Celaw Rosh Hashana 2015

NEWSLETTER OF THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE CEDARHURST 8 Spruce Street, Cedarhurst, New York 11516 · Phone 516-569-3324 · Fax 516-569-4021 · www.yilc.org

Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, Mara D’Asra · Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, Assistant Rabbi · Aryeh Davis, President Chairman of the Board..................................Kalman D. Isaacs Vice Presidents.....Jeremy Chwat, Jay Fenster & Steven Kellner Treasurer....................................................... Jonathan Sicklick Financial Secretary......................................... Marjorie Kellner Corresponding Secretary...................................Howard Rubin Recording Secretary..................................... Jonathan Talansky Ritual Chairman.................... Jeremy Chwat, Nathan Fruchter Gabboim.............................. Donny Bodner, Howard Boriskin, Yitzie Englander, Robert Kantowitz, Asher Ogorek, Kovi Pine, Robert Scharf, Ed Stroh, Alan Weichselbaum, Shlomo Wilamowsky House Chairman..................................................Murray Kohn Catering Chairman............................................ Jeffrey Frieling Cultural Chairman ..............................................Marc Kwestel Library Chairman.............................................. Abbe Dienstag Membership Chairman ...................................... Gregg Duftler Security Chairman....................... Moshe Berger, Marc Sicklick Tzedaka Chairman..........................................Debbie Dienstag Youth Chairman ...................................................... Ari Kadish Sisterhood Presidium............. Lauri Barbanel, Chaya Rothman

Webmaster ..................................................Hy Goldstoff Youth Director .......................................Alyssa Schechter Director of Teen Programming....Rabbi Gershon Kramer Executive Director .................................Marvin Schenker Office Staff........................... Tamara Haviv, Jill Friedman

Wishing all a

!vcuy vnh,ju vch,f

Spanking New It seems an odd request “Our father, our King: Return us before you in perfect repentance”. “…Hachazireinu B’Teshuvah Shelemah Lefanecha” Possibilities for Teshuvah are certainly a divine gift, but it is not a function of Heavenly intercession. There is no quick, mystical or magical means of achieving repentance and return to the good graces of the Almighty. It is a matter of work and concerted effort, preceded by much forethought inclusive of contrition and resolute commitment to change and human growth. Why do we talk of God restoring us Him when it is our work that is requisite? The “Return” is up to us, is it not?

An answer by way of a parable: Someone once borrowed a neighbor’s bucket and accidentally dropped it down the well. The borrower promised the lender to return the bucket as soon as he could successfully pull it up from the bottom of the well. Initial efforts to retrieve the bucket failed but after a number of months, with the arrival of spring, the water level rose sufficiently and the bucket was pulled out. The borrower hoped to simply return the wooden bucket to its original owner, but having spent so much time in water and in the cold, damp well, the bucket was almost beyond repair. Try as he might, the borrower just could not restore the bucket to the good condition it was in when he had borrowed it. To make the lender whole, he needed to buy a new bucket.

When given to us by the Lord, our souls are in pristine and brilliant condition. The effects on the Neshama of our less than perfect earthly lives cause our Neshama to lose some of its luster, at the very least. In many instances, we are possessed of souls that have become so tarnished as to be – seemingly, humanly – irreparable, like a wooden bucket immersed in water on the bottom of a dark dank well for just too long. [Sefer “Aklida D’rachamei”, Rabbi Isaac Leib of Ratzki] While whatever we may have done to sully our Neshamot was inadvertent, the results have – in some instances – been quite dramatic. As we introspect, we may find quite a “damaged”, nearly broken soul. But while we alone may not be sufficiently skilled in the arts of spiritual reconstitution or powerful enough in our will to begin a life anew by mending every fissure and flaw of our soul, God will take our soul and restore it to its perfect, whole and holy state, once again.

It is the prayer of every righteous Jew that the Almighty aid our efforts to restore our souls to the beauty they inherently are able to achieve.

“Avinu Malkeinu Hachazireinu B’Teshuvah Shelemah Lefanecha!”

Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum CeLaW · Rosh Hashana 2015

From our president I am honored to be addressing you as president of the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. I thank you all for the good wishes, support and kind words since I have taken on the position. I also thank each one of you for being part of the Young Israel community – from members whose families have been affiliated with the Shul since the inception of the Shul to those who have recently arrived.

A number of friends asked me “What were you thinking when you said yes to being the president? Have you lost your mind?”

While my wife may disagree, I don’t think I lost my mind.

Over the past two years, I have had the privilege to observe and work with numerous people who have spent countless hours out of their busy lives to help better the Shul and the Community on a volunteer basis. Similarly, since I joined the Shul in 1996 and especially in the last two years as I have become more involved, I became aware of truly stunning and moving acts of generosity and kindness performed by numerous members of our Shul (most of them done quietly and anonymously). I am proud to have the opportunity to serve a Shul with such a group of decent and noble individuals. Bottom line - I was, and continue to be, humbled, inspired and motivated by their passionate service to the point where I “lost my mind” and agreed to take on the presidency.

I encourage all of you to “lose your mind” - find something at the Shul in which you are interested and get involved. I am only 11 weeks into my term (93 weeks to go!) and, while the work has been challenging and time consuming at times, I am finding the work to be fulfilling. While I am no expert, one of things I have observed about volunteering is that you never know the profound effect that you may have made on a person’s life. A kind word, a meal, a handshake or a listening ear can mean so much to someone who is sick, feels like they don’t belong or is just plain lonely. For instance, a program you help develop and execute may help make a young couple new to the area feel, for the first time, like they belong. Please let us know if you are interested - we would love to work with you.

As Ronald Reagan once said, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere.” I am thankful that my predecessors have handed me a well-oiled machine. From a rabbinic standpoint, we are blessed to have Rabbi Teitelbaum, who, on a daily basis for the last three decades, has worked hard to inspire, guide, teach and support all of the members of the Shul as both the Rabbi and a dear friend. Rabbi Trump brings an infectious level of energy in everything he does and has proved to be a tremendous addition to the Shul. I look forward to working with both Rabbi Teitelbaum and Rabbi Trump closely over the next two years.

Our executive director, Marvin Schenker, along with his staff of Jill Friedman and Tamara Haviv, have done a great job of keeping the Shul running from an administrative standpoint. The maintenance/security staff has taken care of us in a professional and dedicated fashion. Our Youth staff has done a great job inspiring our Youth and attracting new members to the Shul. Lastly, the Shul could not survive without the countless member volunteers who treat the Shul with love and devotion.

I am sure over the next two years, we will have some honest and open differences (we are, of course, Jews). But I am hopeful that it will not keep us from joining together in cooperation to help propel our Shul to the next level. To quote Carl Sandburg, “I see great days ahead for men and women of will and vison”. I believe he is describing our Shul’s future. I am very optimistic that, with everyone’s help, young and old, we can build on the strong foundation I inherited and perpetuate this Shul’s greatness for the next generation.

I would like to personally ask mechila from any member who I have inadvertently offended with either my actions or words.

On behalf of the entire Administration, I wish you all a Ketiva V’Chatima Tova and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Aryeh Davis CeLaW · u”ga, hra,

View from the Top One thing I asked of Hashem, that shall I seek: That I dwell in the House of Hashem all the days of my life.

This is the fourth sentence, the fourth pasuk in tehillim perek 27, L’Dovid Hashem Ori the perek which we recite from the first day of Elul through Shemini Atzeres. This request as it were, ‘… to dwell in the House of Hashem …’ is an avocation for most people, for me it is both a vocation and an avocation.

I was born in a shteibel, and in a manner of speaking until I moved to Far Rockaway, I lived in a shteibel. The people in the shteibel were our family, our friends, our social life. As a young boy growing up in Manhattan, my world was all of ten blocks long, and the shteibel was right in the middle of those ten blocks.

The men wore shtreimels and gartels, yet if a man came in wearing jeans and a t-shirt, or a lady on Shabbos came in wearing slacks and carrying a pocketbook, they were still welcomed in.

To the Rav of the Shul and to the President of the Shul a Jew was a Jew was a Jew (thank you Gertrude Stein). There was no distinction, no polarization. As to decorum, I and the other young boys were as mischievous as boys are, and yet it only took a look, that look, for us to settle down.

Derech eretz for the Rav, for the Kehilla, for the Shul, for each and every individual was taught from day one, and if necessary was beaten into you.

Our simchas were all at the shul, and for tzoros the whole shul gathered together at the home of those who were suffering.

When I was twenty one I became severely ill, was bed-ridden and could not swallow, and the Rav of the shul came to our apartment every day and sat for over a half hour trying to feed me applesauce.

The early lessons and the early “potches” are never forgotten. They have become part of the DNA makeup that pushes me do what is necessary to run a shul. The view from the top is different than the view of a balabus sitting in his shul seat. You are forced to see everything and everyone. There are the needs of the Shul, and the needs of the balabatim. There are the needs of the Rabbinical staff, and the needs of the youth. And for all these we strive and work.

The love that I have for the Young Israel is not a new love, it is the love that was instilled in me from early childhood. The pasuk in the beginning of Parshas Terumah, “‫ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי‬ ‫“ ”בתוכם‬They shall make a Sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them”, also alludes to the temporary dwelling places, our Shuls, that we build to provide a makom for the Shechina, until we will be zoche to see the Bais Hamikdash rebuilt in our times.

The Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. It is our shul. Love it.

Marvin Schenker CeLaW · Rosh Hashana 2015

Constantly Now The season is changing. Elul is in the air and the Yomim Noraim are rapidly approaching. This year our Elul began on the same Shabbos as parshas Re’eh. It’s opening words are a very apt introduction into the intensive season of growth and introspection.

The parsha opens with the following words (Devarim 11:26) ‫ ְּוקלָ לָ ה‬,‫ ְּב ָרכָ ה‬:‫הּיֹום‬--‫ם‬ ַ ֶ‫ ָאנֹכִ י נ ֵֹתן לִ ְפנֵ יכ‬,‫ְר ֵאה‬ Behold, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.

What is this verse referring to? Rashi and Rashbam explain that on the most basic level it refers to the next paragraph in which blessings and curses are directed at both Mount Grizim and Mount Eval.

However, Rav Eliyahu of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon, argues that in fact this is a statement which resonates across history, far beyond the events of the day. The statement which Moshe makes is in present tense indicating that it speaks to the reader of 2015, too.

One of the greatest obstructions along the road of personal growth is the concept of determinism.

Determinism can mean lots of different thing but it is a background assumption to much of our lives.

• Genetic Determinism assumes that we are the way we are because that is how we were born.

The reason we get angry so quickly is because we inherited the chemical imbalances of our grandparents, for example.

• Psychic Determinism posits that our upbringing really shapes us. Those childhood traumas and adolescent joys have hardwired us to become who we are.

• Environmental Determinism is much more subtle. It argues that really our boss’s personality, our spouse’s attitude and our children’s actions all control the way we act and that we are forced to act based on the circumstance.

The common denominator of determinism is that it confines a person to the sum of his or her nature and nurture, much of which live in the past. The opportunity of ‘now’ is shackled by the past of ‘then’. The Torah addresses this very issue. The Torah argues against the predetermined past with the ever-present mission: “Behold, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”

The blessing and curse we need to choose between today are on an equal playing field. No matter how many bad or good decisions were made yesterday, today presents an equally balanced option to succeed or fail, to address or ignore, to better or worsen. This is simultaneously a relief and responsibility at the same time.

There is an old Chinese proverb which goes as follows: ‘‎The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.

The second best time is now.’

Let us enter this Rosh Hashana as with the perspective that every decision we have in front of us today is a decision that should not overshadowed by what was.

On behalf of Malka and our family, I want to wish each and every one of you a transformative Yomim Noraim.

Rabbi Ya’akov Trump CeLaW · u”ga, hra,

SISTERHOOD Greetings Ladies, We hope you had an enjoyable summer and are very excited for the start of another year of sisterhood events.

We thank the outgoing presidium, Lori Huberfeld and Malkie Spector for their hard work and devotion to the YILC family.

Please watch for emails regarding upcoming programs. We are looking forward to your maximum participation in all of our upcoming exciting activities.

As we are nearing Rosh HaShana, we remember Chana as she davened for a child in Shilo and as we realize the significance that our tefilot have in affecting our lives and the upcoming year.

We therefore hope that all your tefilot will be answered and wish you and your families a K’tiva V’chatima Tova filled with much health, success and happiness.

Lauri and Chaya

CeLaW · Rosh Hashana 2015

Youth Department Dear Parents and Members, We want to welcome all the children home from camp, and we are excited to embark on a brand new year. After learning a lot about what the parents and the children enjoy and need, we have again fine-tuned the youth department’s upcoming program to tailor expectations.

We are excited about the Shabbat groups that will provide your children with a fun and safe environment to spend Shabbat while you are in one of our many minyanim. While we understand that Shul is NOT school, we will still provide your children an opportunity to learn and our group leaders will have a stronger focus on teaching davening and parshah. We will also be continuing our laining class for our 3rd-5th grade boys, which will be taking place during groups. We ended last year’s Shabbat groups with a wonderful showcase of our children during our first ever Youth Congregation. Each month we will have a Junior Congregation where the children will daven together. The children will showcase what they are learning by leading davening, laining from a chumash, and giving D’var Torahs. They will also take part in a Gala Kiddush that follows the Junior Congregation. While Shabbat Groups will still have a fun environment with game playing, prizes, raffles and stories, there will be a stronger focus on teaching Middot and Chessed. We believe that all of the children will benefit from this change of focus.

Following the Yamim Noraim, we will begin our monthly Chessed activities. Each month we will focus on one act of Chessed and it will be followed by an event that gets the children involved in that Chessed. Some planned events are Visiting the Sick, Tomchei Shabbat, and Tzedekkah.

We will also be having exciting events on Motzei Shabbat during the winter for the children to have fun in a safe environment. Events are planned for Sunday mornings as well. From Arts and Crafts to Mother/Daughter Jewelry making, we will be sure to have a fun time!

We look forward to seeing all of the children partaking in our Shabbat Groups and our new and exciting events.

Alyssa Schechter Youth Director morahalyssa@gmail.com

CeLaW · u”ga, hra,

On Holding Down the Schach The Schach on top of the Sukah must be sufficiently stable and secure such that it would not be blown off by ordinary, light wind. In order to ensure that one’s Schach will not (could not) blow away there are a number of viable options.

The surest and least complicated means is the use of bamboo or cut branches of bushes (or trees) as Schach. Dense and heavy enough to remain in place even when a light, common wind blows, the Schach is Kosher and requires no augmentation.

Another method is to lay strips of lumber down on top of the Schach. Common 2x4 works very well. Nails may not be used (and are not needed) in order to keep the lumber in place.

The lumber should be less than four handbreadths (a bit under thirteen inches) wide but may be as long as necessary. Sitting under that part of the Schach upon which the lumber rests is permissible.

The least desirable method for securing Schach is to tie it down with string or plastic ties.

Because these materials are themselves not Kosher as Schach it is best not to use them to support or keep the Schach in place. Just as we should not base the Schach directly on metal poles to support the Schach from below, in similar fashion one should not use plastic ties or string to keep the Schach in place.

Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum

CeLaW · Rosh Hashana 2015

personal notes BIRTHS

Mazal Tov to the following families on their new addition: Myra and Arnold Berlin – grandson Liorah and Moshe Berger – grandson Melissa and Irwin Benzel - daughter Laurie and Eli Bryk – granddaughter Debbie and Abbe Dienstag – two grandsons Lea and Leon Eisenberg – great grandson Debbie and Richard Eisenberg – grandson Fran and Josh Eisenstein – two great grandsons Fran and Josh Eisenstein - great grandson Avromie and Tobi Fein - granddaughter Esty and Dovid Feit - granddaughter Debbie and Mark Fenster - granddaughter Frimmit and Murray Forman - granddaughter Susan and Ari Friedman - grandson Tammy and David Friedman – grandson Mindy and Gerald Gartner - granddaughter Lynn and Chaim Gettenberg – grandson Geri and Aaron Gindea - granddaughter Elisse and David Ginsberg - granddaughter Rita and Robert Gluck – granddaughter Rita and Robert Gluck - grandson Aviva and Zev Golombeck – granddaughter Esther and Nachman Goodman - grandson Renee & Brian Greenspan – granddaughter Miriam & Paul Gross –great granddaughter Sara and Daniel Grossman - daughter Ruth and Seymour Hefter great granddaughter Shandel & Elliot Horowitz - granddaughter David Itzkowitz – grandson Chani and Jay Kestenbaum - two grandsons Chava and Sandy Klein - granddaughter Chani and Shimmy Klein - granddaughter Chani and Shimie Klein - grandson

Joyce and Sidney Klein – great granddaughter Dina and Michael Kollander – granddaughter Esther and Armand Lasky – grandson Elizabeth and Bezalel Mayer - grandson Stephanie and Chayim Maza - grandson Estelle and Nysen Mael – great grandson Debra and Richard Parkoff – granddaughter Susan and Ben Preminger – grandson Brenda and Alan Rubin- granddaughter Helene and Larry Sher – grandson Leon Siegel – great grandson Lisa and Robert Slepoy – grandson Susan and Michael Sosnowik - granddaughter Malky and Jay Spector – granddaughter Eva and Keith Staiman – grandson Lewis and Risa Stein - grandson, Trudy and Stanley Stern - grandson Lee and Steven Weinstein – grandson Barbara and Michael Weiss - grandson Tessie and Michael Weiss – granddaughter Florence Wolf – great granddaughter & great grandson

B A R / B AT M I T Z VA H To the following families, we extend our best wishes upon the entry of their children into Ol Mitzvot: Symi and Ephraim Diamond - on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Leibel.

Esther and Jonathan Leiderman – on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Sarah.

Alissa and David Pomerantz – on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Shoshana Joy. Marth Saffra - on the occasion of the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson Yoni.

Yael and Norman Saffra - on the occasion of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yoni.

Dina and Yaakov Shalev - on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Dov Eliezer.

CeLaW · u”ga, hra,

personal notes Fran and Marc Sicklick - on the barmitzvah of their grandson Ezra.

NEW MEMBERS The YILC family would like to welcome the following families to our community and to our Shul.

Marc Berlin

ENGAGEMENT/ MARRIAGE Mazal Tov and much Nachat to the following members: Laurie & Lewis Barbanel - on the engagement of their daughter Sabina to Zevi Kaufman Liorah and Moshe Berger – on the engagement of their son Yossi to Mikki Levine Anne and Chaim Bernstein – on the engagement of their son Yoni to Rebecca Leibowitz Gale and Dean Blumenthal – on the engagement of their son Jonah to Tehillah Greenstein Mandy and Rubin Brecher - upon the marriage of their son Shmuli to Brocha Bruce Rhonda Cohen and Effie Cohen - on the marriage of their son Jason to Leora Pollack Rhonda Cohen – on her engagement to Aaron Zaretsky Leslie and Chet Eisen - on the engagement of their son Andrew to Rebecca Ringelheim Trudy and Sol Englander - on the engagement of their grandson Zachary to Jacqueline Guttman Eva and Robert Frenkel - on the marriage of their son Chaim to Elyssa Heino Susie and Ari Friedman – on the engagement of their son Moshe to Rebeccah Wasserman Andrea Gallis – on the marriage of

CeLaW · Rosh Hashana 2015

her son Binyomin to Adi Deutsh Geri and Aaron Gindea - on the engagement of their daughter Sophie to Yair Schiff Debbie and Fred Greenstein – on the marriage of their son Steven to Alyssa Galler Adeana Hartman – on her marriage to Mitchell Mitgang and to Adeana’s parents Bernice and Kenneth Klein Terri and Andrew Herenstein – on the marriage of their daughter Tali to Noah Kolatch Lori and Shalom Huberfeld – on the engagement of their daughter Shira to Eliyahu Balsam, and to the grandparents Lorraine and Leonard Kunin.

Faiga and Michael Joseph – on the engagement of their daughter Gila to Gilad Rosenberg Adina and Michael Keschner – on the marriage of their son Yonatan to Masha Gorelik Miriam and Morty Kriger - on the marriage of their grandson, Zev Goldstein, to Etti Rechnitz Lorraine and Lenny Kunin – on the engagement of their granddaughter Batya Kunin Lisa and Uri Lazar – on the marriage of their daughter Rachel to Douglas Blumenfeld Lisa and Uri Lazar – on the marriage of their son Zevy to Leah Nathan Aliza and Shlomie Liechtung - on the marriage of their daughter, Yonina to Max Stern. Mazel Tov to the grandparents Shirley and Leo Schachter.

Toby and Nachman Lokshin – on the engagement of their daughter Erica to Daniel Krasna Toby and Nachman Lokshin – on the engagement of their daughter Clara to Michael Sokol Elizabeth and Bezalel Mayer - on the marriage of their son Leon to Keved Blumenfrucht

personal notes E N G A G E M E N T / M A R R I A G E ( c o n’t ) Vera and Norman Pinn – on the engagement of their son David to Yael Herskovits Leah and Steve Rocklin – on the marriage of their son Mark to Orly Benederet Rachelle Rohde – on the marriage of her son Kevin to Courtney Lovett Marilyn Roth – on the marriage of her grandson Alex Litton to Danielle Stein Livia and Mark Rottenberg – on the engagement of their granddaughter Miki Weinstein to Pinchas Steinberg.

Barbara and Jack Segall – on the engagement of their son Mordecai to Leslie Goldin Helene and Larry Sher – on the marriage of their daughter Alex to Jonathan Feld Judy and Yossie Simpson – on the marriage of their son Tzvi, to Dana Kandel Lisa & Robert Slepoy - upon the marriage of their daughter Yocheved to Avi Rogoff.

Susan & Michael Sosnowik - on the marriage of their daughter Esther to Brian Linder Sherry and Alan Steinmetz – on the marriage of their son Jason to Laura Sued. Mazal tov to the grandparents Harriet and Shelly Steinmetz Yonina and Ephriam Stern – on the marriage of their daughter Ayelet to Dovi Fink Debra and Melvin Tepler – on the marriage of their daughter Mindy to Jeremy Bistricer Eli and Julie Verschleiser – on the marriage of their daughter Ilana to Daniel Green Barbara and Alan Weichselbaum - on the engagement of their son, Daniel Weichselbaum to Jordana Pollack. Mazel Tov to the grandparents Valerie and Bert Weichselbaum.

CONDOLENCES The Young Israel offers heartfelt condolences to the following members who have lost their loved ones: Danny Berger – on the loss of his beloved brother, Walter Berger, ‫ ע“ה‬.

Rabbi Zev Friedman – upon the loss of his beloved ‫ע“ה‬.

Dr. Jeffrey Frieling – on the loss of his beloved father Jack Frieling, ‫ע“ה‬ Gerald Gartner – upon the loss of his beloved ‫ע“ה‬ Beth Hirschel – on the loss of her beloved brother Samuel Rosenberg, ‫ע“ה‬ Sharon Hoffman – upon the loss of her mother Betty ‫ע“ה‬ Adam Kwitkin – on the loss of his beloved father Dennis Kwitkin, ‫ע“ה‬, Ellen Najjar – on the loss of her beloved mother Gloria Gold, ‫ע“ה‬, Trudy and Ian Rubinstein – on the loss of their daughter-inlaw, Michelle Rubinstein, wife of their son Jacob, ‫ע“ה‬.

Heshie Safier – on the loss of his beloved brother Melvin Safier, ‫ע“ה‬ Michael Sperling - upon the loss of his beloved ‫ע“ה‬ Eva Staiman - on the loss of her beloved sister Jacque Hertz, ‫ע“ה‬ Miriam Treitel - upon the loss of her beloved sister Mrs. Sarah Simon, ‫ע“ה‬.

CeLaW · u”ga, hra,