Feb 4, 2017 - This year, we on the Journal Committee took our Gala theme to heart. We took the .... Volunteers needed to
SEPTEMBER 2011 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 AV / ELUL 5777 44TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR West 66th Street / New York, NY 10023 ph 212-787-5347 / fax 212-595-3542
BUILDING A JEWISH COMMUNITY TOGETHER
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CALENDAR Pri Etz Hadar: Be –Happier JANUARY FEBRUARY 2017 The Fruit of the Goodly Tree:Win-Win: Be Better, by Rabbi Joshua Katzan OFFICE CLOSINGS A Kabbalistic UPCOMING EVENTSJourney New Year’s Day – Monday, January 2 by Rabbi Barry Kenter
OnceDay again, they’reJanuary coming.16Rosh Martin Luther King – Monday, Presidents’ DayHashanah/Yom – Monday, February 20 Kippur, the “High Holidays” Wednesday, October Rabbi 12, 6.30 pm of Bratslav used to say: Know Nahman tend to be a loaded experience. For some, it Services followed by Adult Dinner in the Sukkah that every shepherd has a unique niggun for KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES is a joyous time to celebrate with family and each of the grasses and for each place where 6:00 pm – Friday, January 6 & February 3 community. For others it is a conflicted time Habonim Goes tothey’re Philadelphia! heard. For each and every grass has its CHILDREN’S SHABBAT SERVICES as this is when we once again ask ourselves National American History the shepherds 11:00 am - Every own songMuseum and from ofthese songs Jewish of the grasses, Saturday – TORAH FOR TOTS the “big January questions” 7 of & life.February The High 11 Holidays Sunday, 10:45 am - Saturday, composeSeptember their songs. 18 are a period where we do well to focus on the Still time to register with Adina Rifkin KATAN & JR CONGREGATION … Would that I merited hearing the sound of the songs and praises of CONGREGATION Tel: 212-787 5347 ext 100 question of what it means to become a better the grasses, how every blade of grass sings to the Holy One of BEIT MIDRASHperson. ON SHABBAT (following kiddush)
[email protected] Blessing, wholeheartedly with no reservations and without anticipation January 7 – Doron Kenter: “Reading, Writing & Rabbinic Discussions The tenon days of Repentance betweenofRosh of reward. in How Kiddush thewonderful Park it is when one hears their song and how Politics: A Text Study Synagogue Attendance & The Torah Service” Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Yamim very good to be amongst24, them servingservices our Creator in awe. Saturday, September following January 28period – Richard Pirates in the Nora’im, is the traditional where Pravda: we act on“Jewish our self-assessments and Caribbean” th Congregation Habonim Gala11] we celebrate a New On the 15 of Shevat [this yearFall February try Year to repair the damage we’ve caused to other people. We confess and February 4 – Daniel Breslauer, Prof. Emeritus KU: Celebrating for the Trees,Children's rejoicing inEducation the fruit of at theHabonim tree and the fruit of the vine, take responsibility for what we’ve done directly to the person we’ve wronged, “Stories of Oppression & Liberation” Thursday, November 17, 2011gifts of the natural worldgive celebrating the splendid, abundant which back what we’ve taken, try to change the disposition withinAourselves February 11 – Rabbi Kenter: “Tu B’Shevat, 6:30 - 9:00 PM and enliven our bodies. In a non-climate change delight our senses that may have led to our wrongful actions in the first place, and overall try to Celebration of Fruit Tasting” For More Information Contact world, sustaining rains Please are at the peak of their power and themake worldamends. It’s a nice to focus on once a year: becoming better February 18thing – Rabbi Kenter: “Beyond the BIG aTEN” Jonill Mayer at 212.244.4880 responds, brimming buds of fragrant life. Tu B’Shevat marks theby fixing person our mistakes. February 25 – Rabbi Kenter: “Purim: What Is Going or
[email protected] beginning of spring in Israel. For Jews outside of Israel, Tu B’shevat is On” However, whereas we benefit greatly from taking responsibility and trying to a celebration of the renewal of vision and awareness, a celebration of SUNDAY MORNING MINYAN SAVE THE DATE fix what we’ve broken, this is a reactive or “after the fact” response to our connections and2012 connectedness--to our inner selves, to themistakes. social It9:30 am January 8 & 22, April 27 -29, is what the–rabbinic literature callsFebruary b’dei avad, 5 or & an26 ex posteriori world Ever we inhabit as human beings, andRetreat! to the natural world and its First Habonim Shabbaton response to MONDAY our bad behavior. EVENING MINYAN Source. According to the Talmud, there are four New Years in the 7:15 pm – January 9, 23 & 30, February 6, 13 & 27 A different Jewish Calendar: The first of Nissan is the New Year for kings and for question we should ask ourselves at this time is: how can we SISTERHOOD MUSINGS WITH THE RABBI proactively strategize crafting ourselves into becoming a better person along Festivals; the first of Elul isHAPPENINGS the New Year for the tithe of animals. 10:00 am Tuesdays (ongoing) before making mistakes? Fixing Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Shimon say that the first of Tishreithe is way the “before the fact,” mi lechat’chilah, Membership Networking Pizza Party our mistakes after theEDUCATION fact is necessary, but not sufficient to living a life well New Year for years and for the fallow year and for the Jubilee Year, for ADULT FILM SERIES Monday, September 7:00 pm Rabbi at Habonim lived. HowSunday, do we build ourselves the planting and for the19, vegetables. Hillel says that the fifteenth January 8 - into 1:00being pm that “better person” we ($9.00 for non-members) Saturday, ourselvesJanuary to become?28 – 7:00 p.m. of Shevat shall be the New Year for the tree. (Mishnahgenerally Rosh hope Saturday, February 11 – 7:00 pm Hashanah 1:1) October Book Club – date pending Big question,Saturday, and here’s February one response coming 25for– the 7:00 pm year 5772: To craft a The Invisible Wallofbyus, Harry Bernstein good life is to have a conscious approach to living. One method of For most Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the 11th Hebrew CLASS RABBI LEWIS WARSHAUER intoWITH better people where everyone wins is to Be Happy. month, the New Year of the Trees, is tree-planting day, Jewishbuilding Arbor ourselves Topic: “Is Judaism a Faith?”
Sisterhood in the Sukkah Day. The medieval mystical Kabbalists carried Tu B'Shevat Ita may stepsound and feel like an underwhelming insight. Of course happiness is Mondays, January & February, 7:30 pm (following Sunday, October 16 at were 11:30a am further. For them, trees symbol of humans, as it says: good! "For aBut on evening minyan)
a moment’s reflection, we may be surprised at how little we Speaker from the West Side Campaign Against human is like a tree of the field" (Deut. 20:19). In line with their Dates to be announced Hunger think about intentionally working on our happiness in productive ways. generalcharge concern Tikkun Olam - spiritually repairing the world - the Small forwith a light brunch HABONIM AT HOME radio talk show personality and commentator Dennis Prager wrote an Kabbalists regarded eating a variety of fruits on Tu B'Shevat asThe a way Friday, January 13read, Happiness is a Serious Problem. interesting book that is worth a of improving our spiritual selves. They believed that the ritual Speaker-Nutritionist/Member Reyna not supported as BOOK much byCLUB studies, data, and statistics (frankly, consumption of the fruits and the nuts, if done with the Although proper it isSISTERHOOD Franco pm -weakness), Tuesday, his January 24 sense proposals and book’s 7:00 biggest common intention, would cause8the of holy light hidden in the fruittheto be Tuesday, November at sparks 7:30 pm at Habonim House by Nomi Eve acting upon. One of his conclusions are worth thinking about and liberated from their shells and rise up the heavenly ladder to return to Henna Being happy is a moral obligation. their divine source, thereby contributing to the renewal of life conclusions: for the QUEENS SERVICES SEPTEMBER (continued on p 4) coming year. The2011 Bible is referred to as a "tree of life to them that hold Adult Education fast to it." The Kabbalists pictured their philosophical construct of the 8:15 pm - Wednesdays, January 11 & February 8 Shabbat Services (Continued on p. 4) 8:15 pm - Fridays, January 20 & February 24
Erev Sukkoth
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
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CONGREGATION HABONIM
CONDOLENCES
email:
[email protected] / www.habonim.net Rabbi Barry Kenter * Cantor Bruce Halev * Richard Kargauer *
ext 109 ext 107 ext 101
Rina Cohen Schwarz
ext 105
Tina Lobel
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Ann Obsatz
ext 123
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR NURSERY SCHOOL DIRECTOR
ASSOCIATE NURSERY SCHOOL DIR
OFFICE STAFF Kenny Altman Louise Rode Roy Ramsey Adina Rifkin
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MAINTENANCE STAFF Matvey Khazanov ext 122 Jesus Gutierrez ext 122
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Neil Goldstein PRESIDENT
David Feuerstein VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Harwayne VICE PRESIDENT
Richard Verner
VICE PRESIDENT
Stephen Berman TREASURER
Susan Grant SECRETARY
PAST PRESIDENTS Elaine Witkoff * Saul Sanders * Leo Asen John Keller * Carol Kahn Strauss Ralph Stein, MD z”l * indicates ex officio board member
To Helen Witsenhausen on the passing of her husband Hans Witsenhausen, father of Bob and Laura.
Fridays January 6 January 13 January 20 January 27 February 3 February 10 February 17 February 24
4:26 pm 4:33 pm 4:42 pm 4:50 pm 4:59 pm 5:07 pm 5:16 pm 5:24 pm
TEMPLE SERVICES
HONORARY TRUSTEES Arthur Falkenstein z”l Herman Lichtenberg z”l Peter Mayer z”l Marga Walter z”l
Nita Gottesman EDITOR
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CONGREGATION HABONIM is a member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Please inform the Habonim office of all Life Cycle events in your family: births, deaths, anniversaries, awards, promotions and any other joyous occasion. Contact Adina Rifkin at ext 100 or
[email protected] JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
To Stephen Berman and Amy Foster on the passing of his mother, grandmother to Zoe Berman, Shirley Berman z”l.
SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING
TRUSTEES Jonathan Chariton Nita Gottesman Wendy Halperin Amy Kargauer Debra Karlstein Jennifer Kenter Maya Levy-Merdinger Marc Mehl Paul Millman Jeffrey Moelis Abigail Schlaff Howard Stoffer Joanne Tuckman Elisa Winokur
DEPARTMENTS & THEIR EXTENSIONS Adult Education 100 Membership Bookkeeping 102 Nursery School/Admissions Bulletin 100 Religious School/Youth Cemetery 100 & Family Programming Kiddush Sponsorship 100 Service Times & Location Life Cycle Events 100 Space Rental Maintenance 122
To Stephen Berman and Amy Foster on the passing of his father, grandfather to Zoe Berman, Milton Berman z”l.
Yahrzeit / Memorial Plaques Plaques are displayed outside the Sanctuary Tree of Life Leaves Commemorate special occasions or honor someone special with a leaf displayed on our entrance wall Prayer Books Book plate dedications for all occasions Facilities Rental Available for private parties Kiddush Sponsorships Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat Cemetery Plots Plots are available at Cedar Park Cemetery Paramus, NJ in the Habonim section For more information contact Adina Rifkin at
[email protected] or call 212-787-5347 Ext.100
Please send all donations and/or payments to: CONGREGATION HABONIM C/O KESEF ACCOUNTING SERVICES P.O. BOX 159 MONTVALE, NJ 07645-0159 It would be most appreciated and helpful.
The deadline for the March bulletin is February 17th. Please email articles, photos and ads to
[email protected]
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CONGREGATION HABONIM FILM SERIES CONGREGATION HABONIM ADULT FILM SERIES PRESENTED BY THE ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SISTERHOOD OF CONGEGATION
HABONIM PRESENTED BY THE ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SISTERHOOD OF CONGEGATION HABONIM
Date/Time
STARTING OFF 2017 WITH SOME OLDIES BUT GOODIES STARTING OFF 2017 WITH SOME OLDIES BUT GOODIES Discussion and refreshments included Discussion and refreshments included Film
Date/Time Sunday, January 8, 1:00 pm Sunday, January 8, 1:00 pm Saturday, January Saturday, January 28, 28, 7:007:00 pm pm Saturday, February 11, 11, 7:007:00 pm pm Saturday, February Saturday, February 25, 7:00 pm Saturday, February 25, 7:00 pm
Film Double Feature: Arranged and Paper Clips Double Feature: Arranged and Paper Clips Kabbalah Kabbalah Me Me Crossing Delancey Crossing Delancey Chariots of Fire Chariots of Fire
At Congregation Habonim,103 West End Avenue @ 64th Street No charge, no RSVP Habonim,103 needed. Non-members At Congregation West End welcome. Avenue @ 64th Street Contact: Kenny Altman, 212-787-5347 x.103,
[email protected] No charge, no RSVP needed. Non-members welcome.
- - - -Contact: - - - - - -Kenny - - - - Altman, - - - - - -212-787-5347 - - - - - - - - - x.103, - - - -
[email protected] -------------------------------------- - -(2007) - - - -–-The - - film - - -focuses - - - - on - - the - - friendship - - - - - - of- -an- Orthodox - - - - - -Jewish - - - -woman - - - - and - - -a-Muslim - - - - woman - - - - -who - - meet - - - as - - first-year - - - - - Brooklyn --Arranged
(2007) During – The the filmyear focuses thethey friendship of anin Orthodox Jewish woman Muslim meet asof publicArranged school teachers. they on learn share much common, including that theyand areaboth goingwoman throughwho the process first-year Brooklyn public school teachers. During the year they learn they share much in common, including that they are both going through the process of arranged marriages.
arranged marriages.
Paper Clips (2004) - As part of the Holocaust education of the Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee, the children are struggling to grasp
Paper Clips (2004) - As part of the Holocaust education of the Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee, the children are struggling to grasp the enormity of 6 million Holocaust victims. The students collect six-million paper clips to better humanity. The film the details how of thethis students Holocaust survivors from thehow world and how the met experience transformed them and understand extent crimemet against humanity. The filmaround details the students Holocaust survivors from their community. around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.
the enormity of 6 million Holocaust victims. The students collect six-million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against
Kabbalah Me (2014) – Filmmaker Steven Bram embarks a spiritualon investigation leads him tothat reunite with theto Hasidic branch his Kabbalah Me (2014) – Filmmaker Steven Bramonembarks a spiritualthat investigation leads him reunite with of the
branch of his family and connect to the community scholarship. histocuriosity takeshehim on a familyHasidic and connect to the community of Judaic scholarship. Eventually of hisJudaic curiosity takes him onEventually a pilgrimage Israel, where immerses
pilgrimage to Israel, where immerses himself in history traditions of the Holy Land. Along theofway, leading himself in history and traditions of thehe Holy Land. Along the way, leading and authorities discuss the complex, mystical world Kabbalah – its authorities discuss the complex, mystical world of Kabbalah – its varying interpretations and the myriad paths of its rituals and lessons. Bram’s new commitment to spirituality and religious observance draws skepticism from family and skepticism from family and friends but ultimately leads to profound changes across all aspects of his life." Mr. Bram will introduce the firm and friends but ultimately leads to profound changes across all aspects of his life." Mr. Bram will introduce the film and there there will be Q&A after the film’s showing. will be Q&A after the film’s showing.
varying interpretations and the myriad paths of its rituals and lessons. Bram’s new commitment to spirituality and religious observance draws
Crossing Delancey (1988) - A Manhattan single, Isabelle's life revolves around the New York bookshop she works and the intellectual friends Crossing Delancey (1988) - A Manhattan single, Isabelle's life revolves around the New York in bookshop she works in
of both sexes meets there. Herof grandmother less than impressed and decidesremains to hire aless goodthan old-fashioned Jewish matchmaker and the she intellectual friends both sexesremains she meets there. Her grandmother impressed and decides to to help Isabelle's love-life along. Enter pickle-maker Sam who immediately takes to Isabelle. Isabelle however is irritated by the whole business, hire a good old-fashioned Jewish matchmaker to help Isabelle's love-life along. Enter pickle-maker Sam who
immediately at least to start with.takes to Isabelle. Isabelle however is irritated by the whole business, at least to start with. Chariots Fire –(1981) In post two track one aJew determined Jewa and theChristian, other a compete devout Christian, Chariots of Fireof (1981) In post– WW1, twoWW1, track athletes, oneathletes, a determined and the other devout in the 1924 compete inAbrahams the 1924 and Olympics. Harold Abrahams Eric arebut both naturally giftedand fast sprinters, Olympics. Harold Eric Liddell are both naturallyand gifted fastLiddell sprinters, approach running how it fits intobut theirapproach respective
running and how it fits into their respective lives differently. The son of a Lithuanian-Jew, Harold, uses being the fastest to overcome what he sees as the obstacles he faces in life as a Jew. His running prowess earns him the respect of his Jew. His running prowess earns him the respect of his classmates and teammates, and to some extent the school administration, if only he classmates and teammates, and to some extent the school administration, if only he maintains proper gentlemanly maintains proper gentlemanly decorum. Eric, a son of Christian missionaries and a Scot, is a devout member of the Church of Scotland who decorum. Eric, a son of Christian missionaries and a Scot, is a devout member of the Church of Scotland who eventually eventually to return to that missionarywork. work.He He sees sees running in in that thethe notoriety of being fast gives wantswants to return to that missionary runningas asaawin-win win-win that notoriety of being fast him. gives him. lives differently. The son of a Lithuanian-Jew, Harold, uses being the fastest to overcome what he sees as the obstacles he faces in life as a
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A Message to Smartphone Owners! If you have not already seen this year’s Habonim Journal, please stop by the office to pick one up. You may find a picture of yourself in there! The Journal is published and distributed at every Gala, our annual festive evening of dinner, drinks, and dance, where we celebrate honorees who embody Habonim’s core values. This year, we on the Journal Committee took our Gala theme to heart. We took the theme, “Life Is A Journey – Celebrating Transitions,” and set the course of the Journal in a new direction. We published a “yearbook,” which captured our congregational life in photos. In the Journal, we honored our honorees as well as milestone events – families with a new child, our b’nei mitzvah, marriages
and anniversaries, and the passing of beloved members. We presented a month-by-month photo spread of activities for the year 5776, from last year’s High Holidays to this year’s High Holidays. We bade a sweet farewell to Rabbi Katzan and welcomed Rabbi Kenter. We had many ideas, but were limited by the dearth of available photos. So, we now call upon smartphone owners! Bring your phone to non-Shabbat Habonim happenings. If you do not own a smartphone, bring your camera! Take pictures and send them to
[email protected] or
[email protected]. Help us make the Journal of 5777 burst with the full color of synagogue life at Habonim. - Jean Hellering and Ellie Schaffer
Pri Etz Hadar (continued from p.1) Sefirot - the ten mystical emanations of the divinity - in the form of a heavenly tree or ladder. For the Kabbalists, trees were symbolic also of the tree - the Tree of Life, which carries divine goodness and blessing into the world. To encourage this flow and effect Tikkun Olam, in the sixteenth century, Isaac Luria and the Kabbalists of Ts'fat (Safed) created a Tu B’Shevat seder loosely modeled after the Pesach seder. The earliest published version of this seder is called the Pri Etz Hadar, which means "The Fruit of the Beautiful Tree.” The seder evokes the Kabbalistic themes of restoring cosmic blessing by strengthening and repairing the Tree of Life, generally using the framework of the Four Worlds of emanation that can be roughly mapped onto the physical metaphor of a tree, that is, roots, trunk, branches and leaves. The structure of the Seder corresponds to the four “worlds”-levels, realms, or spheres through which, the Kabbalists teach, the life-giving flow of the Divine is channeled and filtered. All fruits are divided into categories representing the first three worlds. While this year we at Habonim will not enjoy a classic Tu B’Shevat Seder, please join us for our Bet Midrash, February 11, 2017, Tu B’Shevat 5777 after Kiddush luncheon for a fruit tasting menu. We will follow our kabbalistic journey into a deeper understanding of ourselves through the fruits we eat.
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HABONIM CELEBRATED 'JOURNEY & TRANSITIONS' AT 2016 GALA Congregation Habonim celebrated its 77th anniversary during its annual gala on Saturday, December 10, 2016, with the theme, “Life is a Journey, Celebrating Transitions.” Co-chairs Wendy Halperin and Elaine Witkoff led the gala committee* for the second year in a row. Elaine said, “Everyone I spoke to was raving about the night. Some said it was the best gala yet!” Above and Beyond did a fantastic job : the appetizers (including a double order of franks in a blanket) were plentiful and “delish”. Dinner and dessert were also superb. The DJ played background music while we dined, and then drove people onto the dance floor with a lively hora. The room was pulsating as Habonim clergy, staff, members and guests, holding hands and dancing in unison, snaked through the elegantly decorated room. During dinner, we feted our honorees, The Grant/King family, Maxine and Lew Krulwich, and Alison Fried and Michael Harwayne, on their many contributions to Habonim. The DJ switched to dance tunes after dinner and once again brought us to our feet. "My only regret was that the evening ended at 11:30, and I still wanted to dance!,” Elaine said. The auction, in its second year, artfully displayed all the generously donated and desirable items. Emcees Marc and Jill Mehl kept the evening moving at a smooth pace. The photo booth was well-utilized, and guests left with their photos in frames. Cantor Bruce Halev introduced the "In Memoriam" video, which was tastefully executed. “It made me feel good knowing that we honored our members in such a thoughtful and loving way,” Elaine said. “And kudos to the members on the committee who produced the beautifully written and well-designed Journal, which will serve as a keepsake for our honorees and their families as well as our members." Rabbi Barry Kenter said, “What a delightful evening. For our newest to our most veteran members, how clear it was that Habonim is indeed warm and wonderful.” Gala Committee 2016 Wendy Halperin & Elaine Witkoff, Co-Chairs Janet Cord Renee Edelman Amy Foster Norbert Fruehauf Neil Goldstein Sheryl Goldstein Jean Hellering Maya Levy Merdinger Nicole Savage Ellie Schaffer Joanne Tuckman
Volunteer Opportunities at Habonim Volunteering at Habonim is a wonderful way to meet people and to feel good about being part of our community. Some of our many volunteer opportunities include:
• Ritual - reading Torah, Haftarah, serving on the Ritual Committee. • Community Outreach - calling or visiting members who are ill or homebound, hosting members for Shabbat dinner, ushering/greeting at Shabbat services and other events. • Membership - event planning, fundraising, serving on the Membership Committee. • Communications & Marketing - help shape our newest committee just forming. • Administrative/Office - assist with mailings. • Social Action, Adult Education, Israel Action & Affairs, Religious School or Nursery School events, Sisterhood, and more. Contact Richard Kargauer at
[email protected], 212-787-5347 x101. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
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JANUARY AND FEBRUARY B’NEI MITZVAH MATTHEW COHEN JANUARY 14, 2017 IN ISRAEL PARSHA VAYECHI
We wish Matthew and his family mazel tov and look forward to hearing all about his bar mitzvah.
RYAN MADNICK JANUARY 21, 2017 PARSHA SHEMOT Ryan Madnick attends West End Secondary School (WESS) and is in the 7th grade. He is an athlete, and loves playing football, basketball, and soccer, among other sports. He is on his school basketball team. He also enjoys traveling. During the summer, Ryan attends Camp Androscoggin in Maine. Ryan's Bar Mitzvah is on January 21, 2017, and his Torah portion is Parashat Sh'mot which describes how the Pharaoh orders midwives to kill the Israelites' male babies, and how the midwives deceive Pharaoh.
LEO TESLER FEBRUARY 4, 2017 PARSHA VAYECHI Leo Tesler is in 7th grade at Hunter College High School. He is an avid sports fan with baseball being his particular favorite. During the summer, he attends Camp Taconic in the Berkshires and he wishes he could be there year round. His Torah portion is Bo, which is the story of the plagues from the book of Exodus. For his mitzvah project, Leo has chosen to spread awareness about Rett Syndrome which is a neurological condition that his cousin Maggie has.
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Permanent Rabbi Search Committee The Nursery School children have truly come together to form wonderful classroom communities. Several of the classes will begin to extend their school day this month. Blue Roomers will be staying four days a week until 1:00 instead of 12:00, The Purple Roomers will stay two days a week until 12:30 and the Orange Roomers will stay for “Lunch Bunch” one day a week for lunch in school. This is all based on the readiness of each child. It is a gentle and gradual way to introduce children to the longer school days that they will experience in the future. Our second After School session will be starting. Children will have an opportunity to delve deeper into soccer, games, BOOK FAIR! etc. Habonim’s Early Explorers is thriving. It’s not too late to join. Interested families should contact Ann Obsatz at
[email protected] for details. Sunday, March The Nursery School’s fundraiser is scheduled for February 12th, noon - 2 9th and plans are well underway. It will be a fun-filled evening, and we hope to see youpm there! Please email Monday,
[email protected] to learn how to get involved. March 13th, I want to extend an extra special thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers in the Nursery School whom we 8:30without am couldn’t personalize our admissions process, organize our fundraisers, distribute challah, order tbd! Scholastic books, or send emails, just to name a few of the many things that our dedicated parents have undertaken.
The committee is reviewing resumes and expects to begin preliminary interviews with a number of candidates in January. We have been told to expect many more resumes in January and February. We will continue to keep the membership updated on the search. - Janet Cord and Tony Robins, Chairs
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BOOK FAIR!
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Sunday, March 12th, noon-2 pm
March 13th, 8:30am-tbd! We are looking forward to a great start to the for new year. May for allMonday, Please come and shop books ages; help Please come and s it be filled with, happiness, love, friendship and continued the NS and RS classrooms fill their wish lists; supthe NS and RS clas learning. Please come and shop for books for port Habonim! port Habonim! Warmly, al l ag e s; h e l p t h e N S a n d R S Tina Lobel Nursery School Director If you are able to volunteer any time at all, onoms fill their w ish lists; classro
If you are able to
either day, please contact:
support Habonim!
either day, please
[email protected].
sisterhood@haboni If you are able to volunteer any We need people to help set up, from 10:30 am on We need people to time at all, even an hour will help!, Sunday, and people to handle sales (even an hour Sunday, and peopl o n e i t h er d a y, p le a s e co ntact : will help!). will help!).
[email protected]
Volunteers needed to help set up, from 10:30 am on Sunday, and to handle sales.
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Come Join the Congregation Habonim Sisterhood Book Club When was the last time you read for pure pleasure? You don’t have time. Most people don’t. When deadlines loom and life gets hectic, reading can be one of the first things to fall off the radar. Especially reading for pleasure. I bet you didn’t realize that you will find so many more benefits by joining the Congregation Habonim Sisterhood Book Club which is open to all Habonim members and guests. If you find you aren’t reading as much as you’d like, here are several good reasons to join. • Read more - Most of us need a push to get motivated and joining a book club provides deadlines on a regular basis. Making the time to read for a book club will also open windows for other reading as well. It’s a bit like the more you read, the more you remember how much you love reading. Being a part of a book club means you will be reading at least one book a month no matter what. If you finish early, you may grab something else to read in the meantime. So, while you may all meet to discuss one book, you also talk about everything you have been reading in the meantime. Believe me, reading is a habit you want to pick up. It is easy to forget to make time for it, but if you join a book club it will become a top priority. • Read things you wouldn’t normally read - Do you tend to stick to one genre when you read? We all know that it is more beneficial to read a wide variety of styles and genres to expand your mind. However, it can be difficult to push yourself to pick up books outside your comfort zone. Book clubs are a great way to expose you to variety. Do you read all literary fiction, and far more male authors than female authors? You can shift your reading habits and being a part of a book club makes it easy to be aware of what you
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
read and try out new genres. You may enjoy titles that you may not have looked at twice otherwise. •
•
Meet new people - While making friends is always good for the soul, a book club gives you a chance to meet people from different walks of life. It has the added benefit of opportunities to observe new people, meet new friends and develop the relationship outside of the book club. If you are meeting up with the same people you're going to get to know them better and better as time goes on. Whether you are already an established friend group looking to mix up your hang-outs or a group of strangers who only have a love of reading in common, seeing this literary side of people is eye opening and exciting. Your book club will become something you can rely on, much like a strong friendship. Other conversations will happen - You'll start off talking about the book. You'll speak to what you loved, what didn't feel realistic to you, your favorite characters, and key chapters. If it sparks heated debate, you may spend much of your time discussing it, but there will always be the book that doesn't inspire a deep discussion. Then, someone will bring up the day's big news story, a new restaurant in town, or their Saturday night gone wrong and suddenly you are on a completely different conversation track. The transition from book talk to simply chatting further fosters friendships.
•Experience books in a whole new way - Reading alone is wonderful. Sharing a book with others who have followed a similar solitary journey brings a whole new perspective on the experience. It can open you up to different explanations and insights that you may have missed. •
Get insight into the minds of other readers - Getting a glimpse into how readers react to different topics, styles and techniques can be very enlightening. Seeing what works and what doesn’t is invaluable for learning what invokes strong reactions, both positive and negative.
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Learn new techniques and approaches - Getting the opportunity to analyze writing with fellow readers can help you to gain a greater understanding of the writing process. Likewise, explaining your own observations to others will cement the lessons more firmly in your own mind. And you may decide that you would like to start writing.
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It is fun - Taking the time to enjoy yourself and have some fun with books and other people is reward in itself. It also helps inspire and recharge your creative juices, and that alone should give you pleasure.
Treat yourself, you deserve it. If you've been meaning to treat yourself to a new experience, we highly suggest joining the Congregation Habonim Sisterhood Book Club. We look forward to it every month, and we have a feeling you will, too. So get started with our next read, Henna House by Nomi Eve which will be discussed and led by the author on January 24, 2017 at Congregation Habonim at 7 pm. Habonim members and your guests - be there or be square! ,
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SISTERHOOD is Active! On December 6th, eight Sisterhood volunteers worked with the Red Room Nursery School children, guiding them to make their very own Chanukah candles! (See photos below.) This was our most successful year to date! The children loved it, but perhaps not as much as the women who worked with them!
Coming up: lots of “save the dates” for members and non-members of Sisterhood alike!
And on Friday the 16th, our first Sisterhood-sponsored Oneg brought many people out to Kabbalat Shabbat services, with some schmoozing over fruit & cookies afterward.
February brings our ever-popular Mishloach Manot baking of the hamantaschen for Purim!
Thanks very much to Beth Montelle for organizing our first toys for needy children drive, in cooperation with the Jewish Board. Beth came up with the idea, followed through with the agency, collected gifts and cash to purchase gifts, and delivered them as well! Thanks to those who donated this year. We hope to expand the program next year! A reminder: Does the game of Mah Jongg intrigue you? If you are interested in learning to play, please email
[email protected] to let us know your available/preferred time for a class and we will try to set one up.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
Elsewhere in this issue as you read about the ongoing Book Group, keep in mind our next selection, Henna House by Nomi Eve. Read it by January 24th! AND…
Contact Mary Sanders,
[email protected], if you can volunteer on ANY of the dates, for ANY amount of time. More hands make the job less work and so much fun! Baking dates: Wed. 2/22/17, 9 am - 8 pm Thurs. 2/23, 9 am - 8 pm Fri. 2/24, 9 am - 1 pm Sun. 2/26, 9 am - 5 pm (or earlier if we finish before!) Assembly of the bags & delivery will be in March. Please watch for those dates! March brings the Book Fair with Janet Cord, Beth Bornstein and Vicki Brown coordinating. YOU are needed to help staff the fair, which takes place on Sunday, March 12th (day of the Purim Carnival) 12 noon - 2 pm (setup help
needed at 10:30 am) and Monday, March 13th 8:30 am - tbd (for NS & RS students to shop). Please email
[email protected] if you can give even an hour or so! See flyer in this Bulletin! March also brings the Annual Women’s Pre-Passover Seder. Led by Rabbi Ain of Sutton Place Synagogue, with Cantors from Or Olam/East 55th Street and Town & Village Synagogues, this event focuses on the importance and contributions of women to the Passover story. There’s a full Kosher dinner, a seder (including wine!), music and dance - not to be missed! Tuesday, 3/28, $45/per person. A flyer will be available in February, emailed and posted in the Habonim lobby. Watch for it and reserve your place (women only, not limited to Sisterhood members). Sunday, April 23rd, is the Annual Torah Fund Event. This year it will be a luncheon and Habonim’s honoree is Ruth Murphy, who does SO much for Habonim! Please mark your calendars to come out and show your support for Ruth! - Janet Cord & Amy Kargauer CoPresidents
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Habonim Bulletin World Wide Wrap IT’S A WRAP! February 5, 2017 Several years ago, publication was announced of materials from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among the “also founds” were prototypes of tefillin, phylacteries, leatherencased scrolls containing the commandments from the Torah, “bind them for a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes.” During the rabbinic period it would seem that these boxes and straps formed part of everyday garb of adult males within the Jewish community. A rabbinic Midrash cited in Rosh Hashanah
IT’S A WRAP!
Wearing the tefillin was distracting at first, as I imagine it is at the beginning for any person who starts performing this mitzvah, including bar mitzvah boys. I was so aware of their presence on my arm and head that I had trouble meditating on the prayers themselves; I was too busy thinking about the tefillin and why I was wearing them. It was also difficult to get used to the actual physical sensation. I have come to see this heightened awareness of the tefillin as one of the reasons for wearing them (p. 33)
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! 33a, suggests that women may have assumed the mitzvah of This year we will be participating in the annual World Wide tefillin in the early rabbinic period (or before). Over time, the Wrap, sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, style of the boxes changed, as did the time of their being worn. February 5, 2017/9 Shevat 5777. We will explore the whys Tefillin became part Several of the regular morning prayer and wherefores and practice the art creativeSea wrapping. We yearsweekday ago, publication was announced of materials from theof Dead garb. will share with one another the sensual and spiritual Scrolls. Among the “also founds” were prototypes of tefillin, phylacteries, leather- aspects of tefillin and tghen share in wraps for breakfast. Either as novice Rabbi Havivaencased Ner-David, an Orthodox-ordained in Israel scrolls containing therabbi commandments from or theas Torah, “bind themwefor sign knotters expert phylacterians, will abind ourselves as a and a New Rochelle native, writes in her powerful spiritual upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes.” During the rabbinic period it would community to a distinctive Jewish ritual. Look for details in the autobiography, Life on the Fringes: A Feminist Journey Toward weeks that are still to come. seem that these boxes and straps formed part of everyday garb of adult males within the Traditional Rabbinic Ordination (JFL Books, 2000):
Jewish community. A rabbinic Midrash cited in Rosh Hashanah 33a, suggests that women may have assumed the mitzvah of tefillin in the early rabbinic period (or before). Eventas Just Over time, the style ofCommUnity the boxes changed, did Announced!* the time of their being worn. Tefillin became part of the regular weekday morning prayer garb. Congregation Habonim is proud and delighted to participate in UJA-Federation’s CommUnity Initiative which collaborates with synagogues to bring diverse segments of our community shared values. This year’s event is:rabbi in Israel and a New Rabbitogether Havivaaround Ner-David, an Orthodox-ordained
A CommUnity Conversation Malcolm Gladwell Rochelle native, writes in her powerful spiritualwith autobiography, Life on the Fringes: A 13, 2017 at ParkOrdination Avenue Synagogue Feminist Journey February Toward Traditional Rabbinic (JFL Books, 2000): Mr. Gladwell is the author of bestselling books The Tipping Point and David and Goliath, among others. He also writes for The New Yorker and hosts a top-rated podcast, Revisionist History. Malcolm Gladwell will share his unique insights into human nature and the applications to community-building today. *This event was announced as the Bulletin went to press. For more details, look in our Constant Contact or call the office.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
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