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Ansche Chesed Monthly Bulletin |
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This month we celebrate the giving of the Torah on Shavuot. On erev Shavuot, June 12, it is traditional to study through the night. Ansche Chesed's tikkun leil Shavuot will be held at the JCC, followed by an all-night community multidisciplinary happening. Scribblers on the Roof returns on June 20 with a fabulous line-up of Jewish writers reading from their work. This year we welcome, among others, Cynthia Ozick, Pearl Abraham, Lynne Sharon Schwartz, and Steve Stern. And we inaugurate the second season of Tuv Ha'aretz with a celebratory dinner on June 17. See details on these programs below.
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
6/3 Light candles 8:04 Shabbat ends 9:14 6/10 Light candles 8:08 Shabbat ends 9:19 6/12 Light Shavuot candles 8:11 6/13 Light Shavuot candles 9:19 6/17 Light candles 8:11 Shabbat ends 9:21 6/24 Light candles 8:13 Shabbat ends 9:22 SERVICE TIMES ON SHABBAT Family and Children's Services 11 a.m.
TWO SABBATHS AND THE MESSIAH
To keep attracting adherents, each religion must have its own strengths - elements that prompt the faithful to say: Yes! That is why I want to remain, or become, a [Catholic/Muslim/Buddhist/etc.]. For fairly traditional Conservative Jews like me, and perhaps like you, one of Judaism's strongest cards is the poetry of its small rituals. Spiritual dimensions of Jewish practice usually are found - not in extended silent meditative retreats from prosaic life - but in imbuing small acts with a ritual meaning. When it works, dozens of small acts, repeated and repeated, cultivate the awareness that our small lives are fibers in a tapestry of history and destiny. Rituals can help you feel connected to your people, across time and space; it can also orient you toward a redeemed world, where the oppressed are liberated, where exiles return, where God is One and God's name One. Especially when you know their Halakhic [legal] and the Aggadic [reflective, narrative] backgrounds, Jews can use rituals to articulate their visions of life as it should be. Rituals can remind you of the meaning of it all. To that end, I would like to consider the ritual of the Shabbat morning Kiddush over wine, proposing an emendation of the traditional practice, and relating this to two of Judaism's best-loved legends. First, Legend A: you likely know that the two accounts of the 10 Commandments differ in important ways regarding Shabbat, the 4th Commandment, beginning with their first word: Exodus commands us to remember the Sabbath day, while Deuteronomy enjoins us to keep the day. Furthermore, the Exodus [ch. 20] version stresses that Shabbat recalls God's creation of the world and God's rest on the 7th day, while Deuteronomy [ch. 5] associates Shabbat with the liberation from slavery in Egypt and the claim that rest belongs to the powerless as well as the powerful. How to explain this discrepancy? The Sages saw it as evidence of the miraculous nature of divine speech: God could say both versions simultaneously, something impossible for a mortal mouth. Next, Legend B: What stands between us and the Messianic era? Says the Talmud: "If all of Israel would only keep two Sabbaths [or Shabbatot] properly, we would be redeemed." Apparently this means that the Jewish people must keep the strictures on two different Shabbat days - e.g. June 4 and June 11. What if we read this legend through the first one? Perhaps all that separates us from redemption are two Shabbatot: not two different Sabbath days, but the double aspect of Shabbat as expressed in the Bible's two versions. An ideal Shabbat has its Exodus dimension: internalizing that God - not humanity - created the world; and as God rested, reflected and pronounced creation "very good," so we should cease our obsessive accomplishing in order to reflect on the ways the world is already perfect. An ideal Shabbat also has its Deuteronomy dimension: ensuring that we exploit no others on the day of rest; that we have prepared for Shabbat not only by cooking and cleaning but also by taking steps to ensure that those who depend on us can also enjoy their own rest with dignity. If all Israel kept those two Shabbatot, then redemption really would be just around the corner. How can ritual affirm both aspects of Shabbat? An answer is hinted in the blessing of the Friday night Kiddush, when we describe Shabbat as zekher lema'aseh Bereshit, a memorial to the work of Creation, and zekher le'Yetziat Mitzrayim, a memorial to the Exodus from Egypt. Thus, the ritual of making Kiddush before a Shabbat table on Friday night affirms our inward obligations - toward God and self - and outward obligations toward others. A small change in the Shabbat morning Kiddush (or around AC, early afternoon Kiddush) could enhance this further. Each Kiddush has an introductory paragraph from the Bible. On Friday night, we recite the vayekhulu, the account of creation and rest from Genesis 2. On Shabbat morning, communities typically say v'shamru [Exodus 31:16-17], and then recite in whole ["zakhor et Yom HaShabbat lekadesho. . . "] or in part ["al ken berakh Adonai. . ."], the Exodus version of the 4th commandment. In this way, however, the Exodus theme of Shabbat - rest because God rested - gets twice affirmed with Biblical fanfare in both Friday and Saturday Kiddush. Where is the ritual affirmation of the Deuteronomy theme of Shabbat - rest and impart rest to others because you know what it is like to be a slave? This theme needs additional emphasis. For this reason, this year I began reciting the Deuteronomy version of the Shabbat commandment to introduce the daytime Saturday Kiddush, replacing the Exodus version (after v'shamru, which people enjoy singing). True, it is untraditional and not found in the prayerbook this way, but there is no Halakhic impediment to this innovation. (I am happy to share more thoughts on the Halakha to those who would ask. For now, simply note that the Talmud, Pesachim 106a, teaches that the blessing on wine alone would be sufficient for the daytime Kiddush, without other additions.) My hope and prayer and deep faith is that Jewish ritual life can deepen us as individuals and as a nation, and can strengthen us to make a better world. And so I affirm the ancient teaching of the redemptive transformation if we would only keep two Shabbatot: resting to clarify our place in God's vast universe, and resting to liberate those who are exploited. This is why I recite, from Deuteronomy: "Keep the Sabbath day, as Adonai your God commands you. Labor six days and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to Adonai your God. Do no work on it: neither you nor your children, nor your servants [i.e., employees], nor your animals, nor the strangers in your gates, so that your servants, like you, may rest. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt. But God brought you out from there with a strong hand and outstretched arm. Therefore Adonai your God commands you to make this day Shabbat."
SHIVA MINYAN MANNERS
Sunday, June 12
TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT From Rabbi Kalmanofsky: Ever wonder why the Torah (Exodus 19) records that revelation of the 10 Commandments was accompanied by lots of thunder and lightening? By legend, it is because the Jewish people foolishly fell asleep and needed to be roused by a spectacular divine alarm clock. Ever since, we've tried to stay awake on the eve of Shavuot, studying all night long, so we're ready to receive the Torah when God comes down to the mountain. For the second consecutive year, the New York Jewish community will pull off something exceptional on Shavuot: a community-wide, American, Israeli, Halakhic, non-Halakhic, orthodox, heterodox, West-side, East-side happening, housed at the JCC on Amsterdam Ave and the 92d Street Y. The theme will be the Aseret HaDibrot, the 10 Utterances, AKA the 10 Commandments. Check out all the info on the web: www.tikkunny.org AC will be one of the co-sponsors, and our members will be well represented in the teaching. First, our own general AC Tikkun will begin at 8 pm on Sunday, June 12 at the JCC (Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street), with members Jeff Segall, Alan Divack and Deb Mowshowitz, along with me, learning together on the 10 Commandments. (Minyan M'at's own Tikkun is planned for that evening and Minyan Rimonim is likewise planning dinner & learning for the evening.) When the community Tikkun begins at 10 pm, AC members David Gedzelman, David Kraemer, Michael Paley, Ruby Namdar, Hugh Nissenson, Janice Rous, Len Sharzer and I (and perhaps more?) will present. We will join, among others, Mashina (the ultimate Israeli rock band. Imagine The Who, playing your Tikkun.) There will be Halakhically traditional and non- Halakhic activities during each segment of the evening. Special kudos go to the founder of the Tikkun Ruth Calderon, the UJA's scholar in residence from Alma College in Tel Aviv. Also to Carol Levithan (AC board member and Senior Director of Learning at the JCC) along with Minyan Kesher members Roni Rubinstein and Jeffrey Schwarz, who put so much into this program. Please join us -- you'll have a night to remember. (And there's cheesecake. Not too shabby.) SHAVUOT SERVICES First Day Shavuot, Monday, June 13 Second Day Shavuot, Tuesday June 14
Beginning Monday, June 20 at 8pm
SCRIBBLERS ON THE ROOF RETURNS Scribblers on the Roof returns for another fabulous season when we listen to Jewish writers read from their recent work. Tova Mirvis, author of The Outside World and other books, will launch the series with Andrew Furman, author of the new novel Alligators May Be Present. The series takes place on six consecutive Monday evenings. Here is this summer's schedule: June 20: Andrew Furman and Tova Mirvis
July 4: A Celebration of Saul Bellow with readings
by Melvin Jules Bukiet, Joshua Hanft and April Mosolino
Thoughts on Attending the Yom HaShoah Reading of the Names
By Students in the Havurah School Have you ever had a feeling of great importance but shyness
at the same time? It's a great gift, that feeling. It's a sign
of maturity to have the chance to wake up at 5:00 in the
morning and travel to a synagogue to read the names of the
Holocaust victims. Recently I did exactly that. I woke up
early and went to Rodeph Sholom. There I read 75 names from a
huge book of German Holocaust victims. I wasn't too shy this
time to read the names, like I was last year. This year I
realized the importance of it all and how I could help. The
feeling of helping with a matter of such big importance and
knowing that you actually make a difference is possibly the
best feeling you will ever encounter. When I went to Yom HaShoah with my dad last Thursday
morning it was a great experience for both of us. I went to
the teen and pre-teen part. It was from about six o'clock to
quarter to seven. Neither of us had even been to a Yom HaShoah
event. I read a page of names. The category for this year of
the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust was all the
German Jews. But nobody could ever finish all the German Jews,
not even in 24 hours. I really loved going, and I hope I can
go again next year! Sei gesunt! It was very interesting reading Holocaust victims' names on
Holocaust Remembrance Day. I had to get up at five o'clock in
the morning to go to Rodeph Sholom for the reading. It was
strange to see how many people died, especially since they had
been reading nonstop from ten o'clock at night the night
before, and we were only on the letter B. Although there were
only a few people there, it still seemed like a lot for how
early it was. It felt strange saying the names of people who
were dead. I was afraid I wasn't going to pronounce the names
correctly. However, it ended up fine, and it was a very
memorable experience that I won't forget.
Beginning in mid-June we welcome Rabbi Lauren Kurland as our
Education Director. Lauren will be in charge of family
programs and will also be the principal of the Ansche Chesed
Hebrew School. Please join her and the children's service
leaders at the special ice cream kiddush on June 18.
Shabbat, June 18 SUMMER SHABBAT FAMILY SERVICES A combined service for children 7 and under will be led by parent volunteers through July. (There will be no services on July 2.) Volunteers are needed, so come share your talents! Contact Lauren at laurenkurland@gmail.com if you can help. Weekly services will resume in September.
TORAH STUDY
With Rabbi Kalmanofsky and AC members Join us to discuss the weekly Torah portion. Participants are welcome on either an occasional or regular basis. Shabbat mornings at 9 a.m. through July HASIDIC TEXTS 9:30 a.m.
Friday, June 17
CELEBRATE SHABBAT WITH A VEGETARIAN POTLUCK DINNER Join AC and Tuv Ha'Aretz, Hazon's Community Supported Agriculture Project, for great food and a family-friendly evening. Featured speakers Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Hazon director Nigel Savage will speak about "Judaism, Food, and Contemporary Life." Celebrate Shabbat by bringing a vegetarian dish to share with your friends and family. $5/person, $15/families of 3 or more (price includes wine, juice, challah, dessert). RSVP by Friday, June 10 to Leah Koenig, Leah@hazon.org or 212-284-6812. The dinner is co-sponsored by Tuv Ha'Aretz: Hazon's Community Supported Agriculture Project. To see AC's kashrut standards go to: www.anschechesed.org SIGN UP FOR TUV HA'ARETZ'S 2005 SEASON!
Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m.
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN CENTRAL PARK: "AS YOU LIKE IT" See live Shakespeare in Central Park presented for free in a unique setting. These productions work with the park's natural terrain: the audience follows the performance from place to place as the plot unfolds from scene to scene. No tickets or reservations are necessary. The performance starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. at West 103 Street and Central Park West. The AC contingent will meet promptly at 6:45 p.m. at the entrance to Central Park on Central Park West at West 103rd Street. For more information check out New York Classical Theatre's website at http://www.newyorkclassical.org/. Sunday, June 5
MAZAL TOV TO:
April and May's b'nai mitzvah and their families: Harry Divack Elan Holtz Daniel Levenson Mickey Silverman Isabel Weiner Daniel Zloof Jenny and Greg Lyss on the birth of Joseph Tzvi. CONDOLENCES TO: TODA RABBA TO: Michael Brochstein for organizing the dinner of the Friday before Passover; Maya Finch for her help planning and coordinating the second night community seder.
As of June 1, 2005
GENERAL DONATIONS Denise Anderson in memory of Faye Marcus,Tamara Green's mother Evalyn & Joseph Basloe Jill Kowal & William Benjamin in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman Michael Brochstein in honor of Harry Divack's bar mitzvah Deborah Brodie in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman, Faye Marcus & Miriam Noach; in honor of Beverly Schneider's birthday, Bonnie Beck's birthday, Gregory & Jennifer Lyss's son, Alex Visotzky's highschool graduation, Jalna Silverstein's college graduation Martin Sinkoff Charitable Fund in honor of Rabbi Kalmanofsky; with thanks to Nancy Sinkoff and Gary Dreiblatt Heike Magister & Myron Cohen Inbar Evron Michael & Susan Gerson in memory of Faye Marcus Adele & Herbert Gold Tamara Green in honor of Sarah Jacobs & Jeremy Kalmanofsky; in memory of Devorah & Max Garter Stephen Gross Anne & Leon Hoffman in memory of Paulette Kapelovitz, aunt of Shimon Hirchhorn, and Hertzel Fishman, father of David Fishman Bethamie Horowitz & Barry Holtz in honor of Elan Holtz's bar mitzvah; in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman Marjorie Hort in honor of the b'nai mitzvah of Michael May, Harry Divack and Gideon Hanft Sharon Kass Mary & Stefan Krieger in honor of Jeremy Kalmanofsky Sheila & Sheldon Lewis in honor of Ira Salzman Lillian Lober Dawn Kellman & David Lock in honor of Gideon Hanft & Harry Divack's b'nai mitzvah; in honor of Josh Rosenstein's engagement Jocelyn Maskow in memory of Faye Marcus, Ruth Awner, Miriam Noach, Rabbi Hertzel Fishman, Barbara Goodman Gold, George Schneider; in honor of Sheryl Reich; in honor of the birth Joseph Tzvi Lyss; in honor of Elvin Nichols Linda Messing in memory of Ruth Awner; in memory of Miriam Noach; in honor of Harry Divack's bar mitzvah Lauren & Joel Napach Lisa Maller & Rich Ocken in memory of Ruth Awner; in honor of Valerie Wald & Jeremy Goldman's wedding Ann Dobrejcer & Michael Paley in honor of Joni Greenspan's father Alan and Brooke Phillips Bethany & Jonathan Rabinowitz in memory of Faye Marcus Randi Jaffe & David Roe in memory of Faye Marcus Rita & Sol Rosenkranz in memory of Michael Cooper Barbara Rothenberg in memory of her father, Chester Rothenberg Lori Cohen & Christopher Rothko Lori Skopp & Michael Schmidt in honor of Deborah Brodie's birthday; in honor of Tony Zak's birthday; in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman Ruth Sharfman in memory of Ruth Awner; in memory of Faye Marcus Linda & Herta Shriner David & Linda Shriner-Cahn in honor of Tony Zak's birthday; in honor of Seferina Berch's bat mitzvah; in honor of Gideon Hanft's bar mitzvah; in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman; in memory of Ruth Awner; in memory of Faye Marcus Marion & William Shulevitz in memory of Faye Marcus Michele Siegel in memory of Ruth Awner; in memory of Faye Marcus Patty Lipshutz & Lorin Silverman Lorin Silverman in memory of his grandfather, Simon Silverman; in memory of Herbert Weinberg Ellen Singer Bonnie Skiena in honor of Aaron Maller Ocken's birthday Robin Forman & Hugh Smyser in memory of Miriam Noach; in memory of Rabbi Hertzel Fishman; in honor of Deborah Brodie's birthday Ruth Sussman in honor of Sam Brody's and Allen Sussman's election to Phi Beta Kappa Laurie Dien & Alan Yaillen in honor of Roberta & Paul Shapiro for a successful auction Sitta Zorn in memory of Ruth Awner YAHRZEIT DONATIONS RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND (including donations
for the sale of hametz) Anonymous SHELTER FUND MINYAN RIMONIM KIDDUSH FUND SANCTUARY MINYAN KIDDUSH FUND |
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