came as no surprise that the topic arose our first morning in Je-rusalem as we were worshiping at Kehilat Mevasseret Zion. Every year, we begin our journey at the home of our sister Reform con-gregation just outside the city. And each visit we break into dis-cussion groups with the members of KMZ. Their wonderful rabbi, Maya Leibovich, posed this question for us to consider together: “What are the contributions that American Jews and Israeli Jews each make to the future of the Jewish people?” And as is usually the case in Israel it took exactly thirty seconds before the discus-sion turned to politics. One of KMZ’s members suggested that American Jews should not be afraid to be more critical of Israel’s government. He said that until Israel hears from American Jews that its occupation policies are morally bankrupt, it will continue to maintain and expand its “illegal” settlements.

As you can imagine a fascinating discussion ensued among the Israelis; we Americans had a hard time getting a word in edgewise! Ultimately I did try to explain to our new friend the delicate bal-ance and difficult tension that we American Jews must negotiate: with so many efforts under way worldwide to delegitimize Israel, we who love Israel need to be careful that our criticisms are not turned against us. The United States, as the Security Council vote demonstrates, is Israel’s one true friend in the world. And the American Jewish community needs to make certain it remains so. That said, as countless writers and sociologists have documented in recent months, many liberals within the American Jewish com-munity have grown increasingly disenchanted with the policies of the Israeli government and as a result have lost much of their passion for and commitment to Israel. Until Israel adopts a policy toward the Palestinians which is in keeping with their Jewish values of justice and fairness, they will remain aloof when it comes to engaging with our spiritual homeland. Certainly they will not understand why as Jews they should be loving supporters of Israel.

Lovers of Israel, on both the left and the right, care deeply about Israel’s security needs. But the settlements are not a security issue. They do not make Israel safer for its citizens. In fact, there seems little doubt that Israelis would be much safer giving up those

settlements in the heart of the West Bank currently consuming the attention of the IDF to protect small numbers of Israelis from thePalestinians who surround them. True, these settlements may be-come a negotiating chip for future security guarantees. But time is not on Israel’s side on this point. It is difficult to defend indefinitely, maintaining let alone expanding those settlements on land most negotiators agree will be turned over to the Palestinians when peace is reached.

Still, in any criticism of Israel, we must not fail to acknowledge this great irony: while human rights abuses of the gravest type were oc-curring in Libya -- where Gaddafi was shooting protesters down in the streets! -- the United Nations was targeting its laser-like focus on Israel, the one democracy in the Middle East. The United Nations is no friend of Israel; that is clear. The United States remains the only check on the international body’s anti-Israel tendencies. However, we’ll have to see whether the US veto will ultimately strengthen or weaken Israel’s negotiating position vis-à-vis the Palestinians. The claim of Israel’s leadership and that of the our own government is that the complex series of issues involved in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking must be solved by face-to-face negotiations, and that it would be an unhelpful precedent if whenever an obstacle were encountered, the Palestinians could bypass those negotiations and appeal directly to the Security Council. But in the absence of such negotiations, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will continue to push forward his efforts toward international rec-ognition of a Palestinian State. In all likelihood, this will not be the last resolution the Palestinians bring to the United Nations. A quick resumption of negotiations is in Israel’s best interest.

***As if this weren’t enough excitement for one trip, while we were in Jerusalem, Iran sent two warships through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean for the first time in more than thirty years; and Mohamed El Baradei, Nobel laureate and prominent figure in Egypt’s opposition, suggested that the future of his country’s peace treaty with Israel, which also hasn’t been breached in thirty years, now depended on Israel’s progress on the Palestinian front. Add to these events the increasing instability in the wider Arab world, which though at the moment seems not to be endangering Israel but could easily be co-opted by extremist elements and become a profound threat, and you have a series of occurrences enough to rattle any nation.

And yet, despite uncertainty on every border, Israelis not only go on with their lives, but Israeli society remains the most dynamic and innovative in the world. Its streets bustle with activity. Its hi-tech industry leads all others. Religious pilgrims flock to worship at the sites which have inspired their faiths for centuries if not millennia. And American Jews of all ages come to enrich their spiritual iden-tity as only a pilgrimage to Israel can.

In the coming months in this bulletin, you’ll be able to read the reflections of those who travelled with me this year. My hope is that their words will inspire you to follow in their footsteps on next year’s congregational trip: February 16-26, 2012!

Rabbi Joshua M. DavidsonTEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN APRIL 2011 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

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TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN APRIL 2011 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

GET INVOLVEDThe Tikkun Olam Council is our congregation’s catalyst for seek-ing social and economic justice. Consistent with the Torah’s moral teachings, we are committed to engaging in acts of tzedakah in order to relieve suffering, inequity, and misunderstanding in our local, national, and global communities. We seek others who are similarly situated in doing mitzvot to join us in our mission and to share their ideas for bettering the world.

Thank you to everyone who donated food and gave their time to help sort and package food with us at the Food Bank of Westches-ter last month. All food will be distributed to local residents in need.

Please join us for in April for our 8th Annual Joint Heritage Seder:

On April 3 at 5:30 pm, the TOC, along with the Antioch Baptist Church, will sponsor our annual Joint Heritage Seder. The Seder, to take place at TBE, will acknowledge our common history of be-ing slaves as well as the substantial achievements of both Jews and African-Americans. This event is an inspiring one and is particu-larly beneficial for Hebrew School students seeking a unique and broader perspective on the meaning of Passover. Accordingly, Hebrew School students that attend (along with a parent) will be granted a credit toward their service attendance commitment. If you have any questions regarding the Seder, please do not hesitate to contact Nancy Israel at [email protected] orAlyson Bari at 917-825-8330.

If you would like further information about the TOC and how you can become involved, please contact Sheila Schneiderman ([email protected]), Brenda Haas ([email protected]), or Matthew Cantor ([email protected]).

TIKKUN OLAM COUNCIL

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get ready for mitzvah day early with a genuine “mitzvah from the heart”

Sunday, May 8; 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Once again, Temple Beth El congregants and friends are urged to roll up their sleeves and participate in our Spring Blood Drive.

This year’s erratic winter weather caused the cancellation of a number of area blood drives and resulted in a sharp drop in dona-tions. Our Congregation’s Spring and Fall Drives have regularly averaged over 100 pints of blood annually and we look forward to maintaining that record. This can only be accomplished, however, with your help!

Please call 762-3647 or e-mail [email protected] for your ap-pointment.

Do it Today!Appointments are set at quarter-hour intervals in order to main-tain a steady flow of donors coordinated with the needs of the attending medical personnel. Historically, the 8:00 am slot is the first to be completely filled, while the late morning, early afternoon period is usually the least crowded.

While every effort is made to accommodate the convenience of all prospective donors including “drop-ins,” those with prescheduled appointments deserve and are given priority.

Donors must be between 16 and 75 years of age. 16-year-olds require parental permission (on a NY Blood Center form — avail-able at the drive) and donors over 75 must have a a doctor’s note indicating approval. Whole blood donors must wait at least eight weeks between donations, meaning that one may not participate in this TBE drive if a donation was made after March 13. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and may eat before donating. Some travel restrictions also apply. If you have specific medical, travel or other questions regarding donor eligibility, call 1-800-688-0900 before donating. or visit www.nybloodcenter.org for more information.

We are Listeningand We Like What We’re Hearing!

Join the new Enhanced Connections Group at Temple Beth El to share ideas about synagogue life, brainstorm new opportu-nities for involvement and connect with fellow members. For more information about how you can get involved, contact Karen Silver at [email protected].

Join us as we think outside the box!

ENHANCED CONNECTIONS GROUP

WESTCHESTER FOOD PANTRY

Please join us by contributing non-perishable food for the Westchester Food Pantry (drop boxes at Temple entrance). We will deliver the food on Mitzvah Day, May 15.

Nursery School: CerealKindergarten - Grade 2: Tuna, beans, other canned proteinGrades 3 - 5: Peanut ButterGrades 6 - 7: Canned fruit, canned vegetablesGrades 8 - 10: Rice, crackers, dried beans, cookies

COMFORT SHAWLSNEEDED

Phelps Volunteer Services is looking for knitters to knit “com-fort shawls” for patients. They will supply the pattern. They can be reached at 366-3170 if anyone is interested.

This blogpost from Rabbi Mitelman’s Sinai and Synapses blog was on the front page of Huffington Post on February 15, 2011, and will become a program at the Chappaqua Library on May 15, 2011:

There’s a fascinating book out called Cave-man Logic, by Hank Davis. The main thrust is that our Stone Age minds still cling to superstitious thinking, and that in order to act more appropriately, we have a responsibil-ity to move past those primitive impulses and

cognitive mistakes that make religion feel so “natural” and appealing to the average person.

Obviously, religion can easily quash critical thinking and, instead, encourage blind faith. Our minds very easily cling to a “Santa Claus” view of God, believing that if we do good things, we will be reward-ed, but if we do bad things, we will be punished. That may be com-forting when we are children (or even adults!), but when are able to become more rational, we see that it’s a hard belief to justify. Not only that, uncritical religious thinking can easily lead to narrow-minded-ness and arrogance, and has justified wars, genocides, oppression and great injustice. So Davis argues that because of all of these reasons, it’s important for human beings to move beyond religion.

As a rabbi, I obviously disagree. The issue in my mind isn’t what religion is, but how it is used. If it is approached and presented compassionately, if it pushes people to act more justly, if it brings more meaning into their lives, and if it elevates us to become stronger and kinder human beings, it can be a great good. To me, our goal shouldn’t be getting rid of religion — it should be about moving beyond the “Santa Claus” view of God to create a more sophisticated theology, and using religion to improve our world, rather than harm it.

A couple of weeks ago, I e-mailed Hank Davis to share these points, and he was kind enough to respond. So with his permission, I am ex-cerpting a few of our e-mails, to pose two questions: 1) Can religion truly allow for critical thinking? and 2) Are rational religious people all that rare?

My Initial E-mail

... Rather than rejecting God, I think it is much more valuable to create a hypothesis about how God acts in the world, and then check our experience against it. And if that means we need to change our theology, so be it. Indeed, my personal theology is very close to what you articulated ...

I believe it is essential to develop a sense of gratitude. I believe that there are many things outside of my control and that I will never un-derstand. Since I have absolutely no idea what happens after we die, I believe my greatest responsibility is to do the best I can to improve myself and our world here and now. And most crucially, I believe that what we say about God has much more to do with who we are than what God is. In fact, I often teach that “all theology is autobiography” (in the words of Rabbi Laura Geller). And since people are looking formeaning, relevance and purpose in their life, I have come to believe that a

Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelmanrational, scientifically-grounded view of spirituality can haveenormous benefit...

Real spirituality, in my mind, is not about angels or talking to the dead. Instead, real spirituality involves looking within ourselves to see who we are, and striving to make ourselves and world more just. And while religion is certainly not necessary for this process, if presented well, it can easily help support that journey through com-munal support and through language to articulate it.

Hank Davis’ Response:

... If you were even remotely typical of the clergy, I would change my view and probably would never have written Caveman Logic. But you’re not ... you’re probably way to the left of center in your own denomination. In short, I’d like and admire you as a friend, but I can’t imagine you as a spokesperson for either religion or the clergy. You speak for what it might have been had it gone right. But it didn’t...

[Your point of view is] sadly, about three standard deviations to the enlightened side of average.

In truth, I don’t think my theology is all that unique -- and certainly not three standard deviations away. So let me ask: can religion truly allow for critical thinking? And are rational religious people as rare as Hank Davis thinks they are?


Brunchwith Rabbi

Maya LeibovichSunday, April 3,

11:15 am - 1:00 pm

RSVP to Susan Cosden [email protected] or 914-238-5641

The first Israeli-born woman rabbi, Maya Leibovich has worn many hats throughout her career. A teacher, tour guide and research worker, she has served as Rabbi at Kehilat Mevasseret Zion since 1993. Rabbi Leibovich has overseen its growth from six families to over 130.

But her work hasn’t stopped there. Rabbi Leibovich works part-time for the World Union of Progressive Judaism Russian Depart-ment and has been responsible for overseeing camps and seminars as well as writing and editing. The “gem” of her achievements is the publication of the Siddur Ha’avodah Sh’Balev in Russian. Ad-ditionally, Rabbi Leibovich recently edited and annotated the Mah-zor “HaKavanah Sh’Balev,” as well as two manuals, one for “The Beginning of Life – Ceremonies” and one for Bar and Bat Mitzvah.

Join us!

Co-sponsored by the TBE Adult Educationand Israel Action Committees 5

BROTHERHOOD NEWS

“And the women dancing with their timbrels…”

So wrote the late Debbie Friedman, in her wonderful “Miriam’s Song” about the rejoicing of the Israelite women after our people had escaped the pursu-ing Egyptian army, as described in the Torah, in the book of Exodus. Our holiday celebrating that exodus from Egypt—Pesach—will be here in April (a bit “later” on our secular calendar this year!). And after the challenging winter we’ve had, Passover—which also celebrates the arrival of spring—will very likely be greeted even more fervently than usual this year!

I’m delighted therefore that we will once again note the coming of Pesach with our enormously enjoyable and unique Women’s Seder, on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 pm. As always, it will be a festive event: with lots of sharing and singing (yes—including “Miriam’s Song,” replete with timbrels!), for the women of Temple Beth El—and, hopefully, their daughters (over 13 years old), mothers, in-laws, friends, etc. I hope you will join us as we raise our voices in song, share stories and memories, read together from our special haggadah for the occasion (which was created by members of our Sisterhood), as well as simply enjoy the camaraderie of the genera-tions of women who will be gathered in our social hall.

You can find information for making reservations on our website; or feel free to contact me here at the temple, either by phone or e-mail, and I’ll put you in touch with the person(s) handling those details.

May you have a zissen Pesach in the meantime—a sweet, wonder-ful holiday celebrated with family and friends.

Cantor Dana Anesi

Cantor Dana AnesiTEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN APRIL 2011 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

Next Meeting of Knitzvah Corps:April 26 at the home of Myra Borchard

The Knitzvah Corps meets at 7:30 pm on the third Tuesday of each month at member homes (while the temple is under construction) on a rotating basis. We find easy projects such as ear warmers, scarves, lap blankets, prayer shawls, etc. Everyone is welcome, regardless of knitting or crocheting ability. Come sit, socialize and help solve the world’s problems!

While we’re looking for new projects, we’re continuing to work on afghans for African orphans with AIDS, lap blankets and scarves for homeless day laborers that stay at the temple. We are always open to suggestions and our projects are easy and fun to do! We also are happy to tutor beginners! You can always bring your per-sonal knitting for “show and tell,” advice from our expert knitters, etc.

Future Meetings: May 17, Gail Schreier; June 21, Cheryl Goldfrach.

For more information, contact Hilary [email protected] or 238-9793

Thanks to the generosity of Temple Beth El’s Sisterhood our sanctuary is equipped with an infrared sound system which will enable those with difficulty hearing to have personal amplifi-cation through the use of an individual receiver. You do not need a hearing aid for these units to be of assistance. The units are available at the entrance to the sanctuary fifteen minutes before

Mitzvah Day is Sunday May 15 and once again we’ll be manning the BBQs to feed lunch to all the hungry participants. Please call Dick Goldsmith to let him know that you can help. It’s set-up, grilling and serving. Remember, it’s also a Mitzvah to feed the hungry.

Softball season is here again and so is the TBE Brotherhood Softball Team. We are members of the Westchester Hebrew Softball League and games are almost every Sunday morning in Chappaqua or on the road around the county.

If you’d like to play please contact Len Meshberg 914-241-4906 for more information. The games are very competitive and a lot of fun. Fans are always welcome too. Brotherhood membership ($20) is required to play on the team.

SISTERHOOD NEWS

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the aptitude of Story – context enriched by emotion. (p. 103) Don Norman, quoted by Pink, states, “Stories are important cognitive events, for they encapsulate, into one compact package, informa-tion, knowledge, context and emotion.” (ibid) Most revealing for us working at Beth El is when he says, “As more people lead lives of abundance, we’ll have a greater opportunity to pursue lives of mean-ing. And stories – the ones we tell about ourselves, the ones we tell to ourselves – are often the vehicles we use in that pursuit.” The story of Passover, when experienced well at our schools, temples and most important, at our homes, has the potential to push us to pursue lives of meaning. Lives where we work as partners with God to make the world better for all, to help free ourselves and others from the shack-les that imprison us so we can one day greet Elijah at our seder.

So, how do we accomplish this? How do we tell the story so our families and friends can relive our story, make it personal, and give us ownership of our story of the Exodus? How do we share it/teach it so that as we revisit our experience in Egypt we commit ourselves to the ethical responsibility toward other people? I suggest if you want to start with one section of the Haggadah to start with the Magid. This is the section that tells the Pesach story. It begins with “This is the Bread of affliction,” and the Four Questions. For ideas of what can be done with this, there are a variety of resources. To begin with, visit Ron Wolfson’s “Ten Tips for a Great Seder,” found at www.uscj.org/Ten_Tips_for_A_Great5814.html. Jacob Richman has compiled more than 100 Pesach websites at www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaypa.htm. Check out the list of books on Passover and a list of my favorite Haggadot in this bulletin.

Chag Sameach to all. May we, in our telling of the Passover story, revisit our experience in Egypt and commit ourselves to the ethical responsibility toward others.

Susan Cosden, Director of EducationTEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN APRIL 2011 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

“My father was a wandering Ara-mean. He went down to Egypt few in numbers and sojourned there; but there he became a great and very populous nation. The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed heavy labor upon us. We cried to God and God heard our plea and saw our plight, our misery, and our oppression. God took us out from Egypt by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm and awesome power, and bysigns and portents.” Deuteronomy 26:5-8

It is that time of year again. As I write this it is early March and Purim has not even been celebrated, and yet here I am, writing an article about Passover. I have recently begun to purchase the Passo-ver cereals my children live on for the week; and I am beginning to gather all the materials to revamp my Haggadah in preparation for our seder on April 18. Like many of you, the month of April is spent – besides work and parenting – preparing for the week of Pesach; but most specifically, the Pesach seders. It is time to begin to ask the question: “How do I make the seder most meaningful for everyone who will attend? What traditions/recipes/songs/props do I want to use again, and which ones do I want to change/delete/add/adapt? Most important, how do I tell the story so my family and friends can relive our story, make it personal, and give us ownership of our story of the Exodus? How do I share it/teach it so that, as we revisit our experience in Egypt, we commit ourselves to the ethical responsibil-ity toward other people?”

As the Director of Education, I ask similar questions at work. How do I best reenact the story of the Exodus for our various age groups in the school? How do I help our students personalize our people’s story? How can I help our students take ownership of our story? How do I connect this experience with our ethical responsibility toward other people? These questions are addressed without forgetting to make sure the students are prepared to also chant the Four Questions, and sing other songs at their families’ seder. In addition to learning about Pesach in their Hebrew and culture classes, every grade will have a Passover experience with their entire grade or several grades to help address the overarching messages of the Pesach story. (Please refer to the Religious School calendar to learn when your child/ren will participate in a Passover Pilgrimage or model seder.)

I am amazed every year at this time how Judaism knew instinctually about the power of story, and yet modern society, until very recently, has placed the emphasis on gathering facts, not storytelling. As Dan-iel H. Pink in his book A Whole New Mind (yes, this is part 2 of my reflections on this book) states, when facts become so widely avail-able and instantly accessible, each one becomes less valuable. What begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in context and to deliver them with emotional impact. And that is the essence of

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Some of My Favorite Haggadotby Susan Cosden

Bogot, Howard and Robert Orkland. A Children’s Haggadah. CCAR Press.Bronstein, Herbert. A Passover Haggadah. CCAR Press. Elwell, Sue Levi. The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah. CCAR Press. Levy, Rabbi Richard N. On Wings of Freedom: The Hillel Haggadah for the Nights of Passover. Ktav. Roekard, Karen G. R. The Santa Cruz Haggadah. Rouss, Sylvia A. Sammy Spider’s First Haggadah. Kar-Ben Publishing. Segal, Eliezer Lorne. Uncle Eli’s Special for Kids, Most Fun Ever, Un-der the Table Passover Haggadah. No Starch Press. Zion, Noam and David Dishon. A Different Night: The Family Par-ticipation Haggadah. Shalom Hartman Institute.

Spring has finally arrived after a long and difficult winter in terms of weather. The children are excited about going outside and enjoying the playground and seeing the new building . They have watched it being built from the beginning. It is now a reality. We have been so fortunate to see this work in progress.

We had Mom’s Nite Out and everyone had a won-derful time shopping and eating delicious foods. This was a great

opportunity for the Moms to get together in the evening and enjoy being with one another in a relaxed atmosphere.

We recently began a new Mommy & Me class. Everyone had a terrific time. It is held on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45. This class involves a lot of participation with the children enjoying play, music, puppets, etc. It is a great way for children and parents to meet and make new friends.If anyone is interested in this program, please call us at 238-5735.We will soon be celebrating Passover. The children will learn the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people out of the land of Egypt. The children will have a seder with their age group and make the delicious foods for it. Some of the classes will be making their own Haggadahs.The songs, foods, cooking and art activities help to make this holiday so much fun for everyone here at school. We are still accepting registration for the 2011-2012 school year. Please call for a tour or application.Mini-Camp applications will be going out shortly for June 13-24. This is a wonderful experience for children before their summer camp begins.

Janet Goldstein Early Childhood Director


April Religious School Calendar

Friday, April 1 Erev Shabbat Family Services Sunday, April 3 Pesach Pilgrimage K-2nd Grade and Sunday 3rd Grade, regular class for 4th GradeTuesday, April 5 Pesach Pilgrimage for Tuesday 3rd Graders and 4th GradersThursday, April 7 Pesach Pilgrimage for 5th and 6th GradersFriday, April 8- Scholar in Residence WeekendSunday, April 10 Monday, April 11 Pesach model seder for 7th GradeThursday, April 14 No Religious School – Faculty Community of Learners Meetings

Thursday, April 14 – Tuesday, April 26No Religious School – Passover Vacation

Religious School Resumes Wednesday, April 27

Books on Passover

Anisfeld, Rabbi Sharon Cohen, Tara Mohr, and Catherine Spector. The Women’s Seder Sourcebook. Jewish Lights Publishing. Arnow, David. Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts and Activities. Jewish Lights Publishing. Balsley, Tilda. Let My People Go! Kar-Ben Publishing.Cohen, Deobrah Bodin. Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story. Kar-Ben Publishing.Geras, Adele. Rebecca’s Passover. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. Howland, Naomi. The Matzah Man: A Passover Story. Clarion Books.Jules, Jacqueline. Going on a Hametz Hunt. Kar-Ben Publishing.Kimmelman, Leslie. The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah. Holiday House.Laufer, Rabbi Nathan. Leading the Passover Journey: The Seder’s Meaning Revealed, the Haggadah’s Story Retold. Jewish Lights Publishing. Manushkin, Fran. Miriam’s Cup: A Passover Story. Scholastic Inc.Miller, Deborah Uchill. Only Nine Chairs: A Tall Tale for Passover. Kar-Ben Publishing.Portnoy, Mindy Avra. A Tale of Two Seders. Kar-Ben Publishing.Rouss, Sylvia. Sammy Spider’s First Passover. Kar-Ben Publishing.Sper, Emily. The Passover Seder. Cartwheel.Waldron, Kathleen Cook. A Wilderness Passover. Red Deer Press.Waskow, Rabbi Arthur O. and Rabbi Phyllis O. Berman. Freedom Journeys: The Tale of Exodus and Wilderness across Millennia. Jewish Lights Publishing.Weber, Elka. The Yankee at the Seder. Tricycle Press.Wolfson, Ron. The Art of Jewish Living: The Passover Seder. (This book also has a companion workbook and an audio tape for learning seder tunes.)Ziefert, Harriet. Passover: Celebrating Now, Remembering Then. Blue Apple Books.Zolkower, Edie Stolts. Too Many Cooks: A Passover Parable. Kar-Ben Publishing.Zucker, Jonny. Four Special Questions. Barron’s Educational Series. Zusman, Evelyn. Passover Parrot. Kar-Ben Publishing.

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JAPANEARTHQUAKE-TSUNAMI RELIEF

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committeehas begun collecting donations to be used for “Japan/Pa-cific Disaster Relief.” Contributions may be made online

at https://jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx.Please give generously.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

5:30 PM Kabbal-tot Shabbat Service

6:15 PM Family Shabbat Dinner

7:15 PM Family Shabbat Worship Service, Raising Awareness for World Autism Day (please wear blue)

2

9:15 AM Torah Study

10:30 AM Shabbat Worship Service with Bar Mitzvah

5:00 PM Shabbat Worship Service with Bar Mitzvah

8:00 PM The 2nd Annual Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Memorial Concert (at WRT)

3

Pesach Program - RS K thru 3rd Grade

9:00 AM RS 4th Grade

10:45 AM Junior Choir Rehearsal

11:15 AM Brunch w/ Rabbi Maya Leibovitch

5:30 PM 8th An-nual Joint Heritage Seder

4

3:45 PM RS 5th & 6th Grades

5:30 PM BESTY Board Meeting

6:15 PM RS 7th Grade

6:15 PM RS 8th-12th Grades

5

8:00 AM Weekly Project Meeting

4:00 PM Pesach Program - 3rd & 4th Grades

6


6:00 PM Chavurah - Session 1

7

3:45 PM RS 5th & 6th Grades - Passo-ver Program

6:00 PM B’nei Mitzvah Chavurah - Group 6 Session 3

7:30 PM Religious School Committee Meeting

8:00 PM Tikkum Olam Council Meeting

8

8:00 PM Shabbat Worship Service with Scholar-in-Residence, Lewis M. Barth, Rabbi, Ph.D.

9

9:15 AM Torah Study with Rabbi Barth

10:30 AM Shabbat Worship Service with B’nei Mitzvah

4:00 PM Afternoon Discussion with Rabbi Barth

10

9:00 AM RS K-4 Grades

10:45 AM Junior Choir Rehearsal

11:00 AM Sunday Morning Discussion with Rabbi Barth

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6:15 PM 7th Grade Passover Model Seder

6:15 PM RS 8th-12th Grades

8:00 PM Finance Committee Meeting

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8:00 AM Weekly Project Meeting

4:00 PM RS 3rd & 4th Grades

13


6:00 PM Chavurah - Session 1

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No Religious School

3:45 PM RS Teacher Training

6:30 PM Annual Women’s Seder

8:00 PM Executive Committee Meeting

15

8:00 PM Shabbat Worship Service

16

9:00 AM Simchat Shabbat

9:15 AM Torah Study

10:30 AM Shabbat Worship Service with Bar Mitzvah

17

Spring Recess - School Closed

18

Passover Evening - 1st Night’s Seder


19

1st Day of Passover Schools & Office Closed

Spring Recess

9:15 AM 1st Day of Passover Service

20

Passover


21

Passover


22

Passover


8:00 PM Shabbat Worship Service

23

Passover

9:15 AM Torah Study


24


257th Day of Passover Schools & Office Closed

7:30 AM Passover Yizkor Service fol-lowed by Matzah Brei Breakfast

26BY Has SchoolReligious School Closed Last Day Recess

8:00 AM Weekly Pro-ject Meeting

7:30 PM Knitzvah Corp Meeting (Off-site)


8:00 PM TBE Board of Trustees Meeting


6:00 PM B’nei Mitzvah Chavurah - Group 7 Session 2

8:00 PM Leadership Development - Ses-sion (3 of 4)

8:00 PM Worship Committee Meeting

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8:00 PM Shabbat Worship Service with Special Bless-ing

30Erev Yom Hashoah9:15 AM Torah Study


9Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester www.bethelnw.org

April 2011

8:30 amRegistration and Breakfast served by the Sisterhood of TBE

9:15 amOpening Service

10:00am - 11:00amWalkathon for the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem

11:00am - 1:00 pmCar Wash - proceeds to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem

Wagon Road Camp - painting to get the camp ready for the summerBrandywine Nursing Home - singing with Cantor Anesi

Foodbank of Westchester - food drive, followed by packaging and sorting at the Foodbank in MillwoodBESTY food drive for the Interfaith Food Pantry

White Plains Hospital Comforting Gifts - assemble and deliver gift baskets to cancer survivorsWhite Plains Hospital Clowning - bringing smiles to children’s faces

Gedney Park - planting and beautificationRichmond Community Services

Cooking for Neighbors LinkProject Linus - blanket making

Friends of Karen - craft giftsNursery School activities

1:00pm - 3:00pm“Thank You Barbeque,” cooked by the Brotherhood of TBE

Look for our T-shirt Design Contest!

Volunteers welcomePlease contact:

Donna Held at [email protected] or 914-238-1569

Don Safferstein at [email protected] or (914) 238-8519

Jodi Falbaum at [email protected] or (914) 241-0692


M

ITZVAH DAYSunday, May 158:30 am - 3:00 pm

On Mitzvah Day, we come together as a community to perform acts of loving kindness. We will be working with many local organizations, doing the hands-on work that improves the lives of those in need.

This year we have invited the members of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society to join usand demonstrate that charitable deeds are the heart of all religions.

Please save the date and join us in these events!

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Online registration April 25 - May 13Please register by Friday, May 6 to reserve

your top choice of activities.

Please Join Us for the

8th Annual Joint Heritage SederTemple Beth El of Northern Westchester

April 3 at 5:30 pmin the TBE Social Hall

Cost:

$20 for adults$15 for children 11-18

FREE for children 10 and under

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS:If you come with your parents, the seder will count as a service!

Please bring either a bottle of red wine or a Kosher-for-Passover dessert!

The Seder will be an exploration of the African-American and Jewish communities’

joint heritage of slavery throughout our histories.

Temple Beth El will be joined by members ofAntioch Baptist Church of Bedford Hills.

For more information contact Allyson Bari (917) 825-8330 or Nancy Israel ([email protected]).


Questions?contact Lori Paprin241-6244 [email protected]

Join us at theTBE Sisterhood’s

AnnualWomen’s Seder

Your daughters13 and older

are most welcome!reservations cannot

be acceptedafter April 7.

~ Experience a unique version of one of our richest traditions! ~

Space is limited!

Your checkfor $36 pp

made payable to“Sisterhood of TBE”

is your RSVP. Send to:

Myra Borchard21 James Road

Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

check thetemple websitefor updatesearly in april.

Thursday, April 14 6:30 pm

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Our CondolencesThe congregation extends its deepest condolences to:

Lisa Sklaron the death of her aunt, Hillary Rolnick, on February 18

Adam Gilbert on the death of his mother, Marjorie Gilbert, on March 16

John Janison the death of his brother, Peter Janis on March 17

Janis Adleron the death of her father, Dr. Robert Ross on March 19

For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.- Ecclesiastes 3:1 -

Sam AbitantaAmanda AkinMatthew BaumRebecca BergSamuel BergerBryce BernbachJoshua BluestineJoshua CantorHunter CorteMikaela DavidsonAndrew DeMarchisMadison DeMarchisRachel DeutschAdam EhrlichMatthew EhrlichJason FriedmanJared GelberDrew GoldbergRemi GoldfarbAdam GraffChloe Greenstein

Siena MutkoskiZachary PapellAndrew PerelmanJason PlatkinKelsey Raicht Caleb ReynoldsZachary RobinsonSadie RutmanEinan SauerhaftOren SauerhaftMichaela SchapiroClaire SparksEric StillmanHarry Tishelman- CharnyCharlotte TuckerGrace UllmanHannah UllmanAllison WachtfogelCaroline WolfeRobert WoolfRebecca Zadeck

CongratulationsMazal Tov

In Times of Sadness and in Times of Joy,

Please Keep Us Informed!

It is always a pleasure to hear good news from our temple mem-bers and to share joys. Often it helps to share problems or ill-nesses, too. Our Rabbis, Cantor, and Caring Community Com-mittee want to respond to the needs of our congregants. Please let us know if you, or some other temple member, might be helped by a visit or telephone call. Many people assume that everyone knows, but a note or call to the temple office, at 238-3928, will get the message to our clergy.

Our Joys, Our Sorrows

April Birthdays

Thank YouOur special thanks to those who are

sponsoring Onegs this month:Marjorie Becker & Peter Burack

Matthew & Jill CantorJason & Donna Levitz

Lee & Dany PapellGreg & Lori RobinsonAlan & Anna Schapiro

Ellen & Andy SilvermanRobert & Elisa SmalleyAndy & Amy Stillman

Beckie HamroffAmanda HauptmanReese HighbloomMatthew JanisZoe KahnBennett KatzIsabelle KleinAimee KoestlerJessica KratzIlan LaurenceJoshua LaytonMichael LefkowitzSydney LermanBenjamin LeserSophie LeserSloane LiebermanJacob LowyJustin MillerSamantha MonkDanielle MoskowitzSasha Murray


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Beckie Hamroffelected RegionalCommunicationsVice President of

NFTY-NAR!

Beckie Hamroff, a member of Temple Beth El’s BESTY Youth Group and a Junior at Horace Greeley High School, was elected to the North American Federation of Temple Youth’s Regional Board

on March 13. Beckie spends most of her time dancing around to the song playing in her head. During her dance free moments, Beckie enjoys doing yoga and other activities that help relieve the stress of being a high schooler. Mostly Beckie loves to communicate with those around her.

April 1 - 2Simon AbrahamMimi Leviton AmsterdamSara BaumMonroe W. BleetsteinHelen BorchardTina BronsteinTheodore DavidoffMilton FingerAllan FinkelSamuel GelburdEdith GreenSamuel J. KimmelJacob KymanEdward LaskeySylvia ReffDora RosenzweigJill SolomonMarie SpevackSidney Zenker

April 3 - 9Murray AckermanSidney BronenGussie CohenLouis DegelsmithFlorence DonnerJean EhrlichDorothy ElmanPhillip ElmanMax FindlingRalph GefskyTheodore GoldSheldon GoldsteinRita GreenbergFlorence GreenwaldHarold J. HenlySadie HenlyAbraham Sully KaplanGerard KesslerJerome LevyArthur MalinaSamuel MocheHenry Moskowitz

Hattie NeidichJoseph PerloffRose ReitzesBoris RosenzweigRobert SaltzmanJulius SchachterMort SchiowitzGeorge TilzerBernard VexlerLee WolffJames Yussim April 10 -16Doris AckermanLucille AltmanLibby BarnaMary BenjaminWillard DavidsonJoseph DulgovBenjamin EhrlichMichael EstrowGertrude FisherIra GluckRose GoldmanGertrude GoldsmithHerbert KerbelPearl LavenderRose LevittMinnie MarronUbaldo MasottiJoseph MoscowitzHenry NeidichJean OrlanderMilton PerloffPearl PoretDarrett RutmanMiriam SafroBenjamin SchneckSamuel ShragerMurray ShumelJacob SiegelGeorge SteinMartin SternLois WalkerPhilip Weiss

April 17 - 23Ada BacherMelvin BensonHarold BernsteinOscar BuchmanWarren BunshaftShulamith DavisMorris DobkinBarry Kenneth DubinskyBarbara FeibusBelle GevurtzHelen GhersinErich GrunebaumAbraham HolzmanSadie JacobsBelle KatzSamuel LiberMartin ManasseFannie NelsonAlexander PollakHarry ReinerClare RushLeonard ShapiroMeyer SiegelHenry SmithAbraham SpitalnyArnold WallackNathan WolfsonMilton Zimmerman

Yahrzeit - a year’s time - is the anniversary of the death of a dear one. In the temple, it is symbolized by reading the names of the loved ones and the recitation of the Kaddish. Our temple office will remind you of Yahrzeit, following the Jewish or the solar calendar, as you prefer. As so often in Jewish life, we mark a Yahrzeit by giving tzedakah in the name of our beloved.

At home, a twenty-four-hour light is kindled on the eve of Yahrzeit. The family may gather at dusk, and say:

At this moment, in memory of our beloved, we join hands in love and remembrance. A link has been broken in the chain that has bound us together, yet strong bonds of home and love hold us each together. We give thanks for the blessing of life, of companionship, and of memory. We are grateful for the strength and faith that sustained us in the hour of our bereavement. Though sorrow lingers, we have learned that love is stronger than death. Though our loved one is behind our sight, we do not despair, for we sense our beloved in our hearts as a living presence.

APRIL YahrzeitsTEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN APRIL 2011 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

“We Will Always Remember…We Will Never Forget...”

Yom HaShoahHolocaust

RemembranceService

Beginning with aChildren’s Candle

Lighting Procession

Sunday, May 1 at 4:00 pm

Guest Speaker,Kurt Kleinmann

Imagine being a boy living in Austria with your mother, father, sister and brother. Imag-ine being brought to a railroad station at the age of 11, by your mother, to begin your jour-ney to America in 1941. Now imagine finding out 59 years later – in the year 2000 — that you were, in fact, one of a thousand children sent, unaccompanied, to America to live with Jewish foster families.

This is only part of Kurt Kleinmann’s story. Join us as we hear Temple Beth El member Kurt Kleinmann’s personal account of his journey to America, the fate of his family, the amazing story of his loving foster family, and the “One Thousand Children” reunion in 2002 (OneThousandChildren.org).

NEW ISRAEL FUND

TBE is collecting tzedakah for the New Israel Fund. NIF is an organization with offices in Israel and the US dedicated to fighting for social and economic justice within the State of Israel. Its vision is to sustain the Jewish identity of Israel by achieving opportunity for all of Israel’s citizens regardless of their faith and eth-nicity and by promoting democracy. It participates in sponsoring both legal efforts and economic solutions in order to foster its effort. More information on NIF can be found at its website: www.nif.org.

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FIRST DAY SERVICETuesday, April 19 at 9:15 am

YIZKOR SERVICEMonday, April 25 at 7:30 am

followed by Matzah Brei Breakfast

Passover April 19-25


Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers on a special home service called the Seder (meaning “order”) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of mat-zah (an unleavened bread). On the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, we read from a book called the Haggadah, meaning “telling,” which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings, and songs for the Pesach Seder. The Pesach Seder is the only ritual meal in the Jewish calendar year for which such an order is prescribed, hence its name.

The Seder has a number of scriptural bases. Exodus 12:3-11 de-scribes the meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs which the Israelites ate just prior to the Exodus. In addition, three separate passages in Exodus (12:26-7, 13:8, 13:14) and one in Deu-teronomy (6:20-21) enunciate the duty of the parents to tell the story of the Exodus to their children. The Seder plate contains various symbolic foods referred to in the Seder itself.

(Yahrzeits continued from page 13)

April 24 - 30Jay AnfangerSimon BlitsteinRose K. BorenkindEtta BrotzBunny CenterIrving CohenHarry Victor CowenPhilip FeldJudith FeldmanHarry FisherBernard FishmanAviva FreelanderLeon GildesgameAbraham GlazerSarah GoldsteinVictor GreenbaumLillian GreenfieldShirley JacobsMarilyn KaneSydelle KesselmanSarah KimmelJacob KlarmanMorris C. KleinRolf LandauerLillian LesslerNathan LevineMorris MargolinIda MitelmanBen MorrisVera NemoytinDorothea OchserHarold PasterMorris RaskinReta RosemanLouis RoutmanMorris RutfieldBenjamin SaslowEtta ShaperoAbraham StangelAlfred SteinRaymond StillmanLouis TulbowitzLucille F. Warner

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Seders for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities The WJCS Havorah Program is planning two Seders for individuals

with developmental disabilities: Monday, April 11 - Passover Seder for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

will be held at 6:00 pm at Beth El Synagogue, Northfield Road and North Avenuein New Rochelle. $10 per person.

Tuesday April 12 - The 24th Annual Community Passover Seder forPersons with Developmental Disabilities will be held at 6:00 pm at

Temple Shaaray Tefila, 89 Baldwin Road in Bedford. $10 per person.

Passover at Temple Beth El

List of Tributes From 2/8/2011 to 3/4/2011 Assistant Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Jacques Levy & Jill Schachter-Levy in memory of Ruth Yellin Schachter Barbara Pollack Mitzvah Day Fund Donna & Ross Held in memory of Daniel WolchokDick & Lee Laster in honor of Cathy Dreilinger Beginning Years Early Childhood Center Fund Rue Braunstein in honor of Devra GlickLauren & Lawrence Candee in honor of Deborah JacobsLauren & Lawrence Candee in honor of Devra GlickMarsha Halpern in memory of Ann Rosen Betty & Jack Bader Adult Education Fund Barry Meisel in honor of Seth Joshua PincusBarry Meisel in honor of William Quinn CerroniBarry & Gloria Meisel in honor of Cantor Dana AnesiBarry & Gloria Meisel in honor of the engagement of Geoffrey Mitelman and Heather StoltzDr. & Mrs. Len Newman in honor of Cole Melvin Newman Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Jacques Levy & Jill Schachter-Levy in memory of Ruth Yellin Schachter Capital Campaign Tributes Mr. & Mrs. Tony Busanic in memory of Gary KahnEvan & Debi Mittman in memory of Max MittmanBrenda Solomon in memory of Sydney MakeThe Harvey School Parents Association in memory of Gary Kahn Caring Community Fund Penny & Stan Hamlet in memory of Nasha HamletDick & Lee Laster in memory of Vivian GoldreichJacques Levy & Jill Schachter-Levy in memory of Ruth Yellin SchachterRobert & Bobbi Reitzes in memory of George and Edes LivingstonRobert & Bobbi Reitzes in memory of Rose and Isadore ReitzesLaurie & Eric Waller in memory of Charlotte Kaiser

Clergy’s Congregants in Need Nina & Sanford Salzman in memory of Pola Salzman Dave & Bunny Center Family Mitzvah Endowment Fund Charlene Berman in memory of Vivian Goldreich, with deepest sympathies Ellis & Rae Zimmer Fund For Children In Need Judith & Douglas Phillips in memory of Arthur MeyersSusan & Clifford Ray in memory of Lydia Hertling Flower Fund Paul & Lori Fichtenbaum in honor of Herman FichtenbaumDebra & Jeffrey Geller in memory of Dora ShapiroPenny & Stan Hamlet in memory of Nasha HamletPenny & Stan Hamlet in memory of Selma LeffDonna & Ross Held in memory of Doris HeldJacques Levy & Jill Schachter-Levy in memory of Ruth Yellin SchachterAnn & Fredric Price in memory of Israel Streger, grandfather of Ann PriceAnn & Fredric Price in memory of Jeanette Streger, mother of Ann PriceRachel & Benjamin Rosin in memory of Lenore RosinDavid & Deenie Ruzow in memory of Jerome RuzowJudith & Kenneth Sagat in memory of Albert HuberDianne & Richard Spitalny in memory of Mark Press Gregory Altman Music & Arts Fund Lauren & Lawrence Candee in honor of Cantor Dana AnesiLauren & Lawrence Candee in memory of Debbie Friedman

Library Fund Fred & Amy Robin in memory of Morris Robin

Recent Gifts


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Senior Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Joseph Hazen in memory of Albert BlitsteinJoseph Hazen in memory of E. SolowayJoseph Hazen in memory of Harry BlitsteinSandra & Perry Levine in honor of Lillian FlichtenfeldJacques Levy & Jill Schachter-Levy in memory of Ruth Yellin SchachterJanet & Ross Levy in memory of Rhoda LevyRobert & Roberta Reitzes in honor of Sam’s brisBarry & Linda Slotnick in memory of Samuel SlotnickLorraine Taliani in memory of Margaret TalianiSylvia & Murray Waksman in memory of Gloria KalinaSylvia & Murray Waksman in memory of Lena Lefkowitz Temple Beth El Endowment Fund Janet & Ross Levy in memory of Rhoda Levy Torah Funds Frances & William Deutsch in memory of Janet WallackFrances & William Deutsch in memory of Leonora GreeneDonna & Ross Held in memory of Doris Held Tributes Jeff & Barbara Becker in honor of Dr. Papell and his family on the bar mitzvah of their son, ZacharySusan and Alex Sussman in honor of the bar mitzvah of Josh Goodman Yom Hashoah Fund Bob & Joyce Jonap in memory of Barbara Johnson

Volunteers Needed to Deliver Kosher Meals to Yonkers HomeboundSponsored by WJCS, the Kosher Meal Program operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Sinai Free Synagogue in Mount Vernon where the meals are picked up at 11:30 AM and the warming containers are returned daily at about 1:00 PM. Volunteers use their own cars and can travel in two-person teams. Each route encompasses about five deliveries and takes about one and a half hours from start to finish. Volunteers can participate weekly, monthly or on an as-needed basis. Anyone interested can contact Caron Gelles at 668-4350.

TEMPLE BETH EL OFNORTHERN WESTCHESTER

220 South Bedford Road • Chappaqua, NY 10514www.bethelnw.org [email protected]: 914-238-3928 Religious School: 914-238-5641Fax: 914-238-4030 Nursery School: 914-238-5735

Senior Rabbi - Joshua M. [email protected]

Associate Rabbi - Geoffrey A. [email protected]

Cantor - Dana [email protected]

Assistant Cantor - Ellen [email protected]

Executive Director - Gennifer [email protected]

Director of Education - Susan [email protected]

Early Childhood Director - Janet [email protected]

WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE CONGREGATIONTemple Beth El of Northern Westchester welcomes all who wish to participate in Jewish life – singles, couples and families in all their forms, gays, lesbians, interfaith couples – all people regard-less of age, sexual orientation, or financial means. In the words of Rabbi Davidson: “The synagogue is a kehilah kedoshah – a sacred community. It’s like a sukkah. A sukkah is constructed of many different branches woven together. So is the synagogue: the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the married and the unmarried, single parents, grandparents, gays and heterosexuals, non-Jew-ish spouses. The broader the sukkah’s reach, the more tightly its branches are woven, the stronger it stands. So too the synagogue: the greater the variety of people welcomed within it, the closer they feel to one another, the stronger the temple stands.”

TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN

Published monthly, September through June, by the congregants

of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester

Proof Editor: Mel Wolfson 914-238-4694Advertising: Hedy Simpson, HGSimpson@aolcom

TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS211 Life Cycle Emergency223 Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson (917- 439 - 6757)212 Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman (646 - 853 - 4421)213 Cantor Dana Anesi (914 - 420 - 7430)208 Assistant Cantor Ellen Dreskin221 Gennifer Kelly, Executive Director222 Rose Hill, Executive Assistant223 Jaclyn Trustman, Secretary to Rabbi Davidson224 Karen Bulzachelli, Office Assistant224 Galia Silverberg, Communications225 Ann Testone, Bookkeeper231 Susan Cosden, Director of Education232 Deborah Ross, Admin. Asst. Religious School241 Janet Goldstein, Early Childhood Director203 Sherry Topel, Admin. Asst. Nursery School278 Gary Xifo, Building Manager

Cemetery information: 238-3928

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Bill PollakAFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

Brotherhood President - Richard GoldsmithMT Nesters - Helen Sauerhaft

Sisterhood - Gail SchreierYouth Group President - Michael Bernstein

PAST PRESIDENTS-HONORARYMEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Steve Adler - Stanley Amberg - Charlene BermanErnest M. Grunebaum - May Rolle - Barry Meisel - Melvin Ehrlich

Gloria Meisel - David Ruzow

Submissions should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Deadlines are the fifth of the month prior for publication the following month.

TRUSTEESTerm Expires 2011 Term Expires 2012 Term Expires 2013Richard Albert Heidi Auerbacher Matt CantorDina Katz Donna Held Lisa DavisMichele Janet Levy Stacey DivackKirschenbaum Rhonda Regan Steve KaneRobert Medway Karla Shepard Robert KleinAmy Robin Rubinger Karen SilverLeslie Hinderstein Forrest Sussman

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Harry Cohen President

David Abrams Ex. Vice PresidentHenry Garrett Vice PresidentLisa Hamroff Vice PresidentSusan Pecker Vice PresidentDavid Rolle Vice PresidentMorgan Rutman Vice PresidentJill Schachter-Levy Treasurer Doug Zucker Assistant TreasurerEllen Wlody Secretary


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TEMPLE BETH EL OF NORTHERN WESTCHESTER220 South Bedford RoadChappaqua, NY 10514

OR Current Resident


This weekend will be devoted to the overall theme of how Ancient Rabbinic Judaism deals with some of the great prob-lems and concerns of our contemporary world: baseless hatred, extreme language and slander in the public arena, corruption that undermines a healthy society, and finally the need for forgiveness and understanding. The opening presentation will focus on the causes of the kind of violence we are seeing in our

society and our world today; Shabbat Torah Study, morning and afternoon, will engage the congregation in text study and the fun of Midrashic interpretations of biblical texts even as the interpreta-tions deal with difficult and perplexing social issues and concerns; and the concluding presentation, dealing with the theme of forgive-ness, will explore how such an essential human gesture is under-stood in Judaism and contemporary psychoanalysis.

Temple Beth El - ShulCloud

Documents

Transcript of Temple Beth El - ShulCloud