the newsletter of woodlands community temple
March 2020 Adar-Nisan 5780 The Dreskins invite you to celebrate Jonah’s Life at
Cantor Jonathan’s Purim Roast ... Is This Kosher?
THE 11TH ANNUAL
Jonah Maccabee Concert featuring
Elana Arian
by Pam Chernoff Purim 2020 will have a cantorial twist. As we tell the Purim story, we’ll turn our attention to roasting Cantor Jonathan. It’s the Feast of Esther, with the Cantor served up as the main dish. Bring your kids! Come in a cantor costume! Bring your kids in a cantor costume! We’ll have all the usual fun and then some. In light of this plan, the Purim Mischief Committee decided to conduct an entirely fictional interview with the guest of dishonor himself. The Committee: So, Cantor, you wear a lot of hats around this place, as we discovered when we started thinking about all of the people who might want to seek revenge. Which hat is your favorite? Cantor Jonathan: To be completely honest, it’s the Dumbledore hat I keep at home. Well, that and my Minnesota Twins cap, but don’t tell anyone about that one. As the Yiddish proverb says,
“The hat is fine, but the head is too small.” The Committee: We are spending a huge amount of time talking about you this year, so tell us a bit about your life. Where were you born? Cantor: I was born in a one-room log cabin on the prairies of Southern Illinois.
and
Chava Mirel
The Committee: Umm….that story sounds familiar. Cantor: Years later, I uttered the immortal words, “America will never be destroyed Continued on page 2
Scholar-in-Residence 2020
Prof. Jeremy Dauber Sat, Mar 28 at 8:00 pm & Sun, Mar 29 at 10:30 am by David Gaffen Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy? Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die. — Mel Brooks Why are we funny? Yes, us. We Jews, people of the Old Testament, who bear on our Jeremy Dauber backs centuries of hardship and migration – the Chosen People – why is humor such an integral part of our experience? Maybe this isn’t what you think about when you’re laughing along with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song,” but Jeremy Dauber, our guest for this year’s Scholar-in-Residence program, has done a lot of thinking (and laughing) for us about it. He is uniquely qualified to enlighten and entertain us on the origins of Jewish comedy and its development from Biblical times to the age of Twitter. Dauber will be here on Saturday night and on Sunday morning as our scholar to discuss Jewish humor – how it informs us and arms us – from Yiddish satires and medieval skits to the decades of jokes honed by great comics in the Borscht Belt in Upstate New York, all the way through Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman and Broad
Continued on page 2
Sat, Mar 21 at 8pm at WCT
TO PURCHASE TICKETS
wct.org/jonah or 914.592.7070 Proceeds Support WCT Scholarships for URJ Summer Experiences
Our Woodlands Community Rabbi Billy Dreskin rabbi@wct.org Rabbi Mara Young rabbimara@wct.org Cantor Jonathan Ben Gordon cantor@wct.org Lily Mandell, Director of Youth Engagement youth@wct.org Corey Friedlander, Sh’liakh K’hilah corey@wct.org Zach Plesent, Rabbinic Intern intern@wct.org
Executive Committee Andy Farber, President president@wct.org Nancy Fishman, VP Education education@wct.org Alan Kaplan, VP Facilities facilities@wct.org Judy Feder, VP Finance finance@wct.org Jenna Lebowich, VP Programming/Ritual programming@wct.org Herb Friedman, Financial Secretary financialsecretary@wct.org Pam Chernoff, Secretary secretary@wct.org Michael Wiskind, Treasurer treasurer@wct.org
Board of Trustees Irv Adler Bonni Arbore David Bertan Yvette Gralla Joy Gralnick Juli Klein
Toby Linder Lisa Linn Andrew Loose Steve Schwartz Ann Zarider Jay Zwicker
Dayle Fligel (immediate past president)
Office Staff Liz Rauchwerger, Office Coordinator liz@wct.org Marjorie Mattel, Office Assistant marjorie@wct.org Michele Montague, Education Administrative Assistant michele@wct.org Bookkeeper bookkeeper@wct.org
Woodlands Community Temple 50 Worthington Road White Plains, NY 10607 914.592.7070 main office 914.592.1790 religious school direct line 914.592.7376 fax wct@wct.org www.wct.org Religious School: school@wct.org
Woodlands Community Temple is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Art Director: Melanie Roher Advertising Director: Dayle Fligel
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Cantor Jonathan’s Purim Roast ..., Continued from p.1
from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” The Committee: Um, Snopes says that’s a paraphrase of Abraham Lincoln. And that got dark super fast, so we’re going to take an awkward pause and then change the subject. So, if you were going to roast yourself, what would you focus on? Cantor: First, I’d focus on my brilliance compared to XXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. And then I’d reprise the Woodlands Singers triumphal rendition of “Tie Me Kangaroo Down.” The Committee: Okay, well, we’ll see how much of that answer makes it through the Department of People Who Aren’t You. We’re sure they wouldn’t censor an interview. Speaking of “Tie Me Kangaroo Down,” we know a lot about your tastes in liturgical music, but what do you sing for fun? Cantor: I love any folk song that starts with a walk in the woods, wanders into a nuclear war, and comes out onto a bubbling brook. Mix nature with politics, and I’m there! That, and “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” Perplexed nuns are comedy gold. The Committee: What’s your favorite thing about teaching adults? Cantor: That’s easy. When I teach Torah trope to adults, I make up some crazy sentences. You wouldn’t believe what they go along with. I laugh all the way home. “Pustulant eggplants.” Suckers! The Committee: What’s your favorite thing about teaching kids? Cantor: Everything. I have no jokes for you there. I just love it. The Committee: Oh, come on, you must judge their choice of rewards at least a little bit. Tell us the truth, baseball cards or lollipops? Cantor: As the Rambam said, “The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.” The Committee: Any final thoughts before the roasting begins? Cantor: In the immortal words of Groucho Marx, “There is no sanity clause.” And that’s our interview. Want more? Don’t miss Cantor Jonathan’s Purim Roast on Monday, March 9 at 7:30 pm. See you there or in jail! Scholar-in-Residence 2020 Prof. Jeremy Dauber, Continued from p.1
City. Dauber, the Atran Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture and director of Columbia’s Institute of Israel and Jewish Studies, has been lecturing and writing about Jewish comedy for years. His 2017 book, Jewish Comedy: A Serious History, sifts through centuries of literature, film and theater to explore comic archetypes familiar to us; Dauber has looked at how persecution, assimilation and revival were all mined for humor by comics for decades, and will touch on those topics in what will be a fascinating pair of discussions on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29. Of course, Dauber does not avoid our reality, that humor is often a way to cope with pain or use it to shield ourselves from suffering, something Dauber said himself in a recent interview with the multimedia news program MetroFocus. “Some parts of Jewish comedy, some significant parts, are a result and response to persecution and a history of anti-Semitism,” he said. On the other hand, Jewish humor was often used to puncture those seen as self-important or pompous, be it officials, rabbis or community leaders, to highlight the difference between religions, or the expressions of our faith. Our atmosphere on Saturday will be a relaxed one. Professor Dauber will deliver a sharp talk about more recent Jewish comedy, as you relax with a glass of wine, appetizers and dessert. Sunday will bring another discussion over brunch where we’ll talk about the voices of some of the most important voices in Jewish culture. The Scholar-in-Residence program has a long history at Woodlands Community Temple and has been the platform for serious discussion of many diverse topics, but this time, the serious is truly a laughing matter. Register online at wct.org/sir.
from the
Cantor
Hello Purim, and Goodbye!
Israel:
I
Dance in Israel
t is hard not to love Purim. Especially for me this year. One of my fondest memories is the way we celebrated Purim at JTS, when I lived in an observant community for the first time. Men and women sat on separate sides of the room for the service. There was an aisle between us. Everybody was in costume. One fellow had a huge pair of angel wings on his back that flapped as he swayed in prayer. My costume was The Lone Ranger on my front half and his Indian companion Tonto on the back. When we got to the Sh’ma, I covered my eyes in front and also the Indian face behind. The people behind me started roaring with laughter, earning a half-hearted scowl from the rabbi leading services. Somebody brought a rubber chicken to the service. Men and women tossed it back and forth as we recited the traditional liturgy. The chicken ended up in the hands of the scholar who read Megillah. He used its claw as the pointer while he chanted from the traditional scroll. People laughed a lot; there were flasks of bourbon passed from person to person. Yet we paused in the reading when the ruckus got loud, because it is required that every person hear every Hebrew word. This spirit of irreverence and fun will add joy to the traditions of our people again this year. I will be roasted by my congregation! A fitting bookend. On Purim we will again experience the story of Esther, a sequence of tests and happenstance events that test the very survival of the Jewish people. Esther’s loyalty to the Jewish people saves us all. Yes, people cross dress, costume up, make loud noises and drink alcohol. Yet the core of the holiday itself has a subtle nature, beyond all the lovable hullabaloo. Do you know that the Megillah never mentions the name of God? This is more than a curiosity; it makes a point: God works miracles and is never seen. Isn’t that the way we encounter God in everyday life? The story is a mess. The king tries to please everyone, is happy to see Jews destroyed, and finally lets them defend themselves. Esther wants to promote her own career, and also wants to be loyal to her people. Haman is alternately a flatterer, an oversensitive fop, and a mass murderer. Out of emotion-driven chaos comes the visible outline of God’s plan. Jews are again saved, but by a hand that is veiled. The name Esther is related to the Hebrew word “hidden.” Purim is a nes nistar, a hidden miracle. Purim reminds us of the things that are concealed; and of the soul, that cannot be. And of God’s plan, which becomes clearer with each passing year. These ideas resonate with me in my own life, as well as the life of our people.
Happy Purim!
The Long and the Short of It by Roberta Roos
T
o me, Israeli dance has always meant the hora or Batsheva Dance Company and Rina Schenfeld. And while the hora is still a popular dance (perhaps more so in the Diaspora than in Israel) and Batsheva and Schenfeld’s company thrive, Israeli dance is so much more. Take, for example, the Jerusalem Vertigo Dance Company, whose movements include not just the out-of-control spinning that its name evokes but also Tai-Chi and classical techniques. And who would guess that an Israeli flamenco dancer would be honored by the King of Spain for training generations of Israelis in that dance? Then there is “Steps from Sana’a to Hebron,” a workshop developed by Evyatar Said, a Yemenite Jew from Kfar Sava, and Yousef Said, a Palestinian from near Hebron. They each bring the traditional movements from their heritage, explain them, and reveal their differences and similarities, as in the case of the dabke, a dance claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. Vertigo claims that dance has the possibility of touching people and bringing them together. May it be so!
Israel, like America, is a land we love. Its accomplishments inspire us, yet we struggle when it falls short of our dreams for it. This column explores Israel’s ongoing work toward building a nation firmly aligned with the Jewish values we love. Join us in probing the aspirations and endeavors of this complicated but cherished land.
www.wct.org
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Environmental Task Force:
Green
Corner You’re Never Too Old to Change by Kirstin S. Kleinman “As [wo]men age, their opinions change” —Talmud Shabbat
T
his month, I turn 50. Thank you very much. Over this time, I have been a teacher for 10 years, a mother for 15, married for 20, an environmentalist for 25, and a performer for… well, my whole life. The point is, everything in our lives changes as we grow older, and we’ve navigated these changes as we go through them, sometimes more successfully than others, but we all manage them. We are not the same people we were so long ago and, in most cases, that’s a good thing. But change can be scary… new, unknown, unfamiliar. So it’s hard to try not to let our fear of change stop us from becoming better people. You may never have considered yourself an “environmentalist,” or maybe recycling has just never been your thing, or maybe you’re realizing how dependent you are on single use plastics. Why not make that one little change now, do your best to incorporate it into your life, and pass it on. As the traditional Jewish proverb states, “Every change is for the better.”
Is WCT in Your Estate Plan? Please consider leaving a legacy for future generations by including Woodlands Community Temple in your estate planning gift. Sample language for your will might include: “I give and bequeath the sum of $_____ (or _____% of my residuary estate) to the Woodlands Community Temple Endowment Trust.” Questions, contact Dayle Fligel, Immediate Past President (endowment@wct.org).
If you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Abuse, please share this confidential hotline:
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from the
President
March Madness Andy Farber, President
M
arch madness. The time (but it always hasn’t been so) college basketball takes our attention and threatens to disrupt our homes, our businesses, our lives. But we have our own madness at Woodlands. It’s really, really busy around here, as we tend to, and enjoy, our community. The Finance Committee, led by Judy Feder, is completing our work on the budget, readying it for presentation in May. Herb Friedman, our Financial Secretary, works daily to help our families in need who are unable to pay their full member support, and rely on our commitment to provide the financial aid that allows them to remain in the congregation. He is assisted this year by the Arrangements and Member Support Task Force, led by Mike Scafidi and Irv Adler. Please, if you need help with your commitment, reach out to Herb. If he is trying to reach you, return his call or email. He is compassionate and wants to help you. The life cycle of the congregation continues. We are in the midst of Cantor Jonathan’s Farewell Tour. We celebrated with poker and game night last month, later this month we’ll roast him at Purim madness and mark your calendars for Sat, May 16, when we’ll have a blowout party to honor Jonathan and wish him well. You can also honor Jonathan by taking an ad in the commemorative journal. Behind the scenes, a search committee led by Jen Tower and Toby Linder has been working incredible hours, reading resumes and personal statements, conducting interviews, and hosting applicants to be our next cantor. There is a tremendously talented pool of applicants who are looking at us, just as we are looking at them. We hope to bring the best of the best to you as our next cantor. March is also a time to save a life, and make a difference. Join together at the blood drive, spend an hour (or less) in our sanctuary with the New York Blood Center, and you literally will save a life. The following week is the Jonah Maccabee Concert, sign up, honor Jonah’s memory, and help send our kids to summer camp. March is madness. But breathe. This is all good stuff, it’s exciting, and in the middle of it all, spring will be here. L’shalom,
Purim ... A Second Yom Kippur? Talmud teaches that holidays are half-spiritual and half-physical. We spend time in ritual observance , but with a meal and relaxation too. Judaism recognizes the spirituality in ordinary moments. Even Purim serves a Divine purpose. In 18th century Lithuania, the Vilna Gaon observed that Purim and Yom Kippur (also known as Yom HaKippurim) share Hebrew letters. We can see in Yom HaKippurim the phrase Yom k’Purim (“a day like Purim”). The spirit of Yom Kippur runs through Purim as well. They are two sides of the same coin. No matter what is going on in the world, you and I have the power to help. Every Jewish moment can carry the most powerful ideas. Purim is more than fun – it points the way toward tikkun olam, repairing our world.
Worship Schedule Shabbat Tetzaveh
Shabbat Vayak’hel-Pekuday
Ex 27:20 - 30:10 ... Ezek 43:10-27 Shabbat Zakhor reading is Deut 25:17-19 ... Est 7:1-10, 8:15-17
Ex 35:1 - 40:38 ... I Kngs 7:40 - 8:21 Shabbat HaKhodesh reading is Ex 12:1-20 ... Ezek 45:16-25
Fri, Mar 6
Fri, Mar 20
A Joyful Noise! at 8:00 pm
Mishpakha Shabbat for All at 7:00 pm
A service for everyone, from oldest to youngest. With a dozen musicians and your voices, we’ll fill our Sanctuary with a joyful noise! Visual Worship tonight ... all prayers and readings will be projected onto screens. Welcome this evening to our 3rd grade families!
Sat, Mar 7 No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).
A special needs-friendly Shabbat experience. For the entire congregation – meaningful for adults, engaging for kids! If you like, join us for a quick dinner at 6:00 pm – make your reservation at wct.org/ mishpakha. This month, we’ll be exploring different ways that we can make our service more accessible for adults and children with special needs.
Sat, Mar 21
Shabbat Kee Teesa
Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am
Ex 30:11 - 34:35 ... I Kngs 18:1-39 Shabbat Parah reading is Num 19:1-22 ... Ezek 36:22-36
Celebrate with us as Kyla Altshuler, daughter of Andrea and Craig Altshuler, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.
Fri, Mar 13 Jammin’ Shabbat at 7:00 pm Put on your jammies, bring a bedtime friend, a blanket if you like, and c’mon over for 30 minutes of Shabbat song, stories and blessings to get you ready for bed. Bring a buck for tzedakah! Mitzvah Hero Training at 6:45 pm!
Simply Shabbat at 8:00 pm A quiet evening with your clergy. Familiar melodies and familiar prayers to bring us all together. Corey Friedlander will speak.
Sat, Mar 14 No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).
Shabbat Vayikra Lev 1:1 - 5:26 ... Isa 43:21 - 44:23
Hevra Torah Learning Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am There’s abundant room around our table. Drop by once or often, we’d love to have you join our lively conversation. In the Meeting Room or Library.
Mar 7: Parashat Tetzaveh Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan
Mar 14: Parashat Kee Teesa Facilitated by Rabbi Mara
Mar 21: Parashat Vayak’helPekuday Facilitated by Rabbi Billy
Mar 28: Parashat Vayikra Facilitated by Rabbi Billy
Fri, Mar 27 Shabbat Zach at 8:00 pm We’re turning the service over to our rabbinic intern, Zach Plesent, as he directs our clergy and guides us all in our worship and celebration. Zach will give the sermon too.
Sat, Mar 28 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am Celebrate with us as Jaron Soboroff, son of Linda Davidson and Peter Soboroff, becomes a Bar Mitzvah.
Need a Shabbat babysitter? Let us
know by the Wednesday prior and we’ll provide it! Shabbat babysitting is done by our own Academy students and there is no charge. Contact us at babysitting@wct.org.
A Very Special Mitzvah Hero Training Session! Fri, Mar 13 at 6:45 pm This month, PJ Library is taking over Mitzvah Hero Training! We’ll be making pictures and cards to go along with a book donation that is going to a local children’s hospital. If you’re not already part of PJ Library, you want to be! PJ Library sends free books to families every month that celebrate Jewish traditions, values and culture, and is now also hosting gatherings in our area. You can sign up for the free books by visiting pjlibrary.org/ newyork. Email Loripjlibrary@gmail.com for more about meeting up locally.
www.wct.org
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March Happenings & Beyond Worship
allow all to access what is happening in the time-frame and in the way that is best for them. You can request a copy of this visual map ahead of the service by visiting wct.org/ shabbatforall. As you walk in, you’ll also notice some buckets of fidgets and quiet toys. Feel free to grab one that is appropriate for you or your loved one to help them stay focused and/or at ease throughout the service. We’ll also have a “doodle box” in the daf (service handout).
Mishpakha Shabbat For All A Special Needs-Friendly Shabbat Experience
Last year’s service was an incredible success. Whether the specific theme speaks to your family/friends or you just want to be part of making our community more welcoming, we’d love to have you with us.
Fri, Mar 20 at 7:00 pm This month, Mishpakha Shabbat – known for its spirit: upbeat songs, family-friendly iyyunim, and community atmosphere – will pay special attention to inclusion for adults and children with special needs. We’ll explore how we can make hallmarks more accessible, especially for those with sensory sensitivities and other special needs. Lauren Levitt, our Learning Center Coordinator, who has a Masters in Special Education and works with our students with special needs in the religious school, has been instrumental in planning the service. Here’s some of what to expect and the rationale behind it: We’ll pay special attention to the tone. The Woodlands sanctuary always aspires to be a judgment-free zone. Yet sometimes we shush our neighbors or throw a glance their way. In the case of children and adults with certain disabilities, sometimes they can’t help but make some noise or move around. On this night, we’ll establish a shush-free zone. If you or loved one needs to stretch, you can do so in the seat, in the aisle, or you can use the quiet corner in the back. You can exit the sanctuary if it would be helpful, but don’t feel like you have to. The music will be at a slightly lower volume, rhythmic, and joyful. We will not be using visual worship, as the brightness of the screens and some images may be jarring for some. Yet we will be offering a “visual map” of the service. It will include pictures and words that describe what is happening from the moment one approaches the synagogue to when they head home. Where are we? Who will be leading the service? Where are we in the order of the prayers? What’s next? How much time is left? This visual map is a great tool before, during and after the service to help prepare and debrief. It aims to take away the element of surprise and
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Learning S’forim Forum: Visible City Sat, Mar 7 4:30-6:00 pm We’ll be discussing the book, Visible City, by Tova Mirvis. This novel, set in New York City, teems with buried treasures, the mysteries of the city, and the inner life of people who seek to fulfill their inner passions amidst the bustle and the quiet of Manhattan days and nights. Light snacks and Havdalah of course.
Mussar Sun, Mar 8, 9:30-11:00 am Our Mussar group follows the time-honored practice that ties together personal conduct and spiritual depth. Over the centuries, Jews have discovered that certain practices can foster health, happiness and vital self-awareness. We visit the character traits that determine the quality of our lives, engage in modern and traditional texts, connect to the history of the Mussar movement, and enjoy a thoughtful and gentle community. We meet in the Cantor’s office. If you are interested, contact Cantor Jonathan (cantor@wct.org). Additional date: 4/19
Book Club Wed, Mar 18 at 2:00 pm Join us every month for our book club, facilitated by different members of the group. This month, Phyllis Opochinsky will be facilitating Ruchama King Feuerman’s novel, In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist. In these times of hate and misunderstanding, this delicately written book illuminates the possibilities of people bringing about change, one by one. Isaac Markowitz, a Lower East Side haberdasher, moves to Israel to heal his broken heart and finds himself the assistant to a renowned old rabbi who welcomes people into his courtyard. All are welcome.
Jewish Studies Thursdays 10:00-11:30 am Join us as Harriet Levine teaches about the role of Jewish women, beginning with the Bible and Talmud, and moving forward from there.
Woodlands Singers From time to time, our Woodlands Singers delights and enriches our services and other special events. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings, 8:15-9:15 pm. If you can carry a tune and like group singing, this is the place for you. Contact Cantor Jonathan for more information.
Lunch and Learn Wed, Mar 18, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Travel with Rabbi Mara to see the Chagall windows in Tarrytown. (No charge/No lunch). Did you know that original Chagall stained glass windows (as well as one by Matisse) reside right here in Westchester? They’re at Union Church, by the Rockefeller Estate. We’ll meet there at 11:30 am and explore them together. They depict various scenes from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. They are stunningly beautiful and shockingly close! If you are not comfortable driving and need help finding a carpool, contact rabbimara@wct.org. Future Lunch and Learn dates: May 20, Jun 17.
Current Events Third Wednesdays 10:00-11:30 am Join us for an always lively discussion on current events immediately after Lunch and Learn. An agenda will be emailed to participants ahead of the meeting.
Hevra Torah Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am Whether you bring a little one to religious school or you’re just taking it easy at home, why not come by the temple and spend an engaging, stimulating and uplifting hour talking Torah. Some really nice folks come together each Shabbat morning and sit with Billy, Mara or Jonathan to explore the portion of the week.
Social Action Project Ezra Passover Food Collection March 6-22 Please help us fill up 50 boxes of Passover food for the Project Ezra seniors: • Donate Kosher for Passover-labeled food during our temple-wide food drive (please deliver all food by Sun, Mar 22 — view list at wct.org/passoverfood) • Volunteer to shop for Passover food items (Mar 23-28) • Make a donation to Woodlands for the Project Ezra Food Program • Deliver food boxes directly to the seniors in their homes on Sun morning, Apr 5. Contact Harriet Kohn, Elise Ballan and Janet Weinstein (ProjectEzra@wct.org) to sign up.
Blood Drive Sun, Mar 15 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Giving blood at Woodlands is so easy and convenient. Come in when you’re picking up or dropping off from religious school, going to a meeting, or swing by just because you’re a mensch. You can donate if you’re between 17 and 75 years old and weigh at least 110 lbs. (16-year olds may donate with a note from a parent, and those older than
75 with a note from your doctor). Please bring ID with you. Schedule your appointment at wct.org/blooddrive or email Marge Berman, Jill Garland and Steve Sagner (blood@wct.org). Walk-ins are welcome but you may need to wait.
Social Action Committee Meeting Mon, Mar 30 at 8:15 pm
Knitting and Crocheting Sun, Mar 15 3:00-5:00 pm
Join us as we welcome our interfaith friends and share the joy of Pesakh and the wisdom of the seder. If you would like to help with the planning, please email socialaction@wct.org.
We meet regularly to help and inspire each other as we complete projects such as blankets for babies in Israel, afghans and holiday presents for domestic abuse victims, and other projects. Email Angela Adler (knitting@wct.org).
RAC-NY Lobby Day in Albany Mon, Mar 16 The NY Reform congregations will be working on Protect Our Courts in the new legislative session. “Protect Our Courts” aims to amend civil rights law and judiciary law to protect certain interested parties or people from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from the place of such court proceeding. The purpose of this bill is to facilitate continued access to the justice system and courts by all members of our community without fear of immigration-related consequences. The bill would allow arrest for an immigration offense based on a judicial arrest warrant or judicial order, signed by a judge of another jurisdiction who is authorized to order such arrest. However, an immigration-related courthouse arrest based on an administrative warrant, or without a warrant, would not be permitted. Bill #S425A and #A02176A. If you want to get involved, contact Andrea Olstein (socialaction@wct.org).
Shelter Dinner Sun, Mar 22 Prepare dinner for The Sanctuary, teen shelter in Valhalla. Email shelterdinner@wct.org.
Interfaith Seder Thu, Apr 2 at 8:00 pm
February Mensch of the Month is Second Grade You, too, can be a mensch by partnering with our Second Grade to bring in low-sugar cereal boxes, granola bars, juice boxes, and fruit cups. Help our local food pantries and the folks they serve.
Bat Mitzvah Kid’s Collecting Kids’ Books! Seventh grader Juliana Roos is collecting gently used books for kids from birth to 18. The books will be used as centerpieces at her June Bat Mitzvah celebration and then delivered to the County Clinic at Westchester Medical Center where they will be given out to children in the waiting room. The clinic serves a low-income population and, in some cases, the books received there are the only ones the children have. A collection box is located outside the temple office through April. Note: Board books for babies and toddlers are particularly appreciated. Social Action is pleased to partner with Juliana on this project and welcomes opportunities to work with other students on their acts of tikkun olam.
www.wct.org
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March Happenings & Beyond Youth Engagement Purim Shul-In Sat-Sun, Mar 7-8
Purim Festival
WoodSY’s annual Purim Shul-In is back! Open to 8th-12th grades, join us for a night of big fun while we set up for the Purim Festival and have a sleepover at temple! Watch for registration information soon. For more info, contact Lily (youth@wct.org).
Sun, Mar 8, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Get ready for a Purim celebration like you've never seen before. Join us for the games and prizes you know and love, with the addition of performances to create a festival-themed Purim. Stephen Christopher (aka Mr. Hypno) will be presenting his comedy hypnotism act and a magician will dazzle participants of all ages. Flower crowns, face painting and tie dye will keep everyone in the spirit!
WCT March Madness Selection Day: Sun, Mar 15 Final Four Screening and Potluck: Sat, Apr 4 Join us for the first ever WCT NCAA March Madness Bracket Tournament! Your family will have the opportunity to buy into our own bracket tournament, culminating in a streaming of the first Final Four game and a potluck dinner in the sanctuary on April 4. In addition to the basketball tournament itself, we will also be holding our own charitable version of the “Final Four.” When your family fills out a bracket, they will also choose a local tzedakah recipient from four options. Whichever family “wins” the tournament will have the honor of choosing to which recipient the money from the bracket will go. Watch for registration information coming soon! Any questions? Email Lily (youth@wct.org).
It’s Time to Reserve Your Holocaust Remembrance Day Yellow Candle We have eight dozen yellow candles that are available first-come first-served. If you would like one, visit wct.org/yellowcandles to place your order. Candles will be available for pickup in time for you to light yours on Yom HaShoah, Monday evening, April 20. Light a yellow candle to cast away the darkness.
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Save the date, and get excited!
Experience Passover in a New, Inclusive Way Sun, Mar 22, 3:00-5:00 pm Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El, 2 Ogden Rd, Scarsdale
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oin us for the Mosaic Pride Passover. For both allies and people within the LGBTQ+ community, this seder experience is an interactive event for adults and children. From bibliodramas about the Exodus story to rainbow haroset and everything in between, participants will engage in activities that help explore Passover in the context of LGBTQ+ pride, exploring the theme of persecution to liberation with an LGBTQ+ Jewish lens. If you want to strengthen your connection to the LGBTQ+ community as an ally or learn about your community, this event is for you. For more information and to make a reservation, contact inclusion@wct.org or Harriet Levine (HL19845@gmail.com) or Daniel Goldberg (dansgoldberg@gmail.com).
Hosts Needed for Interfaith Seder Thu, Apr 2, 8:00-10:00 pm
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n the spirit of the universal messages of our Jewish faith, we have invited members of local churches to share in our “Festival of Freedom.” Reading from a specially-prepared educational Haggadah, our rabbis and cantor will guide our guests through the ancient rituals, the Exodus story, and the music – both old and new – of this historical celebration of freedom. What will we need from you? To sit with a small group, help them to feel welcomed into our synagogue home, assist in their following along in the Haggadah and in partaking of the traditional foods, and answer simple questions any of our guests might have. Don’t worry about not knowing all the answers – not only will we happily provide you with some advance material to “bone up” on your Pesach perspicacity, but you may also defer to your clergy at any time. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals or entire families to perform this mitzvah together! To volunteer as a host, please visit wct.org/sederhost. Congregants of all ages are welcome to attend, and may also bring non-Jewish friends. We would also appreciate your bringing along a Seder plate (for display at your table only). At the conclusion of this unique and uplifting Seder, our guests will have an opportunity to view the Torah and speak with us about Jewish life. We very much look forward to your joining our Jewish Life Committee and Social Action Committee for a special evening of sharing our heritage, faith, and fellowship. Please contact us soon at wct.org/sederhost.
The Farewell Tour Comes Home! Madison Square Garden Red Rocks Amphitheater The Fillmore Auditorium
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ock stars on their farewell tours like to go out with a bang, revisiting some of the greatest venues in the country to relive their triumphs and reach out to the fans who love them. On Saturday evening, May 16, Cantor Jonathan’s Farewell Tour takes over WCT for a night to celebrate the journey of Jonathan’s career with music, food, fun and friendship while also supporting Woodlands Community Temple. Like concert tailgate parties and music festival food fairs? You’ll be in for a treat! Join us as we line the WCT parking lot with some of the Hudson Valley’s best food trucks and fill the building with local brews and great music. Come casual and relaxed – just like the headliner himself – ready to hang out with friends and show your love to the man of the hour. Sign up to attend the party at wct.org/farewell. Individual tickets are $100 per person but you can save a little dough and make sure you have a great time hanging out with your favorite people by registering with a group of friends as a virtual table of 10 for $900 (don’t worry, there’ll be no assigned seating so you can feel free to shmooze with everyone else, too!). Plus, you can feel good knowing that more of your ticket price will be going to support Woodlands thanks to a generous donation made in Jonathan’s honor by a temple family to underwrite event expenses. No tour would be complete without a souvenir program of course, so we’ll be commemorating Jonathan’s career highlights with a fundraising journal that takes us on a journey through some of the landmarks of his life, from his early years in Skokie, IL, civil rights work in Mobile, AL, a stint in the Cincinnati Workhouse, and stops throughout his professional life in Chicago, Manhattan, New Haven and, finally, Woodlands! The journal – choose a printed copy or an electronic version – is our gift to Jonathan, a compilation of our love and best wishes as well as a memento of his time with us. Gather your family, friends and committees to place an ad in our Farewell Journal to let Jonathan know how much you’ve appreciated him and how much we will all miss him. The goal is to have 100% community participation in our journal, so get your creative juices flowing! Go to wct.org/jonathanjournal to place your ad. Email journal@wct.org with questions or for more information. Saturday night, May 16 will be a night none of us will want to miss, so call your friends and sign up soon. Just like the greatest concert, you’ll want to be able to say that you were there!
Ever notice that Jewish holidays are never on time? They’re always “early” or “late”! Passover is early April this year but we are ready!! We’ve been scouting unique holiday, tabletop and spiritual items and look forward to showcasing our wondrous finds at the Purim Carnival. Check out our selection of seder plates, matzo trays and covers, afikomen bags and Elijah and Miriam’s cups. More Woodlands families are planning interactive creative seders and we have the items that will make the telling of the Passover story fun and memorable. The ten plaques headbands, flipping frogs and marching matzo balls are perfect additions to your celebration. And shop us first for hostess gifts and spiritual, wellpriced gifts for your afikomen finders.
Singing Our Praises This being our 22nd and final year with the transcendent gift that is Cantor Jonathan Gordon, each month’s Makom will feature a brief reflection on our time with him, highlighting something that we will love remembering for many, many years to come.
In 2016, I had a serious bicycle accident – flying into the car’s windshield, landing directly in front it, destroying my bike – but only breaking one bone in my hand. Afterwards, I was shaken up and fragile. I called up Jonathan and asked him, “What’s that prayer for being thankful you weren’t killed?” He drove to my house, and we sat in his car, and together we benched Gomel. Truly, a blessing. And who woulda thought, a cantor who makes house calls! Mark Kaufman
www.wct.org
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Upcoming Meetings
The Simkha Page
Our B’nai Mitzvah
Finance Committee
Kyla Altshuler
Jaron Soboroff
Sun, Mar 1 at 7:30 pm
Mar 21
Mar 28
Sun, Mar 8 at 7:30 pm
Torah Portion Vayak’hel
Torah Portion Vayikra
Hebrew Name Ilana Yael
Hebrew Name Feivel
Mon, Mar 23 at 8:15 pm
Board of Trustees Mon, Mar 16 at 8:15 pm
Jewish Life Committee Mon, Mar 23 at 8:15 pm
School Board Mon, Mar 23 at 8:15 pm
Mazal Tov to... Andrea and Craig Altshuler, as their daughter, Kyla, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah
Linda Davidson and Peter Soboroff, as their son, Jaron, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
Social Action Committee Mon, Mar 30 at 7:30 pm We would be delighted to welcome you to any temple meeting that interests you. Please be in touch with Andy Farber (president@wct.org) for information on how to join (or just visit) a committee.
Purim’s a Joke, Right? The Purim story is v-e-r-y sarcastic. It tells of a king who’s an impotent buffoon, a powerful leader who is a caricature of demonic evil, and a queen who literally slept her way into royalty. God doesn’t appear even once in the entire megillah! But if it’s only a spoof, how’d it get into the Bible? Perhaps because we all benefit from being reminded each spring of the damage that hatred can do. Purim teaches that everyone has the power to bring about change for the better. We can end arguments, jealousies, rivalries, even wars. And Esther, at first afraid to act, models the courage we can muster to do what is right, and help others along the way. And that’s no joke.
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www.wct.org
Todah Rabbah (thank you) to... Phil Karmel, for leading our course, “What is Zionism?” The hosts of Woodlands Community Table: David Bertan, Chuck and Nancy Fishman, Dayle and David Fligel, Mitch and Juli Klein, and Jenna and Michael Lebowich. Thanks, too, to Fern Richter for helping organize the event, and to those who brought an appetizer or dessert: Deborah Wiskind, Bonni Arbore, Margot Serwer, Lisa Linn, Michele Montague, Marcy Smith,
Liz Shlom, Jen Tower, Leslie Litsky, Harriet Levine, Joan Farber and Fern Richter. Karen Fox, Irv Adler and Dassi Citron for working at the holiday Mercado at Neighbors’ Link. Your giftwrapping assistance was very much appreciated! Pamela Goldstein, Elizabeth Hiller and Hilary Archigian for making our 3rd/4th Grade Late Night so much fun!
A Progressive, Democratic Israel Needs Your Vote!
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he World Zionist Congress meets in Jerusalem every five years, exerting ideological influence and allocating financial and other resources in Israel. Online elections to the 38th World Zionist Congress are now taking place (Jan 21 Mar 11) and YOUR VOTE IS NEEDED! The more delegates we elect, the more resources we can direct to Reform congregations and progressive institutions in Israel. If you are 18 years or older by Jun 30, 2020 and self-identify as Jewish, you are eligible to vote. Note: There is a $7.50 processing cost to vote ($5 ages 18-25). To vote, visit arza.org, click on “Vote Reform,” and follow the instructions from there. Don’t forget to forward your voting receipt to Israel@wct.org (or drop off a copy at the temple) and we’ll enter you in a raffle for a free dinner (for you and your household) at Shiraz Kitchen, elegant Mediterranean Persian cuisine in Westchester (83 E Main St, Elmsford).
Donations We appreciate the thoughtfulness of those who support Woodlands Community Temple by remembering and honoring their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions.
Rabbi Billy’s Mitzvah Fund
Chai Fund
In memory of Arthur Lucks, husband, and Mollie and Jules Bloomenfeld, parents, from Linda Lucks. In honor of Rabbi Billy’s work with Lucy Richer for her Bat Mitzvah, from Lisa Sacks.
In memory of Irene Berger, from Robert Rawson and Jennie Kramer-Rawson. In memory of Daniel Hammer, father of Sharon Rubin, from Linda Lucks. In memory of Erica Pell, from David and Dayle Fligel. In honor of Nathaniel Londin becoming a Bar Mitzvah, with heartfelt appreciation to the WCT Clergy, from Jessica Baron. In honor of Michael Weinberger's 85th birthday, from Irwin Miller and Barbara Gordon. In honor of Dr. and Mrs. Shimon Shalit's 50th wedding anniversary, from Irwin Miller and Barbara Gordon.
Rabbi Mara’s Mitzvah Fund In honor of Rabbi Mara’s work with Lucy Richer for her Bat Mitzvah, from Lisa Sacks. In memory of Steve Florin, husband of Roberta Florin, from Janet Birnbaum.
Cantor’s Discretionary Fund In honor of Cantor Jonathan’s work with Lucy Richer for her Bat Mitzvah, from Lisa Sacks. In memory of Erica Pell, mother-in-law, from Geri Pell.
Jonah Maccabee Fund In memory of Erica Pell, from Chuck and Nancy Fishman, Dale Glasser, David Griff and Roni Beth Tower. In honor of the Dreskin family, from Kurt and Gloria Nash.
The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of Ira Martel brother of Mary Allen Erica Pell mother-in-law of Geri Pell HaMakom y’nakhem otam… may God bring comfort to all who are in mourning. Zekher tzadik livrakha ... may their memory be for a blessing.
Domestic Abuse Task Force Fund In memory of Marvin Lipkowitz, father of Tanya Briendel, from David and Dayle Fligel.
Rabbinic Intern Fund Donation from Jeanne and Murray Bodin.
Endowment Gift from Estate of Fran and Gerry Weingast
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he Endowment Trustees of Woodlands Community Temple thank our beloved and greatly missed Fran and Gerry Weingast for remembering Woodlands in their trust. Across the decades, Fran and Gerry did just about everything there was to do at Woodlands. Gerry is most remembered as our Treasurer, while Fran taught in our religious school, sang in the Woodlands Singers, helped organize and run the 50 th anniversary celebrations, and served on Exec as VP of Education. They were especially fond of supporting our rabbinic intern program. As founders of Woodlands, they quite literally helped in profound ways to build and shape our community. Fran and Gerry were always available to counsel us, help out or take charge. No task was too small or too large. With Gerry having died in 2014 and Fran in 2019, this final act of tzedakah serves as a touching, beautiful gesture of affection and devotion to the synagogue they loved so deeply, and a wonderful model for all of us to follow. Around Woodlands, you can be sure their memories will always be for a blessing.
Purim Laughter: A Healing Gift “The Jews ordained that these days of Purim should not cease from among the Jews nor their descendants” — Esther 9:27-28 The mitzvah of Purim is to laugh. Prejudice and bigotry are no laughing matter. Fighting for the just treatment of all minorities is Purim’s timeless demand, our response to the countless Hamans who have stepped into history. It’s unlikely we’ll ever “blot out” Haman forever. Purim suggests we resort to laughter. The average preschooler laughs 300 times a day. The average adult, 17. Our lives are complicated, so it’d be good to get more laughter into our day. Purim reminds us that few of us are only what we seem. We mask pain, sorrow, and so much more. We may not be able to get rid of them, but we needn’t give in either. So after you’ve had a good cry, get yourself a really good laugh. If we laugh loudly enough, perhaps we can blot out a few of our own Haman’s – at least until we catch our breath, muster our strength, and get back into the daily challenges of our lives.
Inscribe Your Loved One’s Name On Our Memorial Garden Wall Twice a year, Woodlands adds names to our beautiful outdoor Memorial Garden Wall (just outside the sanctuary on the other side of the Ark) and dedicates them during a Yizkor Memorial Service. The spring dedication will be held during Yizkor on the last day of Passover (Wednesday, April 15 at 9:00 am). If you wish to have names inscribed on our Memorial Garden Wall in time for the Passover dedication, please visit wct.org/ memorialwall and supply the information requested there – not later than Wednesday, April 1. The price for inscription is $800 per name. Space may be reserved on the Wall for future inscriptions with full, advance payment. All names (whether they are to be inscribed or reserved) should be submitted at the time of reservation. This allows the engravers to allocate appropriate space for future inscriptions. Zekher tzadik livrakha ... their memories are for a blessing.
www.wct.org
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Fun times with Jason Mesches in the Nosh Pit!
MLK Day Rock Climbing!
My Friend Has Had A Death In the Family, Continued from p.16
Services At The Home
Coming To Temple To Say Kaddish
Our tradition encourages us to hold a brief service each evening during the shiva period. One reason is to set aside time for returning to the quiet tribute experienced during the funeral service (and sometimes missing in the hustle and bustle of shiva). Your presence at this service can hold great meaning for, and provide much comfort to, your friend in mourning.
During the four weeks following a funeral, Jewish tradition has us attend Shabbat services, both for the purpose of saying Kaddish and to be with our caring community at a time of needed healing. Being the one to encourage your friend to come with you to temple can assist them in overcoming the inertia that might otherwise keep them home.
Visitation After Shiva Concludes Part of the wisdom of shiva is to surround the mourner with friends and family during the most painful period of grieving – the week following the funeral. After shiva concludes – when the network of support thins dramatically – a caring gesture is also appreciated. So consider the role you might play – through a visit, a meal, an outing – in your friend’s healing beyond the traditional shiva period.
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For a thousand years and more, Judaism has helped families move through “the valley of the shadow.” A responsive tradition and concerned friends nearly always help to mend the sense of loss. Jewish mourning rituals promote healing and are well worth observing. As devoted friends, we can do much to unite those we care about with a tradition that cares for them.
We t h a n k o u r A d v e r t i s e r s f o r t h e i r S u p p o r t
Thank you
to the members of the Woodlands community.
Keep Smiling!
Dr. Charles Strick, DDS TOP DENTISTS™ 2020 COSMETIC DENTISTRY • FAMILY DENTISTRY
(914) 693-6990
20 Center Street, Ardsley, New York 10502 www.charlesstrickdds.com
We t h a n k o u r A d v e r t i s e r s f o r t h e i r S u p p o r t
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Judai Connection My Friend Has Had A Death In the Family. What’s My Role? Rabbi Billy Dreskin Whether death comes suddenly in youth or slowly in old age, we often wonder how we can best support a friend when they’re grieving. If someone you know is in mourning, I hope you will use one or more of the Jewish customs described below to offer your support. And if you ever have questions, give us a call at temple.
Upon Learning There Has Been A Death In Someone’s Family …wait before you pick up the phone or drive over in the car. Jewish tradition describes a-nee-noot (the period between death and the funeral service) as a time of tremendous emotional upheaval and disorientation. Unless you are among a person’s very closest friends, it may be kinder to wait until after the funeral to pay a condolence call.
If Possible, Attend the Funeral Service. L’vayat ha-met (accompanying our dead to their grave) is among Judaism’s highest mitzvot and it will be tremendously comforting to know you were there. But it is not the time for conversation with the mourners; please take your seat and plan to visit during shiva.
During the Cemetery Service …the rabbi may invite you to place a shovel of dirt into the grave. This is an act of caring and respect, but it is optional. If you do shovel, a small amount of dirt is all that is necessary. Some place the dirt on the shovel’s backside as a sign of willingness to perform the mitzvah but reluctance to say goodbye. When you are finished, try not to hand the shovel to someone else; allow others to freely decide whether to participate.
After the Funeral... Depending on how many days the family is sitting shiva (typically 3-7 days) consider postponing your visit for a day or two if you’re not among their closest friends. Shiva is not a party, and crowds of gathered acquaintances often give it the air of one. Visiting when things have calmed down a bit will be
greatly appreciated.
Water at the Family’s Door Following The Funeral …is a symbolic affirmation of God’s holiness (similar to the ritual cleansing of hands before a meal) and therefore of the preciousness of life. If you see this, simply pour a little on each hand and dry. You may also see this when leaving the cemetery.
When You Visit ...you need not say anything in particular. But avoid raucous, off-color or gossip-filled conversation. A hug, a word of sympathy, a memory about the person who died – these are comforting gestures. It’s showing up that counts. Don’t worry too much about getting it right. Just show you care.
If Your Child Is A Friend Of Someone In Mourning ...allow an opportunity for a shiva visit. Children need to grieve too, and a child’s friend is often the right person to facilitate that grieving (although in a manner different than we’d expect, perhaps through a quiet game or even playing in the backyard). This is also a good opportunity to teach your child about the mitzvah of “comforting the bereaved.”
Flowers And Donations ...Jewish custom discourages giving flowers in memory of someone who has died. Our tradition focuses instead upon empowering righteous action, encouraging us to make donations to our synagogue or other charitable organization as a way of honoring someone’s life and memory.
Telephoning Or Emailing Your Condolences ...The human touch and caring appearance add much to your words of concern. If possible, make your shiva call in person. Unless a visit is difficult, telephone calls to someone in mourning should be avoided, particularly if the call is not to a close friend. Continued on p.12