Tishrei – Cheshvan 5776 *October 2015

North Fork Reform Member of the Union for Reform Web Site: www.northforkreformsynagogue.org Email: [email protected]

MESSAGE FROM THE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The teaches, “kol yisrael arevim My best wishes to you and your families zeh bazeh – all of is responsible for for a New Year full of good health, one another.” happiness and contentment. “L’shanah is the Jewish festival of giving tovah tikateivu. May you be inscribed for a thanks for the fall harvest. It commemorates good year.” My fervent wish is that it will be the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in a year of peace for Israel and throughout the the desert after receiving the at Mount world. Sinai. As I write this article our High Holiday Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom services are about to take place. But our new Kippur on the 15th of the month of Tishrei, student rabbi, Jade Sank, conducted her first and is marked by several traditions. service earlier in the month, One is to build and dwell in a , a displaying a great deal of poise as she small, temporary booth with three walls, one played her guitar and showed that she has a open side and a roof made of branches so beautiful voice. that looking up from the inside you can see At our annual meeting, we heard a the stars. financial report that demonstrated our You must rejoice continued sound financial condition with a Another commandment is to rejoice. surplus in the budget for the upcoming year. Sukkot is also called z’man simchateinu Our officers and trustees remain unchanged (season of rejoicing) with Howard Eilenberg reelected to a new A final commandment is to gather three-year-term. together. Yet another name for Sukkot is We also heard committee reports with chag haasif (festival of the ingathering). On particular emphasis on the wonderful variety Sukkot we bring together four species to of events presented by the program represent ingathering, the , palm, committee. myrtle and willow. By the time you read this article Congress teaches that the four species will have taken a position on the Iran represent four types of Jewish people. The nuclear pact. has taste but no smell, symbolizing My purpose here is not to support my own those who know the traditions of Judaism view, but to point out that the Reform Jew- (Continued on Page 3) (Continued on Page 2) 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

(Continued from Page 1) Kate Hoffman-Eisenberg – Oct. 4 ish Movement has published a statement that Steve Weinstein – Oct. 6 is worthy of repeating. RJM refers to the Erica Matloff – Oct. 12 Iran deal as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Brianne Matloff – Oct. 15 Action (JCPOA). In essence, the statement reads, “There is Irwin Freeman – Oct. 16 simply no clarity that would support a Gail Kriegel – Oct. 17 position ‘for’ or ‘against’ the JCPOA itself.” Jackie Rogers – Oct. 27 Rather, the statement emphasizes, “Our focus must be on two questions: First, how HAPPY OCT. ANNIVERSARIES is it possible to address our concerns about the JCPOA? Second, if the agreement is Lois & Drew Levy – Oct. 15 finalized, what happens the day after? Phyllis & Peter Gunn – Oct. 19 Specifically, how can we work to support Sharna & John Nicholson – Oct. 21 the strongest possible U.S.–Israel Marcia & Steve Weinstein – Oct. 23 relationship going forward?” Phyllis & James Rubin – Oct. 28 Looking ahead Looking toward the ‘day after,’ the HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS leadership statement noted that “whether the JCPOA is approved or defeated, there will Miles Eisenberg – Nov. 1 be a day after. It is essential that this debate Phyllis Kaufer – Nov. 1 not be allowed to create a lasting rift John Carter –Nov. 2 between Israel and the U.S., between North Ed Markowitz – Nov. 6 American and Israelis, or among Linda Slezak – Nov. 12 American Jews.” Barbara Rodin – Nov. 12 The statement also addressed the tone of Mollie Kurs – Nov. 14 the debate saying, “We call upon the Israeli Marcia Weinstein – Nov. 19 leadership, the U.S. Administration and Joyce Friedland – Nov. 20 members of Congress, and those on all sides Merle Levine – Nov. 24 of this debate to tamp down their rhetoric. If the debate is allowed to weaken the U.S.- HAPPY NOV. ANNIVERSARY Israeli alliance, or further sharpen partisan divides over what it means to be ‘pro-Israel,’ Phyllis & Stewart Kaufer – Nov. 27 Israel will be less secure.” th Our 9 annual Foodie Tour is scheduled This newsletter is sponsored by Sylvia th for Sept. 20 . Without a successful event, Pafenyk. She wrote: “This newsletter is our budget may not be in balance. Once dedicated to our esteemed editor’s honor again I extend my thanks to our Foodie Tour for the erudite communication which has team led by Kay Freeman and Ellen been the glue that got us to services and Zimmerman and I continue my prayers for events, stimulated our opinions and good weather on the day of the event. helped us appreciate other points of Steven Hill view.” (I’m blushing; thanks, Sylvia.) 3

MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI IN THE BLACK – AGAIN

(Continued from Page 1) The financial report, presented at the but do not practice them. The myrtle has a synagogue’s annual meeting by Kay good smell but no taste, symbolizing those Freeman, vice president and treasurer, again who do good deeds but do not have showed a surplus for the last fiscal knowledge of Judaism. year. The willow has neither taste nor smell, symbolizing those who never study Torah ______and never carry out good deeds. The Etrog has both a good taste and a POETRY FOR PEACE good smell, symbolizing those who know the teachings of Judaism and apply them to For the ninth year, youngsters from the their lives. North Fork are invited to submit an original When we bring together the four species poem related to peace. on Sukkot we are symbolically bringing Readings by the poets will be held th together the Jewish people, a people made Sunday, Nov. 15 , in the community room up of all different types of Jews. of the Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport, No one is greater at 2 p.m. No individual is greater than any other. Judges will be Vivian Eyre, Billy Hands The righteous Etrog alone, a Jewish person and L.B. Thompson, all published poets. who knows the traditions of Judaism and The event again is sponsored jointly by applies them in his/her life, cannot fulfill the NFRS and Congregation Tifereth Israel. commandment of ingathering without the ______rest of the community. All four species must be brought together HARVEST PICKS equally for the to be fulfilled. th “Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh” is usually On Oct. 25 the North Fork Reform translated as, “All of Israel is responsible for Synagogue will sponsor a concert by three one another.” Though, another way to students of East End Arts. The concert will translate the word arevim is “bound up.” be at 2 p.m. at the Mattituck-Laurel Library. We could say, “All of Israel is bound up The performers will be Brandon with one another.” Like the four species we Boardman, piano; Brett Callagy, viola; and bind together on Sukkot, we cannot reach Sophia Dupuis, vocalist. our full potential without each individual in our community. Rabbi Jade Sank

Mazel tov to Mark Lowenheim and Walter Chadwick on their wedding.

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IN THIS CORNER are based on careful study rather than shoot- There is a distinct lack of civility in the from-the-hip obeisance to Israeli Prime world today. Not that things were any more Minister Netanyahu. peaceful in the days of the Hundred Years The problem is not the differing opinions, War, the Thirty Years War, or the War of but the vitriol that has come forth attacking the Roses ad nauseum. those for and against the agreement. Genghis Kahn was certainly not civil as he Jewish Congressmen and women have plundered and pillaged; nor were the Goths, come under tremendous pressure from both Visigoths (I don’t know the difference their constituents and from pressure groups between the two) the Huns, the Crusaders such as AIPAC to vote against the pact. and certainly not those more recent uncivil In New York, after announcing he would villains Hitler and Stalin. vote for the agreement, shouting protesters Nevertheless, in our recent history, it gathered outside the office of (the Jewish) seems there was a degree of civility in the Rep. Jerrold Nadler accusing him of being world at times when men (soon also women an anti-Semite. as they are given combat roles in the armed Conversely, New York Senator Chuck forces) were not at each other’s throats. Schumer, who said he would oppose the They were more agreeable agreement, was said to be disloyal to the A prime example was the United States United States. Congress. Democrats and Republicans have Writing on the subject in The Jewish always disagreed on most things, but until Week, Jeremy Ben-Ami, who heads J Street recently they were able to be more agreeable (which proclaims itself pro-Israel and pro- and even compromise to pass legislation that Peace), decried the atmosphere. on occasion was of benefit to the country. “Anti-Semitism remains an ugly and Those days seem to be long past. Instead pervasive threat around the world,” he said. every stance taken by the Congress seems to “We must remain united and vigilant to be political. Republicans hesitate to vote for combat it.” any initiative put forth by President Obama, But, wrote Ben-Ami, “We must also speak and Democrats when possible muster out when the accusation of anti-Semitism is enough cohorts to prevent Republican- thrown so loosely, because it both devalues backed bills from coming to a vote. the term while driving a wedge through the An example of incivility of primary center of our community.” interest to Jews is the upcoming (at this Can we not disagree civilly? writing) vote in Congress on the nuclear Steve Weinstein weapons agreement reached by the U.S. and ______other countries with Iran. I feel that the agreement, while far from BOOK CLUB perfect, is the best possible one that could be reached and will put a verifiable brake on “All the Light We Cannot See,” a best- Iran’s nuclear capability. Others disagree, selling novel by Anthony Doerr, will be and I understand where they are coming discussed at the next meeting of the NFRS from and respect their opinions when they book club on Saturday, Oct. 10th at 10 a.m.

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BOOK NOTES In Sacks’ mind, there is no incompatibility between making the patient the center and Oliver Sacks, whose books is reviewed bringing the latest scientific advances to here, died after Jerry Levin’s review was bear on his or her treatment. written. Sacks’ earliest scientific interest was inorganic chemistry and the periodic table, Oliver Sacks, best known as the author of soon followed by geology, botany and “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a zoology. And music was always there; in Hat,” has written a fascinating later years it became a model of and a autobiography, “On the Move: A Life.” vehicle for health. He was to write of the Not only is it superbly written, it is “music of the body.” impossible to put down. The life it depicts is Then came the war and the London blitz. incredible. Sacks has so many facets, such a Oliver’s parents sent him to a boarding range of interests, knowledge and school in the country so he would be “safe,” accomplishments, that it is sometimes but it turned into a Dickensian horror, where difficult to think of him as one person. the boys were beaten savagely by a sadistic Then there is the dark vein of self- headmaster. destructiveness that doesn’t easily integrate That was the first, but not the deepest, with the distinguished neurologist or the trauma of his life. Back in London after the world-class writer. war, he told his father about his strong Who is this Oliver Sacks? Perhaps he homosexual feelings, not yet entailing any wrote “On the Move” to find out, and I think actions. “It would have been better if you he does, as does the reader. had never been born,” was his mother’s Born into aristocracy reaction. Born into the Anglo-Jewish aristocracy, Oliver was the youngest of four brothers, not of the Rothschilds, but of the upper one of whom became schizophrenic. middle class, with its deep culture and Watching and assisting his schizophrenic outstanding achievements, Sacks was in sibling was his first object lesson in seeing many ways privileged, growing up in a big the patent, not the disease.” house with multiple servants. Sacks went to Oxford, medical school in Both his parents were physicians. Their London, an internship in San Francisco and deeply personal way of practicing medicine a neurological residency at UCLA. He left in which the whole person, not just the England partly because of the disease, was the object of treatment, made a criminalization of homosexuality there. profound impression upon Oliver. Now his multi-facetedness blossomed as Throughout his professional life, he has this neurologist by day became a been a vehement advocate of a non- motorcyclist by night, even hanging out mechanical, non-commodicized, non- briefly with the Hells Angels, becoming a personalized model of practice, and this in champion weight lifter, an accomplished full recognition of the wondrous pianist, a serious swimmer, a drug addict breakthroughs made possible by scientific and an accident-prone danger to himself. medical research and practice. (Continued on Page 6) 6

BOOK NOTES

(Continued from Page 5) One such instance was an encounter with a Jew,” perhaps in the sense of doubting the bull during which he severely injured his leg existence of a deity. Yet he displays a and almost lost it. tremendous sensitivity to the positive role As he was in the hospital recovering, he that religion, particularly Judaism, plays in experienced his leg as not part of himself, people’s lives. which precipitated an existential crisis of He speaks frequently of the spiritual as identity. “What was this strange leg in bed something vital and alludes to the positive with me? It had nothing to do with me.” role that Judaism and its rituals played in the But Sacks learned much from his agony lives of his schizophrenic brother and many about the nature of self and how we of his patients. construct a self. He turned his relentless When he realized that he would be saved introspection into the nature of the self into from death after having been chased by the one of his best books, “A Leg to Stand On.” bull, he stopped to give thanks to God and If I had to choose one identity for Sacks it comments that it doesn’t really matter would be that of an empathic epistemologist. whether He existed. “What mattered was the His theory of knowledge is based on gratitude I felt.” empathic identification with his The religious emotions of wonder, awe neurologically impaired patients and with and gratitude are central to Sacks’ value his own trips to the outer limits of human system, regardless of his doubts about the experience. existence of a divine being. When he The greatest writers recovered, he and his father and brothers Sacks’ writing makes frequent allusions to went to shul to give thanks and “read the the greatest writers and thinkers in the Law” from the bimah. Western canon. But his range of After several failed attempts as a acquaintance with the great minds of the researcher, Sacks discovered that his true past is nearly matched by the extraordinary (medical) vocation was as a clinician. range of his friendships. In the end of “On the Move” Sacks These include Jonathan Miller, physician, weaves the tapestry together by reflecting on and director; Steven J. Gould, the his 50 years as a writer. It is his primary distinguished writer, naturalist and identity and one that brings all the rest evolutionary theorist; Francis Crick of together. double helix fame; the poet W.H. Auden and Even after all those years he takes as much the actors Robert DeNiro and Robin pleasure in writing as he ever did. And his Williams. latest “literary” work is a letter to the New It seems Sacks knew everyone of York Times announcing his forthcoming intellectual consequence in the second half death from cancer – a fitting conclusion to of the 20th century and his re-creation of the life of a magnificent, if not quite great, those relationships in “On the Move” is writer. masterful. Jerry Levin Sachs describes himself as an “atheistic

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NFRS AVAILABLE FUNDS NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP

In the past several years, NFRS members I would like to sponsor an issue of the and friends have donated money and Newsletter designated funds to be set up to honor or memorialize a loved one. They are: I enclose $100 payable to NFRS Gerry Auerbach Fund to further education in the synagogue I enclose ______to sponsor the Jeanette Lewis Fund to support programs Newsletter of interest to the synagogue and the community MY NAME Linda and Steven Hill Fund for music at services and other congregational events Linda Rie Cohen Fund to support ______programming that encourages the arts in the congregation and in the community ADDRESS Barry M. Smith Fund to support religious and Hebrew education for our young people. To establish a fund for a particular purpose ______or to contribute to an existing fund, contact Kay Freeman at [email protected] REASON FOR SPONSORSHIP or 722-5712. ______Memory of a loved one

A DIFFERENT WORSHIP ______I remember the holidays Special occasion when my father took me fishing and the October water was clean enough to see bottom where ______flounder tried to hide and blue claw crabs scuttled Month you would like to sponsor between shells and pebbles

Sixty degrees under the clearest sky A blood worm baiting my hook Fill out this form and enclose it with your And the boat drifting unanchored Check payable to NFRS Mail to: Steve Weinstein, Editor Gulls cawing then soaring 79 Sandy Court Sylvia Eisenstadt Pafenyk Riverhead, NY 11901

North Fork Reform Synagogue P.O. Box 1625 Southold, NY 11971

SYNAGOGUE CALENDAR

Friday, Oct. 2 Shabbat Service, 8 p.m. Host for the rabbi, Ellen Love Oneg provided by Margo & Andy Lowry Saturday, Oct. 3 Adult Education at Ellen Love’s home, 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16 Shabbat Service, 8 p.m. Host for the rabbi, Kate & Eisenberg Oneg provided by Ellen Love Saturday, Oct. 17 Adult Education at the Eisenbergs, 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6 Shabbat Service, 8 p.m. Host for the rabbi, Margo & Andy Lowry Oneg provided by Miriam Schwartz Saturday, Nov. 7 Adult Education at the Lowrys, 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 20 Shabbat Service, 8 p.m. Oneg provided by Beverly & Ron Price Saturday, Nov. 21 Adult Education, 4 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Tuesday, Oct. 6 Saturday, Oct. 10 NFRS Book Club, 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 East End Arts concert, 2 p.m., Mattituck-Laurel Library Sunday, Nov. 15 Poetry for Peace readings, Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport, 2 p.m.