A Traditional, Egalitarian and Participatory Conservative Synagogue HESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET 5777 NEWSLETTER/VOLUME 29:2 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 Machlokis, Tzuris & Achdus: Disputes, Troubles, and Unity During the Iconic Period of Jewish Settlement in NYC Jewish History with Barry Feldman Four Sundays, November 13 & 20 and December 11 & 18, 10 am–12 noon r Zarua Congregant community will be discussed. Participants and the need for competing expressions of Barry Feldman will present cases and verdicts. Judaism to coalesce and present a united community to New York and to themselves. will be leading • Session 2 (November 20) a four-session An analysis of the Bintel Brief Letters sent • Session 4 (December 18) Oethnographic and historical to the Yiddish Forward reveals the changing The last session will be a tour highlighting inquiry into institutions needs and concerns of letter writers over selected sites discussed in class and a and incidents that shaped the years as Jews accommodated to life in visit to the Bialystoker Synagogue and a American Jewry during the iconic period of America. traditional shtibl. immigration at the turn of the 20th century. Each session will involve discussion; class • Session 3 (December 11) Barry is an urban historian, museum participation is urged. Sholem Aleichem Died: Let’s Go to a educator, and licensed New York City tour Simcha speaks to the emerging coalescence guide. He has created and developed tours • Session 1 (November 13) of New York’s Jewish Community in the of the Jewish Lower East Side covering the You Be the Judge presents cases brought to first quarter of the 20th century. Questions late 18th century to the present. In the fall the Jewish–American Board of Conciliation. addressed will refer to the reworking of of 2014, he taught a class at OZ about the The need of the court for a Yiddish- traditional organizations to reflect American growth of the Jewish population of New York speaking population, the types of cases sensibilities; the role of the Yiddish press from the end of 19th to the beginning of the presented, and how they reflect the changing in facilitating accommodation to America; 20th century. Printed Matters: The Art of Mark Podwal Opening Sunday, November 6, 6:00 pm ow do we regard the Gallery of the Eldridge Street Synagogue at his office on the Upper East Side. So, thee, Mark Podwal? and was featured in the Berlin Jewish which is it: patients or paintings? Which Let us count the Museum’s show on the Golem. A portfolio of is vocation, and which is avocation? As ways: renowned Podwal prints — originally displayed in the Podwal told an interviewer for QUEENS: The HJewish artist, author, political Czech Republic’s Terezin Ghetto Museum — Magazine of Queens College, “Basically I’m cartoonist, filmmaker, New was shown at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum a juggler. As a physician I believe in science. York Times op-ed contributor, at Queens College, Podwal’s alma mater, last As an artist I believe set designer, and illustrator of books for spring. in legends…. adults and children. His art has been Several of these prints are included in I’m interested in acquired and displayed by museums and the OZ Gallery’s new exhibition, Printed narrative art, art libraries around the world, including the Matters. At the opening, on Sunday evening, that has some Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and November 6th, Podwal is scheduled to speak meaning, is not just Albert Museum, the Vatican, Yad Vashem, on the subject “Drawing Is a Form of Prayer.” for decoration.” the Bodleian Library, and numerous other This one-person exhibition coincides with As a child university libraries as well as synagogues. the publication of a beautiful monograph growing up in His subject matter is nothing less than on the artist’s work, Reimagined: 45 Queens, Podwal Jewish identity and experience—Jewish tales, Years of Jewish Art, published by Glitterati loved to draw but Irka‘s Rose. Print. the Midrash, Jewish mysticism, and the Incorporated. he never had formal searing pain of historical events. Artist Podwal is also Dr. Mark Podwal, a art training. His father expected him to This season, Podwal has had a show at practicing dermatologist, who sees patients Continued on Page 11 1 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 President’s Message by Marc D. Ashley s the great attention throughout our waking hours. The A CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE American Talmud (Menachot 43b) teaches that we FOUNDED 1989 holiday of should say 100 blessings to God each day, 127 East 82nd Street Thanksgiving which is approximately one blessing every New York, NY 10028 Aapproaches, it is worth 10 (non-sleeping) minutes! That formidable phone: 212-452-2310 fax: 212-452-2103 recalling that there is mandate is perhaps less daunting than it www.orzarua.org nothing more Jewish sounds for those who manage to recite all than giving thanks. And three daily prayer services, which generate SCOTT N. BOLTON, Rabbi at Or Zarua, we should keep in mind—at the great majority of that number. But DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, Rabbi Emeritus Thanksgiving and throughout the year—that to reach that tally even dutifully prayerful MARC D. ASHLEY, President we truly have much for which to be thankful. Jews need to find occasions for additional ALAN ILBERMAN, Treasurer Although, of course, Thanksgiving is blessings each day, likely before and after HELENE SANTO, Executive Director not rooted in the Jewish tradition, it might eating food and even when using the SIGAL HIRSCH, Director of Youth Education as well be. The spirit and ambience of the bathroom. Each such blessing creates an and Programming day comport comfortably with classical opportunity for thoughtful introspection and CHARLES SPIELHOLZ, Newsletter Editor Jewish values. With its focus on the gratitude. bounty God bestows upon us, boisterous Giving thanks on a daily basis should OZ Committee Chairs family gatherings, and sumptuous meals be second nature to us at Or Zarua. We (and football for sports fans among us), are privileged to enjoy the warmth and ADMINISTRATION Pamela E. Gold Thanksgiving has found a natural place on intimacy of a nurturing community within the calendars of most American Jews. With an elegant building, all in a wonderful AESTHETICS Aaron Shelden the High Holy Days and Sukkot already in neighborhood in the greatest city in the ART GALLERY Bobbi Coller our rearview mirror, and particularly when it world (outside Jerusalem). Daily life at BOOK DISCUSSION Reed Schneider falls within MarCheshvan—a Jewish month Or Zarua encompasses spirited prayer Nora Yood lamented for its lack of Jewish holidays— services and sophisticated adult education, BUILDING Sara Stone Thanksgiving is a welcome milestone on the animated youth programming and inspiring CEMETERY Aliza Kaplan path towards Hanukkah. art exhibits. Our recent celebration of Mort Schwartz Indeed, Thanksgiving should feel Sukkot epitomized the essence of Or EDUCATION Dara Shapiro quite familiar to Jews attuned to the Zarua living that should give rise to sincere AND YOUTH traditional rhythms of Jewish living due to thanksgiving—our beautiful and spacious FUNDRAISING AND Andrew Plevin its underlying impetus of giving thanks to sukkah was overflowing with congregants DEVELOPMENT God. That central feature of Thanksgiving and filled with joyous song. A visceral sense HESED Susan Lorin is likely why it has avoided the scorn of of real gratitude comes naturally within most traditionalist Jewish legal authorities, those powerful communal experiences. HEVRA KADISHA Roberta Hufnagel Gerry Solomon who have repudiated many other secular At Or Zarua, we also consistently express holidays. We Jews are in the habit of giving our gratitude through reaching out to ISRAEL Aliza Kaplan thanks for God’s bounty; Thanksgiving does others. Our Hesed programs are targeted LIBRARY Barry Feldman not feel foreign to us. to providing concrete help to those in need. MARKETING Aaron Shelden From the moment we get up in the Consider getting involved in our support of MEMBERSHIP Andrew Plevin morning to the time we go to sleep, and New York Common Pantry, or in delivering MINYAN Sheldon Adler optimally often in between through various food to the hungry on erev Thanksgiving. ORAL HISTORY Mimi Alperin prayers and blessings, we acknowledge the We properly express our sense of blessing goodness of the world created for our use. by assisting those less blessed. PUBLIC RELATIONS Aaron Shelden We wake up and promptly thank God with I wish you a happy Thanksgiving and a READERS Marc Ashley the modeh ani prayer, recognizing that God light-filled Hanukkah this year, as we each AND LEADERS Jay Palmer has maintained our soul within us during should count our blessings as part of this STRATEGIC Sheldon Adler the potentially perilous nighttime. Then one-of-a-kind Or Zarua community. DEVELOPMENT before entering that liminal time of sleep WEBMASTER Jay Palmer in the evening, we again say prayers to remind God of our appreciation for all that If you are interested in serving on a synagogue we enjoy. committee, please contact the office for the And giving thanks, our tradition instructs committee chair’s email address. us, should occupy much of our time and 2 WWW.ORZARUA.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 Rabbi Reuven Hammer, PhD Dr. Larry Norton Book Talk with Guest Talmudic Scholar ‘‘Genetic Susceptibility Wednesday Evening, November 2, 7:30 pm to Breast Cancer abbi Reuven Hammer, Commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. in Ashkenazi Jews PhD, received his His latest book is Akiva: Life, Legend, Legacy. ordination and a Rabbi Hammer is a founder of the and Others’’ doctorate in theology Masorti movement; a past president of Saturday, November 5, Rfrom JTS and a doctorate in the International Rabbinical Assembly of education from Northwestern.