2012 Temple Beth El MARCH MARCH

BULLETIN of Northern Westchester

campus of living judaism consecration weekend March 23 - 25 March Highlights

3/2 Consecration Shabbat Worship Service 5:30 pm Kabbal-Tot Shabbat March 23 at 8:00 pm 6:15 pm Family Shabbat Dinner 7:15 pm Family Shabbat Worship Service with “How we pray is who we are: K-2nd Grade Participation This is Your Life American Jews” 3/3 Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman, 9:00 am Simchat Shabbat and Artist-in-Residence, Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller with Special Guests: 3/4 Purim Celebration Rabbi Richard Jacobs, President-Elect of the URJ 9:00 am Purim Breakfast with Characters Rabbi Maya Leibovich, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Kehilat Mevasseret Zion 10:00 am Purim Carnival Reverend Dr. Paul Briggs, Pastor at Antioch Baptist Church

3/7 7:15 pm Purim Spiel: A Beatles “Pour’m” Mania

3/8 7:30 pm Panel Discussion: Fostering Digital Citizenship

3/11 9:15 am Book Discussion - Blue Mountain by Meir Shalev, led by Susan Cosden 2:30 pm MT Nester Film & Discussion Rabbi Richard Jacobs Cantor Benjie Schiller Rabbi Dr. Lawrence Hoffman 4:00 pm Multigenerational Jewish-Muslim Cooking Event

3/15 8:00 pm 92nd Street Y Broadcast w/Sandra Day O’Connor

3/18 5:30 pm Joint Heritage Seder

3/22 6:30 pm Women’s Seder Rabbi Maya Leibovich Reverend Dr. Paul Briggs 3/23 – 3/25 Campus of Living Judaism Consecration Weekend study program march 24 at 9:15 am gala dinner dance march 24 at 7:30 pm tbe family day march 25 at 9:00 am Purim (see back cover) (see page 2) The Temple Beth El Bulletin is published monthly September through June. Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester 220 South Bedford Road Chappaqua, NY 10514

Office: 914.238.3928 • Fax: 914.238.5735 • Religious School: 914.238.5641 • Nursery School: 914.238.5735

gala dinner dance saturday, march 24 at 7:30 pm Silent Auction and Raffle Please join us to “unwrap” our new social hall and honor our temple presidents INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Harry Cohen, Bill Pollak, David Ruzow and Steve Adler

Beginning Years...... 7 for their vision, leadership and hard work, which has led to the creation Birthdays...... 12 of our new wonderful Campus for Living Judaism. B’nei Mitzvah...... Print Version Only $130 | person Cocktail Attire RSVP by March 19 Calendar ...... 14 Gifts...... 12-13 Joys and Sorrows...... 12-13 Rabbi Davidson...... 4-5 Rabbi Mitelman ...... 6 Religious School...... 7-8 Religious School Calendar...... 8 Temple Information...... 22 Tikkun Olam...... 10 Harry Cohen Bill Pollak David Ruzow Steve Adler Yahrzeits...... 13 (page numbers in online version may not align) For RSVP to the GALA Front Cover and journal tributes Campus of Living Judaism please visit www.bethelnw.org Consecration Weekend Back Cover help support the temple by: Purim Becoming a Gold or Silver Sponsor Placing a tribute in our journal tbe family day Attending the Dinner Dance! march 25 at 9 am

Our consecration weekend Consecration weekend continues with concludes with a family scholar-in-residence program.We invite everyone, Rabbi Dr. Lawrence Hoffman: President of Synagogue 3000, particularly our families, to a think-tank for visioning the future of the American synagogue a day of chiddur mitzvah, artist-in-residence beautification of our temple Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller: Nationally renowned composer and visionary cantor home.

Several projects will take Study Program place, highlighted by work with a artist to create a Saturday piece not soon forgotten. March 24 at 9:15 am

More information to follow. “Searching for God in Chappaqua, NY”

If you would like to help Session 1 plan projects or volunteer Rabbi Dr. Lawrence Hoffman on the day, contact Susan “Our search for wholeness: Mysticism, Spirituality and Ourselves” Cosden at 238-5641 or scos- [email protected] Session 2 Cantor Benjie Schiller “Our search for sacred community: Music, Prayer, the Gift of Shabbat 2 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

Space is limited! Your daughters 13 and older are most welcome! Questions? contact reservations cannot gail schreier at be accepted 941-6257 or Join us at the TBE Sisterhood’s after march 16. [email protected] Annual Women’s Seder Thursday, March 22 6:30 pm

Your check for $36 made payable to check the “Sisterhood of TBE” temple website is your RSVP. for updates Send to: early in march. Myra Borchard 21 James Road Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

~ Experience a unique version of one of our richest traditions! ~

Please Join Us for the 9th Annual Joint Heritage Seder

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester march 18 at 5:00 pm in the TBE Social Hall

Cost: $20 for adults | $15 for children 11-18 | FREE for children 10 and under

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS: If you come with your parents, the seder will count either as a service attendance or a g’milut chasadim opportunity!!

Please bring either a bottle of red wine or a Kosher-for-Passover dessert!

The Seder will be an exploration of the African-American and Jewish communities’ joint heritage of slavery throughout our histories.

Temple Beth El will be joined by members of Antioch Baptist Church of Bedford Hills.

For more information contact Allyson Bari - Guida (917) 825-8330. ------Registration Form Please detach this form and return it with your registration fee to: Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester | 220 South Bedford Road | Chappaqua, NY 10514 Please respond by March 6

Name: ______Number of People Attending: _____

Ages of Children: ______Amount Enclosed: ______

You may also register on our website at www.bethelnw.org. 3 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG rabbi joshua m. davidson That is why immediately following “the Ten Words,” we read V’eleh hamishpatim, “And these are the rules.” In other words, All the hype of Campaign 2012 reminds “You’ve been given the grand principles. Now here’s how to apply me how much I used to enjoy the West them.” And the Torah proceeds to distinguish between premeditat- Wing, the long-running television series ed and accidental deaths; to assign penalties for injuries caused; and about President Josiah Bartlett, played by to define the rights and responsibilities of the borrower and lender Martin Sheen, and his eccentric but love- in the event of theft. able White House staff. My favorite episode And in case the people ever contended that these mishpatim, focused on Bartlett’s reelection campaign these “rules,” were somehow less binding than the Ten Command- and his preparation for the final debate with ments themselves, the Rabbis had prepared their response. Rabbi his Republican challenger. Ishmael insisted that just as the Ten Commandments were given “Ten words,” his advisors admonish at Sinai, so were these, their applications, given at Sinai. Without the loquacious and sometimes pedantic them, Nachmanides warned, the Israelites would have lacked all Bartlett. “Keep your answers simple. Ten sense of how to respect one another or one another’s property – w ord s .” society would have devolved into utter chaos. Bottom line: what “Ten words, ten words,” Bartlett nods as if to trying convince comes after the first ten words – the fine points – are what matter himself. most. The debate begins. The moderator poses a question to Governor They are what matter most (and are most often lacking) in politi- Robert Ritchie (James Brolin): “Governor Ritchie, many econo- cal discourse. mists have stated that the tax cut, which is the centerpiece of your They are what matter most in our own lives and interactions. economic agenda, could actually harm the economy. Is now really The Torah reminds us that life is lived not in the broad brush- the time to cut taxes?” strokes but in the fine details. We know from our own relationships The Governor responds: “You bet it is. We need to cut taxes for that grand pronouncements of love and intention ultimately matter one reason — the American people know how to spend their money very little if we do not make good on them day to day. better than the federal government does.” I’m reminded of my grandfather. My Pop Pop was an extraor- “Mr. President, your rebuttal,” the moderator offers. dinary man. His credo was Shammai’s teaching from Pirkei Avot: And Bartlett pounces: “There it is. That’s the ten word answer “Say little and do much.” my staff’s been looking for for two weeks. There it is. Ten-word He had gone to work at age eighteen in an electronics shop to pay answers can kill you in political campaigns. They’re the tip of the his way through college at night. The hard work of his youth paid sword. Here’s my question: What are the next ten words of your off later in life when ultimately he became a partner in the company. answer? Your taxes are too high? So are mine. Give me the next Pop Pop was devoted to his family, his children and grandchildren ten words. How are we going to do it? Give me ten after that, I’ll and would do anything for us. drop out of the race right now.” I grew up in a house where we said “I love you” all the time. So Well, that exchange pretty much sealed Bartlett’s reelection. I was accustomed to saying it and hearing it. I remember once — I Ten words. “There aren’t very many un-nuanced moments in lead- must have been five years old — sitting in the passenger seat of ing a country that’s way too big for ten words,” the made-for-TV my Pop Pop’s Cadillac and saying to him, “I love you.” There was president said. Ten words are not enough. silence. I looked at him. “I love you,” I said again. He hesitated for Even the Torah acknowledges it. Not long ago in temple we read a moment, and then responded, “Good.” That was it. what our tradition calls Aseret Hadibrot, which loosely translates as I thought about that exchange for a long time. I still find it amus- “the Ten Words.” You’ve heard them before: ing all these years later. He may not have been comfortable saying I am Adonai your God. the words, but none of us ever doubted how he felt…because he You shall have no other gods beside Me. showed us. You shall not swear falsely by the name of Adonai your God. The little things we say and do are what matter most — or the Remember the Sabbath day. things we fail to say and do. Honor your father and your mother. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen tells the story of Larry, a young hus- You shall not murder. band and father. A passionate environmentalist, his work had be- You shall not commit adultery. gun to consume him. He traveled frequently, and worked late into You shall not steal. the night on the occasions he was home. There was just so much You shall not bear false witness. to be done — another habitat to be preserved, another endangered You shall not covet. species to be protected. His wife and children grew accustomed to These are the “big ten” — the ten grand moral assertions to Larry’s absences, and eventually took them for granted. which the people Israel must hold themselves accountable, and After six years, Larry visited Dr. Remen. He was depressed, around which Israelite society is to be ordered. But can you im- burned out, angry. “The world is dying,” he lamented. “Spotted agine trying to render any judgment based on these “Ten Words” owls, countless other species. We may not have another chance.” alone? So much remains undefined. For example: How does one Dr. Remen was first silent, and then asked, “Larry, when was the differentiate between murder and manslaughter? What does it last time you ate with your family.” mean to dishonor one’s parents? And what are the punishments for “I don’t remember,” he answered. these crimes. Ten words are not enough to answer. “When was the last time you played ball with or read a book to your children.” 4 “I don’t remember,” he said. TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

“When was the last time you and Deborah went for a vacation together, just the two of you?” 92nd street Y Broadcast “I don’t remember. I guess it’s been a long time.” To which Dr. Remen responded, “Larry, would you treat a spot- Sandra Day O’Connor ted owl that way.” Intelligent Choice and the Impact of our Decisions Nowhere do we learn the effort and attention to detail that go into making a relationship successful better than through the cove- Thursday, March 15 at 8 pm nant of marriage. It may be for this reason that the Midrash chooses Sandra Day O’Connor served as to describe the moment of revelation at Sinai as the wedding of the U.S. Supreme Court’s first fe- God to the people Israel. The rabbis want us to understand that our male justice. During her 24-year union with God, like a marriage, will take work. So God becomes career, she often cast the deciding the groom, and Israel the bride. And if you follow the metaphor vote in landmark decisions, and through, Mount Sinai becomes their chuppah, the Ten Command- retired from the bench in 2006. ments their ketubah. Justice O’Connor will discuss her Those who are married just a little while quickly learn that it civics education project, along is not the terms of a ketubah, the grand pronouncements of their with her extraordinary career, wedding day, which hold their marriage together. “It is the threads,” and what attributes, skills and they weave, said the legendary French actress Simone Signoret, the approaches are necessary for success in the future. President “hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people through the years.” Barack Obama recently awarded O’Connor the Medal of Free- My godfather Rabbi Harvey Fields calls it “the gritty work of our dom in recognition of her accomplishments and dedication to love”: “What counts in our most important relationships are not the public interests. easy, grandstand declarations of affection, but all the patient strug- gles to wrench laughter out of tears, trust out of disillusionment. All Broadcast begins at 8:00 pm. Doors open at 7:45 pm. Refresh- the commitment to birth new joys out of sorrows, new dialogue out ments available. $10/adults, children 18 and under are free. of embittered silence and new beginnings out of shattered dreams. Spring 92nd Street Y Schedule Even when the going gets tough. Especially, when the going gets tough.” Mark Bittman and Ruth Reichl — Our Lives and Cooking I’ll conclude with the wisdom of Reverend Morris Joseph, who How One Shapes the Other served as the Senior Minister of the West London Synagogue of Tuesday, April 10 at 8:00 pm British Jews from 1893 to 1930. In his work Judaism as Creed and Madeline Albright — 1937-1948: Life he wrote: “The divine test of a man’s worth is not his theology A Personal Story of Remembrance and War but his life” – not our grand proclamations, but how we live from Thursday, May 3 at 8:00 pm day to day; how we treat our husbands and wives, our parents and children, our siblings, friends and coworkers, and for that matter Elie Wiesel — Return to the Akeda: ourselves. What matters most are not the first ten words, but rather, Why I Love Isaac to quote the favorite phrase of that fictional television President, Wednesday, May 16 at 8:00 pm “what’s next.”

THE MANY FACES OF ISRAEL mt nester film & discussion Book Series, biblical israel gefilte fish chronicles TBA a documentary AS A DRIVEN LEAF sunday, march 11, 2:30 pm BY MILTON STEINBERG led by rabbi joshua davidson A delicious chuckle awaits you! Everything you never wanted to know about preparing the Seder Feast.

RSVP: Alice Ozaroff at [email protected]

5 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG rabbi geoffrey mitelman Judaism recognizes that unbridled creativity isn’t all that construc- tive. And so Jewish tradition has even set up guidelines to help us deliberately stop creating. According to the Mishnah, there are Give Your Brain a Rest thirty-nine specific activities that are prohibited on Shabbat, which include lighting fires, writing, and cooking. The common theme Generally, our minds have no problem with among those thirty-nine items (called melakhot) is that they were coming up with lots of ideas — it’s fairly the specific actions that the Israelites undertook when they were easy for us to think about creating some- building the mishkan, the dwelling-place for God. thing new. And with perseverance, we can often turn our ideas into reality. So even though building the mishkan was sacred work, the Torah reminds us that even sacred work needs to stop for one day a But too frequently, we don’t recognize week. And to the Rabbis, that meant that no matter how important which ideas should have just stayed in our our work may be, on Shabbat, anything we want to make, anything minds until we’ve already expended our we want to do, anything we want to design — it has to wait. time, our energy and our resources — just think about New Coke, Qwikster or M. Night Shyamalan. And yet taking a break is only part of Shabbat. While we are sup- posed to be intentionally non-creative on that day, the Rabbis also So is there a way for us to better determine which ideas are worth outline certain things we should do to help make Shabbat a day of pursuing in the first place, and which are not? joy and peace. Not only are we supposed to shamor, “guard” Shab- bat by avoiding certain tasks, we are also supposed to zachor, “re- It turns out that there is. While hard work is the way ideas get actu- member” Shabbat by elevating our sense of holiness and delight. alized, rest is an effective way for us to evaluate our ideas.

So on Shabbat, we’re supposed to have a festive meal, with special In a recent article for Wired, Jonah Lehrer describes an experiment food and a celebratory atmosphere. We’re supposed to be with which shows the value of a mental break. In this study, 112 students friends and family — and to truly be with them. We’re supposed to were given two minutes to create as many solutions as possible to read, to reflect, and to rediscover the blessings in our lives. the problem of how to improve the experience of waiting on line for the cash register. Half the group was then told to go straight to work Ultimately, Shabbat is there to remind us that it’s far too easy for with no break, while the other half played an unrelated video game us to fall into the trap of constant business and constant busyness. for two minutes, giving their brains a short respite. And as Lehrer argues, constant creativity prevents us from distin- guishing mediocrity from excellence. While both groups came up with the same number of ideas, there was a huge difference in terms of how well they recognized good So if we want to invest our precious resources in developing only ideas. As Lehrer explains: our best ideas, then we need to structure our time so that we have an opportunity to stop creating, and give our brains a rest. [G]iving the unconscious a few minutes…proved to be a big advan- tage, as those who had been distracted were much better at identi- fying their best ideas. (An independent panel of experts scored all of the ideas.) While those in the conscious condition only picked their most innovative concepts about 20 percent of the time — they confused their genius with their mediocrity — those who had been distracted located their best ideas about 55 percent of the time. In other words, they were twice as good at figuring out which concepts get in the mix (member initiated xtras) deserved more attention. at temple beth el And yet it’s not simply taking a break that helps us evaluate our With beautiful new building space and an energized member- ideas — it’s also about using that rest to engender positive feelings. ship, TBE invites your ideas, leadership and participation in new, As Lehrer tells us, “Taking a break is important. But make sure you member-initiated activities and events. do something that makes you happy, as positive moods make us even better at diagnosing the value of our creative work.” Book clubs, yoga, gardening, computers, college advising, crafts, photography, film club....you name it! So rest and joy are two things that can help us assess our ideas be- Have an idea and want to bring it to TBE.... let the TBE Connec- fore we try to transform them into reality. And those two aspects are tions Group know! what define one of Judaism’s signature contributions to the world — Contact Karen Silver at [email protected] and find out how Shabbat. TBE members can “get in the MIX!”

Visit Rabbi Mitelman’s blog! http://sinaiandsynapses.com

6 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

Susan Cosden, Director of Janet Goldstein, Early Education Childhood Director

“Hillel said: Do not separate yourself from the community.” – Pirke Avot, 2:5. Bulletin Article March 2012 Our fourth and final pillar of Tem- The winter weather has been mild enough ple Beth El and Temple Beth El’s for us to be out in our great new play- Religious School is Community. As ground. The children have been enjoying I presented at all the openings of using all our new equipment. school assemblies, my favorite quote about education is by Nel Nodding, Last month we had special person’s day, who states, “The purpose of edu- and everyone had a wonderful time. Our cation is to expand our children’s music specialist, Pam, sang with the par- circles of caring.” To me, therefore, the purpose of education at ents and children. The parents engaged in various activities with Temple Beth El is to expand our children’s circles of caring, their their children. That is such a special day at school. circles of community guided by the values and lessons of the Torah. As states in our school’s mission statement: Community, Kehilah: We also learned about the holiday Tu B’Shevat and how we plant Our educational programs strive to facilitate the formation of com- trees, the different things they give us and how to take care of munity, as well as meet the needs of students as individuals. Learn- them. The children participated in planting in their classrooms. ing takes place when each student feels safe emotionally, academi- Our PTA had a terrific Parents Nite Out. We thank Denise Stogs- cally, socially, physically and spiritually. We foster in individuals dill and Lori Rose for all their hard work in making this special and families a sense of belonging to a series of communities: the evening for the parents a great success. school; the temple; the local community; the national and global community, with an emphasis on the Jewish community and Israel. Our enrichment programs have been very well attended by our An examination of Jewish history provides insight into the develop- children. They enjoy puppets, drama, cooking, science and many ment of our Jewish community. more terrific activities. We are happy to be able to offer these great classes to our children. Community gets developed in many ways in our school. First, our Yedidut, Judaic Studies, curriculum is designed to ever increase our The four-year-old classes learned about the water system in Africa students’ circles of community. In kindergarten and first grade they through the Clearwater initiative. begin with Me and My Jewish Family, second grade Me and My Synagogue, third grade Me and My Community, fourth grade Me Beth Segaloff came in and showed pictures of how people live in and My State and Country’s Jewish Community, fifth grade Me and parts of Africa and how unsafe and unsanitary their water is. The Israel, and sixth grade Me and My Judaism. Seventh grade spirals children got a clear understanding of the problem and started a all of these themes in one year ending with a project where they mitzvah project to help them called a Quarter for Clean Water. At will share with us “So, What Does Judaism Mean to Me at Home, the end of the year the money will be donated to this organization. in My Synagogue and in the World?” Our Tefilla (prayer) curricu- Next month we will be teaching the children about Passover. Many lum, bringing each day’s entire school community together to pray of the children make their own Haggadahs. They enjoy learning helps us build school community and synagogue community. Our songs and making foods pertaining to this holiday. Our program is fifth and sixth graders in addition to our Tefilla program also each enhanced by the children understanding Jewish culture. week come together for “God Talk.” Our conversations about God Registration for the 2012-2013 school year is ongoing. We have always go back to how do we make the Divine Spark in each of us many new families already registered. brighter in each of our encounters with others in our various If anyone is interested in learning about our programs or touring (continued on page ) our school, please call the Nursery School office at 238-5735.

first friday - march 2 SIMCHAT SHABBAT 5:30 pm kabbal-tot shabbat service the joy of shabbat family shabbat dinner 6:15 pm Led by Cantor Ellen Dreskin 7:15 pm family shabbat service with k-2nd grade participaton saturday, march 3 at 9:00 am A special shabbat musical service, which cost of dinner $10 per person $36/family occurs once a month from 9:00 to 9:45 am children under 5 - free for children and adults with developmental mail check or contact rose 238-3928 x1320 disabilities & their families. 7 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

(Susan Cosden, continued from page 6) donations requested for the religious school: communities. In addition, the conversation itself is held with the entire fifth and sixth grade community together so we can grow New or gently used/almost new: together, share common language, and work on showing kavod to one another. It is also a time when we celebrate the birthdays of Flip video cameras that community. Digital photo cameras (plug ins) Our family education programs are designed to build commu- Laptop computers nity by bringing our families together to study together and do iPads mitzvot together. This month we have three wonderful opportu- nities to do this. On Sunday, March 4 will be our breakfast with the characters and Purim carnival. This is a family education day If you would like to donate any of these items or would like to make for our Religious School and Nursery School families to come a donation toward a purchase, please contact: together, study and celebrate Purim as a community. On Sunday, March 25 our entire congregational family will come together as Susan Cosden a community as part of the dedication weekend of our synagogue 914-238-5641 or and we will spend the morning studying and doing the mitzvah [email protected] of beautifying our Beth El. Our second graders on March 25 will highlight their year of studying about Me and My Synagogue by being docents, leading tours of our synagogue. On Sunday, March 18, our fourth graders will have a family education day that is open to the rest of our synagogue family. The fourth grad- ers have been studying about the New York Jewish Community throughout its history and on March 18 will create a Living Wax Museum, where the students will come to life as various famous Religious School Highlights New York Jews. March 2012 We are currently working on many new ways to build community in our school and for the youth and families of our congrega- Friday, March 2 tion. Our youth listening campaign process has created class Family Erev Shabbat Services representatives in grades 4-8 who are developing programs for with Kindergarten – 2nd grade participation our youth to do together outside of religious school. This same and March birthday blessings campaign heard the desires of the parents to come together on issues that are relevant to raising their children, and shortly you Sunday, March 4 will receive invitations for parent events geared to parents of Breakfast with the Characters specific grades but all together will cover kindergarten – twelfth and Purim Carnival grade. Our seventh graders this year, for the first year ever, had in lieu of regular Religious School two Shabbatonim (overnights) at the temple, which allowed the students to get to know each other in a different way and bring Sunday, March 4 – Thursday, March 8 them closer together. With the addition of our new parking Spirit Week area on the side, we are able to block off that section and let our middle school students play wonderful games of touch football Sunday, March 11 prior to school, and we are looking into sinking basketball hoops Israel book group discussion on and perhaps creating four square game areas as well. If you have Meir Shalev’s Blue Mountain led by Susan Cosden more suggestions as to how we can build community, please e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at the Religious Sunday, March 18 School office 914-238-5641. Fourth Grade Family Education Day including New York Jewish History Wax Museum There are three Hebrew phrases for a synagogue: Beit Tefilla (house of prayer), Beit Midrash (house of study) and Beit K’neset Sunday, March 25 (house of gathering). All three start with the word Beit (house Family Dedication Day of), known better to us as Bayit (house). It is our goal to make Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester and our Religious Thursday, March 29 – April 9 School a home for all of our students and all of our families, a No Religious School – Spring Vacation third space (after your home and school/work) where you choose to be because it is a safe space and a space which you consider an extended home with your extended family and that helps you expand your community ever outward.

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Calling all Bakers! INTERESTED IN MIXING IT UP …..And Nosh on some Hamantaschen! IN THE TBE KITCHEN?

Please join us in the beautiful new kitchen at Temple Beth-El on A new group focused on cooking/kitchen initiatives has just launched Saturday, March 3rd from 3 to 6 pm to bake hamantaschen for at TBE. Purim! Learn about the origin and meaning of these pastries, “mix *Calling ALL BAKERS* it up” in the kitchen with other TBE members and treat yourself Contact Beth Jacobson at [email protected] for information to some delicious three-cornered pastry pockets, filled with sweet on how to get involved. flavors. family cooking event Bakers of all experience levels are all welcome to rise to this occa- multigenerational jewish-muslim sion! Recipe and all ingredients provided! Join this great cooking dialogue series event! The hamentaschen will be sold at the Purim Carnival on sunday, march 11 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Sunday March 4 (proceeds will go to TBE). Come join us as we learn from each other and explore our You are welcome to join us you as a Purim Carnival Volunteer on traditions through recipes and foods for festivities. Cooking Dem- Sunday March 4th at the hamantaschen table! (We will sell the onstrations * Hands On Fun for All * Learn the Meaning Behind the treats and also have kids participate by filling in some of their own Recipes * Taste Delicious Food! pockets, so please help by bringing in an extra jar or two of filling such as, fruit preserves, apricot, cherry, orange marmalade, rasp- RSVP Susan Pecker, brainstar2000@aol. berry to name a few). com or Sheila Schneiderman, sheilasyo- [email protected]. Please RSVP to Roberta Lasky at [email protected] and feel to call with any questions (914) 449-6230.

Reservation Form don’t miss... “Stories From the Fringe: Women Rabbis, Revealed!”

A beautiful, poignant theatrical reading Please fill out this form and send it with your check to: at Temple Beth El: Cheryl Goldfrach Stories from the Fringe: 303 Bedford Road Women Rabbis, Revealed! Chappaqua, New York 10514 A production of Jewish Women’s Theater Please make the check payable to: Temple Beth El Sunday, June 10 at 5:00 PM Name: ______Direct from the West Coast, where it debuted to sold-out audiences, comes this touching Email: ______and intimate piece about what it is like to be a woman in the rabbinate. Phone: ______Further described as “Finding holy moments in love, ______Regular admission(s) @ $36 ea. = ______God and a fabulous pair of shoes,” ______Junior (18 & under) admission(s) @ $28 ea. = ______it will instill in our extended family of women Senior (65+) admission(s) @ $28 ea. = ______indescribable feelings of wholeness and joy. The timing coincides with the 40th anniversary Total Enclosed: ______of the ordination of the first woman rabbi.

Ticket price of $36 ($28 for Juniors under 18 and Seniors 65+) - price of admission includes wine and cheese prior to the play

For a preview go to: http://www.jewishwomenstheater.org/?page_id=2111

For more information, contact Meryl Adler at [email protected]

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BOOK S AEL ERI SR ES I

the many faces of israel N OLAM COU March 11 at 7:30 pm KKU NC The Early Settler Period TI IL Blue Mountain by Meir Shalev GET INVOLVED Led by Susan Cosden You are Invited to Participate in an Afternoon of Tikkun Olam Israel Book Series: Blue Mountain In “The Blue Mountain,” Meir Shalev uses Date: Sunday, March 11 fictional characters and folkloric wisdom Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm to depict the pioneering life of Jewish fami- Place: The Food Bank of Westchester lies thrown together in a small coopera- 200 Clearbrook Rd, Elmsford, NY 10523 tive village decades before the birth of the (Please note their new address) State of Israel, and contrasts the joys and challenges of the time with modern Israeli life. Join us for a discussion of this modern classic of Help the hungry by giving your time Israeli literature. A short summary of the book will be provided at to help sort and package food the beginning of the discussion, as an aid to those who haven’t had a that will be distributed to local needy residents. chance to read the book. Coming up Open to families with children 6 years old and up Technology - April 22, 11:15 am No sleeveless shirts or tank tops Start Up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer No open-toed shoes Led by our members Fred Price & Bruce Bachenheimer No shorts above the knee

Life in Modern Israel - May 9, 7:30 pm Make the experience more meaningful by Someone to Run With by David Grossman bringing much needed food with you: Led by Cantor Dana Anesi Cereals (Hot and Cold) Canned Meats, Canned Fish, Canned/Dry Beans, Thanks to the generosity of Temple Beth El’s Sisterhood our sanc- Canned Soup with Beans tuary is equipped with an infrared sound system which will enable those Peanut Butter with difficulty hearing to have personal amplification through the use of an Macaroni and Cheese individual receiver. You do not need a hearing aid for these units to be of assistance. The units are available at the entrance to the sanctuary fifteen Canned Pasta minutes before services begin. 100% Fruit Juices in Plastic Bottles Milk (Canned or Powdered ONLY) Coffee or Tea tzedakah Canned Fruits, Vegetables, American Jewish World Service Spaghetti Sauce Dried Fruit American Jewish World Service is an international Rice: Rice Mixes and Plain Rice development organization motivated by Judaism’s imperative to Pasta Mixes and Plain Pasta pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of For further information, please contact: race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organiza- Sheila Schneiderman at [email protected] tions, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizen- ship within the Jewish community. ERHOOD NEW SIST S Knitzvah Corps Susan Pecker to Receive Julian Y. Bernstein Award Knitzvah Corps meetings have returned to the temple. On Wednesday, May 16th, Susan Pecker will receive the Julian Y. We will generally be meeting the 3rd Wednesday Bernstein Distinguished Service Award. Susan, along with 17 of the month from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. other volunteers will be honored at the Westchester Jewish Coun- cil’s annual meeting. Each year WJC recognizes 18 volunteers We welcome all who knit or who want to learn. from among its member organizations whose dedication strength- For more information, contact Hilary Kent ens the community. [email protected] or 238-9793 10 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

11 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG our joys, our sorrows

For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1 -

CENT GIF RE TS

arch BIRTHDAY Tributes From 1/9/2012 to 2/6/2012 m S

Jeremy Block Abigail Johns Gabriel Romero Associate Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Lee Block Isabella Kahn Elijah Rosenblum Neil and Toddi Block in honor of Rabbi Mitelman for his Jennifer Brown Emma Kassel Willa Rosenblum wonderful guidance and dedication to our son’s Jewish education Samantha Burack Jacob Kavaler Rachel Sanders Lauren Capelli Gaia Kelly Aaron Schapiro Barbara Pollack Mitzvah Day Fund Jessica Cohen Danielle Klausner Alex Scheine Richard, Dianne, Beth & Dara Spitalny in memory of Jordan Cook Jonathan Kratz Alexandra Shaplen Bertha Abramson Jacob Cronin Michael Kratz Scott Silver Helena Davidson Allison Lasky Max Smiley Betty & Jack Bader Adult Education Fund Ari Dayan Morgan Leason Benjamin Stern Carole & Arthur Elias in memory of Adele Greene Hannah Deutsch Annabelle Lesser Catherine Tishelman- Pamela Divack Zander Levitz Charny Cantor’s Discretionary Fund Sophie Dorst Alexander Masotti Jason Traum Dick & Lucille Goldsmith in memory of Lisa Grubel Joshua Friedman Theo Meyer Benjamin Troob Harriet & Ronald Kramer in memory of the Yahrzeit of Benjamin Goldenberg Tyler Munowitz Kaitlyn Weinstein Irving Corman Joshua Gordon Emily Parish Arielle Wilson Nancy & Allan Rothman in memory of the Yahrzeit of Sarah Greenberg Samuel Pfeffer Harrison Winter Eleanore Eisenberg Jack Grossman Jillian Potashner Samantha Wintner Neil & Toddi Block in honor of Cantor Dreskin for her Aidan Guida Ryan Raicht Julia Woloshin wonderful guidance and dedication to our son’s Jewish Noah Hellman Matthew Reynolds Rachel Woolf education Rachel Hellman Marissa Rifkin Emily Woolf Morgan Imberman Joel Robinson Tessa Zucker Caring Community Fund Steven & Cindy Rosen in memory of Joan Weiner Nancy & Allan Rothman in memory of Jerome Rothman

Our special thanks to those sponsoring Onegs: Dave & Bunny Center Family Mitzvah Fund Steven & Lesley Berkowitz Charlene Berman in memory of Steve Broudy Erik Tinkhauser & Lisa Field Laura & Benjamin Friedman Temple Beth El Endowment Fund David & Sondra Lieberman Leslie, Mitchell & Matthew Rubin in memory of Claire Rubin Stacey Wachtfogel Rabbi Chaim Stern Caring Community Endowment Condolences from the congregation: Judith & Michael Gewitz in memory of Zelma Lipshutz Joseph Goldreich in memory of Nan Jaffe to Betsey Corbin Joseph Goldreich in memory of Pincus Goldreich on the death of her father, Robert Sitver on February 4 to Leonard Geringer Flower Fund on the death of his wife and long-time member, Eda Geringer Carole & Arthur Elias in honor of Barry Meisel’s Birthday Roberta Bengelsdorf & Family in memory of David Bengelsdorf on the death of long-time member, Victor Rosenblatt on January 19 Cathy & David Dreilinger in memory of Edith Lewis to Hedy Simpson Paul & Lori Fichtenbaum in memory of Herman Fichtenbaum on the death of her father, Martin Gruenfeld on January 27 Debra & Jeffrey Geller in memory of Melville Geller Debra & Jeffrey Geller in memory of Loretta Geller Mazal Tov from the congregation to: The Gold Family in memory of Stuart Gold Kathy & Arlen Goldberg in memory of Mandel J. Kramer Marc and Tina Rosenberg Kathryn & Arlen Goldberg in memory of Sylvia Goldberg on the occasion of their daughter, Brett Rosenberg’s, Penny & Stan Hamlet in memory of Harold Friedlander 12 selection as a Rhodes Scholar on November 19 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG march yahrzeits Recent Gifts, continued... Irving Eisenberg March 1-3 Milton Rubin Harry Frank Jr. Sandi Klein & Family in memory of Arthur Klein Elaine Abrams Nehemiah Jeanette Streger Ethel Friedman Lori, Jordan & Nikki Levy in memory of Joel Levy Louis Armand Andre George Goldstein Evan & Debi Mittman in memory of Max Mittman Frances Bloom March 11-17 Marge Gross Gene & Tobi Nadel in memory of Philip B. Kimmel Henry Frankel Harold Altman Nataline Gruenfeld Gene & Tobi Nadel in memory of Harry A. Nadel Bertha Tilzer Greene Anita Bachenheimer Dorothy Isaac Mickey, Marcia, Lisa & Tracy in memory of Charles Pintchman Gabriele Grunebaum Ann H. Becker James Lewis Victor & Suzanne Rosenzweig in memory of Cary Lowen Gloria Kalina Herbert Bernstein Jean Nier Rachel & Benjamin Rosin in memory of Alexander Treitelman Alfred J. Marrow Bertha Breslau Harrison Mona Paster Francine & Steven Ross in memory of Herbert Ross Morton Pechman Renee Buxbaum Barbara Pollack Francine & Steven Ross in memory of Richard Falk Abraham Vielie Rochelle Cirin Sandra Portnoy Dianne & Richard Spitalny in memory of Sam Press Sarah Bloom Wortman Harry I. Davis Joseph M. Rittenberg Michael Neil Degelsmith Samuel Rose Gregory Altman Music & Arts Fund March 4-10 Harry Elkin Charles Ross Dick & Lee Laster in memory of Eda Geringer Gertrude Adelsberg Marjorie Gilbert Robert Ross Sarah Bloom Rose Ginsburg Robert Rudman Prayer Book Fund Robert Berman Coleman A. Goldberg Julius Schachter Dovia Lerrick in memory of Anna Ginness Sydelle Candee Judy Greenberg David Scolnick Samuel Chernofsky Goldye Gutner Henrietta Treitelman Senior Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Irving Dimson Joel Halpern Bob & Nadia Bernstein in memory of David Colin Jonah Dreskin Ernest Hecklinski March 25-31 Gary & Ellen Byck in memory of my father, Bernard Waring Irving Fierstein Emil Holland Samuel Ackerman Joseph Hazen in memory of Harry Hazen Anna Figowsky Helen Horowitz Howard Agatston Rabbi Richard & Barbara Hirsch in honor of Sebastian Zucker’s William Freundlich David Jacobson Ethel Baron Bar Mitzvah Joel Friedman Priscilla K. Janis Ruth Blechman Yvonne & Leslie Pollack in honor of Temple Beth El’s relationship Helen H. Fuchs Peter Janis Sheldon Bowden with Antioch Baptist Church Alvin Gelber Abraham Juster Irving Braver Sylvia & Murray Waksman in honor of and in appreciation Lottie Gordon Beatrice Katcher Gertrude Cohen of Rabbi Davidson Irene Grossman Elsie Kopperl Jean Ehrlich David & Lynette Zinberg in memory of Eugene Zinberg Barbara Johnson Walter Leventhal Benjamin Ehrlich Ruth Kaufman Robert Levin Jerry Freedman Tikkun Olam/Social Justice Fund Ralph Kemler Rhoda Levy Eunice Fullam Bob & Nadia Bernstein in memory of David Colin Benjamin Knie Conrad Lifschen Fannie Ginsburg Stephen & Lisa Davis in support of Shelter Program Linda Kimelman Lawrence Nemoytin Abraham Girshek Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz in honor of Dodd Farber Lisa Krawchick Barbara Ocko Hugo Goldberger Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz in memory of Murray Farber Ruth Lasser Selma Placzek Gertrude Goldsmith Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz in memory of Eva Levine Jeanette Laster Mildred Resnick Harry Halpern Penny & Stan Hamlet in memory of Hilda Friedlander Anna Levine Stella Kohn Saslow Harold J. Henly Sandi Klein & Family in memory of Arthur Klein May Levy Dora Shapiro Sadie Henly Selma Lipman Arthur Solomon Matilda Hyams Tributes Edes Livingston Bert Struth Bessie Jasper Michael & Kathy Lavyne in memory of Lester J. Lavyne Ruth Florence Mattson Joseph Wirth Rachel Klein Morris Robin Mark Wolff Bernard Leff Yom Hashoah Fund Greta Rosenblum Dr. William R. Lulow Bob & Joyce Jonap in honor of Parker Alexandra Lane Saundre Rosenfeld March 18-24 Samuel Moche Benton Rothbard Anne Allen Jacob Samuel Neidich Youth Group Martha Salomon Mimi Leviton Jack Schecter The Schachter-Levy Family in memory of Ruth Schachter Max Siegel Amsterdam Janet Shields The Schachter-Levy Family in memory of Benjamin Levy Catherine Tishelman Fred Becker Selma Silberman Albert Wagner Elaine Bleetstein Melvin Silver Youth Program Fund Sidney Weisenberg Charlotte Brotz Carole Smiley David Rolle in honor of Gennifer Kelly Daniel Wolchok Dorothy Cole Louis Tobin Arthur Wolff Herbert Davis Dorothy Zarnet

Yahrzeit - a year’s time - is the anniversary of the death of a dear one. In the temple, it is symbolized by reading the names of the loved ones and the recitation In Times of Sadness and in Times of Joy, of the Kaddish. Our temple office will remind you of Yahrzeit, following the Jewish or the solar calendar, as you prefer. As so often in Jewish life, we mark a Yahrzeit by Please Keep Us Informed! giving tzedakah in the name of our beloved. At home, a twenty-four-hour light is kindled on the eve of Yahrzeit. The family may It is always a pleasure to hear good news from our temple mem- gather at dusk, and say: bers and to share joys. Often it helps to share problems or ill- At this moment, in memory of our beloved, we join hands in love and nesses, too. Our Rabbis, Cantor, and Caring Community Com- remembrance. A link has been broken in the chain that has bound us mittee want to respond to the needs of our congregants. Please let together, yet strong bonds of home and love hold us each together. We us know if you, or some other temple member, might be helped give thanks for the blessing of life, of companionship, and of memory. We are grateful for the strength and faith that sustained us in the hour by a visit or telephone call. Many people assume that everyone of our bereavement. Though sorrow lingers, we have learned that love knows, but a note or call to the temple office, at 238-3928, will get is stronger than death. Though our loved one is behind our sight, we do the message to our clergy. not despair, for we sense our beloved in our hearts as a living presence. 13 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 3:45 pm RS 5th & 5:30 pm Kabbal-tot 9:00 am Simchat 6th Grades Shabbat Worship Shabbat Service 6:00 pm B’nei 9:15 am Torah Study Mitzvah Chavurah - 6:15 pm Family Group 4 Session 2 Shabbat Dinner 10:30 am Shabbat Worship Service March 7:30 pm Religious 7:15 pm Family with B’nei Mitzvah School Committee Shabbat Worship Meeting Service w/ K - 2nd 3:00 pm MIX: Ha- Grades mantaschen Baking

4 20125 6 7 8 9 10 9:00 am Purim 3:45 pm RS 5th & 6th 4:00 pm RS 3rd & 4th 9:15 am Mah Jongg 3:45 pm RS 5th & 8:00 pm Shabbat 9:15 am Torah Study Breakfast with the Grades Grades 6th Grades Worship Service Characters 7:15 pm Purim Spiel: with Group from 10:30 am Shabbat 6:15 pm RS 7th Grade A Beatles “Pour’m” 7:30 pm TOC Cuba Trip Worship Service 10:00 am Purim Mania Panel Discussion: with Bat Mitzvah Carnival 6:15 pm RS 8th - 12th Fostering Digital Grades Citizenship 8:15 pm Purim Spiel Purim Rehearsal

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

9:00 am RS K - 4th 3:45 pm RS 5th & 6th 4:00 pm RS 3rd & 4th 9:15 am Mah Jongg 3:45 pm RS 5th & 6th 8:00 pm Shabbat Wor- 9:15 am Torah Study Grades Grades Grades Grades ship Service 6:00 pm B’nei Mitzvah 10:30 am Shabbat Wor- 2:30 pm MTNester Film 6:15 pm RS 7th Grade Chavurah - Group 8 6:00 pm B’nei Mitzvah ship Service & Discussion: Gefilte Fish Session 1 Chavurah - Group 4 Chronicles 6:15 pm RS 8th - 12th Session 3 (RM) Grades 4:00 pm Multigeneration- 8:00 pm 92nd St. Y al Jewish Muslim: Family 8:00 pm Finance Com- Broadcast: Sandra Day Cooking Event mittee Meeting O’Connor

8:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9:00 am RS K - 3rd 3:45 pm RS 5th & 6th 4:00 pm RS 3rd & 4th 9:15 am Mah Jongg 3:45 pm RS 5th & 8:00 pm Consecra- 7:30 pm Gala Dinner Grades Grades Grades 6th Grades tion Shabbat Wor- Dance 7:30 pm Knitzvah ship Service with 9:00 am RS 4th Grade 6:15 pm RS 7th Grade Meeting 6:00 pm B’nei Rabbi Dr. Lawrence 9:15 am Study Pro- Mitzvah Chavurah gram with Scholar & Family Education 6:15 pm RS 8th - 12th 8:00 pm Worship Hoffman, Cantor - Group 5 Session 2 Benjie Schiller, Rabbi Artist in Residence Grades Committee Meeting (RM) 5:00 pm Joint Heritage Richard Jacobs, 10:30 am Shabbat Seder 9:00 am BY - Parent 6:30 pm Women’s Rabbi Maya Leibo- Worship Service Conference for 4’s Seder vich and Reverend with Bat Mitzvah Dr. Paul Briggs

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 TBE Family Day 3:45 pm RS 5th & 6th 4:00 pm RS 3rd & 4th 9:15 am Mah Jongg 3:45 pm RS Staff 8:00 pm Shabbat 9:15 am Torah Study Grades Grades Worship Service 9:00 am RS K - 4th Development - Com- Grade 6:15 pm RS 7th Grade munity of Learners Sessions 6:15 pm RS 8th - 12th Grades Spring Recess - Reli- gious School Closed 8:15 pm Board of Trustees Meeting

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester www.bethelnw.org

14 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

Great Turnout for Fall Blood Drive! Robert Ashinsky Alfonso Garcia John O’sullivan Duff Bailey Franklin Garcia Art Pearsall A fine turnout of Temple Beth El members and Stuart Beeber Leon Golden Howard Pepper friends took part in our recent semi-annual Blood Ilene Benjamin Henry Goodman Leslie Pierson Drive, setting a new high for our group, producing Rita Benzer Katharn Gopie Bill Pollak 72 units of vitally needed blood. Under the leader- Shira Berg Roz Halpern Fred Price ship of newly appointed Drive Chairman Stuart Berg, Stuart Berg Barbara Heffer MaryAnn Quinn with assistance from now-retired Chair, Gene Nadel, Jonathan Birenbaum John Heffer Jon Resnick the donors enjoyed the spacious and comfortable Lawrence Boguchwal Sam Honig Rich Roher facilities of our expanded building as they rolled up Joanne Brandt David Horowitz Mitchell Rubin their sleeves with this Mitzvah from the Heart. Pat Brennan Joyce Jonap Richard Rubin Albert Bunshaft Margie Kern Deenie Ruzow A resounding “Thank You” goes to all the wonderful Caryn Bunshaft Bruce Klein Alan Schapiro and generous individuals who participated in the drive. While a Gary Byck Barbara Korn Marla Schechner few were “deferred” for various medical, travel or other reasons, the Gayle Ceisler Harriet Kramer Bruce Schoenberg efforts and spirit of all who took part is greatly appreciated. Annette Channorris Glen Lamonica David Shields Sheila Crespi Jonathan Langsam Karen Shields Sincere thanks go to the following participants. Our special thanks Madeleine Crummer Jose Leites Nancy Silver also go to Stu Beeber for his dependable assistance with adminis- Lisa Davis Gina Maccoby- Linda Slotnick tration; to Fran Vexler, Penny Hamlet, Tobi Nadel and Shira Berg Steve Davis Varney Dana Sorkin for manning the hospitality table; to Susan Cosden for her valuable Dan Doran Pryscilla Mello Noah Sorkin counsel; and to Rose Hill and the office staff for their continuous Jeff Dorst Larry Mendelowitz Richard Spitalny aid and support. David Dreilinger JKaren Merrigan Gerald Stein Charlie Elkin Hannah Mitchel Robin Stout Fred Elmes David Monk Jeremy Sussman Helen Ewen Joseph Nankof Mike Topel Scott Finlayson Tracey Neuberger Bob Vexler Mark Finn Evan Norris Laurel Wexman Anne Fretz Mary Carolyn White

Mark Your Calendar Now – Exciting WJCouncil Events To Come:

Annual County-Wide Yom HaShoa (Holocaust) Commemoration Thursday, April 19 - 10 am – 12 pm Held at the Jacob Burn Film Center, Pleasantville Co-sponsored by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

Annual Israeli Film and Art Night at the Jacob Burns Jewish Film Festival Thursday, April 26 at 7:00 pm Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville

Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards And Westchester Jewish Council 36th Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30 pm Jewish Community Center of Harrison Honoring 18 volunteers from among the Westchester Jewish Council’s member organizations visit us at www.bethelnw.org Celebrate Israel Day Parade Sunday, June 3 at 11 am - 4:00 pm Join us in coordinating a Westchester-Wide delegation All Synagogues and Organizations joining us will be able to march with your delegation and banner

Looking for more exciting things to do in Jewish Westchester? Visit our website at www.wjcouncil.org. Click on “calendar” to view what’s happening seven days a week! 15 TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS TEMPLE BETH EL OF Harry Cohen President NORTHERN WESTCHESTER David Abrams Executive Vice President Lisa Davis Vice President 220 South Bedford Road • Chappaqua, NY 10514 Stacey Divack Vice President www.bethelnw.org [email protected] Lisa Hamroff Vice President Telephone: 914-238-3928 Religious School: 914-238-5641 Janet Levy Vice President Susan Pecker Vice President Fax: 914-238-4030 Nursery School: 914-238-5735 Doug Zucker Treasurer Koley Corte Assistant Treasurer Danna Schoenberg Secretary

Senior Rabbi - Joshua M. Davidson TRUSTEES [email protected] Term Expires 2012 Term Expires 2013 Term Expires 2014 Associate Rabbi - Geoffrey A. Mitelman Heidi Auerbacher Matt Cantor Richard Albert [email protected] Stuart Berg Ruth Clark Leslie Hinderstein Cantor - Dana Anesi Donna Held Steve Kane Maxine Olson-Maynard [email protected] Rhonda Regan Robert Klein Robert Medway Karla Shepard Karen Silver Stephanie Saltzman Assistant Cantor - Ellen Dreskin Rubinger Ellen Wlody [email protected] Forrest Sussman Executive Director - Gennifer Kelly [email protected] Director of Education - Susan Cosden IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Bill Pollak [email protected] AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS Early Childhood Director - Janet Goldstein MT Nesters - Helen Sauerhaft [email protected] Sisterhood - Gail Schreier Youth Group President - Sara Levy PAST PRESIDENTS-HONORARY WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Steve Adler - Stanley Amberg - Charlene Berman Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester welcomes all who wish Ernest M. Grunebaum - May Rolle - Barry Meisel - Melvin Ehrlich to participate in Jewish life – singles, couples and families in all Gloria Meisel - David Ruzow their forms, gays, lesbians, interfaith couples – all people regard- less of age, sexual orientation, or financial means. In the words of Rabbi Davidson: “The synagogue is a kehilah kedoshah – a sacred community. It’s like a sukkah. A sukkah is constructed of many different branches woven together. So is the synagogue: the young NEW TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS and the old, the rich and the poor, the married and the unmarried, single parents, grandparents, gays and heterosexuals, non-Jew- 1300 Life Cycle Emergency ish spouses. The broader the sukkah’s reach, the more tightly its 1310 Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson (917- 439 - 6757) branches are woven, the stronger it stands. So too the synagogue: 1312 Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman (646 - 853 - 4421) the greater the variety of people welcomed within it, the closer 1316 Cantor Dana Anesi they feel to one another, the stronger the temple stands.” 1317 Assistant Cantor Ellen Dreskin 1321 Gennifer Kelly, Executive Director 1320 Rose Hill, Executive Assistant TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN 1310 Jaclyn Trustman, Secretary to Rabbi Davidson 1323 Galia Silverberg, Communication Design Published monthly, September through June, by the congregants 1323 Abby Hines, Communications Specialist of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester 1322 Ann Testone, Bookkeeper 1121 Susan Cosden, Director of Education Advertising: Hedy Simpson, hgsimpson@aolcom 1120 Deborah Ross, Admin. Asst. Religious School Bulletin Editor: Galia Silverberg, [email protected] 1221 Janet Goldstein, Early Childhood Director Proof Editor: Mel Wolfson 914-238-4694 1220 Nancy Silver, Admin. Asst. Early Childhood 1600 Gregory Allen, Building Manager Cemetery information: 238-3928 16

Submissions should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Deadlines are the fifth of the month prior for publication the following month. TEMPLE BETH EL BULLETIN MARCH 2012 WWW.BETHELNW.ORG

TEMPLE BETH EL OF NORTHERN WESTCHESTER 220 South Bedford Road Chappaqua, NY 10514

OR Current Resident

March 4 PURIM 9:00 am Purim Breakfast with Characters 10:00 am Purim Carnival Come dressed in costume and hear the Purim tale directly from Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus,

A Beatles “Pour’m” Mania Mordechai, and Haman (boo)!

Wednesday, March 7 at 7:15 pm

Bring your favorite bottle of wine for a masked tasting E THE DAT SAV E (Best bottle wins a bottle)

Come in costume if you like!

Persian Food Adult Dinner mitzvah day April 13 Sunday, May 12 $18 for dinner* If you are interested in volunteering, Passover Speaker: please contact: RSVP March 2nd to [email protected] “The Science of Compassion” Donna Held or 238-3928 x1320 Professor David DeSteno [email protected] *Spiel & Dessert at no cost April 15 Jodi Falbaum [email protected] for more information contact yom hashoah Don Safferstein Leslie Hinderstein [email protected] or April 18 [email protected] Audrey Cronin [email protected]