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D E C E M B E R 22 00 11 33 Kislev - Tevet 5774
The
CCEENNTTEERR LLIIGGHHTT
VVAANN CCOORRTTLLAANNDDTT
JJEEWWIISSHH CCEENNTTEERR
www.vcjewishcenter.org
RABBI’S TRIBUTE MESSAGE
This month’s column is dedicated in loving memory of my father,
Mr. Seymour Borenstein, whose 7th yahrzeit is the 24th of Tevet,
as well as my late sister, “Chommie” Naomi Gail Borenstein
Mark, Yehudis Nechama bas Reb Sonna Chaim, ob”m whose
19th yahrzeit is the 15th of Tevet, both from Far Rockaway, NY.
My tatty/father, Reb Sonna Chaim ben Reb Raphael Dovid
Eliezer, a”h, Mr. Seymour Borenstein ob”m, passed away on
Saturday night, the 24th day of Teves, 5767, (Jan. 14, 2007). The
Chayei Adam writes that a person is obligated to think of his
parent as a special and distinguished person. Therefore, as we
mark his 7th yahrzeit, I’d like to share some thoughts about him.
When my father was growing up, some seven to eight decades
ago, keeping or observing the commandments was not the norm
and observing Shabbos was more the exception than the rule.
What gave my father the strength and fortitude to follow the
proper path in life? I believe that my father made a decision
early on in his life to associate with great people, as we learn in
Ethics of the Fathers 1:4 “and drink in their words thirstily.”
Accordingly, after school my father attended Chaim Berlin,
learning with Rabbi Shurkin, a disciple of the Chofetz Chaim.
When WWII broke out and my father had to go into the army
overseas, he received a special blessing from Rabbi Yitzchak
Hutner, ob”m, to return home safely and Baruch Hashem he did.
My father and mother chose to daven at the Young Israel of New
Lots, whose members included Rabbi Avraham Pam, ob”m and
Lieutenant Meyer Birnbaum and the rest of the “chevra” with
Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, ob”m as the Rabbi.
Ever since my father, ob”m as well as my mother, moved to Far
Rockaway over 50 years ago, they attached themselves to the
Shuls and Torah Academies. They helped build and full-
heartedly supported these institutions, and attended them along
with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
My father was our family’s role model by the attention to detail
and delight he showed in mitzvah performance, continually
implementing praiseworthy habits as he’d learn them. He would
go to the mikvah regularly. After he retired, on eve of Rosh
Chodesh or “Yom Kippur kattan” (continued page 5)
VCJC 9th ANNUAL BAZAAR & CARNIVAL
The VCJC’s ninth annual Bazaar & Carnival was once again
successful, thanks in part to many of our Center Light
recipients. A hearty thanks to those who participated in
whatever way they could. This year we had quite a few raffle
winners from out-of-state, including Florida and California!
This tells me that even though you have moved away, you still
belong to the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center and we appreciate
your continued support.
Everyone who came seemed to enjoy themselves – having a
cup of coffee and a bagel or some hot food, picking out the
door prize they just won, playing games and saving tickets to
get a really nice carnival prize, perusing the huge number of
auction items and the vendor and bric-a-brac tables, getting
information and giveaways from Montefiore Hospital, the Credit
Union, CSA and the FDNY, mingling with our many clowns and
perhaps walking away with a balloon animal, or just hanging
out with family, neighbors and friends.
None of this would be possible without our loyal volunteers, so
I would like to shout out a heartfelt thank you to each and
every one. There are too many to name here and I don’t want
to risk leaving anyone out, but you all know who you are and I
will be sending out individual letters of thanks shortly. Many
thanks as well to our office staff, Roberta and Claire, and to
our caretaker Ismael, and to all of you who supported this
event and thereby the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center.
Although the online and live auctions were successful
(approximately $10,000 raised from this alone), there were
many items left unclaimed and the total income fell short of our
goal. We will be running a second auction containing these
items plus any donations we can get between now and when it
starts. It will run from December 1st through the 15th so as to
catch the (non-Chanukah) Holiday shoppers. Please visit
www.biddingforgood.com/vcjc and see if there’s anything
you would like to bid on and please pass this on to friends,,
family and co-workers.
(continued page 6)
VVAANN CCOORRTTLLAANNDDTT VVIILLLLAAGGEE
NNOOTTEESS -- -- DDEECCEEMMBBEERR
RREEFFUUAAHH SSHHLLEEMMAAHH >>
. . . Rose Borenstein, Gary Buchhalter, Richard Buchhalter, Sherry
Feifer, Arnold Geismar, Mia Lande, Jules Rubinstein, Sidney Sass,
,Mayer Sodden, Sigmund Spira, Helen Wegsman.
SSIINNCCEERREE SSYYMMPPAATTHHYY >
. . . Carole Chase on the loss of her husband, Joe Chase.
. . . The Dubin family on the loss their aunt, Beatrice Schorr.
. . . George Tillis on the passing of his wife, Myrna, daughter
Claudia and grandchildren Emily & Benjamin. George has been a
member of the VCJC for over 40 years.
TTHHAANNKK YYOOUU > for being here for Halloween watch:
Marc Friedman, Phil Friedman, Bonnie Garfinkel, Joel Garfinkel,
Stu Harris, Neil Harrow, Sabrina Heit, Benji Shapiro & Sarah Silber
.
SSCCHHEEDDUULLEE OOFF SSEERRVVIICCEESS PPlleeaassee AAtttteenndd && GGuuaarraanntteeee
oouurr MMiinnyyaanniimm
MMoorrnniinngg SSeerrvviicceess: Saturday 8:45
Sunday 8:30
Monday & Thursday 6:50
Tues., Wed. & Fri. 7:00
Tues. & Wed. Dec. 3 & 4
Rosh Chodesh – Tevet 6:30
Fri. Dec. 13 – Fast of Tevet 6:45
EEvveenniinngg SSeerrvviicceess::
Sunday thru Thursday Friday
Dec. 1 - 5 4:20 4:15 Dec. 8 - 12 4:20 3:50 Dec. 15 – 19 4:25 4:20 Dec. 22 - 26 4:30 4:20 Dec. 29 – 31 4:35
BBlleessssiinngg oovveerr tthhee CCaannddlleess
First light the candles, then spread your hands out
around the candles, drawing your hands inward in a circular
motion three times to indicate the acceptance of the sanctity of
Shabbat. Then cover your eyes and recite the following
blessing:
“Boruch A-toh Ado-noi, E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ho-olom A-sher
Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel
Shabbos”
KKiinnddllee tthhee SSaabbbbaatthh LLiigghhttss
Candle Lighting Schedule Shabbos Ends
Fri. Dec. 6 4:10 5:14
Fri. Dec. 13 4:11 5:15
Fri. Dec. 20 4:13 5:17
Fri. Dec. 27 4:17 5:21
TTHHEE CCEENNTTEERR LLIIGGHHTT
VVAANN CCOORRTTLLAANNDDTT JJEEWWIISSHH CCEENNTTEERR
33888800 SSeeddggwwiicckk AAvvee..
BBrroonnxx,, NNYY 1100446633
PPhhoonnee ((771188)) 888844--66110055 FFaaxx ((771188)) 888844--66110066
www.vcjewishcenter.org
Affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations of America
Rabbi David Borenstein
Rabbi Jacob Sodden President Robert Gillman
Vice Presidents Phillip Friedman
Howard Leventhal
Treasurer Stuart Harris
Secretary Marc Friedman
Sisterhood President Helen Wegsman
Office Manager Roberta Seidner
Office Assistant Claire Haime
The VCJC will be running another
online auction from
December 1st thru December 15th
Visit www.biddingforgood.com/vcjc
for another chance to get that
something special for yourself or
someone else at a fraction of it’s
retail cost!
IINN CCAASSEE OOFF AA MMEEDDIICCAALL EEMMEERRGGEENNCCYY
AANNDD NNEEEEDD AANN AAMMBBUULLAANNCCEE
CCAALLLL HHAATTZZOOLLOOHH::
771188 223300--11000000
5
Rabbi’s Tribute Message continued he’d attend services and fast when his health would allow it.
Motzaei or the conclusion of Shabbos he’d wait for 72 minutes
before beginning to daven Maariv. Then he’d sing “G-d Of
Abraham” before havdalah, and he always tried to eat Melaveh
Malkah. When seeing a physician or taking medicine or even
vitamins, he would first say the special “yehi ratzon.” prayer,
thereby acknowledging health & healing is exclusively from G-d.
As a youngster growing up, I recall how much my father enjoyed
taking me and my brothers to the White Shul sukkah. When we
eventually acquired our own sukkah, my father would insist that
our neighbors, who did not have one, use it first, even though it
meant eating in three shifts. He viewed his sacrifice more as a
cause for rejoicing for being able to perform a chesed, or loving-
kindness than an inconvenience. To the family, it was a lesson in
chinuch or education and oneg or enjoying Yom Tov.
Zaidy, as the grandchildren would affectionately refer to him,
genuinely took great pleasure in celebrating Shabbos and Yom
Tov. He had dozens of favorite Shabbos zemiros and songs.
Our many guests over the years were truly made to feel at home
with the genuine warmth and hospitality my parents extended to
one and all. My mother’s brother, Boruch, or Uncle Benny ob”m,
lived with us and enhanced our lives for over 30 years. In his last
years of declining health, when he could no longer navigate the
stairs, my father allowed him to live in the living room, in a
hospital bed, and when necessary even helped see to his
personal needs.
My father had a special love for people. He would excel in being
the first to offer a greeting, always with a genuine smile. Taking a
real interest in people, he’d listen to their concerns and try to
direct each of them to Rabbis, physicians, or others that might be
able to help them with their various issues. My father would also
often escort people, particularly elderly home from shul. When
there was no one to say Kaddish for a departed Yid, my father
would do so, until it could be formally arranged.
My father also had tremendous love for the Torah,
struggling mightily after a long and exhausting day of work in the
city, to stay awake at an evening Talmud or Chumash class. He
would often call people in advance to invite them to sermons,
particularly those of Rabbi Pelcovitz, and would frequently record
Torah lectures. Though fluent in davening, my father made
certain he understood the translation of whatever he davened, by
having the Metzudah siddur and machzorim as his constant
companions. The words “Baruch Hashem” or “Thank G-d” and
“b’li neder” (without promise) were forever on his lips.
My father helped my mother with many of her chesed
projects including polishing the silver ornaments of the shul’s
sifrei Torah. Also, many years ago, they delivered their own
Tomchei Shabbos packages to those in need, the predecessor to
the present Yad Yeshaya Shabbos packages in the Far
Rockaway/5 Towns area.
My father would often deeply touch mourners when paying a
condolence call by bringing them a recording of the funeral
eulogies that he would tape. This was something bereaved family
members deeply cherished and appreciated and could find a
measure of comfort in for years to come. Later, he approached
funeral homes locally and in Brooklyn and convinced them to
follow his example.
Finally, my father had tremendous Gratitude. Often, years after
receiving a favor from someone, he’d continue to thank them. It
is only fitting that we give thanks to Hashem for having allowed
us to benefit from my father’s presence with us for all of these
decades. By his friends, children and all their descendants
following in his footsteps, his legacy lives on.
May my Father’s and my Sister’s memories be for a blessing.
Shalom
Rabbi David Borenstein
(reprinted and modified with permission from 5 Towns
Jewish Times – January 22, 2010)
EEDDUUCCAATTIIOONN && YYOOUUTTHH CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE
I am continuing some of the observations made by the Pew
Research Center on the state of American Jewry. I ended last
month by saying that the Orthodox have the biggest retention rate
especially due to the younger Orthodox Jews. The middle is
shrinking as the Conservatives show the lowest retention rate.
Many have strayed from traditional age-old Judaism. A majority
feel they can still be Jewish if they work on Shabbat, but only
19% say observing Jewish law is essential to keep them Jewish.
Some other statistics that are positive are that 73% feel that the
Holocaust plays a major role in their Judaism. This is a real
positive since many of the Holocaust survivors has passed away.
Other factors that make people positive about their Judaism are:
leading an ethical life, 69% work for justice and equality 56% and
a one real negative only 40% feel that Israel plays a major role in
their Judaism.
It’s unfortunate that these people especially the younger ones
don’t remember the struggle to get Israel in 1948, or when the
Arabs were ready for the second Holocaust in 1967. Maybe
these people are too comfortable with Anti-Semitism at a low in
the USA, but growing in leaps and bounds worldwide. A
challenge for them, if anything ever happens to Israel you’ll see
Anti-Semitism grow to proportions you never even imagined.
Back to the Pew report, 70% said they went to a
Passover Seder, down from 78% in 2000. Only 53% said they
fasted on Yom Kippur, down from 60% in 2000, and only 25%
said they went to shul once or twice a week or month.
The editor of the Jewish Week, Gary Rosenblatt said, he
sees a shift from Jewish religion to ancestry and culture. How
long can Judaism survive in America without religious belief and
practice at its core he asks. It’s up to us to ensure the future.
We can’t change the world, but we can change our shul. Bring
people to all of our activities and programs and of course, to our
shul.
Neil Harrow, Chairman
p
VCJC BAZAAR – continued
We were also very happy to see our elected officials en force,
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, newly elected Councilman
Andrew Cohen, State Senator, Jeff Klein and Councilmember G.
Oliver Koppell and his wife, Lorraine Coyle, all came to show
their support. The Koppell’s were the proud winners of a $100
MasterCard Gift Card in our raffle – Congratulations! We thank
them all for their past, present and future support!
We will also be having a Murder Mystery Show/Lunch and Chinese Raffle on Sunday, January 26, 2014. This will be held at the Amalgamated Housing’s Vladeck Hall. More information will be provided as we work out the details, but if you live nearby, please save the date as this promises to be a big event and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! We already have quite a few great raffle prizes, including giant Empire City Casino and Avon baskets!
The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center is an icon of our community.
We provide twice-daily and holiday prayer services and a home
for the JASA Senior Center. We provide meeting space for
community groups, as well as rental space for events such as
the Park Reservoir annual meeting, special event parties and our
popular Sisterhood events. We also provide hot meals for
Passover and Succos, Holiday parties and much more! And
most recently we provide space for our new tenant and friend
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s Early Childhood
Development/Head Start Program.
Can anyone imagine NOT having the Van Cortlandt Jewish
Center in our community? I hope not and I hope you continue to
support our future events and fundraising efforts so that we can
remain a viable institution for years to come. Because where
you live may often change, but where you come from and belong
never does. Thank you.
Marcy Gillman-Harris
Fundraising Committee Chair
COMING SOON. . . THE MASTERCARD GIVING SOLUTION!
Over the next few weeks, look for information in the mail about a
new way to plan and make your donations to the Van Cortlandt
Jewish Center… the MasterCard Online Giving Solution. This is a
convenient and secure way to make your donations without the
hassle of making out and mailing in a check. Best of all for the
Synagogue, for the first year of the program, VCJC will not be
charged any fee by MasterCard for this service!
On our website home page, www.vcjewishcenter.org
There will be a “Donate Now” button with a link to our MasterCard
website. From there you can either set up your own account,
which simplifies the process for future donations, or just sign in as
a “Guest” and make your donation online using either your
MasterCard credit or debit card. Note that you must have your
own MasterCard account to use this method of giving. You can
either make a one-time donation, the same as you would with a
check, or set up a plan of monthly donations over the year, which
will be automatically charged to your MasterCard account each
month. By spreading out the payment of a large pledge, this
makes it easier to meet your financial obligation with much less
strain on your cash flow and hopefully may encourage you to give
a larger amount than you might otherwise have given in one
payment.
This service will only be available for donations, including Yizkor,
yahrzeits, aliyahs and general pledges. It will not be available for
purchase of your High Holiday seats or payment of your annual
dues. Of course, you will still have the option of making your
contributions by check, as you have done in the past.
We look forward to this new innovation and hope that many of you
will support this enthusiastically and enhance your financial
support of VCJC.
The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
thanks all those who make
donations to our synagogue
throughout the year AND
We hope that you continue to
support our future events and
fundraising efforts so that we
can remain a viable institution
for many years to come.
SAVE THE DATE!
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26
MURDER/MYSTERY
SHOW/LUNCH
AND CHINESE RAFFLE
Amalgamated Housing’s
Vladeck Hall
1
8
2
0
a
YYaahhrrzzeeiittss
DDEECCEEMMBBEERR 22001133
DDEECC.. KKiisslleevv 1 Sylvia Rosenblatt 28
2 Moses Gordon 29
2 Jerry Braun 29
2 Pauline Duberstein 29
2 Jacob Auerbach 29
2 Ida Zemsky 29
2 Shirley Greenberg 29
3 Chaim Sandomierski 30
3 Louis Kaminsky 30
3 Rachel Algazi Azar 30
3 Beckie Bratman 30
TTeevveett
44 Rose Shaevitz 1
4 Faigie Golub Greenhouse 1
5 Joseph Green 2
5 Bernard Kaplan 2
6 Louis Schnur 3
6 Elsie Feigin 3
6 Harry Portnoy 3
6 Anna Kapernick 3
7 Jerrold Windman 4
7 Murray Rosen 4
7 Joseph Lutnick 4
7 Phillip Milgrom 4
7 Anna Satosky 4
8 Jacob Jack Chast 5
8 Gussie Bernstein 5
8 Chaim Hyman 5
8 Sarah Alterowitz 5
9 Richard Farrago 6
11 Matthew Schoeck 8
11 William Roswick 8
11 Henry Barnett 8
11 Joseph Ronai 8
11 Ida Ethel Miller 8
11 Manny Rothman 8
12 Morris Gritz 9
14 Marvin Glenn Schnur 11
14 Bertha Linn 11
14 Morris Schwell 11
15 Joseph Tillman 12
15 Clara Voyticki 12
15 Oscar Sugin 12
16 Arlene J. Casabianca 13
16 Rhea R. Windman 13
16 Louis Cohen 13
16 David Kuperblum 13
17 Mary Spivack 14
17 Wolf Rosenblatt 14
YYaahhrrzzeeiittss
DDEECCEEMMBBEERR 22001133
DDeecc.. TTeevveett 17 Anna Grossman 14
17 Esther Korn 14
17 Lillian Ross 14
18 Bernard Gassman 15
18 Jack Buchhalter 15
18 Irving I. Goldstein 15
18 Rivka Cooper 15
18 Ida Osovsky 15
19 Mollie Fader 16
19 Anna Barnett 16
19 Minnie Schuster 16
20 Philip Margolin 17
20 Rose Kleiner 17
21 Deborah Weinstein 18
22 Yetta Salkind 19
22 Ben Sherman 19
22 Rose Bander 19
23 Nathan Seif 20
23 Harry Lieman 20
23 Morris Klein 20
23 Lillian Sturmak 20
23 Milton Prince 20
24 Murray Blaiwas 21
24 Peter Blaiwas 21
24 David Goodman 21
24 Rose Arenson 21
25 Isidor Gerson 22
25 Joseph Lieber 22
25 Sam Weinstein 22
26 Beatrice A. Kreppel 23
26 Samuel Neiditch 23
26 Izi Sstrongwater 23
27 Mollie Kleinman 24
27 Joseph Cooper 24
28 Bernard Gollop 25
28 Joel Rothbart 25
28 Bertha Zemlowitz 25
29 Robert Belsky 26
29 Dora Rosberg 26
29 Dora Solomon 26
30 Harry Garber 27
31 Jacob Najman 28
RReemmeemmbbeerr ttoo
lliigghhtt aa YYaahhrrzzeeiitt
ccaannddllee tthhee nniigghhtt
bbeeffoorree
SSIISSTTEERRHHOOOODD NNEEWWSS
The Sisterhood is planning a
Chanukah lunch for Sunday, December 15th at 12 noon.
We invite all our members and friends
to celebrate Chanukah with us. A
delicious dairy luncheon hosted by
Sara Silber in memory of her beloved
parents, Lola & Salo Silber will
be served. Latkes, jelly donuts and
raffles will add to the festivities. Live
musical entertainment will cap off a
lovely afternoon of celebration. Men
are definitely welcome.
The cost per person is $18
Check payable to: Sisterhood VCJC
See flyer enclosed in this Center
Light
If you have not paid your Sisterhood
dues, please do so, as we need your
support.
We wish all our members and friends
a very Happy Chanukah
Best Wishes,
Ceil Hartstein, Vice President
IIMMPPOORRTTAANNTT!!
Please turn off all cell phones before entering the Daily Chapel for morning
and evening services.
Cell phones should
not be carried on Shabbos.
Thank you