WCT Makom May 2019 by Woodlands Community Temple

the newsletter of woodlands community temple

May 2019 Nisan – Iyyar 5779

Have guitar. Will travel: Vance Gilbert at WCT

Yom HaShoah 5779

by Jill Garland and Cantor Jonathan Gordon

ave guitar. Will travel. On May 18, Vance Gilbert is traveling to Woodlands Community Temple to headline our annual coffeehouse concert. Vance has seen the world through his music, and it’s through his music that we will see a little bit of his world. We’ve been trying to get Vance to Woodlands for years, but his busy concert schedule has never been open when we had a spot to book him. This year the stars have finally aligned! Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Vance was a multi-cultural art teacher turned jazz singer. He began writing acoustic folk songs, working the open mic circuit in Boston and in 1985 recorded his first album. But it wasn’t until the early 90’s that word began to spread about his stage-commanding, consummate performances filled with heart and wit. He opened for Shawn Colvin on her Fat City tour and continued to open for as varied artists as Aretha Franklin, Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker and comedian George Carlin. Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene, Gilbert applies his own unique approach to the acoustic singer songwriter idiom. While his compositions frequently employ sophisticated melodies and harmonies gleaned from his jazz years, he’s also just a really great storyteller. He’s shared his music in 13 albums that have had such familiar performers as

The Woodlands Community Temple

Spring Benefit Sat, June 15, 2019 7:30 – 10:00pm Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in Elmsford $75 a person (21 and older only) Purchase your ticket at wct.org/captainlawrence.

ome join us for a night of fun as we connect to our surrounding communities and put WCT in the spotlight! Captain Lawrence has helped us put together a super fun night that includes tours of the brewery, the art of beer tasting, games, raffles, and of course, delicious food. If you haven’t spent an evening at Captain Lawrence, this is the time to discover the fun. The local brewery has a modern beer garden and indoor event space where you get to enjoy the food and drink that

Bearing Witness

Continued on page 2

n 1994, once year after completing his Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg established the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to making audio-visual interviews of survivors and witnesses. The Foundation conducted nearly 52,000 video testimonies between 1994 and 1999. Today it is the USC Shoah Foundation - The Institute for Visual History and Education. In 2013 the project expanded to include testimonies from the Rwandan genocide and has recently incorporated interviews from other genocides such as the Armenian Genocide, Cambodian Genocide, and others. On Friday, May 3 at 8:00pm, we will welcome Louis Schmidt, an Emmy-award winning producer, to speak at our yearly Yom HaShoah service. Louis was trained and participated as an interviewer for the Visual History project and will speak about his experience. Louis was a Senior Producer for NFL Films for 33 years, directing and producing hundreds of hours of sports programming. Yet despite a distinguished career, Louis says that it was his experience with the Shoah foundation that was “the most important thing I’ve done in my life.” Louis will speak about his experiences as a child in the US during WWII and how it inspired him to take part in the project. He’ll share the stories of survivors who touched his heart and what he learned through the experience. We’ll all reflect on how we can continue to “bear witness” to the atrocities of the Holocaust and recent genocides in hope that one day there will be no more testimonies to record.

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

Have guitar. Will travel: Vance Gilbert at WCT, Continued from p. 1

Patti Larkin, Jonathan Brooke, and Jane Siberry as guest artists. Vance is a traveling man. In the months leading up to and after our Coffeehouse he will play gigs in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and of course, New York which will be his very best and very favorite performance! The Woodlands Coffeehouse has been running for 20 years now, with a particular bent toward acoustic artists with something special to offer. We’ve had Christine Lavin, Aztec Two Step, Dave Van Ronk, Neshama Carlebach, Bethany Yarrow, only to name a few. From Blue Grass to comedy, to sing-ins and community talent. This performance will be one of our best. Here

is a chance to hear a top notch performer in a comfortable and intimate space, with good acoustics and great vibes. There is something about stories that is dear to the Jewish soul. The Torah is filled with great tales. So is the Tanakh and the Midrash. Jews convey our wisdom literature through each little drama in our tradition. We are carried along by the story, and the feelings that each mini history stirs within our soul. Maybe that’s why we love folk singers so much, especially ones who have great tales to tell. You don’t want to miss this gifted singer! Our very own Cantor Jonathan Gordon will be opening for Vance. Two terrific finger pickers with great voices in a single evening. The coffeehouse will feature a festive and delicious dessert table, and of course copious coffee and popcorn. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Come out on a beautiful spring evening and join in the fun.

Spring Benefit, Continued from p. 1

they have become known for. Plus, you’ll be there with your WCT friends. The evening will include havdalah, a way to say goodbye to Shabbat and to celebrate the sacred community that we’ve formed. This year’s event is a celebration of fellowship as we embrace those who are a part of the fabric of our everyday life here at WCT and our numerous supporters throughout the area. We are the face of the WCT community as we interact at work, with our families, as well as with the public at large. Our message of tikkun olam and tzedakah are just some of the values we embody as we continue to influence and participate in our own diverse communities. This annual fundraiser allows us to celebrate the values and community we’ve come to hold dear, while also raising funds to help our synagogue stay vibrant and strong. Our Spring Benefit also gives us an opportunity for us to reach out and celebrate the talented and creative people who not only assist with our day to day operations, but also help us make our many special events magical. Many local businesses support our temple by catering b’nai mitzvah celebrations, providing our famous, inspiring high holy-day sacred tent, congregational dinners, elegant floral creations and even pizza for our bustling Academy kids. Our service providers have become friends and supporters. You’ll be able to find their information in a comprehensive community directory, exclusive to WCT, which will feature our local business partnerships with pride! If you have a business you’d like to advertise, or know one that would be interested, check out the options at wct.org/springbenefit. The community directory will not only be a way to find these businesses, but also a way to find each other. So often we need a phone number or email address to make a connection with another household across the temple. The directory (available in hard copy or PDF) will help you foster these bonds. An opportunity will be available to “opt-out” if you don’t want your information listed…so be on the lookout for that communication.

from the

Rabbi

Jerusalem Flowers Rabbi Mara Young The year I lived in Jerusalem the winter was particularly cold The mist descended gently from the seven hills And kissed the ground with weighty lips Remaining low in the valley four months. Pesach cleaning swept the dampness from the corners of the kitchen, brushed it out the front door where it dissolved in the sun. The water bubbles bursting with excitement as they rose into the blue skies. I hadn’t known it when I moved in, but there was a thick rose patch that lined the walk to my front door I didn’t notice stems or buds, just, one day, roses!

Israel:

The Long and the Short of It Israel in Space By Zach Plesent

n the evening of February 21, a rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, FL. While this may sound like a typical occasion in the space world, what was onboard the rocket made this launch an unprecedented event. The rocket was carrying a moon lander known as Beresheet (Hebrew for “in the beginning”), which was created

Their petals unrolled overnight Exposing, unabashedly, open-palmed spirals of color, tie-dyed whirls of springtime hallelujah. Fanned out, sunsplashing, the quiet gasp of resuscitation. It was a triumphant return from the depths, a surprising restoration of color to the soul. Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s independence day, is like a rosebud opening in the Spring. From the dark dormancy of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) and Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day), comes another holiday of the Jews’ liberation. And while I feel this joy deeply in my heart, I’m aware of those for whom this day does not feel like a rebirth. Thus, I take heart in the aspirational words of the Reform Movement’s prayerbook, Mishkan Tefillah, O Heavenly One, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel which marks the dawning of hope for all who seek peace. Shield it beneath the wings of Your love; spread over it the canopy of Your Peace; send Your light and truth to all who lead and advise, guiding them with Your good counsel. Establish peace in the land and fullness of joy for all who dwell there. Amen.

Israeli Shabbat Dinner Friday, May 10 at 6:15 pm The ARZA-Israel Committee invites you to a Yom HaAtzma'ut dinner to celebrate Israeli Independence Day. We will enjoy Israeli food and good company and then worship together at the annual service that honors our high school graduates. The cost is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for each child. RSVP by May 7 to wct.org/May10Dinner

and built by an Israeli nonprofit named SpaceIL. On April 4, Israel became just the seventh nation ever to orbit the moon. This mission also marks the first ever privately funded mission to the moon, and from a country just a fraction of the size of the three others who have completed moon landings (US, China, and Russia). In a month where the news cycles in Israel will be dominated by the turmoil and tumult of elections and coalition building, SpaceIL and Beresheet are providing a moment of tranquility – near the Sea of Tranquility – where all Israelis, and all those who love and support Israel, can come together and cheer for a common goal.

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

www.wct.org

from the

Environmental Task Force:

Green

Corner One Word:

Plastics

by Kirsten Kleinman

s I go to throw away my waste at Woodlands, now I’m pretty sure I know where everything goes. Clean paper in the paper bin. Clean cans and bottles in the recycle bin. Plastic wrap and straws in the trash. All food and dirty napkins and plates in the compost bin. But wait! What about the utensils and cups? All of these utensils and cups at Woodlands look like plastic! You mean they’re not? They’re compostable too? Then what are they made of? (And why does it even matter?) ➜ Yes! All of the utensils and cups at Woodlands may look like plastic, but they are made of a carbon polymer called Ingeo. It’s made from plant-based sugars from certified sustainable renewable resources, such as corn, cassava, sugar cane or beets. ➜ How does it work? The moisture and heat in the compost pile split the polymer chains apart, creating lactic acid. Microorganisms in compost consume the lactic acid as nutrients with the end result being humus, a soil nutrient. ➜ So put these items in Woodlands’ compost bins to turn them back into soil! Why does this even matter? You may think: disposable plastics have always been so convenient. Why do I need to change my habits? Well, if you’ve looked in the news recently, plastic waste has become a major problem in our oceans and other waterways. Here are some “not so fun facts:”

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President

A Time To Count. No, Not Ecclesiasties, And Not The Turn, Turn, Turn of The Byrds. Andy Farber, President This is the season of counting in the Torah. From the second night of Pesakh we count the Omer, a throwback to our agrarian roots. At the end of the forty days of counting the Omer, we come to Shavuot, and celebrate receiving of the Torah. At Woodlands we also do an accounting of ourselves. Not a spiritual accounting, we’ll do that in the fall during the High Holy Days. In the spring we do an accounting of the business of our community. After four months of hard work, the Finance Committee completed work on a budget for the coming fiscal year, 2019-2020 (5780). The budget report is online for your review, at www.wct.org/wctbudget. On Wednesday May 8, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with the Finance committee and ask questions about it. A week later (on Wednesday, May 15) there is another opportunity to do an accounting of our year. At the congregational annual meeting, you will hear presentations from our professionals and key committee chairs about what we’ve done during the past year. Finally, right after we finish counting the Omer, after Shavuot, we will celebrate. The Springtime Benefit Celebration will be Saturday evening, June 15 at the Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford. Sign up, come out, join your friends as we celebrate our Woodlands Community. It’s a chance to raise some money, and it’s a chance to have fun. Hope to see you there! L’shalom,

Plastics, Continued from column to the left ➜ Plastic is made from petroleum. Some of the components used to make plastic like phthalates and bisphenol A are harmful to our health.

➜ Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of gasoline. One ton of plastic is around 25,000 plastic bottles.

➜ We have an island in the middle of the North Pacific Gyre, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – which is mostly composed of plastic. It’s the size of India, Europe and Mexico combined.

In Isaiah 41:17-18, we are encouraged l’vadah ul’shamrah, “to till and to tend,” to become the Earth’s stewards. At Woodlands Community Temple, we have the power to make positive decisions to protect our environmental resources.

➜ In the North Pacific Ocean, there are 6x more plastic debris than plankton. They are causing deaths to marine animals who mistake them for food. ➜ 90% of the trash floating in our oceans is made of plastic, around 46,000 pieces per square mile. ➜ 10% of the plastic we use yearly ends up in the ocean. That’s equivalent to 700 billion plastic bottles!

Worship Schedule Shabbat Kedoshim

Shabbat Behar

Kedoshim ... Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27 ... Amos 9:7-15 … 14th day of the Omer

Behar ... Leviticus 25:1 - 26:2 ... Jeremiah 32:6 - 32:27 … 28th day of the Omer

Hevra Torah Learning

Fri, May 17

Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am

Mishpakha Shabbat HaMoreh at 7:00 pm

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.

Fri, May 3 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 Yom HaShoah at 8:00 pm Our annual Holocaust Remembrance Service. Louis Schmidt will speak about his experiences as an interviewer for the Shoah Foundation.

Sat, May 4 No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).

Shabbat Emor Emor ... Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23 ... Ezekiel 44:15-31 ... 21st day of the Omer

Fri, May 10 High School Academy Graduation and Shabbat Yom HaAtzma’ut (Israel Independence Day) at 8:00 pm A special evening to honor students in the 12th grade who have completed our highly-acclaimed Academy program. A wonderful moment of celebration for our entire temple family! Also, plan to come to a special dinner at 6:15 pm to celebrate Yom HaAtzma’ut! RSVP for dinner by May 7 to wct.org/May10Dinner.

Sat, May 11 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am Celebrate with us as Noah Stern, son of Matt Stern and Angela Decicco Stern, becomes a Bar Mitzvah.

Our earlier congregational service, this month includes our annual Teacher Recognition Shabbat to thank those who have taught us and our children this year. 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, May 18 No 10:30 service today. Ask for Kaddish to be recited at Hevra Torah (9:15 am).

Shabbat Bekhukotai

information contact us at babysitting@wct.org.

May 4: Parashat Kedoshim Facilitated by Barry Kessler

May 11: Parashat Emor Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

May 18: Parashat Behar Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

May 25: Parashat Bekhukotai Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

Bekhukotai ... Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34 ... Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14 … 35th day of the Omer

Fri, May 24 Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 pm Start your Memorial Day weekend right with your Woodlands community!

Sat, May 25 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 am Celebrate with us as Aviv Emery, daughter of Daniel and Miriam Emery, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.

Shabbat Bemidbar Bemidbar ... Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 ... Hosea 2:1-22 ... 42nd day of the Omer

Fri, May 31 Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 pm A quiet evening of Sabbath peace.

Need a Shabbat babysitter? Let us know by the Wednesday prior and we will provide it! All Shabbat babysitting is done by our own Academy students. There is no charge. For further

Yom HaShoah

(Holocaust Remembrance Day)

Starts Wednesday evening, May 1 Woodlands is mailing Yellow Candles to all our members. Please light yours to remember The Six Million on Wednesday evening, May 1. There is a reading enclosed that you can recite with friends and family. If you have a question on how to present this to younger children, feel free to email Rabbi Mara (rabbimara@wct.org).

www.wct.org

Save the Date!

Ramadan Iftar

with Peace Islands Institute June 1, 2019 @6:30 pm Lag b’Omer – The Holiday You’ve Never Heard of!

ast month we introduced you to the concept of the Omer. 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 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. It’s 49 total. S’firat haOmer (counting the Omer) 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. This year we count from April 21 - June 8, 2019. The Omer is a time of semi-mourning, when weddings and other celebrations are forbidden, and as a sign of grief, observant Jews do not cut their hair. There are lots of explanations for why the Omer is a period of mourning (we suggest checking out the article at MyJewishLearning.com). Regardless of the period’s provenance, this period of time has recently taken on a spiritual element, a sort of “49-day spiritual cleanse” before Shavuot. Lag b’Omer is a holiday that occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer (May 23 this year). “Lag” is really an abbreviation of the numerical values of the Hebrew letters lamed (30) and gimmel (3). It’s a break in the seriousness and a day on which hair cutting and weddings can take place. Some say it is the day that Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd century sage and mystic, revealed the Zohar, the landmark text of Jewish mysticism. In Israel, children play outside and light bonfires in order to symbolize the light of this wisdom.

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t this juncture in American history, it is so very important that we reach out to our Muslim neighbors in friendship and support. At WCT, precisely for this purpose, we have a very special relationship with the folks at Peace Islands Institute. On Saturday evening, June 1 at 6:30 pm, we hope you will join us here at temple with our Muslim friends as they end their traditional Ramadan fast. We’ve joined with PII to celebrate for a number of years now. It is always a beautiful evening of fellowship. This is a beautiful opportunity to learn about each other’s traditions (we’ll share our Havdalah ceremony and our guests will share their azzan, the Muslim call to prayer). There’ll be fantastic food (kosher, halal and vegetarian) and a group of singers from a Turkish girls’ school will be performing. And don’t forget to bring your kids! Not only should they be able to experience the wonders of interfaith friendship, but our Muslim guests bring their kids too. And if there’s one thing we all know, kids make friends faster than anybody. We’ll have a children’s activity area too. Do give them something to eat before arriving, so that they make it until dinner (which doesn’t occur until after sundown). We’ll gather at 6:30 pm, meet and shmooze, do a bit of learning until the sun goes down, then join together in the iftar meal and some wonderful conversation. We expect a large attendance, so don’t wait until the last minute to sign up because we might be filled already to capacity. Register ASAP at wct.org/iftar so that you can be part of this unforgettable gathering. If you’re wondering what Ramadan is, here’s a short synopsis: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship. Fasting takes place each day of the month from dawn to sundown. The daily break-fast is called an iftar. The meal is often done in a communal setting. It has become customary for many Muslim communities in America to share these meals with neighboring communities, much like our meal together at Woodlands!

Ramadan Iftar with Peace Islands Institute, 2018

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.

Yvette Gralla

hen my husband Larry and I joined Woodlands in 1969, just about everything at Woodlands got done by volunteers. We stuffed envelopes for mailings, made phone calls, prepared food for events, and set up and cleaned up a lot of tables and chairs. Everybody knew that if something needed to get done, the “Woodlands Way” was to just step in and do it, so that’s what I did. Before long, I was recruited to co-chair the Programming Committee, and plan a progressive dinner for more than 50 families. At the end of that event, all the participants happily converged

at Woodlands for dessert, and I can still remember hugging and high-fiving my co-chair, Ann Yerman, as we celebrated our success. I have continued to volunteer since then, on the Ritual Committee, as a member of the Board of Trustees, as a VP of education, and anywhere else I’ve been able to help out. My family’s involvement has grown to include my children and grandchildren. Volunteering has been rewarding for us in countless ways, especially in the wonderful friendships and community we’ve gained from the being part of the Woodlands Way.

Rodef Tzedek Announces Beneficiaries!

odef Tzedek is our religious school’s “tzedakah council,” a committed group of kids and teens who have been charged with the task of determining where the religious school’s tzedakah donations go. Every week, our religious school kids bring in spare charge and dollar bills to contribute to a communal tzedakah fund. The kids who have joined Rodef Tzedek meet monthly to learn about philanthropic giving and explore Woodlands’ values in order to choose where the collected tzedakah funds will go. Teens mentor small groups of K-6th graders, so relationships are formed in the process as well. The group also brainstorms ways to increase the amount our community gives. Some of the kids were so inspired this year, they set up a lemonade stand at home and came in with over $100 to give to the cause!

Through a consensus-building process the group was able to narrow down their focus to three extraordinary non-profits: AFYA, Feeding America and The Ocean Cleanup. AFYA is a local organization whose mission is to improve global health by rescuing surplus medical supplies and delivering them to underserved health systems around the world. Feeding America is a hunger relief organization with a nationwide network of food banks feeding the hungry. The Ocean Cleanup develops advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Well done, Rodef Tzedek! Thanks for leading the way!

We Want to Hear from You

Scheduling Weddings or Funerals with Our Clergy

It is always a pleasure to hear good news from members of our WCT family. It often helps to share the not-so-good too. Please let us know if you or someone else is in need of a visit or phone call from our clergy. Many assume that “everyone knows,” but this is not always true. A note of call to our temple office or clergy will ensure that we are able to extend our support to Woodlands members in a moment of need.

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.

May fills our calendars with milestone events, celebrations, graduations and of course, Mother’s Day. At a loss for ideas for gifts? Visit The Judaica Shop at Woodlands, talk with a committee member and we’ll help you pick the ideal gift. Have a bridal shower to attend? A colored smashing glass and mezuzah or picture frame to showcase the glass shards broken at the wedding ceremony will be a treasured gift for the year to come. Honor a graduate’s accomplishments with a gift that will symbolize their changing world with a beautiful kaleidoscope from C. Bennett Scopes.

And for Mother’s Day…Bareket Israeli Jewelry has been the source of exquisite Judaica jewelry since 1972. Each piece is finely crafted and well-priced. Irene Prushon’s line of jewelry expands with trip to Israel returning with new Judaica treasures and we’re excited to be showcasing her some of her 1,000-piece line!

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

May Happenings & Beyond Learning

Social Action Jewish Studies Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 am

Social Action End of the Year Meeting and Dinner Sun, May 5 at 6:00 pm

Join us as Harriet Levine teaches about the environment for Jews in Medieval Europe.

Join us to celebrate our successes and to plan for the future. Email socialaction@ wct.org to let us know you will be joining us.

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.

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: May 15 and Jun 19.

S’forim Forum Sat, May 4, 4:30 - 6:00 pm 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 story is centered in The Metropol, the famed Moscow hotel where movie stars and Russian royalty gather and intellectuals discuss the merits of contemporary Russian writers. A light snack and Havdalah follow.

Current Events Wed, May 15, 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.com) for more information.

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May Mensch of the Month is Kindergarten You, too, can be a mensch by bringing in healthy snack and large low-sugar cereal boxes. Help our local food pantries and the folks they serve.

Corsage Making Wed, May 15 at 1:30 pm When the juniors and seniors at the Sally and Anthony Mann Center (a residential treatment facility in Hawthorne run by the Jewish Board), had their prom last year, they were bedecked in wrist corsages and boutonnieres created by Woodlands congregants. They were so thrilled that we are doing it again. Join us; instructions will be provided - we will make you an expert. RSVP to socialaction@wct.org.

Interfaith Midnight Run Concert Sun, May 19 at 3:00 pm Each year, Interfaith Caring Community of Greenburgh sponsors a concert to raise funds to support the work of Midnight Run. This year’s concert will feature dance and vocal groups from Dobbs Ferry High School and be held at Temple Beth Shalom, 740 N. Broadway, Hastings. Admission is by contribution of $20 ($7.50 for students), payable to Midnight Run. If you can’t attend but want to help this effort, send your check, payable to Midnight Run, to WCT Social Action Committee.

Knitting and Crocheting Sun, May 19, 3:00-5:00 pm

4th Annual Iftar Sat, Jun 1 at 6:30 pm For the 4th year, we join with our Muslim sisters and brothers from Peace Islands Institute to break the fast on a Ramadan evening at Woodlands. Halal, kosher, and vegetarian foods, ritual experiences, great music, kids’ activities, learning, and, most of all, friendship. Reservations open now through May 11 for WCT and PII members only; thereafter, to the general public. They close on May 25 or such earlier time as capacity is reached. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the unique relationship between WCT and PII. wct.org/iftar.

Breakfast Run Sun, Jun 2, 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.

Advocacy We urge you to learn about two legislative initiatives in which we are involved: Green Light-NY would make drivers’ licenses available to all regardless of immigration status, and the Parental Bereavement Leave Act, on the federal level, would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to include bereaved parents. See wct.org/social-action scroll down to Advocacy. Please let us know at socialaction@wct.org if you would like to work for their passage.

Graduation 2019

Mazel Tov to The Graduates and Their Families! High School Graduation Shabbat May 10 at 8:00 pm This is a celebration of Jewish life and continuity and integrity for us all! It’s an Oneg Shabbat – a true “Shabbat delight.” This service is going to be one truly delightful celebration of Shabbat.

Join us! Andrew Aldous Son Of Kathryn Aldous

Brendan Chang Son Of Dean Chang And Heidi Gralla

Samantha Feldbaum Daughter Of David And Esther Feldbaum

Ashley Klein Daughter Of Mitch And Juli Klein

Grace Korten Daughter Of Michael And Jennifer Korten

Marina Lebowich Daughter Of Michael And Jenna Lebowich

Sarah Levine Daughter Of Gary And Iris Levine

Abigail Loose Daughter Of Andy Loose And Jill Garland

Brandon Restler Son Of Todd And Debra Restler

Isabelle Ripin Daughter Of Peter And Marianne Ripin

Nina Rosenberg Daughter Of Ken Rosenberg And Susan Morduch

Anna Schlesinger Daughter Of Iris Schlesinger

Mishpakha Shabbat HaMoreh

Teacher Recognition Shabbat Fri, May 17 at 7:00 pm One of our most wonderful services of the year (we kid you not!), your smile muscles will ache from the incredibly heartwarming tributes paid by our children to their Religious School teachers. Just as loving, our Adult Education faculty will be honored by their students as well. You are most cordially invited to come say thank you to all of our educators for their partnership in teaching us and our children about Judaism and Jewish living. A community celebration! If you like, sign up for our 6:00 pm dinner at wct.org/mishpakha.

Annual Temple Meetings: Make Your Voice Heard Congregational Budget Meeting Wed, May 8 at 8:00 pm Ask questions about next year’s proposed budget (available at wct.org/wctbudget).

Annual Congregational Meeting Wed, May 15 at 8:00 pm Celebrate a full and successful year! Vote on the 2019-20 budget (wct.org/wctbudget) and slate of Board Officers and Trustees.

Religious School Registration Reminder Reminder ... Religious School registrations for 2019-2020 are due by May 15. After May 15, a late fee will be incurred.

Alexander Shapiro Son Of Neil And Debbie Shapiro

Ryan Silverstein Son Of Rich And Madelyn Silverstein

Nell Sirotin Daughter Of Gene Sirotin And Cathy Shore

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

It’s always an embarrassment of riches! Mazel tov to our 12th grade graduates. We’re so proud of all of you. Looking forward to seeing all the wonderful places you go! www.wct.org

Upcoming

Meetings

The Simkha Page

Our B’nai Mitzvah Noah Stern

Aviv Emery

Social Action Committee

May 11

May 25

Sun, May 5 at 6:00 pm

Torah Portion Emor

Torah Portion B’ekhukotai

Hebrew Name Yoshua Michael

Hebrew Name Aviv

Executive Committee Mon, May 6 at 8:15 pm

Congregational Board Meeting Wed, May 8 at 8:00 pm

Finance Committee Mon, May 13 at 8:15 pm

School Board Mon, May 13 at 8:15 pm

Annual Meeting Wed, May 15 at 8:00 pm

Board of Trustees Mon, May 20 at 8:15 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.

Support the WCT Endowment Trust You can help sustain and ensure the heritage of Woodlands Community Temple for generations to come by supporting the WCT Endowment Trust, an investment entity designed to generate income separate from the Temple’s operating funds. Gifts to the Endowment Trust can be made in many ways, including bequests, multi-year pledges, and remainder trusts. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law and will always be tastefully acknowledged. Oversight is managed by a committee of Temple members who serve as trustees. For more information, or to plan a donation to the Endowment Trust, please email endowment@wct.org.

Mazal Tov to... Matthew Stern and Angela Decicco Stern, as their son, Noah, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

Daniel and Miriam Emery, as their daughter, Aviv, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah.

Todah Rabbah (thank you) to... Roberta Roos.

Co-chairs Val Fox, Melissa Goldsmith and Allison Pray and their team, Jen Kline Galkin, Fredda Kramer, Debra Magid, Michele Montague, Nancy Oren, Mary Elizabeth Stern and Natalie Werner for preparing dinner for the teens at The Sanctuary shelter.

The nominating committee: Andrea Einhorn, Chairperson, Lee Brickman, Dayle Fligel, Judy Kaplan Levan, Toby Linder, Richard Sweet, Rachael Wineberg. The Purim Bag Team, especially our teen assembly staff: Hannah Kirschbaum, Lindsay Hornstein, Jada Fliess, Danielle Arbore, Rory Confino-Pinzon, and Alex Shapiro.

Harriet Kohn and her team of shoppers, packers and deliverers for the Project Ezra Pesach Food Drive, including Dayle Fligel, Julie Levine, Elka Klarsfeld, Andrea Olstein, Ellen Dreskin, Lisa Izes, Joan Farber and

Yes, Jews Are Organ Donors!

Woodlands Community?

Organ transplantation is a routine therapy for dozens of life-threatening diseases, yet thousands of New Yorkers desperately await a second chance to live. Judaism teaches us, “To save a life is to save a world.” Contrary to popular misconception, Jews do register as organ donors! To participate in the mitzvah of matan hayyim – the gift of life, register online at donatelifeny. org. For more info about the Jewish view of organ donation, read Rabbi Billy’s article at tinyurl.com/jewishorgandonors.

We’re all proud of the warmth and friendliness in our synagogue. It’s our community. But not everyone feels that way. Some have come to a Friday night service and no one said hello. Others have attended a temple event or were just waiting for someone in the hallway, and no one acknowledged them. If each of us considers ourselves ambassadors of The Woodlands Way, if we’re the ones to say hello, it’s a pretty sure bet folks will feel welcome. Woodlands is a warm, welcoming, open and embracing community ... when we’re the ones to make it that way.

Shop Amazon, Raise Bucks for WCT! Do you shop online at amazon.com? Did you know that if you get there by using our wct.org/amazon link, Woodlands will receive 5% of your payment. Doesn’t get much easier. So please shop amazon and help raise bucks for your temple. Thanks!

www.wct.org

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 In honor of Rabbi Mara and in memory of Aaron Sibirski, from Nancy and Richard Oren. In honor of Abby Federbusch becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Richard and Mary Ann Federbusch.

Cantor’s Discretionary Fund In honor of Abby Federbusch becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Richard and Mary Ann Federbusch.

Chai Fund In memory of Judy Auerbach, from Max and Sandy Tuchman. In memory of Dave Doynow, husband of Renée Doynow, from Corey Friedlander. In memory of Dave Doynow from Lloyd and Roberta Roos. In memory of Dave Doynow from Murray and Jeanne Bodin. In honor of Jada Fleiss becoming a Bat Mitzvah and in appreciation of her wonderful teachers and clergy, from Israel and Loretta Fleiss.

In memory of Janet Feldman Morris, daughter of Bob and Clare Feldman, from David and Dayle Fligel. In Yahrzeit memory of my father, Philip Farbman, from Lois Diamond. In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, mother of Michael Scafidi, from Don and June Moskovitz. In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, from Maxine Rosenberg. In memory of MaryAnn Scafidi, from Mark and Michele Montague. In memory of Aaron Sibirski, father of Nancy Oren, from Mark and Michele Montague. In memory of Bernice Tobor Wineberg, mother of Rachel Wineberg, from Mark and Michele Montague.

Jonah Maccabee Fund In memory of Janet Feldman Morris, from Sy and Sarah Donner.

Join Rabbi Mara and Rabbi Billy at the URJ Biennial in Chicago December 11-16

oin thousands of Jews from across North America and around the world to learn, pray, share ideas, dance and sing, hear from inspiring speakers and the leaders of our Movement; reunite with old friends, create new connections, and make decisions about the policies of the Reform Movement. You’ve never prayed, learned, or schmoozed the way you do at a URJ Biennial. Past speakers have included President Barack Obama, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Madeleine Albright, and Cornell William Brooks. Learning sessions are designed to energize attendees with new ideas to bring home to their congregations and communities. The concerts and artist exhibitions expose the latest in Jewish music, art and culture. Also, imagine the sheer splendor of Shabbat – 5,000 Jews praying and sharing in a Shabbat meal together. It’s unlike anything else. Rabbi Mara and Rabbi Billy never miss a Biennial. Come be part of the Woodlands delegation and feel connected to the larger Jewish community. Email Rabbi Mara (rabbimara@wct.org) if you’re interested!

The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of Dave Doynow husband of Renée Doynow Harriet Gollin mother of Mark, Deborah, Seth and Adam Gollin Joel Taman husband of Arlene Taman

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

Woodlands’ Caring Community

ere at Woodlands Community Temple, we care deeply about the well-being of you, your family and your friends. As a community, we are here to support you through life’s joys as well as its trials and difficulties. We can arrange for a variety of services to help or we can just provide a listening ear. Be in touch with Rabbi Mara (rabbimara@wct. org) or Cantor Jonathan (cantor@wct.org) to arrange for: • Rides to and from doctor’s appointments, treatments and therapy • Meals for the ill, elderly or caregivers • Respite for caregivers • Spiritual counseling and guidance for “next steps” Home, hospital or nursing home visits Whatever your need, we wish you a refuah sh’leymah, continued strength and spiritual comfort on you or your loved one’s journey of healing.

No Phones or Cameras at Services, Please When our Woodlands family celebrates sacred moments – services, weddings, funerals, etc – we endeavor to create something that transcends ordinary time and brings us into relationship with our Creator. We hope that you will help create these moments by being fully present and in spiritual partnership with us and with God. Please, no additional lenses or recorders. View and remember through your own eyes and heart.

www.wct.org

Purim 2019

www.wct.org

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

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

College Connection Jonathan Montague

oodlands has played a crucial role in my first year college experience. Some of the core values Woodlands has taught me is connecting with people, discussing different viewpoints, and doing good things for the world. I see all of these values in my college education and my college life. I have learned during the past few months that engineering is all about designing with people for people. In order to be able to help someone, I need to understand them and connect with them. Woodlands has set me up to be successful in this role, since I have had tons of experience there talking to new people, discussing important topics, and trying to make a difference. Woodlands has also helped me to feel comfortable with Judaism at school. I often talk to Jewish and non-Jewish students about Jewish topics and will frequently go to Hillel for Shabbat dinner. I greatly enjoy these Jewish events because Woodlands has prepared me to be knowledgeable and comfortable about my Jewish identity. At Hillel I get to meet new Jewish and non-Jewish students for both my school and neighboring schools. I am able to have meaningful conversations with many different people there, as well as share meaningful experiences. I am very glad that I feel connected to my Jewish community at school and at Woodlands. Jonathan Montague recently graduated from Ardsley High School and Academy in 2018 and is now studying mechanical engineering at Olin College of Engineering. Jonathan is currently involved with helping to build an off-road race car, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and frequently attending Hillel. Jonathan wants to improve his innovative skills and learn how to use technology to make the world a better place.

Send a Temple Care Package to Your College Kid! Even though our college kids are no longer roaming WCT’s halls (on a regular basis, that is), it doesn’t mean we have forgotten them! Three times a year, we send holiday care packages to our college and gap-year students to let them know they’re loved. The packages arrive around Rosh Hashanah, Tu b’Shevat and Purim, bringing a little cheer, Jewish content, and notes from Rabbi Billy, Cantor Jonathan, Rabbi Mara and Lily. Have a kid graduating high school or still away at college? Help them stay connected to WCT while away from home! WCT’s college connection team wants to include them, but can only do that if they have your child’s mailing address. For your child to be included in this FREE program, you need to enroll them. Please visit wct.org/collegeconnection and put in their info before the fall! P.S. Donations are always welcome to help defray the costs of materials and mailings.

A Little Jewish Wisdom The rabbis of the Talmud (Kiddushin 29a) delineated exactly what a parent owes a child: “In terms of a father’s obligation to his son, he is obligated to circumcise him, redeem him from temple service, teach him Torah, take a wife for him, and teach him a craft. Some say, to teach him to swim too.” The main point is that a parent helps a child survive by doing more than just providing shelter and food. Providing a spiritual community, a moral compass, helping them develop loving relationships (romantic or otherwise) and yes, teaching them to swim, are ways to set a kid up for success. In some ways, we see providing a college education to our children as a way to help them “find a craft.” But college is not the only way to do this. Your child may be on a different path. Let us know if life is taking them in a different direction - we want to support our temple kids in whatever way they are growing and learning in their young adult years (and beyond!).