It is springtime again, when our Jewish calendar marks Purim (with a ritual reading of Megillat Esther, and gifts to each other and to the poor), Passover (with the ritual Seder meal, the eating of Matza and avoidance of Hametz) and school decision time, which Jewish parents mark with ritual panic attacks. Parents of small children, middle schoolers and high schoolers ask themselves different versions of similar abstract questions: What means should I pursue for my child's Jewish education? Jewish day school or supplemental school? Established programs or private tutoring? Formal classes or informal experiential education? And that is not to mention the more practical questions which many parents face: Where will my child get in? (An all too pressing question, even for kindergarten.) And how will I pay for it.

All parents want to find the right match for our children's talents, as well the kind of education that matches our values and views of Judaism. That match can take many forms. In our inspiringly diverse community, a comparatively large percentage choose one of the many Jewish day schools in New York City and in Riverdale. But in AC, as in all Conservative communities, larger numbers choose supplemental education, usually either in the AC Hebrew school or the Havurah school, the independent school long a part of our community. Even today, some in Ansche Chesed do not choose "Hebrew" school at all, but keep the embers of Yiddish education alive.

Our little community tends to surprise you, bucking the stereotypes you might expect at first glance. I know of Havurah School graduates headed for Jewish high schools, and day school alumni who head for secular high schools; of families pulling out of Jewish day school for secular private schools, and others contemplating the reverse; of those who want their kids to learn Hebrew, others who want them to learn history, or Halakhah or simply a Haftara for a Bar Mitzvah.

Since AC parents often talk over with me their education decisions, I will share some thoughts on the paths a Jewish education might take. With so many experienced professional educators in the community, this may be a dangerous mission. So I will not venture opinions on educational practice. Nonetheless, I hope I can offer some helpful reflections from my perspective as a rabbi on educating our children (and our adults).

The Hebrew word for education, hinukh, like the word Hanuka [dedication], suggests making something fit for its mission. To dedicate one's home or God's home, the Temple, is to ready those buildings to function. Similarly, children's education ought to ready them for a mature, growing Jewish life. I would propose that Jewish education should operate on three main levels: 1. In the cultural heritage and the skills to navigate it; 2. In the values heritage, and the sensitivity to wrestle with the world's problems; 3. In the spiritual heritage, and the heart that perceives its power.

Culture: Any Jewish education ought to have the goal of imparting enough information to help students become at home in Jewish life. The more one knows the story of the Exodus, for instance, the more able one will be to follow the Haggadah's demand that we see ourselves as having been liberated from Egypt. The more Hebrew one knows, the more Jewish culture one can experience, from the classical to the modern Israeli. In other words, to the extent that one knows the steps and the tune, one can dance richly and joyfully. But it is hard to be touched by rituals and cultural elements when they seem like mystifying mumbo-jumbo. We should educate our children by equipping them to live in our family.

Values: Any Jewish education should not merely convey data, but should make a claim on our behavior and our character. (And this holds also for adults who participate in the mitzvah of on-going Torah study.) Far beyond its admittedly important claim on our ritual behavior, a Jewish education ought to refine us into virtuous, holier people, equipped to think about life's moral problems and act out our beliefs in deeds. Learning should contribute to people being kind, gentle, generous and honest. While no one culture has the master key to the good life, we can reflect on our people's historical, literary and theological path to understand the world better. As Shlomo Carlebach said: "The world is be a commentary on Torah, and Torah on the world." We should educate our children by equipping them for moral reflection and action.

Spirituality: The most difficult thing to cultivate in a person is an appreciation for infinity, within the finite world. But practicing Jews have always sought to sense God in all the smallest details. "The reflection of the human heart is deep water," said King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs, "and it takes a discerning person to draw it up from the well." Any Jewish education ought to try to teach students how to fill that bucket. Partly we can do this by teaching some of the reflections of generations of spiritual masters. We can also reaffirm that people should trust themselves and take their spiritual experiences seriously. Yet another way is to show students their way around the prayer book. Each of these tools is helpful in the deeper task of helping people learn to pour out their hearts in prayer. We should educate our children to know they have deep water in their hearts.

Date Night for Parents
Saturday, March 20, 6:15-10:30pm
Celebrate Havdalah as a family, then parents are invited to go out while the kids eat pizza, romp in the AC gym, play games, and watch movies. For children ages 5-12 only. Registration required by March 18. Cost: Members $10 first child/$5 each additional child. Non-members $15 first child/$10 each additional child.
 

Family Kabbalat Shabbat Services
Friday, March 26, 6pm
Come to this lively, family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a potluck dinner with the main course provided by AC.

Talk With Your Family About. . .
Saturday, March 27, 4:30-6pm
The third program in this series designed for parents is "Talk With Your Family About Shabbat.". Abraham Joshua Heschel called Shabbat an "island in time," but what happens when you're on tht island with children? Discuss the joys and challenges of observing Shabbat with children. Facilitated by Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Childcare or children's activities will be available. Pre-registration required. Suggested contribution $5/family. The final workshop in the series will be"Talking about the Holocaust" on April 15.

Ta'amei HaMitzvot - Flavors of the Mitzvah: Rationales for Kashrut
5 Wednesdays, beginning March 3, at 8pm
Taught by Rabbi Kalmanofsky. Ever since Jews received the Torah, we have been seeking to discover the reasons for our traditional practices. Since Judaism sometimes seems to be a mere "religion of pots and pans," often Jews have wanted to ask Why? What's the big deal? Does God have something against shrimp? Does keeping kosher make you healthier? Are these just primitive taboos? We'll examine what philosophical Jews, mystical Jews, moralistic Jews and other schools have said to explain our sacred eating practices.
Members: Free. Non-members $65.
 

Hevra Shas - Talmud Study
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
This is a great time to join the on-going weekly Talmud study group led by Rabbi Kalmanofsky. On March 3, the group will begin the 2nd chapter of Tractate Pesachim, which focuses on the laws against possessing Hametz during Passover, as well as on the making of Matza and Maror for the Seder. All are invited to join. Most members of the class use the Artscroll Talmud (in this case, Pesachim vol 1) which permits everyone to follow along in the Hebrew text, while also understanding a very helpful English translation. No charge.

Yom Iyyun - A Learning Day on King David in Literature, Music, and Art
Sunday, March 21, 1:00-4:00pm
King David is the most beloved of Biblical characters, not only of God also of the Jewish people. Join us for a day of study revolving around this most complicated and romantic of Biblical heroes. Keynote speaker: Professor Alan Cooper. With violinist Shem Guibbory and Rabbi Lewis Warshauer.
 

Beyond the Classroom: AC's Study Groups
Ansche Chesed's member-led study groups, covering a range of topics and interests, meet on a monthly basis. New members are welcome. For more information call ext. 415 in the AC office.
 

Family Purim Services
Saturday, March 6, 6:15pm
Come in costume to hear the Megillah and nosh some hamentaschen at our family Purim services.
 

Purim Extravaganza!
Sunday, March 7, 11:30am-3:00pm
Includes Purim Pandemonium, a show with the great David Charnee, mask making, balloon animals, carnival booths (including pie-throwing at Rabbi Kalmanofsky), face painting, bake sale, play in the gym, great prizes, and a costume contest too! Sponsored by the parents and students of the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School.
 

Wine Sale & Books for a Buck at the Purim Extravaganza on Sunday, March 7
Sunday's Purim Extravaganza includes a Passover wine tasting and sale courtesy of Gotham Wines & Liquors (2:30 to 5:00pm) as well as the second annual used book sale. Bring your gently used books to AC by Wednesday, March 3. Adult books, children's books, Judaic or not, are needed.
 

Ansche Chesed will be accepting clothing (gently used, in good condition), jewelry, home goods, objets d'art, furniture and otherwise "eBay-able" stuff. We will give you a donation letter for your taxes. The synagogue will then be working with The Auction Ladies, an eBay consignment firm, to sell the items, with the proceeds benefiting Ansche Chesed.
 

What is eBay-able? Almost anything. Clothing and accessories that you don't use/wear/fit into, gently used cameras, computers, appliances and/or equipment; collectibles ranging from pottery to baseball cards; art, furniture, cars, jewelry. . . almost anything. If you're uncertain, you can call Jane at The Auction Ladies (917-885-2596) for guidance.
 

Please bring items that you no longer love, no longer have room for, no longer have use for, wish you had never bought in the first place, or were given to you as a gift and don't fit with your taste to Ansche Chesed on:

• Sunday March 7th from 10AM-2PM
• Monday March 8th from 7-9PM
• Wednesday March 10th from 6-9PM
• Sunday March 14th from 10AM-2PM

For immovables like that breakfront or dining room table that you've always hated and have been looking for an excuse to replace, you can call Jane at The Auction Ladies (917-885-2596) to arrange to have them come and photograph/measure it for eBay listing (if it sells, the buyer will pay to move it and Jane will work with you to arrange the details around YOUR schedule).
 

We are also looking for volunteers to help during the times listed above to accept donations and give receipts, move donations from the lobby to the storage area, or help sort through the materials. And we're looking for volunteers with cars to pick up donations from people who cannot get to the synagogue.
If you can help for an hour or more, please contact Judy Oppenheim, 212-874-4653, judyopp@aol.com

Square Dance
Sunday, March 14, 7:00 - 10:00pm
Do-Si-Do! Swing your partner! If square dance caller Allan Brozek can't get you dancing then you must not have feet. No partner, experience or reservations necessary. Lessons throughout the evening starting at 7:15pm. Cost is $20 ($15 AC/BJ/MOMC members)

Ansche Chesed Young Professionals Dinner
Friday, March 19 at 6:30pm
Wine Tasting
A Royal Wines event with Mr. Wright's Fine Wines & Spirits
Shabbat evening services at 5:30 p.m.; Program: 7:45 p.m. Co-sponsored with United Synagogue's Connections Shabbat dinner & program: $30 cover ($25 AC members) Admission for program and dessert only $10 ($8 AC members). A vegetarian meal is available upon request with your reservation. There will be no admittance without paid reservations by that date.

Marcia Talmage and Fred Schneider on their marriage.
Itzhak and Toby Perlman on the birth of their grandson to Liora Perlman and Meredith Greenberg.
Reena Keren on the birth of her grandson, Oriyah Moshe, to Daniella and Yossi Bonda.
Sandra, David, and Danielle Bergman on the birth of their grandson and nephew, born to Elana and Bradley Saenger.

Condolences to:
Dr. Charles Kadushin on the death of his brother, Rabbi Phineas Kadushin.
Ruth Kaufman on the death of her father, Chiel Morgenstein.
Ronald Summer on the death of his father, Harold Summer.
 

Toda Rabba to:
Carol Levithan for hosting the "Talk About Being An Interfaith Family" discussion.
Scott Cohen, Yael Libedinsky, and Sara Leshen for their help at the family Tu BiShvat Program.
Michael Meric, Rivka Widerman, Ruth Sharfman, and Arleen Stern for their help at the Tu BiShevat potluck lunch.
Elizabeth Leshen and Sharon Rebell for their help in planning the teen Body Image session.
Fred Bogin for his work as Blood Drive Chair, and to new co-chairs Karen Sawitz, Gail Mota, and Linda Messing.
Israel Fridman for organizing the winter coat drive, and to the many AC members who brought warm clothing for those in need.

PAUL COWAN FUND
Benjamin Rand & Elisabeth Tippett
 

KIDDUSH FUND
Martin & Tamara Green                                                                Marilyn & Larry Levi in honor of Paul & Mary Feinberg                Jack & Linda Messing in memory of Freida Zaban Waldman
Jerry & Barrie Raik
Herta Shriner
Beth Sosin & Ted Poretz in honor of their daughter Jennifer Poretz's Bat Mitzvah
 

LIBRARY FUND
Sylvia Weber in memory of her mother, Jennie Lang

RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Wendy Lieber
Samuel & Pamela Menaged
Samuel & Sandra Rapoport
Diane Sharon