WCT Makom November 2014 by Woodlands Community Temple

november

the newsletter of woodlands community temple

HIGHLIGHTS

November 2014 Heshvan-Kislev 5775

B o o k F a i r 57 75

Think Global, Buy Local Nov 14-24

ith Hanukkah approaching, it’s time again for the Woodlands Book Fair. While this is, of course, an important temple fundraiser—for both the temple and the religious school—the School Board is quick to point out that it’s far more than that. As Rabbi Mara Young, Director of Congregational Learning, puts it, “We run the Book Fair because we believe in the value of bringing Jewish books and Jewish learning not only to the kids but also to the adults in the congregation.” This year, the collection of books (spanning both secular and non-secular worlds) includes a large collection of authors who just happen to be Woodlands members. Four of them— Leslie Kimmelman (see below), Jacqueline Weitzman (see below), Jason Edwards (Chronicles of the Monster Detective Agency), and Lori Fettner (see below)—will be signing their books in the temple lobby on Sun, Nov 16 at 11:00 a.m. But keep an eye out, too, for books by other members (and for the members themselves) throughout the book fair. Those author/members include Dan Emery (guitar instruction books), Fran Smith (see below), Ellen Rubin (The Hanukkah Puzzle Book), Jackie Sasloff (Mommy Got Bigger, And So Did Our Family), Larry Fine (see below), James Sagner (see below), and Douglas Rushkoff (see below). We did a little Googling to see what people were saying about our local authors and some of their books. Here’s a sampling. To learn more—and to express your own opinions—venture down to the Youth Lounge between Nov 14 and 24. Leslie Kimmelman Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too) “In five short chapters, Kimmelman explores how Sam and Charlie negotiate the rough patches of their friendship….What sets this story apart is that all the characters are Jewish…. For many Jewish readers (and their parents), Kimmelman’s breezy, unshowy assumption of a shared faith and vocabulary will be refreshing; it also means she doesn’t stop her narrative to explain what a hamantaschen is, what Purim is, or, later, that ‘Cheery Bim’ is a beloved Jewish camp song.” —Publishers Weekly Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman Superhero Joe “At night, [Joe’s] bedroom closet seems to overflow with menacing items…. But then he realizes that clothes could make the man and creates a superhero outfit to give himself courage. Attired in a “Cape of Confidence” (a bath towel), a “Torch of Radiance” (a flashlight), a bike helmet, and other accoutrements of invincibility, even the spooky basement doesn’t faze him—he retrieves a mop for his mother and saves the kitchen floor from motor oil peril.” —Publishers Weekly continued on page 2

WCT University Nov 2 Jammin’ Shabbat Nov 7 Mitzvah Fair Shabbat Nov 7 Mitzvah Fair Nov 9 Book Fair Shabbat Nov 14 Book Fair Nov 14-24 Open Mic Night Nov 15 Simply Shabbat Nov 21 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Nov 23 Thanksgiving Shabbat Nov 28

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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, Rabbi’s Assistant liz@wct.org Michele Montague, Religious School 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 Editor: Mike Winkleman Art Director: Melanie Roher Design and Production: Kate Levy Advertising Director: Bob Apter

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Lori Fettner Teaching to the Child “Through this book, teachers have found many useful ideas and activities to incorporate into their classrooms…. This book has shed light on a troubled system. Something has to change to stop the constant bullying and harassment of teachers, and to get the nation refocused not on testing, but on teaching to the child.” —M. Shannon Hernandez, Huffington Post, The Blog Fran Smith Changing the Way We Die: Compassionate End-of-Life Care and the Hospice Movement “….should be required reading for physicians, nurses, and anyone else—professional or volunteer—who provides care to those who are dying. ..As the authors concede, it is the rare person who wants to talk about dying, particularly if it involves discussion of one’s own death. But Smith and [co-author Sheila] Himmel make that conversation more than accessible. Through vignettes extracted from interviews of dying persons, caregivers, and health care professionals, the authors convincingly argue the point that end-oflife discussions not only are important, they are vital.” —Nancy Walker, Foreword Reviews Larry Fine Murdering Lawyers “…a fast and frenetic take on Shakespeare’s well-known quote, ‘The first thing that we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.’ And Fine really means it, opening the book with a scene of sex and violence to do the first one in. From there, readers are taken into secret societies and the legal profession in a new and creative way.” —Lynn Evarts, Foreword Reviews James Sagner Is U.S. Business Over-regulated? How Government Destroys Our Ability to Compete Globally “American business, Dr. Sagner writes, now faces a worldwide economic crisis. American companies are no longer able to compete effectively in the global marketplace, due in large part, to outdated and unrealistic U.S. regulations. Is there a practical answer? Jim Sagner says there is: get rid of laws that stay on the books long after they are needed and cripple America’s prospects.” —York House Press Douglas Rushkoff (who discussed his 2003 book, Nothing Sacred: The Truth About Judaism, at Woodlands back in 2012) Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now “This is a wondrously thought-provoking book. Unlike other social theorists who either mindlessly decry or celebrate the digital age, Rushkoff explores how it has caused a focus on the immediate moment that can be both disorienting or energizing. In an era that seems intent on deleting the art of narrative, Rushkoff creates a compelling narrative of the way we now live.”—Walter Isaacson And don’t forget that our Shabbat Book Fair speaker (Fri, Nov 14 at 8:00 p.m.) is Rachel Wineberg’s cousin, Ronna Wineberg, an award-winning author who will discuss her book On Bittersweet Place, a novel about a Russian-born Jewish girl coming of age in Chicago during the 1920s Jazz Age.

Worship Schedule Sat, Nov 1 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Samantha Feldbaum, daughter of Esther and David Feldbaum, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.

Sat, Nov 15 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Aaron Forman, son of Adrian Forman and Frank Forman, becomes a Bar Mitzvah.

Shabbat Vayera

Shabbat Toledot

Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 ... II Kings 4:1-37 Fri, Nov 7 Jammin’ Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. 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, and makin’ a Shabbat t o get you ready for bed. Bring a buck for tzedakah! Mitzvah Fair Shabbat at 8:00 pm Our guest speaker is Danielle Butin, Founder and Executive Director of AFYA, an organization which recovers medical supplies, hospital equipment and humanitarian provisions to support health initiatives in Africa and the Caribbean. Sat, Nov 8 No 10:30 service today. Kaddish can be said at Hevra Torah Learning (9:15 am).

Shabbat Khayei Sarah

Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 ... I Kings 1:1-31 Fri, Nov 14 Book Fair Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. Our guest author is Ronna Wineberg, author of On Bittersweet Place and Second Language, runner-up for the 2006 Reform Judaism Prize for Jewish Fiction. We’ll also welcome our community’s newest members this evening. The Book Fair will be open following our service.

Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 ... Malakhi 1:1 - 2:7 Fri, Nov 21 Simply Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. A quiet evening with your clergy. Familiar melodies and familiar prayers to bring us all together. Sat, Nov 22 No 10:30 service this morning. Kaddish can be said at Hevra Torah Learning (9:15 am).

Shabbat Vayetzei

Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 ... Hosea 12:13 - 14:10 Fri, Nov 28 Mishpakha Thanksgiving Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. For the entire congregation, just earlier – meaningful for adults, engaging for kids! If you like, join us for a quick dinner at 6:00 pm – make your reservation at wct. org/mishpakha. Special welcome home to, and participation by, our college kids. Sat, Nov 29 No 10:30 service this morning. Kaddish can be said at Hevra Torah Learning (9:15 am). ••••••••• Babysitting at 8 p.m. Shabbat services is provided by teens from our religious school. This month, babysitting will be available on Nov 7, Nov 14, and Nov 21. There is no charge, and no advance notice is required.

Hevra Torah Learning: Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m. 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.

Nov 1: Parashat Lekh Lekha Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

Nov 22: Parashat Toledot Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan

Nov 8: Parashat Vayera Facilitated by Rabbi Mara

Nov 29: Parashat Vayetzei Facilitated by Rabbi Billy

Nov 15: Parashat Khayei Sarah Facilitated by Rabbi Billy

An Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving Sun, Nov 23, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Dobbs Ferry Lutheran Church Each year, Woodlands Community Temple joins together with the Greenburgh Interfaith Caring Community for shared worship before Thanksgiving. Always an inspiring, multi-denominational gathering, we urge you to attend. Bring your entire family! Share in the true meaning of Thanksgiving: standing side-by-side with our neighbors, reading and singing of fellowship, communal joy, and goodwill toward humankind. If you know you’ll be in town, plan on linking hands and hearts in thanks for the many blessings we share. Please bring a household cleaner or laundry detergent for donation to ARCS.

Simply Shabbat Woodlands is a pretty exciting place to build a Jewish life for ourselves and our loved ones. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to take it easy and just enjoy one another’s company. “Simply Shabbat” is a Friday evening service that will do just that. The clergy will lead a simple Shabbat service, with familiar Jewish melodies, perhaps a Torah reading or a discussion, and the beauty of spending Shabbat with our beloved Woodlands community. Our third “Simply Shabbat” will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Fri, Nov 21. Come join us!

High Holy Days Sermons Are Online If you found one presentation or another particularly meaningful during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, or just want to read something through again, you can download it for yourself or to share with others. They are available at wct.org/ hhdsermons.

How to Make “A Joyful Noise!” 1) Pull out your calendar. 2) Insert these dates: Jan 9, Feb 27, Mar 27, May 1 and Jun 12. 3) Come to “A Joyful Noise!” and sing ... Sing ... SING!!!!!

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from the

Cantor

Thanksgiving and Jewish Guilt

t is harder to be enthusiastic about Thanksgiving today. As a child, I didn’t know about the ethnic cleansing of Native Americans. My parents survived the Great Depression: they celebrated the historic end of food scarcity with this major feast. We had not yet faced the fact that overeating would become a major health hazard. The Thanksgiving Story was our snapshot of the American Dream. We viewed Pilgrims as idealistic workingmen and women, refugees from a repressive past who found friendship and security in abundant America. We saw Indians as a natural resource: helpful, quaint, and vaguely beneficial to those who came seeing shelter on these shores. Thanksgiving was friendly to Liberal Jews. Christmas, and even New Years find a place in Christian myth. July 4th was the property of jingoistic right-wingers. Thanksgiving was our American holiday. Despite everything, gratitude and outreach remain as Thanksgiving’s abiding values. Americans have ratified the experience over the years; perhaps it still has meaning today. In Temple times, individuals would bring a Thanksgiving offering in appreciation of God’s benevolence where meat and

bread was shared with family and friends in a communal feast. Our Rabbis teach that God told King David that he would die on Shabbat. From then on, David would have a feast of thanksgiving after every Sabbath to celebrate being kept alive another week. The meal of gratitude is tried and true Jewish practice. The feast can also be a way of outreach. The Lubovitcher Rebbe was asked to put an empty chair at his Passover Table to signify Jews who died in the Holocaust. “Instead we will put an extra chair and let it be filled by someone who, had they not been here, would have no Seder at all. Let us direct our emotion to a positive purpose.” In this vein, we observe the Feast of Thanksgiving by giving groceries to the needy. Here at Woodlands we bring gifts to the Food Bank at our Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Let the best meaning of Thanksgiving continue to be expressed in our family observances this year. Wishing you a guiltless holiday.

WCT Coffeehouse Returns with Open Mic Night Calling all talented, semi-talented, and non-talented performers and audience members! Our popular Coffeehouse Open Mic will return on Sat, Nov 15 at 8:oo p.m. Here’s a chance for you and your neighbors to share your talents in our friendly and glamorous Coffeehouse spotlight. Need an accompanist? No problem, let us know. Musicians, singers, rock and jazz bands, poets, jugglers, gymnasts, sword swallowers and mimes, come one, come all. Family acts and trained-animal routines are also welcome. A backline of drums, guitar amp, and bass amp will be available, too. Admission: $10; $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at wct.org/coffeehouse. Performers must sign up in advance. Contact Dan Emery at dan@nycguitarschool.com or 914-562-7298.

Photo: Steve Schwartz

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C o m m i t t e e R e p o rt s

Social Action Blood Drive Sun, Nov 16, 9 am – 2 pm Help raise our local blood bank’s blood level by signing up to donate blood if you are between 17 and 75 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds; 16 year olds can donate with a letter from their parents, or those older than 75 years with a letter from their doctor. Sign up on the temple website or email Chuck Bauer at lbauera@aol.com. Walk-ins available, but may need to wait.

Holiday Gifts for Children’s Village Help make a boy’s holiday wish come true by volunteering to purchase a gift or gift card from their wish list. Many of these boys will be alone at the village away from their families and will not receive any gifts. Contact Jeanne Bodin at Jeanne.bodin@ gmail.com to get a name to shop for.

Dessert for a Week for VOA Shelter Each week during December and January, Woodlands provides desserts for the

residents of the Valhalla Shelter. Sign up as a family or with friends by emailing Jeanne. Bodin@gmail.com.

Looking for a way to help others at Thanksgiving time? Donate Thanksgiving food or a $20 supermarket gift card for Friends of Karen through November 2. See www.wct.org/ social-action/projects for specific foods being collected. Donate a frozen turkey to Hudson Valley Community Services to help a family living with HIV/AIDS. Please put your turkey in the Youth Lounge freezer by Nov. 9. Come to the temple and help the Confirmation class cook dinner on Thanksgiving morning for the VOA Shelter, or volunteer to cook a turkey. Email Julie Stein at SocialAction@wct.org to reserve your space. Donate clean, good condition adult winter coats, scarves, blankets and adult winter clothing and shoes for our Midnight Run.

Adult Education WCT University: God Perspectives

The Midrash of Creation

Sun, Nov 2, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

8 Mondays, beginning Oct 27 (and continuing through Nov), 8:10-9:40 p.m.

An Orthodox rabbi (Ari Sytner, Yeshiva University), a Reform rabbi (Billy Dreskin), a Renewal rabbi (Jill Hammer, Kohenet Jewish Priestess Institute), and a secular philosopher (Bob Berson, Ethical Society of Northern Westchester) walk into, well, not a bar, but Woodlands for a panel discussion about their ideas of God, followed by a wide selection of mini-courses.

Please, Thank You, Oops and Wow! Prayer 101 Rabbi Mara Young Sun, Nov 23, 9:30 a.m. Almost every prayer fits one of these four categories. Join this class to investigate what exactly is in our prayerbook and how it resonates with our everyday lives. A mix of learning and personal exploration: no prior knowledge needed!

Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz

We often look at Midrash as an alternate story to the one our written Torah provides, like Abraham smashing the idols in his father’s store. Midrash also teaches us how to live our lives, during the time of the rabbis 2,000 years ago, and today. Let us spend eight Monday nights examining the mystery of Midrash and its lessons for life! The fee for this class will be $18 for members/$25 for non-members. Please register online at https://wct.wufoo.com/forms/themidrash-of-creation/. For ongoing programming, check the new Adult Ed brochure or the temple website. Here are some special programs coming in November. To register for these courses, call the office or check the temple website.

This time of year The Judaica Shop cabinets twinkle with beautiful things to add sparkle to your home for the Festival of Lights. New merchandise is arriving daily and we’re so excited about the array of Hanukkah menorot Whimsical Cat Menorah $47 we will be carrying...You’ll surely find one to fit your family’s personality and budget! Add colorful Safed candles to make Hanukkah 5775 the brightest one ever!! In our continuing effort to bring unique Judaica art to Woodlands, we are featuring New Orleans based Rosetree Glass Studio. We’ve admired Mark and Brenda Rosenbaum’s Shabbat candlesticks and Kiddush cups for years. Each piece is individually blown using glass treated with precious metals to give it a multi-colored, iridescent effect. Ask Beames Glass Duo Linear Karen Fox Menorah $160 about their unique spin on incorporating their “jelly bean” groom’s glass shards into a one-ofa-kind piece of blown art glass that will become a lifelong memory of the couple’s special day. The Judaica Shop at Woodlands is open, by request, every day the temple office is staffed; evening a weekend hours are noted in the weekly temple email. Shopping for something special? Email us at: judaicashop@wct.org. The Judaica Shop at Rosetree Glass Studio Woodlands…your neighborhood gift Handblown Glass Candlesticks, $100 shop for gift giving…

and getting.

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November Happenings Just Israel

George Amire is an 11-year-old boy from Jaffa, the city adjacent to Tel-Aviv. He recently posted a video that went viral, describing his experience of being bullied. The young boy shared an inspiring message that called people think about how they treat each other. Thousands of people heard his message, including Reuven Rivlin, the new President of Israel. Rivlin joined with Amire to post another video. They sat together, on a couch in the President’s office, and shared Amire’s anti-bullying message again, but this time, speaking to all of Israeli society: “Violence. Hostility. Bullying. Racism...Let’s promise ourselves that this year we will work toward tolerance, solidarity, unity and equality — values we need in our country.” This message was not just political platitude. President Rivlin followed up this video by a joint effort with Education Minister Shai Piron to increase antibullying efforts in Israel’s schools.

Engaging Israel: Part 2 Rabbi Billy Dreskin 5 Wednesdays from Nov 12, 7:30 p.m. The conversation about Israel continues. Rooted in Jewish values and ideas, we explore questions such as: What are benefits of Jewish sovereignty? How can Israel create and maintain a Jewish democracy? Why should American Jews care about Israel? Fees: Course $18; Book $20 (continuing students already have book). Assistance available where needed. New students welcome. Special “catch-up” session (also open to continuing students): Wed, Nov 5, 7:30 p.m.

Mitzvah Fair Shabbat

Mitzvah Fair

Fri, Nov 7 at 8:00 p.m.

Nov 9, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Danielle Butin, Founder and Executive director of the Yonkers-based AFYA Foundation, will inspire us through her example of community service and leadership. Join us as we learn how one hour, one day, one project can help repair our community and the world.

Become part of tikkun olam, helping to repair the world with an hour, a day, or more. There’s something for everyone at the Mitzvah Fair. Support our sale of beautiful handmade Bead for Life jewelry (see below). There’ll be food, activities for kids, make-your-own jewelry workshops, information tables to learn about mitzvah opportunities and ethical living practices, tzedakah organizations and volunteer opportunities for adult, teens and kids.

Mayim Jewish Film Series Wed, Nov 5, 7:30 p.m. Final film in the series, For a Woman. will be shown, followed by a discussion led by Rabbi Mara. Dessert and coffee included. Fee for individual film $10.

Fri, Nov 14, 8:00 p.m. Our Book Fair Shabbat will feature Ronna Wineberg, cousin of Religious School Board President Rachel Wineberg and author of On Bittersweet Place, a new novel about a Russian-born Jewish girl coming of age in Jazz Age Chicago in the 1920s. Ronna was the runner-up for the 2006 Reform Judaism Prize for Jewish Fiction.

Ugandan women become self-supporting businesswomen through the sale of beautiful handmade jewelry crafted from recycled paper beads. Support these hardworking women who are lifting themselves from poverty.

December and Beyond The 4th Wednesday

Planning for Purim!

5 Wednesdays, beginning Jan 28

The Purim Goody Bag committee is busy planning for the 2015 Sh’lakh Manot (Purim Goody Bag) project!

Finding yourself at home on a Wednesday morning craving a cup of coffee and some human interaction? Don’t go to Starbucks, come to Woodlands! We’ll have hot coffee, some newspapers, and a comfy place to sit. Whether you’re retired, a stay-at-home parent, or working from home, we’d love to see you for some informal schmooze. Drop in for as long as you’d like.

Fri, Feb 6 – Sun, Feb 8

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Sun, Nov 9

Book Fair Shabbat

Artist in Residence Weekend: Our Stories, Your Stories with Marilyn Price

Bead for Life Sale at Mitzvah Fair

Join us for a bit of Jewish history and stories and then an insight into the importance of sharing our own stories with friends, family, and ourselves. Throughout the delightful weekend, there will be stories shared, wisdom and laughter.

A sincere thank you to each family who sent Purim wishes last year to their friends in the congregation. We hope the joy of giving and the receiving was enjoyed by all! Participation in this mitzvah provides the Education Enrichment fund the ability to provide quality programming to our congregation. Look for ordering details in upcoming issues of Makom. If you’re interested in joining our committee, please contact us at amygreen3@optonline.net.

The Agnostic Rabbi Further reflections since Rosh Hashanah

Dear Friends, On Rosh Hashanah morning, I mentioned to you that I am agnostic in my beliefs about God. Momentarily forgetting that people hear and understand words in different ways, I neglected to fully explain to you what I had meant in describing myself as agnostic. As a result, there’s been quite a buzz throughout our community with many of you expressing concern that “Rabbi Billy doesn’t believe in God.” That’s not at all correct. I do believe in God. Quite passionately, in fact. So how did I manage to confuse everybody? Well, first, I said too little. I offered a onesentence explanation as to what I meant, which is rarely enough in a sermon where words go by quickly and one sentence almost never gets your message across to everyone. (Now you know why rabbis’ sermons are so long!) Second, “agnostic” means different things to different people. In fact, agnostics can be very different from one to the next. I am an agnostic theist. This means I believe in God even though I also believe God is unknowable. By the way, “God as unknowable” is pretty conventional Jewish thinking. Moses asked to see God’s face and was permitted only to see where God had been. So here’s where Rabbi Billy Dreskin stands vis-a-vis being an agnostic who believes (very much) in God. In my Rosh Hashanah sermon, I wrote, “I try to be humble enough to never assert that I am somehow in possession of any real knowledge of

the universe’s Creator.” This means that I will never tell you what God is, only what I think God might be (and, therefore, where I put my faith). My belief in God revolves around the prevailing model for the early development of the universe, familiar to us as the Big Bang. All of life emerged and evolved from a single, infinitely small, infinitely dense, and infinitely hot point of origin. Where this point came from, no scientist can even guess. I am profoundly and forever grateful to whatever is responsible for us being alive at all, whatever source sparked the Big Bang. I call it God because my ancestors called it God, and because it’s the name we use in our prayer book. When we light Shabbat candles and thank God for having created the world and sanctifying us through holy acts of reverence (like lighting candles), I have no specific image of God in mind. I am offering my thanks to (and these are, for me, one and the same) Adonai our God, the One who Sparked the Big Bang. I offer my thanks because I am endlessly grateful for being alive. And being grateful, I not only offer thanks, I also ask what I can do in return. Our tradition calls that “mitzvot.” This is what my ancestors said and did, and I follow in their wise, humble footsteps. I hope this helps you to better understand my thinking about God. More importantly, I hope it encourages you to deepen your own journey in thinking about God, and I welcome our sharing in further conversation together.

“I will never tell you what God is, only what I think God might be (and, therefore, where I put my faith).”

Yoga Shabbat: Sat, Oct 18

Get Ready for Summer 2015

3 Great URJ Camps… and a summer that lasts a lifetime What, you say, summer’s over? Not so fast. It’s time to plan for next year. Haven’t your kids been telling you that? So here’s the answer: URJ camps. Eisner and Crane Lake, in the beautiful Berkshires, work hard to strengthen Jewish identity, self-esteem, and community, while giving kids lots of time to swim, ski, or splash in the lake or pool and build their sports, artistic, and other abilities, learning from skilled coaches and certified instructors. The brand-new 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy just north of Boston offers kids a chance to learn robotics, earth science, game design, 3-D printing and more. Want to know more? Talk with Ross Glinkenhouse or Rabbi Mara about Eisner and Crane Lake. Check in with Rabbi Billy about 6 Points (he spent a week there this past summer). Or check out the websites: eisnercranelake. urjcamps.org and scitechurjcamps.org. FInancial assistance available.

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Sukkot at Woodlands

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WCT Youth Engagement WCT’s Youth and Family Engagement Committee (YFEC) has been working with Ross and Rabbi Mara to create programs and events for kids, teens, and families over the course of the temple year. Congregants saw the YFEC-Katan (ages 0-6th grade) team in action at the Sukkot Happening, and both the Katan and Gadol (7th grade and up) groups will be part of the Mitzvah Fair on Nov 9. Younger families can join in story time organized by Katan, while all of our older kids and families are encouraged to participate in Gadol’s survey and video project to record their recent social action and tzedakah activities to be shared with future B’nai Mitzvah kids and those looking for new ways to engage in our community. Coming up this winter: lots of opportunities for teens and families to get out of the house and have some fun together. We’ve got plans for a skating night, a ski trip, and more! Watch this column and our weekly, religious school, and youth emails for details. Want to help make youth engagement at WCT even more engaging? Email youth@wct.org and we will get you in touch with the YFEC chairs, Juli Klein and Leora Cohen Friedman. Looking ahead: Want something fun to do during winter break? Join YFEC for ice skating at the Kensico Dam Winter Wonderland on Dec 27 at 5 p.m. The evening will be full of skating, food, vendors, and fun. Bring the family or come with a group of friends. Contact dgwshapiro@gmail.com for more information. See what it is all about at www.wwinterwonderland.com WCT is hosting NFTY-Nashir (formally known as Shulhouse Rock) A National Songleading program, Dec 12-14! This weekend has tons of things for the whole community to participate in! Fri night Dec 12: Dan Nichols, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, and Shira Kline help enhance our experience. On Sat, Dec 13, join us at 7:30 p.m. for our Havdalah Sing Along! And don’t miss out as our participants take over and lead tefilah for our kids in the religious school on Sun, Dec 14. We also need volunteers to host our participants, Pick up from local Aarports, set up for meals (look out for a congregational email coming out soon. To sign up or just email Ross: rglinkenhouse@wct.org.

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The Simkha Page

B’nai Mitzvah Samantha Feldbaum

Aaron Forman

Nov 1

Nov 15

Torah Portion Lekh Lekha

Torah Portion Khayei Sarah

Hebrew Name Deena Rivka

Hebrew Name Aharon

Mazal Tov Mazal Tov to David and Esther Feldbaum, as their daughter, Samantha, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah.

Mazal Tov to Frank Forman and Adrian Forman, as their son, Aaron, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.

Thank You Thank you to Alex Shapiro, Henry Stern, Ashley Klein, Marina Lebowich, Elijah Emery, Andrew Aldous, Rachel Chang, Ethan Sipe, Jeremy Sipe, and Gabriel Sipe for wowing us and helping to lead our Rosh Hashanah Family Service. Thank you to Jenna Lebowich for bringing your culinary expertise to Academy and helping us to celebrate Sukkot.

Thank you to the Youth and Family Engagement Committee’s Katan group for spearheading our fun and festive Sukkot activities. Thank you to Lois Izes for making our first few Shalom Storytime sessions so successful and fun! Thank you to Roberta Roos for providing the yummy challah dough for our 9th grade family learning session.

Knitting and Crochetting in the Sukkah Sun, Oct 12 A little schmooze, a little nosh, and a whole lot of camaraderie

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 With gratitude to Rabbi Billy and in honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Ariana Kaminskas. Thank you Rabbi Billy and in memory of Terrie Kaplan, from Alan Kaplan. In memory of Mary Melnick Shlaen, Julia Stein Fihrer, Mandel Stein and Louis Melnick, from Steve and Eileen Stein. Thank you Rabbi Billy, Cantor Jonathan, Dayle and Margot, for all you do, and in honor of Sabrina Fein becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Jennifer, Jason, Rachel and Sabrina Fein. Thank you Rabbi Billy for a warm and beautiful wedding ceremony and in honor of the marriage of Haley Klein to Zachary Fisher, from Dana and Alan Lestz. In honor of Eli Bertan’s aliyah, from Ann B. Karp. In honor of the High Holy Days, from David and Abbe Rattner. In memory of Orefice Gastone, father, from Laura Stevens.

Rabbi Mara’s Mitzvah Fund With gratitude to Rabbi Mara and in honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Ariana Kaminskas. With Gratitude to Dayle Fligel and in honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Ariana Kaminskas.

Cantor’s Discretionary Fund With gratitude to Cantor Jonathan and in honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Ariana Kaminskas. With gratitude to Margot Serwer and in honor of Matthew Kaminskas becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Ariana Kaminskas. In honor of Cantor Jonathan and the High Holy Days, from Tamaara Tabb.

Chai Fund In honor of Mary Elizabeth and David Stern, from Ann and Willy Stern. In memory of Gig Avitabile, from Tina Maxwell. In memory of Greta Korn, from Tina Maxwell. In memory of Annette Sibirski, mother of Nancy Oren, from The Simon Family, Emma, Josie, Laura and Richard. In honor of Rochelle Stolzenberg, from Miriam Stolzenberg. In honor of the High Holy Days, from Maxine Rosenberg. In honor of Lee Brickman’s Aliyah, from Nanci and Lee Brickman. In honor of our wonderful staff, Rabbi Billy, Rabbi Mara, Cantor Jonathan, Corey Friedlander, Jason Fenster, Margot Serwer and German Franco for making this year’s High Holy Days memorable, from Yvette and Larry Gralla.

Torah and Ritual Fund In honor of Isabelle Ripin becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Laura Ripin.

Steve’s H.O.P.E. Fund In honor of Bonnie Mitelman affirming life at this year’s yizkor service, from Dale Glasser.

Education Enrichment Fund In memory of Rosalie Young, from Gail and Sheldon Dorph. In memory of Rosalie Young, from Ofra Backenroth. In honor of Isabelle Ripin becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from the Lebowich Family. In honor of Molly Greenholz becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from the Lebowich Family.

In honor of Sabrina Fein becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from the Lebowich Family.

Geraldine and Gerald Weinberger Lifelong Learning Fund In memory of Geraldine Weinberger, from Barbara and Harold Bell. In honor of Rabbinic Intern Jason Fenster, from Debbie and Steven Young. In honor of Geraldine Weinberger, from Gerry Weinberger.

Special Education Fund In honor of Riva Freilich, from Ronnie Benson.

Education and Youth Activities Fund In honor of Jonathan Montague for his incredible shofar blowing at Woodlands Atria, from Harriet Levine.

The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of Marion Baron

grandmother of Laura Londin

Hyman Katz

father of David Katz

Joseph (George) Skolnik father of Faith Ackerman

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

Social Action Fund In honor of Geri Pell affirming life at this year’s yizkor service, from Dale Glasser.

HHD Machzor In honor of Maya Glasser leading her first HHD Service 5775, from Zachary Glasser. In memory of David Heyman, from The Heyman Family. In loving memory of Anne and Ralph Kohn, from Harriet Kohn. In memory of Henrica Mia Bordwin, from Gaby and Andrew Bordwin. In memory of Milton Bordwin, from Gaby and Andrew Bordwin. In memory of Roberta Leopold Sudock from, Gaby and Andrew Bordwin. In memory of Mayer David Sudock, from Gaby and Andrew Bordwin. In memory of Melvin Fishman, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Alice Fishman, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Bernard Mills, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Hannah Mills, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Cary Lowen, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Bill Kempner, from Nancy, Chuck, Alexa and Kimberly Fishman. In memory of Betty Trevor and Jack Trevor-beloved grandparents, from Jennifer Trevor Hochman, Seth Hochman, and Zoe Hochman. In memory of Hilda Fink and Sam Fink, beloved grandparents, from Jennifer Trevor Hochman, Seth Hochman, and Zoe Hochman. In honor of Jenna, Michael and Marina Lebowich, from Maxine Rosenberg. In memory of Jerry Rosenberg, from Maxine Rosenberg. In memory of Vera and David Nathanson, from Maxine Rosenberg. In memory of Bessie and Harry Rosenberg, from Maxine Rosenberg. In memory of Jack Yak Scharf, from The Scharf/Levine Family. In memory of Lawrence Levine, from The Scharf/Levine Family. In memory of Ori Scharf, from The Scharf/Levine Family

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

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).

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.

WCT’s Cemetery Plots In 2008 WCT purchased 69 gravesites at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, NY. At this time, in total we have only 28 unsold gravesites remaining. The price per gravesite is $3,050. Gravesites can only be sold to temple members. For information or to purchase any of these gravesites, please contact Bob Apter (693-2732) or Lois Green (949-2116), or write to cemetery@wct.org.

www.wct.org

Umami Sushi 724 Saw Mill River Rd, Ardsley 914-231-9443 Free Delivery

Open Mon &Wed-Sat 10:30 am to 10 pm, Sun 12-10, Closed Tuesdays Thursday night is Ladies Night! All hot sake, beer, wine is Buy One, get one or get the second round free! (Gentlemen are welcome too!)

â&#x153;ˇ Mention Woodlands Community Temple and get 10% off eat-in dining â&#x153;ˇ (Not to be combined with any other offers) Catering Available: from $15/person for up to 100 people; from $10/person for up to 200 people

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

Support Our Advertisers New Advertisers This Month Charlie Strick, DDS – member ad – Dr. Strick joins our growing list of advertisers and thanks all his clients who are members of Woodlands.

Featured Advertisers This Month Geri Eisenman Pell – member ad – Geri has been a long supporter of Makom and has shared her expertise with many Woodlands members. Geri, thanks so much for your support of Makom and of Woodlands. Charmed – check out the Charmed website. Everything sweet you could possibly need for that special occasion. Next door to Slices, it’s Woodlands’ official pizzeria.

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College Connection By Jeremy Kogan Jeremy is pursuing a major in retailing at the School of Human Ecology at UW Madison. He is also in a fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi, whose philanthropy is the elimination of prejudice. Jeremy is the fundraising chair of the fraternity and on the judicial board and writes for Madison’s satirical newspaper, The Madison Misnomer.

any Jews from the Northeast move into apartmentstyle dorms their first year at Madison. I chose a different route. My first year, I lived in a conventional dorm on the quieter side of campus in a small building called Cole Hall. I was the only person from New York on my floor—and the only Jew. Being Jewish at a large school with a small Jewish population brought out the Judaism in my identity. People knew me as the Jew on the floor. I embraced the new position. On Hanukkah I drew a menorah on the dry-erase board in my floor’s common room. On Passover, I drew the Seder plate. I wanted to educate people on some basics. Although I did not choose to join Hillel or take any Jewish studies classes, I chose to explore my spirituality in other ways. First semester, I attended a handful of lectures run by the Diamond Way Buddhist Group on campus. There, I learned about the power of mindfulness and meditation. My second semester, I took a class run by University Housing about Chakra meditation. I learned about the Chakras and more about the benefits of meditation. I also took an Intro to Philosophy course, which gave me a new perspective on the existence of God. In addition, I joined the first non-sectarian fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi, which was started by three Jewish guys at Yale in 1895. This year, I plan on making more of an active effort to connect with other Jews on campus, and I am also considering participating in Birthright soon.

By Nicole Zelniker Nicole Zelniker is a sophomore at Guilford College. She is an English writing and political science double major. Nicole is the project coordinator for Guilford College Church Under the Bridge and the Treasurer of the Guilford College Democrats.

s a native New Yorker, my Jewish identity had never been questioned. I lived in a school district with nearly a hundred thousand Jewish residents and went to a temple where I always felt safe in exploring the culture of Judaism. It wasn’t something I thought too much about when exploring colleges my senior year of high school. Coming to Guilford, I went to Hillel because I knew the Hillel president and celebrated holidays. It’s what my friends did, but Judaism wasn’t a big part of my life. This past summer, with the war in Gaza, everything changed. The Palestinian students from the Ramallah friends school in Palestine were angry, and rightfully so. Their homes were bombed just like Israeli homes. They were afraid for their families. However, rather than retaliate against Israel, hate speech was directed towards Jewish students on campus. When the director of Statewide Initiatives from North Carolina Hillel introduced me to “Ask Big Questions,” an organization determined to take on problems with a humanizing approach, I wanted to become involved. Through this initiative, an atheist Israeli, a Jew, and a Muslim Moroccan brought the Jewish and Palestinian students together over pizza and ice breakers, discovering that both sides were lashing out because they were scared and wanted a change. This October, a group of students from Hillel and Students for Justice in Palestine went to Massachusetts together for the Open Hillel Conference to discuss everything from hate speech to potential solutions. I was a part of this because of Woodlands. As an open-minded temple, Woodlands certainly helped me learn how to be a voice of change.