As we enter 5767, I am fortunate to have been blessed with a growing family, both personally and professionally.

In my personal life, on July 31, my husband Scott and I welcomed into the world two beautiful babies - Hannah Leora and Micah Uriel - who in their first month of life have already taught us immeasurable lessons about patience, compassion, and love. I thank the kind people of Ansche Chesed – and especially the families of the Hebrew School - for your continued support, well wishes and encouragement, especially during the period when I was on bed-rest before delivery.

Professionally, the entire Ansche Chesed community benefits this year from an expanding team of dedicated and talented educators who will be working together to strengthen and grow our family and youth programs.

This team includes ten members of the Ansche Chesed Hebrew School staff and our various family Shabbat service leaders, whose biographies will be found online shortly on the Ansche Chesed website. At this juncture, I would like to introduce three individuals who will be involved in special programming at the synagogue and whom I hope your children and family will meet this year.

• Jeffrey Abraham will be coordinating the new TAG, or Teen Action Group, a social action group for 8th-10th graders. Jeffrey is beginning his first year at the JTS Rabbinical School after receiving an M.A. in Education and a B.A. in Jewish Studies at the University of Judaism in California. Jeffrey has taught at many Jewish institutions including the Los Angeles Hebrew High School, and served as Assistant Principal at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, California for three years. Jeffrey is excited about the opportunity to work with the 8th through 10th graders at Ansche Chesed this year in creating a fantastic experience working to make the world a better place. He will also be a rotating leader of Shabbat services for our 8-12 year olds.

• Lisa Adler comes to Ansche Chesed as our new Director of Family Programs. Lisa received a M.A. in Jewish Studies with a concentration in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as an M.S.W. with a concentration in Social Administration from the Columbia School of Social Work. Lisa is a veteran Jewish educator with experience in afternoon Hebrew school, leading children and family services, and youth and family programs. She has also worked for the Melton Center for Jewish Education, UJA-Federation of New York and is currently the Congregational Board Training Coordinator at the Union for Reform Judaism. Lisa will also continue to lead Tot Shabbat services this year and will be teaching in our Hebrew School. She can be reached at Lisa.Adler@AnscheChesed.org.

• Originally from Orange County, California, Ben Kramer is entering his senior year as a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Talmud and Rabbinics. In addition to teaching sixth grade in the Hebrew School this year, Ben will serve as Ansche Chesed’s rabbinic intern. Ben will also run the Ansche Chesed Tzedakah Foundation for b’nai mitzvah students this year.

Additionally, we are proud to introduce a number of other exciting new programs this year, most notably for older children. This includes Teen Tefillah for post b’nai mitzvah students, which will be held on the second and fourth Shabbatot each month and led by Tommy Treitel. The first Teen Tefillah meets on Saturday, September 9.

8th graders are also invited to join Halutzim, a new class meeting Wednesdays afternoons from 4-6 p.m., to explore several important themes in modern Judaism and their impact on our understanding of ourselves as modern Jews. The overarching theme of the year is Jewish identity: what makes us Jewish today? How does being a young Jewish adult affect both our day-by-day and life decisions? Students will also study the Sho’ah and delve into issues facing the State of Israel today to examine how these events affect us as young Jews living in the 21st century. All 8th graders are invited to join. Please contact LKurland@AnscheChesed.org for more information.

As we enter this period of introspection and renewal, may we continue to grow and be strengthened.

Best wishes for a sweet and blessed new year.

-- Rabbi Lauren Kurland, Director of Education
 

RABBI'S CLASS: ETHICS OF SPEECH
Rabbinic lore proposes that the tongue is the best and worst organ in the body. It can speak truly, kindly, lovingly. It can lie, slander, and wound. Let us move toward Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur by considering the ethics of how we speak to and about each other, and how we speak to and about God.
4 Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.
August 30, September 6, 13, 20

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! Teacher: Rivka Widerman.
8 Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00 pm
Beginning September 5
AC members free; non-members $120

Senior Adult Program
IN THE SHADOWS: THE BIBLE'S LESSER-KNOWN HEROINES
Come hear Rabbi Shmuel Sandberg speak on this compelling topic. Bring a dairy or parve lunch and we will provide beverages and cookies.
Wednesday, September 6, 12 pm- 1:30 pm
 

SHABBAT MORNING PARSHA STUDY
Rabbi David Gedzelman will lead weekly study sessions based on teachings by Hasidic masters. In September, he will concentrate on Hasidic understandings of the High Holy Days. After that, the group will mostly follow the Torah portion of the week. In late October, Rabbi Kalmanofsky will begin a series of parsha study sessions based on the teachings of Nachmanides.
Beginning September 9 at 9:30 am

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM TODAY
Speaker: Rabbi Michael Paley
Rabbi Paley is a dynamic speaker whose work includes facilitating discussion groups between Jews and Muslims. He is Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation of New York.
Tuesday, September 12, 7:30 pm

HESHBON HaNEFESH: SPIRITUAL AUDITS
Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky
This phrase is the slogan of the High Holidays: “It’s time to make a heshbon hanefesh, to examine our spiritual account books.” How do you do that? What exactly is being asked of us? Together we will study this concept and plan steps that will make Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur a more moving experience.
Sunday, September 17 at 9:30 am

AC: A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS
Ansche Chesed’s Adult Education Committee is initiating a new project to enable as many members as possible to be engaged in Jewish study. What would you like to learn? We will help with reading lists, a curriculum, or with trying to find a partner or group for you to study with. Email Learning@anschechesed.org or speak to Rabbi Kalmanofsky. If you have already responded, someone will contact you in the near future.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Selihot : Saturday Night, September 16
Study Session 10 pm Services 11 pm
 

Erev Rosh HaShanah Services
Friday, September 22, 6:45 pm

Rosh HaShanah
Saturday, September 23 & Sunday, September 24
Morning Services 9:00 am; Minyan M’at and West Side Minyan 9:30 am
Minha 6:30 pm, Ma’ariv 7:20 pm (both days)

Tashlikh: Sunday, September 24
Meet at Ansche Chesed at 5:00 pm

Fast of Gedalia
Monday, September 25, 5:25 a.m. to 7:17 pm

Kol Nidre
Sunday, October 1 at 6:25 pm

Yom Kippur Services
Monday, October 2
Morning Services 9:00 am; Minyan M’at and West Side Minyan 9:30 am

Minha/Ne’ilah 4:50 pm
Tekiat Shofar and End of Fast 7:17 pm

 

ROSH HaSHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR FAMILY SERVICES
Ansche Chesed offers family services as well as childcare on both holidays. Family services begin at 10:45 am and are open to the community. Childcare is provided for those who register in advance. On Rosh HaShanah, the shofar is blown, and apples and honey are served. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, children are invited to participate in a special havdalah service, illuminating the sanctuary with a parade of lights, a symbol of our hope for a new year of peace.
Rosh HaShanah: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24
Yom Kippur: Monday, October 2

CIRQUE DU SUKKAH: SUKKAH-DECORATING PARTY
At Ansche Chesed’s annual Sukkah party, parents and children shake the lulav, decorate the rooftop sukkah, and make cookie sukkahs.
Thursday, October 5 at 5:45 pm

SIMHAT TORAH CELEBRATION
Simhat Torah, with its joyous singing and dancing in honor of the Torah, is a holiday of delight. Families with young children are invited to celebrate from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and then dance into the main sanctuary where they are honored with their own hakafah, or circling with the Torah.
Saturday, October 14, from 5:30–6:30 pm

 

The 2006-2007 school year begins September 12, for grades Gan (kindergarten) through Zayin (7th grade), and Matan, our special needs program.

The new 8th grade Halutzim group begins weekly meetings on September 13. The curriculum focuses on Hebrew, Torah stories, the acquisition of skills necessary to participate in Jewish life, and the value of tikkun olam (healing the world). Classes are small, with dedicated and enthusiastic teachers creating a warm classroom environment.

If you have not yet registered, contact Director of Education Rabbi Lauren Kurland at 212.865.0600 ext. 208 or LKurland@anschechesed.org.

SHIREI CHESED - AC COMMUNITY CHORUS
Led By Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn
Founded in the Fall of 2005 with the generous support of the Rabbi Gershon Schwartz Memorial Fund, Shirei Chesed, Congregation Ansche Chesed’s Community Chorus, draws its members from the congregation and from lovers of Jewish choral singing on the Upper West Side. Please join us as we continue on a journey through the immense repertoire of Jewish choral music throughout the ages! We study the basics of healthy singing, learn melodies and harmonies to the congregational melodies and niggunim that can be used in services, and explore contemporary choral compositions along with arrangements of Yiddish and Ladino folk songs. Ability to carry a tune is welcome; ability to read music and/or Hebrew is not necessary.
Thursdays, 7:30 – 9:00 pm Beginning September 7
The chorus is open to the entire community and free for AC members. Non-members pay $180 per year or $90 per semester.

NEW! ANSCHE CHESED CHILDREN'S CHORUS
Children in grades 3 to 6 are invited to share in the joy of singing and performing together in this brand-new group. The chorus is directed by opera singer and AC member Naomi Cohen.
Tuesdays, September 19 – December 19, 5:45 – 6:30 pm Sundays, October 29, November 19, December 10
$180 per student. To sign up, contact Naomi Cohen at 212.570.5692 or nkcsings@yahoo.com

DECEMBER 9, 2006 Be sure to save the date for a very special benefit performance by the world's reigning violin virtuoso.

Mr. Perlman and his family are members of Ansche Chesed, and we are thrilled that his music will fill our sanctuary. Audiences all over the world respond not only to his flawless technique, but also to how he communicates the irrepressible joy of making music.

For reservations and information, call 800.954.9694 or go to benefitoffice.org/fiddler/

CONDOLENCES TO:
David Fisher, Pearl Beck, Ariel, Jonah, and Gabriel Fisher on the death of David’s mother, Naomi Bartnoff.

TODAH RABBAH TO AUGUST SHELTER VOLUNTEERS:
(Names in bold indicate AC members)
Neil Altman
Trudy Balch
Geoffrey Claussen
Max Davis
Howard Eisenberg
Matthew Feigin
John Frazer
Woody Freiman
Benjamin Geballe
Andrea Gilbert
Avi Green
Shannon Green
Marilyn Gunner
Karen Halper
Yair Harel
Erez Hoffman
Kehilat Hadar
Gary Kallman
Ken Karan
Kathy Kendall
Becky Klein
KOE Minyan
Joyce Mann
Naomi Marcus
Naomi Martin
Jocelyn Maskow
Andy Menkis
Michael Meric
Danny Messing
Linda Messing
Bill Meyers
Rachel Obenshain
Molly Raik
Jennifer Raider
Ariel Rosen
Ann Rudder
Dan Schwarzbaum
Kate Sharp
Andrew Srulevitch
Becca Stern
Eli Terry
Phyllis Towney