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Message from the Rabbi |
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Can a Jew come to the
Torah without a kippah?
Recently, a number of
people - some guests and some members - have objected to the fact that
people at AC occasionally come to the Torah for aliyot or to read
without head coverings. In virtually all cases, these people are
women. (I believe none of our minyanim insists that women, or men,
follow any particular dress code in order to receive honors.)
These unsolicited
criticisms prompted me to think about our practice's benefits and
liabilities, in terms of Jewish law and lore. Should it be permissible
at Ansche Chesed to come to the Torah or lead prayers with a bare
head?
I conclude that wearing
a kippah is not actually obligatory for taking leadership roles
in our services. Within the bounds of Halakha, people might choose to
wear them or not. But choosing to cover one's head is an almost
universal practice in Jewish ritual, potentially full of beauty and
spiritual power. In my view, covering one's head in worship is the
fullest Jewish choice.
What makes a religious
practice meaningful?
Partly, an individual's
response defines religious meaning. Indeed, we at Ansche Chesed are
long on autonomy - encouraging people to find the right path for
themselves - and short on prescription. But this can also be
idiosyncratic and therefore isolating. In social terms, often a
religious practice is meaningful because it is shared by the Jewish
people, including those who live in other countries. Or it can be
meaningful because it is woven through with Jewish wisdom, part of the
tapestry of the Written and Oral Torah through the centuries.
Wearing a head covering
during ritual acts - including saying prayers and blessings, or
studying - has been one of the signal Jewish observances throughout
history. To the rabbis of the Talmud, covering the head during the day
was not obligatory. Rather, it was an optional gesture of middat
hasidut, special piety, designed to cultivate a sense of humility,
faith and awe. It should remind one that "the Shekhina hovers above my
head" for "the whole world is full of the divine presence" [Talmud,
Kiddushin 31a, Shabbat 156b].
Though tossing on a
head covering can be thoughtless and reflexive, like any other
gesture, ideally it focuses your attention on God's presence. Stop a
moment before you next put on a kippah and say to yourself: "I
do this to symbolize the Shekhina surrounding me."
For prayer and ritual
acts, in immediately post-Talmudic times, it was debated whether it
was rank hutzpah to stand before God with a bare head [Soferim
14.15]. In the Halakhic tradition, stringent views took hold, with
some ruling that it should be forbidden to say the name of God or
enter a synagogue with a bare head [Shulhan Arukh 91.3]. Others said
only that it was forbidden to say the Amida with a bare head, but
other prayers could be recited hatless [Maimonides, Laws of Prayer
5.5].
These views are
especially well entrenched among Sephardic Jews. I found a fascinating
responsum by R. Ovadya Yosef who reported that Tunisian and Syrian
communities would have even unmarried girls don a head covering for
praying, saying blessings and studying [Yehave Da'at 5.6].
Among Ashkenazi
authorities, however, the prevailing view is that there is no law
against saying the divine name or even praying without a kippah
[R. Solomon Luria, Responsa #72, R. Elijah of Vilna, Orach Haim 8.6].
But all agree that the practice is so well entrenched, and so helpful
in cultivating humility and reverence, that certainly one ought to
cover one's head. "It is a virtuous custom," said R. Elijah.
Today at any given AC
service, one sees 99.9% of men with covered heads. Among women,
practices vary, with some wearing kippot indistinguishable from
men's head coverings, others wearing distinctively feminine headgear
and some bare-headed. (In these comments, I am not addressing at all
the issue of married women's head coverings.) No doubt each person has
her own reasons why her choices feel comfortable to her.
When it comes to Jewish
practice, I'm for expanding the mitzvah-doing population to include
both genders. Egalitarian Judaism need not make women dress up as men
to perform ritual acts. But covering one's head can be so spiritually
rich, is integral to our ritual, and so fully communicates a sense of
reverence to others. I urge people to consider taking it on, in ways
that are right for them.
It is improper for a
rabbi to say that something is forbidden when it is not, in fact
forbidden. If people choose not to wear kippot when praying or
being called to the Torah, there is no need to compel them. But I hope
that those of us who wear kippot, all day long or at worship,
gain from this gesture a sense of love and awe for God whose glory
fills the whole world.
-- Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky |
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 Artist-in-Residence
and Concert
Hazzan
Dr. Ramon Tasat |
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A
Special Weekend of Song, Prayer, and Learning
May 18-20
SHABBAT: DAVENING IN TWO WORLDS
Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19
Friday night will feature Sephardi Kabbalat Shabbat
with Hazzan Tasat, accompanied by musical instruments, and Ashkenazi
Ma'ariv with Hazzan Hirschhorn. The evening will continue with a
special Sephardi dinner and a talk by Ramon Tasat about "The Mystical
Poems of Shabbat, in Words and Music."
Shabbat morning
continues with Ashkenazi Shaharit and Sephardi Musaf, also
featuring a special Sephardi Torah scroll from which Hazzan Tasat and
members of AC will chant according to Moroccan and Iraqi traditions.
CONCERT: ECHOES OF SEFARAD
Sunday, May 20 at 7pm
Come
for a wonderful evening of Sephardic music as Ramon Tasat presents a
rich tapestry of songs from the Mediterranean and Middle East. Hear
the echoes of faraway lands that hosted the Sephardic Jews for
centruies, and enjoy an array of musical styles in a thoughtful
exploration of the age-old liturgical texts as well as joyous and
moving Ladino folk songs exploring eternal themes of love and life.
Tasat will be joined by Hazzan Natasha J. Hirschhorn, the virtuoso
instrumental ensemble Fiesta Sefarad, and the community chorus, Shirei
Chesed.
Cost:
Friday Night Dinner:
Adults $30, Children under 13 years $10.
Sunday Concert: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Children
under 13 free.
Sponsorships are also available. Contact Natasha Hirschhorn,
nhirschhorn@anschechesed.org.
Dinner
Reservations:
1) To
pay online by credit card, go to
www.anschechesed.org. Click on the "Donate Now" button. In the
special instructions box, indicate what your payment is for, OR
2) Send a check to Ansche Chesed, 251 West 100th
Street, NY NY 10025, OR
3) Call the office at 212.865.0600 ext. 202 to pay by credit card.
Concert Tickets:
Follow the instructions above or purchase tickets directly by
going to
www.ramontasat.eventbrite.com
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Adult Learning |
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SHABBAT AND
HOLIDAY
LEARNING
The Way of Truth: Nahmanides' Torah Commentary
Shabbat mornings, 9:30-10:30am (through May 19)
The
Torah commentary of Rabbi Moses ben Nahman (Ramban) brings literary
taste, linguistic precision, halakhic breadth and mystical depth to
his Bible interpretations. Join Rabbi Kalmanofsky to tackle textual
and spiritual problems in the Torah portion through his comments.
Exploring Hasidic Texts
Shabbat mornings,
9:30-10:30am (May 26-June 30)
Rabbi David Gedzelman looks at the Torah portion through the writings
and thought of a number of Hasidic masters, particularly the Sefat
Emet (Rav Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger). Newcomers are welcome, as are
drop-ins to any session.
Pirkei Avot
Shabbat afternoons at
5pm
By
custom, the six springtime Shabbat afternoons between Passover and
Shavuot are devoted to studying Pirkei Avot, the Mishna's collection
of ethical aphorisms. The remaining sessions will be led by Rivkee
Twersky (May 5), Sarah Jacobs, (May 12), and Barry Holtz (May 19). If
weather permits, we can sit on the roof.
Shavuot
Please join AC at the JCC on Shavuot evening, Tuesday, May 22.
As a prelude to the city-wide "Stay the Night" Tikkun (which begins
at 10pm) AC will have early evening learning beginning at 7pm, along
with a symbolic meal of light refreshments. Presenters will include
both shul members as well as frequent AC attenders when they are in
town, including Shalom Leaf, Rabbi David Greenstein, Rabbinic Dean at
the Academy for Jewish Religion, and Sidney Bloch, a Melbourne
psychoanalyst, currently on sabbatical at Columbia. Then join the
general Tikkun <www.tikkunny.org>, where Rabbi Kalmanofsky and other
AC members will present. (Note that, as always, there will be programs
that both conform to Halakha and those which do not.) Year to year,
this Tikkun Leyl Shavuot is a high point in Jewish life. Don't miss
it!
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Me'ah: Register
Now!
Me'ah is an intensive two-year course of Jewish study that has become
the gold standard of Jewish adult education in America. Me'ah
(meaning "100" -- that is 100 hours of study over two years) classes
are taught by leading scholars, at the level they would teach their
university classes. In about 20 weekly meetings per year, lasting 2
hours and 45 minutes each session, you will cover the major periods of
Jewish history, thought and literature: Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval
and Modern. AC's Me'ah classes will be held Monday evenings, beginning
in the fall after the holidays. Tuition is $950 per year. (Limited
financial assistance is available). For a registration form, please
call 212.865.0600 ext. 205 or write
meah@anschechesed.org. Please don't delay in sending in your form
if you plan to participate, as we need a minimum number to hold the
course. If you have questions or concerns, please speak to Rabbi
Kalmanofsky.
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Senior Adult
Program
Wednesday, May 2 at 12pm
With novelist and comic book writer Alisa Kwitney. To read
about Alisa and her funny, sexy, romantic novels, see her website,
www.alisakwitney.com. Bring a parve or dairy lunch; we will
provide coffee, tea, cookies, and seltzer.
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American Jewish Literature Reading Group
Tuesday, May 15 at 7:30pm
The group, led by Rabbi Shmuel Sandberg, will read three stories from
the collection The Magic Barrel by Bernard Malamud: "The Magic
Barrel," "The Jewbird," and "The Angel Levine." All are welcome.
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Youth and Family |
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Family Kiddush Lunch
Saturday, May 12
Our Family Kiddush
Lunch will honor our Family Shabbat Service Leaders: Tehilah
Eisenstadt, Hadar Schwartz, Lisa Adler, Lauren Abraham, Michal Telem,
Jeffrey Abraham, Mindy Fischer, and Tommy Treitel. We will also honor
and say farewell to Lisa Adler, Family Programs Director. Weather
permitting, we will celebrate on the roof. Please participate by
helping to sponsor this event! Contact Rabbi Lauren Kurland,
Lkurland@anschechesed.org.
Hebrew
School Tekes Aliyah: Moving Up Ceremony
Tuesday, May 15 at 5pm
The
Ansche Chesed Hebrew School will have its Tekes Aliyah, or moving up
ceremony, in the Sanctuary on Tuesday, May 15th at
4pm. Each student will receive a certificate
of completion, and Kitah Zayin (7th Grade), the graduating class, will
give a special presentation. A reception will be held in the
100th Street
lobby following the ceremony. |
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Other Programs and Activities |
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Screening of "The Treatment"
AC member Oren Rudavsky's new film, "The Treatment," opens Friday at
the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas at Broadway and
62nd
Street,
www.treatmentmovie.com.. "A comedy about life, love and escaping
your shrink," based on Daniel Menaker's novel, "The Treatment" stars
Ian Holm and Chris Eigeman and won a prize at last year's Tribeca Film
Festival. Please consider coming to see the
4:35
show this Sunday, May 6. After that screening, Oren will meet with AC
folks to talk about the film. (Other times on Sunday are 11:15,
12:55,
2:45,
6:35,
8:40,
10:30) For tickets, call 212.757.2280 or go to
lincolnplazacinema.com.
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Tuv Ha'aretz
Register now for
local, organic produce all summer - delivered to Ansche Chesed! Tuv
Ha'Aretz, Hazon's Community-Supported Agriculture Project offers
members an entire season of organic, local produce at less cost than
most grocers. Your membership supports the Garden of Eve Farm, builds
community, and expands the understanding of kosher food-not only fit
for us, but fit for the Earth. You will also have the chance to
attend educational events during the season (trips to the farm,
composting workshops, cooking demos, and more!) Sign up today to get
amazing produce all summer long!
Pickups run from June
6 to November 14, Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00pm, at Ansche Chesed.
To register or for more info: leah@hazon.org or
www.hazon.org/CSA.
Workshop:
Composting in the City
Thursday, May 17 at
7:30pm
Think you can't compost because you live in an apartment? Master
Composter and AC member Gary Dreiblatt will demonstrate simple,
mess-free, year-round composting techniques for your apartment
(assisted by some wiggly friends). Organic refreshments provided.
Space is limited - RSVP by Monday, May 14 to Julia Harrington,
jharrington@africaninstitute.org. Sponsored by Tuv Ha'aretz.
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Memorial Day Weekend at
Camp
Ramah
Friday, May 25 to Monday, May 28
A fun filled singles weekend at
Camp
Ramah in the Berkshires with every outdoor (and indoor) activity you
can think of. This year's Weekend Director will be Michael Brochstein.
The low cost early-bird deadlines for reservations are May 1 (lowest
price) and May 15 and all reservations are due by 5:00pm on Sunday,
May 20. Details and reservation forms are available at
www.WingdaleUniversity.org.
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News & Notes / Donations |
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NEWS & NOTES
Mazal Tov to:
Yedidya Kalmanofsky and his
family on the celebration of his bar mitzvah.
Beth Dinkin
and Carl Schrag on the birth of
their daughter, Joelle.
Lisa Rabinowicz on the birth of her grandson.
Allison Lax and James Schwebach on the birth of their
daughter, Caroline.
Jennifer and Michael Levison on the birth of their son,
Nathaniel Joseph.
Barry Stern and Deborah Shapira on the birth of their
son.
Condolences to:
Joel Leshen on the death of his
mother, Ruth Leshen.
Miriam Lieberman on the death of her mother, Dorothy Lieberman.
***************************************************************************APRIL
DONATIONS
(Through April 26)
GENERAL DONATIONS
Aaron Brown and Deborah
Pastor
Ida and Kenneth Fried in honor of Jedidiah Ephraim
Kalmanofsky's Bar Mitzvah
Alex and Zhanne Laszlo in honor of the Itzhak Perlman concert
Jocelyn Maskow in honor of Jedidiah Kalmanofsky's Bar Mitzvah,
Oren Fishman's Bar Mitzvah and Tsvi Tannin's Bar Mitzvah
Marcia Talmage-Schneider and Fred Schneider in honor of
the Muffs, the Dublers the Berkowitzes, the Rosenfelds, with 107 years
of togetherness, and in honor of Frances Degen Horowitz's special
birthday.
Lenore and Ira Silverstein in memory of Sidney Fuhrer
Edward Wildman in honor of Mary and Paul Feinberg
YAHRZEIT
DONATIONS
Friedl Dienstag in memory of
her son, Peter Dienstag
Rabbi Judith Edelstein in memory of her mother, Jean Edelstein
Howard Eisenberg in memory of his father, Murray Eisenberg
Lawrence Feldman in memory of his father, Joseph Feldman
Stephen Fink in memory of his father, Sam H. Fink
Ida Fried in memory of her husband, Ernest Fried
Louise Gabel in memory of her sister, Ruth Theresa Kohn
Vicki Brower and Michael Gottsegen in memory of Vicki's father,
Edward Brower, their friend, Stephanie Rogoff, Anne Mintz's father,
Kalman Mintz, Richard Altman's mother, and Miriam Benhaim's mother
Walter Hautzig in memory of his grandmother, Blume Zwirn
Irving Katz in memory of his wife, Sara Elizabeth Katz
Rabbi Jan Caryl Kaufman in memory of her grandmother, Reba
Kaufman
A. Marvin Konopko in memory of his aunt, Golda Bitter
Chaya C. Levin in loving memory on the 11th Yahrzeit of her
father, William B. Levin
Joyce and Martin Mann in memory of Joyce's mother, Selda Levy,
and great aunt, Sonia Kahn
Naomi Greitzer Marcus in memory of her father, David Greitzer
Tom and Amy Marx in memory of Tom's father, Albert Marx
William M. Meyers in memory of his father, David Meyers
Shirley Pollak in memory of her mother, Ethel Steinberg and
mother-in-law, Bertha Pollak
Sol Rosenkranz in memory of his grandmother, Hedy Cooper
Barbara Rothenberg in memory of her father, Chester Rothenberg
Frances Schiff in memory of her father, Irving Goldstein
Roberta and Paul Shapiro in memory of Roberta's sister,
Susan Kornbluh
Herta Shriner in memory of her beloved mother, Gertrude Lewin
Barbara Siegal in memory of her father, Ned Myers
Lorin Silverman in memory of his grandfather, Simon Silverman,
his aunt, Florence Weinberg, and his relative; Herbert Weinberg
Larry Silverman in memory of his wife, Annie Silverman
Lenore and Ira Silverstein in memory of Lenore's father,
Morris Ashenfarb, and Ira's father, Meyer Silverstein
Joyce Slochower in memory of her father, Harry Slochower
RABBI'S
DISCRETIONARY FUND
(Includes donations for the sale of hametz)
Jacob K Abraham
Vicki and William Abrams
Esther Altmann
Jacqueline Gutwirth and Misha Avramoff
Carol K. Baron
Liege Rodrigues-Motta and Elias Bilboul
Samuel and Linda Bloch in appreciation of the memorable
experience at Ansche Chesed on the naming of their granddaughter,
Dylan
Ansche Chesed Board of Trustees in honor of Jedidiah
Kalmanofsky's Bar Mitzvah
Corinne Boren in honor of Jedidiah Ephraim Jonah Kalmanofsky's
Bar Mitzvah
Mary Moritz and Leonard Brauner
Ruth Sussman and Sam Brody in honor of Jedidiah
Kalmanofsky's Bar Mitzvah
Isaac Brumer
Elizabeth Denlinger
Morris and Lore Dickstein
Amy Zarrow and Alan Divack
Walter and Nancy Dubler
Rita Falbel
Paul and Mary Feinberg
Ellen Flax
Deborah L. Friedman
Alexandra C. Friedman
Robert and Navah Frost
Marjorie Goldstein
Stacey Gordon in memory of her grandmother, Mollie Mayers
Martin and Tamara Green
Frances Degen Horowitz and Floyd Horowitz
Barbara and Michael Kaplan
Ruth and Jacob Kaufman in honor of Jedidiah Kalmanofsky's
Bar Mitzvah
Neal Kaunfer
Stuart Klawans and Bali Miller
Edward and Shirley Kornreich
Tatyana Leifman
Gail Mota and Joel Leshen
Susan M. Martin
Linda and Jack Messing in memory of Beth Levine and Al
Levine
Nahma Sandrow and William Meyers
Anne P. Mintz
Deborah and Solomon Mowshowitz
Lisa Maller and Richard C. Ocken
Karen and Seth Palmer
Ellen Resnick and Eric Peterman
Joyce and Janos Racz
Jennifer Rosenberg
Raphi Salem
Francine L. Hersh and Henry A. Schiff
Samuel and Frances Schiff in honor of Jedidiah
Kalmanofsky's Bar Mitzvah
Marlene Stulbach and Nathan Schleifer
Marla Gayle and Melanie Schneider in memory of Melanie's
father, George Schneider
Nathaniel Polish and Ellen Schorr
Beth Dinkin and Carl Schrag
Rabbi Marion and Bill Shulevitz in honor of the Bar Mitzvah
of Jedidiah Kalmanofsky
Gary Dreiblatt and Nancy Sinkoff
Laura Clark and Mark Sirota
Joel and Jacqueline Spitz
Ann F. Wimpfheimer
Monica Zalta-Feffer
RABBI'S DARFUR
FUND
Deborah Rosenthal and Jed
Perl
Sylvia Weber in memory of her father, Norton Harry Lang
SHELTER FUND
Benyamin Cirlin and Miriam Benhaim
Mike and Naomi Cohen
FAMILY KIDDUSH
FUND
Helen Causton and Ben
Liebman
SANCTUARY MINYAN
KIDDUSH FUND
Corinne Boren
Rita Falbel
Mary and Paul Feinberg
with thanks to Tamara Green, Jane Head, Joyce Mann and Ellen Tucker
for their friendship
Alexandra Friedman
Eric Gertner in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Benjamin and Freya Goldstein in appreciation of Ansche
Chesed's help in presenting the staged reading of Ben's musical, "A
Kabbalistic Love Story," on April 22
Martin and Tamara Green in honor of Rachel and Ben
Geballe
Melinda Gros and Ron Werter in honor of Rachel and Ben
Geballe
Stephen Gross in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Sarah Jacobs and David Kronfeld in honor of Rachel and Ben
Geballe
Scott Cohen and Rabbi Lauren Kurland in honor of Rachel and
Ben Geballe
Dawn Kellman and David Lock with thanks to Paul and
Shoshana Shapiro for taking Rachel sledding in Riverside Park.
Naomi Marcus in memory of her father, David Greitzer
Deborah Pastor in memory of her father, Jacob Pastor
Barrie and Jerry Raik in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Ellen Tucker and Alan Rosenstein in honor of the naming of
their granddaughter, Sadie Louise Rosenstein, daughter of Josh and
Emily; and in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Ruth and Ira Salzman in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Ruth Sharfman in honor of Rachel and Ben Geballe
Selma and William Tucker in honor of the naming of their
great-granddaughter, Sadie Louise Rosenstein, and in honor of Sadie's
parents, Josh and Emily
Nahum and Maron Waxman in honor of Rachel and Ben
Geballe
PRAYERBOOK FUND
Michael Brochstein in memory of
his mother and father, Barbara and Sol Brochstein
Ernest Kahn in memory of his grandmother, Amalie Levy
Linda Messing in memory of Miriam Tuchman and Joel Leshen's
mother, Ruth Leshen
Deborah Shulevitz in honor of the Bar Mitzvah for Jedidiah
Kalmanofsky
PASSOVER APPEAL
Vivian Mamelak and Alain
Demers
Navah and Robert Frost
Richard and Ronnie Grosbard
Frances Degen Horowitz and Floyd Horowitz
Elana Elster and Jordan Horvath
Richard and Lauren Koffler
Judith and David Kohn
Abraham and Deborah Konopko
Sarah and John Mathews
Elaine and Ronald Morris
Adolfo Profumo
Jennifer Rosenberg
Ruth Sharfman
Leonard and Lois Sharzer
Helen Singer
Joyce Slochower
Marcia Talmage-Schneider and Fred Schneider
STAINED GLASS
WINDOWS
Eric Gertner in memory of his
wife, Nina Yahr |
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