What Can We Affirm About God After the Holocaust? (Part Ii)

congregation chavurah beth shalom

Av/Elul 5767 Temple Talk August 2007

WHAT CAN WE AFFIRM ABOUT GOD AFTER THE HOLOCAUST? (PART II) By Rabbi Jack Bemporad

God is the creator of creators. In creating the world, God Or, as Sorely stated, "If there were no possibility of missing brings into being wills that are distinct from His own. A the mark, there would be no value in taking aim." concept of God which allows free beings to exist besides Him In a world that is open, where human beings are free, where is a much worthier concept than that of a God who is the cause they can frustrate or realize God's will, and where a person can of everything that happens. only gain the ultimate good through inner growth and moral action, such a world is the world we live in. God as creator has traditionally been conceived as a great architect, mechanic, or watchmaker who produces a Of course there is evil, great evil; but it is the task of human mechanical model. A much worthier concept of God is one beings to transcend and transform that evil. Of course, man is that allows free beings to act in ways to realize His purposes not in the center of the universe; it is man's task to reorder the or to frustrate them, a God who does not, indeed cannot, make universe so that man can indeed be at its center. all the decisions if a universe with beings, order, value and And so we finally reach the problem which all of us are freedom is to come into being. In creating the world, God haunted with today, and that is the problem of the Holocaust. gives full significance to Creation so that He acts not through coercion or manipulation, but through persuasion, appeal and Let us review several recent attempts which deal with this revelation. issue and contrast them with the view presented above. Professor Fackenheim, in his book, "God's Presence in God would be responsible for evil if He was the sole agent of History," has said that from Auschwitz there emerged a divine all that happens, and all other beings were merely instruments commandment and that the divine commandment was to deny or vessels of His will. But in a Hitler a posthumous victory; that we Jews should do INSIDE THIS ISSUE world where there is genuine everything we can to preserve Judaism, and thus insure that Rabbi’s Message freedom, where Hitler does not ultimately win. By Rabbi Jack Bemporad there is personal “The Religious Jew who has "The Religious Jew who has heard the voice of page 1 (cont. page 4, 5) discovery and heard the voice of Sinai Sinai," Professor Fackenheim asserts, "must production of continue to listen as he hears the commanding Worship and Education must continue to listen as he Schedule page 2 values, God can voice of Auschwitz." He prefaces his chapter Mission Statement page 2 only work as a hears the commanding voice entitled, The Commanding Voice of Contact Information page 2 persuasive being, of Auschwitz” Auschwitz, with an interesting, if somewhat Calendar page 3 and not as a bitter tale by Elie Wiesel. It is a tale of a coercive being. madman, a pious Jew, who comes back to a Religious School News little synagogue in Nazi-occupied Europe, and Page 6 The divine during services suddenly says to the Jews, Religious School purpose can only be realized by "Don't pray so loud, God will hear you. Then he will know Registration Form page 7 human beings freely making God's that there are still Jews left alive in Europe and you, too, will purpose their own. From this be destroyed." Yahrzeits and Condolences comes both the possibility of page 8 cooperating with God, or What Professor Fackenheim has postulated is a demonic God High Holiday Information estrangement from God's purpose and, in fact, he says that the religious Jew today must be Page 9, 10 or sin. It means that the future is revolutionary, for there is no previous Jewish protest like his not a given, it means that not protest—which is to be an observant Jew to spite God. Jewish Patriots page 11 Klintcharova at JCC page 11 everything is already pre- Continuing to hear the voice of Sinai as he hears the voice of determined, it means, as William Auschwitz, may require him to cite God against God in ways Hitler’s Grasp page 12 James said, "If this life be not a even more extreme than the challenges of Abraham, Jeremiah, Oboist on Kol Nidre page 12 real fight, in which something is Job or Rabbi Levi Yitzhak.

Sescil page 13 eternally gained for the universe by Book of Remembrance success, it is no better than a game Fackenheim's proposed solution to the spiritual dilemma of the Order Form page 13 of private theatricals from which Holocaust is inadequate. If Sinai is genuine, then we don't one may withdraw at will, but it need Auschwitz to learn that Hitler should not win. We don't Description of Adult Education Programs and feels like a real fight, as if there need six million people to suffer and die for us; one doesn't Worship page 14 was something really wild in the need an experience like that to get the special commandment universe which we, with all our that Hitler should not succeed. If Sinai is genuine, than God Ads page 15 idealizations and faithfulness, are could not be demonic. The God of Abraham, who could be indeed to redeem." challenged to fulfill His obligations, to whom Abraham said, 1 (continued on page 4) Worship and Adult Education SCHEDULE

Shabbat Evening Service August 3 8 p.m  Meditation and Minyan August 4 10 a.m. Chavurah Shabbat Evening Service August 10 8 p.m Beth Shalom Meditation and Minyan August 11 10 a.m. Shabbat Evening Service August 17 8 p.m “A Progressive Meditation and Minyan August 18 10 a.m. Reform Chavurah Shabbat Evening Service August 24 8 p.m dedicated to Meditation and Minyan August 25 10 a.m. excellence in Shabbat Evening Service August 31 8 p.m Meditation and Minyan September 1 10 a.m. education of contemporary Please consult our weekly e-mail announcements for any changes in the class schedules. Judaism.” The Ephraim Woolman Judaic Studies Class will resume on Spetember 8, at 10:30 a.m.

P.O. Box 417 Tenafly, New Jersey Shabbat Services Ephraim Woolman Shabbat Morning 07670 Shabbat Services are held every Judaic Study Class Meditation & Minyan Friday night at 8 p.m. except Saturday morning class led by Minyan led by Rabbi Dennis Phone: when there are Family Services Rabbi Bemporad includes Shulman includes an active (201) 567-7806 which begin at 7:30 p.m. at the stimulating discussions about discussion of some aspect of Fax: Alpine Community House. Please Jewish philosophy, history, this week's Torah portion, and (201) 567-5551 note that religious school studentsscripture and commentary on an explanation of a prayer or are required to attend Family current events. Join us every two included in the service. Email: Shabbat Evening Services as part Shabbat morning at 10:30 Dress is casual and informal. [email protected] of the curriculum. a.m. at the Alpine Community Join us every Saturday at 9 a.m. House. at the Alpine Community Founding Rabbi and House. Spiritual Leader: Rabbi Nathaniel Benjamin OUR MISSION STATEMENT Senior Rabbinical Scholar: At Chavurah Beth Shalom, we embrace the values of a contemporary Reform Judaism that Rabbi Jack Bemporad integrates reason, experience, intellectual curiosity and spirituality into our modern religious practice. Firmly rooted within the prophetic tradition, we believe that: Rabbinical Associate:  Jews in every generation have a responsibility to preserve Judaism for the future. Rabbi Dennis Shulman  Jews in every generation must respond creatively to the challenges of contemporary society. President of the  Jewish tradition and ritual are a vital part of our religious practice and must comport Congregation: with the highest standards of ethics. Old and new rituals alike must stand the test of Richard Viders reason and experience, and our rituals must enable us to lead an ethical life and to better understand the divine. Youth Activities:  Jews must embrace openness to truth from all sources including philosophy, science, Rabbi Steven J. Meltz art and literature.  Jews must be willing to respect and acknowledge the value of other religious Assistant to the Rabbis: traditions and work with other religions to find common ground and strive for the Janine Schwarz betterment of all.  Meaning in our lives comes from the pursuit of justice, a sense of humility, the idea of Director of Education: mercy and an obligation to make peace with ourselves as Jews and with other peoples Debra Kronberg of the world. Mailing: These values stand at the core of the teaching of the prophets and are the essence of Reform Jill Benjamin Judaism. Our Chavurah is dedicated to offering this vision of Reform Judaism to families who seek an inclusive, rational, ethical and religiously compelling form of Jewish practice and Jewish life.

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3 4 (Rabbi’s Article Continued from page 1) is correct, and as the result of a God who does the best he can, but without man's help, is not strong enough to overcome evil, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do justice?" could a view I hold to be incorrect. not be demonic. Abraham proclaimed that God was just. For Slonimsky, God is not a creator, but is that aspect Fackenheim seems to be saying that we are just, but God is of reality that is good and holy and which must overcome the demonic. He is holding God responsible for the evil men do, a other aspects of reality which are recalcitrant. His view of God view that cannot stand. God is a persuasive, not a coercive is coupled with a belief in progress, but which is in fact alien being. He has created a world from which man emerged as the to it. Here he was true to his great teacher Hermann Cohen, last stage of evolution, but man must bring about justice in the and true to that Biblical phrase which he so often quoted, "On earth; God does not take on the task of man. that day He shall be one and His name one." According to Man must take on his own task with God's help. The Slonimsky, the demand of the heart that God be one and that real issue the Holocaust raises is not whether Hitler should man succeed in making him one overrides whatever rational win, but should Abraham, Akiba, and Jeremiah lose. Those doubts one may have as to the success of this end. truths which they stood for and which many died for, the truth But unless God is in some sense the Creator, then which completely revolutionized the world, necessitates that there are no guarantees about God's emergence. Rather than we bear witness to them, for if we don't carry on for them, emerge, He may be defeated. What turned Slonimsky away then the gift that the Jews gave to mankind may perish. If any from the concept of a creator God was the reigning view that a truth comes from this, it is not that Hitler shouldn't win—we creator God not only is responsible for all that happens and, knew that Hitler should not win-but that Abraham and Isaac therefore, must be responsible for evil, but also that such a and Jeremiah should not lose. There are several other ways to God denies man's freedom. But if we conceive creation as an deal with the Holocaust. act wherein God creates other beings with full power to act for Professor Henry Slonimsky, one of the great leaders good or ill, then we can conceive of a God who is a creator and teachers of the Reform movement wrote a brilliant paper, and revealer, yet not responsible for evil. "The Philosophy Implicit in the Midrash," in which he writes: God, in my view, respects the integrity and freedom of man "The core of Jewish belief is that Israel must bear the Torah and thus works though persuasion and revelation, and not from God to the world, but the world is unwilling and resists coercion. Tennant expressed this well when he stated that all three; God, Torah, and Israel. And the protagonist who God, "in revealing Himself...will respect the moral personality does the actual bearing must also bear the brunt of the of the persons who he would enlighten." This is the ethical suffering...the Torah stands for goodness, for the vision, and condition of revelation to man. ideals, and values, or light of God in which we see light. God, Professor Hans Jonas’ position in many ways is besides being this light and vision which we behold, is also similar to Slonimsky's, but differs from it in certain crucial such power, such real actual power in the universe as is respects. Jonas devised a staggering myth in which he committed and has already been marshaled for the victory of describes a God who, for reasons known only to Himself, the good. This power must be increased, the ideal must be allowed the universe to come into being, and in doing so, translated into the real, and the active agent in this crucial divested Himself of all power to direct, correct, or ultimately event is man, who is thus destined for tragic heroism by the guarantee the devious working out of creation. very nature of his situation. Israel, of course, stands for the "God renounced His own being, divesting Himself of ideal Israel, and is paradigmatic of the good and brave man His deity—to receive it back from the Odyssey of time everywhere. That the best must suffer the most, must assume weighted with the chance harvest of unforeseeable temporal the burdens and sorrows of the world, constitutes the most experience; transfigured or possibly even disfigured by it.. awesome phenomenon and paradox of the whole spiritual life. Man was created 'for' the image of God, rather than 'in' His God in the full meaning of the term is seen to stand at the end, image" and "our lives become lives in the divine not at the beginning; on that day He shall be one and His name countenance… Our impact on eternity is for good and for evil shall be one. He must be made one, man is the agent in whose —we can build and we can destroy, we can heal and we can hands it is left to make or mar that supreme integration. The hurt, we can nourish and we can starve divinity, we can assertion of God in a Godless world is the supreme act of perfect and we can disfigure its image-and the scars of one are religion." as enduring as the lustre of the other." Slonimsky believes this task is the true meaning of Addressing the question of Auschwitz, he continued: the covenant. It embodies the principle of noblesse oblige, "What about those who never could inscribe themselves in the which requires those who have witnessed to the unity of God Book of Life with deeds either good or evil, great or small, to bear witness and stand for God in a Godless world, to stand because their lives were cut off before they had their chance, for justice in a world that denies justice, to stand for truth or their humanity was destroyed in degradations most cruel where truth is despised. In this way, Slonimsky accounts for and most thorough such as no humanity can survive? I am the Jews’ countless suffering. Yet, as impressive and brilliant thinking of the gassed and burnt children of Auschwitz, of the as this view is, it is defective insofar as it leads to an ultimate defaced, dehumanized phantoms of the camps, and of all the dualism between the universe and God. God is characterized other numberless victims of the other man-made holocausts of only as an ideal which must be actualized and therefore, as a our time. Among men, their sufferings will soon be forgotten, growing god, who either emerges or is held back by man's and their names even sooner. Another chance is not given action. them.. are they, then, debarred from an immortality which Evil, according to Slonimsky, can be explained as a even their tormentors and murderers obtain...leaving their concomitant of the unfinished character of the universe, which sinister mark on eternity's face? This I refuse to believe. And

5 (Rabbi’s Article Continued from page 4) We must affirm the creation of a cosmos but one that is unfinished, incomplete in the making. Creation must be the this I like to believe: that there was weeping in the heights at "creation of creators." There is both order and chance in the the waste and despoilment of humanity; that a groan answered world, both being and process, law and freedom. But novelty the rising shout of ignoble suffering, and wrath - the terrible makes risk as well as loss and evil real. wrong done to the reality and possibility of each life thus God continually creates the universe with possibilities for life, wantonly victimized, each one a thwarted attempt of God. 'The mind and value. Now the good, the true, and the beautiful voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me from the ground': become goals to be achieved, ends to be realized. Should we not believe that the immense chorus of such cries It is due to God that there is something rather than nothing, that has risen up in our lifetime now hangs over our world as a order rather than chaos, the primacy of good and not the dark, mournful, and accusing cloud? That eternity looks down primacy of evil. Neither being, nor order, nor aim at value is upon us with a frown, wounded itself and perturbed in its intelligible without some reference to God as Creator, an depths? The image of God is in danger as never before...An impetus to greater differentiation, organization, and harmony. eternal issue is at stake together with the temporal one-this However, it is a mistake to assume that order is all of aspect of our responsibility can be our guard against the a type. There is logical, natural, and moral order. There is no temptation of fatalistic acquiescence or the worse treason of moral order apart from logic, pattern, and value. Moral order 'apres nous le deluge,' We literally hold in our faltering hands is a goal to be achieved, and not a fact. This presupposes the future of the divine adventure and must not fail Him, even man's task. God must be such as to allow for man's task. In if we would fail ourselves." creating the world, God decided on the side of having man be When Jonas discusses the philosophical consequence the decider of his fate, and not fate the cajoler of man. of his myth, he postulates a suffering God, a God affected by It is a mistake to see creation as a finished product. man's action, which implies a becoming God. He is also a Creation is a process with an open future. It is not the case that caring God, and finally, He is not, for Jonas, an omnipotent God creates a finished universe. God has created and is God. creating with his creatures a basically unfinished universe. The The similarity between Jonas' and Slonimsky's views goal of creation is the actualization of an ideal order of things. is obvious. Both Slonimsky and Jonas seem to argue for a The positive fact of evil is the conclusive proof that there is an doctrine of a God who risks something, and that what God unfinished character to reality. Science deals with an ideally risks entails His very being. The being of God is itself closed world. The laws of nature are there to be discovered. dependent on man's action. Jonas sees this as a direct result of Religion deals with an essentially unfinished world. Religion the existence of a universe, and thus, as one of the effects of is concerned with what needs completion, with a universe in creation, which makes it more satisfactory than the dualism the making. It must actualize the truths it stands for. The proposed by Slonimsky. I would accept the doctrine that in ultimate resolution of the problem of evil is the affirmation creating the world, God did take a risk, in the sense that the that being, with its risks and possibilities of irreparable loss, is world is open, and thus, contingency, temporality, and more valuable than non-being and nothingness; that time and freedom are real. I would not, however, go so far as to say that temporality are real and not merely appearance. A perfect man can create or annihilate God. He can, however, annihilate universe is an is an impossibility, everything realized at once. and destroy himself. Here his freedom is clear. Here realization is impossible. Fackenheim, Slonimsky, and Jonas all seem to agree that there God creates the formative elements and acts as the is a kind of drastic limitation of God's activity in the world— divine inspiration to man's task, but God does not take on or rather a redefinition of how God acts in the world. man's task. It is man that is to help and continue the process of However, this limitation is not such as to render the divine creation and be a co-creator with God. powerless or impotent. This does not mean that God is finite, God is the basis and ground of the novelty of the for the limitation of God's power is not, as Slonimsky states, World. God is necessary for the universe and man to be due to man or any other external cause. Rather it is a necessary intelligible. Only through belief in God as Creator and condition of there being a world at all. sustainer, as the ground of being and order, as the source of The old theism is no longer meaningful today. A God inspiration in worship, as the ground for the values man must who creates a finished universe, down to its last detail, who is realize-only through such a belief in God can man find the creator of all, the evil as well as the good, who knows all, meaning and value to his existence. so that man's actions are merely a reenactment of what is So, perhaps we may summarize by saying that evil is eternally in God's mind—such a view makes a mockery of the the irreparable loss of good, that man's greatest good is not agony and tragic heroism of man. By making God the cause of pleasure or justice but soul-making, the realizing of the good, all, it makes Him directly responsible for the evil in the world and that man himself must take upon himself that task, that and, therefore, makes God either demonic, or denies the reality burden of ascent. The rabbis taught this in a splendid Midrash of evil. In either case, man is denied any significance. Man in which they say, "Those who are persecuted and do not really makes no difference in a universe where God's whim persecute in return, those who listen to contemptuous insults could at any point make everything different, or in which God and do not reply, those who act out of love and are glad of could have worked everything out at the beginning for the suffering, concerning them, Scripture says, they that love God best. Such a view simply cannot account for the reality of are like the sun going forth in his strength." time, process, novelty, and risk.

6 Religious School News By Debbie Kronberg

I have just returned home from commemorating Tisha B’Av shared with the world. The children will learn all about the (the 9th of Av) when Jews traditionally mourn the destruction various regions from ancient to modern. Did you know about of the two Temples and other calamitous events which have the Biblical Zoo which contains animals mentioned in the befallen our people over the centuries. The book of bible??? Lamentations is read. The mournful, haunting melody and disturbing words of the destruction of Jerusalem with her The children will celebrate Yom Ha Atzm’ut (Israel tattered residents reduced to beggars in the street, remind us of Independence Day) with a festival including Israeli songs, the high price of war. dances and food. Most of our Tzedakah collection this year will go to organizations in Israel which provide humanitarian Although not always a part of the Reform calendar, I think it aid to the elderly, the poor, and to victims of terror. behooves us all to pause to remember and reflect upon our past and what we can do to ensure the security of Israel in Being Jewish, for our children, is more than attending today’s tumultuous times. Although receiving little press, for Religious School - it is a way of life - it is being part of a example, the Israeli town of Sderot is currently under loving and caring community. We are planning many events bombardment from rockets coming over the border from Gaza this year to give our religious school families the opportunity which has caused death and destruction and daily fear for the to learn, pray, and celebrate together. The Calendar of classes residents. and events will be mailed to each family shortly.

In May of 2008, Israel will be celebrating its 60th year as the Please send your completed registration forms to the Chavurah modern Jewish State. The students of our Chavurah Beth immediately so that we may provide adequate staff and Shalom Religious School will be participating in several curriculum materials. county wide events to celebrate this momentous occasion. We will be studying special lessons in order to understand the The teachers and I look forward to sharing a wonderful school importance of Israel to the Jewish people from biblical times year with you. until today. We will learn about all the achievements in education, medicine, science and technology that Israel has

PLEASE RETURN YOUR REGISTRATION FORMS BY JUNE 15, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR! Need a Religious School Registration Form? You can find one on the back of this page or visit our website at www.mychavurah.org.

*** NOTE OUR POLICY *** Chavurah Beth Shalom's Religious School is open to the children and grandchildren of members of The Chavurah.

You must be a member in good standing to register your child(ren) for religious school (i.e., no outstanding dues, religious school or life cycle fees). Tuition payment of $500 per child must accompany each registration form in order for it to be processed. Should a member have a financial situation that precludes final payment by the first day of class, please contact us at 201-567-7806 to arrange a payment schedule for the balance.

Is it time to schedule your Bar or Bat Mitzvah? We are presently reserving dates for 2008 and 2009 We offer a very flexible policy regarding the scheduling of your child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Services may be conducted on the date, time, and location of your choosing, such as your home, reception site or our sanctuary at the Alpine Community House. You are not limited to a Saturday morning Service. Individual preparation in your home is provided by Rabbi Nat Benjamin and members of our teaching staff who pay careful attention to your child's special needs.

7 Pre-registration will help us prepare for Religious School Year 2007/2008 Kindly complete this form below and return it to the address noted below 2007/2008 Religious School Registration Form School begins September 19, 2007 Tuition $500

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[email protected]  www.mychavurah.com 8 YAHRZEITS – AUGUST 2007/5767

Shabbat Service August 3 Aaron Ackerman, father of Beverly Allen Bess Byron, mother of Herve Byron Roy Simon, husband of Molly Tauder & father of Jill Benjamin Alvina Surrey, mother of Sidney Surrey Dorothy Silverman, Aunt of Sheldon & Ilene Gelman Ruth Rappoport, mother of Sybil Moses Jack Kirschner, father of Linda Herskowitz Leo Altchuler, father of Murray Altchuler Seymour Sinert, Father of Lance Sinert CONDOLENCES Rubin Metz, father of Aura Nelson We are saddened to learn of the passing of our member Shabbat Service August 10 Richward Neuwirth Murry Lewin, grandfather of Ronny Siegal We express our deepest sympathies to Charlotte Neuwirth, mother of Richard Neuwirth Mrs. Eileen Neuwirth Leonore Weber, mother of Drew Weber on the loss of her husband Sam Miller, uncle of Florence Baron. Frances Kerekes, mother of Neomi Dezer Our deepest Sympathies to: and Grandmother of Gil Dezer Elinore Reichman, mother of Dr. Lee Reichman Anthony Lopomo, Benjamin J. Gold, father of Myra Wrubel Gary Herskowitz, son of Linda and Gerald Herskowitz the beloved father of Laura Meltz Harry Herskowitz, father of Dr. Gerald Herskowitz and father-in-law of Steven Meltz Michael Nussbaum, father of Barbara Dolinsky William Wilson, grandfather of Ernie Wilson Van Sommer on the loss of his mother Hyman Levine, father of Paul Levine Terri Sommer Rose Dollinger, mother of Edmund Dollinger Ruth Cohen, mother of Sam Cohen Molly Tauder on the passing of her dear friend Harry Collier, father of Judith Zola Blanche Wiener, mother of Brenda Phillips

Shabbat Service August 17 Robert and Wendy Lembersky on the passing of John Budd Ann Skigen, mother of Ilene Gelman Sadie Kahn, mother of Dr. Fred Kahn Rose Baron, mother of Stanley Baron Elaine Chernick on the passing of her husband Harvey Radus, father of Wendy Federman Eugene Chernick Hyman Feinberg, father of Dr. Herbert Feinberg Dr. Sawnie Renard Gaston, stepfather of Leo Mazer on the loss of his wife Dr. Joelle Mazer Rebecca Moldover Rose Danzis Holman,mother of Alexander Holman Jack Irwin, father of Stephen Irwin

Shabbat Service August 24 Shabbat Service August 31 Arthur Bauchner, husband of Seena Bauchner Sherle Berland, mother of Susan Penn Solomon Breiger, father-in-law of Lil Breiger Helen Brown, mother of Sheila Falk Arthur A. Fink, father of Dr. Kenneth Frank Lucille Fergenson, mother of Everett Fergenson Mortimer Greenspan, Father of Joann Weber Laz Brieger, husband of Lil Brieger Arline Goodman, wife of Steve Goodman. Sarah Mazer, mother of Leo Mazer Alex Levine, father of Jeffrey Levine Benjamin Casser, father of Joseph Casser Bernard "Red" Geller, Father of Laurence Geller Gertrude Glick, Mother of Dr. Robert Glick Bruno Bieger, brother of Joseph Bieger Benjamin Weinstein, father of Fran Altchuler Betty Rosen Levine, mother of Jeffrey Levine Phoebe Friedman, mother of Meryl Sommer David Kahn, father of Dr. Fred Kahn Ree Goldman, mother of Lori Braverman, Leon Ornstrat, father of Arlene Friedman grandmother of Andrea Gross Frances Melnick, mother of Susan Berkey Riva Leah Zacks, grandmother of Dr. Jerry Zacks Gertrude Greenbaum, mother of Wesley and Todd Greenbaum Murray Sherbert, uncle of Dana Osterman Florence Altchuler, mother of Murray Altchuler Maurice Goldstick, father of Wilfrid Goldstick

9 Milton Weber, father of Drew Weber

10 HIGH HOLIDAY INFORMATION

We are pleased to announce that our 2007 High Holiday Services will be held at the Bergen Perform Arts Center located at 31 North Van Brunt Street (1 block north of Palisades Avenue) in Englewood, New Jersey on the following dates and times:

Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday September 12 7:30 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service Thursday September 13 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Children’s Service Thursday September 13 2 p.m. 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Friday September 14 11 a.m. in Alpine

Kol Nidre Friday September 21 7:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Morning Service Saturday September 22 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Children’s Service Saturday September 22 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Musica nd Meditation Afternoon and Yizkor Service Saturday September 22 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

We request that you send in your ticket requests early. Your membership dues include tickets for you and your children through college age. They may not be purchased for non members living in Bergen County or given to them for admission to services You may purchase additional tickets for visiting family members at $100 per person for all Holidays or $75 for one Holiday.

Only those with tickets will be admitted to services. Guest tickets can be purchased for $100 per person.

Family Member Name All Services Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur

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For Payment By Credit Card :  Visa  MasterCard

Total Amount of Charge: $______Cardholder Name Name on the Account: ______(Print Name) (Signature) Account Number:

Expiration Date: Your contribution is tax deductible as permitted by law.

P.O. Box 417, Tenafly, NJ 07670  (201) 567-7806  Fax: (201) 567-5551  E-Mail: [email protected] www.mychavurah.com

Invoices have been sent out. If you have any questions or did not receive your invoice, please contact the synagogue. We appreciate you prompt payment so we can begin to prepare for High Holy Day Services. 11 DIRECTIONS FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) 30 N. Van Brunt Street Englewood, New Jersey 07631 (201) 816-8160 (office) (201) 227-1030 (box office)

Conveniently located just minutes from the George Washington Bridge, bergenPAC is within easy access of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Westchester and Rockland counties. The Center’s location in downtown Englewood provides a safe suburban setting with free parking and a wide selection of outstanding restaurants and cafés nearby. You'll also find an array of art galleries and shops displaying antiques, gifts and crafts, and fashions – all within walking distance.

From Route 4 East/West Exit right at Englewood/Grand Ave. Go north on Grand Ave. to Palisade Ave. (about 1 mile). Turn left and go two blocks to North Van Brunt St. (immediately after railroad tracks). Turn right. bergenPAC is in the middle of the block on the left.

From Route 17 North/South Route 17 North or South to Route 4 East. Follow directions "From Route 4 East/West."

From George Washington Bridge Take Route 4 West exit. Follow directions for Route 4 West above. Or: Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway North to Exit 1. Turn right off the exit ramp onto Palisade Ave. Go down the hill (about 2 miles), and make an immediate right after the railroad tracks onto North Van Brunt St. bergenPAC is in the middle of the block on the left.

From NJ Turnpike 95 North (Local) toward GWB to Exit 71 (Broad Ave.). Turn right onto Broad Ave. Stay on Broad. Broad becomes Dana Place. At the end of Dana, turn left at traffic light onto Palisade Ave. Make right after the railroad tracks. bergenPAC is on the left.

From Route 80 Take Route 80 East (local lane). 80 and 95 merge in Teaneck. Follow directions "From NJ Turnpike."

From Nyack Area Take Palisades Interstate Parkway South to Exit 1. Turn right off the exit ramp onto Palisade Ave. Go down the hill (about 2 miles), make an immediate right after the railroad tracks onto North Van Brunt St. bergenPAC is in the middle of the block on the left.

NJ TRANSIT BUS SERVICE TO BERGEN PAC Take the #166, #178, #186, #756 or #780 bus to the Van Brunt St. & Palisade Ave. stop in Englewood. For a list of the towns serviced by these bus routes.

RED & TAN BUS SERVICE TO BERGEN PAC Take the #11A, #20, or #14 bus to the Van Brunt St. & Palisade Ave. stop in Englewood. For a list of the towns serviced by these bus routes.

Tickets Anyone?? We are pleased to announce that our 2005 High Holiday Services will be held at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (formerly The John Harms Theater) located at 31 North Van Brunt Street (1 block north of Palisades Avenue) in Englewood, New Jersey. We urge you to arrive a half hour early to allow for seating!

. We request that you send in your ticket requests early. Your membership dues include tickets for you and your children through college age. They may not be purchased for non-members living in Bergen County or given to them for admission to services. You many purchase additional tickets for visiting family members at $100 per person for all Holidays or $75 for one Holiday. Only those with tickets will be admitted to services.

12 How a Jewish patriot saved America By Richard Booker

In 1975 the United States Postal Service issued a certificates over to the state treasurer of Pennsylvania for stamp honoring a man named Haym Salomon for his evaluation. After several months, she made further inquiries contribution to the cause of the American Revolution. This and was informed that all of the papers relating to her stamp was uniquely printed on the front and the back. On the inheritance had been lost. glue side of the stamp, the following words were printed in Haym Salomon was buried in Mikveh Israel pale, green ink: "Financial Hero – Businessman and broker Cemetery in Philadelphia in a grave that is now unmarked. Haym Salomon was responsible for raising most of the money Since we don't know which his grave is, we cannot even pay needed to finance the American Revolution and later to save our respects at his graveside nor erect a marker. the new nation from collapse." I personally have one of these But the story of Haym Salomon doesn't end with an stamps. Historians who have studied the story of Salomon all unmarked grave. There is a plaque on a brick wall bordering agree that without his "contribution to the cause" there would the cemetery that was placed by Haym's great-grandson, be no America today. William Salomon, in 1917. It says, "To the Memory of Haym Haym Salomon bought and sold financial papers to Salomon … interred in this Cemetery the location of the grave raise money for Robert Morris who was the superintendent of being now unknown. …" finance for the Continental Congress. He believed that Was it just a coincidence that the year this plaque was America would be a safe haven for the Jews. But this son of a erected was the same year of the Balfour Declaration issued by rabbi also believed that one day in the future, Jerusalem would the British, which begins, "His majesty's Government views rise from the dust, the Jews would return to their ancient with favor the establishing in Palestine of a national home for homeland, and Israel and Jerusalem would once again be the the Jewish people"? home of the wandering Jew. Salomon determined to do all he Was it just a coincidence that in 1975 when the Postal could to finance the Revolution so America could survive until Service issued the stamp honoring Haym Salomon, that same that future time when his people would once again fill the year the Israeli government issued a stamp honoring Harry streets of Jerusalem. Truman, the American president who was the first head of From one crisis to the next, Robert Morris went to state to recognize Israel? Haym Salomon for help, and Salomon always responded. As Salomon believed, America has been that save Salomon gave his entire personal fortune of over $800,000 to haven for the Jewish people, and Israel has been reborn. As we the cause of the Revolution. This debt was never repaid. He celebrate America, may we remember the great debt we owe died sick and penniless at the age of 45, Jan. 6, 1785, leaving to Haym Salomon. While we may not be able to repay him behind a young widow, Rachel, and four children all under the personally, we can honor him by standing firm in our support age of 7. and prayers for a strong and secure Israel and a united Rachel tried for months after Haym's death to collect on Jerusalem under the rule of Haym's Salomon's spiritual personal loans that he had made to Morris, to the Congress and descendants, the Jewish people. others. She was requested to turn all her securities and

JCC THURNAUER SCHOOL OF MUSIC GUEST ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS International Soloist and Recording Artist SUZANNA KLINTCHAROVA “Klintcharova’s playing is heavenly.” – American Record Guide

“Five Centuries of Harp Music”

Sunday, September 16, 2007 3 p.m.

Tickets: $20/$18 JCC Members/$12 Students and Seniors

This concert is part of “Israel @ 60” Celebrations and will feature two compositions by Israeli composers and a reading with accompaniment of Yehuda Amichai’s “Poems of Jerusalem” with Gideon Vaisman

For more information [email protected] or call (201) 769-7900 x245

13 Beyond Hitler's Grasp

A great many Jews know the story of how the Danes through Bulgaria, on the way to the death camps, in sealed box rescued 8,000 Jews from the Nazi's by smuggling them to cars. The news of this inhumanity was a hot topic of Sweden in fishing boats. conversation. Then, at the beginning of 1943, the pro Nazi Very few Jews, know the story of how all 50,000 Bulgarian government was informed that all 50,000 Bulgarian Bulgarian Jews were saved. Not a single Bulgarian Jew was Jews would be deported in March. The Jews had been made to deported to the death camps, due to the heroism of many wear yellow stars and were highly visible. Bulgarians of every walk of life, up to and including the King As the date for the deportation got closer, the and the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. agitation got greater. Forty-three ruling party members of In 1999, Abraham Foxman, the National Director of the Parliament walked out in protest. Newspapers denounced what Anti Defamation League flew with a delegation to Sophia to was about to happen. In addition, the Patriarch of the meet the Bulgarian Prime Minister. He gave the Prime Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Krill, threatened to Minister the first Bulgarian language copy of a remarkable lie down on the railroad tracks. book, "Beyond Hitler's Grasp," written in 1998, by Michael Finally, King Boris III forbid the deportation. Since Bar Oar, a professor at Emory University. (A Bulgarian Jew Bulgaria was an ally of Germany, and the Germans were who had migrated to Israel and then to the USA). stretched militarily, they had to wrestle with the problem of This book documents the rescue effort in detail. The how much pressure they could afford to apply. They decided ADL paid for and shipped 30,000 copies to Bulgaria, so that to pass. the population could partake in the joy of learning about this Several points are noteworthy. The Bulgarian Jews heroic facet of their history. were relatively unreligious and did not stand apart from the This story is clearly the last great secret of the local populace by virtue of garb, or rites. They were relatively Holocaust era. The story was buried by the Bulgarian poor by comparison to Jews in other countries, and they lived Communists, until their downfall in 1991. All records were in integrated neighborhoods. Additionally, the Bulgarians had sealed, since they didn't wish to glorify the King, or the many minorities, Armenians, Turks, Greeks, and Gypsies, in Church, or the non Communist parliamentarians, who at great addition to Jews. personal risk, stood up to the Germans. And the Bulgarian There was no concept of racism in that culture. The Jewish Community, 45,000 of whom went to Israel after the bottom line here is that Bulgarians saw Bulgarian-Jews as War, were busy building new lives, and somehow the story Bulgarians, and not as Jews. And, being a small country, like remained untold. Denmark, where there was a closeness of community, that is Bulgaria is a small country and at the outset of the War often missing in larger countries. So, here was a bright spot they had 8 million people. They aligned themselves with the that we can point to as example of what should have been. Nazi's in hopes of recapturing Macedonia from Yugoslavia The most famous of those saved was a young and Thrace from Greece. Both provinces were stripped from graduate of the Bulgarian Military Academy. When he arrived them, after W.W.I. in Israel, he changed his name to Moshe Dayan..... In late 1942 the Jews of Selonica were shipped north

OBOIST ELLEN KATZ WILLNER TO PERFORM THE KOL NIDRE Internationally renowned oboist Ellen Katz Willner, a member of theAmerican Ballet Theater Orchestra and a founding member of the Quintet of the Americas in Bogota, Colombia and New York City, will perform The "Kol Nidre" Op 47, by Max Bruch at our Erev Yom Kippur Service, Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 p.m. at The Bergen Performing Arts Center. Ellen has performed as a soloist with Cantori New York and the Little Orchestra Society at Lincoln Center, as well as chamber music concerts in the New York metropolitan area. She has also performed as a member of the Mostly Mozart Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops with Skitch Henderson, New Jersey Symphony, and the New York City Ballet Orchestra. Ellen Willner was principal oboist in the Bogota Philharmonic and the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Little Orchestra Society. She teaches music at the Elizabeth Morrow School, Englewood and the 14 JCC Thurnauer School of Music SESCIL (Leon Wells) I had no idea where I was, but Korn, who worked with the locals before the war, did. When we met Mr. While attending one of Rabbi Bemporad’s Kalwinski, Korn asked him to hide both of us, and assumed I inspirational Saturday morning talks, I asked, “Is the Bible an had gold to pay for it. When he realized that I had nothing, he example of positive human behavior? When Noah was told to told Josef Kalwinski he could lose me, because I was a build the ark, why didn’t he see other people’s children and try stranger and did not know where I was. to take them in, too? Was it only his wife and three daughters, Mr. Kalwinski gave me a long look and said, “how and pairs of each animal species that he cared about? Isn’t can I leave him to get lost? He’s only a baby. Baby was the such blind obedience to God—without regard to the moral only English word he knew, and that became my nickname. I implications of Noah’s “selfishness”—a crime against joined 22 other Jews hidden on his property. They were not humanity? overjoyed to have me, because of the extremely cramped I think about the Kalwinskis when I read this Biblical quarters. tale. I don’t believe God spoke to Josef Kalwinski or his wife The Kalwinskis were risking their lives, since Aany and daughter, or his son, Kaziek, when they embarked on their Pole found hiding Jews was hanged, together with his entire mission. family. The Kalwinskis fed us, cleaned our living space, In 1943, during the Holocaust, I was 18 years old carried out our slops and did it without raising the suspicion of when, after almost two years, I escaped from the Death their neighbors. With kindness and care, his wife,helped by Brigade. The Brigade exhumed the murdered bodies of the her young daughter and son—a boy my age—worked night Nazi victims and burned them to erase any trace of the and day. Their youngest son had been sent away to distant atrocities. At the time, I was the only survivor of my entire family, lest he forget and mention our presence to the family, 70 members in all. Thinking I had hidden away a neighbors. cache of gold, a fellow inmate, Korn, took me along with him Why did the Kalwinskis make this great sacrifice for to the farm of Josef Kalwinski. Korn assumed that I had gold a boy they did not know and for the other twenty-three Jews because it was my job to keep count of the gold sieved from they hid? Was because of their sense of righteousness and a the ashes and to turn it over to the Nazis. It never occurred to feeling of humanity for their fellow man? They did not think me to take any of this loot for myself and I used some of it only of themselves and their safety. Should their tale be added only to bribe the SS guards to treat our group with leniency. to our Bible, to the literature that describes this as ultimate This is what made it possible for us to escape, because as we way to conduct one’s life? approached the gate on the day we decided to escape, the You can read this story and others in Janowska Road guard assumed I was bringing him gold and opened the gate. by Leon W Wells, published by the Holocaust Memorial We struck him down and ran away. Museum in Washington, DC.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE Our annual “Book of Remembrance” is distributed during the Yiskor Memorial Service on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. This year we are planning a more attractive format and we urge you to return this form promptly with your payment before September 30th, so that we will have the time needed to prepare the new booklet.

Please enter ______names in the Book of Remembrance at $20 each.

1. ______4.______

2. ______5.______

3. ______6.______

Member’s name:______Phone:______

Address:______E-mail:______

Visa or Mastercard Number: ______

Expiration Date:______

15 The Ephraim Woolman Judaic Study Class Saturday Morning at 10:30 a.m. This class led by Rabbi Jack Bemporad includes stimulating discussions about Jewish philosophy, history, scripture and commentary as well as current issues. Classes resume in September 8. Held at the Alpine Community House. Coffee and Bagels will be served.

Shabbat Morning Meditation & Minyan Saturday Morning at 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Known as a “member and guest-friendly service,” this Meditation and Minyan led by Rabbi Dennis Shulman meets for less than an hour each and every Saturday and always includes an active discussion of some aspect of this week’s Torah portion and an explanation of a prayer or two included in the service. Dress is casual and informal. The minyan meets around a conference table in the basement of the Alpine Community House. Children and guests are most certainly welcome. 16 S ‘n’ S W O R L D F A M O U S Kosher Delicate Debbie’s Designs Florist ssen For All Your Events Restaurant and Catering Lonnie Morris Weddings 34 East Palisade Avenue Certified Nurse Midwife Englewood, New Jersey Bar/Bat Mitzvah Birth, Delivery & Brit Milah 567-0810 Phone: (201) 541-6880 1133 Rt. 23 South Fax: (201) 541-6883 568-5733 Wayne, NJ LMCNM @aol.com Larry and Jenna Geller are members of (973) 696-7930

Gutterman-Musicant Funeral Directors 402 Park Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 1-800-522-0588 Arthur Musicant, Mgr. NJ Lic. No. 2544 Alan Musicant, NJ Lic. No. 2890 Serving the Jewish Community with dignity and compassion www.GuttermanMusicantWien.com Wien & Wien Inc. Memorial Chapels 129 Engle St., Englewood, NJ (201) 569-2404 ~ 402 Park St., Hackensack, NJ (201) 489-6125 Barry Wien, Mgr. NJ Lic. No. 2885 152, 2nd Ave., NewYork, NY 1-800-322-0533~ Robert P. Szegeti, NJ Lic. No. 3586

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Chavurah Beth Shalom  P. O. Box 417  Tenafly, NJ 07670  www.mychavurah.org

MANHATTAN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE BONNIE S. MAY Member of Chavurah Beth Shalom Former Bergen County Resident SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN [email protected] (646) 250-2666 18