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WINTER 2013-2014 2 West 70th Street New York, NY 10023 February 26, 2014 will mark the 45th anniversary of Levi Eshkol’s passing. Commemorated on currency for his service as the third Prime Minister of Israel, he is generally considered one of the greatest Israelis of all time. 1. From the Rabbi’s Desk FROM THE RABBI’S DESK Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik 2. Announcments 6. Dinners & Lectures Recently, I visited Shearith be a man named Akiva ben Yosef, who will deduce Israel’s extraordinary archives, from every one of these letters, from every one of 8. Weekly Classes along with your Shamash, these tiny tagim, tons of exegetical insights. The Torah, 11. Culture & Enrichment Zachariah Edinger. Zachariah, the Talmud is trying to tell us, Torah is his carefully or “Z,” as he is popularly known, crafted correspondence. Like a letter from a loved 13. Youth Programing directed me to the portion one, and therefore, in the future every little line on of the collection containing these letters, will be treasured, and seen as enormously 15. Culinary Corner the writings of my predecessor, Gershom Mendes significant. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has written, CONTENTS Seixas. Seixas served as Minister of Shearith Israel Jews survived millennia in exile because “so long 16. Services in the years preceding and following the American as the Torah was with them, God was with them... 20. Stay in Touch Revolution. Known as the “Patriot Rabbi” for his Wherever they were in Eastern Europe, in Spain, in staunch support for the revolutionary cause, Seixas Yemen—wherever they were—when they read Torah, fled New York when the British captured Manhattan, they heard the voice of God and they knew we were serving during the war as Minister of Mikveh Israel together. The Torah is not a conventional text at all. in Philadelphia. In this letter that I read, written to It is like a letter from a father to a child.” Torah, in Shearith Israel’s Parnas, Seixas discusses the possibility Rabbi Sacks’ words, is “the world we enter when, of his returning to New York. through an act of active listening, we hear the voice of God.” Holding this letter in my hand, this tangible, unique link to our past I was struck by how much we have Soon after reading Seixas’ letter, I was handed by lost in an age when all correspondence is electronic. Zechariah something even more incredible: the 1789 In an age in which we no longer communicate Thanksgiving address delivered by Seixas in 1789, the primarily with through penmanship, all individuality, first national Thanksgiving proclaimed by America’s effort is lost. An email, no matter from who it might first president, painstakingly composed in Seixas’ be, is a hastily typed out bunch of bits and bytes own hand. In the address, Seixas proclaimed the in cyberspace, with no personality and no tangible community’s gratitude to God for the equality they Wherever they were in nature. A letter, on the other hand, a letter from experienced in this nascent nation, while exhorting his someone special, in his or her hand, painstakingly flock to remain loyal to the Torah. As I wrote recently Eastern Europe, in Spain, composed, becomes an embodiment of its author, in the Wall Street Journal, as I held the handwritten in Yemen—wherever a constant and concrete reminder of the composer. pages, Jewish generations merged, and in his Through a letter the writer continues to speak to us, handwriting I heard the voices of all those who had they were—when they if we hearken to the letter’s words. come before, Jews who remained loyal to God in the New World. They maintained this loyalty because they, It is with this in mind that we can consider a read Torah, they heard so many miles away from most Jews, continued to fascinating story in the Talmud. The gemara in hear the voice of God in the letter of love that was his the voice of God and they Menachot reports that when Moshe ascended Sinai Torah. May we merit to hear their voices, exhorting us to receive the Torah, he found God sitting like a sofer, knew we were together. to follow the voice of God, the voice of the Torah, as a scribe, slowly writing out the Torah, carefully and they did in Jewish generations past. painstakingly attaching tagim, little lines, on top of the letters, one by one. Moshe asks the Almighty, why he was taking the time and trouble to make such lovely letters. God responds, in the future, there will 1 CONGRATULATIONS Friend of CSI Allan Toledano upon the marriage for sponsoring our annual ice cream event for yet of his son Michael Samuel Toledano to Keren another year. We wish mazal tob to our members and friends: Elise Veisblatt. Thank you to the generous sponsors of the Hatanim Jacob Bengualid upon becoming a bar mitzvah. Jacob is Daniel David Valencia upon becoming a bar Luncheon honoring Gabriel Goldstein, Hatan the son of Mark and Beth Bengualid and the grandson of mitzvah. Daniel is the son of Claudio and Mira Torah, and Alexander Seligson, Hatan Bereshit: Jacob Bengualid. Valencia. Isaac and Harriet Ainetchi Anonymous Ariel Elizabeth Zbeda upon becoming a bat Josh Berman upon becoming a bar mitzvah. Josh is the Jack and Karen Daar mitzvah. Ariel is the daughter of Miriam son of Sara and David Berman. Laury, Reuben and Matea Frieber Davidson and Uri Zbeda. Bentsi and Naomi Cohen upon the marriage of their The Goldstein/Bengualid Family daughter Ilana Cohen and to Dr. Jonathan Platkievicz. Seth Haberman and Jennifer Ash IN APPRECIATION Simon and Eva G. Haberman Friends of CSI Dr. Alan and Mrs. Nita Corre upon the Lloyd Harmetz and Alessandra Rovati marriage of their grandson Alan Richter to Ms. Elisha Thank you to our Kiddush Sponsors and Michael I. Katz Verschleisser. Contributors (from August 10 through Michael Lustig and Rachel Brody Eitan Edinger upon becoming a bar mitzvah. Eitan is the November 9): David J. and Rebecca Nathan grandson of Henry and Rose Edinger. Anonymous The Neumark Family Norman Benzaquen Dr. Jonah W. Schein and Carla Salomon Schein Shari and Josh Goldberg upon the birth of their son. Sara and David Berman Alexander and Muriel Seligson Trustee Michael P. Lustig upon being honored by George Blumenthal Rev. Philip L. and Andrea Sherman ANNOUNCEMENTS the New York Legal Assistance Group for his help of Bentsi and Naomi Cohen Roy and Karen Simon Hurricane Sandy victims. Yvonne and Daniel Cohen and Family The Solomon Family Dr. Alan and Mrs. Nita Corre Ralph J. Sutton Brand Oren Neuwirth upon becoming a bar mitzvah. Zachary Edinger L. Stanton and Madalene Towne Brand is the son of Stephen R. Neuwirth and Nataly Dr. Dennis and Estelle Freilich Ouaknine. Thank you to the sponsors and contributors of Herlands Family Rabbi Richard Hidary’s Investiture: Yehudit and Sam Robinson upon the birth of their Joel and Laurel Marcus daughter Rachel Chaya. Yehudit is a member of the Smith Family SPONSORS Shearith Israel faculty who assists our teens and bar/bat Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Turiel Anonymous mitzvah students. Benun Family Thank you to the Hebra for their sponsorship of Norman Benzaquen Claire Schweitzer upon becoming a bat mitzvah. Claire is the communal cemetery trip in August. Karen and Jack Daar the daughter of Valerie and Ted Schweitzer. Haberman Family Thank you to the Sisterhood, who year after year, Aviva and Marvin Sussman upon the birth of a Hidary Family immeasurably enhance Succot at Shearith Israel granddaughter and Els Bendheim upon the birth of a Safra National Bank with their care and beautification of the Elias great-granddaughter, Meirav Rose, born to Amanda Solomon Family Our bulletin goes to print Room Succah as well as by providing multiple and Meir Katz, and upon the birth of a grandson one month in advance of breakfasts and kiddushim. delivery. Please accept our and great-grandson, Phillip Judah, born to Shari and apologies for any errors or Josh Goldberg. Thank you to the major sponsors of our Simhat omissions. Torah Dinner, Ronen and Fabiola Koren, as well as to the Haberman and Lustig families — continued — 2 3 CONTRIBUTORS Thank you to the volunteers of the Rabbi NEW MEMBERS — continued — — continued Anonymous Lord Jonathan Sacks event: Leon and Laurie Beda Sarah Appel We welcome the following individuals to the Shearith Israel family: Bengualid Goldstein Family Marissa Garfinkel Paul Bernstein and Lisa Marie Capelouto Roger and Esme Berg Elliot Greene Matide and Daniel Ferguson Alvin Deutsch Rachael Neumark Herlands Sidney Gerson Victor E. Didia Janet Kirchheimer Joseph Gottlieb Faith Fogelman Vanessa Miller Estelle Guzik Laury, Reuben and Matea Frieber Ben Motola Ellen and Robert Kapito Rabbi Dr. Ronnie and Rachel Hasson Eric Olm Murray Orbuch Ronny and Toby Hersh Howard Shultz Joel Pelofsky Kalfus Family Sabina Shultz Aryeh and Raquel Rubin Michael Katz Thank you to the sponsors of the repair of Susan Wexner Jeffrey Lang and Leslie Cohen our West 70th Street flagpoles: David Lerner Anonymous Michael Lustig and Rachel Brody IN MEMORIAM Ernest Grunebaum Jack and Michelle Maleh The Shearith Israel League David Nathan and Rebecca Chaplan We mourn the loss of our members: Rabbi Shalom Morris Thank you to the Shearith Israel Sisterhood, Mrs. Rita Angel. Condolences to her husband, Joshua Angel, and children Neumark Family under the leadership of Irma Lopes Cardozo Nicole Angel Wachter and Spencer Angel. ANNOUNCEMENTS Peter and Naomi Neustadter and Carla Salomon Schein for purchasing a Barbara and Guy Reiss beautiful new tebah cover and mehitza for Dr. Martin Finkel. Condolences to his children Dr.