MAZAL TOV Alana Warhit & Kevin Beckoff on their upcoming marriage

Samantha Zwick & Daniel Jacoby on their upcoming marriage

Dana Federbush & Eddie Karan on the Bar Mitzvah of their son William Gabriel

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS

Dana Markow and David Pfeffermann

Thank you to our CSS members whose efforts help maintain a safe shul for our community.

The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning 131 W. 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 • www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

MAY 25, 2019 • 20 IYYAR 5779 • PARSHAT BEHAR

The Jewish Center SHABBAT BULLETIN

WOMEN’S TEHILLIM GROUP: Monday, June 17th, 2019 at 7:15PM

Contact Joyce Weitz for more info. at 212-877-1176

Sunday May 26 7:45AM Daf Yomi 8:30AM Shacharit 8:05M Minchah Mon May 20 Memorial Day 8:30AM Shacharit 7:45AM Daf Yomi 8:05PM Minchah

Tues. May 28-Thur May 30 7/8AM Shacharit 7:45AM Daf Yomi 8:05PM Minchah Friday May 31 7/8AM Shacharit 7:45AM Daf Yomi 7/8PM Minchah 8:01PM Candle-lighting

DAILY SERVICE TIMES

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS SHABBAT SCHEDULE

EREV SHABBAT 7:00PM Minchah with Chazzan Daniel Colthof 7:56PM Candle-lighting SHABBAT 7:45AM Hashkama 8:30AM Rabbi Israel Silverstein Morning Midrash with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind (will resume next week) 9:00AM Shacharit 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Noach Goldstein, Shemitat Kesafim: The Original Debt Cancellation? 10:00AM Youth Groups 4:00PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Ave.) 6:55PM Daf Yomi 7:00PM Shabbat afternoon Meet and Greet with Chazzan Colthof 7:45PM Minchah Seudah Shlishit with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind 8:56PM Shabbat Concludes THANK YOU TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Community Kiddush: Alex & Miriam Gutwein Klein in commemoration of the 21st yahrzeit of Miriam's father, Samuel Gutwein, Reb Yehoshua ben Yitzchak

Welcome Chazzan Daniel Colthof Shabbat, May 24th-25th

The Jewish Center is pleased to welcome Chazzan Daniel and Sarit Colthof to our community for a Probah

Weekend. Chazzan Colthof will lead us in davening throughout Shabbat as well meet and greet with our members

throughout the weekend. Please make every effort to join us for Shabbat, including:

Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:00PM Shabbat Morning Davening at 9:00AM

Shabbat Afternoon Meet and Greet at 7:00PM Seudah Shlishit at 8:15PM

Celebrate Israel Parade Sunday, June 2nd at 11:00AM

Please join us at the Celebrate Israel Parade, one week from Sunday. Mazal tov to our very own Ted Comet,

founder of the Parade, who will be serving as Honorary Grand Marshal this year.

Complimentary tickets for our members are available through the JCRC. To order tickets contact silversteing@jcrcny.org

8th Annual Keter Torah Award Ceremony

Shabbat, June 1st at 11:15AM Honoring

Joyce Weitz and Rona Steinerman (see page 2 for more information)

JC RESIDENT SCHOLAR SEARCH

UPCOMING EVENTS

8th Annual Keter Torah Award Ceremony

Shabbat, June 1st at 11:15AM Honoring

Joyce Weitz and Rona Steinerman

We celebrate the two great Jewish heroines, Naomi and Ruth, over Shavuot. And, just prior to the holiday, The Jewish Center family continues to show its high regard for two women, who have demonstrated their good names through outstanding leadership and commitment, with the Keter Torah Award ceremony. We are delighted that this year’s Keter T o r a h r e c i p i e n t s a r e J o y c e Weitz and Rona Steinerman. On June 1st, following Shabbat morning services, we will honor them in The Jewish Center’s main sanctuary. Please mark your calendars and join us! If you would like to acknowledge the women of our synagogue, as well as our honorees, please visit the Keter Torah event page at jewishcenter.org. Your donation will contribute towards honoring these women, as well as towards supporting the work of The Jewish Center.

Keter Torah Sponsor: $180 Rimon Sponsor: $72

Dear Fellow Members, Our Annual Meeting is a time to learn more about the way we operate our Center, review our finances, honor outgoing Board members and welcome new Board members. This short meeting is an important part of synagogue governance and I hope you will be able to attend so you can listen to our reports, ask questions and grab a little nosh. Nominees for the Board of Trustees are: Andrew Borodach, Arthur G. Degen, Steve Graber, Ira Kellman, Barbara Messer, Avi Schwartz and Adina Spiro Wagman. Nominees for the Administrative Committee are: Tehillah Blech, Michelle Chrein, Becca Herman, David Pfeffermann, Barbara Reiss, Rose Lynn Sherr, Grant Silverstein, Daniel Solomons and Ari Stein. The meeting will be held on Wednesday June 12th at 8:30pm.

As Ora Weinbach will begin her studies at Yale Divinity School in August, The Jewish Center is launching a search for a JC Resident Scholar. This is a female leadership position designed to engage with and connect to our entire community with a special focus on the many women in the community. The complete job description is posted on our website under “JC Updates”.

Resumes may be sent to and inquiries may be made of Adina Wagman, Aliza Herzbergand Andrew Borodach at residentscholarsearch@jewishcenter.org.

Steal of a Deal Riverdale, Fieldston House

5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 1 maid’s room Ready To Move In

Kitchen with double appliances. Top of the line throughout.

Priced at $1.295M Call Fran Kupietzky at Douglas Elliman 917-566-2401

Or Irene Simon at Douglas Elliman 347-992-8611

ANNUAL MEETING

JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY For more information visit our website or contact Rabbi Dovid Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org

TUESDAY

Talmud Class Rabbi Noach Goldstein 7:45AM–8:30AM Nosh and Drash With Dr. Adena Berkowitz 10:15AM-11:30AM

Sadye & Henry Bayer Tanakh Class: Power and Faith: Revisiting David and Golyat Rabbi Noach Goldstein 8:30PM-9:30PM

WEDNESDAY

Kindness and Kingship: Studies in Megillat Rut Rabbi Dovid Zirkind 11:00AM-12:00PM Mishna 101 (will resume next week) Ora Weinbach, Community Educator 7:00PM-8:00PM

SAVE THE DATE

The Greatest Controversies in Jewish History Explained

Rabbi Elchanan Poupko Wednesdays June 12-26 at 7:00PM

(followed by Mincha/Maariv) Week 1: Hillel and Shammai Week 2: Pharisees Vs. Sadducees Week 3: Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi Rabbi Elchanan Poupko is a rabbi, teacher and writer. He teaches in Park East Day School and is the president of EITAN-The American Israeli Jewish Network.

Honor Our Heroes To mark Memorial Day and Fleet Week, The Jewish Center was honored once again this year to partner with UJA and Jewish communal organizations to honor our military heroes -- those who gave the last full measure of devotion in service to our country or lived out their lives as veterans. The program included a presentation from Major General Larry S. Taylor, USMCR (Ret.) and Hannah Deutch, registered nurse in the British Army (1941-1944). We recognized the courage and selfless service of our brothers and sisters who have dedicated themselves to our great nation. Thank you to all those who participated.

11:45PM Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Extreme Makeover Shul Edition: Building (and Renovating)

The Perfect Shul In Jewish Law & Thought

1:00AM Rabbi Noach Goldstein To Your Perfect Health: Medication, Vaccination,

and the Halakhot of Communal Responsibility

2:15AM Ora Weinbach The Messy Messianic Line:

Imperfection on the Path to Redemption

3:30AM Rabbi Elie Buechler The Perfect Commitment:

Conversion in Halacha and Jewish Thought

The Herb Lauer Tikkun Leil Shavuot תמימת תהיינה

Judaism and The Pursuit of Perfection Motzei Shabbat, June 8th

The Hanno Mott Lecture on Contemporary Jewish Ethics Thank you to all who joined us for this year's Ethics Lecture featuring Dr. Kenneth Prager of Columbia University and Rabbi Dr. David Shabtai of The Boca Raton Synagogue. The conversation focused on the science, halacha and ethics of brain death and its implication for organ donation and the future of medical ethics. Rabbi Shabtai's book Defining the Moment, Understanding Brain Death in Halakha, is available for purchase on Amazon for those who would like to learn more.

ISRAEL UPDATE May 24, 2019

Most of Congress Urges Trump: Safeguard Israel’s Interests with Syrian Civil War Ending

Nearly 400 members of Congress signed a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to safeguard Israel’s interests with Syria’s civil war coming to an end, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. The letter sent Monday from members of the House of Representatives and the Senate urged Trump to ensure that Israel has the support and materiel to maintain its qualitative military edge in the region. It also wants economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia and Iran to retreat from their support for the Assad regime, and intensifying sanctions on Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist militia that is Iran’s ally. “With the region in flux, it remains critical that we reiterate to both friend and foe in the region that we continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself,” it said. The letter was spearheaded by the top foreign policy lawmakers in each chamber: Reps. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, its ranking Republican; and Sens. James Risch, R-Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., its ranking Democrat. Our synagogue partners with AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby, in educating our community on issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship. We encourage you to learn more by contacting AIPAC at (202) 639-5200 or by visiting www.aipac.org.

Yosie Levine Rabbi

Dovid Zirkind Associate Rabbi

Noach Goldstein Assistant Rabbi

Chaim David Berson

Cantor

Ora Weinbach Community Educator

Eliezer Buechler William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Aaron Strum

Executive Director

Batsheva Leibtag Director of

Programming and Communications

Sarah Cromwell Youth Director

OFFICERS Andrew Borodach

President

Mark Segall First Vice President

Len Berman Vice President

Aliza Herzberg Vice President

Michael Jacobs Vice President

Scott Black Treasurer

Daniel Solomons Assistant Treasurer

Naomi Goldman Secretary

LOCAL RESOURCES

Yoetzet Halacha Shiffy Friedman

nycyoetzet@gmail.com 646-598-1080

Jewish Center Chevra Kadisha

212-724-2700 x555

UWS Mikvah 212-579-2011

Hatzoloh 212-230-1000

Eruv Status 212-724-2700 x4

“But words can never hurt me…” Parshat Behar 5779

Ora Weinbach, Community Educator

Parshat Behar focuses primarily on laws related to financial matters. The beginning of the parsha relates the laws of shmittah and yovel. Many commentators have observed how these laws contribute to the financial security of all Bnei Yisrael. The parsha then continues to discuss how to redeem land sold by a destitute Israelite, the prohibition against charging interest, and laws relating to indentured servitude. In this section, we are commanded, “When you make a sale to your neighbor, or you make a purchase from the hand of your neighbor, a man should not oppress his brother.” (25:14) In the context, this oppression is clearly some kind of financial manipulation. Perhaps the seller knows he is overcharging, or the buyer knows he is severely underpaying. In these circumstances, the Torah makes it quite clear that we are expected to be honest in financial transactions. It is therefore perplexing that almost the exact same commandment is reiterated just three verses later! “A man should not oppress his neighbor.” (25:17) Why does the Torah repeat this commandment? Rashi addresses this apparent redundancy by distinguishing between the verses. While the first verse relates to financial oppression, the second prohibits verbal oppression. This includes actions

like belittling a friend or giving bad advice. Sforno expands the category of verbal oppression to include any form of deception, and explicitly states that this commandment applies even in situations with no monetary ramification. This answer, however, raises another question: why is a commandment about verbal communication, seemingly an interpersonal-moral law, included in a section of the Torah which deals exclusively with monetary regulations? Why does the Torah use such similar language in prohibiting both hurtful words and shady business deals? Perhaps the text is suggesting that verbally damaging someone must be taken just as seriously as damaging someone's financial status. We more readily recognize the concrete damage inflicted on another person’s bank account by a manipulative transaction. However, verbal slurs, snide remarks, and hateful speech can be just as painful. Deep down, we all know that the adage “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is just false. In a digital age, when our words spread faster and farther than ever before, when hate speech and cyberbullying pepper our news feeds, the Torah reminds us of the importance of careful, kind speech. It is always a necessary and welcome reminder.