september
the newsletter of woodlands community temple
highlights
September 2014 Elul 5774 - Tishrei 5775
Woodlands’
Fall Preview: 5775 This time last year we were packing up our summer gear and jumping right into High Holy Days preparations. This year we’ve still got a month to go before the High Holy Days get underway. Does that mean the holidays are late this year—or right on time? There’s no time to debate that age-old question—there’s just too much else going on at Woodlands, starting right after Labor Day. Here’s a look at some of what’s new, what’s different, and, as you’ll see over and over again in this issue of Makom: What’s Cooking!
What’s Cooking?—the Event
What’s the best way to find out what’s going on at Woodlands? Well, there’s Makom, of course. There’s the weekly email and the weekly Daf. There’s the website. And there will be lots of schmoozing in the tent later this month. But this year we’re trying something different—a full-scale “Activities Fair” on Sun, Sep 7, where, over brunch, you can have some lively discussions with committee chairs about their plans for the year (and maybe find some activities you’d like to be part of), while you’re catching up with temple friends (and making new ones)—for details, see page 10. And help spread the word to prospective members about what else is cooking at Woodlands at the Taste of Woodlands dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Fri, Sep 5, followed immediately by Mishpakha Shabbat (details: pages 3 and 10).
Taste of Woodlands and Mishpakha Shabbat Sep 5 What’s Cooking at Woodlands: Activity Fair Sep 7 Religious School Opens Sep 7 Simply Shabbat Debuts Sep 12 Bike with Woodlands Sep 14 Welcome Derekh Sep 19 Selihot Sep 20 Rosh Hashanah Sep 24-26 Shabbat Shuvah Sep 26
What’s Cooking?—the Cookbook
More than a year in the making, Woodlands’ third cookbook may be our temple’s most interesting, most diverse, and most health-oriented ever. Check out one of hundreds of recipes in its pages on page 14 of this issue, sample some treats from the book at the What’s Cooking event. And, of course, purchase lots of copies for yourself, your friends, and your family (at a discount through Sep 7). (For information on ordering copies, see page 14—or just come to the What’s Cooking event.)
The Woodlands Community Temple Board of Trustees and its staff extend our sincerest wishes for a sweet, healthy, and fulfilling Rosh Hashanah 5775 ... to you, your family and friends, and all humankind.
Scan this QR code for more WCT information.
Worship
Our Woodlands Community Rabbi Billy Dreskin rabbi@wct.org Rabbi Mara Young rabbimara@wct.org Cantor Jonathan Ben Gordon cantor@wct.org Ross Glinkenhouse, Youth Director youth@wct.org Corey Friedlander, Sh'liakh K'hilah corey@wct.org Jason Fenster, Rabbinic Intern intern@wct.org
Executive Committee Stu Berlowitz, President president@wct.org Jenna Lebowich, VP Education education@wct.og Cliff Schoen, VP Facilities facilities@wct.org Andy Farber, VP Finance finance@wct.org Dayle Fligel, VP Programming/Ritual programming@wct.org Herb Friedman, Financial Secretary financialsecretary@wct.org Andrea Einhorn, Secretary secretary@wct.org Mark Selig, Treasurer treasurer@wct.org
Board of Trustees Bob Apter Jill Garland Nancy Brown Yvette Gralla Aliza Burton Barry Leibowitz Lisa Sacks Wendy Eliezer Gloria Falk Mike Scafidi Nancy Fishman Michele Wise Rochelle Stolzenberg (ex-officio)
Office Staff Liz Rauchwerger, Rabbi’s Assistant liz@wct.org Michele Montague, Religious School michele@wct.org Bookkeeper bookkeeper@wct.org
About Our Temple 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 Editor: Mike Winkleman Art Director: Melanie Roher Design and Production: Kate Levy Advertising Director: Bob Apter
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Service experimentation continues this year with two new offerings: Simply Shabbat, starting on Sep 12, grew out of a recent meeting in which a number of temple members expressed an interest for a simpler, more familiar, and quieter Friday night service experience (see page 3). Jammin’ Shabbat (starting Oct 10) may be just the opposite—silly, wild, and a little bit wooly—and geared to the kids (and their families) who used to head to Woodlands for Kidz Shabbat (see page 3). A Joyful Noise and Mishpakha Shabbat will return as well (don’t miss the first Mishpakha Shabbat of the year on Fri, Sep 5, which is paired, as noted above, with A Taste of Woodlands). Check Makom and the website for schedules. The High Holy Days get underway on Sep 20 with Selihot and wrap up with the Simkhat Torah Consecration Service on Oct 16 (for details and a full schedule, see pages 4 and 5 as well as October Makom).
Learning
Religious school starts up the weekend of Sep 6 and 7, with Academy beginning on Monday the 8th (with its traditional kickoff barbecue). Once again, however, learning at Woodlands spans the generations, with yet another ambitious program of adult education. Among the new offerings this year: a two-part One-Day University; a three-part Taste of Judaism; and courses on the Midrash and the prayerbook. In addition, Rabbi Billy’s iEngage Israel course returns for a second season; Building Jewish Lives addresses issues of concern to families with young children; the Mayim film festival is back (at Woodlands) with three more critically acclaimed films; and Daytime Diversions continues its three-times-amonth rotation of movies, speakers, and current events discussions. On Oct 12, Rabbi Mara will lead a tour of Philadelphia’s National Museum of American Jewish History, as well as Congregation Mikveh Israel (the nation’s oldest synagogue). Later that month (Oct 26), Laura Stevens will expose members to some key Jewish themes at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. (For more details on all of these, see pages 11 and 12).
And More…
Our Fall Preview—and this whole issue of Makom—is really just a “taste” of what’s cooking at Woodlands in the months to come. Watch Makom, the weekly email, and the website for new listings and new developments. It’s going to be another sweet, round, and wonderful year.
Worship Schedule This month, we’ve noted the days of the Hebrew month of Elul. Jewish tradition challenges us during Elul to prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days. When Elul ends, we hope you will enter the Tent ready to engage in self-transformation.
Fri, Sep 19 Welcoming Derekh at 8:00 p.m. We welcome the newest participants in Derekh, our temple leadership development program. The 25th day of Elul, five days until Rosh Hashanah.
Shabbat Kee Taytzay
Sat, Sep 20 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Matthew Kaminskas, son of Ariana and Christopher (z”l) Kaminskas, becomes a Bar Mitzvah.
Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19... Isaiah 54:1-10 Fri, Sep 5 Mishpakha Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. (note earlier time) For the entire congregation, just earlier— meaningful for adults, engaging for kids! If you like, join us for a quick dinner at 6:00 p.m.—make your reservation at wct.org/mishpakha. The 11th day of Elul, 19 days until Rosh Hashanah. Sat, Sep 6 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Sabrina Fein, daughter of Jennifer Altman and Jason Fein, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.
Fri, Sep 12 Simply Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. A quiet evening with your clergy. Familiar melodies, familiar prayers, a bit of learning. The 18th day of Elul, 12 days until Rosh Hashanah. Sat, Sep 13 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Isabelle Ripin, daughter of Marianne and Peter Ripin, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.
Shabbat Nitzavim-Vayelekh
Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:30 ... Isaiah 61:10 - 63:9
Woodlands is a pretty exciting place to build a Jewish life for ourselves and our loved ones. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to take it easy and just enjoy one another’s company. “Simply Shabbat” is a Friday evening service that will do just that. The clergy will lead a simple Shabbat service, with familiar Jewish melodies, perhaps a Torah reading or a discussion, and the beauty of spending Shabbat with our beloved Woodlands community. Our first “Simply Shabbat” will take place at 8:00 pm on Fri, Sep 12. Come join us!
Selihot Sat, Sep 20 at 10:00 p.m. Late-night worship turns our thoughts toward self-assessment and selfimprovement. The 26th day of Elul, four days until Rosh Hashanah.
Rosh Hashanah Wed, Sep 24 - Fri, Sep 26 Complete schedule on page 5
Shabbat Kee Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8 ... Isaiah 60:1-22
Introducing “Simply Shabbat”
Shabbat Ha’azinu
Deuteronomy 32:1-52 ... Hosea 14:2-10, Micah 7:18-20, and Joel 2:15-27 Fri, Sep 26 Shabbat Shuvah at 8:00 p.m. Corey Friedlander, our Shaliakh K’hilah, will speak and Cantor Jonathan will chant the Shabbat Shuvah haftarah. Sat, Sep 27 No 10:30 service today. •••••••• Babysitting at 8 p.m. Shabbat services is provided by teens from our religious school. Babysitting will be available on Sep 12, Sep 19, and Sep 26. No charge; no advance notice is required.
Hevra Torah Learning: Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am Saturdays throughout August, September and October: Led by members of Hevra Torah and/or visiting faculty, good conversation on the weekly Torah parashah is always happening. Drop by any Shabbat morning! Through Simkhat Torah. Visit www.wct.org for schedule of facilitators.
Sep 6: Parashat Kee Taytzay Facilitated by Rabbi Joan Farber
Sep 27: Parashat Ha’azinu Facilitated by Don Levan
Sep 13: Parashat Kee Tavo Facilitated by Rabbi Lisa Izes
Oct 4: Yom Kippur No Hevra Torah today
Sep 20: Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelekh Facilitated by David Griff
Kidz Shabbat Is Finished! Kaput! Never to Return! Why? Because we’ve got something better, funner, funnier, and better looking instead!
Introducing JAMMIN’ SHABBAT! Put on your jammies, bring a bedtime friend, and c’mon over to Woodlands for the wildest bedtime songs, stories, and blessings ever! Rabbi Billy, Rabbi Mara, and Cantor Jonathan will be jammin’ on their keyboard and guitar (okay, Rabbi Mara’s got no music talent whatsoever, but she’s very silly and knows how to put little kids to bed better than any other rabbi or cantor in town). So if you’re looking for an exciting way to celebrate Shabbat as a family (AND to get ready for bed), you won’t want to miss a single JAMMIN’ SHABBAT this year! One Friday night a month, 7:00-7:30 p.m. Here are the dates for 5775 (2014-15): Fri, Oct 10 Fri, Nov 7 Fri, Dec 12 Fri, Jan 16 Fri, Feb 6 (Storyteller Marilyn Price) Fri, Mar 13 Fri, Apr 24 (Israel) Fri, May 22 (Blessing of Our First Fruits) Grandparents: If you have little ones living in (or visiting!) the Westchester area and you’d like to kvell at their loving being in temple, invite them to join you for Jammin’ Shabbat. They’ll love it, which means you will too!
There’s abundant room around our table. We’d love to have you join our lively conversation.
www.wct.org
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5775
High Holy Days at Woodlands extremely limited, so please make sure you truly need one before parking there.
Tashlikh
The Midnight Mystery of Selihot Sat, Sep 20 at 10:00 p.m. It sort of sneaks by each autumn, just before Rosh Hashanah. But if you’re really interested in making the High Holy Days meaningful this year, we urge you to take advantage of this late-night beginning to Judaism’s remarkable process of self-reflection. We begin at 10:00 p.m., when we’ll gather together for a very special, very beautiful service whose origins are in Jewish mysticism. To this day, it remains an elegant and inspiring hour that recalls the sounds and images familiar to us across the years. Selihot is an opportunity to meet the music and readings that will soon fill our tent and our souls.
Teen Services
Written by and presented by teens ... just for teens! At 8:00 p.m. on both Rosh Hashanah Eve and Kol Nidre Eve. So if you’re in 8th to 12th grade, drop your family at the tent and meet us in the Sanctuary for High Holy Days that are all yours!
High Holy Days Aliyot for College and High School Students
Each year, we are delighted to invite our high school students and college students for a Torah aliyah during the High Holy Days. This year, these will take place at the following times: • For all Academy students and WoodSY members ... Rosh Hashanah morning (Thu, Sep 25 at 10 a.m.) • For all college students ... Yom Kippur morning (Sat, Oct 4 at 10 a.m.)
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A Word to Our Parents About the High Holy Days
We encourage all our children to attend adult services for High Holy Days. While children’s services tailored for specific age groups will be available throughout the High Holy Days (see schedule, page 5), you and your entire family are always welcome in the tent. We ask that you be considerate of other worshipers during the services and be responsible for your child’s behavior, whether inside or outside of the tent.
High Holy Days Babysitting
For babysitting on Rosh Hashanah, preregister at wct.org/rhbabysitting, and for Yom Kippur, wct.org/ykbabysitting.
Parking for the High Holy Days
We know parking is at a premium when large numbers come to temple. So please carpool if you can. If you do drive, park at St. Joe’s (in the designated spots). You may also park on Don Lane, Biltom Rd, and Drake Rd, but not Whitehouse Rd. Remember to park only on the side designated by Police Department signs and observe the No Parking signs. Greenburgh Police patrol these streets, and will ticket (or even tow) cars not parked properly. There will be handicapped parking spaces close to the tent for legitimate state or county handicapped parking license permits. In addition, the entire temple parking lot will be reserved for families that require parking in close proximity to the temple such as seniors unable to navigate the hill from St. Joe’s. These spaces are
At 4:00 pm on Rosh Hashanah afternoon, we’ll gather by the stream at St. Joseph of Arimathea Church (just down the street at 2172 Saw Mill River Road ... plenty of parking in the church lot). After spending a few moments considering what hurtful parts of ourselves we’d like to “cast off” in the New Year ahead, we’ll scatter bread crumbs “into the depths of the sea.” Join us for our 4:00 walk from the temple to the stream (or meet us there), and our “casting off” as we observe Tashlikh. Special invitation: If you have a shofar, bring it. At Tashlikh, everyone is welcome to sound the calls.
Rosh Hashanah Service of Healing and Renewal Thu, Sep 25 at 5:00 p.m. After the big services of Rosh Hashanah, would you value a quiet hour that’s more reflective, more inward directed? If so, join us at 5:00 p.m. on Thu, Sep 25. The mood, the music, and the words will softly carry you into the second day of the New Year. Do you take care of a loved one? Would an hour of hope-filled prayer help to replenish your heart? We invite you to also join us for this service. With song and poems we will gently lift you up. Or perhaps you have been ill, contending with formidable physical or emotional challenges. Could you use a prayer of love and reassurance? Just need renewed endurance and confidence in the future? Let us take each other’s hands, each other’s hearts, and, for a little bit, add our strength to yours. This service is for anyone who needs a quiet, supportive place to access the hopeful, restorative tenor of the High Holy Days. It’s a uniquely meaningful opportunity both for those who are seeking wholeness as well as those who worry about and provide care for a loved one. We will spend an hour singing, learning, praying, and benefiting from
the support and concern of others around us.
High Holy Days Schedule 5775
High Holy Days Sermons Will Be Online
If you find one presentation or another particularly meaningful during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, or just want to read something through again, you can download it for yourself or to share with others. They will be available at wct.org/worship/highholydays.
Yom Kippur Food Van
Each Yom Kippur we answer the call of Isaiah to share our bread with the hungry by collecting nonperishable food to donate to those less fortunate in our community. Help us fill the food truck on Oct 3 and 4. Check the Social Action website at wct.org/social-action/projects for a list of requested food. Check expiration dates. Contact Sandi LiebGeiger at sandi.LG@gmail.com with times you’re available to help.
Sat, Oct 4 Morning Service ... 10:00 a.m. Discussion ... 12:30 p.m. Family Service (parents & school-age children) ... 1:45-3:00 p.m. Young Family Service (parents & pre-school-age children) ... 2:15-3:00 p.m. Afternoon Learning ... 2:15 p.m. Yizkor ... 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Service ... 4:30 p.m. Neilah ... 5:30 p.m. Congregational Break Fast ... 6:30 p.m
Sukkot Evening
Ushering for High Holy Days Is Open to All!
Ever wondered how to volunteer to help out in the Tent during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? It’s easy, and we could really use your help (teens included). Just visit goo.gl/bHxtvu to sign-up online. Lend a hand at either congregational services or family services—your pick! We also need 15-20 minutes of help after Neilah (the closing service on Yom Kippur) to put away books and papers for next year. Questions, please contact Steve Zizmor at ziz1234@aol.com.
Yom Kippur Day
Wed, Oct 8 Interactive Family Learning and Sukkah Decorating ... 4:30 p.m. Kabbalat Sukkot Service ... 5:15 p.m. Sukkot Barbecue ... 6:00 pm
Sukkot Day Selihot Sat, Sep 20 Service ... 10:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Evening Wed, Sep 24 Evening Service ... 8:00 p.m. Teen Service (Grades 8-12) ... 8:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Thu, Sep 25 Morning Service ... 10:00 a.m. Family Service (parents & school-age children)... 2:30-3:45 p.m. Young Family Service (parents & pre-school-age children) ... 3:00-3:45 p.m. Tashlikh ... 4:00 p.m. Service of Healing and Renewal ... 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Thu, Oct 9 Sukkot Learning with Rabbi Mara ... 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Simkhat Torah Evening Wed, Oct 15 Cong’l Simkhat Torah Celebration ... 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Simkhat Torah Day Thu, Oct 16 Yizkor ... 9:00 a.m. Consecration Service ... 10:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Yom Kippur
See the schedule to the right for dates and times. See the October issue of Makom for details.
Sukkot and Simkhat Torah
See the schedule to the right for dates and times. See the October issue of Makom for details.
Fri, Sep 26 Morning Service ... 10:00 a.m.
Shabbat Shuvah Fri, Sep 26 Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 p.m.
Kol Nidre Fri, Oct 3 Evening Service ... 8:00 p.m. Teen Service (Grades 8-12) ... 8:00 p.m.
www.wct.org
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from the
Rabbi
Breaking Bread in the New Year Our choices for Rosh Hashanah meaning
W
e eat round challahs on Rosh Hashanah, right? They symbolize the circle of life and the cycle of the year. What has happened before will happen again. Our challenge is to meet both new and old with gratitude and with wisdom. Except challahs aren’t really round. They’re spirals. So why change the challah on Rosh Hashanah from braids to a spiral? First, why braided challah? Shabbat represents our communal hope for understanding and peace. The braided strands form a whole from many. Shabbat shalom is our wish for a Sabbath of shleimut, of wholeness (of harmonious coexistence and peace). Also, braiding is a shape that doesn’t seem to appear in nature except for some river formations. Human beings make braids. On Shabbat, we refrain from making things and use our creative abilities only to honor God. Thus, braided challah. And the spiral? The Hebrew word for “year” is shanah, from the same word as Mishna, which means “repetition.” The years come and go; life too. The round challah symbolizes this. But shanah also means “change.” We choose to stay put or move on. A round challah goes nowhere new; a spiral is always headed somewhere different. For us, a healthy prescription in the New Year would be some combination of moving forward and staying where we are. So l’shana tova ... may 5775 be a year of shana, of constancy and of transformation for us all.
from the
Cantor
Happy to Be Here
A
s summer fades into history and evenings become cool, I feel the usual cantor’s knot in the stomach. In a blink, days that were lazy become energetic and tightly planned. What will the year to come look like? I’ll bet I’m not the only one with such nervous thoughts. We hope to do well, and that the world won’t throw us any beanballs Personally, I will take especial joy in my return to my life as your cantor. Anything I do will feel like kind of a personal achievement, since it will have been a long road to actively contribute and participate in the world. A few months ago I could not get out of bed. I will never doubt the existence of miracles, having seen them every day in my own life and the lives around me. Whether teaching your children, leading Woodlands in prayer, learning Torah, or just shooting the breeze, I think I will be simply elated. The vaudeville comic said, “Glad to be here. In fact I’m glad to be anywhere.” That goes for me in spades. I will also add the thoughts of the psalmist. “I was in a tight place when I called out to God, who answered me from lofty heights.”
Meet Jason Fenster
New Rabbinic Intern Starts This Fall Since 1976, Woodlands has hosted 14 HUC rabbinical students as interns. They have taught us and our children, led services, and participated in social justice activities. Fully embraced by this community, each intern has fallen in love with Woodlands and wished they could stay forever (only two have managed that feat ... do you know who?). Now, we’re getting ready to welcome intern #15. His name is Jason Fenster. He’ll be a third-year student at HUC which means, if we get him to fall in love with us, he could be around for one, two, or even three years! Born and raised
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in Rochester, NY, (where Lisa Izes was his rabbi!), Jason’s a graduate of Brandeis University where he majored in politics, minoring in legal studies. Thus far, he’s worked for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Jewish Policy Institute, and T’ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. He has served congregations in Wayland, MA, Washington, DC, and New York City. He is a Tisch Rabbinical Fellow at HUC, a three-year intensive leadership-training program that trains exceptional rabbis who have the ability to lead and transform synagogues and other Jewish communal
from the of
Director
C o n g r e g at i o n a l
Learning
The Sesame Street/WCT Connection
T
his summer, the Young family made a sacred pilgrimage. No, we didn’t make it to Israel (although my desire to visit has never been stronger). Instead, we followed the heart of our 18-month-old to Sesame Place. It was indeed a sunny day, sweeping the clouds away. I’m not so sure we were on our way to where the air is sweet, but hey, it was at least filled with the smell of funnel cake and chlorine. And Noah was so happy…ecstatic even… to be in the (familiar-feeling) land of Elmo. It was not an inexpensive day, that’s for sure, but the memories we made and the smile on Noah’s face made it worth it. Sesame Workshop’s mission is to “use the educational power of media to help children everywhere reach their highest potential.” WCT, evidently, is after a similar goal. Using the educational power of Jewish texts and tradition, and meeting in a creative, nurturing environment, we hope to enhance the lives of every member (young, old, and in between). Like Sesame Place, it’s not cheap, but the payoff is tremendous. There are people to stand by you in life’s difficult moments and celebrate with you in the triumphant ones. There are ritual moments that speak to your heart and learning that guides difficult decisions, helping you develop into the person you want to be. Sign me up…or rather…can you tell me how to get to WCT?
From
the
Youth Director
Ross’s Bucket List
S
halom, Woodlands! As the sound of the shofar blasts in the New Year, we know it’s another September at Woodlands. And wow, it’s scary to say, it’s my last September at Woodlands before I take the next steps in my career as an experiential educator. There is so much to accomplish this year, so I thought we could create a bucket list together to ensure we have a great year and go out with a bang! I’m calling it the youth director’s fun-tastik, crazy, super, Gooooood Shabbbbboooooos, have a blast, bucket list! • Create a unique High Holy Day Teen Service that cares for our teens’ spiritual development. • Kickstart “Gevurah,” our new vision for gender-based programing for grades 7 and up. • Make sure every teen in our community has meaningful contact with the temple in some way (sounds like a tall order, but by keeping track of every relationship we build, I believe we can achieve this). • Bring our kids closer to the great outdoors by making use of our incredible Woodlands grounds. • Officially archive and document our current youth program to ensure an easy transition between directors. • Prank Rabbi Mara and Rabbi Billy (and finally annex Rabbi Billy’s office, as I’ve been planning all along). There’s more, but there’s only so much space. Think I am missing something? Let me know…really! I look forward to a spectacular New Year with all of you, growing our youth experience to reach more and more of our teens. See ya in the Big Tent!
institutions. Also, just this past summer, he participated in a clinical pastoral education internship at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. You can meet Jason in the Tent during the High Holy Days. For now, he’s written a few words of greeting that we’ve printed here. But don’t wait too long to come meet the real thing! ••••••••• Shalom! My name is Jason Fenster, and I am so excited to be starting as the rabbinic intern at Woodlands Community Temple. My Jewish roots come from my amazing rabbis and community at Temple Sinai in Rochester, NY. In my undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, I was inspired by my learning in and out of the classroom. After graduating
with a degree in Politics, I served as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center in Washington, DC. There I combined my passions for Judaism and social justice before beginning my rabbinic journey. I currently live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with my amazing wife, Gavi, an early childhood special educator. I have long admired Woodlands for its innovation and caring, supportive atmosphere. I still cannot believe that I am blessed enough to join your community and serve as rabbinic intern. I am looking forward to the chance to learn, grow, and celebrate with each of you. Thank you for the opportunity. I cannot wait to get started! Jason Fenster WCT Rabbinic Intern 2014-15
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From Allie Klein
From
Our Summer Rabbinic Intern
Learn More About Us
We were so very pleased to welcome Allie Klein as this summer’s rabbinic resident. Allie was with us here at Woodlands throughout June and July, “shadowing” our rabbis in order to learn and experience what it is that rabbis do (perhaps you wonder about that too?). She participated in Shabbat worship, sat in on committee meetings, assisted with home and hospital visits as well as life-cycle events, and just got to know our family. Oh, and she joined Rabbi Billy for a week blowing things up at the new URJ Science and Technology Academy in Massachusetts. We were delighted to welcome Allie (and her then-fiancé Adam) to our cozy little temple. She married the guy in August, so we wish Allie a warm mazal tov! Here’s a note from Allie for all of you:
the
President
G
reetings! I am looking forward to seeing everyone under the Tent as we usher in 5775 at the end of September. As I am sure you have come to expect, we have so much going on at WCT before then. Fri, Sep 5 is our Taste of Woodlands Mishpakha service. Join us for dinner beforehand, and remember to sign up online at www.wct.org. This evening is also aimed at introducing prospective members to WCT, so if you have some friends who are thinking about joining, please bring them along. On Sun, Sep 7 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., we are very excited about “What’s Cooking at Woodlands.” This is our first committee fair, which works like a college fair—you walk from table to table to learn more about Woodlands! This is your chance to talk firsthand with all of our committees and temple leadership, get questions answered, provide us with some feedback, find out how you can take advantage of everything WCT has to offer, and, of course, have something to eat! I am really proud of what we’ve accomplished this past year. Your Board of Trustees is continually evaluating what we can do to make WCT better, not only in the coming months, but in the years ahead. We have listened to your suggestions and are working on improving things, from Friday night services to our facilities, for example, installing a hearing loop system in response to your needs. Working together and listening to each other is what makes Woodlands the community that it is! On behalf of my family, Karen, Sammi, Josh, and myself, we wish you much success and sweetness in the New Year ahead.
••••••• To the Wonderful WCT Community, I cannot thank you enough for an amazing seven weeks as your summer intern. It was incredible to be welcomed so warmly in such a short period of time. As soon as I arrived, I felt like I was home. I have never experienced a congregation with such strong lay leaders and such a clear sense of self. The “Woodlands Way” was palpable from the moment I entered the building. As I look toward my ordination in May 2015, I spend a lot of time imagining what kind of congregation I would hope to serve in the future. The time I spent learning from you at WCT has shaped that vision tremendously. One year from now, if I find myself in a community that is even close to what you each have created at Woodlands, I will think of myself as very, very lucky. Thank you for sharing yourselves, your families, and your wonderful community with me. Wishing you the sweetest of New Years, Allie
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Gerry Honors Gerry with Gift for Lifelong Learning Gerald and Geraldine Weinberger joined Woodlands in 2001, making regular appearances at most of our adult learning experiences. Everyone knew them as “Gerry and Gerry,” but this past January, we lost the pretty one. When Gerry died, her husband wanted to do something to honor her memory and the 62 beautiful years of marriage they had shared. Gerry presented Rabbi Billy with a check in the amount of $25,000 donated in his wife’s memory. At its May 2014 meeting, our Board of Trustees unanimously voted to rename our Lifelong Learning Fund
the Geraldine and Gerald Weinberger Lifelong Learning Fund, to honor Gerry’s memory by furthering the temple activities that she and her husband loved most. The Geraldine and Gerald Weinberger Lifelong Learning Fund will be dedicated to creating an ever-growing love of Jewish learning and living through ongoing educational exploration for all members of our congregation. We are so grateful that Gerry chose to remember the precious gift of love his wife gave to him by enriching Jewish life here at Woodlands for us all. It is a magnificent tribute to the love they shared, and we are incredibly honored that Gerry has chosen to remember “other Gerry” in this generous and enduring way.
WCT Purchases New Makhzorim for High Holy Days 5776 (Fall 2015)
We are thrilled to report that on the recommendation of the Ritual Committee, your Board of Trustees voted unanimously in April to purchase 1000 copies of the Reform movement’s new High Holy Days makhzor (prayerbook), Mishkan HaNefesh. We will begin using it one year from now. At this year’s services, we will continue to use Gates of Repentance. Why a new makhzor? There was vigorous discussion about this, including a pilot service in March to get a firsthand look at the proposed prayerbook. Here are some of the reasons we are replacing our older makhzorim: • Gates of Repentance was published in 1978. Innovative for its time, it included Hebrew-to-English transliteration, new translations, inspiring readings, and gendersensitive language for God. We’ve been using Gates of Repentance for nearly 30 years. Mishkan HaNefesh will bring 21st-century approaches to deepening the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. • Transliteration is now provided for every prayer and will broaden the inclusiveness of our services for those
who do not yet read Hebrew. • New translations for the Hebrew will highlight the special themes and mood of the High Holy Days. • Informative footnotes, as well as an index in the margin of each page that indicates where we are in the service progression, will strengthen our prayerbook literacy. • Using the new, movement-wide makhzor will make a powerful statement about our love for Jewish life, that it endears but does not anchor us to our past. As time moves forward, so do we. This is an important message as well for those who visit us during the High Holy Days looking for a synagogue that they can call their spiritual home. If you previously purchased bookplates for Gates of Repentance, you may instruct us to simply transfer those bookplates into the new books. Or you may support the temple’s purchasing of Mishkan HaNefesh by ordering new bookplates. Or both. Just let us know. A new prayerbook is both exciting and challenging. Much will remain familiar. And much will be new—to prod us and inspire us (which is what should happen during the High Holy Days). We’ll have lots of adjustments to make, but we’ll make them together and, in doing so, commingle the fresh experiences of a new era with the time-tested and wellloved traditions of our past. After all, this is what Woodlands Community Temple has always been about.
“DEREKH” Leadership— You’re Invited DEREKH, a Hebrew word meaning “path”, is WCT’s leadership development program. From September through April, a number of congregants will join Dale Glasser, a leadership specialist and temple member, as well as Rabbi Billy and temple president Stu Berlowitz on a journey into the workings of temple leadership. They will meet monthly to learn the nuts and bolts about how synagogues work and what is needed from its volunteer leadership. The
program will include presentations by members of our current leadership. If you received an invitation to join DEREKH, please RSVP as soon as possible. If you did not receive an invitation and would like to participate, please contact Rabbi Billy (rabbi@wct. org) or Stu (president@wct.org). We’d be honored to have you with us. And please join us on Fri, Sep 19 at 8:00 p.m., as we welcome this year’s DEREKH participants into the program.
New Projectors To Be Mounted in Sanctuary
Through a number of generous gifts, two new high-power LCD projectors will be purchased and permanently mounted from the ceiling in our sanctuary. These projectors will permit us to use multimedia presentations more often in our synagogue’s life without requiring from our caretaker German Franco the colossal number of set-up hours he’s always had to provide. With these new projectors, we’ll be able to plug a computer into a wall outlet and away we go! When do these projectors get used? Most of the time, in our religious school. Our kids pray with screens, learn with screens, and engage in creative activity with screens. Our clergy use the projectors for Shabbat and holiday worship. And we sometimes show movies with the projectors, such as when Mayim, the Jewish Film Series, comes to Woodlands this October. Multimedia projectors are enriching more and more areas of Jewish life. We, our children, and our grandchildren are all beneficiaries. Our thanks to the Jewish Center of Williamsbridge which, before it closed its doors forever, donated a Torah scroll and made a financial gift to our temple, in the hopes that their legacy might continue a bit through us. Thanks also to the B’nai Mitzvah, Confirmation, and Graduation classes, some of whose gift money helped to underwrite the balance of this project.
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September Happenings Just Israel Seeing Eye to Eye Even with the threat of war looming, on July 2, a team of Israeli ophthalmologists and support staff set out on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they performed 102 complex sight-saving eye surgeries at the public hospital in Kinshasa and brought along half a ton of medical supplies and medications. When Operation Protective Edge began six days later, the team decided not to cut short their stay, but to remain until July 11 as planned to be able to treat everyone needing their expertise. Eye From Zion medical manager, Dr. Modi Naftali, said that it was a difficult decision to stay; founder Nati Marcus said, “We had a mission to complete.” Founded in 2007, Eye from Zion provides free eye surgeries in such places as Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Micronesia, Myanmar, and Ethiopia and trains local medical personnel on ophthalmological procedures. For more info: www.eyefromzion.com.
Israel Needs Reform Jewish Support Please Check-off “ARZA” on Your Membership Statement With your membership statement, you have an opportunity to add $50 for membership in ARZA. This is North American Reform Judaism’s voice in the Promised Land. ARZA supports and nurtures our relationship with Israel. It is the voice of Progressive Judaism (the name for Reform Judaism outside of North America), working to develop strong, liberal Jewish communities in cities, towns, and summer camps, as well as the training of rabbis, cantors and educators to serve them. And it pursues Jewish ideals of justice and equality through advocacy, education, policy-making, and the media. In short, ARZA takes the concern you and I share for Israel at this very difficult juncture in history, and translates it into constructive and substantive action.
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In addition to Selihot and Rosh Hashanah (for a schedule of services and activities, see page 5; for details see page 4), here’s a preview of some of what’s coming up in September:
A Taste of Woodlands: Join (and Bring) Prospective Members for Dinner and Mishpakha Shabbat Fri, Sep 5 at 6:00 p.m. Twice a year, Woodlands hosts prospective members with hors d’oeuvres, a Shabbat service, and a chance to meet our clergy, professionals, and members. On Sep 5, we’ll take this a step further by serving dinner prior to our 7:00 p.m. Mishpakha Shabbat service. Consider bringing a friend or neighbor who might be interested in learning more about Woodlands. Dinner is served at 6:00, with a service at 7:00. Reservations for dinner are a must. Please let Membership chairs Lee Brickman and Lisa Linn (membership@ wct.org) know who you’re bringing.
What’s Cooking at Woodlands Sun, Sep 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come browse our “Activities Fair” at 10 and stay for brunch at 11:00 a.m. and our “opening ceremony” at 11:30. Reconnect with your temple friends and make new ones. See how you can get involved with activities at WCT. • Sample treats featured in our new community cookbook and pick up your copy • Browse our fabulous Judaica shop • Get your Woodlands gear • Learn how you can get involved in our vibrant, creative community. This is the first day of Religious school. K-3rd grade (parents and kids) join us at 10 a.m. to meet your teachers and stay for brunch and browsing. Grades 4-6 (parents and kids), join us at 11 a.m. for brunch then stay to meet your teachers.
Bike with Woodlands Sun, Sept 14 at 10 a.m. Westchester County Parks sponsors Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River in
the fall: from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the parkway is shut down to autos and is open for cycling, rollerblading, running. and walking. We’re putting together a group from Woodlands. We’ll break up into two or three smaller groups, depending on how fast and how far everyone wants to go. Helmets are required, water bottles are a good idea, and be prepared for a fun morning on the road. Anyone interested can reach Dave Bertan at dbertan@yahoo. com. All ages and bike-riding abilities are welcome.
Shalom Storytime Once a month 9/15, 10/13, 11/24. 12/15, 1/12, 2/23, 3/16, 4/20, 5/18 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 12-24 mos, with caregiver; 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. 2-5 years, with caregiver Join us once a month for this FREE halfhour of singing, reading, and making friends. Each month we’ll use a Jewish holiday as its theme. No need to be a temple member or to RSVP, just come be a part of the fun.
Daytime Diversions Three Wednesdays a month, at 10 a.m. The Movie: Sep 3—The Gods Must Be Crazy. Set in the Kalahari Desert, a Bushman encounters technology for the first time—in the form of a Coke bottle. He takes it back to his people, who devise many uses for the object. When the people fight over the bottle, he decides to return it to the gods, from where he believes it came. The Speaker: Sep 10—Joyce Saltman, “the Guru of Laughter” opens our fifth year with “A Look at Jewish Humor.” Joyce has been studying the topic since her birth in Brooklyn in 1943. The Discussion: Sep 17—The Current Events Group meets to discuss and try to solve the world’s problems. Our fearless leader, Bob Steinhardt supplies the agenda, but is open to other topics (rfs323@gmail.com).
October and Beyond In addition to Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simkhat Torah (for a schedule of services and activities, see page 5; for details see October Makom), here’s a preview of some of what’s coming up in the months ahead:
Field Trip to Philadelphia’s National Museum of American Jewish History
Hopping Through Time at the Met
Rabbi Mara Young Sun, Oct 12
Get your good walking shoes on and travel with us through 6,000 years of history in just a couple hours. We’ll look at art as a reflection of time, place, and history, exploring the similarities and connections between images. Explore how the influence of their time and heritage, particularly Jewish, is reflected in these artists’ work.
Calling Jews of all ages: Hop on the bus and spend the day in Philadelphia with Rabbi Mara. Immerse yourself in American Jewish history with a trip to two extraordinary places: Congregation Mikveh Israel (the oldest synagogue in the U.S.) and the National Museum of American Jewish History. The day and cost ($40 for WCT members; $50 for non-members) includes: bus, admission, tours, and lunch. This program is made possible through the support of the Geraldine and Gerald Weinberger Lifelong Learning Fund. To sign up: michele@wct.org; 592-1790.
Mayim Jewish Film Series 3 Wednesdays, starting Oct 22, 7:30 p.m One film per evening is shown followed by a rabbi-led discussion. Dessert and coffee included. Fee: $25 for series/ $10 for individual films. Contact Lois Green at 366-7898, Ext. 104 or lgreen@ jcconthehudson.org for more information and pre-registration. • Oct 22: Beautiful Tree, Severed Roots. A look at how Jewish refugees from Europe settled in Kenya, identifying with Africa, Africans, and other white settlers. Facilitated by Rabbi Billy. • Oct 29: Kisses for the Children. The lives of five Jewish children hidden by Christian families during the German occupation of Greece, from childhood to the present day. Facilitated by Greenburgh Hebrew Center’s Rabbi Barry Kenter. • Nov 5: For a Woman, directed by Diane Kurys. A woman’s discovery of old photos and letters give her new insights into her parents (who had met in concentration camps) as well as information about a mysterious uncle whom no one talks about. Facilitated by Rabbi Mara.
Laura Stevens Sun, Oct 26
The Times They Were A’Changin’ On Jun 1, Woodlands gathered to honor our founding families. Here are some photos from that memorable event.
One-Day University: God Perspectives Sun, Nov 2 An Orthodox rabbi (Ari Sytner, Yeshiva University), a Reform rabbi (Billy Dreskin), a Renewal rabbi (Jill Hammer, Kohenet Jewish Priestess Institute), and a secular philosopher (Bob Berson, Ethical Society of Northern Westchester) walk into, well, not a bar, but WCT for a panel discussion about their ideas of God, followed by a wide selection of mini-courses. This One-Day University is a great opportunity to develop your own spiritual and intellectual path. A second One-Day University, on ethics, will be held on Apr 19—save the date!
The Book Fair Returns Nov 14 - 24 In plenty of time for the winter holidays, it’s our annual Book Fair—an event the whole Woodlands community looks forward to year after year. Come and support local authors and find great books with Jewish themes as well as well as other terrific books to give as gifts or to indulge in for your own reading pleasure. There will be something there for every reader. A portion of the proceeds from the Book Fair will go to support our religious school.
Save the Date! Sat, Mar 7, 2015 6th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert with Billy Jonas and The Levins
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C o m m i t t e e r e P o rt s
Social Action Breakfast Run sun, sep 28 What’s a Breakfast Run? Is it for my family and me? How do I participate? Welcome back!! the Judaica shop at Woodlands is gearing up to help you celebrate another year full of simkhas and milestone moments. Our kick-off starts with our annual september surprise sale beginning sep 7 with 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25% off all in-stock merchandise….just in time for high holy Days gift-giving. thinking of giving our new cookbook as a holiday hostess gift? Couple it with handmade Jillery serving Shana Tova Apple Plate,$40 pieces, a Yair Emanuel hand-painted challah cover, or a Karen Rossi cookbook stand for a memorable gift. the Judaica shop has wondrous things for every occasion including honoring your love of Judaism. Add a gary Rosenthal candleholder to your shabbat table, a Kathryn Nidy or Emily Rosenfeld wall hanging to a room and bring joy and beauty to your home.
If this outreach speaks to you, join us on the Woodlands Breakfast Run on Sun, Sep 28. We meet at Woodlands at 6:45 a.m. to load cars with breakfast food, supplied by our volunteers, clothing, and toiletry items. We need drivers and people to carpool together. Once in the city we’ll set up in one location to serve breakfast and hand out supplies. We usually return by
Social Action Meeting Mon, sep 15 at 8:10 p.m. Come to the first Social Action meeting of the year to find out how you and your family can help plan and participate in Woodlands’ social justice activities www.wct.org/social-action/social-actioncalendar.
Mitzvah Fair sun, Nov 9 If you’re involved in a community organization that you’d like to represent or would like to volunteer to help, email Julie Stein at SocialAction@wct.org
Adult Education
Mixed Media Wall Art, $54
the Judaica shop is open, by request, every day the temple office is staffed. Evening and weekend hours are noted in the weekly temple email. Gary Rosenthal Questions? Candlesticks, $50 suggestions? Want to volunteer? Email us at: judaicashop@ wct.org
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The Woodlands Breakfast Run is part of Midnight Run, a volunteer organization based in Dobbs Ferry whose goal is to create a bond between housed and homeless people. Volunteers learn to see the homeless as real people, and homeless men and women learn that many mainstream adults and teenagers have concerns that go beyond their own lives and families. .
10:30 am. Families are welcome, but please email Caryn Donocoff and Jane Wachs about including any middle school and older teens so they can give you details about the run. Sign up: MidnightRunBreakfasts@wct.org.
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This year, while much adult ed programming will be familiar, there are a number of exciting new offerings to look forward to. There’s the twopart One-Day University (Nov 2 and Apr 19), exploring God Perspectives (Nov) and Ethics (Apr). Rabbi Billy returns with part two of last year’s fascinating and challenging iEngage Israel course (starting Nov 12). Rabbi Mara leads a trip to Philadelphia (Oct 12) and Laura Stevens takes us to New York’s Metropolitan Museum (Oct 26). The rabbis offer a three-part “Taste of Judaism” (starts Oct 16, and repeats starting Feb 26). Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz explores the Midrash (starting Oct 27) and Rabbi Mara explores the prayerbook (starting Oct 19). Building Jewish Lives returns with a session for families with young children (Mar 28). And there’s more, much more. For additional details, check out page 11 of this issue of Makom, the temple website, and the new adult ed brochure.
Ongoing Programming: Woodlands Singers Cantor Jonathan Gordon Wednesdays at 8:15 p.m.
Hebrew thursdays, 8:00 p.m. beginning sep 11
Jewish Studies Harriet Levine thursdays, 10:00 a.m. beginning Oct 2
Book Club tue, Oct 21 at 7:30 p.m. (out of building) Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos, the story of two women in self-imposed exile whose lives are transformed when their paths intersect.
Daytime Talmud Rabbi Billy Dreskin thursdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. beginning Oct 23
S’forim Forum Cantor Jonathan Gordon sat, Oct 25, 4:30 p.m.
The Simkha Page
Youth Engagement
B’nai Mitzvah Sabrina Fein
Isabelle Ripin
September 6 Torah Portion Key Taytzay Hebrew Name Merav
September 13 Torah Portion Kee Tavo Hebrew Name Gavriella Riva
September 20 Torah Portion Nitzavim Hebrew Name Mordekhai Yosef
Also, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Sep 14 bike ride (details on page 10), sponsored by YFEC.
Mazal Tov Blum on the engagement of their son Michael Blum to Julie Ward.
Mazal Tov to Peter and Marianne Ripin, as their daughter, Isabelle, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah.
Mazal Tov to Harriet Levine on the birth of a great-granddaughter, Kaylin Adele Taft, daughter of Damian Bifano and Tyler Taft.
Mazal Tov to Ariana Kaminskas, as her son, Matthew, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.
Mazal Tov to Barbara and Bill Abram on the engagement of their daughter, Charlotte Abram to Johnny Steverson.
Mazal Tov to Susie and Ed Brubaker on the engagement of their daughter Melanie Brubaker to Robert Danzi, Jr.
Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ira Berkowitz on the birth of a grandson, Alex Jacob Berkowitz, son of Danny and Jessica Berkowitz.
Mazal Tov to Kenneth and Elizabeth
YFEC is looking forward to a great year ahead full of engaging youth and family programming, and welcomes new committee members (adults and teens) to help support its missions. Stop by the YFEC booth on Sun, Sep 7 during What’s Cooking at Woodlands to meet the committee chairs and find out how you can be a part of the team to help put together events this year for our temple families and teens.
Matthew Kaminskas
Mazal Tov to Jason Fein and Jennifer Altman Fein, as their daughter, Sabrina, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah.
The Youth and Family Engagement Committee welcomes everyone back after what we hope was a fun and exciting summer.
Woodlands Receives Award from Eisner/Crane Lake Camps For the fifth consecutive year, Woodlands has received an award from Eisner and Crane Lake camps for sending a large proportion of our youth to these camps. This year, including the newly created 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy and NFTY in Israel, WCT sent 27 students to URJ summer programs, or more than 10% of the religious school population. We are very proud to receive this recognition of our support for Reform Jewish summer camps. Jewish summer camp is a crucial part of building children’s Jewish identity, self-esteem, and confidence. By sending our kids to these camps, we are helping them shape the future of Reform Judaism, and molding the future leaders of our movement. As an Eisner/Crane Lake Camp board member and long-term Eisner parent, I feel strongly about the importance of camp to the Jewish community. I know that camp has been a strong positive force in my family. For more information about Eisner, Crane Lake, or 6 Points, please contact me at oncodock@aol.com or 914-523-2712, or visit urjcamps.org online. —Nancy Fishman
Keep an eye out for more youth programming news and information this month and every month in the weekly temple email and online. Upcoming dates to remember: Academy barbecue on Mon night, Sep 8 Teens High Holy Days Services on Rosh Hashana Eve and Kol Nidre (see details on pages 4 and 5). College connections Please make sure to update YFEC with contact information for college students so that we can reach out to them with greetings and holiday surprises through the year. Email youth@wct.org to send us your mailing address and school email for our records.
Committee Meetings Finance Mon, Sep 15 - 8:10 p.m. Social Action Mon, Sep 15 - 8:10 p.m. School Board Mon, Sep 15 - 8:10 p.m. Adult Ed Sun, Sep 21 - 9:00 a.m. Committee Chairs Sun, Sep 21 - 11:30 a.m. Board of Trustees Mon, Sep 22- 8:10 p.m.
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What’s Cooking Tonight? New Woodlands Cookbook Rolls Off the Press Looking for the perfect High Holy Days gift? Consider the new Woodlands cookbook—a brand new approach to Jewish cooking that, while supplementing our two previous cookbooks, is definitely not your mom’s old Sisterhood cookbook. A bargain at $25, it’s chock full of recipes that celebrate the varied food choices of our very inclusive diverse community. Place your order at wct.org/order-cookbooks. And whet your appetite with Jeanne Bodin’s recipe for Honey-Orange Chicken: a Rosh Hashanah delight. 2 eggs 2 Tbs water 1 cup breadcrumbs or matzah meal 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 2 3 1/2-lb fryers, in 1/8ths 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup honey 1 cup hot water
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 In memory of Howard Taubman, nephew—Linda Lucks. In memory of Howard Taubman, nephew—Ralph Lawrence. In honor of Jamie Kramer becoming a Bat Mitzvah— Fredda and Rick Kramer. In memory of Loretta Werner—Jean Taub. In memory of Max Leicht—Jackie and Nelson Leicht. In memory of Anna Leicht—Jackie and Nelson Leicht. In memory of Ruth Polikoff—Phyllis Opochinsky, Laurie and Jillian Wishing good health to Alexander Werden—Lois Ratafia Diamond. In honor of Rabbi Billy and in memory of Melvin Fishman—Chuck and NancyFishman. In celebration of the marriage of Katie Dreskin to Mark Boonshoft—Jackie and Nelson Leicht. In honor of Abbey Ratafia’s, graduation from High School, granddaughter—Lois Ratafia Diamond. In honor of Nina Rosenberg becoming a Bat Mitzvah—Lois Ratafia Diamond. In honor of Rabbi Billy and Cantor Ellen Dreskin, on the marriage of Katie to Mark Boonshoft—Lois Ratafia Diamond. In memory of Ellen Farber, mother—Linda Einfrank In memory of Murray Endick—Carol and Bob Kronenberger. In honor of Katie’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft— Sarah and Sy Donner. In honor of Katie’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft— Linda Lucks and Family In honor of Katie’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft— Meryl Lewis. In honor of Katie’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft— Ruth Rugoff and Joe and Annie Potischman. In honor of Katie’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft— Terry Frank and Jacob Frank. In memory of Murray Endick, father of Carol Kronenberger—Beatrice Endick. Thank you Rabbi Billy and in honor of the marriage of Kim Roth to Jeff Stein—Fran and Alex Roth
1 cup orange juice 2 Tbs grated fresh ginger or 3/4 tsp ground ginger, to taste • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. • Beat eggs with 2 tsps water. • In another bowl, mix bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Dip chicken in egg mixture and then in breadcrumbs. • Heat oil in a heavy skillet and brown chicken on all sides. • Combine hot water with honey and orange juice. • Place chicken in a casserole and cover with honey mixture. Add ginger. Cover and simmer in oven for 45 minutes, basting occasionally.
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Rabbi Mara’s Mitzvah Fund In memory of Dora Cooke—Jackie and Nelson Leicht.
Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Wishing Cantor Jonathan a Refuah Sheleimah— Roberta and Lloyd Roos. Best wishes to Cantor Jonathan for a full and speedy recovery—Todd Gordon and Susan Feder.
Education Enrichment Fund In memory of Allen Hart, father of Adam Hart—The Fligel Family. In honor of the marriage of Evan Altneu to Dana Albert—Roberta, Roger and Allison Wetherbee.
Chai Fund Names of those who donated to Dr. Melvin Fishman, father of Chuck Fishman: Stu and Karen Berlowitz, Jeanne and Murray Bodin, Gloria and Bill Falk, Joan and Andy Farber, The Fligel
Family, Dale, Elly, Maya and Zachary Glasser, Todd Gordon and Susan Feder, Yvette and Larry Gralla, David Griff and Roni Beth Tower, Elka and Jeff Klarsfeld, Jackie and Nelson Leicht, Paul Mayo and Charlotte Malasky, Mickey Milbauer, Bonnie and Alan Mitelman, Mark and Michele Montague, Don and June Moskovitz, Andrea Olstein and Michael Winkleman, Phyllis Opochinsky, Harold Potischman, Jonathan Richter and Lisa Sacks, Ruth Rugoff, Jack and Sue Safirstein, Marjory and Mark Selig, Ira and Fern Stein, Scott and Julie Stein, Roberta, Roger and Allison Wetherbee. Names of those who donated in memor of Sandra Hirsch, sister of David Fligel: Stu and Karen Berlowitz, Gloria and Bill Falk, Nancy and Chuck Fishman, Todd Gordon and Susan Feder, Mark and Michele Montague, Andrea Olstein and Michael Winkleman, Jack and Sue Safirstein, Linda and Mark Solomon, Scott and Julie Stein. Names of those who donated in memory of Frances Selikowitz, mother of Andrea Olstein: The Brickman Family, Stu and Karen Berlowitz, Gloria and Bill Falk, Carole Erger-Fass, Nancy and Chuck Fishman, The Fligel Family, Sandi Lieb-Geiger, Dale, Elly, Maya and Zachary Glasser, Yvette and Larry Gralla, David Griff and Roni Beth Tower, Robert Motzkin, Jonathan Richter and Lisa Sacks, Roberta and Lloyd Roos, Mark and Marjory Selig, Scott and Julie Stein. Names of those who donated in memory of Loretta Werner,mother of Jay Werner: Stu and Karen Berlowitz, Gloria and Bill Falk, Nancy and Chuck Fishman, The Fligel Family, Mickey Milbauer, Mark and Michele Montague. In memory of Al Neufeld—Nanci and Lee Brickman. In honor of Duncan Pell becoming a Bar Mitzvah— Larry and Yvette Gralla. In honor of our wonderful teacher, Harriet Levine— Jewish Studies Class. In honor of Susan Korsten—Leslie Wexler. In appreciation of Karen Fox—Jill Garland and Andy Loose. In appreciation of Melanie Roher—Jill Garland and Andy Loose. In memory of Valery Morris—Roberta and Lloyd Roos. In memory of Valery Morris—Carla Glassman and Susan Brown. In memory of Irving Doynow, brother of Dave Doynow—Bob and Jane Steinhardt. In memory of Irving Doynow—Larry and Yvette Gralla. In memory of Irving Doynow—Beverly and Sam Borwick. In memory of Sylvia Schaffer—Sandy and Max Tuchman. In memory of Gerry Weingast—Bonnie and Alan Mitelman. In memory of Allen Hart, father of Adam Hart— Nancy and Chuck Fishman. Wishing Corey Friedlander a smooth recovery—The Mitelmans. Wishing Grace Lebowich a speedy recovery— Maxine Rosenberg. In honor of the marriage of Katie Dreskin to Mark Boonshaft—David Griff and Roni Beth Tower. In honor of the marriage of Katie Dreskin to Mark Boonshoft—Lee and Nanci Brickman.
Wishing Cantor Jonathan a speedy recovery—Lee and Nanci Brickman. In gratitude to Karen Berlowitiz, Dayle Fligel, Ethan Sipe and Rachel Chang, for leading a lovely and peaceful Shabbat Service—Gloria and Bill Falk. In memory of Morton Meltzer, father of Steven Meltzer—Dayle and David Fligel. In yahrzeit memory of Louis Halper—Philip and Lyn Halper. In memory of Morris Kingston—Michael and Marcia Kingston. In yahrzeit memory of Harry Farbman—Lois Ratafia Diamond.
Education and Youth Activities Fund In honor of Duncan Pell becoming a Bar Mitzvah— The Lebowich Family. In honor of Ashley Klein becoming a Bat Mitzvah— The Lebowich Family. In memory of Raymond Solomon—Caryn Solomon. In memory of Dr. Melvin Fishman—Lenore Nemeth. In memory of Sandra Hirsch—Harold Potischman.
Midnight Run Fund In honor of Ruth Greenhouse and Rose Richard— Marc Benathen.
Social Action Fund In honor of Julie Stein’s fantastic job as chairperson—Roberta and Lloyd Roos. In honor of Jamie Kramer becoming a Bat Mitzvah— Fredda and Rick Kramer. In memory of Frances Selikowitz—Lois Green. In memory of Sandra Hirsch—Lois Green. In memory of Loretta Werner—Lois Green. In memory of Dr. Melvin Fishman Lois Green.
Torah and Ritual Fund In memory of Dr. Melvin Fishman—David and Michelle Merer.
Scholar in Residence Fund In memory of Sandra Hirsch, sister of David Fligel— Yvette and Larry Gralla.
In memory of Loretta Werner—Scott and Julie Stein. In memory of Loretta Werner—Joan and Andy Farber.
Annual Fund In memory of Sandra Hirsch—Joan and Andy Farber. In memory of Loretta Werner—The Lebowitz Family. In memory of Dr. Melvin Fishman—The Lebowitz Family. In memory of Gigi Avitabile—Tina Maxwell.
Music Fund In memory of Ira Kleinman—Elsa Kleinman and Family. In honor of the marriage of Katie Dreskin to Mark Boonshoft—Bonnie and Bob George Thank you to Rabbi Lisa Izes for her kind words and service and in memory of Dan Kerness—Miriam Kerness
Library Fund In memory of Loretta Werner, mother of Jay Werner—Lois and Jay Izes. In memory of Dr. Melvin Fishman—Lois and Jay Izes. In memory of Frances Selikowitz—Lois and Jay Izes. In memory of Sandra Hirsch—Lois and Jay Izes. In memory of Valery Morris—Lois and Jay Izes. In honor of Katie Dreskin’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft—Lois and Jay Izes.
Rabbinic Intern Fund In honor of Katie Dreskin’s marriage to Mark Boonshoft—Fred Greene.
Domestic Abuse Task Force In memory of Cynthia Landis—Regina and Ed Kelbon.
High Holy Days Bookplate In memory of David N. Schlesinger—Debbie, Cliff, Brian and Jason Schoen. In memory of Boris Abraham Belmont—Adriane and Joel Belmont.
Mitzvat Mississippi Fund In memory of Loretta Werner, mother of Jay Werner—Yvette and Larry Gralla.
To find out more about all the funds that are available for your support and for more information about how to donate to these funds, please visit www.wct.org/donate
Honor a Loved One
High Holy Days Bookplates Now Available It is a time-honored Jewish tradition to honor people we love by making tzedakah contributions on their behalf. Now, in addition to our regular funds, you and your family may purchase bookplates to dedicate individual copies of our High Holy Days makhzor. And your donation will help us purchase new prayerbooks as the need arises.
• Bookplates cost $36 for each makhzor, $25 for each Shabbat prayerbook, $54 for a Torah commentary. • One plate will be lovingly inscribed with your and your loved one’s name. • Each plate will be placed inside one synagogue copy of our High Holy Days prayerbook. • Order online at wct.org/bookplates.
The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of Allen Hart
father of Adam Hart
Milton Meltzer
father of Steven Meltzer
Steven Selig
uncle of Mark Selig
Rosalie Young
mother of Mark Young HaMakom y’nakhem otam… may God bring comfort to all who are in mourning. Zekher tzadik livrakha ... may their memory be for a blessing.
WCT’s Cemetery Plots In 2008 WCT purchased 69 gravesites at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, NY. This was the third parcel of gravesites purchased by Woodlands over the years. At this time we have only 28 unsold gravesites remaining. They are in groups of two, four, and six In addition we have six gravesites remaining in a previous section as well as one gravesite in the original section of graves purchased many years ago. The price per gravesite is $3,050. Gravesites can only be sold to temple members. If you have questions or are interested in purchasing any of these remaining gravesites, please contact one of the Cemetery Committee co-chairs: Bob Apter (693-2732) or Lois Green (949-2116), or write to cemetery@wct.org.
Scheduling Weddings or Funerals with Our Clergy The rabbis and cantor want very much to be with you during significant life-cycle moments. Please speak with them before setting any dates or times for weddings or funerals. Don't be disappointed to learn they're not available at the time you've already arranged, so bring them "into the loop" at the very beginning of your planning.
www.wct.org
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Support Our Advertisers Makom readers: It is very important that you let our advertisers know that you saw their ad in our newsletter. Otherwise they have no idea if their ad is delivering what they hope for—which is quite simply more business. Let’s salute this month’s roster of supporters of Woodlands Community Temple. Geri Pell, Ameriprise - member ad – Geri has been one of our longest supporters and her ad speaks for itself.
Charmed – next door to Slices, “the official Pizzeria of WCT.”
Hebrew Home at Riverdale – a long-time advertiser returns.
Red Barn Bakery – right near the Irvington Metro-North station. It’s worth the ride.
Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home – Jim Dowdle has been a WCT supporter for years.
JAM Printing – JAM has been printing our newsletter for years.
Weinstein Memorial Chapel – Another long time advertiser.
Ben’s NY Kosher – coming to Central Avenue in October. Thanks for supporting WCT.
Natalie Werner – member ad – Natalie has been advertising with us for many years.
Ronny’s Reliables Cleaning – in business since 1973. Cleaning just about anything including water & sewage occurrences.
Sharon Gardens – WCT’s cemetery plots are all here.
Party Line – WCT’s provider of our tent and all its contents.
Dee J Design – member ad – Deborah Wiskind has been providing her services to WCT families year in and year out.
Eden Kosher – Eden Kosher has all your needs for the holidays.
Synergy HomeCare – member ad – J. Heinlein is the president and owner of this supporter of WCT.
Umami Sushi 724 Saw Mill River Rd, Ardsley 914-231-9443 Free Delivery
Atlantic Business Products – WCT’s copier is from Atlantic. Neil Figler is our man. Right Click Solutions – WCT’s consultant for all our computer related issues. Try them. Alperson’s – having a party? Check out this long-time supporter. Umami Sushi – Ardsley’s friendliest Sushi restaurant. Mention you are from Woodlands and get 10% off your dine-in bill. Barbara Abrams – a long-time member—now an advertiser.
Open Mon &Wed-Sat 10:30 am to 10 pm, Sun 12-10, Closed Tuesdays Thursday night is Ladies Night! All hot sake, beer, wine is Buy One, get one or get the second round free! (Gentlemen are welcome too!)
✷ Mention Woodlands Community Temple and get 10% off eat-in dining ✷ (Not to be combined with any other offers) Catering Available: from $15/person for up to 100 people; from $10/person for up to 200 people
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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
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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Weinstein
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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
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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Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage
PAID White Plains, NY
50 Worthington Road White Plains, NY 10607
Permit No. 1112
current resident or:
Dated M aterial- Do Not Del ay
The Woodlands Connection
The Place that Our Hearts Hold Dear By Gloria and Bill Falk
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n 1976, Gloria suddenly became a young widow, with two small children. Since she had lived in St. Louis for only four months, she came back to the neighborhood and school in Hartsdale that her kids knew best. She happened to know a few people who belonged to Woodlands, but none were close friends. Quite coincidentally, four other young temple women lost their husbands in the same year. The rabbi, Peter Rubinstein, pulled them together to form a selfhelp group. Since she knew one of the women, Gloria was invited to join. It would take two more pages to tell you about the life-saving journey and bonding of these five young women. One no longer lives in New York, and one has since died, but the three of us who remain still talk and meet once a month to share a meal together. In the meantime, Gloria started attending Shabbat services. She was like a happy fish out of water, having been raised in an Orthodox home. For the first time, she could understand and participate in worship. She met friendly
congregants at the Oneg and, after a while, was invited by the rabbi and a board member to join the congregation. At that time, she explained that she didn’t know if she could afford membership but was told not to worry, “We’ll work something out.” Gloria’s children became “Woodlands kids,” and she found a home, new friends, and peace. In 1983, Gloria and Bill married in the Woodlands sanctuary. Bill had been widowed in 1975 and had three children, almost the same ages as Gloria’s two. The huppah was held aloft by our four daughters, and Bill’s son was his best man. The wedding ceremony was followed by a celebration at the temple, shared with loving, caring family and friends. Bill quickly became a Woodlands congregant, but only his youngest daughter joined Gloria’s daughters in the school. The arrival of the rabbinic intern, Billy Dreskin, and his wife, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, was a major turning point for our two daughters (both the same age.) To this day, in
their early 40s, they are devoted to the Dreskins, the special memories they all share, and their Judaism. Gradually, as we became more entrenched in Woodlands life, Bill served on the Ritual, Programming, and Hevra Kaddisha committees. He also worked to help raise money for the rebuilding of the sanctuary. We enjoy attending various adult ed classes, often together. Over the years, we’ve found that not only did we seek the company of congregants in our age range, but we’ve also made friends with many younger congregants, including their children. Now that Gloria is retired, she can keep a vow to give back to Woodlands. She loves cooking with the Academy kids. She serves on the Board of Trustees and the Ritual Committee, and heads the Daytime Diversions group. Gloria has been on many other committees, but, most of all, she and Bill love attending worship services. Woodlands truly is the place that our hearts hold dear.