Larchmon t Temple N ew s

Larchmont Temple News
SEPTEMBER 2014
In this issue:
Congregational News.............. 1
From the Clergy........................ 2
High Holy Day Schedule.......... 3
From the President .................. 4
Upcoming Events......................5
Our Congregational Family........... 6
Thank You........................................ 6
Monthly Worship Schedule........... 8
For updated information on Temple events, visit us at www.LarchmontTemple.org
LARCHMONT TEMPLE
75 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538
914-834-6120; FAX: 914-834-6503
www.LarchmontTemple.org
a member of the Union for Reform Judaism
JEFFREY J. SIRKMAN
Rabbi
BETHIE MILLER
Assistant Rabbi
TRACEY SCHER
Cantor
RENA FRAADE
Director of Religious School
LISA GERSHON
Acting Director of Early Childhood
ZE’EV AVIEZER
Executive Director
H. LEONARD POLLER ‫ז“ל‬
Rabbi Emeritus
EDWARD GRAHAM ‫ז“ל‬
Cantor Emeritus
FREDDA MENDELSON
Cantor Emerita
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HARRI TARANTO
President
RON HAUBEN
Honorary President
JULI KARSON
Executive Vice President
STACEY CHERVIN-SIGDA
1st Vice President
ROBERT ROTHMAN
2nd Vice President
DAVID SZABO
Financial Vice President
MARTHA STEINMAN
Administrative Secretary
MICHAEL NATHAN
Treasurer
DAVID BECKER
SHEILA CHERVIN
YVETTE GOOREVITCH
KEN GORDON
JONAS HERBSMAN
BARBARA KAPLAN LEWIS
BETH METZENDORF
RICHARD SHAPIRO
TOBY SKLAREW
AMY SOMMER
KENT YALOWITZ
Trustees
CHARLES BIENER
Brotherhood President
ROSEANNE AMOILS
Sisterhood Representative
JEFFREY WANG
KAREN EPSTEIN
Youth Education Committee Chairs
RANDI SPATZ
LESLIE CLIFFORD
LTNS Steering Committee Chairs
Thank you for submitting
by the 8th of each month to
afagon@larchmonttemple.org
Andrea Fagon, Editor/Designer
Carol Scharff, Proofreader
Printed on recycled paper
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FROM THE CLERGY
We are very blessed to be a congregational family made up of people with
diverse interests, varied backgrounds, and changing needs. Our goal is to be
a spiritual home where everyone finds their niche and where people feel free
to express themselves. Fulfilling this goal requires face to face dialogue with
each other to listen to and express our needs and desires.
As we approach the High Holy Days, a time of renewal and change, we look
to better ourselves for the coming year. The determination to change can be
a catalyst for growth in every day of our lives. Renewal cannot happen without change and change cannot happen without renewal.
We normally talk about cheshbon hanefesh, the process of looking inward
and taking stock of who we are and how we behave, at a personal level.
As a clergy team, we also think about cheshbon hanefesh at the communal
level; we reflect on the spiritual needs of our entire Temple family and what
may deserve more attention and energy. This summer, we’ve been thinking
about our LT Religious school families and how we can provide a meaningful
experience for them on the High Holy Days and beyond.
On erev Rosh Hashanah, at 6:00 PM, we will share in a Family service. This
one hour long service will feature our LT teen choir, Shir Harmony, a talented
group of singers who will help lead the musical portion of the evening. There
will be opportunity for stories and family discussion, and the music will be
participatory in style. While all ages are welcome, the service is designed to
be comfortable for families with children in our Religious school programs.
While the LT clergy and staff lead the majority of our HH Day experiences, we
are blessed to have three congregants who are preparing to share their expertise on Yom Kippur. We want to draw your attention to these Beit Midrash
(house of learning) sessions on Yom Kippur morning from 10:30-2:30 PM. The
teachers and topics include:
Family Legacy: Embracing the Generations with Clarence Schwab
Making Memory Live with Jane Boris
Reflections: The Way of Man with Harley Frank
As we wish each other a Shana Tovah, a year of goodness and renewal, change
and repetition, may we blessed with the courage to deepen the meaning of
each day and enhance the quality of our lives.
We look forward to greeting you all soon.
L’Shana Tovah umetukah (May you be inscribed for a good and sweet year),
Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman, Cantor Tracey Scher, and Rabbi Bethie Miller
YOUR GUIDE TO HIGH HOLY DAYS 5775 SERVICES AT LT
SELICHOT/ROSH HASHANAH
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 SELICHOT
Opening the Gates for Our Repentance
9:00 PM Dessert/Dialogue: “Our Father, Our King” - The TooHigh, Holy God?
10:45 PM Selichot Service - Main Sanctuary (led by clergy)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 EREV ROSH HASHANAH
6:00 - 7:30 PM Family Service - Main Sanctuary *
(with Shir Harmony, our teen choir)
Rabbi Sirkman and Rabbi Miller will lead a story/discussion
Optional Kids Activities - Axelrod Chapel (K- 3rd grade)
8:30 - 10:00 PM Congregational Service - Main Sanctuary
(traditional music and liturgy)
Rabbi Sirkman will preach
10:00 PM L’Chayim Collegian/Post Collegian Schmooze Axelrod Chapel. 18 to toast…21 to drink
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 ROSH HASHANAH
9:00 - 11:30 AM Service I - Main Sanctuary *
Rabbi Sirkman, Rabbi Miller, and Cantor Scher
Rabbi Miller will preach
9:00 - 9:45 AM Young Family Service - Tent of Meeting
Rabbi Miller and Dave Cohn
10:00 - 11:30 AM B’Tween Program - Axelrod Chapel
(light lunch served)
Interactive and Experiential Program for 4th - 7th graders
Rena Fraade and Seth Marion
Noon - 2:30 PM Service II - Main Sanctuary *
Rabbi Sirkman and Cantor Scher
Rabbi Sirkman will preach
Alternative Service - Tent of Meeting *
Rabbi Miller, Rebecca Mansell, and Dave Cohn
Rabbi Miller will lead a text-study/discussion
Optional Kids Activities - Axelrod Chapel (K - 3rd grade)
2:30 PM Tashlich - The Ritual of Casting - Manor Park
Walk to Manor Park from Larchmont Temple
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 ROSH HASHANAH
9:30 AM - Noon Second Day Service - Main Sanctuary
Discovery Dialogue - Rabbi Sirkman, Rabbi Miller, and Cantor
Scher with Shir Ami, our adult choir
YOM KIPPUR
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 EREV YOM KIPPUR - KOL NIDRE
6:00 - 8:00 PM Service I - Main Sanctuary *
Rabbi Sirkman will preach
Optional Kids Activities, Axelrod Chapel (K - 3rd grade)
8:30 - 10:30 PM Service II - Main Sanctuary
Rabbi Sirkman will preach
(Note: Both Kol Nidre services are traditional in content and style.)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 YOM KIPPUR
9:00 - 11:30 AM Service I – Main Sanctuary *
Rabbi Sirkman, Rabbi Miller, and Cantor Scher
Rabbi Sirkman will preach
9:00 - 9:45 AM Young Family Service - Tent of Meeting
Rabbi Miller and Dave Cohn
10:00 - 11:30 AM B’Tween Program - Garden Room
(light lunch served)
Interactive and Experiential Program for 4th - 7th graders
Rena Fraade and Seth Marion
10:30 AM - 2:30 PM Beit Midrash
Learning and Reflection Opportunities
10:30 - 11:30 AM The Legacy of Survival: Embracing the
Generations - Clarence Schwab
Noon - 1:00 PM Making Memory Live - Jane Boris
1:30 - 2:30 PM Reflections: The Way of Man - Harley Frank
Noon - 2:30 PM Service II - Main Sanctuary *
Rabbi Sirkman and Cantor Scher
Rabbi Miller will preach
Alternative Service – Tent of Meeting *
Rabbi Miller, Rebecca Mansell, and Dave Cohn
Rabbi Sirkman will lead a text-study/discussion
Optional Kids Activities - Axelrod Chapel (K - 3rd grade)
3:00 PM Afternoon Service* - Main Sanctuary
5:00 PM Yizkor - Memorial Service - Main Sanctuary
5:45 PM Neilah - Concluding Service - Main Sanctuary
6:45 PM Break the Fast - Garden Room
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Fellow Larchmont Temple Congregants,
I hope everyone had a nice summer. The weather certainly helped this year. As we approach the New
Year, I wanted to introduce our newest clergy and professionals who join our congregational community:
• Rabbi Bethie Miller joined our congregation as Assistant Rabbi in June. Rabbi Miller, a native of Newton, MA, earned a degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Williams College in 2003. Before
deciding to attend rabbinical school, Rabbi Miller gained valuable community-building experience both
inside and outside of the Jewish world. During her studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion, Rabbi Miller had the opportunity to serve as a student rabbi at North Fork Reform Synagogue
in Cutchogue, NY, as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, at East End Temple in
Manhattan, and then headed back to Temple Israel in Boston. We are thrilled to have such a wonderful
Assistant Rabbi as part of our congregation.
• No stranger to Larchmont Temple Nursery School, Lisa Gershon moved up to the position of Acting
Director of the Nursery School in June. Prior to LTNS, Lisa taught kindergarten at the Manhattan School
for Children as well as three and four year olds at The Early Childhood Center in White Plains. Lisa received her BA in Spanish and Sociology from Ithaca College as well as her MA in Early Childhood/Bilingual Education from Bank Street College.
• We also welcome Youth Director, Seth Marion. Prior to joining the Temple, Seth worked as a freelance
technical director in New York City and has worked in many roles at several URJ Summer Camps. He
lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Sarah Marion, the Temple’s Rabbinic Intern
• Finally, we are pleased to welcome our new accompanist, Dr. Jonathan Faiman who will join us at
Larchmont Temple this month. We are excited to have Jonathan with us and I hope you will join me in
welcoming him. Jonathan received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from Manhattan School of Music as a
student of Leon Fleisher.
I know I speak for the whole Temple family in welcoming these highly talented individuals, Bethie, Lisa,
Seth, and Jonathan. Please take the time to stop by and introduce yourself and talk to them about the
many ways we as congregants can get more involved in Larchmont Temple.
I also hope that the upcoming High Holy Days can be for each of us a time for reflection, a time for
thanks, a time for observance, a time for introspection, and a time to challenge ourselves on how we
can improve our lives and the lives of those around us in the upcoming year. We are entering 5775, the
only palindromic year any of us will know. There are many interpretations of palindromes, but perhaps
the most relevant for us is that 5775 in Hebrew characters spells teshua (Hebrew letters correspond to
numbers). Teshua means help, rescue, deliverance, salvation. May 5775 bring teshua to all men and
women of good will around the whole world.
With best wishes for spiritually comforting and inspiring High Holy Days and a happy and healthy New
Year. L’shanah tovah.
Harri Taranto
President
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BROTHERHOOD BREAKFASTS
RESUME SEPTEMBER 14
Sunday, September 14
10AM Breakfast and Program
Yoav Cohen, the Israeli Shaliach (emissary) to
Westchester County, will discuss the cultural
connections that tie us to Israel and Israelis.
Central to the conversation will be the current
state of affairs in Gaza and the experience of an
IDF soldier and all Israelis in those situations.
Yoav’s family made aliyah from South Africa in
the late ‘90’s when he was 12, and he served
in the IDF for four years. He is co-founder of
friendasoldier.com, a
grass roots movement
of IDF veterans who
want to share with the
world their experiences taking part in the
Middle East conflict
and living in Israel.
FROM CANTOR SCHER
I would like to formally introduce our new accompanist, Dr.
Jonathan Faiman who will begin
working at Larchmont Temple
in September. We are excited
to have Jonathan on board with
us and I hope you will join me in
welcoming him!
Jonathan received his Doctorate of Musical Arts
from Manhattan School of Music as a student of
Leon Fleisher. He is a member of the Locrian Chamber Players, a new music group that performs works
composed within 10 years of each concert date, and
an adjunct company member of The Actors Company Theatre (TACT). For his work as a composer and
arranger, he has received numerous ASCAP awards.
For over 25 years, he has collaborated with cantors
and their choirs throughout North America. He is
currently on the faculty of Hoff-Barthelson and Concordia College. Please visit jonathanfaiman.com for
more information.
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OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY
Mazel Tov to
David & Dana Carlos on the birth of their son, Mateo
Barbara & Charles Coleman on birth of their granddaughter
Helena born to Rachel Coleman and Dave Noah
Lynn Roberts & Mark Wolfson on the marriage of Mike Wolfson
and Ali Wasserman
Diana & Dennis Hellman on the marriage of Joanna Hellman and Matt Irvine
Deepest Sympathies to the family of
Betsy Warner, daughter of Marcia Warner, sister of Jim and Steve Warner
Martin Ralston, father of Amy Seife
Fred Friedman, father of Beth and Carrie
Frank Breitbarth, father of Sandy Reznik
Phyllis Golding, mother of Andy and Jackie
Margaret Santalone, mother of John Santalone
Mel Braverman, father of Wendy Kaufman
Lillija Purmalis, grandmother of Silvia Lederman
Bertha Hertz, mother of Susan Hertz
Lorelle Marcus Phillips, mother of John Phillips
Ruth Scheer, mother of Ed Mahler
Sandra Fligel Hirsch, sister of Robert Fligel
John Kaufman, father of David and Robert
THANK YOU
RABBI SIRKMAN’S MITZVAH FUND
In appreciation for your presence at the Brit Chayim of our new
granddaughter Helena, daughter of Rachel Coleman and Dave Noah by
Barbara & Charles Coleman
In honor of our daughter, Julia, becoming Bat Mitzvah by
Laurie & Jonathan Shapiro
In honor of Richard and Jane Shapiro’s granddaughter, Julia,
becoming Bat Mitzvah by Claire & Irv Zuckerman
In honor of our son, William, becoming Bar Mitzvah by Jill & Paul Sarkozi
In honor of my grandson Thomas becoming Bar Mitzvah
by Ruth Wiesenberg
In honor of Eli’s Confirmation by Silvia & Mark Lederman
In gratitude for officiating at Mike and Ali’s wedding
by Lynn Roberts & Mark Wolfson
In gratitude for officiating at the refresh of our ketubah
by Lauren & George Krzyzewski
In honor of Andrew Shapiro & Carly Salaman’s wedding
by Elaine & Peter Canter
In appreciation and in honor of Joanna Hellman and Matt Irvine’s wedding by
Diana & Dennis Hellman
In memory of my husband, Peter Kaplan by Lisa Chase Kaplan
In memory of Ian’s mother, Janet Spier by Ian & Daisy Spier
In memory of my mother, Bertha Gordon by Madalyn Lehman
In memory of my father, Jack Patchen by Stuart Patchen
In gratitude for officiating at the funeral of Ed’s mother, Ruth Scheer,
by Ed & Susan Mahler
In gratitude for officiating at the funeral of Jed’s mother,
Doris Stampleman, by Jed & Monique Stampleman
In appreciation of Rabbi Nathan who officiated at the funeral
for my mother Lorelle Marcus Phillips by John Phillips
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In memory of Bob’s father, Moe Frankel, and in honor of
Gabe Sirkman and Chelsea Roth’s engagement by Bob & Karen Frankel
RABBI MILLER’S MITZVAH FUND
In appreciation for officiating at the shiva service for Martin A. Ralston
by Amy and Howard Seife
CANTOR MENDELSON’S MITZVAH FUND
In appreciation for participating in the shivah minyan for Ruth Scheer
by Ed and Susan Mahler
In gratitude for officiating at the shiva service for Doris Stampleman
by Jed Stampleman
CANTOR SCHER’S MITZVAH FUND
In celebration of Eli Lederman’s confirmation by Mark and Sylvia Lederman
In celebration of Julia Shapiro becoming a Bat Mitzvah by Jonathan and
Lauren Shapiro
In memory of Ron Volper by Hillary Volper
In thanks for the gift of Torah by Wendy Brooks
In gratitude for officiating at the funeral of Doris Stampleman
by her son Jed Stampleman
In gratitude for officiating at Jenny and Matt’s wedding
by Susie and Paul Millman
In gratitude for the donation of the piano by Nikhil Thukral
In celebration of Julia Shapiro’s Bat Mitzvah by Richard and Jane Shapiro
In gratitude for officiating at the unveiling for Robert Warshaw
by Elaine Warshaw
MEMORIAL FUND
by Ramie & Merri Arian
In memory of Robert Fried by Phil & Mary Ashton
In memory of Louis & Anna Weiss, Benjamin & Claire Bernstein, Bruce
Bernstein and Adolph Weiss by Selma Bernstein
In memory of Wendy Kaufman’s father, Mel Braverman
by Marshall & Ellen Cohen
In memory of the Yahrzeit of Phil Demsky and sister Rose Robin
by Sy & Hilda Demsky
In memory of Dr. Robert Fried by Sheldon Glasser
In memory of Florence Slavin by Emily & John Grotta
In appreciation of the memorial service for my wife, Lorelle Phillips, led
by Rabbi Mara Nathan by Roger Phillips
In memory of Betsy Warner
by Morton & Sandra Porwick
In memory of Elaine Margolin
by Robert J. & Amy M. Sommer
In memory of Henry Hamburger and Sophia Ungar
by Lawrence & Pauline Ungar
In memory of Robert Ungar
by Lawrence & Pauline Ungar
GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
In memory of Nessa Sternfeld by Judith Bernstein
In memory of Dr. Bob Fried by William Gantz
In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Julia, granddaughter
of Richard & Jane Shapiro by Sol & Bernice Schargel
In memory of Ralph Stat and Sally Stat
by Susan Stat Holiday
LOIS & JULIAN BRAUN/CANTOR GRAHAM
ADULT EDUCATION FUND
In memory of Amy Seife’s father
by Gary & Jamie Gordon
In memory of Betsy Warner
by Gary & Jamie Gordon
YOUTH PROGRAMS
In memory of Gail’s mother, Lillian Botzman
by Gerald & Gail Robinson
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PROGRAMS
In honor of Rena Fraade
by Melissa Simon
CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
In honor of Adrienne Weiss’ birthday
by Mark & Yvette Goorevitch
In memory of Bernice Corn
by Joshua & Reva Greenberg
In memory of Doris Stampleman
by Joshua & Reva Greenberg
In memory of Rabbi Poller
by Priscilla Poller
The Downstairs Minyan
Saturdays, 10:30 - 11:30AM
Please join us for a casual, intimate,
and musical Shabbat observance.
We are committed to harnessing the
peaceful energy of Shabbat through
highly participatory worship.
The Downstairs Minyan is also great for
anyone wishing to...
• Observe a yahrtzeit and say kaddish
• Offer a prayer for healing
• Connect with fellow congregants
Contact Dave Cohn, Music & T’filah Coordinator
dcohn@larchmonttemple.org or
914-834-6120, ext. 16
VIEW THE MONTHLY CALENDAR AT
www.LarchmontTemple.org/calendar
ARTHUR & ROSE WOLF ISRAEL CONNECTION FUND
In memory of Arthur Wolf
by Lewis & Diane Bennett
In honor of Rose’s birthday
by Paul Berger
In memory of Wendy Kaufman’s father, In honor of
Jenny Millman’s Wedding and Michael Wolfson’s
wedding by Gary & Jamie Gordon
In honor of Rose Wolf
by Susan Litwer
by Robert & Paula Ann Peck
The occassion of Mrs. Wolf’s birthday
by Erica Pistol
by Hillary Volper
SOCIAL ACTION TZEDAKAH FUND
In memory of Rose Geller and Blanche Zuckerman In
appreciation of Rabbi Nathan
by Robert & Marion Geller
In honor of Wendy Brooks for Rosh Chodesh
by Frank & Syrette Dym Grant
In memory of Stanley Schneider
by David Joel & Lisa Perry Hellerstein
In honor of Wendy Brooks becoming a grandmother
by Stephen Paul & Melinda Leigh Lehman
UPCOMING EVENTS
SISTERHOOD
September 18: Joint Sisterhood Book Club with
WJC. We will be discussing “The Book of Jonah”
by Joshua Max Feldman: A modern tale of the story of Jonah. We will meet at a Larchmont Temple
Sisterhood member’s home; please email nkanterman@gmail.com for address.
SOCIAL ACTION
Midnight Run: Saturday, September 20. Sorting is
at Larchmont Avenue Church from 4 - 5:30 PM and
run starts at 8:30 PM. To get involved in any of our
activities contact linda.riefberg@gmail.com or
debschleien@gmail.com.
FAMILY TRIP TO ISRAEL
LT’s Family Friendly Adventure to Israel! Save the
Date for an adventure to Israel led by LT Clergy, December 18-30, 2014. Visit the feature on the homepage at www.LarchmontTemple.org.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE WEEKLY SHABBAT EMAIL, VISIT
www.larchmonttemple.org/About/Friday_Emails
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SEPTEMBER WORSHIP
SCHEDULE
Friday, September 5
KI TEIZEI (Deut. 21:10-25:19)
6:30 pm Pre-Oneg
7:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Larchmont Temple
75 Larchmont Avenue
Larchmont, NY 10538
914-834-6120
www.LarchmontTemple.org
Saturday, September 6
10:30 am Congregational Worship
Bar Mitzvah of Jordan Nathan
Friday, September 12
KI TAVO (Deut. 26:1-29:8)
7:15 pm Circle of Healing
8:00 pm Service for the Soul
Saturday, September 13
9:00 am Family Shabbat
10:30 am Congregational Worship
Bat Mitzvah of Mira Goodman
Friday, September 19
NITZAVIM-VAYELECH
(Deut. 29:9-31:30)
6:30 pm Pre-Oneg
7:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
SELICHOT
Saturday, September 20
10:30 am Congregational Worship
B’nai Mitzvah of Max McLoughlin &
Sydney Wender
9:00 pm Selichot Dessert Dialogue
10:45 pm Selichot Service
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, September 24
6:00 pm Family Service Sanctuary
8:30 pm Sanctuary
10:00 pm L’Chayim Collegian/
Post Collegian Schmooze
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, September 25
9:00am Service I Sanctuary
Noon Service II Sanctuary
Noon Alternative Service –Tent of meeting
2:30pm Tashlich – The Ritual of Casting
SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH
Friday, September 26
9:30 am Sanctuary
HAAZINU(Deut. 32:1-52)
7:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Shuvah
Saturday, September 27
9:00 am 1st session Chevrah Torah
10:30 am Congregational Worship
Bar Mitzvah of Paris Rhodes
10:30 am Downstairs Minyan
Here’s our new Shabbat Schedule!
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