WCT Makom April 2015 by Woodlands Community Temple

the newsletter of woodlands community temple

April 2015 Nisan-Iyyar 5775

Israel and WCT: Tough Love by Rabbi Billy Dreskin

nce upon a time, a Jew could fall in love with Israel, no questions asked. With hostile neighbors all around, and freshly-resettled after 2000 years, our hearts and souls were one. But that was then and now is now. Israel still lives in a tough neighborhood, but over the years she’s toughened up too. In addition, many of us no longer give Israel a pass on human rights responsibilities. In fact, because Israel is a Jewish state, we expect her to behave like one. So we’ve begun to expect highly ethical behavior regarding treatment of Arab minorities, of women, of Reform Jews and, perhaps most significantly, of Palestinians in the occupied territories. Maintaining a relationship with Israel is no longer mindlessly simple. For some, it’s quite a struggle. Love can be tough. At Woodlands, we recognize the challenges inherent in loving a nation that sometimes behaves differently than we hoped. Just as we continue to love and improve a highly-flawed America, so too with Israel. As we work to improve standards of justice and opportunity here, we will not cease trying to nudge Israel forward as well. ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America, is Reform Judaism’s voice in the Holy Land. It works to strengthen and enrich our relationship with Israel, in large part by promoting advocacy for an Israel that is pluralistic, just and democratic. ARZA works in partnership with Israel’s Reform movement and the Israel Religious Action Center to advance pluralism by defending freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion. In short, ARZA works on the stuff that makes us proud of Israel. Each summer, when you receive your dues notice, there is an “ARZA Check-off” which allows each one of us to support ARZA’s vital work through an inexpensive annual membership. It’s a modest act which, if we all step up, can effect a lot of good in Israel. Continued on page 2

WCT Probes Judaism’s Ethics

Don’t be a Stranger! Passover 5775 On Sat, Apr 4, we’ll celebrate a morning of eating, learning, singing, and schmoozing. Put off cooking for 2nd seder a couple of hours and come join the fun! Don’t be a Stranger will have three-parts. Part one (10:00-10:45), parallel learning experiences for adults and young families. Rabbi Billy will discuss, “Anti-Semitism Today: Should We Stay or Should We Go?” addressing the tragic headlines emanating from Jewish communities in France and Denmark, and Israel's Prime Minister urging Jews to make aliyah. What do you think? Simultaneously, kids and parents will have a special Passover storytime and program with acclaimed children’s author (and temple member) Leslie Kimmelman. Part two (10:45-11:15), we’ll all join all together for a special “Hallel” service where we’ll sing and celebrate in honor of Pesakh (Kaddish will be recited for those who are observing Sheloshim or Yahrzeit). Part three (11:15 am – Noon), a matzah brei breakfast! We need volunteer “brei-ers and fryers,” so email Nancy Fishman (oncodock@aol.com) to help make breakfast happen! Sign up at wct.org/ signuppassover5775.

Sun, Apr 19 at 2:15 pm

WCT University goes back to school Sunday, April 19 at 2:15 pm with “Guns, Germs and God: Judaism and Ethics.” Our keynote presenter, Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, will open with “Rabbi, What Does the Torah Say About Stem Cell Research and Space Travel? Applying Jewish Laws and Ethics to Modern Questions.” Rabbi Mosbacher, a passionate speaker and renowned gun control advocate, brings intellectual depth and practical wisdom to discussions of personal and social responsibility. His keynote provides a grounding in Jewish ethical decision-making traditions and demonstrates the resources Judaism offers us in modern life. Breakout sessions offer four workshops; each participant may sign up for two. Congregants expert in different fields are Continued on page 2

1st Seder is Friday evening, April 3 A ziesen Pesakh ... a sweet and meaningful Passover to you all!

Our Woodlands Community Rabbi Billy Dreskin rabbi@wct.org Rabbi Mara Young rabbimara@wct.org Cantor Jonathan Ben Gordon cantor@wct.org Ross Glinkenhouse, Youth Director youth@wct.org Corey Friedlander, Sh'liakh K'hilah corey@wct.org Jason Fenster, Rabbinic Intern intern@wct.org

Executive Committee Stu Berlowitz, President president@wct.org Jenna Lebowich, VP Education education@wct.org Cliff Schoen, VP Facilities facilities@wct.org Andy Farber, VP Finance finance@wct.org Dayle Fligel, VP Programming/Ritual programming@wct.org Herb Friedman, Financial Secretary financialsecretary@wct.org Andrea Einhorn, Secretary secretary@wct.org Mark Selig, Treasurer treasurer@wct.org

Board of Trustees Bob Apter Jill Garland Nancy Brown Yvette Gralla Aliza Burton Barry Leibowitz Wendy Eliezer Lisa Sacks Gloria Falk Mike Scafidi Nancy Fishman Michele Wise Rochelle Stolzenberg (ex-officio)

Office Staff Liz Rauchwerger, Office Coordinator liz@wct.org Michele Montague, Education Administrative Assistant michele@wct.org Michelle Fine, Office Staff mfine@wct.org Bookkeeper bookkeeper@wct.org

About Our Temple Woodlands Community Temple 50 Worthington Road White Plains, NY 10607 914.592.7070 main office 914.592.1790 religious school direct line 914.592.7376 fax wct@wct.org www.wct.org Religious School: school@wct.org Woodlands Community Temple is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Art Director: Melanie Roher Design and Production: Kate Levy Advertising Director: Bob Apter Production Director: Michelle Fine

www.wct.org

Israel Continued from page 1

On Friday, April 24 at 8:00 pm, we will welcome to Woodlands Rabbi Josh Weinberg, President of ARZA. He will grace our bimah as part of our Israel Shabbat service. Josh was ordained from the HUC-JIR’s Rabbinic Program in Jerusalem. He made aliyah in 2003. An outspoken proponent for a just Israel, Josh’s presentation will undoubtedly inspire us all. Throughout the month of April, Jews around the world have one other very important opportunity to play a role in shaping the soul of the State of Israel. World Zionist Congress elections determine what voices from the Rabbi Josh Weinberg, ARZA Diaspora will speak to the government of Israel. Having many voices for pluralism and true democracy present in the World Zionist Congress will send a message of justice and understanding that speaks for you and me. We cannot stress enough the importance of your vote in these elections. If you have not yet visited reformjews4israel.org, please do so this month. WCT and Israel go back a long way. We are family. We don’t cover over unsightly blemishes. We work together to help Israel become the Promised Land for all men and women who make their home there. Ethics continued from page 1

presenting case studies developed from their professional experience; our own learned clergy enlighten us regarding Jewish approaches and responsa (rabbinic court rulings) to the issues they raise: • When Conservation is about Killing (Rabbi Mara Young and Lisa Sacks Richer, current rabbinic student and former CFO of the Jewish environmental organization Hazon). To preserve native species, New Zealanders are eliminating predatory "invasive" mammals. Thus well-meaning conservation efforts turn humans into killers. What does Jewish tradition teach about which lives have more value? • Exploring Legal and Ethical Dilemmas through the Lenses of Jewish and American Jurisprudence (Rabbi Billy Dreskin and Barry Kessler, Esq). Using actual cases brought to attorneys by Jewish families, this session will attempt to resolve these cases from the three perspectives of American law, traditional Jewish law, and life as a Reform Jew. • The End of Life: Whose Right is It? (Rabbi Joan Farber and Nancy Fishman, MD, oncologist). Decisions to maintain or remove life support can be heartwrenching. The patient, the physician, and family members may differ; who decides? A case study. • Just Doing Business: Influencing Government Officials, International and Domestic (Rav Julius Rabinowitz and Robert Barron, Esq, former CoDirector at Smith Barney, authority on securities law). American companies are prohibited by the U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act from bribing foreign officials to obtain or retain business overseas. Principles from the Bible, Talmud and rabbinic rulings address definitions of bribery and other attempts to gain advantage with officials. To sign up, go to wct.org/ethics or call (914) 592-7070.

Jonah Concert

Worship Schedule Shabbat Pesakh

Exo 12:21-51, Josh 3:5-7, 5:2 - 6:1, 6:27 Fri, Apr 3 It’s Passover! No service this evening. Sat, Apr 4 Pesakh Morning Family Service at 10:45 am As part of this year’s Passover morning congregational program, “Don’t be a Stranger” (including adult, teen and family tracks, as well as a matzo brei brunch), we’ll be holding a half-hour “Hallel” celebration during which Kaddish will be recited.

Shabbat Sh’mini

Lev 9:1 - 11:47 ... II Sam 6:1 - 7:17 7th day of the Omer Fri, Apr 10 Derekh Graduation at 8:00 pm Come celebrate Woodlands' future as we honor the newest graduates of Derekh, our leadership development program. Dale Glasser (longtime temple member, expert on synagogue leadership development and lead instructor for Derekh) will speak. Sat, Apr 11 Yoga Shabbat at 10:30 am A Shabbat morning experience for everybody – adults and kids – that will include music, prayer, Torah, and easy yoga movements. A holistic celebration of creation! Rebecca Smith DeFelice of Woodbridge Body Works will once again gently lead the way. Wear loose clothing and bring a yoga mat if you have one.

Shabbat Tazria-Metzora Lev 12:1 - 15:33 ... II Kgs 7:3-20 14th day of the Omer

Fri, Apr 17 Holocaust Remembrance Shabbat at 8:00 pm Remembering the six million with candles, music and readings. Torah reading from our Czechoslovakian Shoah

scroll. Presentation by Rita Goldberg, author of Motherland: Growing Up with the Holocaust (and sister of temple member Susie Brubaker). Our seventh grade will participate. Visual Worship tonight. Sat, Apr 18 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am Celebrate with us as Austyn Richter, daughter of Fern and Jeffrey Richter, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.

Shabbat Akhrei Mot-Kedoshim Lev 16:1 - 20:27 ... Amos 9:7-15 21st day of the Omer

Fri, Apr 24 Jammin’ Israel Shabbat at 7:00 pm Put on your jammies, bring a bedtime friend, and c'mon over for the wildest 30 minutes of bedtime song, stories and blessings ever! We'll be jammin' on the keyboard and guitar, makin' Shabbat and celebrating Israel’s birthday to get you ready for bed. Bring a buck for tzedakah!

Sat, Apr 25 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am Celebrate with us as Brina ConfinoPinzon and Rory Confino-Pinzon, children of Marni and Joey ConfinoPinzon, become B’nai Mitzvah. ••••••••• Babysitting at 8 pm Shabbat services is provided by teens from our religious school. This month, babysitting will be available on Apr 10, Apr 17, and Apr 24. There is no charge, and no advance notice is required. For further information contact babysitting@wct.org.

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 11: Parashat Sh’mini Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

For your celebration of Pesakh, we’ve got lots of information and creative ideas at wct.org/pesakh. Stop by and pick up a few helpful tips. A ziesen Pesakh! • Why Hold A Passover Seder? • Pesakh Tzedakah Opportunities • You Can Definitely Conduct Your Own Seder • Let's All Eat Matzah Together • To Eat or Not to Eat ... What to Eat Is the Question • Who Left Moses Out of the Haggadah? • How Many Days Do We Celebrate Pesakh?

Israel Shabbat (Yom HaAtzma'ut) at 8:00 pm In celebration of Israel's 67th birthday, special readings, special music and more. Special guest tonight is Rabbi Josh Weinberg, President, Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA). Visual worship tonight.

Hevra Torah Learning: Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m. Apr 4: Shabbat Pesakh No Hevra Torah today, but plenty of learning at 10:00 am

Passover Information Center

Apr 18: Parashat Tazria-Metzora Facilitated by Rabbi Billy

Pesakh Yizkor Memorial Hour Fri, Apr 10, 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. Not sure you want to set this time aside? We do this four times each year, so why not try it once and then make your decision.

Apr 25: Parashat Akhrei Mot-Kedoshim Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

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from the of

Director

C o n g r e g at i o n a l L e a r n i n g

April Showers

his year, “April showers bring May flowers” may be a particularly Jewish non-Jewish proverb. Passover occurs at the very beginning of April. The 49 days of the Omer (the period between Passover and the next major holiday, Shavuot) will carry us into May, and plop us down right in the middle of Memorial Day Weekend. For once, our Jewish and secular calendars line up appropriately. Passover will really mark the beginning of Spring. The parsley will be a particularly potent symbol of rebirth as we emerge from our harsh winter. We look forward to opening the windows, going for walks, and eating fresh fruits from the farmers’ market. By the time we hit Shavuot, we’ll be wearing short sleeves and grilling in our backyards. It’s a kind of freedom. By no means as significant as freedom from slavery, but certainly freedom from feeling cooped up and shut in. But whereas spring/summertime signifies “wild abandon” in our secular lives, the freedom we experience in the springtime of Judaism is tied closely to discretion and responsibility. Freedom is not a free-for-all, our tradition teaches. Freedom is good, but freedom also contains risk.

Committee Reports

Freedom for the Israelites brings anxiety, fear, and poor judgment (see also: Golden Calf Incident). Only days after the Exodus, they worry about Moses’ return from the mountain and turn to their darker desires and an idol. Turns out it’s a short walk from freedom to chaos. Freedom in its most classic sense conveys a lack of restraint or regulation. It is ultimate personal agency and responsibility for one’s self. Chaos also lacks restraint, but it differs in that it is deficient of responsibility. This is where celebrating Shavuot’s gift of Torah comes in. Jewish tradition (born from the Torah) is not meant to be a shackle. It is a moral guide that provides order in a chaotic world. Jewish tradition helps us exercise our freedom properly in that it stresses responsibility to ourselves, to one another, and to our planet. Hag Sameakh! Happy Passover! B’shalom,

Reform Jewish Voice of NYS Advocacy Day

trade products helps eliminate modern slavery and human trafficking common in the cocoa industry. Explore the Jewish values behind Fair Trade principles at shop.equalexchange.coop/pesach.

clothing in good condition for adult men and women: jeans, casual pants, short-sleeved shirts and sneakers. In tremendous demand: underwear, undershirts and socks!

Mon, May 4

Dinner for Teen Shelter

Animal Lovers Pet Food Collection

Social Action Road trip to Albany! Spend the day talking to your state legislators about issues you care about. Learn about current legislation and the social justice values behind Reform Judaism’s views on the issues. Then meet with and lobby members of the state senate and assembly. It’s an educational and fun experience, advocating for issues such as the Women’s Equality Act, raising the minimum wage, Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, opposing tax credits for private and parochial education and other current issues. For more information and to register, go to the Reform Jewish Voice of New York State website at rjvnys.org. We’ll drive up on Monday morning, May 4. Email SocialAction@wct.org to carpool.

What’s Jewish About Fair Trade?

Our joy need not depend on another's pain. Celebrate the Festival of Freedom with kosher for Passover chocolates not made with child labor. Choosing fair

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Sun, Apr 26 Cook part of a Sunday dinner for a great group of teens living in The Sanctuary, a Children’s Village shelter for teens who need a short-term separation from their family. Volunteer to make a main course, salad, vegetable or starch side dish, or dessert to feed 15 people. Email Julie Stein at SocialAction@wct.org. Make your kids’ favorite dish!

Help A Neighbor in Need: Pick a month

In our own backyard there are families that can’t afford groceries. Help sponsor a Dobbs Ferry family of three through Family-to-Family assistance. If you’re able to sponsor a month by supplying a Stop & Shop Gift Card for $35 to $50, email Shelli Katz at ShelliKatz10@gmail.com.

April Clothing Collection for Breakfast Run

For our upcoming Breakfast Runs, we are in need of clean, Spring season

Do you love your dog or cat? Imagine having to give up your beloved pet because you couldn’t afford pet food. This is the dilemma many elderly and disabled people face. Support the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry by bringing a can of dog or cat food to the social action baskets. If you’re interested in starting your own pet food drive talk to Meryl Lewis (merlew27@aol.com or 400-4260).

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

Adult Education Ongoing Programming: Woodlands Singers Cantor Jonathan Gordon Wed at 8:15 pm

Hebrew Thurs, 7:00 pm and 8:15 pm

Jewish Studies Harriet Levine Thurs, 10:00 am

Book Club Wed, Apr 15 at 7:30 pm Dotty Miller will facilitate a discussion of Life After Life: A Novel by Kate Atkinson. This is the intriguing life story of a British woman who dies over and over again. With many incarnations, she lives through the Depression and both World Wars.

Special Programs: Six Weeks of Talmud Rabbi Billy Dreskin Begins Thu, Apr 16, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Ever been curious about what's in those really big books known as "The Talmud"? You are warmly invited to join our intrepid team of adventurers and learners. Get yourself a copy of Koren Talmud Bavli, Vol. 1: Tractate Berakhot (English and Hebrew Edition) and jump right in with us (or just visit our first class to try us out). Our conversations are entertaining, frequently enlightening often irreverent, and sometimes lifechanging. Contact the office (wct@wct. org) to register. Hope to see you there! Scheduled classes: Apr 16, 23 and 30, May 7, 21 and 28.

4th Wednesday

Daytime Diversions

Wed, Apr 22 at 10:00 am Don't go to a coffee shop, come to temple! A FREE, monthly event. Come for a cup of coffee, a nosh, and most importantly, a schmooze. We’ll have newspapers too! For those who are retired, stay-at-home parents, working from home, or anyone else home during the day who would like some stimulating conversation and a warm place to be! Just drop by…and bring a friend! Building Jewish Lives: Families with Young Children

Raising Sexually Healthy Kids: Promoting Communication without Emotions Sat, Apr 18, 6:00-8:00 pm Book your babysitter and join us for a pot-luck supper. We will discuss how to raise children in a technology-driven society who possess both healthy sexual selves and the language skills to express that part of themselves. The discussion will focus in particular on the challenges of raising children with these capacities in a world where technology facilitates truncated communication by text instead of face-to-face engagement as well as rapid app-facilitated decision-making about relationships, and where the availability of potential sexual partners and of information, videos, and opinions about sex and body image is immediate, unfiltered and unlimited. We will also explore the role that Judaism and Temple life can offer as counter-balancing influences on children’s developing self-awareness and on their capacities to communicate about sexuality.

Join us on Wed, Apr 1 (no joke) promptly at 10:00 am to view and discuss the movie, Sullivan’s Travels, starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. The film, voted one of the top movies ever made, is the story of Sullivan, a successful, spoiled, and naïve director of fluff films, with a heart of gold, who decides to make a film about the downtrodden poor. He sets off in tramp’s clothing with a single dime in his pocket to experience poverty first-hand. The experience leads to a dramatic, comedic adventure. Invite friends to join you for a good movie, doughnuts and coffee/tea. Daytime Diversions has always been a group of interested, multi-faceted people, many of whom have been getting together for the past 5 years. We may or may not know the details of the diverse backgrounds of these members. Join us on Wed, Apr 8 at 10:00 am to learn what may be surprising stories about three of our participants: Phyllis Hirth, Jeanne Bodin and Rochelle Novins. Our friends have traveled very different paths to get to Woodlands. Perhaps you will recognize your own journeys in their talks. Bring guests. We’ll leave time for talk. No doughnuts because of Passover, but we’ll nosh on something else. Join us on Wed, Apr 15, at 10:00 am for the ever-stimulating Current Events Group meeting. Here’s your chance to comment, agree, or disagree with factors affecting local, national and worldwide news. Passover is over, so the doughnuts are back, along with coffee/tea. We’re always ready to welcome new faces.

Please check the WCT Adult Ed brochure or wct.org/adulted for more information.

May and Beyond Breakfast Run Sun, May 17 at 6:45 am Set your alarm and don’t let the 6:45 am start-time discourage you. You’ll be energized for the day after helping serve breakfast, distribute clothing and toiletries to working poor and homeless men and women in NYC. We carpool in and are back by around 10:30 am. Middle school and older kids welcome with parents. Participants help provide food for the Run. Get all the details from Caryn Donocoff and Jane Wachs at MidnightRunBreakfasts@wct.org.

Save the Date! Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Nov 4-8, 2015, Orlando, Florida Join your rabbis, temple leaders and members who enjoy great music, teachers, and worship for this phenomenal Reform Jewish experience. More information is available at urj.org/biennial15.

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Jewish Cultural Festival Apr 19 - May 1

Spring on your mind? Time to refresh and renew and celebrate Passover. Let The Judaica Shop at Woodlands Passover more memorable than ever. Thinking of a “real” Seder plate for the

The Jewish Cultural Festival of the Rivertowns offers 10 captivating events in 10 days! Our kick-off event, “The Yellow Ticket,” offers a unique opportunity to experience a silent film with live musical accompaniment by outstanding musicians Alicia Svigals and Marilyn Lerner in the beautiful Irvington Town Hall Theater. In the days that follow, join us for captivating talks, entertaining music and cutting-edge comedy. Programs include lectures, a theatrical reading at Lyndhurst, an evening of celebration of Israel, and film. Events will also be spread out through the area in local congregations and the JCC. It is a wonderful communal event to be part of, for one event or many. We promise 10 days filled with nostalgia and joy. Check out jcconthehudson.org for more info and registration. As part of the Rivertowns Jewish Consortium, Woodlands partners in bringing these amazing programs to the community along with the JCC on the Hudson.

“The Yellow Ticket” Sun, Apr 19 at 4:00 pm Jillery woven basket & baker $59; Kugel server $36

kid’s table, new matzah trays with pretty covers? We have a wide selection of candlesticks, candles, match boxes, serving pieces to enhance your or your host or hostess’ table. Painting your home, inside or out? Going to need a new mezuzah? Think a Judaica wall hanging will perk up a wall? Check out our collection of Judaica art, mezuzot and yes, we have Kosher scrolls. Jillery metal woven serving pieces: Cake server $33;

Have upcoming Spatula $33; Cheese plane $34 simchas? We have perfectly priced gifts for B’nai Mitzvah, weddings, baby births and of course, Mother’s Day! 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. Have a special Adi Sidler anodized aluminum, request? Email: adhesive backed $46; Joy Stember hammered metal $72; judaicashop@ Quest enamel painted $60 wct.org

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Documentary Film: “From Sheltl to Swing”

In Words and Music: The Story of the Yiddish Theatre

Thu, Apr 23 at 1:00 pm

Mon, Apr 20 at 10:30 am

Sun, Apr 26 at 3:00 pm

After Equality: “Queering” Jewish Theology, Lecture and Q&A with Dr. Jay Michaelson, author and lecturer

Stop at the Red Apple

Mon, Apr 20 at 7:30 pm

Yom Ha’atzamaut (Israel Independence Day) Wed, Apr 22 at 6:30 pm

“Dear Mom and Dad” Mon, Apr 27 at 10:30 am

Yiddish Class with Maddy Simon Tue, Apr 28 at 12:30 pm

Comedian Joel Chasnoff Wed, Apr 29 at 7:30 pm

Tot Shabbat

Fri, May 1, 4:00-4:45 pm For additional information, visit jcconthehudson.org

Derekh Leadership Program Honors 2014-15 Graduates Fri, Apr 10 at 8:00 pm

Eighteen members of our congregation will be honored as they complete Derekh, Woodlands’ leadership training program. Honorees that evening will include: Susan Aibinder, David Bertan, Joel Chernoff, Dan Emery, Miriam Emery, Faye Friedman, Phyllis Hirth, Jonathan Jaffess, Eric Katz, Juli Klein, Mitchell Klein, Don Levan, Toby Linder, Karen Margulies, Allison Pray, Madelyn Silverstein, Debi Trias and Gerald Weinberger

We will express our thanks, as well, to Derekh instructor Dale Glasser, beloved WCT member who, when he’s not here at temple, serves as Senior Director of Consulting and Community Development for the Jewish Federations of North America. Building on his extensive experience as a senior staff member of the URJ, Dale also continues to advise selected congregations, clergy, and congregational professionals throughout North America as Founder and Principal Strategist at Dale Glasser Training and Consulting, helping synagogues like ours to become the very best communities of practice and of honor that they can be. We are so fortunate to be partnering with Dale in our leadership development programming. 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. We very much look forward to harvesting its fruits in the years ahead. Please plan to be with us.

Yoga Shabbat Returns!

The Simkha Page

B’nai Mitzvah Austyn Richter

Rory Confino-Pinzon Apr 25

Apr 18 Torah Portion Sh’mini Hebrew Name Rivka P’nina Sarah

Torah Portion Tazria/Metzora Hebrew Name Eliyahu ben Mikhael u'Masha

Brina Confino-Pinzon Apr 25 Torah Portion Tazria/Metzora Hebrew Name Hayya bat Mikhael u'Masha

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Jeffrey and Fern Richter, as their daughter, Austyn, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. Mazal Tov to Joey Pinzon and Marni Confino-Pinzon, as their daughter, Brina, and their son, Rory, are called to the Torah as B’nai Mitzvah.

Thank you to Chuck Bauer for your dedication to the Woodlands Blood Drive. Thank you to Harriet Kohn for organizing the Project Ezra Passover

Reflect, free your mind, relax, and spend time with the ones you love. Led by Rabbi Billy, Ross Glinkenhouse and Rebecca Smith DeFelice, owner of Woodbridge Body Works (Woodbridge, CT). Rebecca is not only a master yoga instructor, she is deeply spiritual as a Jew and will seamlessly and inspiringly connect each yoga position to the prayers of our tradition. Regardless of age (and we’ve covered the spectrum, from age 3 to 83!) or level of experience, there is a place for you in our circle. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, bring a yoga mat if you have one, and get ready for a lovely, invigorating Shabbat morning.

WoodSY Night: “Darth Seder” Mazal Tov to David and Donna Berliner, on the birth of a grandson, Oliver Django Rosenau Belriner, son of Debbie Berliner and Josh Rosenau, and brother of Miles.

Thu, Apr 9

NFTY Spring Kallah Apr 24-26 (open to all 8th graders)

WoodSY Nomination Dates Applications due by Mon, Apr 6

WoodSY Slate Meeting Sun, Apr 19

Academy Votes the Slate

Thank You To the Jonah Maccabee Concert Committee: Lisa Linn, Chair, Karen Berlowitz, Lee Brickman, Lesli Cattan, Billy Dreskin, Ellen Dreskin, Katie Dreskin Boonshoft, Ross Glinkenhouse, Greg Linn, Phyllis Opochinsky, Doug Pell, Geri Pell, Steve Schwartz and Fran Smith. What a wonderful evening!

Sat, Apr 11 at 10:30 am

Mon, Apr 20

Food Collection and thanks to all who contributed. Thank you to our Sh'lakh Manot chairs: Elka Klarsfeld, Amy Green, Barbara Wishner and Gail Wainer.

Purim 5775

Purim carnival thank yous! Lauren Levitt, Jason Laks, Leora Cohen, Jenna Lebowich, Juli Klein, Mark Montague, Mitchell Klein, David Bertan, Michele Montague. Thank you to Mitchell Klein for getting the YFEG Family Ski day together.

A Purim thank you!! We hope you enjoyed your Purim Goody Bag this year! We appreciate each and every family that participates in this mitzvah. Your generosity directly supports our religious school and our temple. The Purim committee would also like to thank the following people for giving their time and energy to help us bring the joy of the holiday to Woodlands: Rabbi Mara, Michele Montague, Liz Rauchwerger, Michelle Fine, Jane Wachs, Julie Stein, Francine Klarsfeld, Jeff Klarsfeld, Marla Salomon, Michael Arbore, Danielle Arbore and David Green. We are already planning for 2016 and would appreciate any feedback or ideas. Please send them to purim@wct.org. The Purim Goody Bag Committee Elka Klarsfeld, Barbara Wishner, Gail Wainer, Amy Green and Bonnie Arbore

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Spe c i a l Se c t i o n: C o n g r e g at i o n a l M e e t i n g / Ne w Sl at e

Officers

and

Tr u s t e e s

Know Your Board of Trustees Who are these people who can always be found in meetings at the temple on Monday nights? And Wednesday nights. And Thursday nights. What do they do when they’re not at Woodlands (if that’s ever the case)? What brought them to Woodlands and what keeps them so involved? We asked. And we found out. Now you can too. Read on. (By the way, they’ll all be at the congregational meeting on Wed, May 20 and they’ll be installed officially during the Shabbat service on Fri, Jun 13. So, if you haven’t met them yet, meet them then.)

Bob Apter

Stu Berlowitz

Aliza Burton

• 2nd Year on Board. Prior service as Trustee, Treasurer & VP Finance • Wife, Penny, an active WCT volunteer, 2 sons, 4 grandkids, 2 grandpuppies & 1 grand kitty • Member since 1981 • Retired over 11 years ago from ABC Sports • "Woodlands is an important part of our family and being retired has enabled me to devote more of my time to pitching in and helping, hopefully for many more years."

• Trustee for 2 years, VP/ Facilities for 3; VP Ritual for 1, VP Education for 2, President for 3 • WCT member: 18 years • Wife, Karen; daughter Sammi, 24,; son, Josh, 21 • IT Management for GE • “WCT is my home away from home. Actually, many people think it’s the other way around.”

• 3 terms on Board • WCT member: 14 years • Partner, Rich Bromberg; daughter, Briana • Administrative & Marketing Assistant in Tarrytown, religious school teacher at WCT (for 11 years) and in Armonk • “For me, walking into Woodlands is like walking into a big hug.”

Andrea Einhorn

Dan Emery

Gloria Falk

• 1 year on Board plus 2 years as Secretary • WCT member: 15 years • Husband, Adam; kids, Jeanne, age 22; Jordan, age 18 • School psychologist • “Woodlands is a great place— a warm and welcoming community—with an amazing blend of spirituality, learning, compassion, and humor. I could not have asked for a better place for my kids (or myself!) to develop their Jewish identities.”

• WCT Member: 4 years • Wife, Miriam, son, Elijah, 14, daughters, Neoma, 11, Aviv, 8. • Founder NYC Guitar School • "Woodlands is a warm and welcoming community in which our interfaith family has found our spiritual and Jewish home."

•5 years on Board,; 5 years Coordinator of Daytime Diversions. • WCT member: 39 years • Husband, Bill; 5 children; 2 grandchildren • Retired educator • “After years of being the recipient of the generosity, warmth, and love from the temple community and clergy, I feel fortunate to be able to spend my retirement years volunteering and giving something back to the place I love.”

Andy Farber

Nancy Fishman

Dayle Fligel

• 8 years on the Board, including tours as financial secretary, vp/ finance, treasurer, and again as vp/finance • WCT members: 12 years • Wife, Rabbi Joan; 3 kids, Miriam, Adam, and Yael—only the youngest (Yael) became a Bat Mitzvah here, but all three consider Woodlands home. • Manages financial systems at Consumer Reports • “Community is more than our middle name. It’s who we are.”

• 3 years on Board; currently cochair of Ritual Committee • WCT member: 16 years • Married to Chuck, former temple president; 2 children, Alexa, 23, and Kimberly, 19 • Medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, specializing in treatment of breast and gynecologic cancer • Woodlands is “The place that my heart holds dear.”

• 6 years on board, including tours as secretary, vp/facilities, and vp/programming & ritual • WCT members: 19 years • Husband, David, is a former WCT president; son, Sidney; and daughter, Erin • Special needs coordinator at WCT • “At the end of a busy week, relaxation and peace comes from a beautiful Shabbat service.”

VP Facilities

Secretary

VP Finance

www.wct.org

Immediate Past President

Trustee

VP Programming/Ritual

Trustee

President

Spe c i a l Se c t i o n: C o n g r e g at i o n a l M e e t i n g / Ne w Sl at e

Officers

and

Tr u s t e e s

Herb Friedman

Yvette Gralla

Elka Klarsfeld

• Financial secretary for 2 year; in the 1970s served on the Board • WCT member for 47 years • Married to Elaine, who passed away in 2010, for 54 years; daughter, Beth; son, Evan; 2 grandchildren. . • Retired after 43 years as school supt.; was also exec dir. of health insur. coop •“Woodlands has provided my family all the care and support we wanted and needed unconditionally. As a result, we were delighted to support this Jewish community.”

• Has served 2 tours as a trustee and 4 tours as an officer • WCT member : 45 years • Husband, Larry, is a former WCT president; 2 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, 6 grandchildren, all current members of WCT • Retired as teacher and statistician. Now an active volunteer • “Woodlands is the place for our family—the people and community that we hold dear.”

• Social worker for dialysis center for 15 years • WCT Member - 15 years. Adult B'nai Binah • 2 WCT educated daughters • School Board 6 years, Led Purim fundraiser: 4 years • "Lucky to have found Woodlands and made it a place for my family that feels comfortable, warm and welcoming when we walk through the door."

Jenna Lebowich

Barry Leibowitz

Lisa Linn

• 4 years on Board, 3 years as vp/ education • WCT member: 11 years • Husband, Michael; daughter, Marina, a 8th grader • Culinary nutritionist and owner of Cook Learn Live; spent 15 years in HR • “Woodlands is a special place where everyone can find a comfortable connection to Judaism. There is always room for another great idea and for great people to step up to make those ideas reality.”

• 4 years on the Board • WCT member: 15 years • Wife Laurie teaches WCT’s Gan Hayeled program, and supervises Rosh Hodesh; Children: Aaron, 22, and Becca, 19 • Writer and editor for CBS News • “Woodlands is a great place to learn, pray, and play, Jewishly.”

• WCT Board member for 4 years, Chair JMF Concert 6 years • WCT member: 11 years • Husband, Greg, sons JJ, 21 and Zach, 18 and daughter Emily, 18 •Self Employed at Senior Assist • In the words of the great theologian Yogi Berra, "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else." We sure are happy we wound up at Woodlands

Lisa Sacks

Steve Sagner

Mike Scafidi

• 2 year on the Board • WCT member: 6 years • Husband, Jon Richer; 2 daughters: Gigi, 10, and Lucy, 8 • Nonprofit consultant and rabbinical student at AJR • “Woodlands has become much more than a synagogue for us: it is our Jewish communal home.”

• Fin Secretary 2010-13 • WCT Member: 10 years • Wife, Jen, daughters: Denali9th grade; Sarah - 5th grade • Dad, Jim Sagner and in-laws Roni Tower & David Griff also WCT members • "Happy to be back. I love meetings!"

• 3 years on the Board • WCT member: 6 years • Wife, Liz; son, Sam; and daughter. Eliana • Digital marketing operations at PepsiCo • “Though we live in walking distance of five synagogues in White Plains, Woodlands is our community.”

Mark Selig

Rachel Wineberg

Michele Wise

• 7 years on Board including 1 as Secretary and 2 as Treasurer • WCT member: 16 years • Wife, Marjory; 3 kids in college/ grad school (Lexi, Julia, and Ted), each born in a different state, all became B’nai Mitzvah at WCT • Buyer at Bloomingdale’s • As Sal Tessio said, “It’s perfect for us. A small family place, good food, everyone minds his business. It’s perfect.”

• School Board President past three years • Temple member for 8 years. • My husband is Joyful Noise Sax player--Mark Kaufman. • Mother of "tech dudes" Zev and Liam. • Away from WCT, I am a writer, theater director and adjunct professor at Westchester Community College • "If Judaism is the journey of the soul, then WCT is the perfect place for my soul to travel."

• 2 year on the Board • WCT member: 10 years • Husband, Andrew; three children in religious school • Finance director for Ernst and Young audit practice; yoga and runner; love to cook, bake, and read • “Woodlands made Judaism come alive in a completely different way from my upbringing.”

Financial Secretary

Trustee

Treasurer

Trustee

VP Education

Trustee

Photos by Karen Berlowitz

www.wct.org

Spe c i a l Se c t i o n: C o n g r e g at i o n a l M e e t i n g / Ne w Sl at e

Officers

and

Tr u s t e e s

Notice of Annual Meeting The 49th annual meeting of the members of Woodlands Community Temple will be held on May 20, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. at the temple.

Agenda

Committee and Officer Reports

Proposed Budget for FY 2015-16 / 5776

• Treasurer • Financial Secretary • Ritual • Education • Facilities • Membership • Marketing • Social Action A quorum of 5% of the membership units must be present for business to be transacted. Please make every effort to attend.

The budget may be viewed by going www.wct.org/wctbudget into your browser on or after April 20, 2015. You may also obtain a copy of the budget package from the temple office.

Officers 1 Year Term

Trustees for Open Seats

Terms in Progress

President......................... Dayle Fligel

3 Year Term .................. Dan Emery

2 Year Term................... Aliza Burton

VP Education................. Rachel Wineberg

3 Year Term................... Elka Klarsfeld

2 Year Term................... Yvette Gralla

VP Facilities.................... Bob Apter

3 Year Term................... Jenna Lebowich

VP Finance..................... Andy Farber

3 Year Term................... Michele Wise

• Welcome • President’s Report • Business - Election of Officers and trustees for 2015-16/ 5776 - Adoption of Budget for 2015-16 /5776 • Professional Reports - Youth Director - Director of Congregational Learning - Cantor - Rabbi

2015-16 / 5776 Slate

VP Programming/Ritual..Nancy Fishman

1 Year Term................... Gloria Falk 1 Year Term................... Lisa Sacks

Financial Secretary......... Herb Friedman

2 Year Term................... Barry Leibowitz

Secretary......................... Andrea Einhorn

2 Year Term................... Lisa Linn

1 Year Term................... Mike Scafidi

Treasurer........................ Mark Selig 1 Year Term................... Steve Sagner Immediate Past President: Stu Berlowitz

Respectfully submitted by the Nominating Committee Michael Wiskind (Chair), Tanya Briendel, Aliza Burton, Gloria Falk, Jay Izes, Mitch Klein, Michael Litsky

www.wct.org

Donations We appreciate the thoughtfulness of those who support Woodlands Community Temple by remembering and honoring their friends and loved ones through their generous contributions. Rabbi Billy's Mitzvah Fund In honor of the naming of Kaylee and Kody Frye, from Lisa Bluett and Kevin Frye.

In memory of Dorothy Kingston, mother of Michael Kingston and Paula Altneu, from David and Dayle Fligel.

In yahrzeit memory of Mandel Stein, from Eileen and Steve Stein.

In memory of Dorothy Kingston, from Gloria and Bill Falk.

In honor of William Stein and Maurice Stein on becoming B'nai Mitzvah, grandsons of Amy Medine Stein and Marvin Horovitz, from Eileen and Steve Stein.

In memory of Dorothy Kingston, from Andy and Joan Farber.

In memory of Alan Witten, brother of Phyllis Berkowitz, from Trudy Riskin. In memory of Alan Witten, from Roberta and Bob Silman. In memory of Alan Witten, from Joan Rosenbaum. Thank you Rabbi Billy and in memory of Paul Richter, from the Richter family. Chai Fund Wishing Larry Gralla improved health, from Gloria and Bill Falk. In memory of Kerry Ben-David, husband of Batyah Ben-David, from Gloria and Bill Falk. In memory of Max Goldberg, father of Susie Brubaker, from David and Dayle Fligel. In memory of Ruth Weinstein, mother of Janet Weinstein, from David and Dayle Fligel. In memory of John Bregstein, from Irwin Miller. In memory of Charles Weinberg, from Irwin Miller. In memory of Stanley Reisner, brother of Marilyn Miller, from Irwin Miller. In honor of Michael Weinberger’s 80th birthday, from Irwin Miller and Barbara Gordon. In memory of Alan Witten, from Barbara Landau.

Donation from Vivien and Gary Stark.

Kerry Ben-David

husband of Batyah Ben-David

Max Goldberg

father of Susie Brubaker

Morty Handler

uncle of Dayle Fligel

In memory of Paul Richter, from Mark and Michele Montague.

Dorothy Kingston

In memory of Paul Richter, from David and Dayle Fligel.

Paul Richter

In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Andy and Joan Farber.

Ruth Weinstein

mother of Michael Kingston and Paul Altneu father of Jeffrey Richter mother of Janet Weinstein

In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Mimi and Bob Copeland. In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Elaine Kreisberg, Billy Kreisberg and Jan Rosenberg, In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from the PS65 Retiree Lunch Group.

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

In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Mae Berman. In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Roberta, Roger and Allison Wetherbee. Education Enrichment Fund In honor of Daniel Goldberg becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from The Lebowich Family. Music Fund In memory of Cantor Kerry Ben-David, from Andy and Joan Farber. Midnight Run Fund

Bereavement Groups WCT is forming new Bereavement Groups to meet the needs of members who have suffered losses. Our pilot group drew great strength and consolation from one another, and we invite you to be a part of this loving, important, membership-wide initiative. Sessions will be led by therapists. For more information contact Herb Friedman (3950304, hjfswschp@aol.com) or Alan Kaplan (552-0363, alankap1@verizon.net).

In memory of Wendy Eliezer, from Lloyd and Roberta Roos.

To find out more about all the funds that are available for your support and for more information about how to donate to these funds, please visit www.wct.org/donate

Purim 5775

The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of

Bookplates For High Holy Days Prayerbooks You may lovingly inscribe your loved one’s name in our High Holy Days makhzor, Donation is $36. An order form is in the temple newsletter and on the temple website. Order online at wct.org/bookplate.

www.wct.org

Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day

Just Israel

Light a Yellow Candle 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.

by Roberta Roos “At Basel, I founded the Jewish State.” So wrote Theodore Herzl in his diary several days after the first World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. To be clear, what was formally created at Basel was the World Zionist Organization, not the Jewish State. But the WZO, initially meeting annually (and now every five years) was the major vehicle that world Jewry employed to determine where that State would be (Palestine, not Uganda), what its character would be (Jewish and democratic), and how its goals would be achieved (creating the Jewish Agency and Jewish National Fund). After the establishment of Israel, the WZO continues to play a critical role in giving world Jewry a voice in Israel. In October 2015, the World Zionist Congress meeting in Jerusalem is sure to address religious freedom, gender equality and peace and security. Will the delegates be representing our liberal, progressive voices?

Vote ARZA (slate #6) for a pluralistic and democratic Jewish statereformjews4israel.org

You may vote through Thu, Apr 30

Scheduling Weddings or Funerals with Our Clergy The rabbis and cantor want very much to be with you during significant life-cycle moments. Please speak with them before setting any dates or times for weddings or funerals. Don't be disappointed to learn they're not available at the time you've already arranged, so bring them "into the loop" at the very beginning of your planning.

www.wct.org

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. If the 27th occurs the day before Shabbat, or the day after Shabbat, Yom HaShoah is moved (Nisan 26 or Nisan 28, respectively). The fixed Jewish calendar does not permit 27 Nisan to occur on Shabbat. So this year, on Wednesday evening, April 15 (the 27th of Nisan, and now you know why), 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.

Woodlands is mailing Yellow Candles to all our members. Please light yours on Wed eve, Apr 15 to remember The Six Million.

Motherland: Growing Up with the Holocaust by Rita Goldberg On Fri, Apr 17 at 8:00 pm, during our Holocaust Remembrance Shabbat, we will welcome author Rita Goldberg (sister of temple member Susie Brubaker) who has just published a memoir recounting not only the extraordinary story of her mother’s survival of the Shoah, but her own journey as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. “I am the child of a woman who survived the Holocaust not by the skin of her teeth but heroically,” Rita writes, as she tells her mother’s story. Hilde Jacobsthal, fifteen when the Nazis invaded Holland, was a close friend of Anne Frank’s family. After her parents’ arrest in 1943, Hilde fled to Belgium, living out the war years with the Resistance and at Bergen-Belsen. Rita, proud of her mother and yet struggling to forge her own identity in the shadow of such heroic accomplishments, explores the often-wrenching challenges of the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors whose own lives are also haunted by the Shoah’s horrific past. Motherland is an epic story of survival, adventure, and new life.

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JudaiConnection Questioning Our Way to Freedom by Jason Fenster, Rabbinic Intern

s a kid, I asked a lot of questions. I would follow my mother around saying: “What’s that? How does this work? Why do we do this? When did you do that?” I’ve been told that I had an adorable blend of inquisitiveness and pestering. It will come as no surprise, then, that Passover is my favorite holiday. The Four Questions are an iconic moment in the seder. I am an oldest child and the eldest of my cousins, so it was never my job to ask, but I would still spend the night peppering my family seder with other requests for explanations and information. Likewise, when the rabbis of the Talmud lay out their expectations for the seder, they imagine that the whole night will be spurred by questions. Without the Four Questions, the rest of the rituals cannot continue. And, in true rabbinic fashion, the rabbis have plenty of their own questions about what questions to ask, when they should be asked, the motivation for asking, and who asks the questions. Let’s take a look at who they say should ask. In the Talmud (Pesakhim 116b), the rabbis teach that the first person who should ask is a child. If there are no children, then the seder

leader’s wife asks (yes…we are working from a gendered text with a patriarchal bias). If he is alone, he should ask himself. And, if there are only two scholars at the seder and they both know all of the laws and teachings about Passover, even they should ask questions, one to the other. Here, finding an answer is not the goal. The questions are not necessarily asked because the asker is uninformed.

...the act of asking questions is the opening stage of human freedom. Passover, our holiday of freedom and redemption, is the perfect time to live out that principle. Even the most knowledgeable rabbis have to ask each other! The act of asking questions takes center stage here. What is so special about asking questions? My teacher, Professor Michael Chernick (who was also Rabbi Billy’s rabbinical thesis advisor!), says that the rabbis of the Talmud are trying to tell us that the act of asking questions

is the opening stage of human freedom. Passover, our holiday of freedom and redemption, is the perfect time to live out that principle. If you are in a place where asking questions leads to being attacked or shut down, you know where you stand and you learn what that society is like. If you are not free to ask questions, you are completely subject to someone else’s will. In some sense, you are a slave. Getting to ask questions is an important way to show that we are free. But wait, there’s more! Looking back at our text; what’s the deal with the list of people? Why start with the kid, then the wife, then lonesome seder-goer asking himself? This list starts with the person who is lowest in the hierarchy of the household. The person who is first called on to ask a question, to carry out the essential freedom action, is the one who is least likely to speak out. The rabbis insist, specifically those who might be reticent to speak out in public are invited to be free enough to ask questions at seder. How will you exercise your freedom to ask this Passover? And, how might you empower others to share in the redemptive potential of asking questions?