shofar - september 2013 - elul 5773/tishrei 5774

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar September 2013 Elul 5773/ Tishrei 5774 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page1

Elul 5773/ Tishrei 5774 Jewish Family Congregation September 2013 www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

JFC Religoius School student, Zachary Kessler developing his own technique for blowing the shofar.


Remembering Loved Ones

Jewish tradition provides several opportunities to honor those people in our lives who are important to us – both

those who are alive as well as those who are no longer with us. Remembering those who touched our lives and have

died gives us comfort and continuity in the midst of our constantly-changing lives. Hearing their names aloud at Shabbat

services brings back memories and gives us a chance to honor those who came before us. I would like to share some

traditional Jewish practices of remembering loved ones and how we honor those people at Jewish Family Congregation.

Our tradition teaches that we remember loved ones on the anniversary of their death by reciting Kaddish Yatom,

the Mourner’s Kaddish, in the midst of our community. At JFC, this ritual takes place at Friday night Shabbat services,

as well as the four times throughout the Jewish calendar when Yizkor, or memorial, prayers are recited – Yom Kippur,

Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. When your loved one’s name is read aloud at JFC, you have the opportunity to rise in

your seat to be acknowledged as a mourner that day. Because Reform congregations also want to honor those who no

longer have living family to recite the prayer for them, many of us choose to rise in solidarity with our mourners to recite

Kaddish Yatom.

As a Reform congregation, our members choose whether or not to mark the anniversary of a loved one’s passing

on either the Hebrew calendar or secular calendar. On the Shabbat preceding the anniversary, we read out the names of

those who have died at that season in previous years. (Please note that this is a slight change to when names were read

in the past at JFC.) Our office sends out a reminder note about two weeks before the Shabbat when the name(s) of your

loved one(s) will be read. If for some reason you are unable to attend that Shabbat service and would like that person to

be remembered at another time, we will be happy to accommodate your request. Our Ritual Committee will soon discuss

ways that members may participate in the service – either with an aliyah to the torah, by saying a blessing, or by sharing

an English reading.

Continued on next page.

From the Rabbi’s Desk

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Religious School-------------------page 4Cantor’s Corner--------------------page 7ECC Summer Fun----------------page 11Service Schedule-------------------page 6September Calendar-------------page 17Youth Group----------------------page 21

Ritual Committee----------------page 26Social Action----------------------page 28Sisterhood-------------------------page 30


Jewish FamilyCongregation

111 Smith Ridge RoadP.O.Box 249

South Salem, NY 10590Phone: (914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069

email: [email protected]: www.jewishfamilycongregation.org

-----------------

RabbiMarcus L.Burstein, D.Min.

[email protected]

CantorKerry Ben-David

[email protected]

----------------Director of Education

Leslie [email protected]

Administrator Kathleen Sakowicz

[email protected]

Early ChildhoodCenter Director

Jane Weil [email protected]

Bookkeeper Carol Wakeman

[email protected]

--------------------Glenn Kurlander Co-President

Hal Wolkin [email protected]

Richard Mishkin, Vice-PresidentPolly Schnell, Vice-President

Robyn Cohen, TreasurerSuzanne Sunday, Secretary

[email protected]

Josh Blum, TrusteeKaren Conti, Trustee

Michael Gitlitz, TrusteeKen Levinsohn, TrusteeRobi Margolis, Trustee

Paul Storfer, TrusteeBonnie Wattles, TrusteeRichard Weiser, Trustee

Elisa Zuckerberg, [email protected]

--------------

Shofar EditorBryan Wolkin

Shofar PrinterCopy StopRoyal Press

Continued from previous page.

It is important to remember that the Jewish day begins at sundown. Because of

this, if a yahrzeit falls on a Friday, we will remember your loved one the Shabbat

BEFORE that day and NOT that evening.

On the anniversary of a loved one’s death, it is customary to light a

yahrzeit or memorial candle for them. Most Jews do this in their homes, using

a candle that burns for about 25 hours; some Jewish communities light candles

at the grave of their relative. Many JFC members choose to memorialize their

relatives and friends by purchasing a memorial plaque that is lit on their yahrzeit.

When we dedicate a new plaque at JFC, our members also have a chance to share

a few memories of their loved one.

The word yahrzeit comes from the Yiddish word for anniversary,

originally from the German “yahr” – year and “zeit” – time. In Hebrew,

remembering the anniversary of a loved one’s death is “nachala,” meaning

legacy or inheritance. Some Sephardic Jews use the Ladino term “anyos,”

meaning years. The memorial candle is typically lit for one of the seven

immediate relations: father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or spouse.

Sometimes people also choose to commemorate the anniversary of a loved one

who is not an immediate relative – perhaps a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or even a

friend.

In the near future, we will be updating our yahrzeit records to make sure

that your loved ones will be remembered at the correct time. You will receive

more information about this project in the coming months.

May the memories of all those we have lost always be a blessing to us…

Rabbi Marcus Burstein


From the Religious SchoolBy Leslie Gottlieb

With Religious School starting this month just after the High Holy Days (HHDs), some of the energy our teachers would typically place into the study of Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur moves quickly toward a focus of Simchat Torah and Sukkot, since these are the holidays unfolding as classes begin. But clearly there are key elements of the HHDs that require review because they are such a powerful part in the story of who we are-- and what our goals need to look like as Jews throughout the year. Teaching these important lessons to young children can be very rewarding-- but filled with special challenges. It is a daunting task to teach kindergartners, for example, the deep meaning of the Kol Nidre... so we use age appropriate tools and lessons that make these components of our worship accessible. In fact, when it comes to a prayer like the Kol Nidre specifically, an opportunity presents itself to show how music in prayer has so much resonance and can influence the meaning of the words. This school year, with Rabbi Burstein and Ruth Ossher plan-ning to lead school services each week together, both donning guitars, our students are sure to experience a new and very special Jewish connection with respect to music and prayer.

Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky of B’nai Yisrael of Armonk, New York (our neighbor!) and adjunct faculty member at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion’s School of Sacred Music and President of Kol Hazzanim, Westchester’s Community of Cantors recently wrote “The Timeless Melody of Kol Nidre.”

“The haunting melody of the Kol Nidre... It is mysterious, somber and prayerful, both beautiful and mourn-ful at the same time. On the night that begins the 25-hour-long repentance-fest (and fast) of Yom Kippur, one hears the Kol Nidre chanted three times and imagines it is designed to remind us of how sorry we are for our shortcomings. As the Torah scrolls are held in full view of the standing congregation, the melody dips, sinks, then returns. It gains momentum and creates suspense only to resolve to a temporary resting place. Then the words are embellished again and again with runs and arpeggios. Just when the congrega-tion thinks the prayer has concluded, it begins again. And again. Kol Nidre’s musical themes seem at times ancient, hence its inclusion as one of the central “Misinai Tunes” (melodies which seem so old, authentic, and universal they are attributed to having been given along with the tablets at Mount Sinai). The themes are also so different from each other that at times the prayer seems mercurial. Nonetheless, the melody has persisted through the years, even when Jews were persecuted for a misconception of its text. At one time, the words were removed from the Yom Kippur liturgy, but the melody was too meaningful to lose, thus new text was paired to the Kol Nidre melody! Despite the evolution of Jewish music and the growing popular-ity of contemporary settings of liturgy, the Kol Nidre melody was never deemed too “old-fashioned” to alter for the synagogue service (although there are certainly variations to how each cantor sings it). There is an intangible, lasting power to the Kol Nidre, and that power does not emanate from its text, but rather its melody.”


For Religious School, we strongly rely on music in our weekly services, but teaching prayer in the classroom starts with the vocabulary used in the text. In fact, the approach can be summed up simply by saying that we teach Hebrew through prayer. Instruction uses the Hebrew root letter system to teach the central words of the prayers. Since these words repeat themselves very much so in many prayers in various incarnations depend-ing on whether words are being used in the singular or plural form, for instance, the learning goes quickly and there is plenty of reinforcement over the years. That makes room for layered learning in where the meaning of prayers can be discussed, analyzed and personalized. That is where the creativity of our teachers can be seen most.

How do you begin an understanding of the Kol Nidre? What is a “vow” to a child… or to an adult for that mat-ter? How do you wrap your mind around… “all vows” at one time? Can a person actually commit to this and be successful? But children make promises to themselves and others… and Gd all the time. That is something they can recognize in themselves at any age. It is interesting to consider; when do we first teach or learn the meaning of a promise-- and is it a burden too costly for us at any age? A promise is something we speak of in terms of “keeping” or “breaking” and as adults we understand that we aren’t actually breaking anything tangible when we divorce ourselves from our promises. But for children, the concept of breaking something connotes a very big mistake, something that can possibly never be fixed or repaired-- and that is exactly NOT the meaning of the High Holy Days.

So this business gets tricky for educators in the world of teaching religion. Also, all of this is so very personal and its meaning is so distinctive for each one of us. This has to be respected for all of us as worshippers. Our teachers have the experience and tools to manage these sensitive moments as we span the curriculum-- and the lesson plans created by each teacher for each week are well-thought-out, creative and purposeful. Meeting once a week for grades kindergarten through six gives us one solid opportunity each week to make a big impact and we never lose sight of this.

We hope this year brings much knowledge, curiosity and connection for your Religious School student/s. Our school is a truly special place in so many ways. It is a warm, nurturing environment that is hard to describe in words alone. But folks who have seen the program in action know exactly to what I am referring. Please know that we will continue to do everything we can to ensure a magical experience for your child/ren at any ages. You have my promise.

Happy New Year to all! L’shanah tovah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Shabbat and Holiday Services at Jewish Family Congregation.

September 4 - Rosh Hashanah Evening JFC Tent 8:00PM

September 5 - Rosh Hashanah Morning JFC Tent 10:00 AM-Youth Service JFC Sanctuary 10:30 AM-Tashlikh location TBD 1:30 PM-Children’s Service JFC tent 2:30 PM-Rosh Hashanah Second Evening JFC Sanctuary 8:00 PM

September 6 - Rosh Hashanah Second Day JFC Sanctuary 10:00 AM - Shabbat Shuva 7:30 PM

September 13 - Kol Nidre JFC Tent 8:00 PM

September 14 - Yom Kippur JFC Tent 10:00 AM-Youth Service JFC Sanctuary 10:30 AM-Children’s Service JFC Tent 2:00 PM-Healing Service JFC Tent 3:00 PM-Concluding Services JFC Tent 4:00 PM

September 20 - Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot 7:30 PM

September 27 - Parshat Bereshit 7:30 PM

Oneg ScheduleSeptember Board Host – Robyn Cohen 914-533-5521

9/6/2013 Stuart Feldman 845-278-6399 ext 6451Brian and Jillian Chipman 914-301-5122

9/20/2013 John and Karen Conti 914-457-4969Richard Bersch and Amy Selig 914-669-9132

9/27/2013 - Bat Mitzvah of Chloe CarsonAdam and Robyn Cohen 914-533-5521Ken Levinsohn and Ellen Strauss 914-533-2878


Cantor’s Cornerby Cantor Kerry Ben-David

“Breaking the Glass” in 5774?

I chuckled to myself the other day when it occurred to me that there might be a good reason for switching “Sounding the Shofar” with “Breaking the Glass” at Rosh Hashanah. It is a startling suggestion to be sure and one that will definitely remain limited to this short essay. When first meeting with wedding couples, I am invariably asked to explain the meaning of the tradi-tional act of a groom “breaking the glass” at the cer-emony. To be sure, there are a multitude of reasons to be found amid rabbinic sources. Surely, the genesis of this act, which clearly culminates one of most joyous of Jewish ceremonies, seems to find its reason for being in an attempt to balance the couple’s enormous wed-ding joy at their simcha with a sobering reminder of the times that the Jewish people have endured great loss. The destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem is always the first event that comes to mind. During my years of experience as a cantor, my explanation of this popular wedding tradition has definitely evolved from the aforementioned one that I used for many years af-ter graduating Hebrew Union College. More recently, I have sought an opportunity to introduce some modern relevance to the grooms special “task.” I now connect the shattered fragments under his foot to the “broken world” that the couple will be re-entering upon leav-ing their chuppah, the sacred space created just for their ceremony. I challenge them to take their new strengths as a couple and to go out and fix this broken world (“tikkun olam”) for themselves, their children, their families; and yes, for all of us! I find that this is some-thing to which they can relate, in a very personal way.

So, what is it that connected “breaking the glass” and “sounding the shofar” for me? And more impor-tantly; how could a long-standing wedding tradition have any possible message for us Jews at this special time of the year, the High Holy Days?

Many years ago, I officiated at a wedding for a friend in Rye, New York. It was an interfaith wed-ding and the bride was Japanese. We planned a fully traditional Jewish wedding, but when I casually men-tioned to the groom that “breaking the glass’ would take place after the Priestly Benediction, I saw a perplexed look on the bride’s face. From her expression, I knew that I should open this up for discussion. Much to my surprise, I learned that in her tradition the breaking of something under the foot was not an act that could car-ry with it any good meanings for a wedding. So, no “breaking the glass” at this wedding! You may have guessed my next move by now: I substituted “sound-ing the shofar” for our groom’s traditional act in order to dramatically herald the new status of our bride and groom…and draw every one’s attention to them as they left the chuppah and rejoined their family and friends as husband and wife. Yes, the shofar was quite wonderful in its new role.

In the same way that the shofar worked so well at the wedding, I think that the act of “breaking the glass” could be an effective symbol during these Days of Awe. This dramatic moment of breakage simultaneously re-minds us of the finality of the year just ended and also serves to awaken us to the promise and possibility of the year just unfolding. It also signals a break with our own past missteps and failures, while at the same time the shattered fragments in some ways mirror the brokenness of our own fragile beings. Finally, it is a nagging reminder to begin the job of “tikkun olam”...fixing our broken and shattered world. Sound familiar?

Oh, just as I remind the groom: “use your good foot!!”


JFC Eisner Campers in August

Rabbi Burstein and Leslie Gottlieb, Religious School Director of Education, visited URJ. Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA, during Session II. After enjoying delicious Berkshire Bomb muffins together on the deck, we moved indoors when the rain fell and sat and shared stories about ourselves. We had a very special visit and hope to encourage more of our students to spend their summers at one of the URJ camps!


Cantor Ben-David is available to our congregants for all life-cycle needs

Call/Text: 917-400-4068Email: [email protected]

Parties of all sizes welcomeOne affair per day

Kosher catering available

18 Bloomer Road, North Salem NY 10560 914*669*5485 www.salemgolfclub.org

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Nancy SilbersteinInvitations and stationery at discount prices

tel/fax: 914-232-0835 e-mail: [email protected]


ECC Summer Fun

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar September 2013 Elul 5773/ Tishrei 5774 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page13Jewish Family Congregation Religious School

presents…

Kids Knesset(Student Government Program: Grades K-6)

Just think…

You can volunteer to be one of two student representatives for your grade in order to help make important decisions about our school.

There will be 4-5 meeting dates throughout the school year with the school director and the rest of the representatives. Meetings will be: Thursdays at 5:10 PM and Sundays at 10:10 AM.

See calendar for exact dates. You can also volunteer for many Religious School special events!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can volunteer by filling out this form and then submitting it to Leslie Gottlieb as soon as possible. Or you can send an email to [email protected] to enroll.

Who should volunteer?Anyone who believes that he/she can help to create and plan great programs for the school--- with the help of the school

director!---------------------------------------------------------------------

Return this section or email information!Name___________________________________ Grade in Sept. ___________


JFC Family Service

Enthusiastic children sing along with Rabbi Burstein at the July 19 Family Service and BBQ.

Rabbi Burstein used the Sephardic Torah scroll for the July 19 Family Service.


Rabbi Burstein points to the end of the Sh’ma in JFC’s Sephardic Torah scroll.

Rabbi Burstein invites JFC members to see the Sh’ma up close in our Sephardic Torah scroll.


Adult Beginner & Intermediate

Hebrew Instructor: Linda Paulding,

Grinspoon Steinhardt Award Winner for Teaching

Excellence

1 Sunday & 2 Thursday

Evenings/Month

Beginner Hebrew (BH) & Intermediate Hebrew Through Prayer

(HTP) sections offered in back to back 1 hour sessions…but…

participants can stay for both sessions for a reduced fee!!

Open to all congregants and non-members

Starting dates: Fall Session

(3 sessions in all: Fall, Winter & Spring… dates to be announced for Winter

and Spring)

12:15-1:15 PM (BH) & 1:15-2:15 PM (HTP)- Sundays

6:15-7:15 PM (BH) AND 7:15-8:15 PM (HTP)- Thursdays

(Overlaps with Confirmation & Youth Group for your

convenience)

6 Fall Classes: Sunday, September 22/ Thursdays, October 3 and

17

Sunday, November 17/Thursdays, November 7 and 21

Earlybird Fee for Instruction/Materials: (Register by September

15)

$20 per 1 hour class, members, $30 per 1 hour class, non-members

Participants for both classes/same day: $35/members & $45/non-members

Checks should be payable to JFC and tendered by the start of each session. To enroll,

please email Leslie Gottlieb, Director of Education at JFC at: [email protected]


September Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

-26 Elul 5773

-4 Tishrei 5774-Fast of Gedaliah

-11 Tishrei 5774

-18 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot-Make JFC Sparkle

-25 Tishrei 5774

-27 Elul 5773-7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

-5 Tishrei 5774-7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

-12 Tishrei 5774-4 PM Gr. 7 HHD Food Drive

-19 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot

-26 Tishrei 5774

-28 Elul 5773

-6 Tishrei 5774-7:30 PM Ritual Meeting

-13 Tishrei 5774

-20 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot

-29 Elul 5773-Erev Rosh Hashanah

-7 Tishrei 5774

-14 Tishrei 5774-Erev Sukkot

-21 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot-7:30 PM Simchat Torah Service

-1 Tishrei 5774-Rosh Hashanah -- see page 6 for service times

-8 Tishrei 5774-6:15 PM Staff Meeting

-15 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot-JFC Closed-7:30 PM Board Meeting

-22 Tishrei 5774-Shemini Atzeret-JFC Closed

-2 Tishrei 5774-Rosh Hashanah -- see page 6 for service times

-9 Tishrei 5774-Erev Yom Kippur-Kol Nidre Services 8 PM

-16 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot-7:30 PM Shabbat Service

-23 Tishrei 5774-7:30 PM Shabbat Service

-3 Tishrei 5774

-10 Tishrei 5774-Yom Kippur-10:30 AM Youth Group HDD service

-17 Tishrei 5774-Sukkot-9:45 AM Shabbat Service-10:30 AM J-BLT: Jewish Brunch and Learn Torah

-24 Tishrei 5774-10 AM Chloe Carson Bat Mitzvah

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AnniversariesBrian Besterman & Alison Ganis

David & Jennifer Ceisler

David & Marina Fried

Michael Gitlitz & Rita Landman

Drew & Mindy Hoffman

Joel & Laura Kaplan

Peter & Jamie Kaplan

Jeffrey & Elizabeth Klotz

Matthew Meister & Dafne Sanchez-Aldama

Andrew & Nicole Rose


BirthdaysSusan Andrade

Alissa Auerbach

Michele Auerbach-Sherr

Sophia Barson

Heath Bender

Jeffrey Berg

Isabella Berland

Matthew Berland

Ella Blum

Zachary Brand

Chloe Carson

Jennifer Ceisler

Sarah Dash

Noah Falconer

Sophia Firestein

Bryon Friedman

Abigail Gabor

Kevin Goldman

Michael Gottlieb

Mindy Hoffman

Meryl Honig

Allison Junquera

Lucas Kane

Elana Kaplan

Gregory Kaplan

Zachary Kaplan

Rachel Kurlander

Henriette Kutscher

Tyler Leitner

Roy Lerner

Sherry Levin Wallach

Eric Levine

Ruth Ossher

Douglas Paulding

Julie Portnoy

Samantha Rai

Ginger Schwartz

Pat Shafer

Kody Shafer

Jessica Sheptin

Marcia Sher-Kalter

Andrea Shulman

Jonathan Storfer

Bonnie Wattles

Gabriel Zuckerberg

Edith Blumenthal

Donna Ellen Brown

Emery Ceisler

Murray Emmer

Gertrude Fischberg

Dr. Joseph Fried

Sonia Goodstein

Stanley Gottlieb

Sidney Greene-Simone

Dorothy Himoff

Max Kalb

Sidney Kirstein

Rose Margolis

Mordecai Lester Mendell

Cathy Jo Raynor

Harold Redman

Roslyn Rosenthal

Stanley Slone

Anita Stein

Herbert Storfer

Leopold Weisberg

Dudley Emerson Westlake

Yarhzeits


Youth Group Board-Elected Members- 5774Please welcome all of these wonderful volunteers elected to the following positions for this

school year to represent JFC…

Sam Blum, PresidentJacob Furic, Religious/Cultural VP

Jeremy and Sam Fischer, Co-Chairs, VPs of Programming

Isaiah Blum, VP for CommunicationsSam Ceisler, VP for Membership

Reyna Cohen and Shoshana Chipman, Co-Chairs, VPs for Social Action

Greg and Zach Kaplan, Co-Chairs, Freshman Reps

(Andrew Blum & Jessica Sheptin, photographed below, have graduated and moved on to college.)

Youth Group


The Early Childhood Center at JFC 111 Smith Ridge Road South Salem, NY 10590

914-763-3028 Jfcearlychildhoodcenter.org

Application for 2013-2014 School Year

Child’s Name __________________________________________ Gender ________Date of Birth ___________________________ Home Street Address____________________________________ Town/State/Zip Code____________________________________ Home Phone ___________________________________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address __________________ Parent Name___________________________ Cell Phone ______________ email address __________________ Siblings - Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Name: _______________________ birthdate_____ Please Check One: 2’s 2 day __________ M – W – F 9:15 am—12:00 pm circle days

2’s 3 day __________ M – W – F 9:15 am—12:00 pm 3’s 4 day __________ M – T – W - F 9:15 am– 12:00 pm 4’s 4 day __________ M – T – W - F 9:15 am– 12:00 pm

Tuition Information $250 Non – refundable registration fee must accompany this form. Tuition is as follows: 2 day 2 payments of $1400.00 total tuition $ 2,800.00 3 day 3 payments of $1400.00 total tuition $ 4,200.00 4 day 3 payments of $1800.00 total tuition $ 5,400.00


2013-14 EARLYCHILDHOOD CENTERCHALLAH PROGRAM

baked by:Steve’s Bagels in Ridgefield

As you enter JFC ECC each Friday morning the smell of

FRESHLY BAKED CHALLAH

fills the air.Would you like to make Shabbat a special time in your home? You

can bring a

FRESHLY BAKED CHALLAH

home with you each Friday.Your child will get excited about finding a challah in his/her cubby

and bringing it home to share with family and friends.

*** You do not have to have a child in the ECC to participate....Challah will be available to pick up on Friday at JFC... maybe we

can find a way to deliver it to your door. CALL TODAY!**September 20- May 16

(No challah on days off and Passover!)

PROCEEDS GO TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER CHECK SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO JFC ECC AND RETURNED TO JANE.

School year cost: $180 (30 Weeks $6.00 per challah)


Bringing Camp to Israel (URJ HARLAM)By Sam Blum

I want to tell you that this trip has truly been the most wonderful experience of my life. It changed me as a stu-

dent, a Jew, a friend, and a person. I was able to somewhat comprehend the recent struggles of the Jewish people through

our visit to Prague and Poland. In Israel, we retraced the steps of the Biblical Israelites as we hiked through the breathtak-

ing Negev Desert, sleeping under the stars each night. I was a pilgrim in Jerusalem, visiting the Kotel, the most holy place

in our entire faith. I brought history to life as I helped uncover a city that had been buried under the earth for thousands

of years, while others trained for the army, hiked from sea to sea, or helped out less fortunate members of the community.

With teens our own age from Israel, we explored the intricacies of the conflict that has cast its shadow over Israel since the

nation was formed.

The greatest thing about this entire trip, however, was the people I got to spend it with. I got to know everyone so

well. People from second session of URJ Camp Harlam who I had never met became my close friends. People from my

session who I had never talked to are now, some of my favorite people in the entire world. I even learned more about and

got closer to the people who were already my best camp friends. I feel so close to the people I’m standing with up here. I

know you have many opportunities to go to the Holy Land – with your family, with Birthright, etc. Please – go with camp.

Bring Camp Harlam to Israel. Become closer to your best friends. Having something in common with the people you

go with and getting to laugh and learn and sing and just have the time of your life with them is an experience unlike any

other.


Camp Meets Israelby Jacob Furic

In all of my years of Jewish Education and attending a Jewish summer camp, the importance of Israel and the

push for youth to go and travel to Israel is something I’m very familiar with. I’ve been consistently told about how Israel

is not merely a place to visit and to experience the local culture and see the sights, but rather something that will shape

one’s Judaism and personal identity. Seeing pictures and hearing stories of people who have been to Israel has given me

a mental image of what it must be like to go there, but I could never really fully understand without having ever been

myself.

The NFTY In Israel L’dor V’dor trip started me and my friends from URJ Camp Eisner off in Eastern Europe,

where we saw how Jewish life thrived in cities like Prague, and how those very ways of life were destroyed in the Ho-

locaust in cities like Krakow and Warsaw. This first week of the trip brought us to the concentration camps of Teresien-

stadt and Auscwhitz-Birkenau where we saw the utter devastation of the European Jewish people. While it was a sad and

shocking experience, it only made the feat of Israel even more amazing.

All of the teachings and retelling of stories from the Land of Israel could not prepare me for the experiences I

would have there for the next four weeks. Spending three days hiking in the Negev Desert, away from the busy world

around us with nobody except my group members brought not only myself closer with my friends, but with the land itself.

It gave me a personal connection to the land that I thought I wouldn’t ever have, and it kept me connected for the rest of

the trip as we visited beautiful cities such Akko, Tzfat, and of course Jerusalem. Exploring the local culture, praying at the

Kotel, spending a week with Israeli teenagers, it was all part of an extremely unique experience that has shaped my con-

nection with Judaism, with Israel, and even with myself.

I strongly recommend to future generations to take the opportunity to have their own experiences in a land which

I can’t even begin to describe how much it has shaped who I am. Israel should not be seen as a glorified tourist trap, but as

a land where the success of the Jewish people comes through. It is something that is definitely worth seeing!


Ritual CommitteeBy Michael Salpeter, Chairman

This year the members of the ritual committee have had to make the transition from the dog days of summer to the hectic pace of the High Holy Days in very short order. At the planned release time of this column Rosh Hashanah is merely days away. Before getting to the topic of the High Holy Days I want to take a moment to recap the activities of the summer. During July we conducted the initial service with Rabbi Burstein as our spiritual leader, we hosted a new member/meet the rabbi BBQ and had our regular Shabbat evening service on 2 other Fridays. We averaged about 100 attendees which is quite successful for July. In August we had a family service/pot luck dinner evening added to our usual lineup. We have gotten a lot of feedback from our members who have attended our services and it has been overwhelmingly positive in nature. People are pleased with the more upbeat pace of the service as well as the expansion in variety of the music. A few congregants have remarked to committee members that they do not feel as comfortable with some of the newer melodies as they did with the old standards. The rabbi and cantor share a common goal as do the members of our committee, that is for us as a community to learn a plethora of rich and varied traditions and to be able to share the breadth and depth of the traditions with each other. We are encouraging feedback from you at all times - you may bring your thoughts to any of the committee members or discuss your ideas directly with Rabbi Burstein who is always open for dialogue.

Just a few reminders for the high Holy Days – please remember to bring your tickets as they

are required for admission to our grounds for security reasons. Flashlights are a good idea for the nighttime services as some areas of our parking lots are less brightly lit than others. If you have been given an honor for any of the services, please check in with our ushers who will be positioned at the entrance to the tent. Extraneous noises carry quite well through the tent so please keep conversations at a low volume in and around the tent. The youth group has been preparing an excellent service geared towards the pre-bnai mitzvah crowd which they will present on both the First morning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning. Childcare is available free of charge for all services with the exception of the Rosh Hashanah evening services and Kol Nidre service.

We have made a few modifications for our High Holy Day services. The rabbi has worked to keep the length of the service within a more compact time frame. We are finalizing plans for a new site for tashlich as our previous location is no longer available. As soon as they are firmed up we will let everybody know the new location. The most significant change occurs during the Second Day Rosh Hashanah service. We will hold this service in the sanctuary as we did last year – this gives a more intimate feel considering the smaller turnout that we get historically vis-a-vis the first day. The CCAR has published a draft version of their new High Holy Days prayer book which is a companion to the Mishkan Tefila which we use each Shabbat. Rabbi Burstein is working on obtaining that draft to be utilized for the second day service to present a totally different flavor than we

Page Jewish Family Congregation Shofar September 2013 Elul 5773/ Tishrei 5774 Jewish Family Congregation Shofar Page27get from our usual mahzor. He is also lining up speakers to present their path that Judaism has taken each of them on. Then to wrap up an exciting day, the ritual committee will be hosting a catered dairy luncheon in the garden room immediately following services. There will be a nominal per person charge for this meal and more details will be forthcoming (if they have not already by the time of release of this article).

All in all, we have witnessed some great energy at JFC over the past 2 months and plan to continue this vibe through the High holy Days and beyond.

I look forward to personally greeting as many of you as possible in and around our tent.L’Shana tovah

DonationsMusic and Choir Fund

Gottlieb Family----------In honor of Kathy Storfer’s Shomer Shirah Award

Mark and Debbie Lavin----------In honor of Kathy Storfer’s Shomer Shirah Award

General Fund

Josh and Michelle Blum----------In loving memory of Richard Glass and Jerry Blum

Repairing the World at the Religious School2012-13 School Tzedakah Program Donations

Donation letters and funds were distributed this summer (or earlier) to the following organizations as part of the RS pro-gram. Last fall, students and their teachers decided which charities/organizations to support. Thank you to everyone for making this an important part of your child’s life! Please share this information with your RS child.Grades K/1- Donation to The Bronx ZooGrade 2 (Ellen Elias’ class)-Somers Meals on WheelsGrade 2 (Rona Salpeter’s class)-Esther’s Aid (Rwandan children’s organization)Grade 3- (Linda Paulding’s class)-Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Child Life Services DepartmentGrade 3 (Ruth Ossher’s class)-Feeding America/Thanksgiving Drive Grade 4- all- Defenders of WildlifeGrade 5- all- Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR)Grade 6- all- Community Center of Northern Westchester/Clothing DriveGrade 7-all- SPCA of Westchester/Items for animals, collected & delivered

Thanks again to everyone!!


Social Action CommitteeSocial Action Committee needs help!The Blood Drive is November 11. We need some people to help out -- put up some posters the week before around town or make phone calls to past donors, and someone to help out on the day of the drive, even one or two hours. Please let [email protected] know if you can volunteer a couple of hours, at your convenience. It is such an important mitzvah. B’nai Mitzvah students: helping with the blood drive could be a good mitzvah project.

We need help sorting and labeling the donated clothing for the Midnight Run. You can arrange to take a bag or two home and work on it at your convenience. PLEASE let [email protected] know if you can do this. And if you mentioned it to me before, please let me know again now! This could also be a good Mitzvah Project for a B’nai Mitzvah student, a good Scouting project, or community service project for school.

The next Midnight Run has not been scheduled but it will be late fall or early winter.

2013-14 Religious School First Class Meeting Dates

Thursday, 9/12K-3: 4:15-6 PM (Parents invited 5:30-6 PM)

Confirmation: 6:15-7:15 PMStudent Mentor Program: 3:30-6:00 PM

Sunday, 9/15Grades 4-6: 9 AM-12 PM (Parents invited 11:30 AM-12PM)

Monday, 9/16Grade 7: 3:15 PM at JFC (Food Drive, not a regular class)


Jewish Family Congregation 5774 - HIGH HOLY DAYS SERVICES - 2013

(Services take place in the JFC tent unless otherwise noted.) TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SERVICES

ROSH HASHANAH ROSH HASHANAH EVENING Wednesday,September 4 8:00 p.m. ROSH HASHANAH MORNING* Thursday, September 5 10:00 a.m. SPECIAL SERVICES Youth Service (ages 7-pre-B'nai Mitzvah) 10:30 a.m.

JFC Sanctuary Tashlikh location to be determined 1:30 p.m. Children's Service (families with children under age 7) 2:30 p.m.

JFC Tent ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 EVENING Thursday, September 5 8:00 p.m.

JFC Sanctuary ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 MORNING Friday, September 6 10:00 a.m.

JFC Sanctuary

YOM KIPPUR KOL NIDRE Friday, September 13 8:00 p.m. YOM KIPPUR DAY * Saturday,September 14 10:00 a.m. Healing Service 3:00 p.m. Concluding Services (Afternoon, Yikzor, and Neilah)* 4:00 p.m. SPECIAL SERVICES Youth Service (ages 7 - pre-B'nai Mitzvah) 10:30 a.m. JFC Sanctuary Children's Service (families with children under age 7) 2:00 p.m.

JFC Tent * Childcare available in building

Jewish Family Congregation 111 Smith Ridge Road/Rte. 123 South Salem, New York 10590

(914) 763-3028 Fax: (914) 763-3069

[email protected]


As we near the end of summer, there is so much to look back on. This past year marked the end of the new and improved JFC Sisterhood. JFC had a Women’s Group many years ago. It was a strong and vibrant group that lasted for many years and accomplished many things. But as things happened, participation waned and we decided to wait upon beginning again. In 2012, Nicole Rose, Ellen Goldstein, Linda Lederman, Cindy Carson and Su-san Shapiro decided to give the Women’s Group another try but this time we called ourselves JFC SISTERHOOD. The pur-pose of this group was to bring new life and vibrancy into JFC, which was something that was desperately needed. Over this last year we have accomplished so much.

We’ve had our many dinners, book clubs, honey sales and beauty nights. We have brought back a feeling of unity and “sister-hood” and for that we are extremely proud. Now that our second year is beginning, we have something more to be grateful for…our new Rabbi, Marcus Burstein. In just a few months, many of us have gotten to know Rabbi Burstein and are looking for-ward to developing a stronger relationship with him. We hope that he will join us on occasion for some of our activities and get to know us as a major component of the temple. AND, we hope that all of you will participate in what promises to be a fun and interesting fall. L’Shanah Tovah

JFC Sisterhood NewsBy Linda Lederman


The Parenting CenterEarly Childhood Center at Jewish Family Congregation

A FIRST SCHOOL EXPERIENCE… for toddlers (12months and up)

FRIDAYS 10:00-11:15 - classPLUS... 11:15 ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

SHABBAT WITH RABBI BURSTEIN

b Play, music, art and storiesb Snack, outdoor playb Spend time with your childb Explore Jewish heritage

Fridays 9/27-12/20

111 Smith Ridge Road/Rte. 123 [1 mile S of Rte. 35] South Salem, NY 10590

Please call Jane Emmer at 914-763-3028 x 15 with any questionsPARENTING CENTER REGISTRATION

Child‛s name______________________________DOB__________________Parent‛s name_________________________________________________Address_____________________________________________________________________________Home Phone_________________________ Cell: _________________________

Email: _________________________$180 Tuition must be paid in full with registration.


Non Profit Organization

Postage PAID

White Plains, NY Permit No. 9022

Current Resident Or

shofar - september 2013 - elul 5773/tishrei 5774

Documents

jewish calendar

ones jewish tradition

loved ones

traditional jewish practices

night shabbat services

mourners kaddish

kaddish yatom

hebrew calendar