SPRING 2016 2 West 70th Street New York, NY 10023 On April 26, 1655, the Jews of Niew Amsterdam received formal permission to remain in the New World, marking the beginnings of Shearith Israel and of Jewish Life in the United States. 1. From the Rabbi’s Desk FROM THE RABBI’S DESK 3. Announcements 6. Executive Director's THE LAST RINGING OF THE LIBERTY BELL Message Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik 8. Lectures 11. Culture and Enrichment Adapted from a sermon given by Rabbi Soloveichik on February 6, 2016 12. Special Events and Initiatives 16. Judith Kaye Reflection CONTENTS When did the liberty bell receive its famous crack? 18. Shabbat Dinners and The answer appears to be Lunches Monday, February 23rd, 1846, when it was rung 20. Judaic Education in honor of Washington’s birthday. On February 26, 22. Youth at Shearith Israel meaning to the fact that the Liberty Bell rang on 1846 one Philadelphia paper reported, "The D-Day when those brave soldiers fought. Then 24. Women at Shearith old Independence Bell rang its last clear note the Liberty Bell was not silent; they acted with Israel on Monday last in honor of the birthday of honor, and it was through their very actions that Washington and now hangs in the great city they let freedom ring. 26. Culinary Corner steeple irreparably cracked and dumb.... It gave 27. Hesed out clear notes and loud, and appeared to be in Reflecting on this story led me to suggest a excellent condition until noon, when it received possible interpretation of the most celebrated 28. A Thanksgiving Pack-a- a sort of compound fracture in a zig-zag direction stories in Judaism. Standing at Sinai, Moshe Thon Reflection through one of its sides which put it completely read the Torah to the Jewish people, and they out of tune and left it a mere wreck of what it was." responded, in unision, kol asher diber Hashem, 29. Services all that the Lord has spoken, naaseh venishma, The Liberty Bell has thus not been heard since which literally means “we shall do and we shall 34. Help Make It All Happen 1846; or so it would seem. In fact, however, the hear.” As I understand it, Israel’s response is to website of Independence National Park informs 36. Staff be interpreted as follows: all the words that were us that “there have been several occasions in spoken at Sinai naaseh: we will obey, we will live which the Liberty Bell was struck [with a mallet] the life of Judaism, and when we act accordingly, and the sound was recorded. One very special then, venishma, we shall hear, as through our very occasion was on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when the actions the sound of Sinai will be heard again. Liberty Bell was struck by Philadelphia Mayor Bernard Samuel seven times, one time for each of The voice of God can be heard if we act in the letters in the word 'Liberty' in a nationwide loyalty to the Torah, and this too can be seen broadcast to announce the allied invasion of from D-Day. The night before that great assault, Europe on the beaches of Normandy, France.” As General Mathew Ridgeway opened his bible we read this story, we realize that there is a deeper to the book of Joshua. The tale, now unknown, 1 FROM THE RABBI’S DESK continued George and Lucienne Bulow on the birth of a granddaughter, Charlotte Ruth Bulow. Charlotte is the daughter of Harris and Heather Bulow. Rose and Henry Edinger on their granddaughter, Hadassah Edinger’s becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Hadassah was made famous by President Reagan when he moment, then the sound is the daughter of Dr. Shlomit and Dr. Benjamin mentioned it on the fiftieth anniversary of D-Day, of Sinai will continue to be Edinger. in his famous “Pointe du Hoc” speech, using heard, but when our own words masterfully composed by Peggy Noonan: observance ceases; when Rose and Henry Edinger on their granddaughter, our na’aseh is nowhere Zohara Herman’s becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Zohara Something else helped the men of D-day: their is the daughter of Nehama Edinger and Dr. Geoffrey to be found, then rockhard belief that Providence would have a great Herman. our venishma is hand in the events that would unfold here; that God no more, and the Vivien and Muk Eisenmann on the birth of a was an ally in this great cause. And so, the night sound of of Sinai falls silent. granddaughter in Florida to Astrid and Marc before the invasion, when Colonel Wolverton asked Eisenmann. his parachute troops to kneel with him in prayer Ten years ago, it was reported that “as Yonina and Eric Gomberg upon the birth of a he told them: Do not bow your heads, but look up the west celebrated the 60th anniversary of daughter. Congratulations to proud grandmother so you can see God and ask His blessing in what D-Day by American- and British-led forces, the Gail Propp. we're about to do. Also that night, General Matthew people of Normandy dedicated a near-exact, Ridgway on his cot, listening in the darkness for the 2,077-pound replica of the bell made with the Rachel Neumark Herlands and Jonathan Herlands on promise God made to Joshua: "I will not fail thee same alchemy of copper and tin as the original ANNOUNCEMENTS the wedding of their son William to Natalia Emanuel. nor forsake thee." in 1753.” That bell was then rung on the cliffs Arezoo and Samuel Jesselson on the birth of a baby of Normandy: boy, Nethaniel Liam. Reagan concluded by saying, "Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to "Do you hear that? That is a very special sound Sam Neumark upon his marriage to Elizabeth Uretsky. our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we from the 18th century," said Paul Bergamo, Congratulations to proud parents Susan and Avery understand what they died for. Let our actions say of the Cornille-Havard foundry, which cast CONGRATULATIONS Neumark and grandparents Debby and Mel Neumark. to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway the replica bell. "That is the sound Benjamin Mazal Tob to: Gail Propp on the birth of twin grandchildren, listened: 'I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.'" Franklin heard when he was working on the Effie Aurora and Ezekiel (Zeke) Propp to Anna and Constitution of the United States." Beth and Marc Bengualid upon the marriage Gedaliah Riesenberg. If we act accordingly, then a Liberty Bell, once of their daughter, Elana, to Jack E. Harary rung, can be heard generations later; and in an Thus did the sound of the Liberty Bell echo over of Brooklyn. Congratulations to proud Debbie and David Sable on the birth of a even more profound way, when we live in loyalty the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc. So too, every time grandfather, Henri Bengualid. granddaughter, Goldy Elissa. Goldy is the daughter of Elianna and Yoel Kaye. to the Torah, then the voice of God that issues that we study or obey the Torah, we hear the Shana and Louis Alexandre Berg on the from Sinai can echo into eternity. Understood sound of Sinai once again. birth of a son, Solal Asher Emmanuel. Aharon Soloveichik on becoming a Bar Mitzvah. this way, the tale of na’aseh venishma is not only a Congratulations to proud grandparents, Congratulations to proud parents, Layaliza and Rabbi story about our ancestors, but about us. It reflects Esme and Roger Berg. Meir Soloveichik. the fact that whether Sinai’s voice continues to ring Nathan Blum on becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Gabriela Yohananoff on becoming a Bat Mitzvah. depends not on our forbearers, but on ourselves. Nathan is the son of Dr. Yossi Blum, the Congratulations to proud parents, Daniela Weiss and As long as we remain loyal to the principles of that grandson of Debbie Cardozo Smith and the Avi Yohananoff. great grandson of Mrs. Irma Cardozo. 2 3 HAZAKIM U’BERUKHIM Danielle Lahmani on the passing of her sister, Liliane Marks and family in memory of her Sponsors — continued — — continued Evelyne Sahar. husband, Neville Marks Debbie and David Sable Special Achievements: Edward Misrahi, on the passing of his father, The Neumark Family in honor of the marriage of The Solomon Family Bentsi Cohen for completing Zohar for the Henri Misrahi Riquez. Sam Neumark to Elizabeth Uretsky. third time. Supporters Suzan Ehrman, on the passing of her mother, Rev. Philip and Andrea Rabb Sherman, in honor Karen and Jack Daar Aharon Soloveichik for completing all six Ruth Weinman. of Nina’s engagement. orders of the Mishnah on the occasion of his Karen and Roy Simon becoming a Bar Mitzvah. The Solomon Family in honor of Lou’s birthday. IN APPRECIATION Contributors Bernard Turiel Laury Frieber NEW MEMBERS Class Sponsors: Kiddush Fund Contributors: Zoya Raynes and Naftali Friedman Gregory Bell for sponsoring the Spring Jennifer Ash and Seth Haberman We welcome the following semester of Rabbi Soloveichik’s Talmud class. Angela Salas in honor of Sam Cohen’s 88th individuals to the Shearith Israel birthday Rachel Brody and Michael Lustig family: Ariel Bengio for sponsoring a Shabbat Naomi and Peter Neustadter afternoon class and seudah shelishit in Intimate Shabbat Dinner for Singles: Shlomit and Chaim Edelstein memory of his grandfather, Henri Misrahi. Deborah and Michael Rapoport Dr. Gary Login John Lewin Alene Schneierson Manuel Vazquez-Senior Adam Jackson for sponsoring a Monday Oliver Stanton morning breakfast.