Temple Emanu-El Bulletin Volume 87, No. 3 WORSHIP SERVICES SUNDAY вЂ” THURSDAY 5:30 PM вЂў Marvin & Elisabeth Cassell Community House (One East 65th Street) FRIDAY EVENING Fifth Avenue Sanctuary Organ RecitalвЂ”5:45 PM Service BeginsвЂ”6 PM SATURDAY MORNING Sixth Floor Lounge (One East 65th Street) Torah StudyвЂ”9:15 AM Fifth Avenue Sanctuary Organ RecitalвЂ”10:15 AM Service BeginsвЂ”10:30 AM K. Scott Warren, Organist/Choir Director Dr. Andrew Henderson, Associate Organist Daniel Beckwith, Assistant Organist Services may be heard live or by podcast through the Temple website at www.emanuelnyc.org. Follow the вЂњListen to the Broadcast of ServicesвЂќ link from the Home Page. A hearing loop is installed in the Fifth Avenue Sanctuary and the Beth-El Chapel; switch aid to T-coil. Headsets or neck loops also are available. November 2014 Make Your Vote Count! Rabbi Amy B. Ehrlich вЂњIN EVERY PLACE THAT I TRAVEL, IвЂ™m traveling to Israel,вЂќ so said Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. Since this past summerвЂ™s conflict, Israel has been a part of our conversations more than ever. While we think about ways to support Israel during times of strife, there is another Israel that is revealed when the crises abate. It is a nation living with day-to-day complexities shaped by politics and faith. From a distance, we may wonder what we can do to support and encourage a country with which we have an undeniable and enduring connection. One of those routine tasks is voting. Just as we treat the opportunity to vote as one of our greatest civic rights and a way to shape our nationвЂ™s public agenda, we now have a similar opportunity to strengthen Reform Judaism in Israel by registering to vote in the World Zionist Congress elections, to be held in 2015. So much rests in the balance, and every vote has the potential to be influential in matters of religious pluralism, womenвЂ™s rights and attitudes toward peace. Established in 1897, the World Zionist Organization (WZO) first was convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland, with the goal of creating a Jewish state. Every four years, the WZO convenes a congress that functions as a nongovernmental organization (NGO), an advisory body to help the Jewish Agency for Israel determine how to allocate its resources for religious institutions. Our Reform representative, ARZA, the Reform Israel Fund, originally was created just to have a seat at the table! In the most recent election, of the 145 American delegates, 56 were from the Reform Movement. Delegates are selected on a proportional basis, determined by the outcome of the electionвЂ¦so you and your (continued on page 10) Worship & Spirituality Community Worship Services WEEKLY TORAH PORTION LECH LвЂ™CHA (Genesis 12:1-17:27) Read Saturday, November 1 SYNOPSIS: God calls Abram; promises him Canaan; Abram goes to Canaan, but famine drives him to Egypt; returns to Canaan; Abram rescues Lot; Ishmael born; circumcision commanded as symbol of covenant. FRIDAY DвЂ™VAR TORAH: Rabbi Amy Ehrlich SATURDAY SERMON: Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman VAYEIRA (Genesis 18:1-22:24) Read Saturday, November 8 SYNOPSIS: God promises a son to Abraham and Sarah; Abraham argues for Sodom and Gomorrah; cities are destroyed; birth of Isaac; Hagar banished; binding of Isaac. FRIDAY DвЂ™VAR TORAH: Rabbi Joshua Davidson SATURDAY SERMON: Rabbinic Intern Alexis Pinsky CHAYEI SARAH (Genesis 23:1-25:18) Read Saturday, November 15 SYNOPSIS: Sarah dies; Abraham buys a burial plot; Isaac and Rebecca marry; Abraham takes a new wife; Abraham dies. 2 (continued on top of page 3) TEMPLE EMANU-EL IS PLEASED to offer the following special events. Attendance is open to all Temple members and their guests. No tickets are required. VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION SHABBAT Friday, November 7 вЂў 6 PM вЂў Fifth Avenue Sanctuary All members of the Temple (adults, teens and children) who have volunteered in some capacityвЂ”whether it is making and delivering meals to those in need or serving as an usher or readerвЂ”are encouraged to join us at Sabbath services and the Oneg Shabbat that follows for a special blessing and to kick off Mitzvah Day activities. (Learn more about Mitzvah Day on pages 6 and 7 В») If you are a Temple volunteer and are planning to attend, then please contact Indira Tiwari at (212) 744-1400, ext. 222 or itiwari@emanuelnyc.org. (Include your contact information and the number of people in your party in any message.) VETERANS SHABBAT Friday, November 14 вЂў 6 PM вЂў Fifth Avenue Sanctuary Members of our congregation who have served in the military are invited to be part of a special blessing in honor of Veterans Day. Our special guest will be Rabbi Harold L. Robinson, Rear Admiral, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Ret., and director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council. If you are a veteran and are planning to attend this special service, please contact Indira Tiwari at (212) 744-1400, ext. 222 or itiwari@emanuelnyc.org. (Include your contact information and the number of people in your party.) Note: During the summer of 2014, Temple Emanu-ElвЂ™s Philanthropic Committee made a significant donation to the Jewish ChaplainвЂ™s Council in order to assure the completion of a sefer Torah (Torah scroll) in time for the High Holy Days. The Torah was sent to Okinawa to serve the U.S. Marine Corps community and Joint U.S. Forces there and to travel with deployed units of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. THANKSGIVING SERVICE Wednesday, November 26 вЂў 5:30 PM вЂў Greenwald Hall (One East 65th Street) Our worship service for Thanksgiving will be held the night before the holiday, as part of our Sunset Service, which is led by the Readers Panel under the auspices of the MenвЂ™s Club. Our clergy will officiate. (Learn about our Thanksgiving volunteer activities on page 7 В») SDG Psalms Project IN AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION, Temple Emanu-El and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine have joined forces to present the world premiere of two choral works commissioned by Soli Deo Gloria, an international organization preserving the sacred masterpieces of the past, promoting classical sacred concerts around the world, and creating classical sacred music for future generations. How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place (Psalm 84) by Victoria Bond and I Will Fear No Evil (Psalm 23) by Paul Moravec will be performed by the two choirs on the Temple Emanu-El bimah on Friday, November 21 as part of the 6 PM worship service in the Fifth Avenue Sanctuary. A second performance of the pieces will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Sunday, November 23 at 4 PM. Both services are open to the public, and all are welcome. K. Scott Warren will conduct both pieces on November 21; Kent Tritle, director of Cathedral Music, will conduct on November 23. Cantor Lori Corrsin will be joined at the pulpit by the Rev. Dr. James Kowalski, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Victoria Bond, in a dual career as composer and conductor, has composed for opera and dance, as well as orchestra and vocal, choral and instrumental ensembles. Asked about her choice to set the text of Psalm 84, Bond says, вЂњPsalm 84 has appealed to me ever since I encountered it in the Brahams Requiem. It expresses the profound appreciation I feel for the natural world and the exaltation that sweeps over me during walks when I contemplate the beauty of our planet.вЂќ Paul Moravec, winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in Music, has composed more than 100 orchestral, chamber, choral, lyric, film and electro-acoustic compositions. His music has been described as вЂњtuneful, ebullient and wonderfully energeticвЂќ (San Francisco Chronicle), вЂњriveting and fascinatingвЂќ (NPR), and вЂњassured, virtuosicвЂќ (Wall Street Journal). The New York Times has praised his quartet, Vince & Jan: 1945, with, вЂњThis masterly miniature conveyed warm nostalgia, buoyant swing and wartime unease.вЂќ (Photo by Joanna Eldredge) How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place (Psalm 84) and I Will Fear No Evil (Psalm 23) have been commissioned by Soli Deo Gloria, Inc., as part of SDGвЂ™s Psalms Project. Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Psalms Project is a collection of 15 contemporary choral works by the worldвЂ™s foremost composers expressing the text of the Hebrew Psalter in the Western Art music tradition for a 21st century audience. (sdgmusic.org) FRIDAY DвЂ™VAR TORAH: Rabbi Harold L. Robinson, Rear Admiral, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Ret., and director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council (В« See Veterans Shabbat) SATURDAY SERMON: Rabbinic Intern Alexis Pinsky TOLвЂ™DOT (Genesis 25:19-28:9) Read Saturday, November 22 SYNOPSIS: Birth of Esau and Jacob; Esau sells Jacob his birthright; Jacob steals EsauвЂ™s blessing; Jacob flees to escape EsauвЂ™s anger. FRIDAY DвЂ™VAR TORAH: Cantor Lori Corrsin and the Rev. Dr. James Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral of St. John the Divine (В« See SDG Psalms Project) SATURDAY SERMON: Rabbi Joshua Davidson NOTE: Our monthly Shir Chadash service will be held at 6 PM on Friday, November 21 in the Lowenstein Sanctuary (10 East 66th Street). Rabbinic Intern Carlie Daniels will deliver the DвЂ™var Torah. VAYEITZEI (Genesis 28:10-32:3) Read Saturday, November 29 SYNOPSIS: Jacob dreams about the ladder stretched between heaven and earth; Jacob meets Rachel; Jacob works for Laben for 14 years, marrying his daughters Leah and then Rachel; after much strife, Jacob makes peace with Laben. FRIDAY DвЂ™VAR TORAH: Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman SATURDAY SERMON: Rabbi Amy Ehrlich 3 CLUB 65: FOR SENIORS Tuesday, November 11 вЂў 11 AM Senior Rabbi Joshua Davidson returns to present another in his series of theological discourse. The rabbiвЂ™s presentation last year on various Jewish philosophies and their effect on theology was widely hailed as one of the clubвЂ™s most stimulating programs. Tuesday, December 9 вЂў 11 AM For our December event, Club 65 features a presentation by MenвЂ™s Club board member Dr. Arthur H. Schore, who will share how a deeply personal crisis led to writing his first novel about the American West. What began as a dare has led to interesting new developments. Membership in Club 65 is free and open to all Temple members age 65 and forward. If you would like more information, please call the Temple Office at (212) 744-1400. Community Remembering 9/11 THE NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL MUSEUM serves as the countryвЂ™s principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the effect of those events and exploring 9/11вЂ™s continuing significance. The museumвЂ™s 110,000 square feet of exhibition space is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center siteвЂ” telling the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts. All Temple members are invited to join the WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary on Tuesday, November 18 at 10:30 AM for a guided tour of this educational and historial institution. Lunch will follow at Stephen StarrвЂ™s restaurant El Vez. The charge for this event is $95 for WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary and MenвЂ™s Club members, $105 for all other Temple members and guests. Space is limited. Reservations are needed by November 13. QUESTIONS? Call (212) 744-1400, ext. 235 or email womaux@emanuelnyc.org. Is New York a Future Detroit? WITH MORE THAN 40 YEARS of experience negotiating on behalf of municipal agencies and serving in key financial posts, the Hon. Richard Ravitch sees the stress on our cities from an insiderвЂ™s perspective. At a breakfast sponsored by the MenвЂ™s Club on Sunday, November 23 at 10 AM, Mr. Ravitch will discuss our cityвЂ™s financial crisis and what he views as our prospects, as well as provide a call-to-action. 4 The charge for this event is $30 for MenвЂ™s Club and WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary members, $35 for all other Temple members and guests. RSVP by November 15. QUESTIONS? Call (212) 7441400, ext. 250. Mr. Ravitch entered politics in the 1960s after law school and the Army. In 1975, he brokered the rescue of New York City from near-certain financial collapse. He has been chairman of the New York Urban Development Corporation, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, chairman of Bowery Savings Bank and lieutenant governor of New York. He recently served as court-appointed consultant in DetroitвЂ™s bankruptcy. He describes his lifeвЂ™s work in his 2014 book, So Much to Do. Copies of the book will be available at the event. 5 Mitzvah Day 2014 LEARNING, DOING, CARING: HOW MITZVOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE Sunday, November 9 вЂў 9:30 AM As our congregation prepares for Mitzvah Day, Religious School parents are invited to discover the different types of Jewish responsibilities and how we can fulfill them. RSVP to Rabbi Rena Rifkin at (212) 7441400, ext. 334. Questions should be directed to the Tikkun Olam Committee. Call (212) 744-1400, ext. 452 or send a message to tikkunolam@emanuelnyc.org. WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE The Tikkun Olam Committee currently is collecting winter coats and jackets, hats, gloves and scarves in all sizes for adults and children to be distributed throughout New York City by New York Cares. Items may be new or gently used. Donations may be brought to either the 65th Street or 66th Street lobby. THIS FALL, TEMPLE EMANU-EL WILL CELEBRATE its 10th Mitzvah Day on Sunday, November 9. Temple members of all ages are invited to join us at 10:30 AM (sharp!) in I. M. Wise Hall to celebrate with a brief congregational prayer and to participate in a variety of hands-on projects to benefit others in the community both here and Israel. Enter at One East 65th Street. A light breakfast will be served. Mitzvah Day participants are encouraged to join us at Sabbath services on Friday, November 7 at 6 PM and the Oneg Shabbat that follows, where we will celebrate our many Temple volunteers with a special blessing. If you are a Temple volunteer and planning to attend, please contact Indira Tiwari at (212) 744-1400, ext. 222 or itiwari@emanuelnyc.org. (Provide your contact information and the number of people in your party.) THANKSGIVING DINNER TEMPLE EMANU-EL ONCE AGAIN will serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Temple (on the day before the holiday) to senior citizens, cancer patients, and women and children from NYC homeless and domesticviolence shelters. WINTER WISHES THE HOLIDAY SEASON is a special time of year, filled with excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, many families do not have the means to purchase even the most basic holiday gifts. Temple Emanu-El has committed to fulfilling holiday вЂњwishesвЂќ of low-income children from the Association to Benefit Children, and we invite you to help make these wishes come true with the anonymous donation of a holiday gift. вЂњWishesвЂќ will be available for pick up from the Temple on Mitzvah Day (Sunday, November 9). Unwrapped gifts are to be dropped off to either the 65th Street or 66th Street lobby no later than December 2. (Please make sure your gift is in a bag clearly marked вЂњWinter WishesвЂќ and that you have provided the tracking number and childвЂ™s name.) Gifts will be wrapped on Sunday, December 7. All Temple members are invited to help with wrapping regardless of whether they selected a Winter Wish. Volunteers are needed from 2 PM to 6:15 PM on Wednesday, November 26 for setup, kitchen duty, greeting our guests, serving dinner and cleanup; we also need turkey carvers to help slice 20 turkeys. Starting at 4 PM, teens and вЂњtweensвЂќ are needed to chaperone and play with our youngest guests. We also are in need of people to make homemade baked goods (cookies, brownies, cupcakes...no nuts, please!) that can be served at the dinner. This is a wonderful mitzvah that you can do at home. Baked goods should be dropped off to the 65th Street lobby on Tuesday, November 25 or Wednesday, November 26 by 2 PM. Photos by Gary K. Deane 6 EMANU-ELвЂ™S вЂњMEALS ON WHEELSвЂќ Volunteers with cars are needed to assist with weekly deliveries of fresh meal bags to NY Common Pantry on Sunday afternoons. This mitzvah takes 30 minutes (or less) and enables the Temple to help feed NYCвЂ™s most hungry individuals. To learn more or to join the team, email tikkunolam@emanuelnyc.org. READ AHEAD LITERACY PROJECT Temple Emanu-El is joining forces with вЂњRead Ahead,вЂќ a reading-based mentoring program, that will enable congregants to donate one hour a week, during lunchtime, to read with a child who is not reading at grade level. QUESTIONS? Contact Tikkun Olam at (212) 744-1400, ext. 452. 7 ItвЂ™s Only a Play: MenвЂ™s Club Theater Event ONLINE LIBRARY CATALOG A new electronic version of the Stettenheim LibraryвЂ™s catalog now is available for use by Temple members from home or on a mobile device with web access. Browse through the libraryвЂ™s holdings to find books, music and DVDs. Newest acquisitions can be found on the electronic catalog homepage. Log on at www.emanuelnyc.org/ library_online. In order to borrow library materials, Temple members first must obtain a library card. Application forms are available at the library. Once you obtain a card, then a login name and password can be assigned for online access to e-books or to reserve a book for pickup in the library. LIGHTS IN THE FOREST: RABBIS RESPOND TO TWELVE ESSENTIAL JEWISH QUESTIONS This new publication from the Central Conference of American Rabbis (edited by Rabbi Paul Citrin) features thoughtful, personal essays about God, ethics, humanity, suffering, evil, the soul, after-life, interfaith dialogue, and more. Our very own Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman responds to four of the 12 questions. Learn more or order online at https://www.ccarpress.org. 8 THE MENвЂ™S CLUB HAS SECURED a limited number of orchestra seats to see the December 2 performance of ItвЂ™s Only A Play, in which Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane lead an all-star cast, including F. Murray Abraham, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Megan Mullally and Micah Stock. This hilarious ensemble comes together in a comedy written by four-time Tony winner Terrence McNally and directed by three-time Tony winner Jack OвЂ™Brien. Tickets are available to all Temple members and their guests. Charge is $175 per ticket. RSVP to the MenвЂ™s Club: (212) 744-1400, ext. 250 or mensclub@emanuelnyc.org. Museum Programs On View at the Museum... FROM OUR CURRENT EXHIBITION, вЂњJustify Your Existence,вЂќ Graphic Posters From the Moldovan Family Collection, now on view through January 2015: With the Workers of Zion, to Battle! Palestine, ca. 1923 THIS CAMPAIGN POSTER calls upon voters to cast their ballot (probably at the second Histadrut election, of 1923) for a unified slate of three relatively weak political groups: the left-wing faction of Poalei Zion, the Borochovian Opposition, and the вЂњNon-PartisanвЂќ party. The constant formation and dissolution of political parties on both the right and left with seemingly every shift in the political winds remains a part of Israeli politics to this day. Translation from Hebrew: With the workers of Zion, to the struggle! For a Histadrut that will fight! For the sake of Socialism! Left Workers of Zion, The Borochovian opposition, and вЂњNon-PartisansвЂќ Emanu-El Cares: Community as Family NAVIGATING THE LATER YEARS OF LIFE poses particular challenges for those without adult children or other close family. There is not the assurance and convenience of knowing a family member can be relied upon to help with critical decision-makingвЂ” someone who can be entrusted with keys, confidential documents and passwords, or who feels a responsibility to advocate for you during a hospital stay or other serious life event. In the absence of family, many will find themselves relying upon trusted friendships, professionals, and neighbors for emotional and practical support. These strong ties to the community will be critical. The ages of late 50s to early 70s can be a good time to look ahead and plan for the changes that inevitably will come. Temple members without children (singles and couples) who would like to discuss their concerns, as well as explore options and strategies, can meet in a relaxed environment at a special Emanu-El Cares meeting on Monday, December 8, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Enter at One East 65th Street. Light refreshments will be available, and there will be no commercial endorsements. RSVP to Rabbi EhrlichвЂ™s study: (212) 744-1400, ext. 206. Emanu-El Eats HARD TO BELIEVE fall is almost over and winter almost upon us. One of the nicest things about this time of year is the holidays...wonderful opportunities for gatherings of family and friends. Your Emanu-El Eats Committee shares a delightful, pass-around-the-table dessert recipe that also is a ready treat for holiday drop-ins and all the extra company your kids bring home during school holiday breaks. This recipe comes to us from congregant Penny Zorn Cohen. CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMOND CLUSTERS Makes about 36 to 40 almond clusters вЂў 8 ounces high-quality milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided вЂў 1ВЅ cups whole roasted skinless almonds (see note) 1. Line a couple of cookie sheets with wax paper. 2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt half the chocolate chips on high for about 30 seconds, stir and repeat until chocolate is just melted, about 1ВЅ minutes. 3. Stir in remaining chocolate chips until melted. Cool 3 minutes. 4. Stir in almonds, making sure they are well-coated. 5. Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto prepared cookie sheets; refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. These clusters will keep refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to one month. Note: If you cannot find dry-roasted, skinless almonds, then you can make your own by placing whole almonds in a 425ЛљF oven until nicely roasted and fragrant, about 10 minutes. If not using skinless almonds, rub almond skins off in a clean dish towel while still warm. Cool almonds before coating with chocolate. BOOK DISCUSSIONS Attendance at the following programs is free and open to all Temple members. MenвЂ™s Club Book Group Wednesday, November 5 вЂў 8:30 AM вЂў Out of Egypt: A Memoir by AndrГ© Aciman Wednesday, December 3 вЂў 8:30 AM вЂў Little Failure: A Memoir by Gary Shteyngart Stettenheim Literary Circle Wednesday, November 19 1 PM to 2:30 PM* / 6:30 PM to 8 PM вЂў Someone by Alice McDermott Wednesday, December 17 1 PM to 2:30 PM* / 6:30 PM to 8 PM вЂў A Country Doctor by Sarah Orne Jewett * Co-sponsored by the WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary JPS/Skirball Author Series* Thursday, November 20 вЂў 7 PM вЂў Jewish Meaning in a World of Choice: Studies in Tradition and Modernity by Rabbi David Ellenson Thursday, December 18 вЂў 7 PM вЂў As a Driven Leaf: The Heresy of Rabbi Elisha Ben Abuyah by Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz (This evening will feature a reading of a full-length play by Rabbi Schwartz based on the novel by Milton Steinberg.) * Reservations with the Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center are appreciated: (212) 507-9580 or info@emanuelskirballnyc.org. 9 VOTE (continued from page 1) vote are an essential part of helping shape an Israel that continues to be welcoming to Progressive and Reform interests. CLERGY Joshua M. Davidson, Senior Rabbi Amy B. Ehrlich, Associate Rabbi Benjamin J. Zeidman, Assistant Rabbi Lori A. Corrsin, Cantor Dr. Ronald B. Sobel, Senior Rabbi Emeritus Dr. David M. Posner, Senior Rabbi Emeritus Alexis Pinsky, Rabbinic Intern Carlie Daniels, Rabbinic Intern Richard Newman, Cantorial Intern OFFICERS John H. Streicker, President Susan S. Danoff, Vice President Marne Obernauer Jr., Vice President Robert A. Calinoff, Secretary Stephen T. Shapiro, Treasurer STAFF Cara L. Glickman, Vice President, Finance and Administration Mark H. Heutlinger, Administrator Robyn W. Cimbol, Senior Director, Development and Philanthropy Sherry Nehmer, Assistant Administrator Christine Manomat, Membership Saul Kaiserman, Director, Lifelong Learning Rachel Brumberg, Associate Director, Lifelong Learning Dr. Gady Levy, Executive Director, Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center Ellen Davis, Director, Nursery School Elizabeth F. Stabler, Temple Librarian, Ivan M. Stettenheim Library traditional Judaism. Their growth and low voter turnout can diminish our strength, visibility and the support of institutions that are vital to our Reform Movement. For those who do not have online access,Temple Emanu-El will make online voting possible on site, as well as provide paper ballots for those who find them more convenient. What else is at stake? Many of the same issues: вЂў Questions of Religious pluralismвЂ”We want Israel to be a place where Jews of all backgrounds and levels of observance can feel at home. вЂў Matters of conversion and those of marriage and divorceвЂ”Liberal (non-Orthodox) Jews should not have to conform to Orthodox standards when marking their most important life cycles. вЂў WomenвЂ™s rights and our equality in all aspects of Israeli society, including the rabbinate. вЂў Anti-racism and hate crime laws. вЂў The growth of Reform Judaism throughout the nation. Charles S. Salomon, Funeral Director Our commitment to Israel is further strengthened when we feel that it reflects ideals that embrace Progressive Judaism. So, I urge you to express your strong commitment to an Israel that is based on equality and pluralism by voting for Reform representation that can carry that message forward. Bulletin Editor/Webmaster Am Yisrael Chai. May Israel continue to thrive and prosper. вќЏ Warren Klein, Interim Curator, Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica Kathryn M. Roberts, 10 In the last five years, strong representation from the Reform delegates directed $20 million dollars (over five years) to fund Progressive Reform. Recipients included the Israel Movement for Reform Judaism; the Israel Religious Action Center, which fights for equal rights for women and for nontraditional World Zionist Congress Judaism; the World Union for Elections Progressive Judaism; the Reform Voting runs from January 15, 2015, kibbutzim; and Hebrew Union through April 30, 2015, online. It is open College in Jerusalem, which to all American Jews who will be 18 or trains our rabbis and cantors. The older in 2015. Registration fees are government also provided four new modest: $5 for those ages 17 to 29 buildings for Reform communities. and $10 for those 30 and older. More information can be found at But much of this is at risk because https://www.reformjews4israel.org/. demographics in Israel favor Life-Cycle Events FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, the act of consciously marking the major milestones in oneвЂ™s life is an important element of both personal and religious development. Similarly important are the rituals associated with these life-cycle events. The following students of our Religious School will become BвЂ™NEI MITZVAH: BAR/BAT MITZVAH PREPARATION Children must be enrolled in Religious School in order to celebrate bar or bat mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El. A date can be scheduled when a child is in fourth grade. To register your child for Religious School, call (212) 7441400, ext. 226. To schedule a date, call Sherry Nehmer at (212) 744-1400, ext. 312. A STUDENTвЂ™S STORY... This past summer, Religious School student Meredith Silfen visited Temple Israel, a Reform synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa, to deliver books to its religious school as part of a mitzvah project she organized. (The cost of one book plus shipping is as much as six times what we pay for books in the United States.) After her trip, Meredith wrote a letter to our clergy describing her experience in South Africa. Read the letter on our website, as well as learn about ways your family can perform mitzvot in preparation for becoming a bar or bat mitzvah: http://emanuelnyc.org/simple. php/ed_relig_projects. 11 Saturday, October 25 вЂў Peyton Spolansky, daughter of Jodi Smith and Steven Spolansky Saturday, November 1 вЂў Morgan Teman, daughter of Caryn and Wade Teman вЂў Brandon and Ethan Hetu, sons of Patricia Lenkov and Robert Hetu Saturday, November 8 вЂў Jesse Starr, son of Jodi Starr and Craig Starr вЂў Matthew Weinstein, son of Elizabeth and Steven Weinstein Saturday, November 22 вЂў Adam J.B. Hershy, son of Michelle and Robert Hershy We are grateful for their sponsorship of each Friday eveningвЂ™s Oneg Shabbat. PULPIT FLOWERS at worship services have been donated by the following congregants: For the Sabbath of October 31 and November 1 вЂў Jim, Susan and Hannah Baumann in loving memory of Jay S. Baumann вЂў Rhoda Weiskopf Cohen and Family in loving memory of our dearest Fanny de Margoulies-Rosenak, today and always вЂў Mary L. Fleur in loving memory of her brother, Robert Thomas Schwartz вЂў Judie and Howard Ganek in loving memory of their father, Reuben Goldstein вЂў Howard Kleinman in loving memory of Gerald Kleinman (continued on page 12) Charles S. Salomon The Universal Funeral Chapel 1076 Madison Avenue (212) 753-5300 Our service is available in the Temple, home or our Chapel. The Cemeteries of Congregation Emanu-El Salem Fields and Beth-El A limited number of above-ground crypts are available in our community mausoleum. For information, please call Cara Glickman at the Temple Office, (212) 744-1400. For the Sabbath of November 7 and 8 вЂў Kathy Rocklen and Linda Silberstein in loving memory of our father Samuel Hellenbrand Oneg Sponsorship (November 7) вЂў The Tikkun Olam Committee in honor of Mitzvah Day For the Sabbath of November 14 and 15 вЂў Jim, Susan and Hannah Baumann in loving memory of Hannah Hirschhorn Baumann вЂў June H. Jones in loving memory of Hannah Cohen, and Helen and I. Henry Hirsch For the Sabbath of November 21 and 22 вЂў Michelle and Robert Hershy in honor of their son Adam becoming a bar mitzvah For Thanksgiving Services (November 26) вЂў Donald and Susan Marley Newhouse in loving memory of Lillian and Harry Marley вЂў Peg Ogden in loving memory of her parents, Margaret S. and Stephen A. Ogden; her brother, Stephen A. Ogden Jr.; her grandmother, Tilda W. Stern; her aunt, Katherine S. Oppenheimer; and her friend Twig вЂў Mr. Harold Prince in loving memory of his mother, Blanche Prince Oneg Sponsorship for Thanksgiving (November 26) вЂў Susan and Donald Newhouse in loving memory of Mitzi and Samuel Newhouse For the Sabbath of November 28 and 29 вЂў Susan and David Rahm in loving memory of SusanвЂ™s mother, Selma Wiener Berkman Our New Rabbinic Intern TEMPLE EMANU-EL IS PLEASED TO WELCOME Carlie Weisbrod Daniels, our new rabbinic intern responsible for deepening and broadening our engagement with members and nonmembers who are young professionals in their 20s or 30s. Carlie is a fifth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She was born and raised in Rockledge, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Music degree in voice and an outside concentration in psychology. After graduation, Carlie worked for two years at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at Indiana University, where she created programming designed to engage college students in Jewish life on campus. As a rabbinical student, Carlie has taught religious school in Manhattan and served a small congregation in Steubenville, Ohio, as their student rabbi. Most recently, she served as rabbinic intern for the elderly residents of Jewish Home Lifecare on the Upper West Side. Carlie can be reached at cdaniels@emanuelnyc.org. WOMENвЂ™S AUXILIARY TRIBUTE FUND Commemorate significant life-cycle events in a meaningful way and support the activities of the WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary. All contributions are listed in Window on Emanu-El. Contact the WomenвЂ™s Auxiliary at womaux@emanuelnyc.org or (212) 744-1400, ext. 235. HAVE AN ALIYAH An aliyah (Torah blessing) can be done to honor a special moment in your life or simply for the delight of being involved in Saturday morning Shabbat services. To get more involved in the Torah service by reciting the blessings, or even through taking on the fulfilling challenge of reading Torah on Shabbat morning, please email Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman at assistantrabbi@emanuelnyc.org or call (212) 744-1400, ext. 204. REMEMBERING LOVED ONES Now that Temple Emanu-El broadcasts its own services over the Internet, we are able to accommodate all congregants who wish to share Sabbath services and have the name of a loved one read during Kaddish. If you wish to have a name read, then please call one of the rabbis during the week of yahrzeit observance. HOSTING A RECEPTION Temple Emanu-El is pleased to be able to offer our magnificent spaces to Temple members, not only for religious services and life-cycle events but also for their celebrations. For more information, call Sherry Nehmer at (212) 7441400, ext. 312. 12 At a Glance: November November 3 вЂў Monday, 7 PM November 14 вЂў Friday, 6 PM (Moderated by Jeff Zucker) Fifth Avenue Sanctuary An Evening With James Carville and Mary Matalin* One East 65th Street November 5 вЂў Wednesday, 8:30 AM MenвЂ™s Club Book Group One East 65th Street November 5 вЂў Wednesday, 7:30 PM Israel in the Eyes of the Media* (With Daniel Gordis and Ethan Bronner; moderated by Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson) One East 65th Street November 7 вЂў Friday, 9:15 AM Baby Shabbat One East 65th Street November 7 вЂў Friday, 6 PM Volunteer Recognition Shabbat Fifth Avenue Sanctuary (Fifth Avenue and 65th Street) November 9 вЂў Sunday, 9:30 AM Learning, Doing, Caring: How Mitzvot Make a Difference 10 East 66th Street November 9 вЂў Sunday, 10 AM Jews in American Politics* Temple Israel, 112 East 75th Street Veterans Shabbat One East 65th Street November 16 вЂў Sunday, 10 AM November 21 вЂў Friday, 6 PM One East 65th Street Leon Lowenstein Sanctuary The People vs. Abraham* November 17 вЂў Monday, 5 PM Grades 3 and 4 Parent-Teacher Curriculum Meeting 10 East 66th Street November 18 вЂў Tuesday, 10:30 AM Visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum November 12 вЂў Wednesday, 6:30 PM Rescuing the Evidence: Three Minutes in Poland* One East 65th Street One East 65th Street November 23 вЂў Sunday, 10 AM November 18 вЂў Tuesday, 6:30 PM One East 65th Street Israeli Cuisine* (With Joan Nathan, Chefs Lior Sercarz and Michael Solomonov; moderated by Roger Sherman) One East 65th Street November 19 вЂў Wednesday, 1 PM and 6:30 PM Curriculum Meeting November 19 вЂў Wednesday, 5 PM Grades 5 and 6 Parent-Teacher Curriculum Meeting (With Rabbi David Ellenson) November 21 вЂў Friday, 6 PM SDG Psalms Project Fifth Avenue Sanctuary (Breakfast with Richard Ravitch) Grades 3 through 6 Parent-Teacher One East 65th Street One East 65th Street November 23 вЂў Sunday, 10 AM Is New York a Future Detroit? November 23 вЂў Sunday, 11 AM Stettenheim Literary Circle JPS/Skirball Author Series* (With Rachel Rosenthal) One East 65th Street November 20 вЂў Thursday, 7 PM One East 65th Street Tot Shabbat Magic, Mirages and Miracles* One East 65th Street Club 65: A Group for Seniors November 22 вЂў Saturday, 10 AM 1 Albany Street 10 East 66th Street November 11 вЂў Tuesday, 11 AM Shir Chadash (вЂњA New SongвЂќ) (10 East 66th Street) November 9 вЂў Sunday, 10:30 AM Mitzvah Day Full program descriptions are available on the Temple website: www.emanuelnyc.org. November 14 вЂў Friday, 7:30 PM Saviv Shabbat and Oneg 10 East 66th Street November 26 вЂў Wednesday, 2 PM to 6:15 PM Thanksgiving Community Dinner One East 65th Street November 26 вЂў Wednesday, 5:30 PM Thanksgiving Worship Service Greenwald Hall (One East 65th Street) * A program of the Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center. To register, please call (212) 507-9580, or visit us at EmanuelSkirballNYC.org. 13 TEMPLE EMANU-EL BULLETIN Vol. 87, No. 3 November 2014 CONGREGATION EMANU-EL of the City of New York One East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065 (212) 744-1400 вЂў www.emanuelnyc.org Emanu-El is now on Facebook! Visit us at www.facebook.com/emanuelnyc Have You Been to Israel? Temple Emanu-El is pleased to offer two opportunities to visit the Land of Israel... Family Trip to Israel (www.emanuelnyc.org/israeltrip) (December 22, 2014 through January 2, 2015) Land reservations only being accepted at this time. Led by Rabbi Ben Zeidman and Saul Kaiserman, our director of Lifelong Learning, we will explore Israel from the Negev Desert to the Golan Heights, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and everywhere in-between. Adult Trip to Israel (www.emanuelnyc.org/israel2015) (March 19, 2015 through March 29, 2015) Trip highlights include: Shabbat in Jerusalem; a dialogue with Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center; a visit to Yad Vashem; driving the Syrian-African Rift; a walk through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve; a visit to the Leo Baeck School in Haifa; and a visit to Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city. Trip will be led by Rabbi Joshua Davidson. 14