1 March - April 2016 21 Adar I - 22 Nisan 5776 Dear Schomre Israel Family, PURIM AND PESACH which will be celebrated in the next two months are per- haps the most different of all of the holidays of the year. Pesach, of course com- memorates the exodus from Egypt and is a biblically mandated holiday while the Rabbis instituted Purim in thanksgiving for the Jews being saved 800 years later. Pesach has a limited food diet and required food in contradistinction to the Feast of Lots which is celebrated with an abundance of food. Eating Hamantaschen, although encouraged and even commanded by Sisterhood, remains customary, not halachically required. Nonetheless, I see an important lesson in the confluence of these two holidays. The common thread is the oneness of the Jewish people. When Haman approaches King Achashverosh with his nefarious plan for destroying the Jews, he saysFRIDAY "there isMINCHA a people TIMES that is spread out and scattered in the provinces of the king". Later, when Queen Esther begins her plans to save the Jews, she says to Mordecai, "Gather together all of the Jews." “Scattered” and “gathered” are interpreted to mean not only the physical proximity, but also the spiritual/emotional unity of the Jews. Why, we ask, were the Jews threatened with destruction? Among the answers given is that we were scattered and separated from each other, referring not to a geographical distance but to a rela- tionship distance between the Jew and his brother. We were threatened with annihilation because we were distant one from another. The evil Haman realized that the eternity of the Jewish people came not from our own strength or power but from being united. When Queen Esther is about to approach the King, she asks Mordechai to gather the Jewish people together. That is the power behind her successful entreaties. The secret of our existence has been that we are one people, as we are described when we stood at the foot of Mount Sinai ready to receive the Torah as "one peo- ple with one heart." continued on page 2 2 Message From the Rabbi continued from page 1 This season gives us many opportunities to come together as one. Sharing is an underlying principle of Purim. We share tzedaka with the poor and Mishloach Manot with our friends. This guarantees that no one is left out of the joy of the holiday. Likewise on Pesach we begin our Seder with a symbolic open invitation to come join in our meal. It is obvious that no one beyond our table will hear us, but it is a statement that before we sit down to our meal that we have in fact provided for the poor to have their meal, whether by a prior invitation to our home or by us having provided Maot Chittin funds to enable others to purchase food for their Pesach observances. All Jews are thereby united in their celebration of the holiday. We are one, often not in physical proximity, but through our concern and involvement with Jews around the world. This year let us all commit to heed Esther's charge and "gather together." Send Mishloach Manot to friends and include someone you've never sent to before; give generous gifts to the poor; invite people to your Seder, and make sure that even the less fortunate can observe Pesach by contrib- uting to the Maot Chittin Fund. May we share holidays and happy occasions. A Kosher Purim and a Happy Pesach, SAVE THE DATE Rabbi Eliezer Langer “Make Your Seder Meaningful” On Tuesday evening, April 12, at 7:00 P.M. Rabbi Langer will be sharing Pesach product pointers and seven steps on how to make this year’s Seder the most enjoyable ever! FRIDAY MINCHA TIMES How to make an Eruv Tavshilin An eruv tavshilin for cooking refers to "mixing of [cooked] dishes", whereby one prepares a cooked food prior to a Jewish Festival when the Festival is followed by Shabbat. The process of eruv tavshilin works in the following manner. On the sixth day of the Festival, Thursday, April 28th, 2016, the head of the household, or his designee, should set aside a baked item such as bread or matzoh, and a cooked item such as meat, fish, or eggs (i.e. a food that is eaten along with bread). Each item should preferably be the size of one egg. He or she should then recite the blessing of "Baruch...Al Mitzvat Eruv". It is now viewed as though meal preparations for Shabbat have already begun before the Festival. Therefore, Shabbat meal preparations may continue on the Friday of the Festival (Erev Shabbat). Once done, the eruv covers all household members and guests. The foods set aside for the eruv should be saved, and should be eaten on Shabbat. 3 CALENDAR FOR MARCH - APRIL 2016 845.454.2890 - [email protected] - www.schomreisrael.org SHABBAT TORAH SHABBAT DATE CANDLE MINCHA PORTION ENDS LIGHTING Mar. 04 5:32 PM 5:35 PM Vayakhel (Shabbat Shekalim) 6:31 PM Mar. 11 5:40 PM 5:45 PM Pekude 6:41 PM Mar. 18 6:48 PM 6:50 PM Vayikra (Shabbat Zachor) 7:49 PM Mar. 25 6:55 PM 7:00 PM Tzav 7:57 PM Apr. 01 7:03 PM 7:00 PM Shemini (Shabbat Parah) 8:05 PM Apr. 08 7:11 PM 7:00 PM Tazria Rosh Chodesh (Shabbat Hachodesh) 8:12 PM Apr. 15 7:18 PM 7:00 PM Metzora (Shabbat Hagadol) 8:20 PM Apr. 22 7:26 PM 7:00 PM Second Day of Passover after 8:28 PM Apr. 29 before 7:34 PM 7:00 PM Eighth Day of Passover (Yizkor) 8:35 PM May 06 7:41 PM 7:00 PM Acharei Mot 8:43 PM May 13 7:49 PM 7:00 PM Kedoshim 8:50 PM May 20 7:56 PM 7:00 PM Emor 8:57 PM FRIDAY MINCHA TIMES May 27 8:02 PM 7:00 PM Behar 9:03 PM Do you need Gluten Free Oat Hand or Machine Matzoh? PLEASE INFORM THE OU KASHRUT THE RABBI DIRECTORY FOR LAKEWOOD MATZOH FACTORY PESACH 2016 manufactures Gluten Free Free Oat Congregants are urged to call Rabbi (454.2890) if you hear, is available free at the Hand or Machine Matzoh and Matzoh Meal, Organic Spelt Hand and Machine Heaven forbid, of any mem- Shul Office after ber who is ill. It is a great March 29th. Matzoh, Shmura Wheat Matzoh and Whole Wheat Matzoh-Hand and Ma- Mitzvah to visit the sick and chine Made. very often we just don’t hear PLEASE PICK ONE UP. of a member’s indisposition. For more information - Your help in this endeavor is lakewoodmatzoh.com or 732.364.8757 much appreciated. 4 CONDOLENCES CONDOLENCES Our sincere condolences Our sincere condolences are extended to are extended to Marsha Weiner, Debbie Sullum and family, on the loss of her beloved brother, on the loss of her beloved brother, Jay Weiner. Jonathan Ruben. Chair Yoga Class for Seniors The shul is continuing to offer weekly classes in Chair Yoga, taught by Toni Farkas, every Monday from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. The class is open to the community and there is a nominal fee of $5.00 per class. If you have any questions, please call the office at 845-454-2890. Schomre Israel Sisterhood is introducingFRIDAY aMINCHA new fundraiser… TIMES Flower Centerpieces for the Holidays We will be ordering centerpieces from Hudson Valley Gardens and Florist for Passover for all members and non-members in the community who wish to have a beautiful floral center- piece for their Passover Seder. The cost per centerpiece will be $20. Prepaid orders should be made by April 15, 2016. Please complete the form below and mail with your check (payable to Schomre Israel Sisterhood) to the shul at 18 Park Ave, Pough- keepsie, NY 12603. Pick up will be at the shul on Friday, April 22, 2016, Erev Pesach, 10:00 AM - Noon. Name: ______________________ E-mail: _________________ Phone: __________ Number of centerpieces: ______ Amount Enclosed: __________ 5 PURIM INFORMATION 1. Purpose: Purim is celebrated in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from the hands of Haman, the King’s officer, who plotted their death. The events narrated in the Book of Esther took place in the middle of the fifth century B.C.E. 2. Date: The 14th of Adar. The 15th of Adar is known as Shushan Purim since in the capital, Shushan, the Jews had to defend themselves against their enemies on the 14th and celebrated the Festival a day later. 3. Name: It is called Purim from the word ‘Pur’ which means “lot” and refers to the evil machina- tions of Haman who cast lots to determine on which day he should arrange for the slaughter of the Jews of Persia. 4. Observance: (a) In the Synagogue: On the eve of Purim and on Purim morning the Book of Esther is chanted to a special melody. At the mention of Haman the children stamp their feet or turn their “graggers” (noisemakers) in derision of the name of the arch enemy. Three-cornered Purim pastries (Hamentashen) are served. (b) In the Home: Being a joyful Festival, Purim is the occasion for parties and celebrations. A festive meal, Seudah, is the occasion for a happy family gathering. Charity is distributed and there is an interchange of gifts, particularly food gifts, between friends and neighbors. It might be noted that the character of Purim is really unique and quite unlike other festivals in the spirit of its observance.