WCT Makom April 2019 by Woodlands Community Temple

the newsletter of woodlands community temple

April 2019 Adar II - Nissan 5779

Promoting Justice

1st Seder is Friday evening, April 19 A ziesen Pesakh ... a sweet and meaningful Passover to all!

The Annual Matzah Brei Brunch

An Interview with Sunday, April 21 Amy Spitalnick of fter spending days in the kitchen preparing food Integrity First for America for your Passover seder,

atching the news can feel surreal. In 2017, we thought, “are those really Nazis marching in Charlottesville?” Today, we stare in disbelief as blatant acts of hate grow in number around the country. Yet instead of sitting in fear, folks around the country are speaking out. One such person is Amy Spitalnick, the Executive Director of Integrity First for America. Amy will be speaking at Shabbat services on Friday, April 12 (8:00pm). Amy and I have been close friends since college, so it brought me great

by Rabbi Mara Young joy to sit down and interview her about her work: First, tell me about Integrity First for America. When was it formed? What’s its mission? IFA was formed in 2017 as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to holding those accountable who threaten long-standing principles of our democracy, including civil rights and equal justice. Most notably, IFA is the organization supporting the lawsuit against the Nazis and white supremacists who violently attacked Charlottesville in August 2017. Our

plaintiffs are a coalition of Charlottesville community members, including students and clergy, who were harmed. The defendants are 25 neo-Nazis, white

Amy Spitalnick

you probably need a break from cooking. Fear not! Woodlands will provide you with the perfect exodus from your kitchen enslavement at the annual Passover Matzah Brei Brunch. Hang up your apron and come on over to WCT on Sunday, April 21 from 10:30am-12:00pm for tasty Passover-approved brunch treats, including our legendary matzah brei cooked up by members of the Jewish Life Committee. Our dedicated kitchen crew of fryers and brei-ers will cook up scrumptious matzah brei meal, complete with scrambled eggs for those who simply can’t look at another piece of matzah. There will also be coffee, juice, something sweet to go along with it, and plenty of good company.

Continued on page 2

Woodlands, Inc. By Gary Stern

es, Woodlands Community Temple is a temple and a community. But it’s also a sizeable organization – a non-profit institution that operates pretty much 365 days a year. Woodlands the organization relies on a team of clergy, staff and congregants to keep things humming so that it can pursue its Jewish mission as a temple and community. While congregants support Woodlands the organization with their dues, they can most help Woodlands thrive by showing up and getting involved. To become a good Woodlands “citizen” means not only attending services, participating in educational offerings, and taking part in social action – as central as these things are to Woodland’s identity and mission – but becoming acquainted with the inner workings

of “WCT Inc.” “It’s like being a good citizen of your school district or even the United States,” says Woodlands President Andy Farber. “Anyone can complain about their taxes. What’s important is getting involved and learning how the money is spent. At Woodlands, we have room for a lot more people to participate, at all levels. There are a million small jobs that mean a lot and would make congregants feel more tied to the congregation.” Rabbi Mara Young notes that for many congregants, annual dues to Woodlands can represent their larger contribution to a non-profit. If viewed this way, congregants should want to have a voice in decisions that determine Woodlands’ priorities. “We’re all stakeholders in a mission-based organization.” she says. “We need people to roll up Continued on page 2

What is matzah brei? First, of all, it rhymes with “lotzah fry”! It’s a dish of Ashkenazi Jewish origin made from matzah fried with eggs, commonly eaten as a breakfast dish. This is truly an event for all ages. We’ll have some crafts and activities to help occupy the young children. It’s a great way to keep your great-aunt or grandchildren out of the house for a few hours and having fun! $10/adult; $5/child; $20/ family. wct.org/passoverbrunch

Our Woodlands Community Rabbi Billy Dreskin rabbi@wct.org Rabbi Mara Young rabbimara@wct.org Cantor Jonathan Ben Gordon cantor@wct.org Lily Mandell, Director of Youth Engagement youth@wct.org Corey Friedlander, Sh’liakh K’hilah corey@wct.org Zach Plesent, Rabbinic Intern intern@wct.org

Executive Committee Andy Farber, President president@wct.org Nancy Fishman, VP Education education@wct.org Michael Witkowski, VP Facilities facilities@wct.org Michael Wiskind, VP Finance finance@wct.org Jenna Lebowich, VP Programming/Ritual programming@wct.org Herb Friedman, Financial Secretary financialsecretary@wct.org Steve Sagner, Secretary secretary@wct.org Bonni Abore, Treasurer treasurer@wct.org

Board of Trustees Irv Adler David Bertan Pam Chernoff Judy Feder Yvette Gralla Amy Green

Toby Linder Lisa Linn Matthew Moss Mike Scafidi Ann Zarider Jay Zwicker

Dayle Fligel (ex-officio)

Office Staff Liz Rauchwerger, Office Coordinator liz@wct.org Marjorie Mattel, Office Assistant marjorie@wct.org Michele Montague, Education Administrative Assistant michele@wct.org Bookkeeper bookkeeper@wct.org

Woodlands Community Temple 50 Worthington Road White Plains, NY 10607 914.592.7070 main office 914.592.1790 religious school direct line 914.592.7376 fax wct@wct.org www.wct.org Religious School: school@wct.org

Woodlands Community Temple is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Art Director: Melanie Roher Advertising Director: Dayle Fligel

www.wct.org

Promoting Justice – An Interview with Amy Spitalnick of Integrity First for America, Continued from p. 1

supremacists, and white nationalist organizations responsible for orchestrating and executing the violence. What project/case are you working on right now that you’re most excited about? The Charlottesville suit has the potential to move the needle in the fight for justice – not just holding accountable the Nazis who orchestrated the attacks, but also potentially bankrupting the white supremacist movement and making clear that conspiracies to commit racially-motivated violence have no place here. As our suit details, the defendants plotted the violence online for months ahead of the August 2017 “Unite the Right” rally. They conspired to harm those who were peacefully speaking out against hate – resulting in Heather Heyer’s death and countless other injuries. It’s clear that ignoring the growing threat of white supremacism hasn’t worked. Our suit confronts the conspiracy head on, in the courts. What drew you to your new role, personally? We are facing a crisis of violent extremism – from Charlottesville to Pittsburgh, these extremists have become emboldened. The numbers sadly back this up: recent studies by the Anti-Defamation League found that anti-Semitic incidents surged 57% from 2016 to 2017; right-wing extremism was linked to every 2018 extremist murder in the U.S.; and right-wing extremists killed more people last year than any year since 1995 (the year of the Oklahoma City bombing). I’m the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and I’ve spent the last decade working in public service, most recently as a senior advisor to the New York Attorney General. Both of those pieces of my background drew me to IFA and its work. It’s hard to believe that in 2019, we’re still fighting Nazis – especially in America. But we are, and it’s an honor to get to do this work at this critical moment. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Amy to our bimah and learning first-hand about her important work and how we can help move the needle in the right direction! Woodlands, Inc., Continued from p. 1

their sleeves, not just to feel good about participating, but to keep this organization breathing and moving.” Woodlands’ calendar (available on wct.org) is always chock full of committee meetings for the next several months. Congregants never need an invitation. Simply say that you’re there to see how things work, and perhaps get involved in some way, and you’ll be welcomed. “You don’t have to come to every meeting,” Farber says. “Just start with one.” Two important upcoming meetings are: Wed, May 8 at 8:00 pm, Congregational Budget Meeting: Learn about the proposed budget for 2019-20 (5780). Wed, May 15 at 8:00 pm, Annual Meeting: Be there to vote on the budget. Congregant Dale Glasser knows about running a Jewish organization, as he is COO of the Shames Jewish Community Center in Tarrytown. He also oversees Woodlands’ Derekh Leadership

Development Program, which is completing its 20th year of training congregants in temple operations and leaderDerekh ship. Glasser says that the most significant temple experiences for many congregants involve feeling the power of community, and that congregants can help contribute to that power by becoming more involved themselves. “The amount one gets from Woodlands is directly proportional to the amount one gives…not financially, but gives of him or herself.” Glasser invites all to attend Shabbat services on Fri, April 5, when this year’s Derekh graduates will be honored. Then check the pages of Makom to find out when the program will next be offered. “Woodlands is a place to get involved to make a difference, to give back, to be a role model for our children and to have a hands-on opportunity to work towards creating a better world,” Glasser says.

˚r≤d≤

from the

President

Culture Shock Andy Farber, President

hanging culture is one of the most underestimated challenges of any organization. After all, how many times when the topic of “The Woodlands Way” comes up, does everyone agree that we are special and we’ll never change? Well, we’re not planning to change The Woodlands Way. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t evolve. For example, we do not have a culture of fundraising. It just wasn’t part of The Woodlands Way. But eight years ago, we set out to establish an annual campaign. Under the leadership of David Fligel, it is now raises over $50,000 a year. Could we do better? Possibly. Should more members participate? Absolutely. But it’s a start. Historically, we’ve done everything ourselves. Supported by a small but dedicated office staff, our volunteers take on the heavy lifting. We prepare the financial statements, we do the payroll. We clear, fold, and put away the tables after Friday night dinner. Our volunteers will do anything. But are there alternatives? Slowly, we are realizing that sometimes we can’t do everything by ourselves, and our time is better spent elsewhere. After all, we no longer fold chairs after Yom Kippur. Stu Berlowitz is chairing a task force looking into the possibility of bringing in an administrative professional, possibly an Executive Director, to Woodlands. This person would take over responsibility for the day to day operations of Woodlands. He or she would partner with our leadership, our clergy, our committees, the office staff, and our membership, to ensure that we operate properly, efficiently, and effectively. Our world is far more complex than it was when Woodlands was founded. We need to be aware of security issues, government regulations, staff and personnel requirements, insurance, our relationships with outside organizations...the lists go on and on. The Board will still be responsible for policy, setting our direction, and safeguarding The Woodlands Way. But an administrative professional could provide us with the assurance that The Woodlands Way, our culture, continues not just to survive, but to thrive.

Israel:

The Long and the Short of It Dissolving Boundaries by Roberta Roos

e Reform Jews value inclusion. This distances us from much of Israeli society, where both institutional structures and government policies create walls that prevent people from getting to know each other. But, every so often, groups within Israel find ways to break down these walls. Dissolving Boundaries is one of these ways. It uses the Jerusalem light rail to bring folks to parts of Jerusalem they knew nothing of. Participants board a train that weaves through different neighborhoods and disembark periodically to meet locals who explain life in the neighborhood — the good and the bad. Participants choose a day, time, and language (Arabic, Hebrew, English, or trilingual) but they don’t know in advance who they will meet — perhaps a Palestinian community leader, a Jewish artist, or an Orthodox LBGTQ activist — or where they will go — maybe an ultra-Orthodox nightclub, a section of the concrete separation wall, or a rehab center. All that is required is a willingness to engage with difference. Dissolving Boundaries is run each summer by Mekudeshet, an arts and cultural initiative. (http://en.mekudeshet.com/)

L’shalom,

Counting the Omer: April 21 - June 8, 2018 What counts in your life? Dollars? Calories? Rungs ascended? Accolades? In ancient Israel, on the second day of Pesakh, our ancestors brought the first sheaf (omer) of barley reaped that season as an offering to God. From that day, they began counting the days and weeks to Shavuot. Even after the Temple was destroyed and offerings no longer brought, Jews have continued to count the days from Pesakh to Shavuot. Every night, from the second night of Pesakh to the night before Shavuot, we recite a blessing and state the count of the Omer in both weeks and days. So on the 16th day, we would say, “Today is sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.” S’firat haOmer emphasizes the link between Pesakh (which commemorates the Exodus) and Shavuot (which commemorates the giving of the Torah). It reminds us that our redemption from slavery was not complete until we received the Torah, until we willingly limited our newfound freedom so that our communal life could thrive. Each year, the same challenge is issued to us. How will we count our days? Judaism advises, as Rabbi Chaim Stern wrote, “Let us be sure that the One we invoke is the Most High, not a god of battles, of state or status or ‘success’ – but the Source of peace and mercy and goodness. It behooves us to be careful what we are worshiping, for what we are worshiping we are becoming.”

Israel, like America, is a land we love. Its accomplishments inspire us, yet we struggle when it falls short of our dreams for it. This column explores Israel’s ongoing work toward building a nation firmly aligned with the Jewish values we love. Join us in probing the aspirations and endeavors of this complicated but cherished land.

Announcing: WCT Trip to Israel 2021! Everyone's got an opinion about Israel. How about you and your family form yours' firsthand? Rabbi Mara is currently working on an itinerary for a trip from Feb 11-21, 2021. Spend two Shabbats in Israel - one in Tel Aviv and one in Jerusalem. We'll head north, with plenty of encounters with local folks and meaningful sites. Trip is appropriate for all ages and for first and second timers alike. If you're interested, let Rabbi Mara know! (rabbimara@wct.org)

www.wct.org

From Environmental Task Force:

Green

the

Cantor

What Don’t We Know? Cantor Jonathan Gordon

Corner Take It Home

ow that Woodlands has been transforming its contribution to the Zero Waste movement by recycling and composting as much as possible, why not try it at home? If taking on conscientious waste disposal at home feels overwhelming and confusing, just take it one step at a time. 1. Start with a well-run recycling practice. Make sure you are putting the correct items in the bins. “Wish-cycling” that everything is recyclable can contaminate your recycling! Paper: We all know to recycle clean paper, newspaper, magazines and cardboard. Add junk mail too, but not personal mail. Pizza boxes are okay as long as not too greasy. You cannot recycle wax coated paper goods. Glass, Metal & Plastic: If you can rinse them out (without using way too much water!!) then do it. Don’t overuse water to clean out a dirty container. Most hard plastics are recyclable, but only with the ♺ symbol. Plastic utensils are not. Soft plastic wraps and styrofoam are not. 2. Already attained a fairly consistent recycling groove at home? Try adding composting! Set up a bin for your own in your backyard where you can reap the results of fresh fertilizer for your garden! Compost bins go for around $80 online, which makes it easy to mix, but other, less expensive ways are common. Too much to handle? Take advantage of the Town of Greenburgh’s new composting initiative! Purchase a $20 starter kit from any of the drop-offs now available in Tarrytown, Irvington, Hastings, Hartsdale, and soon in Dobbs Ferry! Our bal tashchit (do not waste) initiatives do not just live at Woodlands Community Temple, we have the power to take home what we learn, and continue to do our best to play our part in positive forward action.

www.wct.org

made it a point to view the President’s State of the Union Address. Just like watching the Super Bowl a week before, I wanted to share an event with the majority of my fellow citizens. There are so few things I actually experience with people who are not like me. Some folks I know made it a point of not hearing Trump’s oratory. They “knew what he would say,” and “didn’t want to add to the numbers.” Maybe they were partly right. Did the speech change anyone’s mind? Republicans loved the address, others were dismayed. A seminal question comes to mind: What does it mean when most people are so ready to embrace a new experience before it happens, and others are so ready to explain it away? We are talking to ourselves, and don’t know what we don’t know. Group ideas are often just plain wrong. Weapons of Mass Destruction? Very few said they weren’t there. Music critics knew Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was an abhorrent violation, they rioted in Paris. Miro was considered a purveyor of childish scrawl, while Edgar Guest and Mantovani were embraced as serious culture. Things aren’t always what they seem to be. On Groundhog Day the animal sees a clear sky, so we are in for mild weather, right? But it’s the opposite – clear skies mean a cold, clear, long winter. What don’t I see? When Samuel went to the house of Jesse, he’d been instructed to find the future King of Israel. The Prophet interviewed the boys, but was unconvinced. He finally asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” David, the scrawny kid out back with the livestock, had been overlooked. The words of Samuel echo in my mind. Are these all the ideas we have? In Tractate Sanhedrin there is an amazing teaching. In Rabbinic times, judges and witnesses were arranged according to their inclination to defend or convict the accused. The Talmud tells us that if all the people are inclined to convict, the defendant is to be set free. When everyone agrees, something must be wrong. The truth is never so clear and one sided. We had best keep our minds open to our limitations. Maybe we should focus on precise facts over general truths. And be careful not to demonize our fellow Americans whose ideas are unlike our own. Humans are prone to error, each and every one of us. The Talmud Bavli says, “Teach your tongue to say, I do not know; then you shall progress.”

Why are the Torah portions “off?” You may or may not notice it, but Torah at WCT is going its own way for a while. Generally, when Jewish holidays fall on Shabbat, our regular Torah reading (the parashah) is modified. But because we, as Reform Jews, don’t necessarily observe the second day of Sukkot, Pesakh or Shavuot (nor, by the way, does anyone in Israel), those special readings revert to regular ones. So on April 27/28, WCT will go “out of sync” with other synagogues (everywhere except in Israel), jumping one week ahead of the traditional Torah-reading cycle. Then on August 2/3, when the traditional world reads the “double-portion” of Matot-Masei, we’ll split them up. Taking two weeks to read Matot and Masei, instead of the usual one, will ultimately re-synchronize us with the rest of the Jewish world. This WCT tradition spiritually connects us to the Land of Israel and keeps us on our toes!

Worship Schedule Shabbat Tazria

Sat, Apr 20

Fri, May 3

Tazria ... Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59 ... II Kings 4:42 - 5:19

No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).

Shabbat Yom HaShoah at 8:00pm

Fri, Apr 5 Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 pm Honoring Derekh. Rabbinic Intern Zach Plesent will speak.

Sat, Apr 6 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 pm Celebrate with us as Josh Lukin, son of Jarid and Jennifer Lukin, becomes a Bar Mitzvah.

Shabbat Metzora Metzora ... Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33 ... II Kings 7:3 - 7:20…additional reading for Shabbat HaGadol is Malakhi 3:4-24

Fri, Apr 12 Jammin’ Shabbat at 7:00 pm A half-hour of zany, holy fun! Put on your jammies, bring a bedtime friend, a blanket if you like, and c’mon over for 30 minutes of Shabbat song, stories and blessings to get you ready for bed. Bring a buck for tzedakah. And don’t forget Mitzvah Hero Training at 6:45 pm!

Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 pm Amy Spitalnick, Executive Director of Integrity First for America will speak.

Fri, Apr 26 Pesakh Yizkor Memorial Hour at 9:00-10:00 am Whether someone you love died recently or many years ago, Jewish tradition provides an opportunity through Yizkor to reconnect memory and heart for a few moments out of our busy lives. While we can certainly each stop anytime to do this ourselves, to come together with our synagogue community is a beautiful and meaningful way to honor those we love. Please join us for our 7th Day of Pesakh Yizkor Hour. We’ll sing, read, and share a few words and thoughts of remembrance. Then we’ll return to our regular day.

Shabbat Akhrei Mot Akhrei Mot ... Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30 ... Ezekiel 22:1 - 22:19…7th day of the Omer

Fri, Apr 26 Mishpakha Shabbat at 7:00pm For the entire congregation, just earlier – meaningful for adults, engaging for kids! If you like, join us for a quick dinner at 6:00 pm – make your reservation at wct. org/mishpakha.

Sat, Apr 27

Louis Schmidt, an Emmy-Award winning producer, will share his personal account of his time as an interviewer for USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg. The USC Shoah Foundation’s video archive includes 55,000 video testimonies of firsthand experiences of genocide, the bulk of which expound on the Holocaust. Such a project helps us to never forget.

Babysitting Free babysitting is available during Friday night services! Let us know by the Wednesday prior and we will provide it! All Shabbat babysitting is done by our own Academy students. And you heard that right: there is no charge. For further information, contact us at babysitting@ wct.org.

Hevra Torah Learning Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am There’s abundant room around our table. Drop by once or often, we’d love to have you join our lively conversation. In the Meeting Room or Library.

Apr 6: Parashat Tazria Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

Sat, Apr 13

Sit and Sing - 10:30am-12:00pm

Apr 13: Parashat Metzora

No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).

A contemplative service with meditation, chanting, and prayer. Join rabbinical student and Acting Religious School Director Lisa Sacks for this intentional and peaceful approach to prayer.

Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

Shabbat Pesakh Exodus 12: 21-51…Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2:15; 6:1; 6:27

Fri, Apr 19

Apr 20: Pesakh Day One (Exodus 12: 21-51) Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

Apr 27: Parashat Akhrei Mot Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 pm No Shabbat evening service tonight due to 1st seder. If you need a seder to attend, visit wct.org/passoverseder.

www.wct.org

Sit and Sing:

A Contemplative Shabbat Worship Experience Saturday, Apr 27, 10:30am-12:00pm

ll week we engage in the work of the world. On Shabbat we emulate our Creator and consider our work complete. For these 25 hours, Jewish tradition charges us to create opportunities for rest and reflection, for prayer and for study, for oneg (delight) and for community. To tap into this opportunity in a new way, you are invited to join rabbinical student and Acting Religious School Director Lisa Sacks for a contemplative approach to Shabbat morning worship. We will draw inspiration from the early rabbis and begin with meditation, a chance to “be” rather than “do,” to bring our attention to the present moment of Shabbat peace rather than dwelling on past regrets or future worries. Then, our preliminary prayers will be replaced by a series of chants drawn from the traditional liturgy and framed by special kavannot (intentions). Finally, we will conclude with an abbreviated version of the traditional Shabbat morning tefillah. We hope you will join us (light refreshments will be served afterwards to increase our Shabbat joy)!

Celebrate WCT! Annual Benefit Save the Date! Join your temple friends on June 15 at Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in Elmsford for a great night out in support of the temple that will include a brewery tour, beer tastings, indoor and outdoor games, and fun and flavorful foods! Get to know the communities that make up our WCT community. We’ll have townthemed raffle baskets, sponsorships from local businesses, and are planning on printing a community directory as our journal so we can all know who’s who and how to find each other. Keep an eye out for more details and registration in May. Meanwhile, we need your help to make this event happen. Co-chairs Fern Richter and Lauretta Kahn have started the ball rolling, but they need volunteers to help with the party, the journal, raffles, and lots of other details. Contact them at Fern.Richter@gmail.com and Laurk899@ gmail.com. Looking forward to a great night out together in support of Woodlands!

www.wct.org

The Real Story Behind the Orange on the Seder Plate

any folks have taken up the custom of putting an orange on the seder table as a feminist symbol. While often explained as a symbol of women’s equality (particularly welcoming women rabbis), the orange was originally a symbol of LGBTQ+ equality. Perhaps it can adorn your table this year? From MyJewishLearning.com: “In the early 1980s, while speaking at Oberlin College Hillel (the campus Jewish organization), Susannah Heschel, a well-known Jewish feminist scholar (and daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel), was introduced to an early feminist Haggadah that suggested adding a crust of bread on the seder plate, as a sign of solidarity with Jewish lesbians (which was intended to convey the idea that there’s as much room for a lesbian in Judaism as there is for a crust of bread on the seder plate). Heschel felt that to put bread on the seder plate would be to accept that Jewish lesbians and gay men violate Judaism like hametz [leavened food] violates Passover. So at her next seder, she chose an orange as a symbol of inclusion of gays and lesbians and others who are marginalized within the Jewish community. She offered the orange as a symbol of the fruitfulness for all Jews when lesbians and gay men are contributing and active members of Jewish life. In addition, each orange segment had a few seeds that had to be spit out – a gesture of spitting out, repudiating the homophobia of Judaism.”

Mazel tov to Derekh!

n Friday, April 5 at 8pm, twenty members of our congregation will be honored as they complete Derekh, Woodlands’ leadership training program. Honorees that evening will include: Pam Chernoff, Linda Einfrank, Judy Feder, David Gaffen, Michael Goldberg, Joy Gralnick, Gail Hacker, Seth Hochman, Scott Kaufman, Lauren Kaufman, Barbara Landress, Andy Loose, Elizabeth Mueller, Amanda North, Fern Richter, Emily Roos, Jeff Schlossberg, Debbie Shapiro, Leigh Smith. We will express our thanks, as well, to Derekh instructor Dale Glasser. We are so fortunate to benefit from his many years of experience and to be partnering with him in our leadership development programming. Thank you also to temple president, Andy Farber, for your contributions. Derekh fosters the development of future temple leadership for years, even decades, to come and we are grateful to all who are helping to make this program happen. The class learns about temple governance, effective leadership and applying these to a Jewish spiritual setting. We very much look forward to harvesting its fruits in the years ahead. Please plan to be with us.

˚r≤d≤ Derekh

WCT’s Tzedakah Shopping Cart Please Bring Food! Adults and children: Your donations to our “Tzedakah Shopping Cart” feed hungry people right here in Westchester. Each time you come to Woodlands, please bring a few (unexpired!) non-perishables with you. Parents: When your children join you in giving to others, they watch the most powerful role-model in their lives and they will remember this lesson in “menschlichkeit” forever. So make sure you bring something for the Tzedakah Cart too. Get into the tzedakah habit!

Why I Volunteer @ Temple In this column, we introduce you to fellow temple members who have stepped forward to help make Woodlands a place we can all love.

Judy Feder

aul, my husband, and I joined WCT because we liked “The Woodlands Way.” We wanted Lara, our daughter, to learn Jewish studies, become a B’nai Mitzvah, attend Academy, do Confirmation and ultimately, Senior Year Graduation. I was raised going to another local synagogue where my parents were actively involved with its founding, spending a lot of time and effort, so being involved was familiar and important to me.

I attended Mussar and other adult classes and then joined the Board of Trustees after I became an empty nester. Being on the board allows me to learn and help in various temple aspects. As I attend meetings and events, I gain new insights and skills that keep me connected to the community while building new relationships and exploring networking opportunities. Knowledge, volunteerism and charity will always be important in my life as symbolized by The Woodlands Way.

Cantorial Future Planning is Underway The work has started to determine what life will be like at Woodlands after Cantor Jonathan’s retirement on June 30, 2020. The Cantorial Future Planning Committee (CFPC) has been created to assess and evaluate our congregation’s needs for cantorial services and to recommend to the Board of Trustees how to best fulfill those needs. The committee represents the various demographic groups of our community. All the participants are very committed to this project and the future of Woodlands as a vibrant, musical community. The committee members are VP of Programming and Ritual Jenna Lebowich (chairperson), temple President Andy Farber, Jewish Life Committee co-chair Chuck Fishman, Immediate Past President Dayle Fligel, Sandi Lieb, Mark Kaufman, Lois Izes, and Toby Linder, with support and consultation from Rabbi Mara Young and Cantor Ellen Dreskin. Rabbi Billy shared his thoughts with us before he left for sabbatical and will join the discussion once he returns. The CFPC will provide updates to the community through Makom and the weekly emails as their work progresses. They may be reaching out to other groups and/or individuals at Woodlands for information and feedback and will always welcome questions and input from the community. Please feel free to speak directly to any of the committee members with questions or to share your thoughts regarding our cantorial program. Emails can be sent to Programming@wct.org for Jenna to share with the committee, or to Andy at President@wct.org.

To Live in the Pesakh Paradox All of Passover is concealed within one phrase: B’tokh hayam bi-yabasha ... [and the children of Israel went] into the midst of the sea on dry ground. The whole thing is crammed into one literally impossible, delicious self-contradiction. You can either be “in the midst of the sea” or you can be “on dry ground.” But you cannot be both. At the core of this great feast of redemption is the preposterous assertion that the redemption of the children of Israel did not occur until

they entered a mode of being in which they were simultaneously and impossibly both slave and free, wet and dry, dead and alive. Perhaps this is why, as the haggadah reminds us, every Jew must regard him or herself as if he or she were personally a slave in Egypt. But how could that be? Here we are sitting around a banquet table as free men and women! To live in the paradox. — Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

Passover is just days away…are you ready? Let us help you create a beautiful Seder table and make your Passover storytelling a memorable experience for all. This year, get everyone involved with our 10 Plagues headbands. They’re colorful and adjustable to fit all ages. And check out all our holiday fun items…frogs that flip, matzoh balls that march and Passover socks with matzoh! And if you’re tired of finding matzoh crumbs under the sofa cushions from towel wrapped Afikomen hunts… our zipper topped Afikomen bags are reusable and a welcome addition to your holiday celebration. As we head into wedding, anniversary and new home season we are delighted to feature new artist to Woodlands, Jennifer Wankoff’s beautiful ceramic Judaica. Jennifer learned pottery while on a trip to Israel from a Kibbutz leader who not only taught ceramics but incorporated Hebrew terms, Jewish traditions and history in his classes. Jennifer’s wheel thrown, soft colored Havdalah set will be treasured by any bride and groom and her hamsa trivet is a unique house warming gift.

The Judaica Shop at Woodlands is open, by request, every day the temple office is staffed. Evening and weekend hours are noted in the weekly temple email blast. Have a question? Special request? Email us at judaicashop@wct.org.

www.wct.org

April Happenings & Beyond Learning Jewish Studies Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 am Join us as Harriet Levine teaches about the environment for Jews in Medieval Europe.

Woodlands Singers From time to time, our Woodlands Singers delights and enriches our services and other special events. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings, 8:15-9:15 pm. If you can carry a tune and like group singing, this is the place for you. Contact Cantor Jonathan (cantor@ wct.org) for more information.

Talmud with Martin Irwin Thursdays, Apr 11-May 16 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Lunch and Learn Third Wednesdays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm A wonderful lunch and timely discussions of important topics. $10 per session. Coming dates: Coming dates: Apr 17, May 15 and Jun 19. On Apr 17, Dr. Nancy Fishman will speak about breast cancer’s prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and the latest in research and prevention. Sign up at wct. org/lunchandlearn.

Book Club Wed, Apr 10, 2:00 - 3:00 pm Facilitated by Karen Margulies. Apr 10 at 2:00 pm

We will be reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris. It tells the tale of Lali Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew imprisoned at Auschwitz and forced to tattoo numbers onto the arms of thousands of incoming prisoners. At the camp, Lali falls in love with a Slovakian prisoner who he must tattoo – based on a true story.

www.wct.org

Current Events Wed, Apr 17, 10:00 - 11:30 am Join us for an always lively discussion on current events. An agenda will be emailed to participants ahead of the meeting. Contact Phyllis Hirth (phyllishrth@gmail) for more information. Subsequent session: May 15.

S’forim Forum Sat, May 4, 4:30 - 6:00 pm

Social Action Project Ezra Passover Food Drive If you have not yet donated food to help low-income seniors on NYC’s Lower East Side observe Passover, you can still participate in this program. Monetary donations are needed (checks payable to WCT, “Project Ezra Passover” on the memo line) and shoppers are needed to complete the shopping list on April 5-8. You also have the opportunity to deliver food to the recipients at their homes on Sunday morning, April 14. For information or to volunteer, contact Harriet Kohn at Project Ezra@wct.org.

Come read and discuss the best books in Jewish fiction, facilitated by Cantor Jonathan. We will read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. The novel’s plot is set in the beginning of the 20th century Russian Empire and follows the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov and his life in the Hotel Metropol where he has been under house arrest for thirty-two years. The 20th century was one of the most turbulent times in the history of Europe. Old political systems were deemed obsolete. People wanted change; they wanted rights for all, not just for the wealthy. In the Russian Empire ‘old and new’ clashed in blood, violence, and death. During the 20th century, being noble was not very popular in Russia. Communists slowly but surely gained more and more trust from the people. Since their agenda blamed several groups of people for every misfortune that happened, being a count became very dangerous. Alexander Ilyich Rostov knows this. He almost gets killed but is saved at the last moment in the most peculiar way. An interesting novel, filled with historical segments, A Gentleman in Moscow is more than just a story of one man. It is a story of survival and uncertainty in dire times. A light snack and Havdalah follow.

Breakfast Run Sun, Apr 7, 6:45 - 10:30 am WCT takes pride in caring for those less fortunate. Join us in serving breakfast on a NYC street. Individual adults as well as families with children in middle school and older are welcome. Even if you can’t go on the run, you can help by donating food (soft grain bars, fruit cups, hard boiled eggs, cheese, yogurt, bagels, milk, juice boxes) or clothing (particularly gently used large and extra-large t-shirts, new men’s and women’s undershirts/pants) and individual size toiletries. To go on the run or provide food, email Betsy Schorr and Michael Silverman at midnightrunbreakfasts@wct.org. To donate clothing or toiletries, just drop them off at the designated collection bin outside the temple office. Next run is June 2.

If you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Abuse, please share this confidential hotline:

Knitting and Crocheting Sun, Apr 7, 3:00 - 5:00 pm Reform Jewish Advocacy Efforts/Civic Responsibility and Advocacy in Albany Mon, Apr 8 Based on the conversations and stories from over 130 leaders from 35 Reform communities across the state, and the quickly moving dynamics in Albany, the decision was made for RAC-NY to take on Drivers’ Licenses for undocumented New Yorkers as RAC-NY’s first campaign. Monday, April 8 is our first RAC-NY gathering in Albany to connect in person and lobby for Drivers Licenses for all NYers (or the Green Light NY campaign). For information about participating, email socialaction@wct.org.

April Mensch of the Month is First Grade You, too, can be a mensch by bringing in canned tomatoes, fruit and vegetables. Help our local food pantries and the folks they serve.

Youth Engagement Academy Big Sibs 8th - 11th Grades Get ready to be a part of the coolest new thing at Woodlands. For the first time, we are starting a mentorship program for Academy, called Big and Little Sibs. Academy Veterans have the opportunity to serve as a mentor to a rising 8th grader, and show them the ropes of teen programming at Woodlands. If you are interested, please contact Lily at youth@wct.org.

Derekh: A Pathway into Adult Jewish Learning is ready for

its second retreat after our successful retreat during Sukkot in partnership with Hevreh of Southern Berkshire in Great Barrington.

This summer, we will be meeting at the Mt. Washington Conference Center, July 17-21. Derekh’s goal is to provide intensive quality Jewish learning to adults from around the country while enabling time for renewal and reflection through prayer and community. The theme for this retreat is “Mah Tovu: Finding the Good.” The limud faculty are Rabbis Amy Scheinerman, Joseph Skloot (HUC) and Jacob Staub (RRC). Cantor Rosalie Boxt (URJ) will be teaching and leading t’filot. Teaching the chug track will be Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber, Cantor Boxt and Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Inscriptions for Memorial Garden Wall Twice a year, Woodlands adds names to our beautiful outdoor Memorial Wall and dedicates them during a Yizkor service. The spring dedication will be held during the last day of Passover, Friday, April 26, at 9:00 am. If you wish to have names inscribed on our garden Memorial Wall in time for the Passover dedication, please go to wct.org/memorialwall to fill out the form no later than Mon, April 15. The price for inscription is $800. Space(s) may be reserved on the Memorial Wall for future inscriptions with a 50% deposit ($400 per name). If you have already reserved a name, the price in effect at the time of the reservation will continue to be honored. All names (whether they are to be inscribed or reserved) must be listed on the form. You must pay in full for any names reserved. This information is required by the engravers so that appropriate space may be allocated for future inscriptions.

Yom HaShoah

(Holocaust Remembrance Day) Starts Wednesday Evening, May 1

oodlands is mailing Yellow Candles to all our members. Please light yours to remember The Six Million.

Remembering the Holocaust is not simply a time to memorialize our dead – six million senseless murders cannot ever be adequately mourned. But if their deaths are to have ultimate meaning, that meaning must lie not in our perpetual tears and anger; it is to be found in our ongoing commitment to the values of our Jewish faith – values which mandate human decency, compassion, and justice. These are the values which experienced a total eclipse during the Shoah, but are precisely those which the Shoah demands we preserve and nurture, and struggle endlessly to find places for them among the community of humankind. After the Holocaust, some say we can no longer believe in a God that cares. Others say, “It is because of the Holocaust that we must insist upon believing. Because the alternative — a universe in which we are hopelessly alone and without purpose — is absolutely and utterly unacceptable.” Yom HaShoah is observed each year on the 27th day of Nisan, chosen in 1951 by the government of Israel because it falls beyond Pesakh but during the time of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. So this year, on Wednesday evening, May 1, light a candle for the six million. And then live a life that brings continual light — the lights of warmth and of wisdom — to even the darkest corners of our world.

www.wct.org

Upcoming Meetings

Executive Committee Mon, Apr 1 at 8:15 pm

Board Budget Meeting Wed, Apr 3 at 8:00 pm

The Simkha Page

Our B’nai Mitzvah Joshua Lukin April 6 Torah Portion Tazria Hebrew Name Yosef Benyamin

School Board Mon, Apr 8 at 8:00 pm

Finance Committee Mon, Apr 8 at 8:15 pm

Board of Trustees Mon, Apr 22 at 8:15 pm We would be delighted to welcome you to any temple meeting that interests you. Please be in touch with Andy Farber (president@wct.org) for information on how to join (or just visit) a committee.

Security Fund At the January Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved creation of a new restricted fund to cover the growing costs of security at Woodlands. The Security Fund recognizes the growing need to fund expenditures to make us feel safe and secure within our walls. The fund was approved for both capital improvements and ongoing costs of security measures, and will be listed with other restricted funds under Program Support. Donations can be made directly to the fund, and the Board can designate funds to be transferred between the Operating Fund and the Security Fund.

Is It Time to Purchase Cemetery Plots? Woodlands Community Temple has graves available for purchase at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla. The cost per grave is $3,300. If you are interested or have questions, please contact cemetery@wct.org.

www.wct.org

Mazal Tov to... Jarid and Jennifer Lukin, as their son, Joshua, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Steve Krebs, on the naming of his granddaughter, Victoria Jordan, daughter of Michael and Marissa Krebs.

Dale and Elly Glasser on the engagement of their daughter, Rabbi Maya Glasser, to Jake Bayer.

Todah Rabbah (thank you) to... Chuck Bauer and Jill Garland for organizing the Blood Drive in March and to everyone who donated their time and their blood to give the gift of life. Everyone who participated in the Purim Goody Bag fundraiser. Your generosity directly supports our religious school and our temple. Harriet Kohn for organizing the Project Ezra Food Drive. Val Fox, Melissa Goldsmith and Allison Pray for organizing the March 17 dinner for the teens at The Sanctuary. The cast of “Esther’s ‘80s Prom Purim”: Marina Lebowich, Sam Scafidi, Ashley Klein, Cantor Jonathan, Lily Mandell, Lisa Sacks, Zach Plesent, and Rabbi Mara.

Jenna Lebowich for teaching us how to make some traditional Pesakh recipes with a healthier twist. The Jonah Maccabee Concert Committee: Lesli Cattan, co-chair, Lisa Linn, cochair, Karen Berlowitz, Katie Dreskin Boonshoft, Billy Dreskin, Ellen Dreskin, Greg Linn, Phyllis Opochinsky, Geri E. Pell, Steve Schwartz, Fran Smith, Deborah Wiskind. Stu Berlowitz, Robert Cattan, Ruthie Miller, Karen Ponce, Melanie Roher Schwartz, and Michael Wiskind, for providing additional help for the Jonah Concert. Hernando, Liz, Marjorie, Michele for their invaluable support and assistance for the Jonah Concert!

The Simkha Page

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 Mara’s Mitzvah Fund

Social Action Fund

In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, mother of Mike Scafidi, from Herb Friedman.

In memory of Philip Barnhard IV, father of Elizabeth Barnhard, from David and Dayle Fligel.

Cantor’s Discretionary Fund In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, mother of Mike Scafidi, from Herb Friedman.

Chai Fund In memory of Alfred Hagouel, from Jay Perlstein and Bette Hagouel. In Yahrzeit memory of Max Chernoff, father of Joel Chernoff, from Joel and Pam Chernoff. In memory of Bernice Tobor Wineberg, mother of Rachel Weinberg, from David and Dayle Fligel. In Yahrzeit memory of Adela Froimowitz, mother, from Sandra Erbst-Froimowitz. In memory of Larry Rosenberg, brother of Lois Bacharach, from Max and Sandy Tuchman. In memory of Les Stroh, husband of Genevieve Stroh, from David and Dayle Fligel. In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, from Larry and Yvette Gralla.

Music Fund

The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of MaryAnn Scafidi mother of Michael Scafidi Aaron Sibirski father of Nancy Oren Leslie Stroh husband of Genevieve Stroh

In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, mother of Mike Scafidi, from David and Dayle Fligel.

Torah and Ritual Fund In memory of Bernice Tobor Wineberg, mother of Rachel Weinberg, from Chuck and Nancy Fishman. In memory of Henry Louis Clayman, father of Marcia Kingston, from Chuck and Nancy Fishman.

HaMakom y’nakhem otam… may God bring comfort to all who are in mourning. Zekher tzadik livrakha ... may their memory be for a blessing.

Jonah Maccabee Fund In honor of Sam Miro becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Paul and Alyssha Miro.

What is Yizkor?

Refugee Resettlement Fund

In memory of Armand Lubelski, grandfather, from Michelle Ratau.

any of us are familiar with a yartzeit, the yearly remembering of a loved one who has died. In addition to this individual date of remembrance, Judaism has a number of memorial services throughout the year that bring together all those who are missing someone who has died. Yizkor means “may [God] remember” and it occurs four times a year: on Yom Kippur (we at WCT observe it in the afternoon in the tent), Shemini Atzeret (at the end of Sukkot/the start of Simkhat Torah), the seventh day of Passover, and Shavuot. Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot were once pilgrimage holidays, when people would travel to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. As those holidays changed for life in the diaspora, new rituals were instated. Originally, Yizkor was recited only on Yom Kippur. Tzedakah was given in order to “elevate the soul” of the departed. Since the Torah reading on the last day of the pilgrimage festivals mentions the importance of donations, Yizkor was instituted on these days as well. Yizkor provides an opportunity to realize we are not alone in our grief. At WCT, we have a good-sized gathering of folks who lost someone many years ago, as well as recently. Come take some time to remember with us at our Passover Yizkor on Fri, Apr 26 at 9:00-10:00 am and/or Shavuot Yizkor on Sun, Jun 9 at 9:00-10:00am. Also consider giving a tzedakah donation in honor of your loved one to your organization of choice. May your loved ones’ memories be for a blessing.

www.wct.org

Passover Seder Matching System! Need a place to go for Passover seder this year? Or, do you have extra room at your table and can host a fellow WCT member? According to the Talmud, hosting wayfarers is a mitzvah (holy obligation) for which one is rewarded in this world and in the world to come. On Passover, this mitzvah is even more pressing. This year, the first night of Passover falls on Friday night, April 19. You may find yourself looking for a place to go for either first or second seder (Friday night and Saturday night, respectively). Or on the other hand, you may have room at your table where you can invite a few guests. We’d like to help you find one another! Please visit wct.org/passoverseder and fill out the simple form to indicate if you can play host or need to be hosted. Let’s help one another have a fulfilling and joyous holiday! If you have any questions or prefer to connect by phone, email hesed@wct.org. Thank you for helping us fulfill this mitzvah at this special time of year.

Hats off to Our Treasured Office Staff! Administrative Professionals Day is April 24!

ots of people make Woodlands work on a daily basis. From our layleaders to our Director of Youth Engagement to our clergy and volunteers, so many people put their heart and soul into Woodlands. Our office staff is no exception. They are each a jack-of-alltrades and the friendly first-faces of our temple. In honor of Administrative Professionals Day (April 24) we’d like for you to get to know them a little bit: Liz Rauchwerger was born in Queens and bred in Woodmere. Liz has worked at WCT for 13 years. Personable and warm, Liz enjoys music and theatre, traveling, family time, and the beach. Michele Montague is the strong backbone of our religious school. Originally from Suffolk County, Long Island, she has been working at Woodlands for close to 9 years. Her family is also actively involved in our temple community. Little known fact about Michele: she’s a black belt in karate and learned to weave. Marjorie Mattel, born and raised in the Bronx and Mt. Vernon, Marjorie is funny and smart! Marjorie likes to travel, attend theatre, cook, dine out, and values spending time with her family. Our bookkeepers are Sandra Ginez and Michelle Osorio.

www.wct.org

Biscuits, Bubbles and Blessings

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

Major Supporter of Woodlands Community Temple DATF

GRAND OPENING! 2nd Month FREE

630 Saw Mill River Rd Ardsley, NY 10502

914-357-4411 • FREE Move-In Truck

• Interior Loading Bay • Climate Controlled Interior

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

JudaiConnection Bringing Life to the Dead By Rabbinic Intern Zach Plesent

ews love blessings. We have a blessing after we eat; we have a blessing before we eat; we have a different blessing before we eat if that meal didn’t include any bread, so on and so on. We even have a special blessing that some people say upon seeing someone whom they haven’t seen in a long time. It goes like this: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, m’chayei hametim. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who gives life to the dead. Now, wait a minute. This person isn’t dead, we just haven’t seen them in a long time. However, the metaphorical language used here is what makes this blessing so powerful. Jewish tradition likens the experience of re-connection to that of reviving the dead. This phrase, m’chayei hameitim, is also used twice in the traditional version of the Gevurot, the second prayer in our Amidah. By the nineteenth century, this phrase had become controversial, particularly in Reform settings. At this point, much of the way Reform worship looked was intentionally mirrored to Protestant practice. For Protestants, there began to be a shift from the resurrection of the dead to an immortality of the soul (the former remaining a traditional Christian principle). This belief was soon adopted by Reform Jews as well. In an 1860 revision of a prayer book created for Temple Emanu-El of the City of New

to reviving the dead, there’s a lot of power in keeping the phrase of m’chayei hametim and promoting a metaphorical reading. M’chayei hametim could be about giving life to that which feels dead, or dormant, in our lives. Or, just like the blessing, could be about giving new life and new energy to a relationship that has faltered. When we read this as metaphor, we can use it as a reminder for ourselves.

York, we first see this phrase replaced with m’chayei hakol (who gives life to all things). This phrase became adopted more widely by the Reform movement, and it appears in some form in all of the movement’s following prayer books, as well as in the ones we use here at Woodlands. While the change to m’chayei hakol was made to avoid any possible literal reading of God as having the ability

n our High Holy Day Machzor, Mishkan HaNefesh — which is the Reform Movement’s newest liturgical publication — the phrase reappears, but now as an option. Embracing the Reform Jewish pillar of choice through knowledge, the prayer now reads “m’chayei hakol/ meitim.” We now have the power to choose which phrase to use in our own prayers, but we also have the power to choose how we read the phrases, perhaps through the lens of meaningful metaphor. As we embrace and embody the divine spark within each of us, we can take hold of this power – thinking back to that blessing said after seeing someone after a long absence. Let us consider those relationships and experiences we have and breathe into them a little bit of new life. Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, M’chayei HaMeitim. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who enables us to renew and reinvigorate our lives.