Of the many metaphors used in the High Holiday liturgy, one that I find most compelling is that of the Jewish people as God’s children. As someone who works with parents and children, I am moved by the image of God as Source of Life, an ultimate nurturer, the One who kvells at every accomplishment and cries at every fall. Like any parent, God has tried to give us a strong foundation and wishes more than anything for us to walk the good path. Even – and sometimes especially – when we stumble, God gives us the opportunity to return; as an ever-loving parent, God’s support for us does not falter.

As we strive to live in the image of God as parent, we must – whether we have children of our own or not – remember that we are responsible for supporting the youngest among us. We are all responsible for educating our children, and for making our children feel at home in the Jewish community. We are all responsible for modeling what it means to behave as a mensch, and for sharing with children the sweetness and joy of Judaism so that they grow up with the desire to enrich and perpetuate our tradition.

As we enter the Yamim Nora’im, the High Holidays, may we all recognize ourselves as God’s children, as well as the parents of all of the children in our community. The responsibility is great, and we are up to the task.

With best wishes for a shanah tovah u’metuka – a sweet and happy new year.

--Lauren Kurland

 

You will be required to show your tickets before entering the synagogue. Please also expect that bags will be searched. To simplify security, please leave bags at home when possible.

CHILDCARE CHECK-IN
If you have registered your children for childcare, please check in at childcare registration in the 100th Street lobby and obtain a nametag before taking your children to the childcare rooms. Please arrive before 10:45 a.m., when family services begin.

TASHLIKH
Tuesday, October 4 at 4:45 p.m.
(meet outside AC and walk to the river). Tashlikh means “cast off.” Tashlikh is the symbolic act of casting off sin by throwing the crumbs from one’s pockets into a moving body of water. It is a special moment on the Upper West Side as hundreds of Jews converge on the riverbank in Riverside Park. Come join us. Families are welcome!

KOL NIDRE FOOD COLLECTION
Bring non-perishable foods to Kol Nidre services on October 12. Food will be donated to the West Side Campaign Against Hunger. Monetary contributions are also welcome; checks should be made out to WSCAH.

YOM KIPPUR MINHA/NE'ILAH
Minha begins at 4:30 with the telling of the story of Jonah by Jerry Raik. At 6:40 p.m. we invite all the children to come to the Sanctuary and help bring Yom Kippur to a close with our traditional procession of lights, and all who have a shofar to bring it to add to our joyful noise. Final shofar blast at 6:47 p.m.

EREV ROSH HaSHANAH
Monday, October 3
Evening services 6:30 p.m.

FIRST DAY ROSH HaSHANAH
Tuesday, October 4
Morning services
   Sanctuary and Minyan M’at 9 a.m.
  West Side Minyan 9:30 a.m.
Tashlikh: Meet at Ansche Chesed at 4:45 p.m.
Minha/Ma-ariv 6:15 p.m.
 

SECOND DAY ROSH HaSHANAH
Wednesday, October 5
Morning services
  Sanctuary and Minyan M’at 9 a.m.
  West Side Minyan 9:30 a.m.
 

EREV YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 12
Kol Nidre Services 6 p.m.
 

YOM KIPPUR
Thursday, October 13
Morning services
   Sanctuary Minyan & Minyan M'at 9 a.m.
   West Side Minyan 9:30 a.m.
Minha/Neilah 4:30 p.m.
Tekiat shofar/End of fast 6:47 p.m.

FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Rosh HaShanah & Yom Kippur Mornings at 10:45 a.m.
Family Service for children ages 4 and under - 2nd floor
Family Service for children ages 5-7 4th floor
Big Kids Service for children age 8 and older - 6th floor

 

SUKKOT FIELD TRIP
Sunday, October 16, 11 a.m.
All of Ansche Chesed’s adults and children are invited to join Rabbi Kalmanofsky to go into the “fields” of Lower Manhattan for etrog and lulav picking.We will meet at AC and ride the train together to the Lower East Side, where excellent lulavim and etrogim for Sukkot are very inexpensive. Hebrew School families, Havurah School families, day school families, singles, seniors... come everyone to get ready for the wonderful Sukkot ritual of shaking the lulav.

CIRQUE DU SUKKAH: A SUKKOT FAMILY CELEBRATION
Sunday, October 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Come decorate the Ansche Chesed rooftop sukkah, learn how to shake a lulav, smell an etrog, and enjoy pizza, music, and games with your family.

COMMUNITY POTLUCK KIDDUSH IN THE SUKKAH Tuesday, October 18
Enjoy kiddush in the rooftop sukkah following services. For AC’s kashrut policy, refer to the AC website or call the office for a copy.

SING-ALONG IN THE SUKKAH
Sunday, October 23, 1 p.m.
Bring your lunch to eat in the sukkah and stay to celebrate with festive song led by Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn.

THE SUKKAH AT ANSCHE CHESED
The rooftop sukkah is open to the public at breakfast, lunch and dinner times. The smaller fifth floor sukkah will be available for overflow seating or private events. Sukkah schedules will be available in the office. Note: The sukkahs are dairy only.

SUKKOT SERVICES
First Night of Sukkot
Monday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Sukkot Morning Services
Tuesday and Wednesday,
October 18 and 19 at 10 a.m.

Seventh Day of Sukkot
Hoshana Rabbah
Monday, October 24 at 7 a.m.

Erev Shemini Atzeret
Monday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Shemini Atzeret
Tuesday, October 25 at 10 a.m.
Yizkor

Erev Simhat Torah
Tuesday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the Torah with singing, dancing, and hakkafot (circling).

Erev Simhat Torah Family Program
Come for a family celebration at 5:30 p.m. and then join the festivities in the Sanctuary.

Simhat Torah Day
Wednesday, October 26 at 10 a.m.
The singing and dancing continue as we finish reading the Torah and begin it all over again.

 

PAUL COWAN YAHRZEIT PROGRAM
Friday, October 21 AT 8 p.m.
Professor Mark Cohen
Under the Crescent: Anti-Semitism in the Muslim World
The politics of the moment often clouds our understanding of the past and our vision of the future. It can be difficult to talk about Jewish-Muslim relations in the era of Islamic terrorism, the war in Iraq, the crisis in Israel. We should ask: Is Islam inherently anti-Semitic? Is the current Arab/Muslim hostility, like age-old Christian anti-Semitism, part of a long legacy of Jew hatred? Is it a more recent phenomenon? If so, is there hope for a future in which Muslims and Jews can live together in greater harmony?
Services 6:30 p.m. / Sukkah open for dinner 7 p.m. / Program 8 p.m.

Mark Cohen is Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University.

Paul Cowan z"l was a leading member of our community and a key participant in its renewal. As readers know from his acclaimed autobiography, An Orphan in History, Paul modeled a search for Jewish wisdom and a dedication to realizing its teaching in righteous deeds.

Hebrew School
The 5765-5766 year at the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School has begun – the sound of nearly seventy children singing, laughing, and studying Torah fills the halls on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Biographies of our strong team of teachers can be found on the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School web page. As always, you are invited to visit the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School; please contact us if you would like to schedule a tour.

Family Shabbat Services
Check out the new guidelines for our three family services on-line!

Our Family Shabbat Service Leaders constitute a strong team this year. Mindy Fischer and Tommy Treitel continue to lead the 8-12 year old service. Liba Kronfeld and Sarah Chandler are leading the 5-7 year old service, and Lisa Adler and Tehila Eisenstadt alternately lead services for children 4 and under. In order to allow families with young children in more than one age bracket the possibility of having all their children on the same floor of the building, the 5-7 year old service now meets in 2N, and the 4 and under service meets in 2S.

Our 5-7 year old service this year boasts a new siddur illustrated by Julie Schwartz Wohl. Sponsored by Lori Cohen & Chris Rothko and Dan Jacob & Jennifer Cowan, the siddur is designed to provide a colorful, child-friendly option for the children in our middle service. The siddur is in a pilot phase; please direct all comments and suggestions about the siddur to Lauren.

The Family Kiddush on September 24th, sponsored by David & Jennie Rosenn and Dan Jacob & Jennifer Cowan, was a great success! Families are needed to sponsor or co-sponsor future Family Kiddush lunches. Held immediately after children’s services on Saturday morning, these kiddushim provide opportunity for families to get to know one another better as they eat, shmooze and play. Remaining fall dates are October 22, November 19, and December 10. Call 212-865- 0600, ext. 413 to reserve.

Family Programs
On September 25th, 18 b’nai mitzvah aged kids and their families met at Ansche Chesed to discuss the future of ACT – The Ansche Chesed Tzedakah Foundation. The ACT Foundation allows b’nai mitzvah students the opportunity to collect money, create a foundation, send out grant applications to various nonprofit organizations, and distribute funds as they see fit. The program begins meeting formally in November under the supervision of AC rabbinic intern Ethan Linden. Contact Lauren at ext. 413 for more information.

During the High Holidays, if you would like to visit with the children in High Holiday childcare to read a story or play a board game, please call ext. 413 to schedule.

After Yom Kippur, Sukkot is right around the corner! At the annual Cirque du Sukkah, this year on October 16th from 4:30-6:00 pm at the rooftop sukkah at Ansche Chesed, families are invited to decorate the sukkah, eat pizza, and enjoy Sukkot-related art projects. Volunteers are needed for face-painting and staffing tables. Please call ext. 413 to volunteer and to RSVP! $5/child.

Dumbledore is back, and he’s come to visit Ansche Chesed! Sure, you say, but doesn’t he look a lot like Rabbi Kalmanofsky?! Children are invited to come in costume to the Harry Potter Halloween Havdalah party at AC on Saturday night, October 29th at 6:20 pm. All families are invited to havdalah and a dinner of pumpkin juice and treacle pizza (kosher, of course). At 8 p.m., kids 7 and older are invited to stay to watch “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and hear special readings by Dumbledore! while their parents go out. Special readings by Dumbledore and a movie showing! Bring your wands and owls! $10 for kids 7-99; $5 for kids 6 and under. RSVP to ext. 413.

--Rabbi Lauren Kurland

TORAH DISCUSSION
Each Shabbat we read and discuss the parshat hashavua (weekly Torah portion). Everyone is welcome to participate. The discussion is led in rotation by Rabbi Kalmanofsky, Rabbi Lauren Kurland, rabbinic intern Ethan Linden, and Ansche Chesed members.
Every Shabbat, 9-10 a.m.

BEGINNER'S SERVICE
Many of Ansche Chesed's active members first became more knowledgeable about Judaism and more involved with Ansche Chesed through their participation in a Beginner's Service. Join us for a friendly, spiritual and anxiety-free service, exploring the basics of Saturday morning prayer. You do not need to know how to read Hebrew to participate in the prayers and the learning.
Shabbat mornings at 10 a.m. Beginning October 15.

EXPLORING HASIDIC TEXTS
With Rabbi David Gedzelman
This class, which in September studied texts relating to the High Holidays, resumes after the holidays. The texts by Hasidic masters, particularly those of the Sefat Emet, Rav Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, will mostly relate to the Torah portion of the week. Texts are in English and Hebrew. Newcomers are welcome, as are drop-ins to any session.
Shabbat mornings, 9:30-10:30 a.m. beginning October 29.

New! RELIGION AND SCIENCE READING GROUP
Facilitated by Prof. Deborah Mowshowitz
This new group will read selections from scientists, philosophers and theologians examining how ro whether the realms of scientific fact and spiritual meaning interact -- whether they tend to enrich, erode or talk past each other. This group is not for fundamentalists and will not try to "prove" God from the Bing Bang or DNA. You need not be a theologian or a scientist to join in.
First meeting Saturday, October 1 at 4 p.m.

LEARN TO READ HEBREW
If you've sat in shul during the High Holidays or on Shabbat and wished you could follow along in Hebrew, this class is for you. Learning the Hebrew alphabet is easier than you think! Experienced Hebrew teachers Marcia Talmage Schneider and Sheila Lewis will introduce you to the alef bet.
Section I
Taught by Sheila Lewis
9 Shabbat mornings, 9-10 a.m.,beginning October 22. (No class Thanksgiving weekend.)
Section II
Taught by Marcia Talmage Schneider and Rivka Widerman
8 Thursdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m., beginning October 20.

New! Morning class with Rabbi Kalmanofsky
BECOMING AN ETHICAL JEW When people think about Jewish practice, they usually think of rituals: lighting candles, saying prayers, keeping kosher. That's half the picture. among its other elements, religious Judaism is full of ethical commandments -- like telling the truth, not exploiting people economically, and healing the sick -- designed to refine a person's character. Please come for a weekly hour of thinking together about Judaism's ethical demands and how they can influence you and your loved ones.
4 Thursday mornings, 9-10 a.m. beginning October 27.

 

HIKING TRIPS IN OCTOBER
Sunday, October 2
Delaware Water Gap
9+ miles (5.5 - 7 hours) on terrain of moderate difficulty with some challenging hills.

Sunday, October 23
Leaf Peeper Special! Lake Skenonto 6.5 mile (5.5+ hours) Join us for some “leaf peeping” (seeing fall foliage) hiking on terrain of moderate difficulty (some hilly sections).

Bring hiking boots, lunch, water, daypack, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, money, etc. Co-sponsored with the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York. Cost is $10 ($5 AC/Mosaic members). Limited to 30 people. Telephone reservations are required by 6 p.m. by the Monday before the hike. Call Michael (212-678-7881 before 9 p.m.) to reserve. Rain cancels. Car-pooling (reserve early).

MAZAL TOV TO:
September’s b’nai mitzvah:
Aidan Lukomnik
Zoe Braiterman

Greta and Andrew Srulevitch on the birth of their son, Noah Joseph.
Arturo Hale and Amy Brown on the birth of their son, Ignacio Barukh Yair Hale.
Dawn Kellman and David Lock on the birth of their son, Adam Judah.
Stephan Brumberg on the birth of his granddaughter, Tamar Brumberg.
Elissa Bemporad and David Fishman on the birth of their son, Elya Peter.
Lee Adlerstein and Anita Golbey on their marriage.

CONDOLENCES TO:
Fran Schiff on the death of her mother, Mollie Goldstein.
Melvin Freilich on the death of his mother, Chanka Freilich.
David Israel on the death of his father, Nissin Israel.

TODA RABBA TO:
Israel Fridman for his work on the Neshama Carlebach concert, and to all those who volunteered at the event: Mindy Fischer, Ellen Flax, Eric Gertner, Debra and Martin Greenberg, Ken Karan, Karen Palmer, Amy Rosenfeld, Ricki Lulov Segall, Michele Siegel, Marcia Talmage Schneider, Bonnie Zaben. Also many thanks to the office staff and the maintenance staff, and apologies to any volunteer whose name was omitted.

Valerie Wald for her donation of a keyboard to the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School.
Tara Fersko for creating beautiful felt characters for use in our Tot Shabbat services.
Lori Cohen and Chris Rothko, Dan Jacob and Jennifer Cowan for generously underwriting the pilot phase of the new siddur for the Shabbat service for 5-7 year olds.
Dan Jacob and Jennifer Cowan, David and Jennie Rosenn for sponsoring September’s family kiddush lunch.

TODA RABBA TO SEPTEMBER'S SHELTER VOLUNTEERS:
(Names in bold are AC members)
Miriam Aranoff
Trudy Balch
Steven Bloom
Yehuda Charm
Scott Cohen
Steve Collins
Columbia-Barnard Hillel
Patrick Corrigan
Elysa Dauerman
Charlie Davidson(Shelter Coordinator)
Alan Divack
Howard Eisenberg
Woody Freiman
Marge Goldwater
Marilyn Gunner
Minyan Hadar
Yair Harel
Esther Hautzig
Marjorie Hort
JTS Students
Becky Klein
Lou Klein
KOE Minyan
Jeremy Lawrence
Rebecca Lurie
Naomi Marcus
Jocelyn Maskow
Michael Meric
Aaron Messing
Linda Messing
Bill Meyers
Hannah Meyers
Mike Patterson
Jennifer Raider
Dan Schwarzbaum
Donald Stumps
Kate Sharp
Joy Silber
Ellen Singer
Betsy Uhrman
Gennady Yusin
Bonnie Zaben
Amy Zarrow
 

August 25-September 29
GENERAL DONATIONS
Trudy Balch
Corinne Boren in memory of her uncle, Jack Swidler
Amy and David Brauner
Feygele Jacobs and Michael Cholden-Brown in honor of the birth of Adam to Dawn Kellman and David Lock; Aidan Lukomnik's bar mitzvah
Kathy and Stephen Fink: Library Fund
Judith Merion and Richard Fried
Nina Yahr and Eric Gertner
Lea Golan
Sigrid Hess in memory of Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper
Marjorie Hort
Ernest Kahn in memory of his grandmother, Sophie Kahn
Ruth and Jacob Kaufman in memory of her parents, Chiel and Charlotte Morgenstein
Hannah Lipman in memory of her father, Jesse B. Lipman
Lynn Davidson and Jon Lukomnik
Jocelyn Maskow in honor of Lee Adlerstein's marriage to Anita Golbey; in honor of the birth of a son to Andrew and Greta Srulevitch; in honor of Stephen Brumberg's new grandchild; in honor of the birth of a son to Dawn Kellman and David Locke; in memory of Shalom Stavsky's mother; in memory of Ray Karlin's mother; in memory of Michael Gottsegen's mother; in memory of Adele Rebell.
Karen and Seth Palmer
Morton and Joyce Shapiro in honor of their granddaughter, Charlotte Isabelle Kibbe Shapiro, daughter of Wendy Clapp-Shapiro and Jeffrey Shapiro
Bill and Marion Shulevitz in honor of the birth of a baby to Arturo Hale and Amy Brown
Paul Silberbush
Ira and Lenore Silverstein in memory of his father, Morris Ashenfarb
Jeffrey Uhlfelder

 

YAHRZEIT DONATIONS
Jay and Ellen Andors in memory of her father, Nathan Marcus
Oscar Awner in memory of his brother, Harold Awner
Richard Ballinger in memory of his father, Jack Ballinger
Shirley Corey in memory of her mother, Gussie Kramer
Kay Cynamon in memory of her mother, Sarah Cynamon
Howard Eisenberg in memory of his in-laws, Mimi and Harry Scharaga
Stanley and Shirley Fischler in memory of his father, Benjamin Fischler
Louise Gabel in memory of her mother-in-law, Esther Gabel
Nina Yahr and Eric Gertner in memory of her mother, Felice Yahr; in memory of his friend, William Mintzer
Laura Gold in memory of her father, Robert Gold
Tamara and Martin Green in memory of her brother, Jay Marcus
Ronnie and Richard Grosbard in memory of her mother, Pepi Geliebter
Marjorie Hort in memory of Matthew Weinstein
Carol Ingall in memory of her husband, Michael Ingall
Nahma Sandrow and William Meyers in memory of her mother, Nahma Sandrow
Sol Rosenkranz in memory of his wife, Sally Rosenkranz; in memory of his brother-in-law, Benjamin Leib Cooper
Rosalyn Rubin in memory of her parents, Feigel and Myrim Rubin
Ruth and Ira Salzman
Leah Schaeferin memory of her brother, Nissan Cahan
Edward and Susanne Schwartz in memory of her father, Seymour Schwartz
Hugh and Lillian Segal in memory of his mother, Ruhla Segal
Vivienne Koorland and Josh Segal in memory of her grandmother, Cecilia Koorland; her grandfather Ralph Koorland; her father Victor Joseph Koorland.
Barbara Siegal in memory of her mother, Ethel Myers
Michelle Siegel in memory of her grandmother, Anna M. Polisar
Ellen Summer in memory of her husband, Ronald Summer

 

RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Lee Adlerstein
Susan Dickman
Edith Everett
Marilyn Goldberg
Carolyn Greene
Rabbi Jules and Shayna Harlow
Ruth and Jacob Kaufman
Lynn Davidson and Jon Lukomnik
Kate Sharp and Ernest Polstein
Joyce and Janos Racz
Herta Shriner
Irwin Sollinger
Andrew and Greta Srulevitch
Benjamin Zucker

 

SHELTER FUND
Corinne Boren
Claudia Kavenagh & Joel Giller
Esther & Walter Hautzig in memory of her cousin, Aaron Ben Leib Turbowicz
Dorothea Krieger
Rachel Shalmon in memory of her father, Mordechai Shalmon

 

SANCTUARY MINYAN KIDDUSH FUND
Lynn Davidson and Jon Lukomnik
 

FLOWER FUND
Jill Laurie Goodman in memory of her grandmother, Eleanor Weber Carey
Deborah Ann and Abraham Konopko in memory of his mother, Asna Judith Konopko; his wife, her mother, Lea Konopko; his daughter, her sister, Peninah Musha Konopko
Ruth and Ira Salzman
Herta Shriner