THE
LADDER MARCH/APRIL 2022
And Jacob dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to the heavens...
Refugee Awareness Shabbat
with Guest Speakers Fardeen and Haroon Ghafoor Friday, March 11 7:15 pm Details on page 5
Celebrat e Purim! Page 4
Milk, Honey & Wine Tasting
Page 4
Matzah Bake with Rabbi Jaffe
Page 4
Celebrating Women in the Rabbinate
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TBE COMMUNITY
Beth El Florida gathering and havdalah
220 SOUTH BEDFORD ROAD CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
WWW.BETHELNW.ORG 914.238.3928 T 914.238.4030 F EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 914.238.5735 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL 914.238.5641 TEMPLE@BETHELNW.ORG
TBE Matzah Ballers - 10th Grade Basketball Team
TEMPLE STAFF JONATHAN JAFFE Senior Rabbi MAURA H. LINZER Rabbi-Educator ELIZABETH STERNLIEB Cantor GENNIFER KELLY Executive Director RABBI NORMAN COHEN, Ph.D. Scholar-in-Residence
Couples Celebrating 40+ Years of Marriage Shabbat Service
HOPE BLAUNER Early Childhood Director RHONDA REGAN President
A Proud Member of the URJ
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Annual Soup’er Bowl Sunday
RABBI’S MESSAGE The Jewish Innovation of Welcoming the Stranger The Torah features the well known but unique commandment to care for the stranger. This edict is included alongside the familiar instruction to look after the widow and the orphan. Such concerns for the orphan and widow were common within ancient civilization and similar legal codes from this period feature the same prompt. This is understandable within the patriarchal structure of the ancient near east, in which women were prohibited from owning or receiving estate, subsisting on the holdings of their fathers and then their husbands. Therefore, a woman without a father (orphan) or husband (widow) presented a frequent cause for distress and charity within ancient society. Similarly, the traditional ketubah served as a legal wedding document, transferring the status of the woman from her father to her husband’s estate. Thankfully, more egalitarian language is available for modern ketubot. The plight of the stranger poses a similar concern to the orphan and widow due to their lack of estate. However, this need is either caused by choice or entirely external factors. And so ancient societies often lacked the same sense of obligation to the foreigner. In this way, the Torah stands apart and represents the evolution of concern beyond the immediate tribe to those who dwell within it. The Torah explains this improvement upon earlier legal codes through the experience of the Israelites. God instructs us to care for the stranger by reminding us that we were once strangers in Egypt. And the ultimate moral concern of the Torah is that we never debase ourselves by treating others the way we were treated in Egypt. For the Jewish people, caring for the stranger is given equal weight to caring for our own. We are one in the same. In recent years, as the world’s refugee situation has worsened, the Westchester Jewish community has stepped forward to make the mitzvah of welcoming the stranger a priority. Most recently, the resettlement of Afghan refugees and their families has galvanized many houses into action and deep collaboration. Our congregation has been working steadily with the group RESet Westchester, alongside the Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration. Together, we are in the process of helping to resettle two Afghan families and have already solicited resources for the family’s settlement and comfort. A special thanks goes to Norma Klein, who has served as our point person in coordinating with partner organizations. In an effort for houses of worship to highlight refugee settlement throughout March, we are thrilled to welcome brothers Fardeen and Haroon Ghafoor on Friday, March 11th, to speak about their experience as refugees from Afghanistan and escaping to the United States after serving as interpreters for the US military. We will also feature an Afghan inspired oneg, with culinary delights from Fardeen’s wife Mahnaz, who has established a highly regarded Afghan catering business. Please join us to learn more about Fardeen and Haroon’s story and our efforts to settle refugees here in Westchester. You can find the details on page 5. As we approach the Passover holiday, we seek to live up to the Haggadah’s challenge, that each of us, in every age, should look upon ourselves as though we personally escaped from Egyptian bondage. Please join us as Fardeen and Haroon help us to understand what this truly means. L’Shalom,
Rabbi Jaffe
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CELEBRATE PURIM Mishloach Manot (Purim Basket) Fundraiser All orders must be placed by March 9 This year, we are excited to be once again returning to our traditional gift bags, for you to share with friends, family and our TBE community filled with delicious treats to celebrate Purim! Participating is easy - All members received a link via email to our online partner, HappyPurim.com, where you will be able to sponsor your baskets.
Celebrate Purim! Friday, March 18
CELEBRATE PASSOVER Night of Milk and Honey Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 pm
Featuring Wine Geeks of Armonk and Second Mouse Cheese Shop of Pleasantville Gather together for an evening of wine, cheese, and honey tasting. Cheese, honey, and seasonal fruits will be provided by Second Mouse Cheese Shop and a selection of wines will be offered by Wine Geeks. Join Rabbi Jaffe for the ritual of Havdalah and your friends and neighbors for an evening of eating, drinking and schmoozing. As proof of vaccination will be required upon entry, this will be a mask-optional event.
5:30 pm Purim Tot Shabbat
Please RSVP on our website by March 24 as spots are limited: bethelnw.org/event/MilkandHoney
6:00 pm Pizza Food Truck Proneg
Matzah Bake with Rabbi Jaffe Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 pm
Come in costume!
Join friends for dinner at the temple. More information to follow.
7:15 pm Family Purim Service with Megillah Reading
Bring your groggers (or mac and cheese to donate) to this festive Shabbat! For more Purim information, visit our website: bethelnw.org/Purim
Make your own matzah for your Passover seder! Join Rabbi Jaffe in learning how to make kosher for Passover Matzah, mixing and baking within 18 minutes. Then bring the matzah to your Passover seder and wow your guests. Space is limited, please sign up on our website: bethelnw.org/event/MatzahBake
Classic Passover Candy Fundraiser Last day to order is March 18 Order your classic Passover candy and support TBE’s Religious School. Macaroons for your grandkids. Fruit-Slices for your college student. Lollycones for lunch boxes. Chocolatecovered matzah for yourself! Full details on our website: bethelnw.org/passover-candy
tbe's ghOstbusters 4
For more Passover information, visit our website: bethelnw.org/Passover
SPECIAL SHABBAT SERVICES Refugee Awareness Shabbat Friday, March 11 at 7:15 pm
with Afghan Refugee Speakers, Fardeen and Haroon Ghafoor In conjunction with the Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration (WJCI) and congregations throughout the area, we are honored to bring recent immigrants from Afghanistan, brothers Fardeen and Haroon Ghafoor, to speak about their experience as refugees from Afghanistan and escaping to the United States after serving as interpreters for the US military. Both Fardeen and Haroon will speak about their lives in Afghanistan and how they came to the United States and have begun to rebuild their lives here with their wives and children. We will also hear from our own lay leadership about local efforts to resettle similar refugee immigrant families in the coming months. Then join us for an Afghan inspired oneg following the service, with culinary delights from Fardeen’s wife Mahnaz, who has established a highly regarded Afghan catering business.
Celebration of Women Shabbat Service Friday, April 22 at 7:15 pm Join us for a Shabbat to celebrate the women of Beth El! We will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1st American Bat Mitzvah and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the first female rabbi in America!
COMMUNITY EVENTS 2nd Annual Beth El Ski Day at Catamount Mountain Friday, March 18 with Rabbi Jaffe and Rabbi Linzer
Join Rabbis Jaffe and Linzer, alongside your Beth El friends and neighbors for a day on the slopes, as we seek take advantage of Chappaqua and Pleasantville Schools being closed that day. Our families from other school districts, alongside our empty nesters, are definitely welcome to join as well! We will meet for a group lunch at the lodge and have a chance to take some runs together. Our students are welcome to participate in a “race the rabbis down the mountain” challenge. In order to participate, please purchase your tickets at catamountski.com. Then email Jaclyn Dubray at jdubray@bethelnw.org to let us know who in your family will be joining us, so we can be sure to contact you ahead of the trip. See you on the mountain!
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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Religious School Activities By Erica Ben-Zvi, TBE Member and Religious School Parent Even in the thick of winter, learning is flourishing at TBE. There have been various programs in the Religious School that we wanted to highlight: 2nd grade: Synagogue Project One of our core units in second grade was the transformation of the ancient temples to the modern synagogue. We learned that God told Moses, “Let them (the people of Israel) build Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” The second graders worked with their families to research synagogues around the world and the objects found within them. After completing the research, students created poster boards to deliver fun and informative presentations to the class. 3rd grade: L’dor V’dor Unit As a part of our L’dor V’dor (Generation to Generation Program), our 3rd graders conducted interviews with members of TBE who immigrated from different countries. Following the interviews, the students worked with Rachel Goren, TBE member and the Education Director from the Play Group Theater to narrate these stories and turned them into a performative piece. Rachel Goren explained this unique opportunity for students to collaborate with artists, which “facilitated the release of each student’s own creative expression, through the written and/ or spoken word as well as physical and dramatic expression.” Moreover, she further illustrated how the L’dor V’dor program was “a hands-on way for students to connect to their heritage and learn the significance of Jewish history. Students gained a deep understanding and appreciation of immigration while honoring each immigrant and bringing their story to life on the stage. It was a meaningful experience the children carried with them as they learned the stories of their families and community members.” 6th grade: Ma’agalim program The Ma’agalim (Circles) Program has aimed to cultivate meaningful connections between Jewish 6th/7th grade students in Israel and the US. It has been a partnership between our 6th graders and students from Henrietta Szold public elementary school in the Old Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel. The students are connecting around their shared Jewish content and values while at the same time have the opportunity to explore each other’s distinctive identity as citizens of different cultures and countries. Each child answered questions about themselves and in turn reviewed information about their peers in Israel. They also conducted interviews with clergy and staff and made videos about TBE and the town of Chappaqua, providing a tour and information describing both our synagogue and community. The project will culminate with a virtual meeting between the two groups of students.
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RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TODAH RABAH! A Huge Thank You to our TBE Volunteer Teachers These unprecedented times have undoubtedly created numerous challenges, yet have also presented opportunities for the TBE community to come together to rise to these challenges. As with all institutions, the Religious School has suffered from staffing shortages during the pandemic and we are so grateful for the over 25 members who have donated their time as volunteer teachers. Stacey Pfeffer, Member Volunteer Teacher, remarked “I felt it was important to volunteer so that the children can continue to learn at TBE in a safe manner. These kids have had so many disruptions with COVID impacting so much of their lives but the more we can be flexible and creative about in-person learning, the better off the kids will be. I had fun teaching the students and you can tell they had enjoyed learning and planting for Tu B’shevat. Kids need to be around other kids and the camaraderie and community that can only be gained by in-person learning was palpable.” As we hopefully see the light at the end of the tunnel of this current surge, we are so appreciative of our volunteer teachers. Their contribution to sustain vital in-person learning for our children has been invaluable.
10th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.
Meeting with Representative Mondaire Jones on the Capitol Steps
Touring Washington, D.C. sights and monuments
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS March 1 4th Grade Parent Education 4 Shabbat Service with 2nd Grade Participation 5:45 pm First Friday Family Shabbat with 4th Grade Participation 7:15pm 13 1st Grade Family Education 20 RS Purim Carnival
April 1
Family Shabbat with K and1st Grade Participation 10-17 No Religious School - Spring Recess
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EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Tikkun Olam By Hope Blauner, TBE ECC Director I am grateful to be part of a community that cares deeply about tikkun olam and generosity. Throughout the year, your children have been involved in a multitude of tikkun olam, Hebrew for repairing the world. When we see children as capable and competent, we understand that they are learning to see themselves as socially responsible adults making an impact on their world. Our mitzvah committee, led by Sharon Stiefel, has been hard at work organizing different opportunities for our students to help make the lives of others a little bit brighter. Here is a look at everything we have done so far this year: • Every child has their very own tzedakah box, which they, along with their family members, fill with coins throughout the course of the week. On Friday’s, the children are encouraged to bring their individual tzedakah box to school and add their coins to the large classroom tzedakah box. This year’s tzedakah recipient is Feeding Westchester; an organization that not only strives to fight hunger here in Westchester, but also aims to do so in a sustainable, healthy way. To date we have already collected close to $600 and it is our hope that by the end of the school year we will have doubled that number. • In November, our students participated in the Community Thanksgiving Dinner program and baked 60 corn breads to help feed close to 3,000 people living in Westchester. • In December, right after the holidays, the ECC joined TBE’s toy drive. Families dropped off new and unwrapped toys to be donated to the children at the Cottage School and Hope’s Door. • Last month, the students assembled birthday bags and decorated cards to help send some birthday cheer to seniors on their birthdays. Each box was filled with a variety of items (blanket, socks, journal, scarf, hand lotion, tote bag) donated by our ECC families. Even our youngest children can learn that our collective goal should be assisting in making the world a better place. If you have a drive that you would like to see us become involved with, please reach out to Hope at hblauner@bethelnw.org.
Attention TBE Teens Looking for an amazing job this summer? If you’re 18 or older and have experience working with children, become a camp counselor at the Early Childhood Center. To set up an interview, please contact Hope Blauner, Director at hblauner@bethelnw.org.
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TBE ECC HIGHLIGHTS March 1-2 Picture Day 17 ECC Purim Celebration 18 Staff Development Day - School Closed Tot Shabbat at 5:30 pm April 1 11-15 22 29
Tot Shabbat at 5:00 pm Spring Recess - School Closed Last Day of Passover - School Closed Parent/Teacher Conferences - School Closed
ADULT EDUCATION Bader Fund Annual Lecture: Amanda Berman, Founder and Executive Director, Zioness Sunday, March 6,9:00–10:15 am Beit Midrash with live Zoom option Amanda Berman is the Founder and Executive Director of the Zioness Movement, a new initiative empowering and activating Zionists on the progressive left to stand proudly in social justice spaces as Jews and Zionists. Until she recently made the transition to focusing exclusively on building the much-needed Zioness community, Amanda was also a civil rights attorney fighting anti-Semitism legally, spearheading such groundbreaking initiatives as the international action against Kuwait Airways for its discrimination against Israeli nationals, and the dual cases against San Francisco State University for its constitutional and civil rights violations against Jewish and Israeli students and community members. Amanda writes on Jewish and civil rights issues and is a media contributor across various mediums and outlets. She has spoken and presented before diverse audiences including Hadassah, JNF, B’nei Brith, Jewish Federation, AIPAC, JCRC, Hillel, and many others. She is a graduate of the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Leadership Institute, the recipient of Hadassah’s prestigious Myrtle Wreath Award, and was listed by the Algemeiner as one of the top “100 people positively contributing to Jewish life” in 2018.
Looking at the Israeli Declaration of Independence as a Jewish Text Source Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Temple Beth El Sunday, April 3, 9:00–10:15 am Beit Midrash with live Zoom option The Israeli Declaration of Independence is both a document of statecraft and a uniquely Jewish text, replete with allusions to religious and historical motifs. The declaration also illustrates a careful balance between the religious and secular impulses that animated the Jewish state from its very origins and continue to inform the norms and values of today’s Israel. No Hebrew or text background required.
What Lies Under the Fig Leaf? Biblical Stories of Clothing and Identity Select Sundays, 11:15 am–12:30 pm with Scholar in Residence Rabbi Norman Cohen, Ph.D. In Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the invisible suit of clothing tells us much about the character of the emperor as well as that of his subjects. It also reveals the writer’s concerns and values. The symbolic power of clothing, both in what it hides and reveals, has everything to do with identity and how we perceive it. So, as we read biblical stories through the interpretive lens of Midrash, we will gain a powerful sense of what lies under the garment of Torah.” Dates: Session 1 - April 24: Garments Concealing and Revealing our Identities. Genesis 3, 9 and 27 Session 2 - May 1: Uncovering our True Identities. Genesis 37-39 Session 3 - May 15: Changing Garments; Transforming our Identities. Numbers 20, 1st and 2nd Samuel, The Book of Esther.
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TIKKUN OLAM What a Difference a Loaf of Challah Can Make By Shahak Livne-Tarandach, Religious School Student Becoming a Bar Mitzvah invited me to think about Tikkun Olam, the Jewish value that means mending the world. To prepare for my Bar Mitzvah, I had to figure out a way to help others. My intention was to impact my community positively and incorporating something that I like to do would be an added bonus. Those who know me know that I love video games. To be honest, most of my friends here in NY were made over video games. I was looking for the perfect charity when I stumbled onto Gamer’s Outreach, a non-profit that builds portable Video gaming carts to empower hospitalized children through play. When I did more research, Gamer’s Outreach seemed to fit the mold of a perfect mitzvah project. It would help people in need who even had a similar interest to me! The hard part was coming up with what I could do to raise money for this charity. My family and I considered a number of possibilities before we thought of the “genius idea”. Baking Challah! This would not only allow me to help people but also do something that I loved doing, and in the process help me connect with Jewish families in town. I have been baking since I was less than two years old, and have been baking challah for charitable causes since I was three and a half. I was happy to bake challah every week for people in our community and not only bring joy to hospitalized children but also allow more families to experience shabbat. Since May of 2021 I baked 67 challahs, 28 cakes, and 70 cookies and raised… wait for it… $4,000!! A huge thanks to the wonderful Chappaqua moms, who trusted my baking skills, and bought my challahs week after week. The funds I raised allowed me to donate a GO Kart (portable video gaming cart), Nintendo Switch and 4 video games to the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) where 200,000 kids are treated every year. Working with the staff at CHAM I learned that the hospital has a few GO-Karts on site, but not enough GO Karts to go around, so karts are moved between floors when hospitalized kids may need them. The GO Kart I donated will change that- so that each floor will have its own kart for children who are hospitalized at a specific section of the hospital. That obviously means more kids playing and fewer kids waiting for their turn to play video games at the hospital. This past October, I was able to deliver the Nintendo switch and four video games to the hospital. It was special to see how all the efforts I put into this project can eventually make an impact on kids who need extra help these days. After months of anticipation, we recently learned that the video gaming cart I raised money for, made it to CHAM and is already in use at the hospital and I could not be prouder! I learned a lot from the time and effort I put into this Mitzvah project. During this project, I learned how important just a loaf
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TIKKUN OLAM of bread like challah is to so many people. From just baking and selling, everyone was so supportive and I learned what challah really means to so many people in our community. Challah brings joy and a sprinkle of Judaism to everyone’s dinner table, and I’m happy that I could connect others with their Jewish roots every Friday night and on Rosh Ha’Shanah. I learned that ambitious projects can be completed by making small steps, one week at a time. This taught me that even thirteen-year-old kids can make a big difference in our world. I hope, in some way, my good intentions and my hard work can make the experiences of kids hospitalized at the hospital a little better. I hope projects like this inspire you to dream up projects that could benefit others! A link to the video on this project is available using this QR code. Use your cellphone camera to take a photo of the code to the left and be taken directly to the YouTube video. A link to Gamer’s Outreach, a charity that build portable video gaming cart to empower kids through play: https://gamersoutreach.org/
Treats for Shelter Pets Sunday, March 6 at 12:00 pm We want shelter dogs and cats to feel as special as possible until they find their forever homes! Join us for a fun and easy activity to create special dog treats and cat toys for shelter animals. Participants will be baking healthy dog snacks and packaging catnip-stuffed toys to be donated to the Westchester SPCA.
Passover Food Drive April 1-15 Please help us fill the collection boxes in the lobby for our Passover Food Drive that will benefit the Seder for the developmentally disabled. We are in need of: Boxes of matzah Plastic bottles of grape juice Kosher for Passover candies or cookies All other types of Passover food Your generosity is appreciated.
For more information on all our tikkun olam events, please visit our website: bethelnw.org/tikkun-olam-committee
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B’NEI MITZVAH Appears in print only
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B’NEI MITZVAH
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JOYS & SORROWS RECENT GIFTS
December 17, 2021–February 2, 2022 Barbara Pollack Mitzvah Day Fund Richard & Dianne Spitalny in memory of William Spitalny Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Eileen Gehebe in memory of Allen Trustman Brian & Erika Marshall in memory of Sidney Marshall Caring Community Fund Jeff & Barbara Becker in memory of Ray Glickman Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz and Barbara & Jeffrey Becker in memory of Roxanne Aufieri Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz and Barbara & Jeffrey Becker in memory of Allen Trustman Stan & Penny Hamlet in memory of Harold Friedlander Rachel & Ben Rosin in memory of Alexander Treitelman Clergy’s Discretionary Fund Richard & Betsey Corbin Scott & Andi Meyer in honor of Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe Early Childhood Center Fund Yonatan & Dorothy Feldman Amy & Sam Resnick Family Fund For Adult Jewish Studies Michael & Judy Gewitz in memory of Ruth Gewitz Dave & Bunny Center Family Mitzvah Endowment Fund The Estate of Charlene Kahn Berman in memory of Charlene & Lloyd Kahn, Jr. Neidich Ed Scholarship Fund Dan Neidich Flower Fund Arlen & Kathy Goldberg in memory of Mandel J. Kramer Dick & Lucille Goldsmith in memory of Lisa Grubel Stan & Penny Hamlet in memory of Hilda Friedlander Gregory Altman Music & Arts Fund David & Deenie Ruzow Lee and Richard Laster Special Fund Marshall & Nancy Schiff in memory of Julian Juster
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YAHRZEITS March 1-5 Elaine Abrams Nehemiah Louis Armand Andre Robert Berman Frances Bloom Robert Cohen Gabriele Grunebaum Dyke Kolbert Anna Levine Carole Levine Rogers Selma Lipman Morton Pechman Lee Rosenberg Wallye Rosenbluth Lea Elizabeth Spielman Pearl Tenzer Abraham Vielie Daniel Wolchok Sarah Bloom Wortman March 6-12 Florence Benzer Herbert Bernstein Bertha Breslau Harrison Dolly Brickman Lottie Gordon Andrea Halperin Seymour Herrick Sheila Horowitz Max Jaffe Barbara Johnson Beatrice Katcher Ruth (Rifka) Katz Ralph Kemler Linda Kimelman Rhoda Levy Conrad Lifschen Ethel Missenblatt Richard Nadel Barbara Ocko Ned Rose Greta Rosenblum Milton Rubin Ruth Winner Robert Yablans March 13-19 Roberta Abrams Harold Altman Richard Berman Elaine Bleetstein
Oscar Brenman Dorothy Cole Harry I. Davis Herbert Davis Jerry Figowsky Rose Ginsburg Joseph Goldfarb Harriet Gollin Helen Horowitz Abraham Juster Ruth Kaufman Leonard Nadel Mildred Resnick Robert Ross Stella Kohn Saslow David Scolnick Robert Tauber Joseph Wirth Joseph Wolff Beverly Zymet March 20-26 Nancy Alani Anita Bachenheimer Fred Becker Samuel Besen Phyllis Biren Charlotte Brotz Scarlett Chwatko Rochelle Cirin Harry Elkin Joan Epstein Sidney Gersten Leon Glassgold Ernest Gleit Dorothy Isaac Howard Lerner James Lewis Walter Mintz Mona Paster Lillian Ruzow Felix Schnur Henrietta Treitelman March 27-April 2 Howard Agatston Ethel Baron Monroe W. Bleetstein Helen Borchard Joel “Kip” Borisky Mildred Byck Joan Ferencz Milton Finger Allan Finkel Charles Fried
JOYS & SORROWS Fannie Ginsburg Abraham Girshek Florenie Hydecker Herbert Katz Samuel J. Kimmel Rachel Klein Bernard Leff Nancy Narva Sylvia Pastor Betty Rosenberg Dora Rosenzweig Julius Schachter Janet Shields Carole Smiley Marie Spevack Alan Young Sidney Zenker April 3-9 Murray Ackerman Samuel Ackerman Susan Baier Michael Beck Barbara Blaustein Irving Cohen Hilde Collins Mikki Davis Schneider Julian Antonio Duran Sr. Benjamin Ehrlich Max Findling Ralph Gefsky Toni Axler Ginsberg Gertrude Goldsmith Sheldon Goldstein Florence Greenwald Gerard Kessler Howard Litvack Joseph Perloff Boris Rosenzweig Robert Saltzman Joseph Schagrin Samuel Schwartz Harold Sitver Bernard Vexler Hannah Wolff James Yussim April 10-16 Doris Ackerman Muriel Adler Lucille Altman Mary Benjamin Jewell Ruth Brody Suzanna Cohen Arlene Eisner
Sandra Gleit Rose Goldman Stanley Gottesfeld Sydelle (Syd) Gottlieb Ornstein Milena Jelinek Pearl Lavender Geraldine Lazarus Sandra Levine Rose Levitt Minnie Marron Ubaldo Masotti Ida Moore Joseph Moscowitz Irving Pastor Milton Perloff Pearl Poret Lynn Robinson Samuel Shrager Norma Ruby Sorrel Martin Stern Diane Thurer Richard Tumpowsky April 17-23 Doug Barden Michael Bass Harold Bernstein Oscar Buchman Warren Bunshaft Myrna Clyman Judy Cooper Morris Dobkin Martin Fass Barbara Feibus Theodore Ginsberg Erich Grunebaum Walter Hamlet Samuel Liber Mildred Linzer Martin Manasse Stanley Mendelowitz Alexander Pollak Betty Rifkin Sidney Rosenbaum Clare Rush Frida Schnellenberg Jakob Schnellenberg Meyer Siegel Natalie Smith Henry Smith Abraham Spitalny Hilde Stern Annette Stiglitz Milton Zimmerman
RECENT GIFTS (Continued) Rabbi Educator Discretionary Fund Michael & Whitney Bagliebter Andrew Hazen Eileen Gehebe in memory of Allen Trustman Religious School and Family Education Fund Edward & Valerie Berman in memory of Audrey Brooks Cownie Josh & Amy Marlow in honor of Val Berman Josh & Amy Marlow in honor of Heather Satin Josh & Amy Marlow in honor of Shuli Wunder Senior Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Gary & Ellen Byck in memory of Bernard Waring Eileen Gehebe in memory of Allen Trustman Tributes Janet Langsam Brian & Melinda Margolies Arlen & Kathy Goldberg in memory of Sylvia Goldberg Jeff & Tracey Perlmutter in memory of Dorothy Perlmutter Larry & Jennifer Reinharz in memory of Joseph Galofaro Eddie Wilders Jr & Rachel Wilders in memory of Lawrence Gruberg Youth Program Fund Steven Ross & Francine Falk-Ross in memory of Richard Falk
April 24-30 Lorraine Berger Etta Brotz Judith Feldman Ronald Finger Harry Fisher Bernard Fishman Abraham Glazer Heather Handler Igal Itzhaky Gertrude Kaplan Robert Katz Lillian Kaufman Sarah Kimmel Morris C. Klein Lillian Lessler Nathan Levine Dorothea Ochser Harold Paster Berry (Dov) Pearlman
Morris Raskin Daniel Raylesberg Louis Routman Benjamin Saslow Evie Schwartz Miriam Spitalny Louis Tulbowitz George Wilders
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JOYS & SORROWS
!aeh lfn
dkxal dpexkif Heartfelt Condolences to
Congratulations to
Jill Abrams on the death of her uncle, Norman Lynton
Sharon & Marshall Fishman on the birth of their grandson, Eli Dade
Steven Dorfman on the death of his father, Saul Dorfman David Cooperberg on the death of his wife, Lisa Goddard Beatrice Hallac on the death of her husband, Jimmy Hallac The Goldberg Family on the death of Morton Goldberg David Potack on the death of his mother, Randi Potack Joan Saslow on the death of her husband, Edward Klagsbrun Diane Thaler on the death of her mother, Harriet Heller
In times of joy and sadness, please keep us informed! It is always a pleasure to hear good news from our temple members and to share joys. Often it helps to share problems or illnesses, too. Our Rabbis, Cantor, and Caring Community Committee want to respond to the needs of our congregants. Please let us know if you, or some other temple member, might be helped by a visit or telephone call. Many people assume that everyone knows, but a note or call to the temple office, at 238-3928 x 1300, will get the message to our clergy.
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FACILITY RENTAL
CELEBRATE at
TBE!
B’NEI MITZVAH CONFERENCES BIRTHDAY PARTIES LECTURES MEETINGS CELEBRATIONS WEDDINGS
From weddings and life-cycle events to private gatherings, business functions, and lectures, Temple Beth El’s stunning new facilities provide an exceptional setting for all types of special occasions and events. For rental inquiries or to schedule a tour of our facilities, please call Carmen Stevens 914.238.3928 ext. 1312 or email cstevens@bethelnw.org. We look forward to helping you create a memorable event. For more information, please visit www.bethelnw.org/facility_rental.
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ISRAEL TRIP Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Winter Break Chanukah Family Israel Trip December 22-31, 2022 Join Rabbi Jaffe and your Temple Beth El friends and neighbors on this extraordinary trip for both explorers and deepeners. Celebrate Chanukah in the Promised Land, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to the Negev Desert.
Full details and booking information can be found at: www.israelmaven.com/bethelnw Experiences Include: • • • • • • • •
Tour Modi’in and the Land of the Maccabees During Chanukah Visit Ancient Jerusalem: the Old City, City of David Excavations, Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Explore Modern Jerusalem: Machane Yehuda Open Air Market, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Israel Museum, Har Hertzl National Monument Spend Shabbat with Host Israeli Community Including Home Hospitality for Shabbat Dinner, Group Service at Promenade Overlooking the Old City, Celebrate Chanukah in Israel Tour Masada, the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi biblical springs 3 Days in the Negev Desert and Ramon Crater, including rappelling, jeep tour, wine tasting, hiking and star gazing Meet with Palestinian representatives, as well as members of the Bedouin, Cochin and Ethiopian communities. Take in the Bustling Metropolis of Tel Aviv, City Center, Sarona Market, Old Jaffa, Nahalat Binyamin art market, and of course, the beach!
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OWEN CAHN Manager
LARRY MILTON Owner
TEMPLE DIRECTORY 220 SOUTH BEDFORD RD CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG
914.238.3928 T 914.238.4030 F TEMPLE@BETHELNW.ORG
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 914.238.5735 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
914.238.5641
TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS 1311
Senior Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe
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Rabbi-Educator Maura H. Linzer
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Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb
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Gennifer Kelly, Executive Director
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Hope Blauner, Early Childhood Center Director
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Beth Cohen, Administration Assistant to ECC Director
1323
Jaclyn Trustman-Dubray, Administrative & Life-Cycle
Senior Rabbi
Jonathan Jaffe
Rabbi-Educator
Maura H. Linzer
Cantor
Elizabeth Sternlieb
Executive Director
Gennifer Kelly
Director of Early Childhood Center
Hope Blauner
jjaffe@bethelnw.org
mlinzer@bethelnw.org
esternlieb@bethelnw.org executivedirector@bethelnw.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS
Rhonda Regan President
Marc Fried
Coordinator 1320
Leslie Aufieri-Schneiderman, Communications Director
Executive Vice President
1312
Carmen Stevens, Development Coordinator
1325
Jason Stringer, Building Operations Manager
Lisa Crandall
1122
Heather Satin, Religious School Assistant Principal
1110
Joni Gehebe-Kellogg, Youth Coordinator
1300
Life-Cycle Emergency
Please send all checks to our accounting company: Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester PO Box 418 Montvale, NJ 07645 WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester appreciates the rich diversity of the Jewish community and invites all who seek a connection to Jewish life to join us. We encourage participation of interfaith couples and families as well as people of all backgrounds, ages, financial means, sexual orientations and gender identities. We welcome children and adults with disabilities and their families. We strive to ensure that our programs and facilities are accessible to all and to accommodate special needs. The synagogue is a kehilah kedoshah — a sacred community. Like a sukkah, it is constructed of many different branches woven together: the married and the unmarried, single parents, grandparents, non-Jewish spouses and those of all sexual orientations. The broader the sukkah’s reach, the more tightly its branches are woven, the stronger it stands. So too the synagogue: the greater the variety of people welcomed within it, the closer they feel to one another, the stronger the temple stands.
Vice President
Gregg Diller Vice President
Sarah Lieb
Vice President
Jennifer Pariser Vice President
Alyssa White Treasurer
Pam Klein Secretary
hblauner@bethelnw.org TRUSTEES Term Expires 2022 Deb Fass Jacobs Gary Kibel Meryl Lefkowitz Janet Levy Karla Shepard Rubinger Carol Wolk Term Expires 2023 Larry Block Alyssa Garnick Lerner Pam Goldfarb Norma Klein Art Saltzman Stephanie Saltzman Debbie Samberg Term Expires 2024 Evan Cohen Gary Munowitz Stacey Pfeffer Melissa Singer Stacey Stambleck Diane Thaler
Amy Robin Immediate Past President Past Presidents, Honorary Members of the Board Ernest M. Grunebaum Steve Adler Barry Meisel Richard Albert Gloria Meisel Stanley Amberg William Pollak Lisa Davis David Ruzow Melvin Ehrlich 19
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14115 White Plains, NY
220 SOUTH BEDFORD ROAD CHAPPAQUA, NY 10514
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