January/February 2021 Tevet/Shevat/Adar 5781 News of the Congregation
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20 Manorhaven Blvd. Port Washington, NY 11050 516-944-7202 portjewishcenter.org January/February 2021 Tevet/Shevat/Adar 5781 News of the Congregation Mazel tov to: 1 Gail & Jeff Thrope on the birth of their granddaughter Charlotte Elaine Thrope Condolences to: 1 Karen Levin on the passing of her father, Eli Lenter 1 Rich Feldman on the passing of his mother, Adele Feldman 1 Candace McCabe on the passing of her mother, Judith Greenstein 1 Sam Levin on the passing of his mother, Betty Levin Shabbat Services Friday, January 1, 8:00 pm Friday, January 8, 8:00 pm Friday, January 15, 8:00 pm Friday, January 22, 8:00 pm Friday, January 29, 8:00 pm Friday, February 5, 8:00 pm Friday, February 12, 8:00 pm Friday, February 19, 8:00 pm Friday, February 26, 8:00 pm Weekly Torah Portions Jan 1 Vayechi 17 Tevet Genesis 47:28-50:26 Jan 8 Shemot 24 Tevet Exodus 1:1-6:1 Jan 15 Va’era 2 Shevat Exodus 6:2-9:35 Jan 22 Bo 9 Shevat Exodus 10:1-13:16 Jan 29 Beshalach 16 Shevat Exodus 13:17-17:16 Feb 5 Yitro 23 Shevat Exodus 18:1-20:23 Feb 12 Mishpatim 30 Shevat Exodus 21:1-24:18 Feb 19 Terumah 7 Adar Exodus 25:1-27:19 Feb 26 Tetzaveh 14 Adar Exodus 27:20-30:10 2 | Port Jewish Center www.portjewishcenter.org Rabbi Alysa Mendelson Graf Purim, the Jewish holiday during Even though Jews do not bow down to too many which we wear masks, is around the anyone but God, Haman, the king’s top people have corner. Many of you have wonderful advisor, expected the Jews to bow down died. Noth- memories of Purim festivals past at PJC. to him. When Mordecai would not bow ing has been There have been some crazy costumes, down to Haman, Haman “plotted to left un- tasty beverages of ALL kinds, and many, do away with all the Jews, Mordecai’s touched by many over-the-top Purim spiels in our people, throughout the kingdom.” And, this tragic sweet community. One memory that I the biggest twist of all in this megillah turn. have gone back to again and again was may be when the pur -- the lot -- was Today, as last year’s Purim spiel at PJC. It is hard cast that determined the day that Haman I am writing to believe, but that was the last time would convince the king that it was “not this, first responders are receiving their our community was together in person. in Your Majesty’s interest to tolerate the first dose of the vaccine. I pray that by Schools were closed just days later and Jews.” When the people of Shushan hear the time our newsletter arrives in your safe-at-home orders were put into of the King’s decree that all Jews will be mailboxes, thousands upon thousands place soon after. Our world was turned “destroyed, massacred and exterminated . of people will have also been vaccinated. upside down. on a single day,” the text says that they These will be the first steps to turning The book of Esther tells the story of are “dumbfounded.” In her commentary our world right side up again. In the a world turned upside down. The king’s on the book of Esther, Adele Berlin ex- meantime, I will always be grateful that first edict is to call for drinking with plains that the expression, that the people we have had each other to lean upon “No restrictions!” This is not how leaders were dumbfounded, is a literary indicator during this unique time in history. That’s should lead. Soon after, when his wife signaling how shocking the decree was.” what being part of a synagogue com- Vashti won’t appear at his command, For the last year, as the Covid 19 pan- munity is all about: showing up for and he issues another edict that his advisors demic has continued, so many of us have supporting one another. We have all done think will ensure that “all wives will treat felt as the people of Shushan once did: that so beautifully for our PJC family their husbands with respect, high and dumbfounded. How could it be that life this year. While we may be able to see low alike.” This is not how to ensure a as we once knew it could change in an the light at the end of the tunnel, we still woman will follow her husband’s lead. instant? Last year, we thought that wear- have a ways to go before we reach it. As (As if all women could be compelled to ing masks was reserved for one day of the we continue to wear our masks, may we “behave” in a certain way by an edict!) year (or two if you include Halloween!). reach the day soon when our towns and When he calls for a beauty pageant to Today, we don’t leave the house without cities ring with “joyous cries,” as there find his next wife, the king’s eunuch is wearing a mask or having one in our was in Shushan when the king’s edict appointed the guardian of women. This pocket. I don’t need to list all the ways was overturned. And may we once again is not who we might imagine would be our lives have changed over the last year “enjoy light and gladness, happiness and standing guard for the “innocent maid- because of the pandemic. It has touched honor,” (Esther 8:16) and feasts and holi- ens” who have gathered to impress the every aspect of our lives, from how we days celebrated in person once again. king (their gathering a detail of the story work to how we go to school to how we which is also quite ridiculous). shop for our necessities, from how we Of course, the list of topsy-turvy celebrate to how we mourn to how we do turns in the Purim story continues. We (or don’t) spend time with the people we Rabbi Alysa Mendelson Graf know the next part of the story well: love. Too many people have gotten sick, open arms • open minds • open hearts January/February 2021 3 Co-President Mark Meltzer You Should Take From Religion As Much As You Need For the first 12 years of my life, I lived routine, get rid of all the non-kosher food Port Jew- in the East New York section of Brook- and get a second set of dishes. I guess ish Center. lyn. We lived in a two family house; my my mother was not interested in hearing PJC was a family upstairs and my grandparents from her 8 year old son about how to run perfect fit downstairs. It was quite nice sharing a her house. She didn’t make the requested and met our house with my grandparents and seeing changes. I feared the old gray-bearded needs for the them everyday. I learned much from my men in the New Lots Talmud Torah combination grandparents about the importance of more than I feared my parents. of religion, life, love and family. I also learned to eat I didn’t know what to do. flexibility some very delicious eastern European I spoke to my grandmother who I and community. PJC’s religious foods. I was sad when we moved away trusted to help me with this conflict. rules were guiding principles.The details from my grandparents. I shared my concerns and fears and of how you deal with these principles When I was 8 years old, my parents my questions about religion. She was were “based on how much you needed.” decided to send me to Hebrew school. empathetic, sweet and shared a piece of Individual choices were respected and Although I don’t have any hard evidence advice that has stayed with me ever since. you were not judged. This quality of to this fact, I believe the motivation for “Mark, you should take from religion Port Jewish Center is what makes us so the choice of Hebrew school was the as much as you need and the needs will special. price. I was enrolled at the New Lots change throughout your life. Don’t let Two and a half years ago, Fredda and Talmud Torah - an orthodox synagogue anyone tell you how religious you should I became grandparents for the first time which was a few blocks from my house. be. It is your decision!” We met with my to a beautiful little girl (Rose). Since that I was required to attend Hebrew school mother, reached an acceptable compro- time, I have been thinking often about four days a week after school and Sunday mise, put the role of the Hebrew school my grandmother and all she taught me mornings. Shabbat morning services teachers into perspective, and from that about life, love, family and religion. We were mandatory. The New Lots Talmud day forward, I had a different mind set had a baby naming for Rose at PJC. We Torah kept me very busy. I wore tzitzits about Hebrew school. It was a place to celebrate all the Jewish holidays with her everyday and listened to intimidating learn and choose my level of compliance. and our family. She sings “Shabbat Sha- old, gray- bearded men teach me Hebrew, I no longer feared the gray-bearded teach- lom,” spins the dreidel and looks for the history, declpline and compliance with ers, as I knew I had my grandmother in afikoman.