october
the newsletter of woodlands community temple
HIGHLIGHTS October 2013 Elul-Cheshvan 5774
S c h o l a r - i n - R e s i d e n c e 57 74
“It’s bleak… but peace can happen.” Professor Robert Rubinstein takes a close—and surprising—look at Arab-Israeli relations. By Gary Stern
T
he ongoing violence in Syria and Egypt may or may not produce new regimes. But the civil chaos will surely alter the day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens, whose hopes and disappointments will help shape the future of their nations, the Middle East, and Arab relations with Israel. These subtle cultural shifts are what interest Robert Rubinstein, a rare anthropologist who is an expert on conflict resolution and will be Woodlands’ Scholar-in-Residence during the weekend of Oct 25-27. “States make policies and agreements, but at the local level, the community level, things don’t really work that way,” Rubinstein says. “I’ve worked in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, and Sudan, and I’ve learned that people need to be understood, to have a context in which to achieve a sense of dignity. We don’t know what the Arab Spring will bring, but the kinds of considerations I’m thinking about will affect the prospects for a better future.” Rubinstein, a Long Island native, is a professor of Anthropology and International Relations at Syracuse University. Some years ago, Woodlands’ Chuck and Nancy Fishman met him when their children attended Reform summer camps together. While they were serving on this year’s Woodlands Community Temple Scholar-in-Residence committee, the Fishmans recommended him as an ideal analyst of how the Arab Spring could lead toward or further away from peace. “Considering how long the Arab-Israeli conflict has gone on, and how Continued on page 2
A Joyful Noise Oct 4 Daytime Diversions Begins Oct 9 Mayim Film Festival at WCT Oct 9, 16, 23 Annual Book Fair Oct 11-21 Book Fair Shabbat Oct 18 9th Grade Sexuality Retreat Oct 18-20 Breakfast Run Oct 20 Open Mic Night: WCT Coffeehouse Oct 19 Woodlands Book Club Oct 22 Scholar-in-Residence Weekend Oct 25-27
Cooking—and Eating—the Woodlands Way Send in your recipes for the new Woodlands Cookbook In 2002, in celebration of our 36th anniversary, WCT published What’s Cooking Tonight, the much-loved cookbook that, for years, filled the goody bags that greeted new temple members. Eleven years later, with copies dwindling and eating habits changing, it’s time for a new, improved version. And you can help. By October 31, please mail or drop your recipes—any types of recipes—at
the temple or email them to recipes@wct.org. Or you can use the online form you’ll find at wct.org/recipes. Include some additional information about the recipe. For more information and to help pull the rest of the project together through editorial, design, sales, or marketing, contact Dayle Fligel: daylejf@gmail.com or Roberta Roos: rmroos@aol.com.
Scan this QR code for more WCT information.
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 Dan Geffen, Rabbinic Intern intern@wct.org
Executive Committee Stu Berlowitz, President president@wct.org Jenna Lebowich, VP Education education@wct.og 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 Nancy Brown Lois Green Gloria Falk Barry Leibowitz Nancy Fishman Lisa Sacks Jill Garland Mike Scafidi Aliza Garofalo Jay Werner Yvette Gralla Michele Wise Rochelle Stolzenberg (ex-officio)
Office Staff Patricia Nissim, Temple Administrator pat@wct.org Liz Rauchwerger, Rabbi’s Assistant liz@wct.org Michele Montague, Religious School michele@wct.org Lori Bluberg, 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
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irreconcilable the differences seem to be,” Chuck Fishman says, “it will be great to hear from someone who understands the issues and can say ‘Yes, it’s bleak, but there are ways that peace can happen.’ Anyone who attends will have their perhaps preconceived notions challenged.” Rubinstein lived in Egypt from 1988 to 1992 and most recently returned to the region last fall, when he visited Lebanon. On all his working trips, he tries to speak with ordinary citizens as well as officials. He wants to understand what they care about and how they see the world. “We’ve seen Islamist groups fill in for states that are weak internally,” he says. “You have the rise of the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt, Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon. All of these groups achieved popular support by creating a context in which people can achieve basic things, not only day-to-day needs like food, but ways to mark life events like marriage.” Rubinstein says that Islamist groups draw symbolic meaning from their conflict with Israel and “memorialize” wars and events as rallying points. “If states can’t provide the context people need and Israeli policies frustrate people’s needs further, you have a ripe arena for the rise of more extreme groups,” he explains. Woodlands has been focusing more on Israel for the past year, and Fishman looks forward to Rubinstein’s presenting an enlightening and challenging framework for reforming certain Israeli policies toward its Arab neighbors. “Robert has a nuanced understanding of the issues, and that’s what you need to think about how peace can ever happen,” he says. “If you look at things only from the Israeli perspective, as American Jews tend to do, it will never lead to any resolution of the many issues at play.” Rubinstein believes that the Jewish state would be better served by adopting new attitudes. “I’m supportive, but critical of Israel,” he says. “My daughter, who is in her twenties, asked me if I will say anything at Woodlands that will make people mad. I don’t think you can talk about this without people having strong feelings.” Rubinstein will open his Scholar-in-Residence weekend by sharing a story at Friday’s Shabbat service (8 p.m.) about a surprising encounter between Israeli and Iranian diplomats. After Saturday evening’s Havdalah service (7:30 p.m.), he will explore the dynamics that feed conflict within the Arab states and between them and Israel. Finally, on Sunday morning (10:30 a.m.), he will lead a “conversational” look at images used in the Arab world to memorialize their conflict with Israel. “I’m really looking forward to my weekend at Woodlands,” Rubinstein says. “I hope that it will be timely and thought-provoking.”
Scholar-in-Residence Schedule From State to State: Old Wounds, New Challenges, and Potentials for Israel-Arab Peace Professor Robert Rubinstein Shabbat Service Fri, Oct 25, 8:00 p.m. Setting the Stage: Shedding light on the conditions that led to the “revolutions” in the Arab world and the rise of Islamist political parties. Havdalah, Learning, and Dessert Sat, Oct 26, 7:30 p.m. Barriers and Challenges: How the domestic and interstate dynamics lead to destructive management of conflicts within those states and between those states and Israel. With video and photography.
Brunch Sun, Oct 27, 10:30 a.m. Strategies for Reversal: Developing images that can support more constructive public policies—with support from the international community. For more information on the SIR program and to sign up, visit www.wct. org/SIR or call the office at 592-7070. For more information about other Israelthemed programs at WCT this year, see page 6 of this issue of Makom.
Worship Schedule Shabbat Noakh
Genesis 6:9 - 11:32 ... Isaiah 54:1 - 55:5 Fri, Oct 4 A Joyful Noise at 8:00 p.m. A service for everyone, from youngest to oldest. With a dozen musicians and your voices, we’ll fill the Sanctuary with a joyful noise! Visual Worship tonight – all prayers and readings will be projected onto screens. Special welcome to our Third Grade families. Sat, Oct 5 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Jacob Frank, son of Terry Frank, and Ryan Turell, son of Shari and Jonathan Turell, become B’nai Mitzvah.
Shabbat Lekh Lekha
Genesis 12:1 - 17:27 ... Isaiah 40:27 - 41:16 Fri, Oct 11 Mishpakha Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. (note earlier time)
For the entire congregation just earlier. Meaningful for adults, engaging for kids! If you like, join us for a quick dinner at 6:00 pm – make your reservation at wct. org/mishpakha Sat, Oct 12 Yoga Shabbat at 10:30 a.m. A Shabbat morning experience for everybody – adults and kids – that will include music, prayer and easy yoga movements. A holistic celebration of creation!
Shabbat Vayera
Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 ... II Kings 4:1-37 Fri, Oct 18 Book Fair Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. Local author, Veera Hiranandani, speaks about her experience growing up Jewish and Indian, and how her personal
identity influenced the writing process of her book, The Whole Story of Half a Girl. The Book Fair will be open following our service. Sat, Oct 19 Hevra Torah Shabbat at 9:15 a.m. Led by Rabbi Mara, Torah learning and Shabbat worship together. We’ll go until 10:45 or so, and then a light brunch will follow.
Shabbat Khayei Sarah
Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 ... I Kings 1:1-31 Fri, Oct 25 Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. Robert Rubinstein, Prof. of Anthropology and International Relations at Syracuse University, speaks about the prospects for peace in the Middle East. This evening’s topic, “Setting the Stage.” Sat, Oct 26 Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. Celebrate with us as Amy Mendelson, daughter of Evalyn Cohen and Jay Mendelson, becomes a Bat Mitzvah.
Shabbat Toledot
Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 ... Malakhi 1:1 - 2:7 Fri, Nov 1 Composer/Performer Todd Herzog at 8:00 p.m. Visit toddherzog.com and listen to some of Todd Herzog’s music. We’re sure you’ll want to circle this Shabbat service on your calendar. • • • • • • •
Babysitting during 8:00 p.m. Friday Shabbat services on Oct 4 and 25 will be provided by teens from our religious school. Your kids are welcome! There is no charge and no reservations are needed. Please contact babysitting@wct. org with any questions.
Hevra Torah Learning: Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 am There’s abundant room around our table. Drop by once or often, we’d love to have you join our lively conversation. In the Meeting Room or Library.
Oct 5: Parashat Noakh Facilitated by Rabbi Billy
Oct 26: Parashat Khayei Sarah Facilitated by Rabbi Billy
Oct 12: Parashat Lekh Lekha Facilitated by Cantor Jonathan
Nov 2: Parashat Toledot Facilitated by Rabbi Mara
Something for Everyone? At Woodlands nothing is routine. And that goes for Shabbat services as well. Take a look at the schedule to the left. Building on the success of last year’s Yoga and Meditation Shabbats, we’re reprising the Yoga Shabbat on Sat Oct 12. In addition, some of your favorites get going in October for 5774. Including:
A Joyful Noise
In the mood for a Shabbat service that’s got a “beat”? While the word “Joyful” speaks for itself, the “Noise” is really the electric, spiritually, and physically uplifting sound of the whole congregation sharing songs, prayers, and the energy of life. What’s the secret? Well, for starters, there’s a band, including rhythm and horn sections—trying out new and innovative approaches to traditional melodies and prayers. A Joyful Noise is heard (and participated in) six times a year, starting on Oct 4.
Mishpakha Shabbat
When you see “Mishpakha Shabbat,” you probably remember the Yiddish phrase, “the whole mishpokhe,” meaning the entire extended family. Well, that’s precisely the point of Woodlands’ Mishpakha Shabbat: a complete, hourlong, congregational, family-friendly service that starts at 7:00 pm and gets us all home earlier, including kids who have an early bedtime. You can even sign up for a light, inexpensive meal served at 6:00 p.m. and save some time on the front-end. Although Mishpakha Shabbat was originally developed as an earlier alternative to the 8:00 p.m. service, it’s proved so popular that we now offer it on five Friday nights each year as the only service of the evening. This year’s first Mishpakha Shabbat is Oct 10.
Kidz Shabbat
Looking to celebrate Shabbat as a family? Want to fill it with energy, music, humor and storytelling? But need something a bit briefer? Kidz Shabbat is held monthly in our Sanctuary. A half-hour short, we’ll sing, tell stories, share our prayers, and then gather for a sweet nosh. Grandparents: invite your local or visiting grandkids to join you. They’ll love it, which means you will too! The first Kidz Shabbat of 5774 is Oct 18.
Oct 19: Parashat Vayera Facilitated by Rabbi Mara
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from the
Rabbi
Now What? After the Tent Comes Down
A
zookeeper placed an online order for her exhibit, “Predators of the Serengeti.” To customer service she wrote the following note: “Please ship me two mongooses.” That looked strange so she changed it to, “Please ship me two mongeese.” That didn’t sit well either, so she typed, “Please ship one mongoose. And while you’re at it, send another.” No matter who we are, where we live, or what we do, we grapple with the correct way to do things. If information is available, we may get better at it. But if all we know is that something doesn’t sit well, we can at least attempt to improve. The High Holy Days have come and gone. We spent many hours in the Tent sharing words about change and return. Now, with a little bit of distance, it’s time to ask, “What have I done with the time I spent there? What are the fruits of my period of self-reflection?”
While you’re answering that, consider this: Two temple kids, Maya Glasser and Jade Sank (not really a temple kid, but she spent a lot of time here last year) have shuffled off to rabbinical school in Jerusalem. On Yom Kippur, they led a discussion on the connection between makhzor (the High Holy Days prayerbook), lakhzor (the Hebrew verb “to return”), and mikhzeyr (“to recycle”). I was quite taken with their recycling concept and what it might teach us about our work in the Tent. It’s unlikely that any of us will transform into something completely different. We are who we are, and any change will probably be incremental. But reshaping our essential personality traits into something a bit better than we were before (recycling, if you will) is entirely possible. And commendable. And necessary. There’s a reading in our makhzor that pushes me hard: “Last year’s confession came easily to the lips. Will this year’s come from deeper than the skin?” I’m thinking deeply about these questions. I hope you’ll join me in the challenge to remember the Tent and transform our words and thoughts into real, recycled change.
9th Grade Retreat:
Judaism Takes an Honest Look at Love and Sexuality
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he weekend of Oct 18-20, our ninth graders will board a bus with Rabbi Billy, Ross Glinkenhouse, and Martha and Mike Witkowski, stopping at Larchmont Temple to pick up their 9th graders, and heading north to a destination unlike most others: three days of learning about sexuality and relationships. Sex is in our children’s future. Hopefully, they will make good decisions for themselves and for those they care about. This retreat helps our kids to develop their
decision-making skills, specifically as those skills apply to sexuality. Sexuality educators are in agreement that this is one of the most positive and effective avenues toward our kids forming healthy points-of-view so they can make healthy decisions at whatever time they choose to become sexually active. We’ve led this program for two decades now. The kids really enjoy it. And the evaluations consistently demonstrate that they learn from it and
Ninth-grade Sexuality Retreat, circa 5773: Learning to make healthy decisions.
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feel supported in resisting peer pressure to become sexually active before they are ready to do so. 9th graders: Don’t miss the bus. We leave promptly at 4:00 pm on Fri afternoon, Oct 18, returning by 12:30 on Sun. Bring warm, comfortable, layered clothing, along with a sleeping bag and toothbrush! Parents, permission forms are a must. Please get them to us soon.
C o m m i t t e e R e p o rt s
Social Action Knitting and Crocheting Brigade Sun, Oct 6, 5 – 8 p.m.
Join us for a relaxing potluck dinner, conversation, and making squares for blankets. The blankets are given to women transitioning from Hope’s Door to their own apartment. RSVP to SocialAction@wct.org
Breakfast Run
Sun, Oct 20, 6:45 a.m. Join us at the temple to load our cars with breakfast food, clothes,
and toiletries for homeless men and women in NYC. We arrive back at the temple around 10 a.m. Write: MidnightRunBreakfasts@wct.org
October Food of the Month Granola bars, small cereal boxes, and juice boxes
October Collection of the Month To benefit Midnight and Breakfast Runs: new men’s and women’s underwear (white briefs), socks, and t-shirts
Adult Education Adult ed at Woodlands has more offerings than we have room to describe. For details on all the programs, including the range of Hebrew levels and a few courses that have fees or need registration, please check the temple website and the new Adult Education brochure. Here are some highlights:
This is Your Brain on Judaism
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman Five consecutive Thur, beginning Oct 3, 8:00 p.m. Judaism and cognitive science try to answer the same questions.Who are we? Why do we behave the way we do? This course integrates science with religion, studying the latest work on cognitive science as well as several ancient Jewish texts to help us improve both ourselves and how we act. (Fee)
Mussar
Judaism 101: Holidays (Part 2) Rabbi Mara Young Sun, Oct 27, 9:30 a.m.
Designed for Jews and non-Jews, this class is meant to give you the very basics and promote comfort with Jewish tradition and practice.
Building Jewish Lives—Seniors and Those Caring for Seniors: Continuing the Conversation
Four Sundays, beginning Oct 6, 2:00 p.m. A discussion series designed to provide information, assistance, and help for seniors, caretakers, and the sandwich generation, looking into financial planning, legal issues, coping with change as we age, and caregiving.
Daytime Jewish Studies
Harriet Levine Thur, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. starting Oct 10
Cantor Jonathan Gordon and Lisa Sacks Begins Sun, Oct 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Curriculum is based on participants’ interests.
Delve into the centuries-old Jewish tradition of Mussar, a spiritual practice focused on developing inner awareness and proper conduct, through a journey of self-reflection and change. (Fee)
Adult Hebrew Classes
Six Weeks of Talmud
Rabbi Billy Dreskin Begins Thursday, October 17, 11:30-1:00 Ever been curious about what’s in those really big books known as “The Talmud”? Then join our intrepid team of adventurers and learners. Our conversations are enlightening, entertaining, often irreverent, and sometimes life-changing.
Thur, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. starting Oct 10
Modern Hebrew
Rabbi Joan Farber Thur, 8:15 – 9:30 pm starting October 10
Daytime Diversions Wed, Oct 9, 10:00 a.m.
Join us for our first session as we bring back for the fourth year, the absolutely hilarious Joyce Saltman. We promise you that the pain in your cheeks (from laughing) will eventually disappear.
Fall is here—the season of change, and The Judaica Shop at Woodlands is at its colorful peak! This month we will be receiving much of our Hanukkah merchandise. Don’t let Hanukkah sneak up on you!! Remember… we’ll be lighting the 1st candle on your Hanukkiah as you prepare your Havdalah Set Thanksgiving dinner! Have you stopped by to see the gift shop’s newest pieces? We are so excited to be carrying magnificent Havdalah sets by Israeli artist Yair Emanuel and WCT favorite, Sara & Michael Beames. Add a colorful multi-wick Havdalah candle made by Safed in Israel and this will be a spectacular, colorful ending to Shabbat. Our new jewelry pieces with Roman glass and Swarovski crystals by IS Art artists Angie Olami and Seeka add a splash of color, sparkle, and spirituality to any jewelry collection. Have you seen our expanded collection Havdalah Set of adhesive-backed mezuzot? They make ideal gifts for dorm rooms and new apartments! Our very cool, very colorful, flameless Hanukkah menorahs will be arriving this month and all pre-paid orders will be available for pick-up. Watch your email for arrival notifications. The Judaica Shop at Woodlands will be having a “fall”-ing prices sale on all instock merchandise from Oct 1 to Oct 13. Stop by and take advantage of this 10% to 20% OFF sale. Stock up on Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding, baby births, and new home gifts. Remember, “we’re your neighborhood shop for gift giving….getting!” The Judaica Shop at Necklace Woodlands is open, by request, every day the temple office is staffed. Weekend and evening hours are noted in the weekly email blast. Shopping for something special? Need a customized gift? Email us at: Judaicashop@wct.org. We’ll be happy to help.
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Just Israel The Real Bridge to Peace Seeking to advance bi-national medicine, Palestinian Health Minister Hani Abdeen visited Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, Israel’s largest medical facility. While there he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations in the areas of healing, teaching, and research. There are 60 Palestinian doctors in residency at Hadassah, and more than 30 percent of the patients are Palestinian. Plans are underway to expand the specialties of anesthesiology, interventional radiology, cardiac care, and pediatrics: areas lacking in the territories. Dr. Abdeen expressed pleasure at visiting for the first time. I came “to hear their (Palestinian) feedback—their moans, groans, and gripes as well as their praise for the good treatment that they are getting. We’re here to find new ways to collaborate.” Dr. Yuval Weiss, Hadassah medical director, said that cooperation with their neighbors is a top priority. “Medicine is a bridge to peace. There are no borders when it comes to treating patients.”
Israel at Woodlands 5774 From Mayim to the Rosh Hodesh “Women of the Wall” event to this year’s Scholarin-Residence, Israel has been key to WCT programming this year. Some other offerings coming up later this year: Engaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship – part 1 Thur, Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb 6—8-9:30 p.m. Guided by Rabbi Billy, this program reframes and elevates the conversation by rooting it in Jewish values and ideas rather than in response to crisis. Brunch with Uri Regev and the Rivertowns Consortium Jan 26, 10:30 a.m. Conversation with Uri Regev, founder and president of Hiddush, an Israeli organization whose mission is to realize Israel’s founding vision as articulated in its Declaration of Independence. Yom HaAtzmaut Service: Israel’s 66th birthday Fri, May 2
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October Happenings Brush Up Your Shakespeare— and the Rest of Your Repetoire
Woodlands Reads: At the WCT Book Fair
Last year, Superstorm Sandy washed out our annual WCT Coffehouse Open Mic Night. Now we’re back, bigger and better than ever. Save Oct 19 at 8 p.m. and get ready to share your talents, whether you’re a professional or a new, as-yet-undiscovered artist. Temple member Dan Emery of the famous NYC Guitar School is helping to organize the event. Are you a singer? A comic? A juggler? An instrumentalist? Or just an enthusiastic audience member, ready to clap and cheer? Whether your repertoire includes Bach, Bebop, or bird calls, you’re invited to perform. We can help find you an accompanist or get you together with other performers. Purchase tickets ($15; $5 for students) at wct.org/coffeehouse. Sign up ahead of time with Cantor Jonathan or Dan Emery to perform (cantor@ wct.org or nycguitar1@gmail.com).
Oct 11 - 21
Mayim’s Back!
Woodlands Book Club Reads (and Discusses): Alice Hoffman’s The Dovekeepers
Wed, Oct 9, 16, and 23 A young Israeli military police investigator is confronted with the complex case of a company commander accused of using excessive force against a Palestinian civilian (in Room 514). Thirty-eight Ukrainian Jews survive World War II by living in underground caves (in No Place on Earth). Members of the first homosexual rights movement— from 1920s Weimar Germany—relive their lives, before and after Nazi persecution (in Paragraph 715). These three films comprise this year’s Mayim Film Festival, held again this year at Woodlands by the Rivertowns Jewish Consortium (Wed nights, Oct 9, 16, and 23, at 7:30 p.m.)—facilitated by our own Rabbis Billy and Mara and Greenburgh Hebrew Center Rabbi Barry Kenter. For details, call Lois Green at the JCC: 366-7898, Ext. 104 or lgreen@jcconthehudson.org for more information and pre-registration.
Check out our new section of “clergy picks” at the annual WCT book fair and browse our selection of books for the whole family. This year Woodlands Reads is back with a read for Woodlanders of all ages. Our adult book is People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks which unravels the long history of a special haggadah recovered in the late 1990s in Sarajevo, bringing together Jews, Muslims, and Christians. For children ages 9 and up, there is The Whole Story of Half a Girl, by local author Veera Hinanandani, about a girl struggling to figure out her identity as a half-Indian and half-Jewish American. For younger children there is a fabulous picture book Snow in Jerusalem by Deborah da Costa about two boys living in the Old city of Jerusalem—one Jewish and one Muslim—brought together by a stray cat. Hinanandani joins us at Book Fair Shabbat, Fri, Oct 18, 8:00 p.m., to talk about how her personal identity influenced the writing process.
Wed Oct 22 at 7:30 p.m. This is Alice Hoffman’s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel, a tour de force of research and imagination. Nearly 2000 years ago, 900 Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this event, Hoffman’s novel is a spellbinding tale of four extraordinarily bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege, set at Masada nearly 2,000 years ago. Phyllis Hirth will moderate.
November and Beyond Progressive Dinner: A Movable Feast Join us Sat, Nov 2, for an evening of fun and fellowship. Starting at 6:30 p.m. you will enjoy cocktails and a dinner’s worth of delicious appetizers at two different houses. Then it’s time to rendezvous at Woodlands for Havdalah and dessert. Cost is $25 per person if you sign up by October 18, and $30 per person if you sign up by October 25. For those who need it, free babysitting by our WoodSY youth. Let us know when signing up and you will be contacted. Don’t miss out on an evening of pure fun and wonderful food. Check the website for a signup form.
Women of the Wall Rosh Hodesh Celebration Sun, Nov 3, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner and a learning opportunity in support of the Women of the Wall. Parallel tracks for adults, teens, and kids, including a Rosh Hodesh service in the sanctuary while the kids will take part in a creative learning experience downstairs led by Rabbi Mara. We will join together for an Israeli-inspired meal, after which we will again separate while presenters share stories of women advocates for social justice and kids create dessert “kotels.” $5 per person, $10 per family. Reservation information on weekly emails. Not for women only. Sponsored jointly by the Social Action, ARZAIsrael, Ritual, and Adult Education committees and the Religious School.
Daytime Diversions
Book Club: Looking at Interfaith Relationships Wed, Nov 20, 7:30 p.m.
Andi Rosenthal, writer, Larchmont Temple member, and program executive at SYNERGY Westchester, converted to Judaism in 2002. Her new novel, The Bookseller’s Sonnets, is about a secret diary written by the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas More, legal advisor to Tudor King Henry VIII delivered to the senior curator of the Holocaust Museum. As Jill Levin and her colleagues struggle to authenticate this rare and controversial find, a story about Jewish life in the present emerges, a refreshingly honest portrayal about people in interfaith relationships and families. Pick up the book at the Book Fair October 11-21 and come to Andi’s presentation on Wed, Nov 20.
URJ Biennial in San Diego Join the rabbis, temple president Stu Berlowitz, and many other fellow congregants at the URJ’s 77th Biennial Convention, Dec 11-15, 2013. We’ll all be staying at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. Visit urj.org/ biennial13 and watch a video describing the excitement and value of this everyother-year gathering. You can sign up for updates there. Registration opened this summer. Please let Stu Berlowitz and/or Rabbi Billy know you’ll be attending. See you in San Diego!
Wed, Nov 12, 10:00 a.m. We welcome back Seymon Pinkhasov, an award winning documentary film maker. He brings us the film, The Helen Mayer Story, and will talk to us about Helen’s role as a fencer in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
Todd Herzog: A Double Feature
Save the Date! 5th Annual Jonah Maccabee Concert with Julie Silver and Ken Chasen, Sat, Mar 8, 2014.
A Musical Shabbat Fri, Nov 1 at 8:00 p.m.
There are Jewish pop performers, Jewish rock performers, and then there’s Todd Herzog. We’d call him a Jewish soul performer. Todd’s music is described by Indie-Music.com as a “full, warm, uptempo adult contemporary sound.” He has “a strong, passionate vocal that hits high notes beautifully.” Todd takes the raw material of life experiences and creates soulful, spiritual, acoustic music along the lines of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Marc Cohn. He’s worked with Burt Bacharach, Dave Koz, and Craig Taubman, and his Bridging The Gap CD won “Best Jewish Album” in the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards. Todd’s music has been featured on TV and films such as Brotherhood, The Young and The Restless, All My Children, One Life To Live, Who Wants To Marry My Dad, The Osbournes, and Melrose Place. We hope you’ll come meet Todd when he brings his extraordinarily lovely music and his expansive and gentle nature to our bimah for an evening of Shabbat musical adventure. Todd will lift your spirit as he quiets your soul, and you’ll feel wonderful for having joined him. Todd was scheduled to be here last year, but Super Storm Sandy had other plans for us. We’re so pleased to finally bring Todd to Woodlands. Listen to Todd’s music at toddherzog.com.
Free Concert!
Sun, Nov 3 at 11:15 a.m. Join us as popular Jewish music artist Todd Herzog appears in a free concert. While Todd’s 45-minute presentation is geared toward students, you are more than welcome to attend. The religious school schedule will be adjusted in order to permit all of our 3rd-6th grades to attend Todd’s concert. Todd’s concert appearance is made possible through a grant from The Jonah Maccabee Fund whose mission (besides helping kids get to URJ summer programs) is to bring new, contemporary Jewish music to Woodlands.
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Sukkot at WCT 5774
The Simkha Page
B’nai Mitzvah Jacob Frank
Amy Mendelson
October 5
October 26
Torah Portion Noakh Hebrew Name Nakhum David
Torah Portion Khayei Sarah Hebrew Name Adina Yehudit
Ryan Turell October 5 Torah Portion Noakh Hebrew Name Simkha Yaakov
Mazal Tov
High Holy Days Thank Yous…
Mazal Tov to Terry Frank, as her son, Jacob, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.
Thank you for all your incredible help in making Woodlands’ High Holy Days so meaningful and enjoyable: Ritual cochairs Don Levan and Nancy Fishman; the Ritual Committee; Chuck and Nancy Fishman for arranging all the honors; Cliff Schoen and Dayle Fligel for everything regarding the tent; Steve Zizmor for a million things you help with; our incredible musicians (Fimi Frost, Peter Seidenberg, Mark Kaufman, Emily Trias, and the Woodlands Singers); our ba’alei shofar, Tom Hirschfeld and Ari Winkleman; Adam Weber for drumming at family services; the “sweet” folks who put out apples and honey (Jason Laks, Merav Gur, and Jonathan Richer); Miriam Kerness for arranging and coordinating babysitting; Pat and Liz in the office; and a huge thank you to German Franco who does so much before we arrive and always sticks around to clean up after we leave.
Mazal Tov to Jonathan and Shari Turell, as their son, Ryan, is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Mazal Tov to Jay Mendelson and Evalyn Cohen, as their daughter, Amy, is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah.
Welcoming New Members
For more photos from Sukkot and Simkhat Torah 5774 at Woodlands see next month’s Makom.
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www.wct.org
Hilary and Robb Archigian Jennifer and Richard Barnett Kay and Stephen Boonshoft Liz and Dan Cohen Beth and Richard Feldman Pamela Goldstein Steph and Rob Goodman Joy and David Gralnick Eric Katz and Monica Esser Lara and Andy Leibman Nicole and Adam Lesser Toby and Barry Linder Alejandro Luciano and Joanna Starrels Deborah and Scott Navins Pat and Michael Nissim Michelle and Jason Rimland Peter Soboroff and Linda Davidson Mary and Jordan Wachtell Sue and Jason Weinstein Maxine Weisman
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 Thank you Rabbi Billy and in honor of Matthew Ballan becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Elise and Jim Ballan. In memory of Murray Endick, from Angie Chipoco. In memory of Murray Endick, from Ellen Hymowitz and Dr. Charles Maltz In memory of Louis Melnick, from Eileen and Steve Stein. In memory of Mandel Stein and Julia Stein Fihrer, from Eileen and Steve Stein. In memory of Rita Wuhrman, from Elsa Wuhrman. In appreciation of Rabbi Billy and in honor of the marriage of Natalie Kimmelman to Alex Maroni, from Alex Maroni and Natalie Kimmelman Maroni.
Rabbi Mara’s Mitzvah Fund In memory of Marvin Sherman, father, from Bonni Arbore.
Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Thank you Cantor Jonathan and in honor of Matthew Ballan becoming a Bar Mitzvah, from Elise and Jim Ballan. Thank you Cantor Jonathan and in honor of Charlotte Dorn becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Charlotte Dorn. In memory of Norman Leon, from Jackie and Nelson Leicht.
Education Enrichment Fund Wishing Mark Solomon a Refuah Sheleimah, from Susan and Michael Schenker. Donation from The Levitt Family. In honor of Rabbi Mara and her extraordinary sermon on Yom Kippur, from Penny and Bob Apter.
Chai Fund In memory of Ida Poretsky, from Lauren Kaplan. In memory of Madeleine Stern, mother of Judy Stern, from Larry and Yvette Gralla. Donation from Michael Hess. In honor of Jenna, Michael and Marina Lebowich, from Maxine Rosenberg. In honor of Yom Kippur, from Michael Hess. In honor of the High Holy Days, from Michael Hess. In honor of the marriage of Jill Rosenthal, daughter of Peter and Sandy Rosenthal to Brian Guerriero, from Mara and Mark Young.
In memory of Arthur Pell, from Bert Schacher. In memory of Dan Schacher, from Bert Schacher. In memory of Sarah Katowitz, sister of Miriam Katowitz, from Rhoda and Marvin Zelniker. In memory of Ray Morris, from David Griff and Roni Beth Tower
The Woodlands Community Mourns the Loss of Inge Engel
Aunt of Karen Cohen
Ray Morris
Father of Marjory Selig
Madeleine Stern
Mother of Judy Rosen
Howard Stevens
Father of Rebecca Stevens
Social Action Fund In memory of Alice Fishman, from Marjorie Thrope. In memory of Arnold Friedlander, from Marjorie Thrope.
Jonah Maccabee Memorial Fund
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 honor of Denali Sagner becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Jill Sagner.
Torah and Ritual Fund In memory of Alice Fishman, from Judith and Barry Kessler. Congratulations to Lisa Kingston, on becoming an ordained Rabbi, from Lois Ratafia Diamond
Lifelong Learning Fund In memory of Arnold Friedlander, from Judith and Barry Kessler. In memory of Arnold Friedlander, from Patricia Stein.
Steve’s H.O.P.E. Fund In memory of Steve Lelewer, beloved grandson, from Frieda Cossman. In memory of Stephen Lelewer, cherished son, from Bonnie Mitelman.
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.
Bernard and Frances Shapiro Chesed Caring Community Fund In honor of the birth of Brooke Olivia Weizner, granddaughter from Rhoda and Marty Payson. In memory of Howard Udell, from Rhoda and Marty Payson. In honor of Rabbi Billy, from Elsa Wuhrman. In memory of Rita Wuhrman, from Elsa Wuhrman.
Gates of Repentance Bookplate Fund In honor of the anniversary of Lois and Jay Izes, from their loving children and grandchildren.
Torah Commentary Bookplate Fund In honor of Samantha Gabay becoming a Bat Mitzvah, from Elizabeth and Russell Gabay.
To find out more about all the funds that are available for your support and for information about how to donate to these funds, please visit www.wct.org/community/how-to-give/133-donate
Honor a Loved One Bookplates Now Available It is a time-honored Jewish tradition to honor people we love by making a tzedakah contribution on their behalf. Now, in addition to contributing to our regular funds, you and your family may purchase bookplates to dedicate individual copies of our High Holy Days makhzor, Gates of Repentance. And your donation will help us purchase new prayerbooks as the need arises. • Bookplates cost $36 each. • One plate will be lovingly inscribed with both your and your loved one’s name. • Each plate will be placed inside one synagogue copy of our High Holy Days prayerbook. Order online at wct.org/bookplate
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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
Your
Temple Needs You!
Ads Deliver Reach out and touch a Woodlands member with your ad. One, five, ten times a year.
Sell ads to support Makom. ••• Market and promote temple activities. ••• Work on the temple website. ••• Keep the gardens pruned. ••• Keep the budget balanced. ••• Work on membership development and retention. ••• Plan fundraisers. ••• Plan the annual temple “gala.” ••• Pursue tzedakah and tikkun olam. ••• Bake latkes and hamentaschen. ••• And anything else you can think of! Write to volunteer@wct.org and we’ll put you in touch with the right person for the right job.
To reserve space, call Pat Nissim in the temple office: 914-592-7070 or write to bulletin@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
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DATED M ATERIAL- DO NOT DEL AY
The Judai Connection By Rabbi Mara Young
Blintzes and Education
D
r. Gil Graff is the executive director of BJE (Builders of Jewish Education) in Los Angeles. He recently shared a story in eJewish Philanthropy: “Many years ago, I read an anecdote about a poor, Russian Jew, circa 1880, who heard from his more affluent acquaintances that blintzes are delicious. Never having tasted a blintz, he asked his wife—the cook in the family—to prepare a meal of blintzes. ‘Blintzes?’ she replied. ‘Blintzes require eggs, and we have no eggs.’ ‘Skip the eggs, then,’ the blintzcurious husband suggested. ‘But blintzes require milk,’ said his pragmatic spouse. ‘Use water,’ proposed the husband. ‘But blintzes are filled with fruit, or cheese,
or potatoes,’ said the incredulous wife, ‘and we have nothing with which to fill blintzes.’ ‘Skip the filling, then,’ replied the husband. ‘But blintzes are made with fine, sifted flour, and we have only coarse meal,’ said the wife. ‘Just make blintzes with the ingredients we have on hand,’ implored the husband. When, an hour later, the man tasted ‘blintzes’ made of coarse flour and water, he exclaimed: ‘I don’t understand what people find so appealing about blintzes!’
encourage our kids to experience the array of not only what our synagogue offers, but also Jewish camping and NFTY. But what about the parents? Indeed, there are outside learning experiences for adults—conferences such as Limmud NY and URJ conferences and retreats. But the time and money for these may be difficult to come by.
Enter family learning. We want your “Jewish blintz” to be just as full and “The same just as savory as your phenomenon kid’s. That’s why family attaches to Jewish learning now exists ...At Woodlands, education. Those all grades at WCT, learning you can taste... in who experience Kindergarten through Jewish learning 12th. Your Jewish in its breadth learning as a kid might have been great, and depth are likely to find the taste it might have been severely lacking (or quite remarkable; those for whom maybe never happened at all). It’s never ‘Jewish education’ is an amalgam of too late to grab all the varied ingredients insubstantial ingredients wonder at the that can make your own Jewish life significance others associate with it. tasty. Our family learning sessions seek Happily, immersive experiences of Jewish to challenge you with new questions and living and learning (beyond the home) give you new texts and traditions that for children and youth abound, are in you can bring home in order to share in an expanding array of settings, from Jewish experiences together. camps to schools, Israel programs, youth Plus, when it comes to your child’s groups, and more.” education, we want you to be a full He’s right. The more settings, the partner, a full cook in the kitchen. more ways we can interact with Jewish thought, the better. At WCT, we