CBY Spring 2014 Bulletin by Congregation B'nai Yisrael of Armonk

2 Banksville Road â&#x20AC;˘ Box 7 â&#x20AC;˘ Armonk, NY 10504 â&#x20AC;˘ Quarterly Bulletin â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2014 /

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Connections Rabbi Seth M. Limmer Rabbi Chanina, son of Teradion, says: When two sit, and words of Torah pass between them, the Divine Presence rests between them. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Pirkei Avot 3:2 Then those who had awe for the Divine spoke to one another. God listened, and heard it, and wrote it down in a book of remembrance. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Malachi 3:16

Relationships have always been a hallmark of our community. Congregation B'nai Yisrael considers itself a family of families: it is our mission to forge sacred relationships between people. This unique dedication of our synagogue has been of such meaning for me, literally on a daily basis. Simply put, I have gained so much through the years through powerful, sacred moments of connection I have been privileged to share in our sanctuary, in my office, around the table in our library, and even while in many of your living rooms. Two thousand years ago, Rabbi Chanina taught of the Divine power of real connection between two human beings. As I re-read his words this month, I am particularly struck at his use of prepositions: when two sit and study Torah, the Divine Presence rests between them. It's not that some sacred cloud hovers over this deeply connected couple; neither is it the case that each of these people engaged in holy work has their own individual halo. Instead, Rabbi Chanina teaches, the Divine Presence is between them: if we want to go looking for God, the best place to start our search is by looking at the space between people in that most human activity, interaction. continues on page 2 (

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3-5 Community CBY Cultural Connections: Author Series, Spring Boutique & Luncheon Roxbury Farm CSA To Our Future, For Our Future: Comedy Night 6 Learning It Is Time To Tell The Story Again Confirmation Class 2014

7 Leadership Transition Under Way 8-9 Commitment to Others Midnight Run Trip to Nicaragua 10-11 Tradition Passover Recipes Why Is This Night Different?

12-13 Investment Memorial Wall 14 Family Activities Backpage Relevance

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(914) 273-2220 • fax (914) 273-2285 cbyarmonk.org • temple@cbyarmonk.org facebook.com/cbyarmonk • @cbyarmonk

Rabbi Seth M. Limmer rabbilimmer@cbyarmonk.org Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky cantorkobilinsky@cbyarmonk.org Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz Founding Rabbi, Retired

Ava Saperstein Administrator ava@cbyarmonk.org David Pribish Bookkeeper david@cbyarmonk.org Alicia Allison Communications Director alicia@cbyarmonk.org Jessica Gollin B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator jessica@cbyarmonk.org Rabbi Joan Farber Interim Director of Education rabbifarber@cbyarmonk.org Nancy Tejada-Ward Administrative Assistant to the Religious School nancy@cbyarmonk.org

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Executive Committee Lisa Broomer President Ross Honig Vice President, Finance Lisa Mazure Vice President, Programs; Caring/Social Action Co-chair Debra Ezratty Treasurer, Religious Practices Chair Bonni Stanley Secretary, Human Resources Chair Ivy Levien Member-At-Large Members of the Board Susan Bloom Felicia Buebel Sari Deutsch Michelle Eickelbeck Diane Freedman Sheldon Ganis Brian Kaminer Neil Katz Kara Klein Aaron Kwittken Samantha Schwam Paul Skurman Brian Socolow Rich Waksman

CBY Cultural Connections Chair Caring and Social Action Co-chair Membership Co-chair Membership Co-chair Jewish Identity Development Chair Fund Raising Chair Communications Co-chair Security Chair Communications Co-chair Transitions Chair High Holy Day Honors Chair Budget and Finance Chair

PAST PRESIDENTS Lewis Schaffer John Stern Michael J. Gross ‫ז״ל‬ Mike Jacobs Lyle Halperin ‫ז״ל‬ Ann Leber Ellen Bernstein Charles Shapiro

Robert Regal Marilyn Heimerdinger Shelly Jacob David Brody Barby K. Siegel Joel Dworetzky Frederic J. Siegel Lawrence C. Fox

Our Cornerstones Tradition Congregation B’nai Yisrael connects individuals to our Jewish heritage and weaves our traditions into our individual and family identities. Our religious traditions form a framework for meaningful Jewish lives, and help us to to celebrate moments of wonder in life’s cycle and to find comfort in times of tragedy and sorrow. Our spiritual home connects our members to that which is Divine, to the rich variety of Jewish living, and to others in our community. Community Congregation B'nai Yisrael is the center of Jewish life in Armonk. As a neighborhood synagogue, we form a bond among our member families. The synagogue serves as a spiritual and a social center where individuals fulfill their religious needs and find meaning in Judaism at every stage of life. Learning Learning the lessons of our Jewish heritage is a primary focus at Congregation B'nai Yisrael. Together we discover the building blocks of Jewish life, expand our sense of self in a Jewish context, and apply Jewish wisdom to every stage of our journey. Commitment to Others The Jewish impulse to repair the world [Tikkun Olam] plays a central role in the life of our community. We care for other human beings and strive to make a difference in people’s lives through individual and communal acts of tzedakah here in Armonk, in our wider Westchester community, and throughout our world. Investment We are deeply committed to maintaining our vibrant community. We demonstrate our dedication by sharing our time and our resources to insure a healthy future for our synagogue. Leadership Our clergy and leadership are accessible and responsive. It is our responsibility to be deeply connected to one another, in order to hear what every individual and family needs, and learn how to strengthen our community. Relevance From ancient times, Judaism has thrived by maintaining its traditions in an evolving world. Our synagogue helps our families build contemporary Jewish lives. Through celebration and study, by taking care of our own and reaching out to help others, by respecting every individual and embodying a spirit of diversity, we are able to be authentic Jews in a modern world.

Printed on 100% recycled paper. Read this issue of our Bulletin, as well as past issues, online at cbyarmonk.org under Calendar and Events.

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I feel as if, here at Congregation B'nai Yisrael, I have been fortunate enough to bear witness to the truth of Rabbi Chanina's teaching time and time again, and in so many situations. Every Saturday morning (o.k., excepting vacations and summers) an incredible group of learners sit around the circular table in our library, so we can study Torah together. At least that is our ostensible purpose. But sometimes—when parsing obscure phrases of Leviticus or examining excruciating Talmudic passages—deep moments of revelation and connection intrude on our "learning". Our group travels from the mundane to the ethereal, as we search to understand not what Torah means, but rather what Torah means for how we live as Jews. The way we connect with each other, the way we relate to each other, the way we tolerate each other's idiosyncrasies: these allow the Divine Presence to find its way to the center of our table nearly every Shabbat. Now, Torah study is quite a literal example of how we at CBY bring the divine into our presence; but these profound experiences happen so many other ways. How many times have I heard news of celebration—and then shared hug—in the hallways of our school. How often, while sitting in my office and talking through a difficult passage in life, is such a connection made. Almost every Shabbat, I see someone walk into our sanctuary and smile unexpectedly when they discover a close friend is there to welcome the Sabbath as well.

I cannot count the times—but I feel fortunate at each occurrence—when I see the looks of awe on parents' faces as they witness their child reading from our Torah for the first time. The Divine Presence is such a frequent presence here in our community because we human beings make sure that our synagogue is a spiritual center where we connect, truly relate, to other human beings. And, as the prophet Malachi taught, our lives are enriched by the memories we build at Congregation B'nai Yisrael, because such sacred moments are inscribed in our psyches, in our personal scrolls of remembrance. When we are at our best, we enter the building hoping for some wonderful connection to be made, and we leave with a powerful new memory to connect us to our people, our traditions, and our synagogue. The power we encounter in our synagogue is not the result of one person, but the combined effect of an entire community committed to connecting with each other. And, as we turn towards the season of our Spring and Passover and of new promise, I know that the promise of this community to live up to the commitments of its past will continue to blossom in the future.

CBY Cultural Connections Author Series: Lori Rotskoff | Wednesday, May 14, 10:30 am Co-editor of When We Were Free To Be: Looking Back at a Children’s Classic and the Difference it Made and author of Love on the Rocks: Men, Women, and Alcohol in Post-World War II America $20/members, $25/non-members Lori Rotskoff is a cultural historian, writer, and teacher. She first discovered her passion for women’s history and literature as an undergraduate at Northwestern University. After working for a year at the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, DC, she entered graduate school in American Studies at Yale, where she earned a Ph.D. She has taught undergraduates at Yale and Sarah Lawrence College, and currently offers seminar classes for adults at the Barnard Center for Research on Women.

Spring Boutique and Luncheon A day of shopping to benefit Congregation B’nai Yisrael. Jewelry, Handbags, Scarves, Tableware, Belts, Olive Oil, Mah Jongg Sets, Teachers’ Gifts & so much more! Wednesday, May 7, 10am-4pm, at Brynwood Country Club Lyssa Weiss, M.S., R.D., Special Guest Speaker, Dietitian, & owner of Skinny Jeans Nutrition, LLC $65/person. RSVP by May 2 to Alicia at alicia@cbyarmonk.org Win a Free Consultation with Lyssa Weiss ($150 value) Lunch with speaker 12:00-1:00 pm. Boutique will be closed during this time. Lyssa Weiss, M. S., R. D., is the owner of Skinny Jeans Nutrition, LLC, and a weight management and obesity specialist in private practice in Westchester County, New York. She is the author of the forthcoming book The Skinny Jeans Diet (Harper Collins). Please visit her at theskinnyjeansdiet.com.

Roxbury Farm CSA Buy a share in Roxbury Farm this year receive fresh organic vegetables, and provide direct support to a bio-dynamic New York farm VEGETABLE SHARES $618 for 23 weeks June 11- November 19 FRUIT SHARES $80 for 20 weeks, beginning July 2 Locally-grown but not organic. Fruit share is available only as an add-on to a vegetable share.

Beef, chicken, and lamb shares are also available There are a limited number of shares so sign up soon! If you are interested in purchasing half a share, or have any questions contact Tessa Kwittken at tessa@kwittkenfamily.com. To sign up print out an application form from the Roxbury Farm website, roxburyfarm.com, and mail it to them with your check. • • • •

Shares may be split but one member is individually responsible for managing the split. All shareholders are responsible for helping one evening (about 3 hours) during distribution throughout the delivery season. Part of the volunteer job is to bag and deliver surplus vegetables to Neighbors Link in Mt. Kisco. All communication is via e-mail. In addition, e-newsletters are sent by the Farm each week that give news of the Farm, and provide recipes and tips for storing and preparing produce. Shareholder families are encouraged to visit the farm.

Shabbat Host Families At Congregation B'nai Yisrael the most meaningful time for families to come together is Shabbat. This year we are continuing our tradition of Shabbat Host Families to enhance our weekly Shabbat experience. We ask your family to help at our 8:00 p.m. services by greeting fellow members and guests as they enter our doors and by nurturing our community by providing the Oneg Shabbat challah, grape juice, fruit, and desserts with which we celebrate following the service. For each 8:00 p.m. service we need 3-4 families. To sign up to be a host, contact Michelle Eickelbeck at eickelbeck@aol.com who will be happy to assign you a convenient date.

Early Shabbat Services Our Early Shabbat Service is twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m. To check Shabbat service times each week, you can visit our website at cbyarmonk.org or check our weekly Shabbat Shalom email. Early Services will be on April 18, May 2, 16, and June 6. Summer services will be at 6:30 p.m. and begin on June 20.

Our Congregation Welcomes

In Memoriam

Mark and Leslie Boxer, and their children, Richard and Morgan

Eve Widdows, mother of Linda Fernberg Murray Henick, father of Jeff Henick Edwin Shmerler, father of Cindy Shmerler Tessie Nerenberg, grandmother of Ally Wolland Satyadev J. Tewani, father of Alka Kaminer Michael Giles, nephew of Deborah Cerar Sidney Metzger, mother of Jane Metzger Phillip Weintraub, grandfather of Neil Katz Tadeo "Ted" Tobia, father of Steve Tobia

Adam and Rhoda Ingberman, and their children, Edison and Indiana Eric and Jennifer Freiberg, and their children, Danielle, Jessica, and Tyler

Congratulations Marilyn Silver on the birth of her grandsons, Evan Bradley and Dylan Parker

To Our Future, For Our Future: Comedy Night THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 7:00-11:00 P.M. AT CBY T Starring St Comedians, Charlie Fersko, Kate Wolff & Mike Burton Dinner D & Cocktails Live Li Music Silent Auction Si Edie Ed Parker Handbag Raffle Smart Sm Casual Attire $150 $1 per person

RSVP by April 21 to Alicia at alicia@cbyarmonk.org

Special thank you to On the Marc Catering and Decor Event Design Spec Un Underwriters Bloom, Ezratty, Falk, Fishman, Ganis, Goodison/Mazure, Klein, Schwam, Stanley Families Fundraiser Co-Chairs Debra Ezratty, Bonni Stanley Fund Silent Auction Chair Amy Yallof Sile Comm Committee Members Susan Bloom, Leslie Blum, Jocelyn Deutsch, Jill Greenspan, Hollie Levy, Elise Margolin, Andrea Soloway, Deborah Tobia, Felicia Zacks Elis

Adult Education TEXT IN THE CITY | Wednesday at noon, May 7 at Pryor Cashman LLP, Times Square, NYC STUDY IN THE SUBURBS | Wednesdays at noon, April 23, May 14 at Congregation B'nai Yisrael Join Rabbi Limmer for a monthly lunchtime opportunity to connect with CBY, our Jewish tradition and the side of your brain not occupied with your mobile device. This year we will be exploring the Book of Deuteronomy, which marks the first major religious reform in the life of our Jewish people. We will discover how our ancestors’ changing world altered their understanding of their spiritual and communal life, and come to know deeply the fifth and final book of the Torah. Our subjects will include: The Book, The Scroll, The Reform, Moses & Monotheism, The Temple, Judges & Justice, Laws of Warfare, Friends & Family, Covenant, Curse & Choice and The Death of Moses TORAH STUDY | Saturdays, 9:00- 9:45 a.m. A weekly opportunity every Shabbat morning in our library to discuss the week’s Torah portion with our clergy. Come every week or once in a while; all you need to bring is an open mind. ROSH CHODESH LUNCHEON & STUDY GROUP | Fridays at noon, May 2, 30 Rosh Chodesh is a special holiday where we find peace, enrichment, and sisterhood. At CBY we are a grassroots gathering of women who meet each Hebrew month to celebrate the new moon. We serve lunch and share in informal programs focusing on Jewish and/or women’s issues. 5

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It Is Time To Tell The Story Again Rabbi Joan Farber, Interim Director of Education Every year at this time, we begin our preparation for Pesach. Whether we are traveling to be with family or we are hosting the family seder, we are thinking about seders past and present. The seder is an opportunity for intensive family time. From the moment Purim is behind us until the last piece of matzah is eaten, we are focused on the traditions and mitzvot of Pesach.

For seder groups with older children and adults: pick sections of the Hagaddah to explore and check out Jewish websites for more information. The prayer “Halachma Anya—Lo this is the bread of affliction” instructs us to “let all who are hungry come and eat.” Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger works to raise funds for programs which feed the hungry. (mazon.org)

Each year, we recite the words: “B’chol dor vador chayav adam lirot et atzmo k’ilu hu yatza mi’Mitzrayim–In each generation, everyone must think of himself or herself as having personally left Egypt.” The story of our slavery and our redemption is a challenge for us because we live in freedom and generally all of our needs are met.

Throughout the Hagaddah, we are reminded that we were slaves in Egypt and now we are free. Yet there are still individuals and groups who are enslaved or who struggle to survive throughout the world. American Jewish World Service (AJWS) supports more than 500 grassroots organizations in Africa, Asia and the Americas that promote the rights of women, girls and LGBT people; rebuild societies torn apart by war and natural disasters; and seek to secure access to food, land and water. (ajws.org)

So how do we connect with the story of the Hagaddah and make the seder more meaningful to each of us? For families with younger children, select a Hagaddah with pictures and activities or create your own. For example, after reading the passage which describes the Four Children, everyone can complete the sentence: “I am like the wise (wicked, simple, unable to ask) child when I…” The discussion will involve every person and probably lead to a greater understanding.

In our generation, we have the internet and apps to link us to sources which will enhance our seders and provide us with modern interpretations so that this generation will understand their place in the chain of tradition. (For a Jewish search engine, try reformjudaism.org or myjewishlearning.com) May your Pesach be filled with joy, family time and health.

Confirmation Class 2014 Noah Cannold Sarah Cziner Jacob Honig

Zoe Kreutzer Gray Levien Abigail Markhoff

Josie Ratafia Chad Schwam Mallory Siegel

Congratulations to the confirmands and their families. Join us for Confirmation Services on Erev Shavuot, Tuesday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m.

For Our Young Families TOT SHABBAT | Fridays, 5:30-6:15 p.m. May 9 Tot Shabbat is a time for our children to experience Shabbat through storytelling and music with their parents. Our program is shared with our clergy and features the music, fun and excitement of Kenny Green. KINDERGARTEN | Sundays, 9:30-11:00 a.m. May 4 Our Kindergarten program is an experience for the whole family to learn about the Jewish holidays, Jewish food, and Jewish living. 1st AND 2nd GRADE PROGRAM | Sundays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. (weekly), following our pancake breakfast at 9:00 a.m. for the whole family. Family Day: May 4

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Transition Under Way Lisa Broomer, President Since our last bulletin we have been sharing the big news about various transitions, including Rabbi Limmer's decision to accept a new Rabbinic position in Chicago. It is encouraging and comforting to know that throughout this Rabbinic transition period, Cantor Kobilinsky will be with us to continue to enrich and beautify our services, teach our children, and provide clerical continuity and stability for our Congregation. Cantor Kobilinsky and professional staff have risen to the occasion, playing instrumental roles in support of the changes taking place. I am in awe of the inspiring and professional efforts put forth by fellow board members and other congregational volunteers to embrace these changes as wonderful opportunities for CBY. A lot of great work is underway at CBY, and I want to keep everyone informed by recapping our special tasks and process. Rabbinic Search Led by Shelly Jacob, the Interim Rabbinic Search Committee (Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky, Ross Honig, John Stern, Aaron Kwittken, Mark Neporent, Larry Fox and Susan Mack) has been hard at work. The Committee has been going through a multiple step process to meet and select an Interim Rabbi. Interim Rabbis have twenty years of experience on average and are specially trained to assist congregations experiencing Rabbinic transition, typically serving a congregation for one year. During this time, he or she performs all the usual Rabbinic functions (including officiating at services and life-cycle events) and facilitates a process of congregational self-evaluation leading to the selection of a new long-term Rabbi ideally suited to the congregation’s needs. Interim Rabbis have enabled many congregations to maintain their programs, activities and culture while taking a reflective and deliberative approach to selecting a long-term Rabbi. Our committee has reviewed resumes, performed skype interviews and has met in person with select candidates. The committee is very encouraged by the quality of the candidates and may have already provided another update by the time you receive this bulletin. Once we have hired an Interim Rabbi, our committee will start to focus on the task and process of recruiting new permanent Rabbinic leadership who can help us continue a shared, prosperous vision for our temple’s future. Transition Committee We have also created a Transition Committee to identify and actively manage the many activities that will be needed to ensure a smooth Rabbinical transition process. Samantha Schwam chairs this committee and together with our Communications Committee co-chairs (Brian Kaminer and Aaron Kwittken) has been working to keep the congregation informed. By reaching out in many different ways, we hope to reach our community with opportunities for more engaging two-way communication.

Transition Committee Continued It is critical that we hear the voices of our congregants to help guide us through the transition process. Hopefully you have been receiving our transition update e-mails and find them helpful. We will continue to update you via email as we have important transitional information to share. Be on the lookout for an announcement about the launch of our new website soon. There will be a dedicated section regarding all the transition work. Additionally, the committee has created office hours for congregants to come and discuss transition efforts as well as address any other questions or issues that they may have with members of the Board. Board members will be available May 1st 4-6pm and May 20th 6-8pm in the library. I encourage you to stop by and share your thoughts in person. Jewish Identity Development Search I am pleased that Rabbi Joan Farber has agreed to stay with us an additional year as Interim JID Director. Joan will assist the search committee to fill the position permanently and is working with Board member Ivy Levien, who is chairing the JID Search Committee. The Committee (Diane Freedman, David Zimmerman, Alka Kaminer, Elissa Lefkowitz, Courtney Gordon, Rich Stumacher and Shari Applebaum) has had several meetings and is already engaged in some great visioning work. They will be reaching out to families within the congregation to provide a well rounded perspective on our educational programs. They are energized to conduct a thoughtful and thorough search starting in the summer. Rabbi Limmer Please join me and the Board of Trustees in thanking Rabbi Limmer for his fourteen rewarding years of service to our temple and our community. His never-ending passion and drive enriched many of us with new ways to apply the teachings of the Torah to our everyday lives. He’s touched us and the lives of our loved ones through both joyous and somber occasions, always with sincerity and grounded in meaningful, genuine relationships with us that I am confident will endure after he's gone. Watch for a date soon for us to say a bittersweet goodbye to Seth, Molly, Rosey and Lily. Thanks Thank you to everyone for sharing your thoughts and questions. They are invaluable to the Board and the search committees in representing the views of the Congregation, so please keep them coming. By being involved with regular and special events, we all help build and support our congregational community. I look forward to seeing you at a Shabbat service and our upcoming and fun Comedy Night: Thursday, April 24. Please also join other board members at our wonderful Boutique and Luncheon: Wednesday, May 7.

Midnight Run A big thank you to everyone who helped with the Midnight Run on Saturday, March 1. We sent four full cars to NYC carrying over 100 lunches, hot food for 75 people and tons of clothing, shoes and toiletries. Special thanks to our cooks, Peter and Carol Gold and Reese Berman, and to those who went into the city: Elyse Lazansky, Zoe Kreutzer, Lauren Berman, Daren & Zoe Tolz, Neil Katz & Jason Katz, Alicia Allison, Eric & Susan Levy , and Pam & Katie Socolow. We couldn't do it without the support of the CBY community.

Emergency Shelter Partnership

Upcomi ng Prog r am s

From March 10-16, CBY provided about 25 people with a warm place to sleep and three meals a day through the Emergency Shelter Partnership, a local coalition of religious and community organizations, who provide short term housing for local homeless during the winter months. Many thanks to the volunteers who donated supplies, cooked food, stayed overnight and spent time with our guests.

ZERO WASTE DAY Saturday, April 26, 9am-3pm Drop off items to be recycle and reused at North Castle Town Hall. Items accepted include: household furniture, spring and summer clothing, e-waste, bikes, supplies for cats and dogs, paper shredding, and scrap metals and oils.

Thank You from the Community Center of Northern Westchester

KLEZMER CONCERT Thursday, May 1, 7pm Every year we host a Klezmer Concert for the Havorah Program of Westchester Jewish Community Services. The concert is a unique opportunity for people with developmental disabilities to experience Jewish life. Our families greet our guests and serve snacks, offering us an opportunity to interact and share a special evening with the disabled community in Westchester.

Thank you to everyone who donated so generously last year to our food, clothing, and school supplies drives. In 2013 CBY donated 2852.4 pounds of clothing, 2136.3 lbs of food, 4.3 lbs of school schools, and 9.2 lbs of PJs/Sleepwear to the Community Center. Congregation B’nai Yisrael became the 28th community partner of the Community Center of Northern Westchester in March 2010. Through the efforts of the Caring and Social Action Committee, our congregation supports the Center through a variety of annual events, including weekly food collection and High Holy Day food drive, Zero Waste Day, and our School Supplies, Prom Dresses, and Pajama drives. For more information on the community center, visit their website at communitycenternw.org. 8

BLOOD DRIVE Wednesday, May 28 CBY hosts an annual Blood Drive with the New York Blood Center. Every pint of blood donated can save up to 3 lives. Appointments appreciated, walk-ins welcome. SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE June-September While you are shopping for back to school, pick up a few extra items to donate to students ages 3 to 18 so they can have a great start to the new school year. Co-sponsored by the Community Center of Northern Westchester.

Trip to Nicaragua Ivy Levien, Member-at-Large, Board of Trustees 425–the houses that we built with Bridges to Community 8–the number of people in our group 18–meals that included rice and beans (out of 21) 109–granola bars we took with us 52–granola bars we returned home with 70–wheel barrels of sand and stone we moved 1,063–times the Spanish language was butchered 60–buckets of water we hauled 15’x 17’–size of the house we built 192–hours together 1–house completed 7–amount of people to live in the house Memories filled with laughter and tears ...way too many to count We landed in Managua as a small confirmation group and two adult chaperones and came back as one enlightened family. We spent the week learning about the country and the culture of Nicaragua (and how to build a home that can sustain an earthquake). Some of the group started with basic concerns about how we would manage without a shower or a proper bathroom. Quickly we learned a very valuable lesson. We would handle it and be better for it. We learned what it means to have just enough. We were clean enough and comfortable enough. We worked side by side with members of the Los Conchitas community as well as the family that was to receive the house. The stated goal of the trip was to build a home for a needy and deserving family. The result was not only the creation of that home, but a new found understanding of ourselves as well as how we relate to others. We expanded all of our ideals on what it means to be helpful, to be a neighbor, to be unselfish, and to overcome unimaginable physical and mental challenges. We went to help others and were successful, and in turn discovered various meanings within ourselves. We will treasure our memories together and the 8 of us will be bonded forever.

Pa s s over Rec ipes Egyptian Charoset Ingredients 1 lb. dried raisins 8 oz. pitted dates 2 c. water ¼ c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Marya Shapiro Directions Put the raisins and dates in a bowl with enough water to cover. Let stand for 1 hour. Drain, but reserve the liquid. Transfer the fruit to a blender or food processor and process a little at a time, until the mixture is well blended and finely chopped. Put the chopped fruits in a heavy saucepan; add some of the soaking liquid and simmer over low heat until the fruit is cooked and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Spoon into a serving dish and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Makes 4 cups. (This delicious charoset is adapted from The Jewish Holiday Kitchen by Joan Nathan.)

Grandma Irene's Spinach Pie

Shari Applebaum

Ingredients

Directions

3 boxes frozen chopped spinach 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped 1 tsp. finely chopped garlic 1 to 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 medium-sized containers Feta cheese 2 large eggs, beaten 1 c. matzah farfel c. chopped fresh dill or 1 ½ Tbsp. dried Salt (optional) 1 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, cook the frozen spinach until it is just wilted and soft, approximately 3 minutes. Drain well and put in a large bowl. Saute the onion and garlic in olive oil and add to the spinach. Stir in the Feta cheese, beaten eggs, matzah farfel, and dill; season to taste and mix well. Pour into a rectangular baking dish and bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve hot or at room temperature. Makes about 12 servings. Our family always enjoys this recipe!

Please Pass the Passover Pudding

Ruth Slow

Ingredients

Directions

2 matzahs, crumbled into small pieces 3 eggs, seperated tsp. vanilla c. butter, melted c. sugar 3 apples, peeled and sliced c. chopped walnuts c. raisins tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the matzah in a bowl and cover with cold water for a couple of minutes; drain and squeeze dry. Reserve 1 tablespoon sugar. Combine the matzahs, egg yolks, vanilla, remaining sugar, and melted butter. Stir in the apples, walnuts, and raisins. Beat the egg whites in a seperate bowl and fold them into the matzah mixture. Turn into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix the cinnamon and the reserved sugar and sprinkle on top. Bake about 30 minutes, until golden brown. Serves 12. This recipe brings back memories of Slow family seders.

These recipes are from Congregation B'nai Yisrael's Family Cookbook, Delicious Dishes. To buy a copy, contact the temple office. 10

Why Is This Night Different? Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky My Grandmother lit Shabbat candles every single Friday night. It was her way to "give back" to God for having saved her life from the seven-year-long torture of the death camps. Or perhaps it was more a way to acknowledge she survived, and so did her Judaism. Similarly, she only ate Kosher meat, having promised God to do so if she were spared. It was this woman, my maternal grandmother, whose values and history helped form the core of my Jewish identity. I cannot overlook or undervalue the influence of my grandfathers, my other grandmother, or, most importantly, my parents in this area. Also, much of who I am today is due to my own personal developmentA parent who teaches is good, one who teaches by example does even better, but individuals are responsible for their own choices at a certain point. Now the tables have turned; I am the parent who owes that teaching, that leading by example, to my child. Each of us, child, parent, and grandparent alike, have the chance, the opportunity, the obligation to turn those tables on Passover.

“Passover

should remind us that Judaism is a living and breathing entity, constantly changing, adapting, growing... ” The most important part of Passover is not matzah. It's also not about deprivation of our normal way of eating. Rather, the crux of the experience is the telling. We tell the story of what happened in Egypt. We recreate the events in the story by deliberately and methodically retracing the steps of our ancestors. We force ourselves to replicate the experience by changing our regular lives for a day, or two, or eight. We repeat words almost like a mantra: "Remember—we were slaves in Egypt." "Remember being taken out of Egypt." "Remember—you were a stranger in the land of Egypt." Whether we believe the story of the Exodus is historically accurate or is a metaphor, we sit through the theater of a seder, the haggadah our script, to train the next generation. When the reading of passages is communal, passed around the dining room table, each person gets to turn the table and be the teacher, young and old alike. At my seder, we mix traditions. No matter what, there will be my grandmother's chicken soup, which I prepare according to her specifications, in the same big white soup pot, and ladle it out with her old, dented aluminum ladle.

My charoset is made in her big wooden chopping bowl with the crack in the bottom, with her single-blade mezzaluna chopper, her way: finely chopped Macintosh apples, walnuts (though I don't crack the shells myself, I admit) and enough Manischewitz Cream Red Concord wine to hue it a rich purple. However, I have discovered a different sort of tzimmes than her simple mix of carrots, orange and lemon juice cooked stove-top. I now make a much heartier and more savory version, with carmelized onions, sweet and white potatoes and chopped prunes mixed with the abundant carrots. My family has also enjoyed adopting a custom of Afghani Jews of which we learned: we distribute scallions to the seder participants and lightly whack each other over the head with them as we sing "Dayenu," to remember how the Israelites pined for the foods they had in Egypt, including the green onions, while chowing down on their umpteenth meal of manna in the desert. And so we create a new "traditional." We all do this, each time we add or subtract a dish from the menu, use a new melody or new haggadah, or introduce the next youngest child to the responsibility of singing the Four Questions. Passover should remind us that Judaism is a living and breathing entity, constantly changing, adapting, growing, while keeping its roots in our history and values. Each of us is a keeper and creator of that Judaism. We are amidst a wave of change. The analysis is abundant. The potential is enormous. The stakes are serious. Will you be the wise child? The simple one? The one who does not know how or what to ask? A synagogue is not a building, nor is it the person or persons who stand at the pulpit. It is the combination and strength of its members. We have the opportunity in our hands to carry on tradition, to add to it, to adapt it, to shape the future. But in order to grasp that potential we must turn a table. Become a leader of your family this Passover. Suspend disbelief to imagine you are walking in the steps of our ancestors. Then keep walking those steps and join us as we shape our congregation, our community, our temple. Remember—we walked through the desert for forty years to arrive in the Promised Land of milk and honey.

Memorial Wall "These I remember, as my soul pours out" Our Memorial Wall is a reflective space to honor and remember parents, grandparents and other loved ones we have lost. We can place a stone on their names at Yahrzeit time, at Yizkor time, or at any time the spirit moves us. Honoring those no longer with us is also a loving reminder about who we are and where we came from. The wall was designed by our building's architect and built in 2012 with the generous support of fellow congregants. Now our congregation has a local beautiful outdoor place to serve a similar function to cemeteries that are often located far away.

“I go to the Wall to see my family's names and spend a few reflective minutes almost every time I visit the Temple. —Larry Fox, former CBY President

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Memorialize a loved one by including their name on the wall. It will permanently be there for you and your family, and touched with your every visit. You can have names grouped together when honoring multiple family members that represent your heritage. Our memorial wall and space is continuing to be built. Along with adding names there are opportunities to donate other items to further enhance its beauty, including benches.

“Nothing substitutes for the memories you retain in your heart and your head but there is something comforting about being able to see your parent's name memorialized and respected eternally outside your house of worship. It gives our family great joy to visit the wall and reflect upon the influences of the generation before you. —Jeffrey S. Levien

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For more information, please contact Ava Saperstein in the temple office: ava@cbyarmonk.org, (914) 273-2220.

The following names have recently been added to our Memorial Wall: Robert H. Blum Caren Mazure Rita Winterfeld

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High Holy Day Campaign We are indebted to all the people who generously supported our community during this year’s High Holy Day Campaign. This campaign provides a significant portion of the funds needed to maintain and enrich our spiritual home. These gifts will have a profound impact on how well our temple can serve its members in the coming year. All donations, large and small are greatly appreciated. Below are the most recent contributions to our Campaign. —The Board of Trustees

Benefactors Peter and Hilary Blum Robert and Jordana Getreu Lawrence and Laura Fox Endorsers Robert and Debra Gottlieb Jeff and Tracey Greenfield Steve and Jill Greenspan Alan and Debra Kaiser David and Ellen Lestz Eric and Susan Levy

Endorsers Harris and Cookie Markhoff Stuart and Ellen Rosenstein Contributors Eric Kahn and Lauren Burack Gaierose Haskel Patricia Haskel Jeffrey and Karen Klafter Richard and Lisa Koh Eric Kreutzer and Elyse Lazansky David and Elissa Lefkowitz

Donations General Fund Rabbi Douglas and Joan Krantz, in appreciation especially of Allison Berman, Paul Skurman and Ross Honig Julian and Felice Ehrlich, in memory of Paul Ehrlich Kenneth and Kimberly Glinert, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Molly Lee and Linda Hertz, in honor of the Auf Ruf and forthcoming marriage of Rachel Hertz and Gregory Licht Justin and Zelda Newman, in memory of Howard Peyser Joanne, Alison and Ross Peyser , in memory of Howard Peyser Eric and Lauren Roth, in memory of Howard Peyser Bobby and Susan Scheinman, in memory of Bernard Falk Fred and Samantha Schwam, in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son, Jonah Jerome Pickholz, in memory of Phyllis Pickholz Andrew Shore Steven and Julie Schneider, in memory of Alan Epstein Hudson Valley Bank Rabbi Limmer's Discretionary Fund Peter and Hilary Blum Kenneth and Kimberly Glinert, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Molly Brian and Alka Kaminer, in honor of the b'nai mitzvah of their children, Tyler and Grayson Ford Levy and Cindy Shmerler, in memory of Edwin Shmerler Fred and Samantha Schwam, in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son, Jonah

Contributors Ford Levy and Cindy Shmerler Levy Peter and Marsha Liebowitz Alex Margolin and Lana Bernstein Paul and Robyn Occhiogrosso Martin Schapiro and Anna Weber Charles and Marya Shapiro Andrew Shore Harold Wild Earle and Beth Yaffa

Cantor Kobilinsky's Discretionary Fund Jeff and Leslie Blum, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Katie Peter and Hilary Blum Kenneth and Kimberly Glinert, in honor of the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Molly Alan and Debbie Kaiser, in memory of Ita Kaiser Brian and Alka Kaminer, in honor of the b'nai mitzvah of their children, Tyler and Grayson Carl and Marsha Klass, in memory of Paul Ehrlich Fred and Samantha Schwam, in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son, Jonah Eric Goodison and Lisa Mazure, in memory of Caren Mazure and Eileen Grodner Ford Levy and Cindy Shmerler, in memory of Edwin Shmerler Rabbi Krantz's Discretionary Fund Allen Schwartz, in memory of Barbara Schwartz Daren and Lauren Gabel, in honor of a baby naming Ford Levy and Cindy Shmerler, in memory of Edwin Shmerler

Tree of Life Leaves have been purchased for our Tree of Life in honor of: Renner Kwittken • Bar Mitzvah • March 15, 2014 Joshua, Matthew and Stephen Gladstone • B’nai Mitzvah November 6, 2010 Zachary Lubart • Bar Mitzvah • September 28, 2013 Jonah Schwam • Bar Mitzvah • March 22, 2014 Emma Freund • Bat Mitzvah • June 7, 2014 Jacob Stumacher • Bar Mitzvah • April 5, 2014 Samuel Harrison Bilotti • Bar Mitzvah • April 26, 2014 13

Save the Date Text in the City | Wednesday, May 7, 12:00 p.m. in NYC Study in the Suburbs | Wednesdays, April 23, May 14, 12:00 p.m. at CBY To Our Future, For Our Future: Comedy Night | Thursday, April 24, 7:00 p.m. Yom HaShoah Service | Wednesday, April 30, 6:00 p.m. Klezmer Concert | Thursday, May 1, 7:00 p.m. Boutique and Luncheon | Wednesday, May 7, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Blood Drive | Wednesday, May 28 Confirmation | Tuesday, June 3, 8:00 p.m.

Visit our website at cbyarmonk.org for a full calendar of programs and events.

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Selling a Car, Truck or 4x4? Help CBY by donating a vehicle you no longer need. Donating your vehicle is safe, fast, and tax deductible. Some restrictions apply. This service is provided free to the temple. For more information, please call Auto-Line Enterprises at (914) 681-1757

To advertise in our quarterly Bulletin, contact Alicia in the temple office: (914) 273-2220, alicia@cbyarmonk.org.

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rel•e•vance noun \'re-l -v n(t)s\ close connection to the matter at hand; practical and especially social applicability: my Judaism has relevance to my modern life. Rabbi Seth M. Limmer The traditional reading “This Is the Bread of Affliction” is found at the beginning of the Maggid, or “storytelling,” section of the Haggadah. This seminal piece of our liturgy is meant to remind us of how our experiences of our past inform how we act today. Specifically, we are reminded to see ourselves as if we went out of Egypt ourselves so we might be sensitized to the plight of all people who suffer oppression today. As we approach our Seder this year, we imagine who those people are in our contemporary society who are feeling the weight of oppression. Our Reform Movement is specifically focused this year—at such a pivotal and potential moment in American life—on the plight of immigrants to our nation. Our Central Conference of American Rabbis created a special liturgy which we can add to our Seder to connect our experiences of the past to our actions today. This ritual connects both our Exodus story and the Jewish immigrant narrative to the reality of aspiring Americans today. Reader: In America, over 11 million undocumented immigrants live in our midst. We identify with their struggles from our memory as Jews freed from Egyptian servitude, and as Americans living in a country built by immigrants. As we look upon the broken middle matzah before us, this is our story, an immigrant story, a story of remembering our past to build a better future. All read: Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in need, come and share this Pesach meal. Reader: The Seder demands action! American Jewish poet Emma Lazarus’s words reflected real action when they were engraved on the Statue of Liberty one hundred years ago: Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Discussion: Think about your family history: What brought your family to this country? What did your family leave behind, and what opportunity did they seek? Did they break any laws of any country along the way? Does this help you understand today’s immigrants? Why or why not?