 |
Ansche Chesed Newsletter |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Greetings from the Executive Director What a diverse, warm, and interesting community this is! On Rosh HaShanah, one could actually enjoy the Torah reading with West Side Minyan, Haftarah with M'at, the shofar service and most of Musaf in the Sanctuary, as well as a few minutes of song at each of the three services for children, all in one synagogue. A satisfying journey for the spiritual seeker, if ever there was one. Ansche Chesed is truly at the center of Jewish life - full of passionate, contentious, intelligent people, striving for a better world and a truly satisfying Jewish life. There's so much happening here in October, it's hard to choose the highlights, though certainly they include five b'nai mitzvah, classes on the Zohar, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav; Russian Yiddish folktunes; Jewish immigration to America; a monthly film series beginning with Broadway Danny Rose; and an evening reading of the play Bronx Express. And of course, early in the month, you can enjoy the harvest season in one of our sukkahs. A fine autumn to one and all. And don't forget to mark your calendars now for our very special Scholar-in- Residence Shabbat with Rabbi David Saperstein, head of the Religious Action Center, longtime activist, and inspiring teacher, on December 10-11. --Randi Jaffe
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
10/1 Light candles 6:20. Shabbat ends 7:17 10/6 Light holiday candles 6:11 10/7 Light holiday candles after 7:09 10/8 Light candles 6:08. Shabbat ends 7:06 10/15 Light candles 5:57. Shabbat ends 6:55 10/22 Light candles 5:47. Shabbat ends 6:46 10/29 Light candles 5:37. Shabbat ends 6:37 SERVICE TIMES On Shabbat Family and Children's Services 11am WEEK OF OCTOBER 1 WEEK OF OCTOBER 3 WEEK OF OCTOBER 10 WEEK OF OCTOBER 17 WEEK OF OCTOBER 24
As a civilization of law, Judaism has consistently grappled with the
question of the meaning of political life. What should be the
religious attitude of us Jews -- as an autonomous subcommunity
within a state, in pre-modern times, or as an ethnic minority within
a modern nation-state toward the states in which we live?
Our being in exile, says the prophet Jeremiah, imposes the demand upon us Jews to support and improve their governments: "Seek for the well-being of the city where I have exiled you, and pray to God on its behalf, for through its well-being you will be well" [29.7]. Rabbi Hananiah, vice-president of the priests, regarded a stable, powerful state as necessary to stem chaos: "Pray for the well-being of the government. Were it not for the fear of the government, people would eat each other alive" [Mishna Avot 3.2]. Maimonides, the greatest philosopher of Halakha, regarded all Jewish law as a political instrument for fostering two related aims: intellectual/spiritual virtue [tikkun hanefesh] and physical/social virtue [tikkun haguf]. "This second aim consists in governance of a city and the well-being of all its people according to their capacities. . . The first aim can only be achieved after achieving the second [Guide for the Perplexed, 3.27]. At the heart of each of these teachings is the assumption that a good government is necessary to lay the groundwork for a life of faith, justice and peace. One possible religious expression of this attitude is literally to follow the guidance of Jeremiah and R. Hananiah, and pray for the government. I myself strongly believe that it is critical to spend some moments, in a long Shabbat morning, expressing longing for a more just, more noble America. The prayer for the United States as found in Siddur Sim Shalom (originally composed by R. Louis Ginzberg) looks forward to a day when "citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish hatred and bigotry and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of this country." It looks forward to a day when nations will not experience war any more. This prayer is not, I think, a smug expression of American superiority. Like the best prayers, it holds up a vision of a redeemed world, makes us see the great distance between our world and that vision, and urges us to close the gap. But as wonderful as prayer is, by itself, prayer changes nothing. All Americans face a momentous responsibility in electing our leaders, and we Jews are included. Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said that "in a free society, not all are guilty, but all are responsible." Since our society is the freest on earth, we American citizens bear special responsibilities to choose leaders who will make this country "a force for good throughout the world," as the Sim Shalom prayer articulates. I recently read an article by University of Chicago legal scholar Cass Sunstein, who hearkened back to FDR's January 11, 1944 State of the Union address, in the midst of a war even more terrifying and world-shaping than the one we're now fighting against extremist Islamic terror. In that talk, FDR proposed an informal "second bill of rights"-- economic and social rights that could well be the ground for what we consider the good government that enables a good society. These included: "the right to a useful and remunerative job. . . ; the right to earn enough to provide adequate food, clothing and recreation;. . . the right of every family to a decent home; the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; the right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment; the right to a good education." There is no lone way to ensure these rights, and no one policy or ideology that holds a monopoly on seeking this kind of justice. But each of us should know the responsibility we each have for ensuring that our country pursues these virtues for our fellow Americans. And should vote for those leaders who we believe are most likely to attain them.
SUKKOT SERVICES:
Erev Sukkot: Wednesday, September 29 at 6:30pm Sukkot Morning Services: Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1 at 10am Hoshanah Rabba, 7th Day of Sukkot: Wednesday, October 6 at 7am. Erev Shemini Atzeret: Wednesday, October 6 at 6:30 p.m. Shemini Atzeret: Thursday, October 7 at 10am. Yizkor at approximately 11:30am. ANNUAL PAUL COWAN YAHRZEIT PROGRAM THE ANSCHE CHESED SUKKAHS TUV HA'ARETZ SUKKAH DINNER SIMHAT TORAH FAMILY SIMHAT TORAH PROGRAM SIMHAT TORAH
To register for classes, return the form in the back of the
Opportunities in Learning Catalog. Or you may call Sharri Posen
at ext. 415 in the AC office or email sposen@anschechesed.org
Advance registration is greatly appreciated to help our planning
and avoid having to cancel classes.
CLASSES WITH OUR RABBI Lunchtime Learning: Second Isaiah Hevra Shas: Talmud Study Synagogue Adornment: Tallit and Tefillin ART, CULTURE, AND HISTORY Jews Come to America: 350 Years of Immigration FILM SERIES! "Drama Club": Reading Yiddish Plays in Translation: Hebrew Reading for Prayer See "Shabbat Learning" below for more offerings.
Shabbat Class:
From Kabbalah to Radical Hasidism: Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav's Likkutey Moharan With Rabbi David Gedzelman We will look at selected passages from Rabbi Nachman's classic text in Jewish mysticism as we explore the radical thought and writings of this late 18th century Hasidic master who paired mystical cosmology with deep psychological insight. 5 Shabbat mornings, 9:30-10:am, beginning October 16. Torah Study Learners Minyan Seudah Shlishit, The Third Sabbath Meal
Family Simhat Torah Program
Thursday, September 7 at 6pm Families with young children are invited to a special program at 6pm. After the program everyone will join the festivities in the sanctuary. Family Havdala Program SHABBAT GYM & BASKETBALL Kids' Basketball Pre-paid registration is required for these programs. Pick up
a form in the lobby or send your check with family name, phone
number, address, and children's names and ages to the Ansche
Chesed office, 251 W. 100 St. NY NY 10025. Each registered
family will receive a season pass and two guest passes. For information about family programs call Shai Specht in the AC office at ext. 412 or email Shai.Specht@anschechesed.org
HIKING TRIPS
Sunday, October 10 Lake Skenonto. 6.5 mile (5.5+ hours) hike on terrain of moderate difficulty (some hilly sections). Bring hiking boots, lunch, water, daypack, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, money, etc. Co-sponsored by the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York. Cost is $10 ($5 AC/MOMC members). Limited to 30 people. Telephone reservations required by 6:00pm Monday, October 4. Contact Michael (212/678-7881 before 9:00pm) to reserve. Rain cancels. Car-pooling. Sunday, October 24
Fall Blood Drive
Sunday, October 17, 10am- 3:15pm The New York Blood Center is in need of blood donors. Please take an hour to do this important mitzvah. Call Sylvia at ext. 408 to schedule an appointment or just stop by. Shalom Bayit: Justice for Domestic Workers Campaign
CONDOLENCES TO:
Ellen Summer on the death of her husband, AC member Ronald Summer. Kay Cynamon on the death of her mother, Sarah Cynamon. JF Shaw and Irene Soloway on the death of JF's mother, Lucille Shaw. Jane Spinak, Warren Scharf and their daughter Briggin Scharf on the death of Jane's father, Jay Spinak. Jon Levenson, Donna, Daniel and Ethan Levenson, on the death of Jon's father, Dr. Howard Levenson. MAZAL TOV TO: TODA RABBA TO: B'RUCHIM HaBA'IM: Welcome to New Members
GENERAL DONATIONS
Carol Anshien in memory of her mother, Adele Anshien Ruth & Oscar Awner in memory of Irma and William Herzfeld, Regina and Jacob Awner, Harold Awner and Mac Awner Richard Ballinger in memory of his father, Jack Ballinger Abby & Bruce Berg in memory of her mother, Helen Feldberg Milton & Judith Birnkrant in memory of his father, Harold Birnkrant and his sister, Sasha Birnkrant Alt Michael Brochstein Andrea & Charles Bronfman in memory of Henry Everett Vickie Brower & Michael Gottsegen in memory of her mother, Marian Brower Irving Centor Shirley Corey in memory of her mother, Gussie Kramer Dale Degenshein in memory of her mother, Anita Degenshein Howard Eisenberg in memory of his father-in- law, Harry Scharaga & his mother-in-law, Mimi Scharaga Rita Falbel in memory of her mother, Henriette Schroetter Paul & Mary Feinberg in memory of his grandfather, Hyman Sweet and her father, Joseph D. Montalto Herbert & Edith Freshman in memory of her father, Nathan Winter & his father, Barney Freshman Ida Fried in honor of Herta Shriner Louise Gabel in memory of her father, Leon Kohn Eric Gertner & Nina Yahr in memory of her mother, Felice Yahr and his friend, William Mintzer Rachel Givner Marilyn Goldberg in memory of her mother, Emily Goldberg Martin & Tamara Green in memory of her brother, Jay Marcus Walter & Rona Green in memory of her mother, Frances Goldman Ronnie & Richard Grosbard in memory of her mother, Pepi Geliebter Stephen Gross Esther & Walter Hautzig in memory of her uncle, Israel Ben Shlomo Rudomin, her grandmother, Anna Rudomin, and her cousin, Aaron ben Leib Turbowicz Robin Hirsch in honor of Linda Shriner-Cahn and family Barry Holtz & Bethamie Horowitz in memory of Ron Summer David Kaplan in memory of his mother, Ruth Kaplan Susanne & Edward Kaplan in memory of her father, Seymour Schwartz Sharon Kass Arnold & Gloria Kaufman Dawn Kellman & David Lock in memory of JF Shaw's mother, Lucille Samuelson Shaw Louis Klein in memory of his mother, Gertrude Ruth Klein A. Marvin & Lea Konopko Arthur Ladds Naomi Marcus Irene Melup in memory of Solomon, Pauline and Zula Melup Lois Melvoin in honor of Susan, Edward and Ben Martin William Meyers & Nahma Sandrow in memory of her mother, Miriam Sandrow Larry & Barbara Migdal in memory of her mother, Miriam Mendelson Daniel Noy & Karen Sawitz in memory of her mother, Joy Sawitz Shirley Pollak in memory of her father, Isadore Steinberg and her husband, Sidney Pollak Gladys Rosen in memory of her parents, Dora & Benjamin Engel Sylvia Rosenberg in memory of her daughter, Joanna Macaluso Sol Rosenkranz in memory of his relative, Sally Rosenkranz Rosalyn Rubin in memory of her mother, Feigel Rubin and her father, Myrim Rubin Leah Schaefer in memory of her brother, Nissen Cahan Hugh & Lilianne Segal in memory of his mother, Ruhla Segal Ruth Sharfman in memory of JF Shaw's mother, Lucille Samuelson Shaw David & Linda Shriner-Cahn in honor of Suzanne & Mayer Cavalier Larry Silverman in memory of his daughter, Stefanie Silverman Ira & Lenore Silverstein in memory of her father, Morris Ashenfarb Lori Todd Trishman in memory of her grandmother, Mary Friedman Adrienne Weiss David & Holly Younger FLOWER FUND KIDDUSH FUND MINYAN RIMONIM KIDDUSH FUND KOL NIDRE APPEAL PRAYERBOOK FUND RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND REFUAH SH'LEMA SHELTER FUND
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |