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ORZ 510 Jan/Feb News, 18.3 A Traditional, Egalitarian, and Participatory Conservative Synagogue CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IYAR/SIVAN/TAMMUZ 5775 NEWSLETTER/VOLUME 27:5 MAY/JUNE 2015 Shavuot Book Share Tikkun The Aleppo Codex, with Rabbi Scott Bolton and Michael Schwartz TIKKUN LEYL SHAVUOT, SATURDAY NIGHT, MAY 23 Ma’ariv begins at 9:00 p.m., followed by the Tikkun and cheesecake his Shavuot join us for a unique widely available from booksellers. You can and participatory Tikkun—a find reviews of the book at the Jewish community book discussion led Book Council website (www.tinyurl.com/ by Rabbi Bolton and Congregant OZTikkun2015) and in Tablet (www.tinyurl. TMichael Schwartz. Our book, com/OZTikkun2015A ). The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, A famous scribe, cited by the leg- Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible endary Maimonides, wrote the Aleppo by Matti Friedman, tells the amazing story Codex in the tenth century. It was written of the creation, preservation, loss, and at the same time as the Mishneh Torah rediscovery of a crucial Biblical text. It is and was protected for centuries in the CHARLIE SPIELHOLZ ancient synagogue of Syria’s largest Jewish community. When the Aleppo com- munity began to disperse in the 1940s and 1950s, the Codex found itself in tran- sit for the first time in hundreds of years. However, pages are missing. Where are the missing pages? What did human hands do with a relic that was thought to preserve the experience of Sinai? We look forward to seeing everyone on Shavuot and, of course, for the cheesecake—and other dairy treats— afterwards! JOIN OZ FOR THE 51st ANNUAL CELEBRATE ISRAEL PARADE, SUNDAY, MAY 31. The 2015 theme, “Israel Imagines,” encompasses the dreams that Israel’s founders OR ZARUA envisioned for the newly formed country as a home for all Jews and the dreams of the generations of Jews who currently live in Israel. For OZ marchers, assembly location GALLERY OPENING and step-off time will be announced by email. To sign up and reserve your parade T-shirt, One Family contact Ilana Burgess at 212-452-2310, extension 15, or [email protected]. Sunday, May 3, 6:00–8:00 p.m. For observers, the parade will be held along Fifth Avenue, from 57th to 74th Street, Skype interview with the artist, Israeli beginning at 11:00 a.m. OZ Youth, above, led our Congregation’s contingent among photographer Vardi Kahana, 7:00 p.m. the more than 35,000 participants in the 2014 Celebrate Israel Parade. See page 3 See page 5 for pre-celebration parade preparations. 1 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA MAY/JUNE 2015 President’s Message by Marc D. Ashley inally, spring is rain, when the abundance and awesome- A CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE upon us. After ness of nature are self-evident. FOUNDED 1989 a brutally pro- It is noteworthy that this extraordinary tracted winter, blessing over a flowering tree is said upon 127 East 82nd Street the days are the tree’s flowering but before the tree New York, NY 10028 F now longer, brighter, and actually bears fruit. That is, we thank God phone: 212-452-2310 fax: 212-452-2103 more cheery. The world in advance for fruit yet to come; once the www.orzarua.org seems transformed. fruit has ripened, the blessing may no Trees are blooming and pedestrians’ longer be said. The blessing thus reflects SCOTT N. BOLTON, Rabbi smiles are more prevalent. New York City the reality that spring is a time of bloom- DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, Rabbi Emeritus is glorious and welcoming once again. And ing and rebirth, but it is not an end in MARC D. ASHLEY, President at its epicenter stands Or Zarua, beckon- itself. It is a period of regenerative transi- ALAN ILBERMAN, Treasurer ing to us to feel the warmth and joy of tion and transformation, designed eventu- HELENE SANTO, Executive Director springtime together as participants in a ally to achieve a higher plateau, in which ILANA BURGESS, Youth Education Director vibrant and buoyant shul community. the world settles into a natural rhythm of Each day and every year, out of warmth, beauty, and grace. CHARLES SPIELHOLZ, Newsletter Editor darkness comes light. As we move in the The passage from flowering tree to Jewish calendar from Passover toward fruit-bearing tree sometimes takes weeks, Shavuot, along the ascending path from but it is worth the wait. The longer spring OZ Committee Chairs redemption to revelation, we should take lasts, the better. It is a pleasure to enjoy note of the changing world around us. We the enveloping comfort of spring, when all ADMINISTRATION Pamela E. Gold must rouse ourselves from our recurring is suffused with color, while anticipating ADULT EDUCATION Laura Resnikoff complacence and inattentiveness to the steady warmth of summer. That annual AESTHETICS Aaron Shelden appreciate the regeneration of life all seasonal trajectory is both reassuring and ART GALLERY Bobbi Coller around us. The seasons may be predictably invigorating, and can inspire us to capture BOOK DISCUSSION Reed Schneider cyclical, but each can be enjoyed for its the splendor of the moment as we derive Nora Yood own special character. pleasure from the world beyond ourselves. So, too, in the life of Or Zarua. Each BUILDING Ed ward Kopelowitz Jewish tradition certainly takes note of God’s grant of a revitalized world each year and from generation to generation, CEMETERY Aliza Kaplan spring. Indeed, Jewish law mandates that we must work hard to move beyond the Mort Schwartz we pause to praise God for renewed cold of winter, to appreciate the transfor- EDUCATION Dara Shapiro nature that surrounds us. The annual mative quality of spring, so that we can AND YOUTH rebirth of the natural world is not to be then enjoy the fruits of our labor. We must HESED Susan Lorin taken for granted, lest it be neglected. pause, individually and communally, to HEVRA KADISHA Roberta Hufnagel The Shulchan Arukh, the authoritative take account of and give thanks for what Gerry Solomon and comprehensive 16th-century code of has been provided to us and for all we ISRAEL Aliza Kaplan Jewish law authored by Rabbi Yosef Karo, have achieved. The past must be honored, LIBRARY Barry Feldman prescribes a specific blessing—birkat even as we recognize that the present is ha-ilanot—upon our initial viewing of a the gateway to our future. We nurture the MARKETING Aaron Shelden blooming fruit tree each spring. The bless- blossoming trees that accompany the MEMBERSHIP Andrew Plevin ing, which is traceable to the Talmud and springtime, as they herald fruits to come. MINYAN Sheldon Adler can be said once each year starting in the To move from season to season ORAL HISTORY Mimi Alperin springtime, extols God’s ongoing renewal takes effort and patience, but the sight of of creation and gracious provision for us a newly blooming tree—or the flourishing PUBLIC RELATIONS Aaron Shelden of a bountiful world. “Blessed are You, of our synagogue community—is cause READERS Marc Ashley Lord our God, King of the universe, who for thanksgiving and celebration. As we AND LEADERS Jay Palmer has made nothing lacking in His world, enjoy this seasonal bounty, may our energy, STRATEGIC Sheldon Adler and created in it goodly creatures and optimism and happiness abound. DEVELOPMENT goodly trees so that people can take WEBMASTER J ay Palmer pleasure in them.” This once-a-year mitz- If you are interested in serving on a synagogue vah is preferably fulfilled in the presence committee, please contact the office for the of a group of trees and in the absence of committee chair’s email address. 2 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG MAY/JUNE 2015 The music of a great klezmer group, Too Many Davids, will light up the night! Lag B’Omer is a night of bonfires and parties throughout Israel and the Jewish world. Come join the celebration of this unique day on the calendar. TORAH LEARNING COALITION TWENTY-SIXTH East Side synagogues studying together ANNUAL MEETING ith the completion of Pesah, the East Side Torah Learning Coalition Tuesday, May 19 W(TLC) began its annual tradition 6:30 p.m. Dinner/8:00 p.m. Meeting of studying Pirke Avot. During the Omer, The agenda will include the TLC studies a chapter of the Pirke Avot G The election of trustees and in a different synagogue and with different officers teachers every week leading up to Shavuot. G This year, the study theme is “Life Treasurer’s Report with a Guidebook.” As of the end of April, G Remarks from the President we are halfway through the cycle of this and Rabbi year’s study. The schedule of the remain- According to the By-Laws, we need a ing sessions is shown in the flyer at left or quorum of approximately 200 members at www.tinyurl.com/OZTLC2015. Note that to conduct synagogue business at our there are afternoon (1:00 p.m.) and Annual Meeting. Please plan to attend evening (7:00 p.m.) sessions. Or Zarua this important meeting. invites everyone to attend these TLC ses- sions to learn and to be part of building Please make reservations for dinner our greater Jewish community. You may and the meeting at http://tinyurl.com/ attend any session at any time; each ses- 2015-OZ-Meeting or by calling the sion is independent of the others. The program is free of charge; there is no sign-up. synagogue office at 212-452-2310, The TLC is founded on what unites us all—Torah and text study! extension 39, by Monday, May 11. ISRAEL PARADE PRE-CELEBRATION OZ SOCIAL HALL The Or Zarua social hall is available to rent for appropriate repare decorations for the Celebrate Israel Parade with the Israel Committee! functions.
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