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February, 2020 Bulletin

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February, 2020 Bulletin TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM 4SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 96 ISSUE 6 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 9:00am Conservative Shabbat Service From Rabbi Holtz’s Study FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 6:00pm 2nd Grade Family Shabbat Dinner 7:00pm 2nd Grade Family Dear Friends, Shabbat Service with Visual Tefillah Shabbat Shirah Soon we will celebrate Presidents’ Day, which once upon a time was two different holidays, Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 I’ve never been clear if the new, combined holiday is meant to honor 9:00am Conservative Shabbat Service all presidents, or still just those two. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Jewish holidays are generally not about people, but rather about events or religious 7:30pm Shabbat Service with Torah Reading moments. (This is in contrast with, for example, the Roman Catholic Church, in which every saint has a particular day on which they are celebrated.) There are however, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 a few exceptions. 9:00am Conservative Shabbat Service The newest Jewish holiday honoring an individual is not religious but rather Zionist – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 7:30pm Reform Shabbat Service Herzl Day, celebrated on 10 Iyar (usually falling in May), which is Theodore Herzl’s birthday. Established by the Knesset in 2004, this is the holiday most parallel to President’s Day, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 celebrating the birth of one of the most important secular leaders the Jewish people have 9:00am Conservative Shabbat Service ever had. But, if you live outside the land of Israel, it’s a day you probably don’t know about. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The other two Jewish holidays I can think of that are connected to people are not celebra- 7:30pm Reform Shabbat Service tions at all; they are fasts (actually, partial fasts, meaning we don’t eat from sunrise to SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 sundown). The Fast of Gedaliah falls the day after Rosh Hashanah, and commemorates the 9:00am Conservative Shabbat Service assassination of the Babylonian-appointed governor responsible for the Jewish population with Kiddush remaining in Judea after the destruction of the Temple in 586 B.C.E. It seems he was killed for being a collaborator. It seems our fast on this day is in sorrow for the hatred that would cause one Jew to kill another. The second is the Fast of Esther, the day before Purim. Queen Esther asked Mordecai and the Jewish people to fast and to pray as she prepared to approach the King and tell him that she was a Jew. This fast is both to honor her bravery, and to heighten the joy we will feel that evening as we celebrate our salvation from the hands of Haman. What strikes me most strongly about these two fast-days is the values that they are intended to highlight. They are not days off from work, nor excuses for a shopping spree. These two days, named for two Jews who lived long ago, still teach us lessons about living our lives. Don’t miss TBA And that is something to celebrate. Comedy Night 7:30pm Saturday Peace and blessings, February 8! Rabbi David K. Holtz See page 5 for details. TEMPLE BETH ABRAHAM Notes from 25 Leroy Avenue Tarrytown, NY 10591 Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg Tel: 631-1770 Fax: 631-7872 tba-ny.org Shalom and Wow! Westchester is filled with amazing possibilities and programs – you just need to know where to look. TBA is filled with amazing people doing fantastic things and DIRECTORY sometimes we have the opportunity to connect our amazing people with these fantastic Clergy/Senior Staff programs. So when I heard about Mekorock it was a pleasure to connect Bella Rabbi David K. Holtz Greenspoon with this program. [email protected] ext. 17 Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg According to their website: [email protected] ext. 11 The Shames JCC invited applications from students across Westchester County (and Executive Director Stuart P. Skolnick beyond!) to participate in a new program connecting teen musicians from around the [email protected] ext. 13 Director of Education Yanira Quinones world. This experiential learning program will give students the opportunity to com- [email protected] ext. 22 pose original music based on Jewish texts, rehearse with like-minded teens, develop Director of Youth Engagement Stessa Peers leadership skills, and perform in a global music program in Israel in December, 2019. [email protected] ext. 28 Bella was accepted into the program and it has been amazing to hear about her journey Office Staff with the other participants at the JCC and about her trip to Israel. Here’s what Bella had Facilities Supervisor Larry Murray to say about her experience: [email protected] ext. 25 Asst. Facilities Supervisor Jaime Valencia A few weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity of going to Israel with Mekorock. [email protected] ext. 26 Mekorock is an incredible program that allows Jewish teens from Ukraine, Moldova, Clergy Coordinator Irene Metz New York, and Israel to play music together, and meet each other in Israel at the end [email protected] ext. 19 of the year. Throughout the past year, I had the chance to work with an unbelievable Administrative Assistant Stacey Notrica group of teens from New York at the Shames JCC in Tarrytown each week. At these [email protected] ext. 10 Religious School Assistant Tess Weitzner rehearsals, we learned a little bit of music theory, did some Jewish studies, wrote [email protected] ext. 10 songs, practiced our instruments, and worked as a group to improve our band as a Executive Committee whole. I got very close with my bandmates as the year progressed and we became a President Jennifer Povman real team. Executive (First) Vice President Melissa Baer In Israel, we rehearsed and wrote music with the teens from all the other countries. Recording Secretary Diane Gross Because the trip was only seven days long, we didn’t have much time for tourism Treasurer Marc Solomon because of all of our rehearsals. But, we did get the chance to go to the Western Wall, Chairs explore Jerusalem, go shopping in the Shuk (kind of like a giant farmers’ market), Board of Education Audrey Gelfand, Leah Bloom and spend time in Tel Aviv. Although we didn’t get to do a lot of “touristy” things, Fundraising/Development Amy Zerman spending time with our new friends was just as much fun as seeing sights. At the end House Roy Solomon of the trip, we performed together. Each country performed their own song, and we Israel Marla Peers performed a song as a group. After the performance, we had to say goodbye to our Member Services Bernice Rogowitz new friends. Now that I am home, I am still extremely close with the New Yorkers, and Ritual Herb Baer I have continued to talk with my friends from around the world. Going to Israel was Tikkun Olam Julia Gosset, Tracy Ostroff Immediate Past President Jamie Wilson a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am so glad I got the chance to go on this extraordinary trip. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Trustees David Brandwein Neil Bruckner Cindy Gerson Peter, Paul and Mary had it right when they wrote: Music speaks louder than words, Julie Gur Stuart Kolbert Dan Levi it’s the only thing that the whole world listens to. Music speaks louder than words, Loren Ratner Liz Ross Brian Schneider when you sing, people understand. Music is a powerful tool that unites us all. Bella Meredith Siegel Risa Swersey shared with me that not all of the participants spoke English and yet they could Honorary Trustees communicate through their shared love of music and of course Judaism. As well, thanks to modern technology, she is able to stay in touch with the people that she Barry S. Agdern Herb Baer Ruth Biloon met from around the world. Allison Fine Dr. Stephen Gerstman Robert Harris Michael Karnes Liza Karsten David Kaufmann I am always on the lookout for these kinds of opportunities to connect our congregants Farron Roboff Pearl Ann Schwartz Dr. Richard Weiner with interesting programs. If there is a program that you, or your child, would like to Jamie Wilson Robert Zinman participate in and you need some help connecting, don’t be shy. We are here to help. L’shalom, Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg 4 PAGE 2 From the TORAH READING February 1 Bo: Exodus 10:1-13:16 4 February 7-8 B’shalach: Exodus 13:17-17:16 Director of Education Shabbat Shirah February 14-15 Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23 Religious School News February 21-22 Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18 Shalom and Wow! Shabbat Shekalim February 28-29 T’rumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19 February is Jewish disability and inclusion month. According to ReformJudism.org we should be engaging in JDAIM on an ongoing basis. Remember that we can all CANDLE LIGHTING become better allies and advocates for people with disabilities. Be sure to ask Friday, February 7 5:01pm those with disabilities the way they want to be addressed and identified. All of us, Friday, February 14 5:09pm regardless of our situation, can contribute to congregational life in meaningful Friday, February 21 5:18pm ways. According to Shelly Christensen, “What is Jewish Disability Awareness, Friday, February 28 5:26pm Acceptance, and Inclusion Month?” By participating in Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month, we: • Raise awareness of how people with disabilities and mental health conditions have been regarded by Jewish and secular society and how that impacts our own actions.
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