A Traditional, Egalitarian and Participatory Conservative Synagogue

TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5777 NEWSLETTER/VOLUME 29:3 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Ancient Texts, Digital Age: The Cairo Geniza and the Material Turn with Marina Rustow, PhD, MacArthur Fellow, The Lucy S. Dawidowicz Lecture, Tuesday, January 31, 7:30 pm

arina group of Jews to ever win a MacArthur For those who would like to read some Rustow, Award. She earned her PhD in history at of Dr. Rustow’s work, her PhD, will Columbia with . book, Heresy and the present Dr. Rustow describes her presentation Politics of Community: Mthe annual Lucy S. as follows: ‘‘Recent projects to digitize The Jews of the Fatimid Dawidowicz Lecture the contents of the Cairo Geniza—the Caliphate (Cornell on January 31 at largest cache of Jewish manuscripts ever University Press, 2008) won 7:30 pm. Dr. Rustow discovered—have revolutionized research two Jewish studies book is the Khedouri A. in the field. They have done so in two awards and is available Zilkha Professor main ways: by enabling scholars to reunite from book sellers. of Jewish Civilization in the Near East and fragmentary texts virtually; and by provoking The annual Lucy S. Dawidowicz lecture Professor of History at Princeton University, a new interest in manuscripts as objects honors the memory of a great historian of where she also directs the Princeton rather than only containers for words. This the Holocaust and member of Or Zarua. Geniza Lab. illustrated lecture will share recent findings The lectures mark the birthday of the The Geniza Lab brings faculty, that have persuaded some scholars in the Congregation. After the lecture, champagne researchers, postdocs and students field to revise their views on subjects such and birthday cake will be served in honor together to identify, transcribe and as medieval Jewish belief in the sanctity of OZ’s 28th birthday. This event is free translate unpublished Geniza documents. of Hebrew script, Jews’ relationship to the and open to all. Please help us to plan by In September 2015 she was named a caliphs and sultans who ruled them and the contacting the office at 212-452-2310, ext. MacArthur Fellow, the first Jewish Professor existence and destruction of archives in the 39, with a reservation for the lecture by to receive this award and among the first Middle East.’’ Tuesday, January 24. The Real Diary of Anne Frank: What is it and Why it Matters with David Kraemer, PhD, Jewish Theological Seminary Thursday, January 5, 7:00 pm

avid Kraemer is the most extensive collection of Judaica leading a study tour entitled Amsterdam: is professor in the Western hemisphere. The author Exploring and Culture In Dof of many published articles and books, his One of Europe’s Greatest Cities. Travel and Rabbinics latest book is : Space and information regarding this study tour will be and the Joseph J. Place (Routledge, 2016). He is well known available in the coming weeks. and Dora Abbell to members of OZ who have enjoyed and This Meet the Scholar program is open Librarian at the learned from his lectures and discussions in to all. To help with planning, please RSVP to Jewish Theological the Me’ah and JTS’s Context programs. http://info.giltravel.com/amsterdam or to Seminary where Dr. Kraemer’s presentation, The Real Deborah Wenger, 212-452-2310, ext. 39 or he earned his Diary of Anne Frank: What is it and Why it [email protected].. PhD. As JTS’s librarian, he oversees and Matters, will trace the formulation of one Shabbat Shirah Shabbaton sets policy for a collection of Judaica that of the world’s most famous diaries and with Magevet, Yale’s A Cappella Group includes many rare and significant pieces discuss its place in contemporary Jewish Friday & Saturday, February 10 & 11 that are critical to scholars worldwide; it culture. This summer, Dr. Kraemer will be See page 3 1 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 President’s Message by Marc D. Ashley

n our hectic That sense of coming-togetherness A CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE contemporary world is also engrained in the formal name of FOUNDED 1989 of multi-tasking and our synagogue — Kehillah Or Zarua. We 127 East 82nd Street high-tech devices, are an extraordinary community united by New York, NY 10028 Ian authentic sense of compelling core values. Or Zarua is a one- phone: 212-452-2310 fax: 212-452-2103 genuine community is of-a-kind institution. It occupies a distinct www.orzarua.org hard to come by. But it niche and serves a unique purpose in is available right here at Jewish life. There may not be another shul SCOTT N. BOLTON, Rabbi Or Zarua. out there like ours, and the Jewish world DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, Rabbi Emeritus A recent New York Times article (“The needs our model of a nuanced blend of MARC D. ASHLEY, President App That Came to Dinner”) recounted a tradition and innovation. ALAN ILBERMAN, Treasurer growing trend around the world, including Yet, although our community may HELENE SANTO, Executive Director within Jewish communities, of the use be sustained by a core set of distinctive SIGAL HIRSCH, Director of Youth Education of apps and online services designed to values, it is also drawn together by diverse and Programming facilitate old-fashioned gatherings among interests and motivations. We are clearly CHARLES SPIELHOLZ, Newsletter Editor strangers over food. Apparently millions of not all attracted to Or Zarua for precisely users of such services globally are on an the same reasons, nor do we need to OZ Committee Chairs urgent quest for genuine community. They be. The congregants that give life to our are willing to pay registration fees to break shul are not a monolithic bunch, and the ADMINISTRATION Pamela E. Gold bread (or challah, as Shabbat dinners are numerous activities that go on within among the menu of options on certain our building reflect that diversity. Our AESTHETICS Aaron Shelden sites) with total strangers in an ongoing impressive whole is a sum of intriguing ART GALLERY Bobbi Coller effort to overcome alienation. What used parts. BOOK DISCUSSION Reed Schneider to come naturally — social interaction over So, if you don’t want to attend weekly Nora Yood food — must now be arranged artificially. Saturday services, experiment with BUILDING Sara Stone Indeed, our lives can often feel busy Kabbalat Shabbat on a Friday night or CEMETERY Aliza Kaplan and complicated, yet it is precisely the daily minyan on a Monday morning. And if Mort Schwartz conflicting demands we juggle that, prayer isn’t your thing, try Rabbi Bolton’s EDUCATION Dara Shapiro ironically, can lead to a sense of isolation siddur or Talmud classes, or any of our AND YOUTH despite our perpetual activity. We are often other adult education classes or lectures. HESED Susan Lorin too preoccupied with next steps to ensure We have an array of speakers on a variety HEVRA KADISHA Roberta Hufnagel that we have established firm roots. That’s of topics throughout the calendar year. Gerry Solomon when and where a local shul can function And if you’ve already had your fill of productively as a necessary community learning (though I hope there are few in Aliza Kaplan anchor. Establish deep and sturdy roots that category), visit our beautiful art gallery LIBRARY Barry Feldman at Or Zarua, and you will come to see your exhibits or sing in Bir’nana, our homegrown MARKETING Aaron Shelden tree of life blossom. a cappella group. MEMBERSHIP Andrew Plevin A sense of genuine community There is something at Or Zarua for MINYAN Sheldon Adler (kehillah) is deeply embedded in classical almost anyone interested in Jewish life ORAL HISTORY Mimi Alperin Judaism. Variants of kahal are used often and thought. We have never aspired in the Torah, reflecting the premium to be overly large in number, but our PUBLIC RELATIONS Aaron Shelden placed on conducting significant events communal life is expansive. And if you have READERS Marc Ashley within the framework of a community of discovered a home here, tell others about AND LEADERS Jay Palmer assembled individuals. The beginning of what you’ve found. STRATEGIC Sheldon Adler Genesis teaches us that it is preferable In 2017, spend more time at Or Zarua. DEVELOPMENT for people to avoid being alone. Organized Sample more of our diverse activities. Pray WEBMASTER Jay Palmer Jewish living is, of course, also manifest and learn, sing and converse, or engage in the prayer quorum required through a in some combination of your choosing. I If you are interested in serving on a synagogue minyan; only in a proper group can the predict you will find genuine community in committee, please contact the office for the community’s power be felt and expressed. the process. And friends, not strangers, committee chair’s email address. Jewish existence demands communal with whom to share dinner. organization. The Jewish whole is certainly greater than the sum of its parts.

2 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Shabbat Shirah Shabbaton with Magevet Jewish, Hebrew, and Israeli a cappella from Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11 r Zarua will be celebrating Shabbat Shirah with guest a cappella group Shabbat Shirah Magevet. Magevet, Yale University’s with Magevet student a cappella group, founded Oin 1993, performs a broad repertoire of Friday, February 10 Jewish, Hebrew, and Israeli music. Their song book includes a diverse array of 5:07 pm Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat pieces covering Renaissance, Yemenite 6:15 pm Shabbat Dinner–RSVP Required dance, modern Israeli pop and a variety of $45 for adults, $25 for children from ages 5 other musical genres. The 16 members of through 12, no charge for children under 5. Magavet have toured widely in the US and RSVP by Monday, February 6 at Canada. They have sung for US Senator Joe http://tinyurl.com/ShabbatDinnerFeb2017 Lieberman, Canadian Member of Parliament or through Chaverweb or contact Deborah Joe Peschisolido, and former Israeli Prime Wenger at 212-452-2310, ext. 39 or Minister Ehud Barak. [email protected]. On Shabbat Shirah, we read Parshat Beshallah, which includes Shirat HaYam, the Saturday, February 11 Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:1-18). We will welcome Shabbat Shirah with Magevet on 9:00 am Shabbat Services begin Friday evening, February 10. After Kabbalat Magevet presents a Sermon in Song. Shabbat services, Magevet will join us for 12:00 pm Kiddush for Shabbat Shirah Shabbat dinner (reservations required, see yellow box, right). Magevet will again join us musical family Havdalah. 1:30 pm Magevet Post-Kiddush Concert Thank you to Mimi and Barry Alperin for for Shabbat morning services on Saturday, 6:30 pm Musical Family Havdalah February 11 and will present a Sermon in their ongoing support of musicality at OZ. No charge but to help with planning RSVP Song. A special kiddush will follow Shabbat This Shabbat Shirah program is dedicated to Sigal Hirsch at 212-452-2310, ext. 15 or services. After kiddush, Magevet will perform to the memory of Barry’s father and mother, [email protected]. once again. We will end Shabbat with a Max and Ruth Alperin, z”l. Sanctuary Renovation Projects Opportunities for tzedakah by Marc Ashley re you interested in enhancing the Additional opportunities have now If you would like to give tzedakah to fund any beauty of Or Zarua’s elegant sanctuary, arisen to sponsor the beautification of our one or more of these projects, please contact Aand in search of opportunities to give sanctuary. We will be engaged in the coming the Or Zarua office. tzedakah? If so, we have a worthy cause for months in sanctuary renovation projects, your generous support. in the cause of kavod ha-Torah, giving Our sanctuary at the heart of Or Zarua is appropriate honor to the Torah and all that it home to services and programs on a daily represents in Jewish life. basis throughout the year. From prayer and One project will be reupholstering song, teaching and speaking, meetings and and refurbishing the interior of our aron mingling, the sanctuary provides a welcoming kodesh (ark) so that our Torah scrolls can space for holy activity. That continual usage, be housed in greater light, beauty and however, creates normal wear and tear that glory. As the focal point of our sanctuary, demands our caring attention. our opened ark deserves to be a source We have, of course, already begun to of vibrancy, illumination and inspiration. A refine the beauty and utility of our sanctuary, second project will be repairing the fabric to improve its space both aesthetically and cover for the shulhan (table) on our bimah, practically. Earlier this year, we celebrated on which our Torahs are placed and from the installation of our new sanctuary which our services are led. Damaged by the lighting, which wondrously illuminates our flood in our sanctuary two years ago, the bimah and surrounding pews like a virtual careworn shulhan cover must be upgraded. heavenly skylight. We also installed a A third project will involve the continuing graceful memorial wall, on both sides of the maintenance and repair of our Torah scrolls. sanctuary, to honor the memories of loved It would be fitting, and greatly ones. Each of those sanctuary enhancement appreciated, if these necessary renovation projects was generously funded by the valued efforts were sponsored by congregants who tzedakah of Or Zarua congregants. use and enjoy our inspiring sanctuary space. 3 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Reward and Punishment in Jewish Thought Or Zarua Book An adult education course between Pesah and Shavuot hat God rewards good and punishes than predictable and fair. This jarring clash Discussions evil, based on our performance of the of concept and reality is unsettling. Indeed, The Mystics of Mile End: A Novel Tcommandments, is a fundamental the Talmud famously relates that this tension by Sigal Samuel Jewish doctrine reflected in the Torah and relating to reward and punishment turned a Sunday, January 29, 2017, 7:30 pm other classical texts. But how literally should respected rabbinic scholar into a notorious Led by Rabbi Scott Bolton it be understood? heretic. This religious challenge still The express theme of the Shema prayer resonates today, particularly in the shadow Sigal Samuel tells the story that God metes out reward and punishment of the Holocaust marked by radical injustice of a dysfunctional family in strict justice flies in the face of reality and God’s apparent indifference. in Montreal headed by a around us. Bad things happen to good Please join us this spring on Sunday widowed father, a professor people all the time, and evildoers often go mornings in April and May (dates to be of Jewish mysticism. unpunished and even flourish. If we possess announced) as congregant Marc Ashley The father becomes free will to do good or evil, and God cares leads his annual adult education course convinced that his heart about which conduct we choose, isn’t God through a survey of Jewish thought on the murmur is providing divine paying attention to our choices? important topic of reward and punishment. communications. The family’s next door The allotment of reward and punishment All congregants (and their friends) are neighbor, a Holocaust survivor, brings in the real world often seems arbitrary, rather welcome to join the discussion. reason to the drama. The Yid by Paul Goldberg Zayin Adar Dinner Sunday, March 5, 7:30 pm Save The Date In his debut novel, Paul Thursday evening, March 2, 2017 Goldberg tells of the arrest Zayin Adar, the traditional yahrzeit of Moses, is observed annually as a time to celebrate of Solomon Shimonovich the accomplishments of the Hevra Kadisha. This year’s Zayin Adar dinner will be Thursday Levinson during Stalin’s evening, March 2. Topic and other information regarding the Zayin Adar Dinner will be last pogrom. Levinson’s available via eblast and the next issue of the OZ Newsletter. response is to set up a reaction with the goal of assassinating Stalin. This Kiddush & Minyan Breakfast Sponsorship novel is both intellectual and comic and is Consider sponsoring a Shabbat kiddush or minyan breakfast. Sponsoring a kiddush can be an exciting read. a meaningful way to remember your loved ones or celebrate a birthday or anniversary with fellow congregants while enhancing the community’s Shabbat experience. Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer Contact Deborah Wenger (212-452-2310, ext. 12) for details. Sunday, April 30; 7:30 pm The title of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book is a reference to Abraham’s response to God before he is told to sacrifice Isaac. Foer deals with the challenge of balancing various responsibilities we have to the different people in our lives while maintaining one’s OZ Congregant Francine Klagsbrun (pictured above left) moderated a retrospective of the life own identity. of Golda Meir at the Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center. The panelists, beginning second from OZ’s Book Discussions are open to all. For left, were Shaul Rahabi (Golda’s grandson); Dr. Hagai Tsoref (Director, State Documents and additional information about Or Zarua Book Commemoration Department, Israel); Meron Medzini (former spokesperson for Golda Meir); Discussions, call the synagogue office at Pnina Lahav (Professor of Law, University and author of Judgement in Jerusalem); and 212-452-2310, ext 12, or simply attend. Elinor Burkett (Author of Golda). Entitled Golda: The Retrospective: From Goldie Mabovitch to Golda Meir, the event marked the Prime Minister’s 38th yahrzeit. Francine’s biography of Golda Meir will be published by Schocken Books in the fall of 2017. Purim Campus Connection Or Zarua strives to maintain contact with our young adults who are away at college. For Purim, we send a ‘‘holiday package’’ to remind them that they are still part of our A lively discussion of the book Ally: My extended family. This year Purim is Sunday, March 12. If you would like your children to Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide receive a free package, please reply to Deborah Wenger ([email protected] or by Michael B. Oren, was led by Congregant 212-452- 2310, ext. 12) by Wednesday, February 15, with their full name and complete Arthur Seltzer. school address. Also, please include their email address and cell phone number so that Rabbi Bolton can stay in touch with them. 4 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Hesed Programs Tzedakah Get involved through Or Zarua and help others in need Be Part of the Solution communities over brunch. Register at Super Bowl Party Feed the hungry in our community by http://bit.do/YGB17, or drop in at any time. donating to or volunteering with New York Contact Sigal Hirch at [email protected] Supporting Project ORE Common Pantry. OZ volunteers are needed or [email protected] for more Sunday, February 5, 5:00 pm the first Wednesday of each month, 9:00 am information. Z members and their guests are to noon, in NYCP’s distribution center, Home Visit Volunteers invited to our 14th annual Super 8 East 109th Street. Contact Lesley Palmer Volunteer to visit and bring cheer to ill or Bowl Party on Sunday, February 5, ([email protected]) to sign up for beginning at 5:00 p.m. with Minhah. January 4, February 1 or March 1. Collection home-bound OZ Congregants. Contact Deborah Wenger: [email protected] OViewing the game on a large-screen HDTV bins are in the social hall for food donations and eating kosher food from Dougie’s BBQ of healthy (low-sodium, whole wheat, low-fat or 212-452-2310, ext. 12, if you are interested. in Teaneck, NJ, while socializing in a family- or nonfat) packaged grocery items. friendly atmosphere is a great way to enjoy Yom Give Back with Camp Ramah Monday Night Pasta and Salad at NCS the Super Bowl. Please make reservations at On Sunday, January 22, 11:00 am-2:00 pm, OZ congregants serve hot food and good 212-452-2310, ext. 39, or email the entire Or Zarua community is invited cheer at the Neighborhood Coalition for [email protected], or through Chaverweb to Yom Give Back, a day of hesed for the Shelter’s East 81st Street Residence from by noon on Monday, January 29. Or Zarua and Camp Ramah communities. 6:00 to 6:45 pm on the last two Mondays As is our tradition, the OZ Super Bowl Affiliation with Camp Ramah is not required. of each month. Contact Jeffrey Haberman, Party is free to OZ members and their People of all ages are welcome as we sort [email protected], for information. guests, but we rely on your generous donated goods, make sandwiches for the contributions to raise funds for charities that For information about Hesed programs, serve the Jewish poor and elderly. This year, hungry and perform other hesed projects please contact Susan J. Lorin, Hesed throughout the OZ building. Learn about our designated charity is Project ORE. Since Committee Chair, at [email protected] or 1987, Project ORE has served emergency additional local volunteer opportunities and 212-717-4647. connect with members of the OZ and Ramah kosher meals and provided counseling, case management, and other support services to isolated, poor, homeless, and mentally ill Jews. Project ORE is the only program of its kind in and offers kosher, family-style community meals, including a buffet breakfast, hot lunch, and food packages for Shabbat. Project ORE holds classes in art, poetry, and health and wellness, organizes educational trips, and provides a Jewish experience through a weekly Oneg Shabbat. A staff of licensed clinical social workers provides assistance with housing referrals, On Erev Thanksgiving and Erev Christmas several dozen members of Or Zarua performed entitlements and benefits, referrals hesed by gleaning Eli’s and The Vinegar Factory. They packed their harvest into vans and for psychiatric counseling and medical shipped it to Ronald McDonald House, the NY Common Pantry, Neighborhood Coalition for treatment, and crisis intervention for the Homeless, and Salvation Deliverance Church in the Bronx. emergency situations. If you want to learn more about Project Or Zarua’s Young Professionals ORE from the people who directly benefit from its programs, use this link: OZ’s Young Professionals are a group https://vimeo.com/29672314. in their 20s and 30s committed to Upcoming Events building a welcoming and vibrant Jewish community within Or Zarua. For more Friday, January 20, 6:30 pm details follow their Facebook page (Or Zarua’s Young Professionals). Contact OZ’s Shabbat Dinner Young Professionals with any questions, suggestions or just to say hi via email: Friday, February 24, 6:30 pm [email protected]. Shabbat Dinner

Thursday, March 2, 6:30 pm Happy Hour

Last year’s Annual Super Bowl party filled Right: Or Zarua’s Young Professionals the OZ Gallery and raised a significant Hanukkah party attracts a crowd with amount of funds for Project ORE. Ruach (spirit). 5 127 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028•212-452-2310 January 2017•Tevet/Shevat 5777 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1•3 Tevet 2•4 Tevet 3•5 Tevet 4•6 Tevet 5•7 Tevet 6•8 Tevet 7•9 Tevet Hanukkah New Year’s Day 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00 am Shaharit 8:45a Shaharit 8:45a Shaharit 9:00a NYCP No Siddur Class 4:26p Candlelighting Vayigash No Hebrew School 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 7:00p The Real Diary of Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat 11:00a Torah Kids No Talmud Class Anne Frank: What is it and 11:15a Torah Tots Why it Matters with 5:31p Shabbat Ends David Kraemer, PhD

8•10 Tevet 9•11 Tevet 10•12 Tevet 11•13 Tevet 12•14 Tevet 13•15 Tevet 14•16 Tevet Tzom Asarah B’Tevet 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00 am Shaharit (Fast of the 10th of Tevet) 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 8:40a Siddur Class 4:33p Candlelighting Vayehi 8:45a Shaharit 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 7:30p Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat Bar Mitzvah of 7:45p Bir’nana Rehearsal 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars Graham Yarden 7:30p Rock-Ivrit 11:00a Torah Kids 11:15a Torah Tots 5:38p Shabbat Ends

15•17 Tevet 16•18 Tevet 17•19 Tevet 18•20 Tevet 19•21 Tevet 20•22 Tevet 21•23 Tevet 8:45a Shaharit Martin Luther King, Jr Day 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00 am Shaharit 7:30p Bir’nana Rehearsal 7:15a Shaharit 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 8:40a Siddur Class 4:41p Candlelighting Shemot No Hebrew School 7:30p Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat 11:00a Torah Kids OZ Office Closed 6:30p Young Professionals 11:15a Torah Tots Shabbat Dinner 5:46p Shabbat Ends

22•24 Tevet 23•25 Tevet 24•26 Tevet 25•27 Tevet 26•28 Tevet 27•29 Tevet 28•1 Shevat 8:45a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit Rosh Hodesh 11:00a Yom Give-Back with 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 No Siddur Class 4:50p Candlelighting 9:00 am Shaharit/Va’era Camp Ramah 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 No Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat OZ Birthday Kiddush 7:30p Bir’nana Rehearsal 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars 10:30a Shabbat & Me 7:30p Rock-Ivrit Saturday 11:00a Torah Kids 11:00a Mah Zeh Shabbat?! 1:00p Zimriyah (after Kiddush) 5:55p Shabbat Ends 29•2 Shevat 30•3 Shevat 31•4 Shevat 8:45a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:30p Bir’nana Rehearsal 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 7:30p Ancient Texts, Digital 7:30p Book Discussion 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 Age: The Cairo Geniza and The Mystics of Mile End 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars the Material Turn 6:30p Sushi & Study with The Lucy S. Dawidowicz Rabbi Bolton Lecture and Reception 7:30p Rock-Ivrit with Marina Rustow, PhD

Congregation Or Zarua Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm. The office is closed Saturday and Sunday, as well as on Jewish and federal holidays 127 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028•212-452-2310 February 2017•Shevat/Adar 5777 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1•5 Shevat 2•6 Shevat 3•7 Shevat 4•8 Shevat 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00 am Shaharit 9:00a NYCP 8:40a Siddur Class 4:58p Candlelighting Bo 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat Bar Mitzvah of Joshua Feld 7:30p Talmud Class 11:00a Torah Kids 11:15a Torah Tots 6:03p Shabbat Ends

5•9 Shevat 6•10 Shevat 7•11 Shevat 8•12 Shevat 9•13 Shevat 10•14 Shevat 11•15 Shevat 8:45a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7: 15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit Tu B’Shevat 5:00p Super Bowl 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 8:40a Siddur Class 5:07p Candlelighting Shabbat Shirah Tzedakah Party 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 7:30p Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat 9:00a Shaharit/Beshalah 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars 6:15p Dinner with Guest 11:00a Torah Kids 7:30p Rock-Ivrit A Capella Group Magevet 11:15a Torah Tots 1:30p Magevet Concert 6:12p Shabbat Ends 6:30p Musical Family Havdalah 12•16 Shevat 13•17 Shevat 14•18 Shevat 15•19 Shevat 16•20 Shevat 17•21 Shevat 18•22 Shevat 8:45a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00a Shaharit 7:30p Bir’nana Rehearsal 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 8:40a Siddur Class 5:15p Candlelighting Yitro 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 7:30p Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat No Torah Kids 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars No Torah Tots 7:30p Rock-Ivrit 6:20p Shabbat Ends

19•23 Shevat 20•24 Shevat 21•25 Shevat 22•26 Shevat 23•27 Shevat 24•28 Shevat 25•25 Shevat 8:45a Shaharit President’s Day 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit Shabbat Shekalim 7:15a Shaharit No Hebrew School 8:40a Siddur Class 5:15p Candlelighting 9:00a Shaharit/Mishpatim No Hebrew School 7:30p Talmud Class Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat Bat Mitzvah of OZ Office Closed 5:15p Shabbat & Me Friday Sarah Pollack 6:30p Young Professionals No Torah Kids Shabbat Dinner No Torah Tots 6:29p Shabbat Ends

26•26 Shevat 27•1 Adar 28•2 Adar 1•3 Adar 2•4 Adar 3•5 Adar 4•6 Adar Rosh Hodesh Rosh Hodesh 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 7:15a Shaharit 9:00a Shaharit 8:45a Shaharit 7:00a Shaharit 6:30p Sushi & Study 9:00a NYCP 8:40a Siddur Class 5:32p Candlelighting Terumah 7:30p Bir’nana Rehearsal 11:00a Shalom Sing-A-Long 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 6:30p Young Professionals Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat 11:00a Torah Kids 4:00p Hebrew School 2.0 7:30p Talmud Class Happy Hour 11:15a Torah Tots 6:00p B’nei Mitzvah Scholars TBA: Zayin Adar Dinner 6:37p Shabbat Ends 6:30p Sushi & Study with Rabbi Bolton 7:30p Rock-Ivrit

Congregation Or Zarua Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm. The office is closed Saturday and Sunday, as well as on Jewish and federal holidays CONGREGATION OR ZARUA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Upcoming Events and Ongoing Programs with Or L’Atid Community and Learning for OZ’s Youth Musical Family Havdalah Shalom Sing-A-Long Saturday, February 11, 6:30pm Mondays, 11:00am-11:45am Recommended for ages 1-4 Join us as we end Shabbat Shirah and bring For information about Youth Education and in the new week with a meaningful and Programming contact Sigal Hirsch, Director Join us in January as Or Zarua launches its songful family Havdalah ceremony. of Youth Education and Programming first everEarly Childhood morning music at [email protected] Spend Shabbat with Or L’Atid class! Members and non-members alike are or 212-452-2310, ext 15. welcome, so invite friends to sign up. Or L’Atid has Shabbat youth services Start your little one’s day the happy and for kids of all ages! healthy way with song, story time, balls, Little ones: Join us every week for puppets, musical instruments, blocks, Torah Tots at 11:15am, parachute games and more! or join us once each month for Parents, grandparents and caregivers are Shabbat & Me Saturday at 10:30am. welcome as we sing, dance, play and learn Elementary Schoolers: Torah Kids is for simple Hebrew, Jewish values, and you, weekly at 11:00am. favorite tunes! Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers: SIGN UP for our winter semester, beginning Check out monthly Mah Zeh Shabbat?! January 9 at: programs meeting at 11:00am. www.orzarua-orlatid.org Sibling Discount: Each sibling receives Go to: www.orzarua-orlatid.org/calendar-2/ 10% off. Our youngest Hebrew School students lead for Shabbat & Me and Never been to Shalom Sing-A-Long? our Hebrew School community in t’filah. Mah Zeh Shabbat?! dates. Try your first class free! Contact Sigal: (212) 452-2310 x15 or [email protected]. Left: Congregant and artist Caroline Golden Ilberman guides students through their first project that will be displayed in the Or L’Atid Gallery Show this May, a unique Hanukkiah.

Right: B’nei Mitzvah Scholars make sandwiches and bagged lunches for donation to the New York Common Pantry.

Sushi & Study with Rabbi Bolton January 30 & February 27 6:30 pm Teens study Jewish ethics and sources on contemporary issues with Rabbi Bolton once a month. Teens not registerd may join the class at any time. RSVP: [email protected]. Right: Students in grades 3-5 studied Modeh Ani with Rabbi Bolton by creating their own commentaries about gratitude. 8 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 December was Full of Fun for Kids and Families Check the calendar for January and February events!

Purim 5777 Save the Date Sunday, March 12

This year, Purim falls on a Sunday! Be sure to mark your calendars for our community-wide Purim celebration featuring lots of fun family activities. Get your costumes ready! Middle Schoolers faced off in a heated game of Taboo at our Middle School Game Night.

After a meaningful Havdalah ceremony led by Rabbi Bolton, Jonathan Geffner performed his acclaimed showMaccabee Mishegoss to a full house! Kids and parents alike delighted in Jonathan and his puppet friends, roaring with laughter throughout the evening with 90 people in attendance. 9 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

Rabbi Bolton’s Siddur Class Most Thursdays (see calendar), 8:40 am In January we will finish the exploration of Tahanun and move on to weekday and Shabbat Torah Services. We will study the history of the prayers and ceremonies, as well as the language of the familiar and not so familiar tunes we sing when we take out the Torah and return it to the ark. Pictured above are Congregation Or Zarua’s Bir’nana a cappella singers. Bir’nana, All necessary texts are provided. Siddur which means “in joy” in Hebrew, is constantly expanding its repertoire and honing a cappella meets Thursdays 8:40 am to 9:40 am (see skills. The group performs a broad range of music including songs from pioneering Israel, the calendar for dates). Ashkenazic and Sephardic liturgical pieces from the 18th and 20th century, to modern Israeli and American songs. Co-conducted by veteran musicians Rabbi Amy Bolton and Judith TALMUD CLASS Buchman-Ziv, Bir’nana strives to enhance OZ’s musical experience and holiday celebrations. Finishing Tzedakah Recently, the group performed at OZ’s Annual Sukkot and Hanukkah dinners. The members of Introducing the Passover Seder Bir’nana are (back row from left): Vera Silver, Susan March, Aliza Kaplan, Rabbi Amy Bolton, Most Wednesdays (see calendar), 7:30 pm Aaron Shelden, Alan Yaillen, Peter Wolf Smith; (front row from left): Judith Buchman-Ziv, Dore Hollander and Marcia Kalin; (not pictured): Barbara Bluestone, Mark Hoffman, Doris Holz, We will finish our study of tzedakah in the Terry Krulwich. sources with two classes (January 11 and 18). Beginning February 1 we will turn to the last chapter of Tractate Passover and Rabbi Wechsler Teaches The Or Zarua Social Hall study the how-to guide for the Passover On SiriusXM Satellite Radio is available to rent for seder in the Talmud. The last chapter deals Sundays, 4:00 am & 8:00 pm appropriate functions. with the haggadah and Passover rituals as Channel 106 For information contact Helene Santo, well as everything from demons to desserts www.siriusxm.com 212-452-2310, ext. 14 to Shabbat riutals! Purchase the third volume in the Artscroll Pesahim Hebrew- English set or the second volume of Pesahim in the Koren Talmud (Steinsaltz) Hebrew-English edition. You may just come to class to listen in, but having a volume in Hebrew-English is recommended. See the calendar for meeting times, most every Wednesday.

Sunday morning, November 20 we were strong for minyan. But we need your help to accomplish this each and every weekday morning. Join Or Zarua’s minyan for Shaharit (morning Rabbi Schwartz led a group discussion service) and help keep the minyan strong. The service begins at 7:15 am most weekday on the Talmudic Take on High Holy Days mornings and 8:45 am on Sundays (check the calendar for times). The service usually lasts (above). The second session covered about 45 to 55 minutes (a little longer on Rosh Hodesh and Hol Hamoed) and is followed by Hanukkah. The third and final session of a breakfast where you meet with other congregants over coffee, OJ, bagels, cake and yogurt. Talmudic Takes on the Holidays will cover Contact Sheldon Adler ([email protected]) for additional information. Pesah (date and time to be announced). 11 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA 127 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028-0807

Or Zarua’s Birthday Kiddush & Zimriyah Saturday, January 28 in the OZ Art Gallery

Please join us for a special kiddush, with birthday cake, in celebration of Or Zarua’s 28th birthday. After kiddush, there will be a zimriyah (community singing). Rabbi Bolton, Marc Ashley, and our service leaders will lead us in singing Shabbat songs, teaching us new tunes and reviewing familar ones. All are welcome to join in the celebration.

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Or Zarua Art Gallery News hat do you call a world-class the Godwin-Ternbach Museum of Queens artist whose work is owned College — will remain on view until March and displayed by museums 29th. and libraries through the world, Next up in the OZ Gallery will be an Wwho is also an author, illustrator, filmmaker Or L’Atid student gallery show. The show and op-ed columnist .... AND who is also a will feature artwork by OZ’s K-8 students physician with a full-time dermatological depicting their learning throughout this year. practice in Manhattan? Join us in the OZ Gallery for the opening on Photos (clockwise from top left): Bobbi Coller, Francine Klagsbrun calls him “a genius”. Sunday, May 7, in support of Or L’Atid. Francine Klagsbrun, Mark Podwall Bobbi Coller says he is “one of the foremost artists of the Jewish experience of our generation.” He is Dr. Mark Podwal. The encomiums were applied by Congregants Klagsbrun and OZ Gallery curator Coller, as they marked the opening of the current exhibition, Printed Matters: The Art of Mark Podwal. More than 100 attended and heard Podwal review his rich, multi-faceted career and speak on the topic Drawing Is a Form of Prayer. The current one-person exhibition coincides with the publication of a monograph of the artist’s work, Reimagined: 45 Years of Jewish Art, published by Glitterati Incorporated. The current show — which includes a portfolio of Podwal prints originally displayed in the ’s Terezin Ghetto Museum and shown last spring at 12