Shofar - June 2013 - Sivan/Tammuz 5773

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Sivan/ Tammuz 5773

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jewish Family Congregation www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

May 2013

June 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

From the Rabbi’s Desk This is my final contribution to the Shofar. As of July 1, I will be living elsewhere and serving another congregation.

I have served JFC for 16 years, and in that period of time, there have been many changes here. When I came, JFC was using the ark that now serves only in the tent for the High Holy Days. Shortly thereafter, we commissioned the construction of the ark and cabinets which were designed by Jerome Kerner. Not long after that, we had the industrial kitchen (which served the restaurant that occupied the building before the temple bought it) removed and the purple classroom on the main floor was created in 2/3 of the space, leaving a barebones room to serve as our kitchen until, several years later, the Women’s Group raised the funds to remodel the kitchen.

Later, we commissioned the pulpits and reader’s table that we now use, to match the ark in style and appearance.

We also commissioned the Ner Tamid (eternal light, above the ark), the Shabbat candlesticks and Kiddush cup and later the Chanukiyah, all from a local artist. Another person fashioned the parokhet (curtain inside the ark) at that time as well.

A grateful grandfather gave JFC a donation which we used to carpet the sanctuary, thereby ending the awful scraping of chairs on hardwood, and the disturbance caused by movement of people during services.

JFC was using its own loose-leaf prayerbook back then, which was the text of Shabbat evening service #1 from Gates of Prayer, interspersed with writings and illustrations by congregants. But we did not have enough of those, many Friday evenings, so we switched to Gates of Prayer. Congregants prepared their own siddur for bnai mitzvah in those days, and they were quite a disparate assortment of products, so the Ritual Committee and I standardized the service by printing a JFC Shabbat morning service, with as much transliteration as we could muster. Both Gates of Prayer and that home-made prayerbook were replaced when the Reform movement issued the siddur we currently use, Mishkan Tefliha.. As a congregation, we “test drove” the draft of the Shabbat evening service while we awaited the new book, so when it arrived, we adapted easily to it.

In 2007, we conducted a very successful capital campaign, and some of the money raised was used to remodel the sanctuary, entrance way and washroom area of the main floor; minimal remodeling was done upstairs as well.

That work finally completed the conversion of the house/restaurant into a worship space. It actually looks and feels like a sanctuary now.

Service Schedule--------------Page 4 Religious School-----------Pages 6-7 May Calendar------------------Page 9 President’s Message---------Page 12 Congregant’s Corner--------Page 13 ECC---------------------------Page 22 Confirmation Speeches-----Page 26

Sisterhood--------------------Page 28 Ritual Committee------------Page 30 Social Action Committee---Page 31 Yough Group-----------------Page 32

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Jewish Family Congregation

111 Smith Ridge Road P.O. Box 249 South Salem, NY 10590 Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069 e-mail: jfc@bestweb.net

jewishfamilycongregation.org Rabbi Carla Freedman jfc@bestweb.net Cantor Kerry Ben-David cantorbd@aol.com School Director Leslie Gottlieb lesliejo0312@gmail.com Early Childhood Center Director Jane Weil Emmer jfceccenter@gmail.com Board Of Trustees Polly Schnell, President; Richard Mishkin, Vice President; Elisa Zuckerberg, Vice President; Hal Wolkin, Chief Financial Officer; Glenn Kurlander, Secretary; Robyn Cohen Michael Gitlitz Ken Levinsohn Robi Margolis Patterson Shafer Paul Storfer Suzanne Sunday Bonnie Wattles Richard Weiser and Jeanette Sanders, Past President Shofar Editor Bryan Wolkin Shofar Printer Copy Stop Royal Press

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

From the Rabbi’s Desk (cont’d)

May 2013

Our services evolved too, over time, to include more Hebrew and more singing than before. This was facilitated by the acquisition of Mishkan Tefila, which provides transliteration of everything, so that everyone can participate equally.

I introduced the practice of inviting recent bnai mitzvah students to chant Torah at the High Holy Days, and encouraged adults to do so as well; none of that could have happened without the special talents and gracious help of Ruth Ossher, who recorded all the readings, twice- both for Shabbat and weekdays!

Over the years, I have worked very closely with the Ritual Committee, and have become good friends with the three men who have chaired it on my “watch”…

Chuck Cohen, David Emmer and Michael Salpeter. Most congregants have no idea how hard that committee works, because our services and celebrations run very smoothly. But I know, and have always been very grateful to the leaders and members of that committee, without whom my life and work would have been a nightmare.

I have also worked closely with the various people who have served as our cantor/ cantorial soloist, and with Kathy and Paul Storfer, and more recently, David Kane and Benjamin Kurlander, to make the music a central feature of our worship. I believe strongly that, as the song says, music speaks louder than words; I have never thought that sermons make a service…even and perhaps especially not my own. I have loved the contribution of the JFC choir to all the occasions it enhances, and I am thrilled that we will have a recording of their music as the result of the concert they are giving in June.

I also worked very closely with Leslie Gottlieb and her predecessor, Ruth Ossher, in increasing the Hebrew curriculum of our Religious School and the standards for bnai mitzvah. That collaboration has been another high point in my service here.

And I have enjoyed being a contributor to the Early Childhood programs here too.

It has been a particular pleasure to watch some of the kids I knew as pre-schoolers become bnai mitzvah, go through confirmation and then off to college..

I have done too many bnai mitzvah to count, taught too many adults and kids to even estimate…have done lots of baby namings, confirmations, a few weddings and too many funerals. I love the work I do, and have been told countless times that it shows.

I have made many friends at JFC and I plan to be in touch with them via all the amazing technology that has also evolved during my tenure here.

I leave JFC with many wonderful memories.

I wish you well, and I wish you peace.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

May Service Schedule Friday, May 31/Sivan 23 7:30 pm Parshat Sh’lakh-lecha

Julie Conti chants Torah in honour of her father’s conversion Friday, June 7/Sivan 30 7:30 pm Parshat Korakh Saturday, June 8 10:00 am Bar Mitzvah of Alex Ozols Friday, June 14/ Tammuz 7 6:00 pm Shabbat Pot Luck Dinner***

7:30 pm Parshat Hukat Laurence Furic chants Torah Friday, June 21/ Tammuz 14

7:30 pm

Parshat Balak

Friday, June 28/ Tammuz 21

7:30 pm

Parshat Pinkhas

`

*** as always, this is a veggie/dairy meal. Please bring a dish to share with 6 people. Our theme this time is Israeli

food.

Oneg Schedule Adam and Robyn Cohen Kenneth and Cindy Carson Board Host: Carrie Kane

6/21/2013 Jonathon and Iris Glass Frank and Susan Andrade John Gryzmala & Linda Lederman Board Host: Robyn Cohen

6/14/2013

6/28/2013

Mark and Debbie Lavin Tammi Shulman Board Host: Suzanne Sunday

Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman Dawn and Peter Kessler Board Host: Carrie Kane

6/7/2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

The Best of Old World Elegance, Rural Beauty and Modern Amenities Located in a country setting, the newly renovated clubhouse features a stunning ballroom windowed throughout, with panoramic views of a spectacular golf course and surrounding hills.

Parties of all sizes welcome One affair per day Kosher catering available

Salem Golf Club 18 Bloomer Road, North Salem NY 10560 914*669*5485 www.salemgolfclub.org

Cantor Ben-David is available to our congregants for all life-cycle needs Call/Text: 917-400-4068 Email: cantorbd@aol.com

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

From the Religious School

May 2013

By Leslie Gottlieb, Director

I have not been looking forward to writing this particular column for as long as I have known that Carla would be leaving JFC. I have known this day would eventually arrive, but like so many things in life, we push out of focus what we choose to ignore for as long as we can. Change is hard. As one would expect, I have had many relationships with congregants, students and staff members over the twenty or so years our family has been involved, but for the past sixteen and a half years, I have been changed forever because of the influence our Rabbi has had on my life. I know many others feel the same way.

I can’t even begin to create the list of things we have shared and decided upon together, not all of them easy. Over the years, we did not always agree about how to handle certain situations but we learned and grew from each discussion, I … the greater recipient with each encounter. Sharing a physical wall between our two offices at the same end of the hallway at JFC reminds me of growing up in a house with a sibling’s bedroom so close to your own; having that sibling always in earshot of a question or a comment becomes something to which you grow so accustomed that you don’t even give it much thought—until you do. Most days, Carla and I typically go back and forth with ideas and thoughts and suggestions of all kinds—often raising our voices loud enough to be heard through that shared wall. It was never a barrier, only a thing which marked two distinct spaces. When she and I take different days of the week off, my office seems entirely different, more lifeless— like when part of a body is cut off from blood flow and the circulation takes notice….

It is difficult to explain but for all of us who work closely with someone for many years, his/her impending absence is a strange thing to consider. It resembles, in my mind, sharing a relationship with someone very ill when you quietly anticipate the day that you will no longer be together. I have experienced losses of all kinds as have we all. This is going to be a huge change in my life and although I have had time to prepare, I think about all of the things I will miss about Carla, personally and professionally.

There is a photo on my office door that says it all. I am in a cherry-picker with Doug Paulding almost 100 feet above the lawn of JFC. This was five years ago—for the occasion of Israel’s 60 th birthday. We

bought special t-shirts that year for all the staff and Religious School kids (and congregants who came that Sunday) and we organized in the shape of the Israeli flag. Doing the layout on the ground for this was not as easy as one might imagine and several teachers helped me with this project. I recall Alex Wattles helped, too. We set out stakes and police tape on the ground hoping that from the air, the photo of human beings forming the Star of David would look like something recognizable. Jamie Kaplan was supposed to be the photographer but with my small school camera in hand, Doug suggested I hop inside the carrier to get a quick look at the way the photograph was taking shape.

Everyone on the ground was finding someone special with whom to loop arms or hold hands, young and old. Just then, Doug sent up the mechanical arm with the two of us inside the cart-- and up we went soaring into the bluest of skies. When the small carriage we were standing in stopped and we began to sway like a carousel chair at the top of the world once the ride stops for new passengers, I was sick to my stomach. Luckily for Doug and everyone below, I survived that moment. It was truly frightening.

But just then, Carla lifted her arms as if to catch me--looking like Moses at the edge of the Sea of Reeds. She yelled to me, “Leslie, are you okay?”

She yelled it with such emotion that this moment has always stood still for me. That we have captured it on film makes it a solid reminder for all of time. In the photo, Carla stands in the middle of the Star of David yelling my name over and over so that I feel that the Star is actually reaching out to save me. Take that one to your shrink and you could have a field day! This image comes to me now as I write this. That frozen moment is a comfort to me-- one that I can pull out whenever this world seems difficult. The care, attention and respect I have been given by this erudite Rabbi who became my friend is a comfort not all of you have personally felt or experienced. This is a deep friendship. I am not sure how to properly say goodbye this time.

Her daily visits to my office in where she would take up residence for as long as we had to flesh out our ideas will be no more in just a few weeks from now-- and although we will both move on with our lives, I will be left behind so to speak.

She will have a different view from a different office in a very different place. She will feel the warm wind through leaves of palm trees and I will have to remark to someone else that the deer are running past our windows under the shade of the tall pines.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

From the Religious School (cont’d) All the shared stories will fade and the faces too over time. We will not have our silly phone calls on wintry Saturday evenings to discuss whether or not a storm was really going to prevent us from holding Sunday morning programs. Back and forth we would pull out all of the What Ifs. She will not be here to snoop affectionately at my desk on weekdays to ask what I am eating for lunch with authentic interest. She will be elsewhere teaching others. It will be okay and everyone will move on-- but it stings a lot today.

I want all of you to know that our Rabbi has done so much for all of you and your children over the years from where I sit, making daily considerations and spending time analyzing all that would benefit everyone’s interests. She gave it her all. In my view, she knows that not all of her solidly good intentions were accepted with grace and understanding and for me it is her toughness and commitment to ideas that is something to admire and revere. We haven’t even gotten to her keen sense of humor and wit. Anyone who really knows her will attest to this. She is the life of any party.

Carla is a true friend, scholar, aunt, mother, girlfriend, and so much more to me. I will miss her every day. I will miss Jeanne, too, as she has become a special person in my life and the JFC community. It is painful to watch them leave but my solace comes in thinking of them driving off into the sunset in the Miata with the top down, like Thelma & Louise with a happier ending.

So much life ahead!

Carla is a hard act to follow.

(I have included in this Shofar edition many photos of Carla and

the RS. I hope they bring back special memories for you all.)

Todah Rabbah…

To my Rabbi… for everything!!!

To Karen Blum for all of her special help and support To Rabbi Marcus Burstein for finding our community special enough to join To Cantor Kerry for his friendship To the Storfers, friends-- and volunteers who make a special effort each year, especially Kathy, for our Grade 7 students To Jane Emmer for her many years of friendship and support To Kathleen and Carol in the office who are a terrific team and a true pleasure with whom to work Andrew Blum, the Youth Group Board and the Youth Group and parents for their hard work and support All the Class Parents who make life at the RS a lot happier!!!

All the teachers and students who are the best in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

The JFC RS 6th Graders went the The Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC this spring. Parent chaperone and photographer Greg Schwartz sent us this image of some of our students enjoying a visit to the promenade outside the museum that overlooks Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Students study the Holocaust in Grade 6 and this culminating experience is shared with their parents each year who come out in large numbers to participate... especially this year. Thanks to all who made this a wonderful and memorable day.

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June Calendar Sunday

Monday

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

May 2013

Friday

Saturday -23 Sivan 5773 -Parashat Sh’lach -7pm choir

2 -24 Sivan 5773

3 -25 Sivan 5773 -ECC -10am Kitchen Science

9 -1 Tammuz 5773 -Rosh Chodesh

16 -8 Tammuz 5773

-9 Tammuz 5773

-10am Kitchen Science

-22 Tammuz 5773

30

-3 Tammuz 5773 -7:30pm Conversion -7:30pm Ritual Meeting

-10 Tammuz 5773

-10am Movement

-4 Tammuz 5773

-7:30pm Conversion

-28 Sivan 5773 -7:30pm Annual Meeting

-11 Tammuz 5773

-5 Tammuz 5773 -7:30pm Board Meeting

-29 Sivan 5773 -ECC -Last day of ECC -10am Music -7:30pm Service

-6 Tammuz 5773 -6pm Pot Luck -7:30pm Service

15 -7 Tammuz 5773 -Parashat Chukat

22 -14 Tammuz 5773

- 7:30pm Service

27 -19 Tammuz 5773

-30 Sivan 5773 -Parashat Korach -Rosh Chodesh -Alex Ozols BM

21 -13 Tammuz 5773

-12 Tammuz 5773

8

14

20

26 -18 Tammuz 5773

7

13

19

25 -17 Tammuz 5773 -Tzon Tammuz

6

12

18

34 -16 Tammuz 5773

-27 Sivan 5773 -ECC

11

17

23 -15 Tammuz 5773

-26 Sivan 5773 -ECC

10 -2 Tammuz 5773 -10 am Movement

5

4

-Parashat Balak

28 -20 Tammuz 5773

-7:30pm Service

1

29 -21 Tammuz 5773 -Parashat Pinchas

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Anniversaries

Peter & Liza Breslin

Alan & Jeanette Sanders

Rick & Bobbie Cohlan

Gordon & Polly Schnell

Roger & Jo Drawec

Steve & Cheryl Shainmark

Allen Gabor & Lisa Papernik

Alan & Lisa Sheptin

Steven & Melissa Goodstein

John & Barbara Stern

Terry Kalter & Marcia Sher-Kalter

Paul & Peri Stevelman

Glenn & Deborah Kurlander

Sherry Levin Wallach

Richard & Catherine Mishkin

Michael & Emily Wein

Richard & Johanna Perlman

Hal & Laurie Wolkin

Raymond & Hillary Raimondi

May 2013

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Birthdays

Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jonathan Auerbach

Renna Gottlieb

Newton Bersch

Max Grzymala

Samuel Breslin

Doris Hettmansberger

Maggie Ceisler

Michael Horwitz

Brian Chipman

Andrew Junquera

Shoshana Chipman

Emily Klotz

Julie Conti

Mark Lavin

Roger Drawec

Talia Levinsohn

Daniel Feldman

Graeme Lipper

Emily Feldman

Dara Marceau

Stuart Feldman

Danielle Ossher

Robert Fischman

Alexander Ozols

Alison Ganis

Lisa Papernik

Daniela Goldman

Alex Perlman

Ava Goodstein

Raymond Raimondi

Martha Gordon

Nathaniel Rappaport

May Yarhzeits

Adolph Joseph Auerbacher Yehuda Ayash Norda Berlin Judith Birnbaum Estelle Bloch Ed Blum

Maurice Cohen David Dutka Indy Goldman Marlene Ellen Klotz Lillian Paget Martin Shapiro Philip Stein

Pearl Weiss Bernard Yegelwel Clarissa Zalzberg

May 2013

Abigail Rudin Jonathan Rudin Meredith Rudin Sarah Senese Tony Senese Elyse Sherr Heather Sherr Noah Sklarin Andrea Stegman Samantha Stevelman Barbara Stern Steven Sturm Byron Wilson Hal Wolkin Dina Zusel

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Presidents Message

May 2013

by Polly Schnell

Dear Friends, We wanted to keep this President’s Message short and sweet. But it is perhaps one of the most important messages we can deliver at this time. Please take a moment to review the diagram below which represents the various committees that make up JFC. Each of them has a board member liason and chairperson. Some of them also have committee members. But none of them have enough. So please ask yourself where you see yourself fitting in and consider joining one. You can contact Kathleen, the office administrator and she will let me know your particular area of interest. I will ‘hook you up’ from there.

Each piece of this JFC “infrastructure” is critical. Each piece stands for the thriving and surviving of JFC. So, don’t take this lightly. We need you. Our committees need you. JFC needs you.

Many thanks for your attention to this matter.

Polly Schnell Ritual

Fundraising

Center for Jewish Life

Nominating

Education: RS, ECC

Special Arrangements

Board of Trustees Membership

Financial Planning Board

Mitzvah Coprs (Social Action)

House (Bldg and grounds)

Social: Men’s group, Sisterhood

Finance

Other: Choir, Marketing, Transition

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Congregant’s Corner

May 2013

By Laurence Furic

Chanting Torah: a real blessing

An epic retelling of the story

The minhag (tradition) was started by Leslie Gottlieb, our Religious School director for one of her sons’ Bar-Mitzvahs when she decided to learn how to chant an alyah in honor of her son becoming Bar Mitzvah, during the erev Shabbat service (Friday evening Shabbat service) at the temple. Since then, a vast array of parents - siblings included and grandparents, have followed this touching tradition, to honor their family member and chant before the congregation during the Torah service that precedes the Big Day.

Why do I persevere in this discipline? It brings me so much joy, despite feeling nervous - and often embarrassed because I still make mistakes, and lose my means in front of everyone! The ancient text is very powerful and we don’t always understand what it actually means, because it is not necessarily literal, and needs a lot of interpretation, explanation, even debating possible conflicting meanings. We keep studying the Torah, scrutinizing its meaning and how to apply its teachings in our lives. But when you chant a portion, you don’t question the meaning of the text, you act it, as on a stage, and you make it alive. From flat twodimensional obscure scripture, it becomes a vivid and often epic telling of a story.

*** I did it for my younger son’s Bar Mitzvah, in June 2010, chanting for the first time in my life. It took me six months of arduous practice to master the meak six verses that I had chosen to chant then, giving me a real good perspective on the amount of work those youngsters, getting ready for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, are putting in learning how to chant the tropes, and be prepared to chant six or seven aliyot. An aliyah is the hebrew word meaning “ascent”, plural is aliyot, and it designates the honor to be called for the reading of a portion of the Torah. On Shabbat, the reading of the passage is generally divided in seven sections or aliyot, and the minimum for a section is made of three verses.

A pretty arduous task The verses in the Torah are not regular, some can be short, some can be long, very long even! And the scroll from where you read is handwritten with ornamented lettering that is flowing without any other sign, no punctuation, no division, and no vocalization.

It certainly is a big challenge to read from the Torah scroll.

Learning to chant was made so much easier thanks to Ruth Ossher, one of the two fabulous tutors we have at JFC. She recorded the portion to chant and I learnt from imitation at first.

Later on, I took classes to understand the system and learn how to practice more effectively. I have to admit that it is not always easy to remember all the rules, and to practice regularly enough so that I don’t forget what I am trying to learn. Life keeps getting in the way, but as a very stubborn individual, I go back to studying and learning again from the beginning, and hopefully will feel like one day I am mastering the art and be able to choose passages from the Torah and figure out the cantillation from the musical notation without trying to learn the melody by rote.

Making a blessing in our hectic lives I know that we all have very busy lives that leave us so little leisure to study and practice such an unusual art (it does not transfer easily to another social or professional activity, unless you consider the discipline itself, the focusing, the commitment, and the building selfconfidence). It has opened me to a better understanding of the ancient biblical hebrew, but I know this is also a pretty marginal skill nowadays, when it seems more important to understand how to program electronics and be aware of the latest trends or news that pop up without any warning rather than scrutinizing ancient sacred texts.

This is probably what appeals to me so much. That it feels very stable and structured in a world that too often feels pretty complicate to comprehend. I marvel at how powerful the sacred text becomes as it reaches areas of our brains that are not always addressed and that we are forgetting to put to use. Chanting Torah is very physical and emotional, and I always hope that the passion I have in learning it also reaches the Congregation when they join me in listening to the blessing of our Torah reading!

Bnei-mitzvah students of 2013 who already had their bar mitzvah should definitely consider chanting again at the High Holidays 5774, and learn the very special trope of the season. I also invite other Congregants to join (or re-join) in the fabulous adventure!

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

Early Childhood Center at Jewish Family Congregation Jane Emmer – Director 914-763-3028 x 15 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10590

Application for 2013-2014 School Year Child’s Name __________________________________________ Gender ________Date of Birth ___________________________ Home Street Address____________________________________ Town/State/Zip Code____________________________________ Home Phone ___________________________________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address ____________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address ____________________ Siblings - Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Please Check One: Circle Days : 2’s 2 day _________ 3 day__________ (M – W – F 9:15-11:45) 3’s 4 day _________ 5 day _____ ( M – T – W – Th- F 9:15 – 12:00) 4’s 4 day _________ 5 day _____ ( M – T – W – Th- F 9:15 – 12:00) Tuition Information $250 Non –refundable registration fee must accompany this form. Tuition is p Tuition is as follows: 2 day 3 day 4 day 5 day

2 payments of $ 1,400 due 6/1 and 9/1/2013 (2’s only) 3 payments of $ 1,400 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (2’s only 3 payments of $ 1,800 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (3’s & 4’s) 3 payments of $ 1,966 due 6/1, 9/1 and 11/1/2013 (3’s & 4’s)

total tuition total tuition total tuition total tuition

$ $ $ $

2,800.00 4,200.00 5,400.00 5,900.00

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

2013 Religious School STARS Party

May 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

May Outdoor Service at JFC to Remember Students Molly & Gregory

Plaque to be installed on a rock at JFC near the benches RS teacher Noah Sklarin designed and built for his Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts) project. JFC will have a physical reminder of the children always!

Noah Sklarin explains his project to parents and RS students in attendance at the service.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

RS students Rosie Ceisler, Elyse Sherr and Heather Sherr read aloud the poem “Daffodils” at the school memorial outdoor service in May to remember former students Molly & Gregory.

Photographer and RS mentor, Julia Sklarin, captures the peaceful beauty of the spot at JFC where her brother’s memorial project sits in the woods behind the synagogue.

RS teacher and song leader Ruth Ossher leads a moment of silence at the memorial service.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

Last month members of the Religious School staff celebrated the end of another great year of working together. We dined at 123 Restaurant & Bar in Vista.

Unable to attend were: Rona Salpeter, Noah Sklarin and Rabbi Carla Freedman.

Photo includes (seated left to right): Andrew Blum, Ruth Ossher & Leslie Gottlieb.

Standing (left to right): Ellen Elias, Karen Blum, Jessica Sheptin, Linda Paulding & Jamie Kaplan.

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

May 2013

Donations Gala Donation -Ellen Barth -Steve and Shari Goldberg -Ted Bloch and Lisa Block

Suzanne’s mother, Ruth Davis -Papernik/Gabor Family In honor of Rabbi Carla Freedman on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah

Grounds Beautification Fund -Papernik/Gabor Family In honor of Jolie Levy on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah General Fund -Jane Emmer In Honor of Aaron Cohen’s Bar Mitzvah -Jane Emmer In memory of Ian Leitner’s father David -Doris Hettmansberger In memory of Harlan Hettmansberger -Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman In Honor of Dawn Reimer Kessler -Michael Gitlitz and Rita Landman In memory of Lisa Stoll,sister of Susan Andrade -Papernik/Gabor Family In honor of Ruth Ossher on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah Music and Choir Fund -Somers Holocaust memoria Commision in Honor or Cantor BenDavid’s participation in North Salem Yom Hashoah.

-Papernik/Gabor Family in honor of Cantor Ben-David on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah -Papernik/Gabor Family in honor of JFC Choir on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah -Papernik/Gabor Family in honor of Kathy and Paul Storfer and David Kane on the occasion of Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah Rabbi Discretionary Fund -Women’s Civic Club of Katonah Inc -Suzanne Sunday In Memory of Susan Westlake’s father, Morton Eydenberg -Suzanne Sunday In Memory of

The list of High Holy Day Donors has been republished due to previous inadvertent omissions* -Norman and Carol Alexander -Paul and Elizabeth Amerling -David and Phyllis Amerling -Sandra Apfel -Kenneth Aufsesser -Richard and Sandi Auerbach -Ellen Barth -Jeffrey Berg and Debra Paget -David Berger -Richard Bersch and Amy Selig -Ted Bloch and Lisa Block -Joshua and Michelle Blum -Neil and Karen Blum -Robert Bolgar -Steven Borden -Kenneth and Cindy Carson -John and Karen Conti -Ethan David -Paul and Susan David -Roger and Jo Drawec -Ellen Elias -Bella Emmer -Jane Emmer -David and Sally Firestein -David and Amy Fischer -Laurence Furic -Allen Gabor and Lisa Papernik -Michael Gitlitz and Dr. Rita Landman -Roy Goldman -Steven and Melissa Goodstein -Lawrence and Leslie Gottlieb -Michael Gordon and Mariana Canelo

-Richard and Lydia Hellinger -Doris Hettmansberger -Mimi Hodgkins -Drew and Mindy Hoffman -Michael Horwitz and Fran Apfel -Eugene Kahn -Carrie and David Kane -Joel and Laura Kaplan -Peter and Jamie Kaplan -Glenn and Deborah Kurlander -Kenneth and Suzanne Sunday Kurzweil -Mark and Debra Lavin -Ian and Sigal Leitner -Laura Levinson -Ken and Ellen Strauss Levinsohn -David and Dara Marceau -Robi Margolis -Richard and Cathy Mishkin -David and Leslie Moss -Harold and Ruth Ossher -Adam Ozols and Donna Finkelstein -Paula Parker -Andrew and Allyson Rappaport -Kenneth and Donna Ray -Harry and Sandra Rosenhouse -Michael and Rona Salpeter -Alan and Jeanette Sanders -Gordon and Polly Schnell -Jodi and Tony Senese -Pat Shafer -Alan and Lisa Sheptin -Alan and Laura Steinhorn -Paul & Kathy Storfer -Robert and Barbara Strongin -Clifford Wallach -Bonnie and Alex Wattles -Mitchell and Jodi Waxman -Michael and Emily Wein -Richard Weiser -Margaret Weissman -Hal and Laurie Wolkin -David and Elisa Zuckerberg -Fred and Marcia Zuckerberg * If your name does not appear, please contact the office.

22 Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar COORDINATION, COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AND BEYOND By: Jane Weil Emmer Director of Early Childhood Center at JFC

May 2013

1. Coordination: the harmonious functioning of parts for effective results 2. Cooperation: to act together or in compliance for mutual benefit 3. Collaboration: to work together jointly, especially in an intellectual endeavor; Human societies are built on collaborative activities. Children are skillful and proficient collaborators. They recognize when they need help in solving a problem and actively recruit collaborators. This is evidenced at JFC every day. Both our children and our staff learn and teach about the three “c’s” We encourage experimentation with materials and inspire dialogue. This give and take is the essence of our program. Our curriculum is rich with content, however the ultimate goal is to have the curriculum support the development of coordination, cooperation and collaboration in everything that we do. Our students learn that they are part of something bigger, while fostering a strong sense of self in developmentally appropriate ways.

It seems that we’re constantly asking our children to share and cooperate with their friends and teachers.

While they may not always seem like they want to cooperate, the desire to do so is an important aspect of human nature. At birth, children are primed for social activity. They yearn to create relationships — to relate, communicate, collaborate — and have a basic need for belonging and feeling needed by others. Cooperation is a key part of relating to others and forging meaningful relationships. Through team building and collaboration, a child learns to respect others and to control his own immediate needs and impulses.

The fact that learning to cooperate is essential doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Inspiring our children to share a toy or put his coat on is part of his experimentation with what is and isn’t acceptable and his search for a balance between being a part of the group while still maintaining his sense of identity. Getting preschoolers to share and play together can be tricky too. Our teachers know that the key is to set up activities that give each child a distinct role while also requiring kids to help one another. As we watch our “blue room” students move on to kindergarten, we proudly say that we have had great success. We launch confidant, collaborators to the next step in their journey. These children are kind, cooperative and helpful. They each bring something special to the classroom.

Good luck Blue Room!!!!

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Sing Along with Cantor Kerry, Ruth Ossher & guest, Rabbi Marcus Burstein

May 2013

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May 2013

Summer Fun At Jewish Family Congregation REGISTRATION FORM Summer 2013 9:30-12:15 Child’s Name:___________GenderM/F___Birthdate:____________________

Street Address:________________________________________________________

Mailing Address:_________________________________________________________ Home Phone:____________________ E-mail:__________________________

Fall 2013 my child will be attending: 2 year old class: __ (max 3 days per week)

(check one) 3 year old class:____ 4 year old class: ____ Kindergarten: _______ School :______________________

parent name:_________________ Phone:__________________ Cell:_______

parent name:_________________ Phone:________________ Cell:__________ Siblings

Name:_________________

birthdate:_____________________

Name:_________________________birthdate:__________________

Local emergency contacts:

Name:__________________________ Phone#_____________________ Cell:_________________ Name:__________________________ Phone#_____________________ Cell:_________________ Child’s Doctor_______________________________________Phone#_______________________ Allergies:_________________________________________________________ Special Needs/Services:____________________________________________ My child will attend JFC Summer Fun:

5 day ($225/wk)

Week of 6/24:

_______

Week of 7/8:

________

Week of 7/1: _, no camp 7/4 or 7/5)

3 day($190/wk) ___________

___________ $190 for everyone! ___________

Week of 7/15: ________

___________

Week of 7/29: ________

___________

Week of 7/22: ________

___________

The fee for JFC Summer Fun is $225 per week. 5 mornings per week or $200/wk 3 mornings per week.

Payment is due in full with registration form

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Confirmation Speeches Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Ezra Koenig, Tony Levin, Phillip Glass, Ira Glass, Mila Kunis, Albert Einstein, Michael Bloomberg, Simon and Garfunkel, Harry Shearer, Andy Samberg, Kanji Ishizumi? Doesn’t sound Jewish but he is. Guess who’s not, Whoopi Goldberg. The majority of people that I know take it for granted that some celebrity or one of their favorite band members it of their own ethnicity or family heritage. I don’t really understand why, because it amazed me to hear that the bassist from possibly the most influential 70s progressive rock band is Jewish. Sure there are over 14 million Jews Iiving today, but compared to the entire world population, it’s a minority. When I hear about some talented musician or ground-breaking scientist with a surname ending with “berg” or “sky”, I automatically rush to the nearest device that is accessible to the internet and search on Wikipedia to see if they are Jewish or not. Luckily, it isn’t too surprising to find that a scientist is Jewish, but it still means a lot to me. It took me awhile to find out that I don’t do this out of ego for being descended of a minor population, but to feel content that the inventors of potato knishes and the most successful polio vaccines can be linked to my ancestors.

Anyways, two Thursdays ago marked my final confirmation class with Rabbi Carla and a few other students.

If you do not know already, this class met in the evening on Thursdays, following mentoring for a third grade Hebrew school class and preceding youth group. After participating in Hebrew school for seven years, as I started in first grade, the students of the b’nai mitzvah class would have their bar or bat mitzvah soon after they turn thirteen. The reason I chose for this to not be the end of my Jewish studies is merely that I love coming here to JFC and that we could participate in more of an adult-level program. For every confirmation class, each student would be assigned a day of the week and to bring in an article published on that day in the past week regarding Jews, Judaism, or Israel. Common topics that came up in class were about Israel’s relationship with the surrounding, anti-Israel countries and the effect on Judaism of American and Israeli politics. I cannot doubt that many of these matters are interesting to talk about, but I always loved to bring in articles relating to Israeli and Jewish culture, including arts and music. I would not hesitate to say how much I loved participating in the confirmation class for two years, working with two waves of the Kaplan family, Dillon and Evan who are in my grade, and everyone else.

I was initially asked to make this speech about my Jewish identity, which I have discovered and analyzed throughout the years. If I have not explained it well enough yet, let me summarize. I love being a Jew, going to JFC, and learning about Judaism. A Jewish identity is not purely based on believing that we must worship an omnipotent god who guided our ancestors to Israel, going to every single Shabbat service, or even wearing a yarmulke all the time. Being Jewish is more of a historical and ancestral-influenced lifestyle and a way to think.

And let me tell you one more thing; on the last day I mentored for the third grade Hebrew school class during their mini-service, when we sang the sh’ma, we are supposed to close our eyes. Through my childhood when I was in Hebrew school, I always wondered if the adults closed their eyes too, or if it was just a trick to keep the kids busy. On that last sh’ma, the last time Rabbi Carla had a childrens’ service, I was barely able to keep my eyes closed for some reason. Unsurprisingly, I saw that the rabbi was closing her eyes too, and I now know once and for all that she is “for real”, and I would never think of a better way in total to discover my Jewish identity.

Written by: Gabe Zuckerberg

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How does one define their Jewish identity? The Torah has many commandments and mitzvot that Jews are supposed to abide by. However, identifying oneself as a Jew cannot be simply determined by how many of the mitzvah one fulfills, or even just by attending services and praying. Rather, the Jewish identity is based on the sole commitment you have with God and the religion, and what you do with the opportunities Judaism offers. For me, being Jewish means that you should strive to be a good person in the world, and be able to pass down your heritage to future generations. Luckily, I have been able to take part in several experiences that have allowed me to do both of these.

To start, how does one determine who a good person is? Obviously, your moral and ethical code has a large role in this. But to me, being “good” is more than just your behavior alone. It involves having a solid, educational foundation and the ability to apply your knowledge to everyday life. Fortunately, I have had the wonderful opportunity to attend the religious school here at JFC, from Grades 2 until the present. From the beginning up to my Bar Mitzvah in Grade 7, I have been able to attain this important knowledge base. At the time, coming here every Thursday evening, Sunday morning, Monday evening, Saturday morning, and many Friday night services seemed like it didn’t really matter. After the fact, I now realize that these basic steps were essential in shaping my Jewishness. All of the great teachers I had were able to not only teach their curriculum, but also instill Jewish pride and fun into everything we did. The appreciation I have and will continue to have for their hard work is immense, because without this opportunity, I would have never been able to gain the knowledge needed.

Now that my basic Jewish education is complete, it is time for me to take this knowledge and apply it to the real world. This leads to another part of being Jewish: being informed of what is going in the world around us, and how it relates to our daily lives. We get to hear the news everyday, and most of us don’t think too much of it. I don’t think that this is the “Jewish” approach, because then it is pretty much meaningless. It is important to take what is happening, and understand its significance to both yourself and the world as a whole. This is just the goal of Confirmation class here at JFC. Every Thursday night, each student brings in an article from the past week that discusses Jews, Judaism, or Israel. Everyone shares their article to the class, and the Rabbi facilitates a discussion on how it impacts us personally and the entire Jewish community. As a result, I have received great insight into many current events happening now in our world and the Jewish perspective on them, and a bigger interest in the news and how it relates to me.

I have also had the wonderful experience of getting to pass down my Jewish knowledge to future generations, even at a young age, through JFC’s student mentor program. Right after school, on Thursdays before confirmation class, myself and several others got to act as teaching assistants to the Kindergarten through 3rd grade religious school students. I assisted in Ellen’s 2nd grade class. This experience was both fun and meaningful. It was great to see the little kids excited to come to school each week and learn so much. I got to teach them a few of the Hebrew letters and help them with the project or other activity they would work on each week. What I gained the most from this was that I learned the power and importance of learning, especially at a young age, and what being a leader and role model really is like. Little differences in the way you act can make a huge difference in their eyes. I was able to learn a lot about teaching as well, thanks to Leslie. Without her guidance, I wouldn’t have been able to be a successful leader and mentor.

The development of my Jewish identity would not be possible without the experiences I have had at JFC. I would like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone here that has helped me along the way. Specifically, I would like to thank Rabbi Carla for all that she has done. You helped make my Bar Mitzvah was successful, and are the reason I enjoyed Confirmation class so much. I’m sure that your insight and the lessons you’ve taught me will stay for a lifetime.

Finally, I’d like to thank my family for all that they have done to support me throughout my lifetime.

You’ve been there when I needed it, and that is all I can ask for. I love you all so much!

I am extremely fortunate that I have been able to have the experiences necessary to develop my Jewish identity. I have come to the realization that being Jewish is a special opportunity, and I have the obligation to make the most out of this gift.

Written By: Evan Dodes

28 Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar May 2013 When I signed up for this class, to be honest, I wasn’t exactly into the idea of giving up my Thursday nights to discuss current events. I wasn’t concerned with my Jewish identity at the time. Then I started going, and my view completely changed. But we can go back to that later. Before taking this class, I was the boy who hated going to Hebrew school; the one who would much rather sit motionless in front of the TV on a Sunday morning than learn the Torah blessings.

Some things interested me, like the things I never knew about Israel. I was never really educated on the small Jewish state growing up. The rest, however, bored me half to death. I already had homework for school, and then you add Hebrew homework; I wasn’t happy. I think that as I got closer to my Bar Mitzvah, I enjoyed it more.

Which if you think about it, makes no sense: three days a week instead of one, the pressure of five aliyot to be learned looming above my head... I must have been crazy.

Perhaps, though, it was that I was maturing. Anyway, after I had completed my Bar Mitzvah, I still had not completely found my Jewish identity ; surprising, right? The most important event in a Jewish boy’s life, and I still wasn’t changed. I wasn’t really involved in anything else religious from then until September. This was approximately when our class started. As I said, I wasn’t excited. But then I started to experience the class, participate in discussions. I started to get it. I finally started to realize who I was.

My Judaism started to really become a part of my everyday life. I found myself enjoying looking for articles and then discussing them in class. And I truly owe it all to my classmates and the Rabbi, for it was they, not me who found my Jewish identity. My Jewish identity was a boy who, underneath an obsession with school and grades, found the time to love, to enjoy, and to practice Judaism.

So, this is the end of an era of my life. I have truly had an amazing and enriching time, and I have been blessed to share it with my classmates and friends, especially Gabe and Evan, who have been with me from the start. A final note: As we all know by now, our beloved Rabbi Carla will be leaving us this year. I would just like to say that it has been a pleasure to have been taught and led by you from Ask the Rabbi to my Bar Mitzvah to Confirmation, and that we will all truly miss you.

Written by: Dillon Firestein

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JFC Sisterhood News

May 2013

By Linda Lederman

With the sun finally shining and the flowers starting to bloom, it is hard to believe JFC’s newly revised Sisterhood is about to embark upon its second year! Shh....don’t tell the guys, but our Sisterhood is the HEART of our temple! Our programs include activities for all ages and affords opportunities to socialize, to enrich our souls as well as to lend strength and support to our members in need. In our first year we have accomplished much. We started with our annual honey fund raiser with wishes that a sweet New Year would be had by all (keep an eye out for our announcement regarding our Honey From the Heart program for this year’s Rosh Hashanah). Our fund raiser was followed by what we hope to be our annual fall Sisterhood dinner. We transformed the sanctuary into a chic supper club, shared laugher, delicious gourmet food, reinforced old bonds and forged new friendships.

During the year we treated ourselves to a fabulous pampering spa evening at Adam Broderick, sponsored a guest speaker who introduced us to the spiritual pleasures of Rosh Chodesh, held many lively book discussions, had a Passover dinner sampler and recipe exchange, and of course held the hugely successful Spring Gala at the Crabtree Kittle House.

Every JFC woman, whether Jewish or not, is invited to join Sisterhood. Our annual dues are $40 and are due July 1st along with your JFC membership dues. Sisterhood membership is also open to any Jewish woman, whether or not a JFC member. You know who you are: you are all ages; you were born here and you come from countries around the world; you speak a variety of languages; you are single, married and widowed; you are mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers; you love Judaism and you are the backbone of our temple.

Our Sisterhood is an affiliate organization of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) - a national organization of the URJ. Our goal is to provide educational and social activities to meet the needs of women and their families within our congregation and the community at large. Together, we can support our synagogue, our schools, our community, and each other. We want all of the women at JFC to become partners in our Sisterhood. We urge you all to join us for the many exciting, inspirational, and enjoyable activities planned for the upcoming year. We have only just begun….

Without you we are one woman short!

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Ritual Committee

May 2013

By Michal Salpeter, Chairman There is a term which has been tossed around for many years and as of late has been increasingly popular with the media – that term is ultra-orthodox. Just what are ultra-orthodox Jews and do they actually exist as a single entity?

In the United States and particularly in New York we are accustomed to seeing “black hat” Orthodox Jews and many people assume that these people belong to a single “ultra-Orthodox movement”. In a recent article in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, a local newspaper not-surprisingly published daily in Brooklyn, it was mentioned that to most people “ultra - Orthodox refers to religious Jews who wear funny outfits.” All lumped together are members of various sects of Chasidim such as the Satmar living in Williamsburg, the Lubavitcher living in Crown Heights and the Bobover residing in Boro Park. There are in fact estimated to be about 60 separate “courts” or sects in Brooklyn alone. Excluded are members of so called modern-Orthodox movement who dress more modestly than most people but in a style which is more conforming to the general population. These Jews are sometimes referred to as Young Israel, related to the name of the synagogues they attend.

So, how do the so-called ultra-Orthodox Jews affect the lives of us in the United States who live in their proximity? Outside of perhaps being asked by a Lubavitcher to attend Chabad for Shabbat services, or by being invited into a “sukkah on wheels” parked on a street during Sukkot, there is little interaction between Chasidim and Conservative or Reform Jews. In fact, many orthodox commuters from Brooklyn to Manhattan opt to ride on privately owned buses configured for their use, complete with a mechitza (curtain) separating the men from the women. Their customs generally do not affect our daily life.

In Israel, however a different scenario plays out. Some of the Orthodox Jews are anti-Zionists, waiting for the arrival of the Moshiach to legitimize the Jewish state. Of course, we at JFC have been following the plight of the Women of the Wall, affected by a small ultra-Orthodox group who govern the plaza adjacent to the Western Wall. Marriage in Israel involving a Jewish couple can only occur using the Orthodox interpretation of halakhic law. Historically, ultra-Orthodox men have not served in the Israeli Defense Force, although there is some discussion if this exemption is to be abolished. These are a few of the examples of how in Israel the life of the average person is affected by the presence of a small minority of ultra-orthodox Jews.

There are many resources available to read about the life and practices of ultra-Orthodox Jews. In fact, I read about a dozen or so of the ones available on the internet in writing this article. It is clear when investigating this topic that these sects are separate entities and should not be grouped under one umbrella. I encourage you to investigate some of these websites and continue the path of learning about the customs of the ultra-Orthodox.

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SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE written by Debbie Lavin

The Social Action Committee organized a very successful Midnight Run outing on April 27, 2013. We saw a large number of homeless people and distributed much needed clothing, meals and toiletries to them. We were even joined by our former cochair, Jan Sanders, who had observed that it was so gratifying to see the expressions on the faces of everyone involved, both the homeless clients and the young people who served them.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this spring’s run -- both the attendees and the many people who have helped to sort the clothing and prepare bagged dinners.

Thank you to these people who attended the run and made bag dinners: Patterson, Sierra and Skylar Shaffer Cameron (Sierra’s friend) Emily and Jason Kingsley, John Stadler, and Jason’s friend Yaniv Wynter and Gordon Schnell Carly and Alan Goldstein Jan Sanders Thank you to these people who sorted clothing or made bag dinners for us to distribute: Cindy and Chloe Carson Dawn and Pete Kessler Barbara Boies Robyn Cohen Carrie Kane Jan Sanders Curt Shulman Mark Lavin And a big thank you to Wynter Schnell who chose to work with the Midnight Run for his Mitzvah Project. Gordon was helpful in sorting clothing and moving bins into our new home in the JFC basement, in addition to making dinners and attending the Run with his dad.

And of course, thanks to my co-chair, Pat Shaffer, who is instrumental in sorting, moving bins, cleaning our space in the basement, and most important, in leading the Midnight Run into the city.

Moving forward, we will need help over the summer and into the fall sorting the clothing that has so generously been donated.

We have 7 or 8 bags of clothing that need to be sorted and labelled. People can gather to sort in the basement at JFC, or we can give you a bag to sort and label at home at your convenience. We will need a lot of help with this and would greatly appreciate even a couple of hours of people’s time. If left to just a few people to do this organization, we will not be able to continue with this project. We really need your help! Please contact DebbieLav@aol. com to volunteer.

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Youth Group

May 2013

By Jessica Sheptin

Hello my avid readers! This will be my last time writing for The Shofar. It has been a great two years, but the next Communications Vice President (Isaiah Blum) will be just as amazing!

You may be asking yourselves, what has been happening in JiFTY for the last month? Well let me tell you! Our biggest event was the election for the 2013/2014 JiFTY board. Here is a list of our new board members:

· President: Sam Blum

· Programming VP: Sam and Jeremy Fischer · Religious and Cultural VP: Jacob Furic · Social Actions VP: Shoshana Chipman and Reyna Cohen · Membership VP: Sam Ceisler · Communications VP: Isaiah Blum · Freshman Rep: Zach and Greg Kaplan

Mazel tov to our new board and we wish you the best of luck!

Also, last month, we had our annual end of the year party. It was a blast! Many seventh graders visited with us for an introduction to JiFTY. We hosted a ping-pong tournament, which was highly entertaining! For dinner, we had Italian food and then we gobbled down a delicious dessert consisting of ice cream cake, cookies, and brownies! Everyone mingled and talked about summer plans. After dinner, some of us went outside to play Frisbee, one of JiFTY members’ favorite activities.

As we all know, the school year is coming to a close, and unfortunately so is JiFTY—for the summer, anyway. Never fret, we always come back in the fall! We had such a wonderful year from planning our shul-in to holding elections. The board can’t wait to start preparing for next year. They have some fantastic ideas brewing in their creative minds!

We hope to see more eighth through twelfth graders participating in JiFTY next year! Have a wonderful summer and stay cool! Andrew and I will miss all of you!

-Jessica Sheptin, CVP

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May 2013

RS grade 2 writes and acts out Hebrew letter skits on the last day of school!

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Making Mother’s Day gifts in the yellow room

May 2013

Graham Clarke entertained us during the book swap

Matt Emmer played guiter for Camp Shabbat

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Jewish Family Congregation Shofar

Jane helped us get everything we need for s’mores at Camp Shabbat

Farmer Dale plated peas, and helped us weed the garden this month.

We also planted giant sunflowers.

May 2013

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May 2013