PURIM CARNIVAL PURIM SHPIEL
Transcription
PURIM CARNIVAL PURIM SHPIEL
ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE March/April 2009 Adar/Nisan/Iyar 5769 Temple Beth Shalom Established 1953 Member United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism TEMPLE BETH SHALOM March/April 2009 March 8 USY-sponsored Purim Carnival PURIM CARNIVAL March 9 Purim Shpiel March 15 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase & Fashion Show Sponsored by the USY March 20 Shabbat Across America MARCH 8 at 10am PURIM SHPIEL March 22 Men’s Club/Sisterhood ON TRIAL Breakfast MARCH 9 at 7:15pm March 28 Sisterhood Havdalah & Wine Tasting Date Night April 8 Birkat HaKhama April 19 Yom HaShoah Service ACTORS & ACTRESSES for MARCH 9 All-mime Purim Shpiel Cast Please contact Rabbi Z. by March 3rd April 28 Yom Ha’Atzmaut Seder In This Issue... TBS Shabbat & Holiday Services 2 Modern Israeli Holidays 11 Community Billboard & Events 22,23 Message from Rabbi Zucker 3 TBS Calendar 12,13 Easy Ways to Help TBS 24 President’s Message 4 Birthdays, Misheberakh, Kudos 14 Tikkun Olam – Repairing the World 25 Cantor’s Notes 5 Spotlight on New Members 15 Contributions 26,27 Hebrew School News 6 Family Court 16,17 Yahrzheit 27 Kitah Korner 7 Kabbalah Series 18 Letters 28 Purim Shpiel 8,9 Learning Annex 19 Scrip Order Form 29,30 Birkat HaKhama 10 Earth Day 19 Shabbat Across America 31 Hametz Sale Form 10 Shmoozing with the Sisterhood 20 Our Advertisers 32-52 Purim in Israel 10 Club & Committee Reports 21,22 PAGE 2 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 SAVE THE DATE TEMPLE BETH SHALOM 760 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 845.628.6133 http://TBSMahopac.org May31 SALUTE TO ISRAEL PARADE Daniel M. Zucker Rabbi Shira Adler C.I.C.A. Cantor Deadline for PARADE t-shirt order APRIL 27 Carol Zager Director of Education Anyone for 18 Holes of Golf? May 11 Mahopac Golf Club Ron Arsham President Steven Bettman 1st Vice President Dinner & Silent Auction Call the TBS Office 845.628.6133 to reserve your golf cart. Barry Plaut 2nd Vice President Melody Weisman Treasurer David Michaels Financial Secretary FIRSTBORN MINYAN Jill Sanders-DeMott Recording Secretary April 8 at 6:45am (Lite Break Fast) Ellen Gershman Past President You do not have to be a firstborn to join us. Joel Greenberg Men’s Club President Lynn Michaels Sisterhood President TRUSTEES Lisa Branca Gail Freundlich Robert Greenberg Wendy Greenberg Rabbi’s OFFICE HOURS SUN. MON. TUES. WED. FRI. 9:30am-12:30pm 11:00am-2:00pm 2:00-7:00 pm 2:30-6:30 pm 12:00am-3:00pm It is always best to call ahead. The Rabbi may be away due to holidays, hospital visits and off-site meetings. Rabbi Zucker is also available by appointment. Hosting An Oneg If you would like to host an Oneg or Kiddush, please contact Ro or Jean in the office at 845-628-6133. They will be happy to assist you. Jeff Guest Howard Hammer HOLIDAY Service Times SHABBAT Service Times Candlelighting Regular Shabbat Services 8:15 pm Friday Evenings Saturday Mornings 9:30 am MARCH 6 5:35 pm 13 6:43 pm 20 6:50 pm 27 6:57 pm Purim March 9 Mincha/Maariv Purim Morning Service March 10 Birkat HaKhama April 8 6:15am APRIL 3 7:05 pm 10 7:12 pm 17 7:19 pm 24 7:27 pm Passover Firstborn Minyan Morning Services Evening Services Morning Services Yizkor April 8 April 9, 10 April 14, 15 April 15, 16 April 16 6:45am 9:30am 8:15pm 9:30am 11:15am Yom HaShoah April 19 7:30pm Marc Houslanger Elaine Jacobs Marc Kreiness Diana Markowitz Georgene Perlman Leslie Raffo Gary Reing Ann Rubin Yaakov Tigershtrom OFFICE STAFF Ro Belsky Jean Follit Family Services March 6 April 3 7:45 pm 7:45 pm Junior Congregation 10:30 am March 21 10:30 am April 18 Tot Shabbat March 13 April 17 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:30pm 8:00am at First Hebrew ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 3 Mi-Yagon l’Simhah: From Sorrow to Joy I from the Haggadah Message from Rabbi Zucker Pharaoh has become a paradigm by which much of the world t is still very much winter as I write— there is snow and ice everywhere has striven to achieve national and ethnic liberation. It is a story which both Christianity and Islam have embraced in their today—and in a way, the outer cold respective scriptures, even though individual adherents of reflects the chill in our hearts as we witness of these faiths have denied that the original story was written in late far too many acts of anti-Semitism, many, Hebrew and spoke about the Bene Yisrael (the Children of but not all, perpetrated by supporters of HAMAS and radical Israel), our national ancestors. Pesach teaches that we are all Islamism around the world in the aftermath of Israel’s blessed with the divinely granted right to live in freedom and defensive war in Gaza at the beginning of this year. Some dignity, a right that sadly has not yet been secured by all of humanity. scholars have written that this is proof of an eternal hatred of the Jewish people by most of the world (see article by Prof. Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day—the 27th of Nisan) serves Efraim Karsh, “What's Behind Western Condemnation of Israel's to remind us that in our own day our people were subjected to War Against Hamas?”, JCPA.org, 11 January 2009). I don’t debasement, derision, torture, servitude, and mass execution. subscribe to such a view, but these are times when one might One third of our people entered a modern house of bondage be tempted to do so. I don’t, because the Judaism that I learned and was reduced to smoke and ash, my own paternal from my parents and my teachers taught me to be optimistic; it grandparents included. The plague of Darkness, which our taught me that Judaism demands that we be optimistic because Talmudic Sages teach us was more spiritual than physical, the reality that surrounds us could too easily submerge us in returned to visit Europe from 1933 until 1945. If we are to pessimism and depression. Jews hope, Jews dream; we hope avoid another Holocaust, we must learn well the lessons from for a better world—we dream of one in which all will live in that dark period in our history. Too many today want to forget, peace. And until we achieve our dream, we continue to hold or even outright deny that the Holocaust out against the tide of fear, pessimism, and occurred. We cannot afford to let the world defeatism, and we continue to work for the “The Jewish holidays forget. fulfillment of our collective dream. don’t belong in books; And Yom Ha‘Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Our traditions teach us all that we have gone th they belong to us to Day - the 5 of Iyyar) is the modern fulfillment from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, of our two millennia dream to return to our from darkness to light. Certainly our Spring celebrate...” ancient homeland and reestablish a sovereign season holidays—Purim, Pesach, Yom Jewish state. The first 60+ years haven’t been HaShoah and Yom Ha‘Atzmaut demonstrate easy or peaceful—far from it. But Israel is our spiritual this historical trend. Purim—although its outward trappings homeland and the source of much of our ability to stand tall make it appear like a Jewish Mardi-Gras—is at heart a serious and proud in a world that is still, for the most part, unused to holiday, celebrating the right of a minority to be different. the idea of Jews standing erect. Haman’s complaint to Ahashuerus is that the Jews are different from all the other peoples in the Persian Empire— These important holidays only have meaning if we observe them. Please make them real for your families by observing they don’t follow the same laws and customs. Esther saves her them with your family and by coming to the synagogue to help people by showing the king that Jews can be loyal subjects celebrate their joyous aspects as well as to observe that which while following different traditions. It’s a lesson that is solemn among them. The Jewish holidays don’t belong in unfortunately has been totally forgotten by the current leadership of Iran, which wants to make the world over in its own books; they belong to us to celebrate, observe and to fulfill our destiny as a living community. Join us, and help make our radically fundamentalist Islamic image. community strong at TBS. Your grandchildren (actual and Pesach is the celebration of our birth as a religious potential) will thank you for doing so. community—a nation forged in the crucible of slavery from Elena, Yehudit, Rahel, Fortine and Amiel join me in wishing which we emerged as a people bound by the idea of a covenant, a sacred contract that calls us to the task of everyone Hag Sameah, and a kasher and zissen Pesach. improving the world by bringing the concepts of law, civility, B’virkat shalom, and social justice to the arena of human affairs. The story of Israel’s redemption from the cruel bondage imposed by etuu| WtÇ|xÄ `A mâv~xÜ PAGE 4 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 President’s Message O ver the past several months, I have been invited to, and attended, several forums dealing with the same subject, “Synagogue survival in these difficult economic times.” After absorbing much of the information offered and sharing mutual problems with other shul presidents, I came away from these encounters with a better understanding of what is confronting us in the near future. I also felt a great sense of pride in the fact that our little synagogue has overcome these adversities in the past and will undoubtedly continue to do so now. In some respects, our task will be easier than those of the larger synagogues because for the last 50+ years, we have been forced to survive on a month-tomonth basis without having any real margin for error or any major funds source (like endowments or reserve funds) on which to rely in case of an emergency. We have always been able to come together as a community, and with the invaluable help from all of our members who have volunteered their time, energy and expertise, have successfully navigated the difficult seas of the past. However, make no mistake about it, we are entering uncharted waters, and the problems that are confronting us now are ones that we have not seen in our lifetime. Small congregations, in particular, are more affected by a bad economy, where membership loss and a slower than normal revenue stream put a greater stress on everyone in the congregation. How we continue to offer a full range of programming and services under the constraints just mentioned is the serious challenge we all face. These problems need to be met head-on with innovative ideas and enthusiastic support if we want to survive and move forward in the world today. It will take more than the normal belt-tightening and cost-cutting that we have already begun looking at in the budget. We need to be creative in our thinking and willing to implement these ideas and programs to the best of our ability. One very positive concept that worked successfully for us last year was the cooperative venture between us and the other two Conservative synagogues in the area, First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill and Yorktown Jewish Center, in the first annual Tri-Synagogue Golf outing held last May at Mahopac Golf Club. This was a major fundraiser for all three synagogues, and it took a tremendous amount of cooperation and trust in each other to pull off a great outing despite the lousy weather. None of us could have done this outing alone, but together we were able to muster enough resources to make the fundraiser a success. In fact, it worked so well that we are doing it again this year, on Monday, May 11, at Mahopac Golf Club. Please join us, either as a player, volunteer, or sponsor (or all three for that matter). It promises to be a lot of fun. The idea that “competing synagogues” cannot cooperate and work alongside each other for the betterment of all is, in my mind at least, no longer valid. Each synagogue knows that the key to its own survival is intertwined with the Jewish community at large. Programs and events that used to be handled at the individual synagogue may now not be sustainable due to lagging membership or lack of funds. With this in mind, I am pleased to announce a new cooperative venture with our fellow Conservative synagogues (the ones mentioned before and Croton Jewish Center). It is called the Lower Hudson Valley Kadima/USY (LHVK). Over the last several years, each of the four synagogues has struggled to maintain programs and clubs for their respective youth, and now, with the exception of our own USY group, none of the synagogues have been able to sustain a Kadima (6th-8th graders) or an active USY (9th-12th graders). Even our USY group has diminished in numbers over the last couple of years, and without a Kadima, it is hard to recruit the younger children into USY when they come of age (Post B’nei Mitzvah). Over the last several months, all four Rabbis, representatives of each synagogue, and leaders from METNY have met and put forth a workable plan for the formation of both a USY and Kadima. In fact, the LHVK presented a grant proposal to the Jewish Federation for assistance in funding the venture. We are very hopeful that some money will come our way, and I want to thank Melody Weisman for her time and expertise in helping to craft the grant proposal and for participating in presenting it to the Federation. Grant money or not, we are committed to making this work, as are the other synagogues. We urge all who have children between 6th & 12th grades to encourage their kids to join our new group and see how much fun and exciting a large group of Jewish teens can be. You won’t regret it. Cooperative ventures are just one route a small synagogue can take to be successful during tough times. Other creative ideas are being discussed for programs and events that won’t cost us a lot of money but are still interesting and exciting. Our Sisterhood, Men’s Club and Hazak groups are continually coming up with great ideas and programs of which we should all be taking advantage. Now is not the time to sit there and do nothing. Now is the time to create the kind of synagogue we want. Now is the time when Temple Beth Shalom will shine. I wish you all a Happy Passover. See you at shul! Ron ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 5 Cantor’s Notes Ah , the spring-time holidays are upon us ~ Purim and Passover. I love Purim because, being a true “Pollyanna type,” it seldom bothered me that my family was the only family on my block that didn’t celebrate Halloween. As a young child, the joy I felt around Purim was indescribable. Not only did we have the fun of dressing in costumes, but we were actually encouraged to run around like crazy at the shul when we listened to the megillah reading, and of course, my shul had an excellent Purim carnival! Pesach, on the other hand, was a bit tougher for me growing up. I frequently dreaded the arrival. So much so, that just before Rosh Hashana, immediately after we received our Jewish calendar in the mail, I’d flip ahead to see if my birthday (April 12) would fall during Pesach. More often than not, I bemoaned the fact for months that I would have to suffer through some form of too-dryapple-matzah birthday cake again. Of course, my tastes developed as I grew older and thankfully, so did the culinary skill of kosher bakeries and caterers. This year, my biggest challenge will be to find one that is Kosher for Pesach as well as vegan! However, Pesach does carry a much deeper significance for me now that I’ve become an adult and a mother. My family has a minhag of reading a poem that my grandmother had written and one that my mother did as a part of our Pesach seder tradition. So, to me, this season is about honoring my matriarchs. To do so is also to honor the Divine Feminine, which in our tradition is referred to as the Shechinah. This is not solely a Jewish concept, however. The Buddhists believe in assigning the feminine to the concept Praj-na-paramita (which means the perfection of wisdom). Sariputra, an important Buddhist text, states: "The perfection of wisdom gives light, O Lord. I pay homage to the perfection of wisdom. She is worthy of homage. She is unstained and the world cannot stain her." In Christian theology, Grace is the expression of God’s love in free and unmerited assistance. And, as the New Testament puts it, Grace can only be conferred through Faith. I’m sure it is no accident that those names are names assigned to women. The Native American and indigenous shamanic cultures, viewed to be as old as kabbalistic tradition (some believe 50,000 years old), revere the mother, along with the father. She is the earth, the Great Mother. Some cultures, like the Mayans and Incans, call her Patchamama. The Great Mother is the nurturer who feeds us from her own body and sustains all of life. "The earth is our mother... we must take care of her" (taken from a popular Lakota chant). In my own religious experience in past congregations, I had the pleasure of working with women from all movements in Judaism in creating and presenting Women’s Passover Celebrations (seders). To be a part of a community event like that creates a powerful impression when it crosses over the lines of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Jewish Renewal movements. Passover From this wilderness and these chains, From the slavery of this hour, Dear Lord, deliver us. Forsake us not to the Pharoahs And fears of our day, For once we were slaves in Egypt And Thy might parted the sea. And surely it was not done Just for my fathers, It was also done for me. © Florence Jeanne Goodman This year, as I have done in many years past, I will blend all of these world traditions, as well as my own, in order to find greater personal meaning in this remarkable holiday. I use pieces from several different Haggadot (including one of my favorites: the Santa Cruz Haggadah) as well as the orange and black (almost Orthodox version) one that I used as a child. I will pass down our history, honor the archetypal and literal Matriarchs who have shaped me to be the woman and spiritual leader I am today. I will read my mother’s and grandmother’s poetry and perhaps share some of my own. On this Pesach, I ask that each of you remember a story that is important in your family’s life. Share these stories and memories and pass them to the next generation so that your Pesach traditions are more than just a retelling of our precious and vibrant history – they are a continuation from the past to the present and most importantly, our future. B’shirim b’shalom, Cantor Shira PAGE 6 A TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Hebrew School News s I write this, it’s the middle of winter and we have been blessed (???) with what every student wishes for… ANOTHER SNOW DAY. Actually we had too many and are hoping for clear days and roads, especially on Sunday and Wednesday!! The groundhog was right, there will be six more weeks of winter, but in Israel they are already seeing the signs of spring. Things are blooming here at TBS as well. Since the ground is too frozen to do actual planting, we are taking a different approach to Tu B’Shevat this year. The New Year for Trees serves as a reminder that we are responsible for the earth we live on. It is our responsibility to not only make it grow and bloom, but to keep it clean and healthy as well. The Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is an integral part of the spring renewal. Classes decorated the social hall with outdoor scenes, “creative” and imaginative trees and slogans to remind us of our responsibility to take care of the earth. Under the supervision of Cantor Shira, our Bet and Gimmel classes once again proudly represented TBS at the WAHS annual zimriyah. As always the Beth El sanctuary, filled with several hundred 4th and 5th grade students, was a wonderful moment for our students, teachers and parents alike to share. Yasher Koach!! Purim is sure to be a time of excitement among the students as they prepare and receive mishloach manot, dress in traditional and some not so traditional costumes as we celebrate the heroic acts of Esther and Mordechai. They are sure to have a blast previewing their costumes at the annual USY carnival on Sunday morning, March 8th. The excitement will build and carry over to the next day for our encore costume parade during the megillah reading on Monday, March 9th. Our B’nai Mitzvah season begins as Sophie Feuer becomes the first Bat Mitzvah of this year’s Hey class. All our Kitah Hey students are busy preparing their d’var Torah, studying trope and practicing tefilah as they eagerly await their turn. Aleph class has their Family Education program scheduled for Sunday, March 15, and we hope everyone will join us for a very special Shabbat morning Family service with the Dalet class on Saturday, April 25th. All our Hebrew School students are encouraged to join us for all the Family Services to hear the continuing saga of “K’ton Ton” and earn credit toward their Shabbat Service requirement. I look forward to many of them helping lead Jr. Congregation services on March 21** and April 11 (**note the special date). Carol Carol Zager, Principal Bat Mitzvah by Marge Pollack Sophie (Yetta Rivkah) Feuer 14 March 2009 S ophie Feuer is a friendly, attractive teenager who likes to circulate among a lot of friends. Currently in 7th grade and a graduate of Lakeview Elementary School, Sophie wants to explore a career in Forensic Science. She looks forward to learning how to figure out and gain evidence in order to help resolve crime cases. We wish her luck as a criminal lawyer. Winter is Sophie's favorite season because "the snow is pretty." She doesn't mind getting up early to start her day (5am). She enjoys reading (mysteries), music and is a vegetarian. Her favorite color is pink. Her family houses 6 dogs and her favorite is Paco, a Dachshund, because he reminds her of a hot dog with his auburn color. Her past experience on a soccer team has inspired Sophie to try out for Track and Field next year. Sophie "would have preferred growing up in Manhattan or Brooklyn, as Mahopac is too small, without enough to do and see." Yasher Koach, Sophie. Ux{ÉÄw t zÉÉw wÉvàÜ|Çx {tá uxxÇ z|äxÇ àÉ çÉâ‹ YÉÜát~x |à ÇÉàA TBS HEBREW SCHOOL CALENDAR MARCH 1 Sun. 4 6 8 Wed. Fri. Sun. 9 Mon. 11 Wed. 13 Fri. 15 Sun. 18 Wed. 21 Sat. Hebrew School 9am-12:15pm Mishpachah 11am-12pm Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Family Service, 7:45pm Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Purim Carnival Purim Service & Costume Parade Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Post-Hey Class 6-9:30pm Tot Shabbat, 7pm Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Aleph Family Ed 9am-12pm NO Hebrew School, WAHS Jr. Choir, 9:45am Jr. Congregation, 10:30-12pm Hey Class service has been moved to March 20 22 25 29 Sun. Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Wed. Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Post-Hey Class, 6:45-8:15pm Sun. Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm APRIL 1 Wed. Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm 3 Fri. Family Service, 7:45pm 5 Sun. Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Mishpachah 11am-12pm 8,12,15 NO Hebrew School 11 Sat. Jr. Choir, 9:45am Jr. Congregation, 10:30am-12pm 17 Fri. Post-Hey Class, 6-9:30pm Tot Shabbat, 7pm 19 Sun. Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm 22 Wed. Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm 25 Sat. Family Service, 10am Dalet Lunch & Learn, 12pm 26 Sun. Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm 29 Wed. Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Post-Hey Class, 6:45-8:15pm ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 7 KITAH KORNER TB S ) T he Gan and Gesher students, ages 5 to 7 years, gave an incredible Hanukkah performance at the December 5th family service. Monica Scavone has taught at TBS for three years. “I try to teach my students that learning new things is exciting and fun.” They are learning Hebrew letters and holidays, but their favorite thing of all is reading stories about Sammy the Spider. & the FEBRUARY 1 In Hey class '09 the children are learning about the land of Israel, the people of Israel, the early history of Jews in America, going deeper into the study of the Jewish holidays, and the Holocaust. They also participated in a recent event, the World Wide Wrap, that helped the children prepare for their upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvahs as the Rabbi taught them all how to wear t'filin. When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, Anot (the Hey class '09 teacher) says, she "takes pleasure in giving the kids the pride to know about their heritage." Submitted by Spencer Rubin Photos submitted by Marcia Lichtman, Melody Weisman, Ron Arsham & Leslie Raffo PAGE 8 TEMPLE TIMES PURIM MARCH/APRIL 2009 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 9 IAL PURIM SPEC 14 Adar, 3395 SHUSHAN NEWS Excerpts from the Persian Daily Times CLASSIFIEDS PERSIAN MILITIA ON ALERT DURING CRISIS UNCLE MORDECHAI NEEDS YOU! Rumor has it that the Jewish community is planning a reprisal for Haman’s defamation of the beloved Mordechai. Large crowds have gathered near Temple Beth Shalom to hear the reading of the Royal Chronicles. Memuchan has placed the Royal Guard and Militia on alert. Individual identities have been difficult to ascertain as all are dressed in unusual costumes. Our correspondent has learned that Mordechai has a connection inside the palace, but details are unclear. Meanwhile, the Jewish community appears to have gathered large quantities of ammunition, in the form of groggers and triangular cookies. Updates are forthcoming. Tension rises in Shushan tonight as Mossad agents unraveled a secret plot to subvert the Iranian government and destroy the Jewish people. Mordechai is urging all TBS witnesses to come forward Monday, March 9th, at 7:00pm to testify before the King in order to unravel the secret plot and save the Jewish people. Advertisement Remarkable new WONDER DIET! Wonder Diet has changed my life. In just three days, I went from this to before THIS! You can too! See Esther nee Hadassah DiMalkah on March 9 at TBS for diet details. after - The Shushan News-Wire Service Tired of pests? DON’T JUST SIT THERE! For one night only, B&T will offer TBS members a 50% discount in ridding their home of pests. Discounts will be available MARCH 9 at 7pm in the TBS sanctuary. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Let Bigtan and Teyresh exterminate your problems away. B&T EXTERMINATORS INTERNATIONAL NOTICE ANNOUNCING The Shushan League of Women will meet on the 13th Adar outside the Royal Courtyard. RSVP ASAP. Ms.Vashti, President SHUSHAN CATERING SERVICE — Weddings, Banquets, Installation Ceremonies, Royal Holidays, etc. Glatt Kosher. CALLING ALL ACTORS TBS Actors Guild has openings available for performers of ancient drama. Please contact Harbonah or Rabbi Zucker no later than March 6 for details. FOR SALE Cheap! One set of lots— must sell by 13th of Adar. Call 628.6133. LOST! My husband seems to have lost his ears. Also his pockets. Small reward to finder. Email Zersesh at Newsletter @TBSMahopac.org. POSITION AVAILABLE READER NEEDED GANTZE MEGILLAH WANTED The Royal Library is seeking a reader to read the For a trustworthy gateRoyal Chronicles. Night keeper. Apply at palace shift. Time and a half salouter gate. ary. Qualified candidates need only apply. Contact BIDS NOW OPEN Memuchan. Bids are now being accepted for a 50 cubit PERSONALS wooden tower to be Jolly, wealthy, royalconstructed at the blooded Iranian, mid 50s, Shushan marketplace seeks sweet, charming, no later than 13 Adar. beautiful lady to make All bids to be submit- prune hamentaschen with. ted to Haman & Sons Write AHA c/o Construction Co. Intl. newsletter@TBSMahopac.org Available, short or long form @ TBS. Monday, March 9, starting at 6:30pm. Yennasveldt. 14 Adar only. Palace staff seeks night-shift readers to review the historical tapes of the Royal Chronicles. IBM compatible. Time and a half pay. Email CV to Newsletter@TBSMahopac.org. PAGE 10 BIRKAT HaKHAMA WHERE WERE YOU APRIL 8, 1981? It takes 2 1/2 minutes for the sun to complete its full rise— from the moment the upper arc first appears until the full disc is visible. Once every 28 years, at sunrise, and always on a Wednesday morning (as it is the 4th day of the week, when the sun was created), we show our appreciation to God for creating the world with these words: Blessed are You, Lord our God, who renews the acts of Creation. Called Birkat HaKhama, or Blessing of the Sun, this prayer was last said on 8 Nissan 5741 (April 8, 1981). The next time it can be recited will be April 8, 2037. Join us before sunrise, rain or shine, for this very special service, as we celebrate God’s Creation together. Wednesday, APRIL 8, 2009 6:15 am IN THE TBS PARKING LOT Don’t be late or you’ll have to wait 28 more years for the next opportunity! שטר הרשאהHAMETZ SALE Note: If possible, all hametz—food not acceptable during Pesah (Passover), or materials containing unacceptable food—should be destroyed or given away before the holiday begins. Should this not be possible, the hametz may be stored in such a way that we are sure not to use it during the holiday and its actual legal ownership is transferred (via its sale) to a non-Jew until the holiday ends. Please complete the form below and return it to the Temple Beth Shalom office no later than 9:00 AM, Monday, April 6. I/we, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker to act in my/our behalf to sell all hametz possessed by me/us—knowingly or unknowingly—as defined by Torah and rabbinical law, and to lease all places wherein hametz owned may be found. This action will be in effect for the duration of Pesah, which this year begins with sundown of April 8, 2009, and runs through the appearance of three stars (nightfall) on the evening of April 16, 2009. And to this I/we hereby affix my/our signature(s) on TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 PURIM IN ISRAEL S halom, my name is Michelle Baruch and this is my first contribution to your Temple Times. My family and I made aliyah to Israel in October, 2001 (post 9/11). I currently work as a private tour guide and nature photographer. I would like to briefly describe how we celebrate Purim here. "Me She Niknas Adar” is the title of a popular Israeli song. As soon as the month of Adar begins, the air fills with festivity. Our sources say that Adar is a month of happiness and good tidings. Purim is the time when the tides were turned, and Haman's evil designs were foiled. On the street, there are lots of plays, musical shows and festivals everywhere during the whole month. The day before the holiday is a minor fast day known as Ta'anit Ester (the Fast of Esther). This fast recalls how Queen Esther asked the Jewish people to fast for 3 days before she approached the king to invite him for dinner. Why was this important? Because anyone who approached the king without being summoned risked being executed (including his wives)! Just as in America, Israelis go to shul in the evening of Purim to hear the reading of Megillat Esther. Many are still fasting and only break their fast after hearing the megillah. People, especially the children, dress up in costumes too, just like in America. So, what is different? First, Ashkenazi synagogues shake groggers every time Haman’s name is read, but Sefardic and Chabad, however, shake them only in select places. One more thing—in a lot of synagogues, some young boys use a toy gun that emits popping firecrackers (which scares the very small kids, of course). One of the nicest traditions on Purim is “Mishloach Manot” (Mish-LO-ach Ma-NOTE), which means the sending of gifts. This phrase is often shortened to “Shalach Manot” (Sha-LACH Ma-NOTE) or “Shalach Manos” (SHAlach MA-nos). After hearing the Megillah reading on Purim morning, people rush home to deliver mishloach manot baskets to their friends and neighbors. Hamentaschen or “oznei Haman” (ears of Haman) are usually found in three flavors in Israel: date, poppy or chocolate. In America, they are usually prepared with fruity jams, like strawberry, raspberry and apricot (or mishmish in Hebrew). this ________ day of April in the year 2009. Name(s):______________________________________ Address:______________________________________ Wishing you all a Happy Purim or Purim Sameach! Michelle Baruch Jerusalem Michelle is a nature photographer and a private Israeli tour guide and can be contacted at: info@mishmishcards.com. ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 11 MODERN HOLIDAYS in APRIL Source: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Modern_Holidays/ Yom HaShoah Yom HaZikaron April 21 April 28 for this day, set he fourth of Iyar, the day preceding T heasidefulltonamecommemorate the T Israel's Independence Day, was victims of the Holocaust, is "Yom declared by the Israeli Knesset Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah"-literally meaning the "Day of (remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism." It is observed on the 27th day in the month of Nisan, a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers). (Parliament) as a Memorial Day for those who lost their lives during the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel killed while on active duty in Israel's armed forces. Joining these two days together conveys a simple message: Israelis owe the independence and the very existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it. This date was selected by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) on April 12, 1951. The full name became formal in a law that was enacted by the Knesset on August 19, 1953. Although the date was established by the Israeli government, it has become a day commemorated by Jewish communities and individuals worldwide. It is traditional to burn a yellow memorial (24-hour) candle in the windowsill from sunset to sunset. Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, is a somber day. For 24 hours (from sunset to sunset) all places of public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, pubs, etc.) are closed. Flags fly at halfmast. The most noticed feature of the day is the sound of a siren that is heard twice throughout the country, during which the entire nation observes a two-minute "standstill" of all traffic and daily activities. The first siren marks the beginning of Memorial Day at 8:00 P.M., and the second is at 11:00 A.M., before the public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries. All radio and television stations broadcast programs portraying the lives and heroic deeds of fallen soldiers. Most of the broadcasting time is devoted to Israeli songs that convey the mood of the day. Join us on April 19 with other members of our community to honor those brethren who both died in and even those who survived the Holocaust. YOM HASHOAH Community Service Sunday, APRIL 19 7:30 pm Yom HaAtzmaut April 29 I srael's Independence Day is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the state, when members of the "provisional government" read and signed a Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv. The original date corresponded to May 14, 1948. In the State of Israel it is a formal holiday; so almost everyone has the day off. The official "switch" from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Ha'Atzmaut takes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem where the flag is raised from half staff (due to Memorial Day). The president of Israel delivers a speech of congratulations, and soldiers representing the army, navy, and air force parade with flags. In recent decades this small-scale parade has replaced the large-scale daytime parade, which was the main event during the 1950s and '60s. The evening parade is followed by a torch lighting (hadlakat masuot) ceremony, which marks the country's achievements in all spheres of life. Yom Ha'Atzmaut is concluded with the ceremony of granting the "Israel Prize," recognizing Israeli individuals for their unique contribution to the country's culture, science, arts, and the humanities. Family Yom Ha’Atzmaut SEDER April 28 7:00pm (details to follow) PAGE 12 TEMPLE TIMES Sunday Monday 1 ORDER SCRIP Tuesday 2 House & Grounds Mtg, 7:30pm 3 4 Hebrew School, SIGNUP DUE! 4:15-6:30pm Intro to Judaism, Membership Mtg, 7-9pm 7:30pm 8 9 (Fa Ta’a st o ni f) E t Thursday PURIM SHPIEL Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Men’s Club, 9:30am Mishpachah, 11am Fundraising 11:15am Wednesday 10 PURIM SHPIEL Jr. Choir, 9:30am Purim Carnival 10am 7:15pm 5 Sisterhood Mtg, 7:30pm 6:30pm 6 Family Service, 7:45pm 11 Saturday 7 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 am USY Carnival setup & sleepover Adult Hebrew Class, 7:30pm 12 School Board Mtg, 7pm 13 Post-Hey Class, 6-9:30pm 14 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Tot Shabbat, 7pm Bat Mitzvah Sophie Feuer Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 8:15pm Mideast News, 7:30-9pm Mincha/Maariv Friday Sephardic Cuisine, (Purim), 7-9pm sth er Purim Morning Hebrew School Service 4:15-6:30pm 8am at First Hebrew Adult Hebrew Class, 7:30pm Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm MARCH/APRIL 2009 Jacob Burns Film Festival begins 15 ORDER SCRIP 16 17 Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Aleph Family Ed, 9am-12pm 23 Special Men’s Club/ Sisterhood ON TRIAL Breakfast, 9:30am Hebrew School Hebrew 9am-12:15pm School 9am-12:15 A M 24 25 Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Post Hey Class, 6:45-8:15pm Intro to Judaism, 7-9pm 30 Adult Hebrew Class, 7:30pm 20 Board Mtg, 7pm Intro to Judaism, 7-9pm 12 12--4pm 29 ORDER SCRIP 19 Adult Hebrew Class, 7:30pm Bnai Mitzvah Showcase & Fashion Show, 22 Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm 18 NO Hebrew School, WAHS Workshop 26 SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA Kabbalat service, 6:15pm Dinner, 7:15pm 27 21 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Jr. Choir, 9:45am Jr. Cong. 10:30am-12pm 28 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Kabbalat Shabbat Sisterhood Service, 8:15pm Havdallah/Wine Tasting, 8pm USY SPRING KINNUS 31 Actors/actresses needed for Intro to Judaism, 7-9pm Purim Shpiel --no lines to memorize--all-mime cast; please contact Rabbi Z. by March 3rd. Closer Look at MISHLOAKH MANOT ishloakh Manot literally means "sending of portions." The mitzvah of giving mishloakh manot comes from the Book of Esther, where the Jewish people are instructed to observe the days of Purim “as days of feasting and gladness, and sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor.”[9:22] This verse refers to two different mitzvot: the sending of two different, ready-to-eat foods and/or drinks to one friend, and the distribution of two charitable donations (either money or food) to two poor people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mishloach_manot ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 Sunday TEMPLE TIMES Monday Tuesday Wednesday 1 Sephardic Cuisine, (Passover), 7-9pm 6 House & Grounds Mtg, 7:30pm Membership Mtg, 7:30pm Fundraising Mtg, 11:15am 7 9 Office Closed Birkat HaKhama, Passover Morning 6:15am Service, 9:30am Firstborn Minyan, 6:45am 13 14 10 Office Closed 11 Passover Morning Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Service, 9:30am Jr. Choir, 9:45am Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Jr. Congregation, 10:30am-12pm 8:15pm Hametz Sale due Second Seder First Seder 12 NO Hebrew School Saturday 4 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am TEMPLE TIMES Deadline 8 NO Hebrew School P Friday 3 Family Service with Cantor, 7:45pm School Board Mtg, 7pm Adult Hebrew Class, 7:30pm Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Men’s Club, 9:30am Mishpachah, 11am-12pm Thursday 2 Sisterhood: Taste of Passover at Lynn’s house, 7pm Hebrew School SEDER 5 ORDER SCRIP PAGE 13 Omer 1 A S Omer 2 S 15 Office Closed NO Hebrew School 16 Office Closed Passover Morning Passover Service, 9:30am Evening Service, Passover Evening 8:15pm Service, 8:15pm Passover Morning Service, 9:30am PASSOVER 4th Eve PASSOVER 3rd Eve O V 17 Post-Hey Class, 6-9:30pm Omer 3 E R 18 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Tot Shabbat, 7pm Yizkor, 11:15am Kabbalat Shabbat Service, PASSOVER Last Day 8:15pm Omer 8 Omer 7 PASSOVER 5th Eve PASSOVER 6th Eve PASSOVER 7th Eve PASSOVER 8th Eve Omer 5 Omer 4 P A 19 Hebrew School, 9am-12:15pm Omer 6 S S O 21 20 22 V Earth Day E R 27 PARADE T-SHIRT ORDER DEADLINE 28 29 Hebrew School, 4:15-6:30pm Post Hey Class, 6:45-8:15pm YOM YOM HAZIKARON HA’ATZMAUT Adult Hebrew Omer 18 A O begins sundown Seder, 7pm Omer 19 Omer 20 Class, 7:30pm Omer 21 24 Board Mtg, 7pm Hebrew School, Yom 4:15-6:30 pm Intro to Judaism, HaShoah YOM 7-9pm Adult Hebrew Community HASHOAH Class, 7:30pm Service, begins sundown Mideast News, 7:30pm Omer 12 Omer 11 Omer 13 7:30-9pm Omer 14 26 Hebrew School, Israel Celebration Omer 9 23 ARBOR DAY Omer 10 25 Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30am Dalet Class Lunch & Learn, 12pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Omer 16 Omer 15 8:15pm Omer 17 30 Only events that were available at the time of publication were included. For a more current listing, please check the online calendar at www.tbsmahopac.org. Omer 22 Closer Look at BEDIKAT HAMETZ “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has sanctified us through commandments, commanding us to destroy all hametz.” n the eve before Passover, we ritually search for hametz by ‘seeing’ with a lit candle (or flashlight), ‘sweeping’ with a feather, ‘collecting’ with a wooden spoon and reciting bitul hametz — the nullification of hametz, that excuses us if by chance we missed some. “All leaven in my possession which I have not seen or removed or of which I am unaware is hereby nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.” The hametz, feather and spoon are stored safely overnight. In the morning bitul hametz is again recited and the hametz is burned. http://www.uscj.org/or_Hametz5414.html PAGE 14 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Our Temple Family Celebrating Birthdays in Our Community ~Mi’sheberakh ~ Wishing a return to good health to those who are ill in our community Leah Bat Sholmo v’Ester Helen Lichtman Susan Livingston Rueven Baer ben Yackov Fannie Meyer Dino Antonopoulos Robert Bashe Vicki Colesanti Giselle Dollinger Gary Feiman Stuart Feldman (Shema ben Bella) Charles Gassett Gordon C. Gladden Mae Greenberg Dina Marterino John Morelli Bill Morrill Felice Plotnik Al Rosenberg (Avraham ben Celia) Vivian Rosenberg (Haya Raizel bat Miriam) Tom Ryan Sol Indig Jill Sanders-DeMott (Tamar bat Rivka) Marla Lance Lawrence Lang 10 11 12 13 14 15 Michael Doherty Marc Kandel Joan Tomback 17 Alan Belsky 18 Sydney Bartman Howard Hammer 19 Joshua Chavis R. Daniel M. Zucker 21 Marc Houslanger Jessica Zager 22 Katie Wachsberger 23 Michelle Kushner Jacob Leggiero Ariel Simon Renate Stein Carolyn Stiman Yitzchak ben Sura Megan Wood 24 Dr. Robert Roffman 25 Lawrence Newman Phyllis Solar 26 Bari Chavis 27 Nancy Bochichio 28 Rachel Fleischer Amy Solar-Doherty 29 Dr. Gary Loewenberg William Vatkin 30 Liza Astrachan Rebecca Peikes Yom Huledet Sameach יום הולדת שמח Ellen Reing Joanne Sachs Kenneth Kaplan 7 8 Joshua Gershman Madalyn Kravitz Rita Shankewitz Ellen Freebern Jordan Tigershtrom Jake Berkwits Joseph Freebern Jordan Katz Gail Plaut Jeffrey Guest Sophie Feuer Dr. Amiram Ranani Steven Stochel Shirley Porter Ana Horn Rabbi Joshua Kalev (HaRav Yehoshua ben Yehudit v’Ovadia) 5 6 Clay Livingston Dovid Baer ben alta Yacov v’Freidda Shelley Adler (Sarah bat Fayga) 1 3 5 Sarah McDermott William Branca Joel Greenberg Judith Occhiogrossi 6 Dr. Bennett Pallant 7 Melissa Carrillo Sharon Gunzburg 8 Ruby Aday 9 Harold Lichtman Melanie Weissman 12 Cantor Shira Adler Susan Loewenberg Stuart Toledano 13 Jacques Grossman Scott Liff April Ljumic 15 Emily Dancygier Abigail Klein 16 Lee Markowitz Steven Peikes Michael Reich 17 Jocelyn Peikes William Raefski Michael Sanders-DeMott 18 David Freundlich Spencer Rubin 19 Eric Klee Seth Lederer Phyllis Nadelhaft Richard Zager 20 Melissa Montera Nancy Oelsner Martha Pallant Susan Tuzman 22 Eric Gershman Dr. Richard Schectman If you see a name on the Mi’Sheberakh list who, thank God, has returned to good health, please notify office@tbsmahopac.org. Thank you. Hayley Weisman for being selected to Ro Belsky and Jean Follit for their help in preparing and mailing the the All-County Orchestra. newsletter. Gail Freundlich, Wendy Greenberg and Melody Weisman for reviewing Cynthia Hertz on her Bat Mitzvah. the newsletter. Spencer Rubin on his first published Leslie Raffo, for her sleepless nights. article. We will miss her graphic wizardry. Rabbi Zucker and family for an interEmail your Good News to esting and delectable Tu B’Shvat newsletter@tbsmahopac.org seder. 23 Glenn Sapir 25 Alec Petrone Ari Pollack 26 Daniel Katz Anelisa Lauri Lorraine Ann Lederer Leslie Raffo Melody Weisman 27 Jamie Markowitz 29 Dr. Susan Katz 30 Barry Gold Jeanne Toovell Come Join Cantor Shira and be a part of the Junior Choir March 8 & 21** April 3 & 11** **9:45am before Jr. Congregation ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 15 Spotlight on New Members Meet the Monteras The desire to bring lo v ed o nes to get h er dr aws a fam ily to TB S by Glenn Sapir T he usual scenario is that parents join a temple, and their children follow in their footsteps. For the Montera family of Mahopac, it was the reverse that brought them to our congregation. “When I was growing up in West Harrison, my family belonged to a temple, and, of course, we would go to services together,” said Melissa Montera. Matthew, 9, is a fourthgrader at Austin Road. He’s a three-sport athlete in the MSA program, playing football, basketball and baseball. He has also found time to study martial arts, his chosen discipline being tae kwon do. Melissa was the special events director for Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah for 18 years, leaving that position in 2006 to do part-time database work from her residence and be a “stay-at-home mom.” In fact, the Monteras—Tony and Melissa—have lived in Mahopac for 17 years, but when temple going was a need, Melissa’s parents’ synagogue would meet those needs. That changed, however, when her parents moved north to Heritage Hills in Somers. Then the shoe was on the other foot. Tony is a fire chief for the New York Fire Department. Like his children, he, too, is an athlete. He continues to play basketball and makes the time to coach some of his kids’ teams in MSA. “We joined Temple Beth Shalom so that we would have a place where we could still worship together,” Melissa said. When the Monteras first sampled TBS, they got a healthy dose of temple hospitality. Melissa is not sure how her family will choose to avail themselves of the many opportunities temple membership presents, but she looks forward to sharing the High Holy Days with her children and parents at TBS. “I found the temple to be very friendly and welcoming,” Melissa said. “I enjoyed meeting Rabbi Kalev.” Those children are busy students, athletes and musicians in the Mahopac schools. Amanda, 12, is the oldest. She is a seventh-grader at Mahopac Middle School, where she plays the violin in the youth symphony and is in the steel drum band. You better not complain about her music, because she is also studying jujitsu. Caroline, 11, is a fifth-grader at the Austin Road School. She plays the viola in the Middle-Elementary School Combined Orchestra (MESCO). Outside of school she is active in Mahopac Sports Association’s basketball and softball programs. The family formally joined our congregation in September and were surprised to find a new rabbi—but not surprised to experience the same brand of TBS warmth. “A lot of people have reached out to us,” Melissa said. “We have gotten letters to participate in dinners, including one welcoming new members, and we even received a lovely gift basket to welcome us.” We look forward to seeing members of the Montera family when they attend services at TBS. Among them, perhaps, will even be Melissa’s 97-year-old grandma from Scarsdale. Assembled they will bring to life the expression that exemplifies the Monteras’ motivation for membership in TBS: The family that prays together stays together. PAGE 16 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 BS Family Court Response CASE TBS-5769-2 TBS’s $100 Question Yonah v. Emma v. Richard v. Shira In the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of the Temple Times (page 15), a case was presented where Yonah found a $100 bill on the sidewalk. Emma thinks he should give it to charity. Shira thinks he should try to find who lost it. Richard claims he lost a $100 bill yesterday (but Yonah notices that the bill was dry, and it had been raining an hour before). Does Yonah keep it, try to find who lost it, donate it to charity or give it to Richard? NEW YORK LAW Y onah found a $100 bill. There is no one around who can claim ownership. Richard claims to have lost such a bill the day before, but (1) has no real proof that he lost a bill, other than his say so; and (2) his bill, if he lost one, would be wet from a recent rain. Yonah’s bill had to have been lost within the last hour; therefore, Richard is out, unless he can come up with some other facts which would give him at least a prima facie case. What is Yonah’s obligation now? New York law relevant to this case is Article 7-B of the Personal Property Law (secs. 251-258 “Lost and Found Property”). This law is to “regularize procedures for dealing with lost and found property which will promote the return of the property to the owner, and at the same time protect the expectations of the finder,” (whatever that means). Generally, the requirement is to turn over the property (the $100 bill) to the owner of the premises where it was found. When this is not possible, as in this case, the bill is to be turned over to the police. The police are to give a receipt and hold the property for a period of time determined by the value of the item, e.g., an item under $100 would be held for three months; $100-$500 for six months; and for items of more worth, up to three years. It is important to note that this applies to (personal) property and not “instruments” like checks or bonds (e.g., see case Kubli v. Rosetti, in New York caselaw book 34 of the Court of Appeals Reports, page 68). I JEWISH LAW n the case before you, a person found a single note in a public place - a sidewalk. To my understanding, the halakhah is quite clear in such cases. The money belongs to the finder. The halakhah is stated in Shulhan Arukh Hoshen Mishpat 262:11-13 on the basis of Bava Metzia 25b: "Our Rabbis taught: If one finds a sela in a marketplace, and then his neighbor accosts him and says: 'It is mine; it is new, a Nero coin or of such and such an emperor' — he is ignored. Moreover, even if his name is written upon it, his claim is still rejected, because an identification mark is of no avail in respect to a coin, for one can say, he may have expended it and someone else lost it." As should be clear, the reasoning that is given here in regard to a coin is equally valid for a note. I would add that although $100 is no small amount, the Talmudic example is a 'sela', which, if I am not mistaken, was the largest of the silver coins commonly minted. So, in Yonah’s case “at bar,” he is to turn the money in to the police since it was found on a public highway and not on owned property. He is to get a receipt, and come back after six months to claim the bill from the police, if the “true owner cannot be found.” The open questions are: Rabbi Avinoam Sharon of Nili, Israel What kind of proof would be acceptable for the true owner to present in order to recover the bill? Serial number? Who determines whether the “true” owner’s proof is enough to give him or her the bill? What are (see Fischer v. Klingenberger, in book 152 2nd of the Miscella. Yonah’s rights if he can show that the police gave the bill to the wrong neous Reports, p. 317). person? Since the purpose is to get the property back to the rightful You can find hundreds of cases attempting to owner, what if Yonah decided that Dani was the rightful sort what is a finder? what is property? who is owner, skipped the police and gave Dani the bill? Did he a true owner? and who has what claims break the law (a) if Dani was the rightful owner, or (b) Dani against whom? That is why we have courts was not the rightful owner; and (c) the rightful owner never and good (I hope) judges. Respectfully submitted –Allen Hochberg, Esq. showed up, or (d) the rightful owner did show up???? ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES w e N 0 BS Family Court $1 CHELMOPAC CARDS J 0 CASE TBS-5769-3 ~ A Baseball Steal 00 $1 PAGE 17 ustin walked to his favorite baseball card store to spend the $50 his uncle gave him for a Bar Mitzvah present. An old lady sat behind the glass counter. Before he could even say hello, his eye caught exactly what he was looking for—the rookie card of Sandy Koufax. He knew all about the famous Jewish baseball player. One problem—a genuine Sandy Koufax rookie card had to cost more than $50, but he wasn’t sure how much. Justin pointed to the card. “How much does this cost?” The old lady opened a book and ran her finger down the page. “Sorry, dear. I don’t usually work here. My son had an appointment. Ah! Here it is! $10.” Did Justin hear right? $10? Before she could change her mind, he handed her the money and raced home. Pulling out his Beckett price guide, he excitedly found the page which listed the card’s price. It was NOT worth $10. It was worth $1,000!! The phone rang. It was Mr. Pete, the card store owner. “My mother made a huge mistake today,” Mr. Pete explained. “You see, she doesn’t see well. That Koufax card you bought actually costs $1,000. I know that’s too much for you, so when you return it, I’ll give you a free 2009 season baseball card pack plus your money back.” YOU Email your photo with your verdict to newsletter@TBSMahopac.org and YOU may be OUR NEXT JUDGE! NO age or height restrictions! Justin looked from the phone to the card. He paid fair and square. It wasn’t his fault the old lady couldn’t see. “You can’t take something back you sold me,“ he told Mr. Pete. “It’s mine.” Mr. Pete brought the case to the TBS Family Court. Who should get the card —- Justin or Mr. Pete? Email newsletter@tbsmahopac.org Adapted from Joel Lurie Grishaver’s You Be the Judge, published by Tora Aura Productions, 2000, pages 7-8. PAGE 18 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 The Kabbahlist Psychologist An original series on the principles of Kabbalah, by Honorable Allen Hochberg H © January, 2009 Allen Hochberg i. I am Sheila Portchnik, MSW, L-CSW, PsyD, and specialize these past 23 years in couples therapy and counseling. I found early in my practice that the standard relationship therapies, Harry Stack Sullivan, Adler and Ackerman, worked, but were limited in their applications to my modern angry and battling couples. Being close to my spiritual Jewish roots and a student of Kabbalah, I turned to the Etz Chaim, Tree of Life, to help me with these overheated and complex situations. Whereas Julian is efficiently working the details, with little overview of the entire situation, Enid is not focused on the details. She can see the whole forest instead of trees here and there. She readily recognized that the Mapquest, GPS and Julian's logical process were leading them in circles. Enid resonated more with the whole situation, and strongly felt or believed that the Parkway would lead them to their destination. She could not explain this with a logic Julian would comprehend. Enid and Julian, my long-time clients married almost 12 years, had a huge fight. They were to attend a nephew's 11:00 AM bris in Long Beach, Long Island, a little more than an hour from their Westchester home. Julian, in his usual successful businessman's style, mapquested the trip, programmed his GPS, and got them on the road by 8:30 AM. Enid knew that the easier route would be the Meadowbrook Parkway to the Long Beach Road access --all highways. Julian insisted on following his micro-technologies, winding through the projects of South Ozone Park and Jamaica. They got lost. Once we saw their old pattern of interaction working again, but in a dysfunctional way, they were able to re-ignite their previous powerful insight for working together, integrating Enid's Binah and Julian's Chochmah in order to achieve the energy sphere of Da’at, or Wisdom. Had they allowed themselves to invoke that insight in the car that morning, they would have been to the bris with time to spare. This is an imagined example of how the concepts of Kabbalah can be applied effectively. We do not say "Practical Kabbalah," because that bespeaks magic. Rather, if we can be in tune with the energy fields present, and even in control, in a particular situation, we have the power to enhance Enid insisted that she could find their way out some, diminish some and bring them into balance using the Southern State Parkway. Julian would for an optimum result. The sad alternative is to be not relent, and kept following the unaware of what we are involved in or doing, GPS instructions, ignoring the fact that they stubbornly push on with our agenda of were going in circles. They finally asked for being "right" until our irresistible force meets (our directions at a police station, which took them http://upload.wikimedia.org/ spouse's) immovable object, and we have a fight. Enid's way, to arrive late for the bris. We wikipedia/en/d/d5/Ktreewnames.png The energy spheres of Kabbalah are multiple; there laughed a little that they did not "make the cut." are seven more besides Chochmah, Binah, and D'aat, and all When they finally calmed down in my office, after criticizing totaled are infinite. Knowing them and understanding how each other mercilessly: Enid decrying Julian's stiff-necked they, and we, work leads to wonderful transformation, health, insistence on his scientific method, and Julian diminishing wholeness and peace. It is also great fun to study them, which Enid for her "nonsensical hunches," we agreed that their cannot help but enhance the gift of a Jewish heritage. ingrained pattern of interaction had again emerged from their A footnote: The study and engagement of Kabbahlistic Kabbalah natures. principles is certainly not scientific and in its own way, not Julian is a "Chochmah" or intellect (typically masculine). His logical. It is very personal, subjective, and becomes "custom strong intuitive powers allow him to receive information and, made" for the particular student. My experience of Kabbalah the "What" (to get to the bris on time). His Chochmah is not the last word. It is only my experience. I take full strength dissects and analyzes the "How" (Mapquest, road responsibility in these writings for any mis-statements or maps and GPS). His process of accumulating Knowledge in inaccuracies, and am more than ready to accept correction and this way is usually very successful, especially in his business, criticism. but he sorely lacks a quality his wife, Enid, possesses in her Etz Chaim energy sphere of "Binah," or Understanding Shalom, Allen (more typically associated with the feminine). ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TBS Learning Annex Introduction to Judaism Tues: 7-9pm MARCH 13, 17, 24, 31; APRIL 21 Rabbi Zucker Rabbi Zucker will examine Jewish history, customs, life and holiday cycles, as well as the major texts of Jewish religious literature. Although this is a three 6week mini-mester course, new attendees are welcome to join at any time. This class is based on a course he co-taught at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Meet in the Kiddush room. Sephardic Holiday Cuisine Wed: 7-9pm MARCH 4, APRIL 1 Rabbi Zucker Rabbi Zucker teaches a “hands-on” class that specializes in Jewish cuisine. March class will focus on Purim and April will delve into delicacies for Passover. Meet in the kitchen. Beginner’s Hebrew Class Weds: 7:30 pm Lynn Michaels Join Lynn as she teaches a beginner’s Hebrew class. Learn how to read as well as gain a vocabulary of basic words that will help increase your Judaic knowledge. Don't miss this great opportunity on Wednesday nights! TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 19 Earth Day ~ APRIL 22 http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green http://support.jnf.org/goneutral/index.html WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Be energy efficient ~ save electricity Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. Note: Follow directions when discarding these bulbs. Unplug appliances when not in use. Or, use a ‘smart’ power strip that senses when appliances are off to cut ‘phantom’ or ‘vampire’ energy use. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time. Save water to save money Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too. Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment. Use a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high. Plant native drought-tolerant plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area. Skip bottled water Mideast News Review & Analysis Wed: 7:30-9pm MARCH 11, APRIL 22 Rabbi Zucker Rabbi Zucker presents a news review and discussion of significant Mid-East events and trends, especially as they involve or affect the State of Israel. This class is open to the public. Meet in the Sanctuary. The following websites are recommended for News on the Middle East: www.jpost.com (Jerusalem Post, Israel’s answer to the Washington Times) www.haaretz.com (Israel’s answer to the New York Times) www.israelnationalnews.com (Arutz Sheva— right wing Israeli news) www.israelinsider.com (center-right political commentary) www.iranfocus.com (independent coverage of Iran from anti-regime view) www.metimes.com (Middle East Times, associated with the Washington Times) Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, when traveling or at work. Borrow instead of buying Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books. Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while removing the clutter from your closet or garage. Make your own cleaning supplies Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. PAGE 20 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Committee News Sisterhood A Message from your Sisterhood President O n January 24th was the Sisterhood Family Game Night. Even though we had a great time and played lots of fun games, we sure missed the rest of you. I encourage you to send suggestions for activities that you and your family might be interested in attending. You missed a great time! Sisterhood Executive Board President Lynn Michaels 528-2233 Sisterhood@TBSMahopac.org Vice President Ellen Gershman Anita Bellenchia Treasurer Chris Feuer 621-0808 Recording Secretary Monica Scavone 855-9403 Program Chairman Marge Pollack 628-5252 Gift Shop Chairman Linda Tigershtrom 208-3249 GiftShop@TBSMahopac.org Sisterhood Calendar 2009 Jan 8 Sisterhood Meeting 7:30 pm Jan 24 Family Game Night 7:00 pm Feb 5 Israeli Cooking TBA Mar 5 Sisterhood Meeting 7:30 pm Mar 20 Shabbat Across America 6:15 pm Mar 28 Havdalah & Wine Taste 8:00 pm Apr 2 Taste Of Passover 7:00 pm May 7 Sisterhood Meeting 7:30 pm June 4 Sisterhood Meeting 7:30 pm July 2 Sisterhood Meeting 7:30 pm July 26 Picnic Noon Don’t forget to come to the next Sisterhood meeting on March 5th at 7:30pm. No reservations On March 20th, please join us for Shabbat Across America. We will start with a Friday Night service followed by a community dinner, celebrating Shabbat together. It would be great to show up and be part of the temple congregation. The price is just $18 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Please RSVP by March 9th - we really want to make sure there is enough food and seating to accommodate everyone On March 28th we will be having a special event!!! Come join us for a “Date Night”. Sound interesting?? Keep an eye out for more information and make sure you line up a baby sitter for those of you that have children!! Take Care, Lynn Shabbat Across America Date Nite March 20th March 28th 6pm 8pm ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 21 Club & Committee News A MESSAGE from the MEN’S CLUB T he winter so far is probably the worst in quite a few years. The snow, sleet and ice just don’t want to stop, along with the bitter cold temperatures. The Annual Worldwide Wrap was held on Sunday, February 1. Rabbi Zucker led the service and gave us some interesting explanation into its meaning. Our Millennium Breakfast which was held on Sunday, February 8, was a great success. Our guest speakers were Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, Deacon John Scarfi from St. John’s, Deputy County Executive John Tully, and our own Rabbi Zucker. The panel gave interesting insights into our troubled world today and their outlook for the future. The popular On Trial breakfast will once again return March 22 as a joint Men’s Club/Sisterhood breakfast. You don’t want to miss this one! We also have interesting speakers planned for the late winter and spring breakfasts. Please watch for our flyers. FUNDRAISING Committee Marc Houslanger, chair he sixth Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase & T Fashion Show is right around the corner. We have new and old vendors, who are equally feeling the financial crunch, but they believe so strongly in our synagogue that they are once again promising an afternoon of music, games, magic and food sampling. Plus, for the second year, our own TBS models will be parading the elegant ballroom with gowns that flow and sparkle, provided by Elephant’s Trunk in Mt. Kisco, Katerina’s Boutique in Mahopac, and Star Spangled Carousel in Armonk. Don’t miss the #1 party of the year where you don’t have to bring a gift! Come March 15 to Colonial Terrace, 119 Oregon Road in Cortlandt Manor from 12-4pm and bring your friends. Free parking and admission. The second tri-synagogue Golf Outing & Silent Auction on May 11is not just for adults, not just for men, and not even just for golfers. Gofers are equally needed. Families can join together for a day of fun and charity. Join members of Yorktown Jewish Center and Temple Beth Am of Yorktown Heights for 18 holes of golf and six hours of escape at Mahopac Golf Club. And if golfing is just not your thing, but shopping is, come to the incredible silent auction, and enjoy dinner with new and old friends. RITUAL Committee Jeff Guest, chair If you haven’t joined the Men’s Club, please do. Our annual dues are only $50. In addition, please sign up for the brick pavers and our birthday/anniversary calendar. Forms are available in the Temple office. Shalom, Joel Joel Greenberg Men’s Club President A s many of you know, I recently lost my mother after a brief illness. The outpouring of love and support from Temple Beth Shalom was nothing less than amazing. I was able to say the Mourner’s Kaddish for the entire week of shiva, including during a pretty bad snowstorm. Thank you to my Temple Beth Shalom family. My experience made me realize the importance of this ritual. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin writes that the recitation of the Kaddish forces the mourner to be a part of society, rather than to withdraw in grief, as the Kaddish can only be recited in the presence of a minyan. It seems to me that attending a shiva minyan is one of the most important mitzvot that one can perform, as you are helping another human being to heal. Why then, do I always see the same few familiar faces at a shiva minyan? Should not all of our members have the privilege of being part of one of these services? It only takes about a half hour of your time. I give each and every member a challenge for the upcoming year! Attend at least one shiva minyan this year. Do not do this for me, or the Rabbi, or even for the congregation – do it for yourself. I think that you will feel a more complete person for participating in this mitzvah. If you have any questions regarding ritual or the Ritual Committee, please send an e-mail to RitualCommittee@tbsmahopac.org PAGE 22 TEMPLE TIMES Committee News TBS MARCH/APRIL 2009 Community Billboard & Events Holiday Fair Report Submitted by Lisa Branca & Robin Kushner We would like to thank Ron and Marilyn Arsham, Janet Braeman, Dara Berkwitz, Dana Chipkin, Sharon Feldman, Sharon Gunzberg, David and Lynn Michaels, USY/Georgene Perlman, Melody Weisman, Carol Zager, Rabbi Zucker, Ro, Jean, and Billy for all their help in planning, organizing and running the third TBS holiday fair. The hall was filled with a wide variety of vendors and terrific raffle donations from many local merchants. For those who were able to come, thank you for your continued support. Your support enabled us to raise money for Temple functions, as well as support local vendors. We also thank the following T BS HOLI local merchants for their DAY FAIR kind and generous raffle donations: Peppinos, Somers B and B, Fratelli's Pizza, Tazza Cafe, Mahopac Cards and Comics, Quizno's, Cinema North Theaters, Sanctuary in Carment, United Martial Arts Center, Excel Printing, Marshalls Shoe Shop, Perfume Valley, Lyndy's Jewelers, City Limits, Mahopac Flower Shop, Nail Gallery, Gino’s Restaurant, Food is Good, Chung Ma's Tae Kwon Do, Salon 782, Cafe Piccalo, and Edible Arrangements. We especially thank LISA BRANCA and ROBIN KUSHNER for a great job! job Marc Houslanger Please remember to donate to the NEW Dreidel Fund for bimah enhancements TZ TZOFIM OFIM CARAVAN CONCERT Last year’s Tzofim MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Scouts ARE BACK! May 31-June 2 Watch for details Email aliyahto@jafi.org.il ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 23 Community Billboard & Events FREE COPY AVAILABLE 2009-2010 DIRECTORY AVAILABLE Looking for the best Westchester goods and services? Check out the new Westchester Jewish Conference directory. This resource lists 143 member organizations and has been touted as “the primary resource for everything Jewish in Westchester.” Copies are now available through the TBS office. For further information, please call (914)328-7001 or info@wjconference.org www.wjconference.org A proud beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York Join Congressional officials, foreign dignitaries and activists in celebrating the U.S.-Israel alliance. Saturday, May 2 3:00 PM 7:00 PM - Midnight Registration Opens Regional Dinners/Receptions Sunday, May 3 9:30 - 11:15 AM 11:45 AM - 4:30 PM 5:00 - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM - Midnight Opening Plenary Breakout Sessions or Lunch Late Afternoon Plenary Alternate Programming Monday, May 4 9:00 - 10:30 AM 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM 12:30 - 2:00 PM 1:15 - 3:15 PM 2:00 - 5:15 PM 6:00 - 7:00 PM 7:00 - 10:00 PM Tuesday, May 5 9:00 - 10:30 AM 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM Morning Plenary Regional Lobbying Meetings Lunch Student Awards Luncheon (Off-Site) Breakout Sessions VIP Reception Gala Banquet May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 Morning Plenary Lobbying (Convention Center and Capitol Hill) Register at http://www.aipac.org/AIPAC_events/index.asp O n June 20, 2009, I will fulfill a personal commitment by completing the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Triathlon to help fund Leukemia and Lymphoma research. I am raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program, and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign. I am participating in this event to honor a great man who has recently been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for the second time in his life, Rabbi Joshua Kalev. Please use the address below to donate securely online, plus learn more about my training progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers, including two of my close friends. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support. On behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity. http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/WyckoffT09/ bdancygier Thanks again, Benjamin Dancygier JCC Maccabi Games® 20 TBS VOLUNTEERS (18yr+) are needed to help serve lunch to Maccabi athletes Wednesday, August 19 at the Rosenthal JCC from 9:45am—2:45pm All volunteers receive a free Opening Ceremony ticket for 8/16/09 at Madison Square Gardens , NYC Sign up at the TBS office 845.628.6133 http://purim.tabletotable.org.il/ PAGE 24 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 EASY WAYS TO HELP TBS MEN’S CLUB OF TEMPLE BETH SHALOM Scrip ENGRAVED BRICK PAVER FUNDRAISER We have constructed a new brick path at the front entrance to the temple. Each of the brick pavers are engraved with a personal message. Each brick can accommodate up to three lines with a maximum of thirteen characters per line. The cost per brick is $125. This is a perfect way to commemorate a special event, or to honor or memorialize a loved one. Please contact the TBS office to pick up a BRICK PAVER order form. Double or Triple Your Donation FREE! Your $100 donation could double or triple without any expense to you. It is a gift from your employer. Call your Human Resources Department or Community Relations office and ask about your company’s MATCHING FUNDS program. Some companies do not match donations to religious organizations, but some do. For those employers that match contributions to religious institutions, your annual dues payments would be eligible for a matching contribution, up to whatever limit the employer has set. We urge congregants to check with your local Human Resources department to see if your employer has a matching donation program. M ake that one phone call. We appreciate your effort! Let us know if your company matched your donation and we will shout-out to them in the next issue. Please be sure to check out the TBS website at http://tbsmahopac.org 3/1/09 3/15/09 3/29/09 4/5/09 GoodSearch.com ATTENTION! We are introducing another free opportunity to grow your money with us! Goodsearch (and GoodShop) will pay TBS every time you search Yahoo or link to a participating online store, such as, Staples, Zappos, Amazon.com and 100s more, through their site. If you purchase an item, TBS may earn from 1 to 34 percent. You can pay for these purchases with your regular credit card -- or for even greater benefit to TBS, certain stores (not Staples) may even accept gift cards from our SCRIP program. GoodSearch can be accessed from the TBS website, the weekly TBS Shabbat Announcement emails, or by going directly to www.goodsearch.com. Place Temple Beth Shalom - Mahopac in the "Who do you GoodSearch for" field and then link from this site to your favorite online store. ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 25 Tikkun Olam - Repairing the World W orking in an unfamiliar language and environment can be daunting, even for the most experienced media professionals. MediaCentral provides a number of professional services to make the foreign journalist’s job easier. A non-profit, nonpartisan operation that serves journalists based in Israel, MediaCentral utilizes contacts within the IDF, the government, academia, think tanks, as well as the private and non-profit sectors to facilitate media access to spokespeople, news sources, and human-interest stories. This letter (right) from Aryeh Green is taken from a recent email. A ryeh Green, director of Media Central, has an extensive background in strategic communications in both the public and private sectors. For many years, he served as senior advisor to Natan Sharansky, former Member of Knesset and Deputy Prime Minister, working to combat anti-Semitism and to promote democracy in the region. Since 1990, Green has worked or served as a business consultant for leading companies in Israel and abroad, including ECI Telecom, Aladdin, Audiocodes, Finjan, Lannet, Moto Guzzi, Pfizer, Bank HaPoalim and others. He is a noted public speaker and has lectured in universities and before numerous groups in Israel, North America and Europe. Originally from Washington D.C. and San Francisco, Green moved to Israel with his wife, Katie, from London, in 1984. He holds a BA in psychology from UC Berkeley, an MA in international relations from Hebrew University, and an MSc in business management from Boston/Ben Gurion Universities. He has been published in Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, Israel21C, Washington Jewish Week, SF Northern California Jewish Bulletin, Israel Insider, and on his blog at http://aryeh-israel.blogspot.com. D ear Friends– 12 January 2009 Sometimes I’m asked to provide examples of how we’ve directly impacted the accuracy of reporting about Israel via the services we provide and relationships we build with foreign journalists based in or visiting the region. (Okay, frequently I’m asked this….) I’d like to share this recent example with you. On Tuesday January 6 about noon I arranged for a visit by Anderson Cooper, a senior anchor at CNN and host of the “Anderson Cooper360” hour-long prime-time evening program of news and features, to the Ashkelon police station to get an upclose view of the rockets hitting the city over the past year. Accompanying him and his producer and team, and following an introduction to the commanders of the station, I took them around to the back of the station and translated while the local police bomb/rocket-expert (a wonderfully Israeli gruff Yemenite fellow with a kippah) explained the finer points of Kassams, Grad Katyushas, etc. Anderson then proceeded to record his piece. I watched and noted with some concern his use of the term “home-made” to describe Kassams, and a real lack of understanding of or reference to the vicious and deadly nature of these missiles. They had to do another ‘take,’ and I used the opportunity in the interim to suggest – without an agenda but in the interests of accuracy – that in fact cookies are ‘home-made’, while Kassams are made in small workshops or factories, even if they’re not ‘weapons-grade’ like the Grad Katyushas. I also mentioned a few other pertinent details, including the deadly nature of these missiles. Though not all the points I would have liked to have been included made it into the segment, I believe it does go a long way toward presenting the real nature of the missiles and the importance of our operation to stop them. You can see for yourself at http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwyURsawkPE. MediaCentral can’t say we’re single-handedly changing the way all the press reports from the field; but can MediaCentral take credit for some of the more balanced reporting now coming out of many media outlets? You bet – this is just one example of specific, tangible changes in language, focus, tone & terminology due to our efforts – along with of course all the other NGOs and government offices working together to put Israel’s case to the media. I’ll be in Ashkelon & Sderot again tomorrow – A Contributions can be made to HonestReporting, a US 501(c)3 charitable organization, online at www.HonestReporting.com, or sent to HonestReporting, 520 8th Ave. Suite 2004, New York, NY 10018. (Please indicate that the donation is for MediaCentral) Watch for Aryeh Green’s visit to Temple Beth Shalom in late March. PAGE 26 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Contributions General Fund In honor of Ron and Marilyn’s anniversary, from Marlene & Allen Hochberg from Elaine & Bernie Jacobs For the speedy recovery of Rabbi Joshua Kalev, from Ron & Marilyn Arsham from Ellen & Howard Gershman from Ann & Morris Koblenz For the speedy recovery of Ellen Reing, from the Freundlichs In loving memory of Murray Albeck, from Joan & William Tomback In loving memory of her beloved mother, Anna Buckvar, from Debbe Buckvar In loving memory of her beloved mother, Ruth Bornfriend, from Sylvia Philip In loving memory of Alvin Brass, Martha Jacobs, Samuel Jacobs, Mary Brass, from Selma Brass In loving memory of Alice M. Doster, beloved mother of Mary Ann Smith, from Wendy & Joel Greenberg In loving memory of her beloved sister, Phyllis Freedland, from Elaine Bessen In loving memory of his beloved mother, Lillian Garrell, from Howard Garrell In loving memory of his beloved wife, Edith Goldberg, from David Goldberg In loving memory of Deena Guest, beloved mother of Jeff Guest, from Ron & Marilyn Arsham from Ellen & Howard Gershman from Sue & Gary Loewenberg In loving memory of her beloved father, Bernard Hendler, from Marlene Hochberg In loving memory of Nan Jaffee, from Vivian & Joseph Goldreich In loving memory of her beloved grandmothers, Rose Kosofsky & Minnie Levine, from Nina Levine In loving memory of Mark Kramer, from Marc & Diane Houslanger Mathew Fixler Religious School Fund For the speedy recovery of Al Rosenberg, from Yvonne & Ralph Horowitz Benevolent Outreach Fund In loving memory of her beloved father, Abraham Kuropatwa, from Gail Freundlich For the speedy recovery of Stuart Feldman, from Wendy & Joel Greenberg In loving memory of her beloved father, Harry Langer, from Edna Sterling For the speedy recovery of Rabbi Joshua Kalev, from Wendy & Joel Greenberg from Carol & Rich Zager In loving memory of her beloved husband, Abraham Leibman, from Pearl Leibman In loving memory of her beloved father, Charles Levin, from Eleanor Busman In loving memory of her beloved father, William Lichtman, from Judy Occhiogrossi In loving memory of his beloved parents, Rose & Harry Lidsky, from Marvin Lidsky In loving memory of Molly Post, the beloved mother of Stella Vario, from Anita & Stuart Feldman In loving memory of her beloved father, Charles Siegel, from Stacey Spilman In loving memory of her beloved father, Treiteck Steinlauf, from Jeanne Toovell In loving memory of her beloved mother, Edith Steinlauf, from Jeanne Toovell In loving memory of Naomi Weber, from Ellen & Howard Gershman For the speedy recovery of Al Rosenberg, from Wendy & Joel Greenberg In loving memory of her beloved mother, Ruth Kramer Weiss, from Wendy Greenberg In loving memory of his beloved mother, Deena Guest, from Jeff & Bernice Guest In loving memory of Deena Guest, the beloved mother of Jeff Guest, from Anita & Paul Bellenchia from Patty & Steve Bettman from Dale & Richard Charkow from Gail & David Freundlich from Wendy & Joel Greenberg from Yvonne & Ralph Horowitz from Diane & Marc Houslanger from Karen Kwan from Alicia & Gerald Raskob from the Weisman family from Carol & Rich Zager from Rabbi Zucker Religious Fund For the speedy recovery of Rabbi Joshua Kalev, from Ralph & Yvonne Horowitz ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES Contributions Yahrzeits May Their Memory be a blessing Rabbi’s Fund In appreciation for a great ecumenical service, from Marlene & Allen Hochberg For the speedy recovery of Stuart Feldman, from Lois Siegel For the speedy recovery of Rabbi Joshua Kalev, from Patti & Mark Liff from Sue & Lou Tuzman & family In loving memory of Deena Guest, the beloved mother of Jeff Guest, from Sue & Lou Tuzman & family from David & Lynn Michaels & family Tzedakah Fund For the speedy recovery of Rabbi Joshua Kalev, from Debi Feiman 2 March/Adar 6 Zeller Jacowitz 4 March/Adar 8 Melvin Schechter 5 March/Adar 9 Nathan Hartman Edyth Lefferman Bernard Levy Tillie Weinberger 6 March/Adar 10 Barbara Katzenstein Celia Mendelsohn Ray Perlman 7 March/Adar 11 Ronald Pollack Manfred Stoll 8 March/Adar 12 Morris Posniak 9 March/Adar 13 Aaron Lichtman 10 March/Adar 14 Seymour Weinberger Contributions to the the Dreidel Fund are still ongoing and will be published at the end of the fiscal year. Contributions cover period of December through January 15th PAGE 27 11 March/Adar 15 Fannie Feuer Fannie Ost Stephen Raskob 15 March/Adar 19 Frieda Horowitz Nacha Tigershtrom 17 March/Adar 21 David Guest 23 March/Adar 27 Donald Michelson 24 March/Adar 28 Charles Bornfriend Max Hammer Harry Schwartz Morris Tesler 27 March/Nisan 2 Gitel Seinfeld 29 March/Nisan 4 Hilda Gershman Simon Hertz 30 March/Nisan 5 Herman Ecker 31 March/Nisan 6 Sarah Baskin Meyer Podell Sadie Siegel 1 April/Nisan 7 Richard Haas Stella Kaufman 12 March/Adar 16 George Toovell 2 April/Nisan 8 Christina Gould 13 March/Adar 17 Mary Hertz Martin Kravitz Edna Sapakie 3 April/Nissan 9 Belle Feldman Susan Pilberg 5 April/Nisan 11 Philip Corn 7 April/Nisan 13 Ida B. Grossman 8 April/Nisan 14 Shiah Arsham 10 April/Nisan 16 Theresa Beck 11 April/Nisan 17 Lillian Tesler 13 April/Nisan 19 Jack Nadelhaft 16 April/Nisan 22 Abraham Bress 18 April/Nisan 24 Ceil Baskin Nadelhaft Edath Small 19 April/Nisan 25 Arthur Danziger 22 April/Nisan 28 Michael Goldstein 23 April/Nisan 29 Ethel Abrams 24 April/Nisan 30 Samuel Simon 25 April/Iyar 1 Doris Gunzburg 28 April/Iyar 4 Jerome Paul Levine 4 April/Nisan 10 Henry Faber Cantor Susan Wehle Please Let the Office Know… If you or a family member is ill or in the hospital, please notify the office so that Rabbi Zucker can schedule a visit. Your phone call is greatly appreciated. Our number is 845-628-6133. Thank you. Sharon Gardens in Valhalla Sharon Gardens has been serving the Jewish community since 1953 and is considered to be one of the most beautiful and modern cemeteries for families of the Jewish faith. Its rural setting provides a serene resting place with wide roads and paths for easy access. Plots are $1,250 each / $2,325 pair Contact the temple office 845.628.6133 It is with deep sadness and heartfelt condolences that we reach out to the family, friends and congregants of Cantor Wehle, who was unfortunately aboard Flight 3407 which crashed in Buffalo on February 12. May her memory serve as a source of strength for those who were honored to have felt her spiritual glow. PAGE 28 TEMPLE TIMES B arbara Weisman, a senior at Mahopac High School, was part of a special delegation of the People-to-People Presidential Inauguration program who witnessed the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. This program was initiated in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in order to foster world citizenship. Barbara spent January 17 through January 22 with a select group of People-to-People travelers from around the world to celebrate this monumental event in Washington, D.C. The delegation also gained insights into American leaders throughout history during discussions with political experts, access to the U.S. Capitol and National Archives, exploration of the newly reopened National Museum of American History, and visits to Washington’s treasured monuments and memorials. Looking Back and Looking Ahead It's been two years since my husband, Ron, passed away. Many of our Temple Beth Shalom members supported me during that time. Six months later I was seriously involved and hurt in a car accident. Again the encouragement and assistance I received from our TBS members helped me to overcome and recuperate. I was in a rehab facility for six months and had several operations. Rabbi Kalev also contributed to boost my spirits each time he visited me. On one occasion he even pushed me in my wheelchair (all bundled up and covered in 2 blankets) to the front porch of the rehab for me to get air and see life pass by with cars and street walkers. This was my favorite pastime and kept me connected to life. The Sisterhood women and our Mahopac/Carmel Mah Jong Mavens were a big help to me when I arrived home last March. They provided meals, clothes, companionship, groceries, car rides and more food and sweets. You know who you are! I am so grateful to all who gave me a helping hand. My children, Ari, Jessica and Ilana, put themselves out so many times, traveling by car and plane to be with me. My relatives, especially Aunt Kim and Uncle Myron, have helped me in so many ways. Everyone has helped enabling me to function today. As for tomorrow, I look forward to a happier time, sunnier and warmer. I hope to have a clearer view of what I can accomplish. I hope to be able to assist others, to give back a little of the help and support that was extended to me. Marge Pollack Young and ‘older,’ male and female, golfer and gofer are all invited to an exhilarating afternoon of golf and charity. MAY 11 628.6133 We welcome Marge to our Temple Times staff D ear Rabbi Zucker and Ron, I enjoyed reading your recent bulletin. I especially appreciated the rabbi's thoughtful essay on Obama's foreign policy. Ron's article also had a positive quality that is quite inviting! Your membership spotlight is great. I want to commend you also on the TBS Family Court. What a creative and informative section! Kol Tuv, Rabbi Charles E. Savenor Executive Director Metropolitan New York Region of USCJ MARCH/APRIL 2009 TEMPLE TIMES Co-editors Marilyn Arsham Leslie Raffo Advertising Editor David Michaels Contributing Writers Cantor Shira Adler Ron Arsham Michelle Baruch Lisa Branca Joel Greenberg Jeff Guest Hon. Allen Hochberg Marc Houslanger Robin Kushner Lynn Michaels Marge Pollack Spencer Rubin Glenn Sapir Monica Scavone Rabbi Avinoam Sharon Melody Weisman Carol Zager Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker Editorial Board Gail Freundlich Wendy Greenberg Melody Weisman The Temple Beth Shalom newsletter is published five times per year and is provided by and for the membership of the synagogue. Neither Temple Beth Shalom, nor its members, assumes liability for any of the information, opinions or suggestions contained herein. Articles submitted are subject to editing. Contents may not be reproduced without written permission from the Temple office. We apologize in advance for any errors or omissions. Submissions can be sent via email in Word or Publisher format to: newsletter@tbsmahopac.org. If you are planning to submit an article in the May/June 2009 issue, notify our staff by Thursday, March 19. Copy submission deadline for the May/ June, 2009 issue is Thursday, April 2. Newsletter Errors: Occasionally errors & omissions are found in the pages of We appreciate being Temple Times. notified of any corrections via email: newsletter@tbsmahopac.org, or by calling the temple office to leave a message with Ro, Jean or Melody. A newsletter staff member will return your call ASAP. The temple office is not responsible for newsletter content. Many thanks to our readers, The Temple Times Staff ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 29 PAGE 30 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 31 PAGE 32 SHARON TEMPLE TIMES GARDENS MARCH/APRIL 2009 Dave Goldberg Plumbing & Heating, Inc. A resting place of beauty, dignity and caring. Toll Free: 1-888-536-7426 Internet: http://www.sharongardens.com A Division of Kensico Cemetery 273 Lakeview Ave., P.O. Box 7, Valhalla, NY 10595 Computer Support (HELP!!) Software Assistance / Train- ing (in your home or office) MS Office · Windows · Quicken · Bank Rec. Mailing list management David M. Michaels 22 Greenway Terr N. 845-528-2233 (P) Mahopac, NY 10541 866-334-4406 (F) David.Michaels@Comcast.net Temple Times thanks its advertisers for their sponsorship and support. Please show your thanks by supporting them and when you do, be sure to let them know that you saw their ad in the Temple Times. WELL PUMPS FREE ESTIMATES •Water Heaters •Boilers GOULDS •Storage Tanks Water Systems •Water Softeners •Sales •Service •Installation Weekend Service No Extra Charge Insured - Bonded (845) 628-1288 or (914) 962-3498 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 33 Benjami n A. Dancygier, D.D.S. 3630 Hill Boulevard, Suite 401 Jefferson Valley, NY 10535 914-245-7100 www.DoctorBenDDS.co m Practice limited to Dentistry for Children Freight Liquidators ● Furniture ● Carpeting ● Ceramic Tile ● Laminate Floors ● Wood Floors ● Window Treatments Bill - Sales Manager Route 6, Mahopac, NY 845-628-7930 PAGE 34 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 One Buy Free O ne t e G LAW OFFICES OF JOSEPH J. TOCK 963 ROUTE 6 MAHOPAC, NY 10541 TEL 845.628-8080 FAX 845.628.5450 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: 1978 WILLIAMSBRIDGE ROAD BRONX, NY 10461 WWW.TOCKLAW.COM ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES VÉÄÉÇ|tÄ gxÜÜtvx GRACIOUS SOCIAL CATERING SINCE 1945 www.ColonialTerraceCaterers.com Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (914) 737-0400 PAGE 35 PAGE 36 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 BRACES MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL Visit our friendly office for a complimentary consultation Jodi Gorelick, DDS Orthodontic & Dentofacial Specialist 530 Route Six, Mahopac (845) 628-1018 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES Over 25 Years Experience In All Areas of General Dentistry Skyview Professional Suites ● 530 Route Six ● Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 37 PAGE 38 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 David B. Rubin, MBA, CASLTM Financial Representative 1525 Route 22, Suite 4 Brewster, NY 10509 845 278-5318 x216 office 845 278-5309 fax 914 980-6776 cell david.rubin@nmfn.com www.nmfn.com/davidrubin 436 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 (845) 621-4600 Ben Gruber, Inc. PUBLIC ADJUSTERS Ben Gruber Eric Gruber FAX (845) 621-4613 CELL (917) 295-1407 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 39 Your ad would have fit right here GERALD V. RASKOB, D.D.S. GENTLE DENTAL CARE GENERAL DENTISTRY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS COSMETIC BONDING • ROOT CANAL • DENTURES NITROUS OXIDE SEDATION • CROWNS & BRIDGES 845-278-9080 530 North Main Street, Brewster, New York Maimonides Academy of Western Connecticut Open House Eve ry Friday 2:00 – 3:30 A Contemporary Community Jewish Day School Mommy & Me classes for 1 and 2 year olds Drop-off Two-year-old program Full or Half day Nursery and Pre-K Full day Kindergarten Curriculum for Grades K-5 Call us at 203-748-7129 103 Miry Brook Road, Danbury, CT Minutes from Brewster. Free bus transportation for Kindergartners and up VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY www.mawcschool.org ANDREW STEIN VIDEOGRAPHY (914) 788-4678 andrew@drewvideo.com ALAN WEISS PHOTOGRAPHY (914) 739-8888 awphoto@optonline.net 3153 Albany Post Roa d, Buchanan, NY 10511 When you’re planning your next Life Event, whether it’s a Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Buying/Selling a home… REMEMBER TO LOOK HERE FIRST! PAGE 40 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Sisterhood Gift Shop! Visit the gift shop or call Linda Special Orders are welcome… Any special occasion need can be filled Call or E-mail Linda at (845) 208-3249 or Giftshop@TBSMahopac.org ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 41 PAGE 42 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 If you’re not yet a Sisterhood member... We sponsor many important and fun events all through the year, but these events are only a success through the efforts of our members. March 5, 2009 March 20, 2009 March 28, 2009 April 2, 2009 May 7, 2009 June 4, 2009 July 2, 2009 July 26, 2009 7:30 PM 6:15 PM 8:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Noon Sisterhood Meeting Shabbat Across America Havdalah and Wine Tasting Taste of Passover Sisterhood Meeting Sisterhood Meeting Sisterhood Meeting Picnic It’s not too late to join us. Contact Sisterhood@TBSMahopac.org ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 43 Sisterhood Gift Shop! Visit the gift shop or call Linda Special Orders are welcome… Any special occasion need can be filled Call or E-mail Linda at (845) 208-3249 or Giftshop@TBSMahopac.org PAGE 44 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Dentistry Dr. Louis Tuzman Dr. Joshua M. Tuzman Graduates of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Serving Our Community For Over 30 Years COSMETIC AND GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY With a Personal Touch 845-628-4188 2 Clark Place & Rte. 6 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 45 PAGE 46 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 Make Eating Healthy Easy! Briarcliff Manor ● Yorktown Heights Mt. Kisco ● Mahopac ● Katonah Stamford ● Scarsdale ● Montebello Fairfield ● Larchmont www.mrsgreens.com ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 47 PAGE 48 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES PAGE 49 PAGE 50 TEMPLE TIMES MARCH/APRIL 2009 ADAR/NISAN/IYAR 5769 TEMPLE TIMES KEY FOOD MARKETPLACE OF MAHOPAC Rt. 6 & Baldwin Lane Mahopac, NY Key Food Stores have been family owned and operated for more than 60 years. As Key Food Marketplace we are excited to be a part of the Mahopac community. We carry a wide selection of items including a full line of Organic, Specialty and Kosher items in many of our departments. Stop by and say hello and meet our staff members whose job it is to make your shopping trip a pleasurable one. We also value your comments and suggestions on items you would like us to carry. Store Hours Monday - Saturday 7 AM-9 PM Sunday 7 AM – 8 PM PAGE 51 TEMPLE BETH SHALOM 760 ROUTE 6 MAHOPAC, NY 10541 (845) 628-6133 www.tbsmahopac.org NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAHOPAC, NY 10541 PERMIT NO. 23