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The Brotherhood Synagogue
h’’bZ
28 Gramercy Park South
New York, NY 10003
Phone (212) 674-5750 Fax (212) 505-6707
www.brotherhoodsynagogue.org
Volume XXXIII Number II
Cheshvan/Kisleve 5775 November 2014
Blessings and Lingering Tears
by Rabbi Daniel Alder
T
o sit at a Thanksgiving meal, in the
company of friends and family, brings
into focus the great gifts of what it means to
be an American and a Jew. It is a moment
that reminds us about the things that really
matter, the great freedoms and blessings
granted to us today.
We live in an era when the State of
Israel, Jewish autonomy, and the power
and freedoms that come with it are taken
as givens, where we cannot imagine what
it means to live otherwise. It is without
doubt an incredible blessing. But with that
blessing, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove warns us
that we should be aware of the risk of losing
a sense of historical awareness.
The Shabbat of Thanksgiving weekend
this year is November 29th, a day that all
Jews interested in our history should know
well. It is the date on which, sixty-seven
years ago, the United Nations approved the
partition plan—a resolution to terminate the
British Mandate and create two states, one
Arab and one Jewish.
Amos Oz, in his novel and self-portrait,
A Tale of Love and Darkness, describes his
experience as a child in Jerusalem during the
vote. He writes of standing with his bookish
father along with thousands of others on
the streets of Jerusalem that night, silently,
listening to the American presenter on the
radio. Oz tells of the shouts of joy and roar
of jubilation and hugs and the unabashed
crying and dancing and revelry that took
over Jerusalem that night when the U.N.
General Assembly voted the right of Israel
to be established.
Oz writes what happened when they
returned home that night. After all the revelry,
he and his father climbed into the same bed,
and under the sheets his father told him in a
whisper: “‘What some hooligans did to him
and his brother David in Odessa and what
some Gentile boys did to him at his Polish
school in Vilna, and the girls joined in too,
and the next day, when his father, Grandpa
Alexander, came to the school to register
a complaint, the bullies refused to return
the torn trousers but attacked his father,
Grandpa, in front of his eyes, forced him
down onto the paving stones in the middle
of the playground and removed his trousers
too, and the girls laughed and made dirty
jokes, saying that Jews are all so-and-sos,
while the teachers watched and said nothing,
or maybe they were laughing too. And still in
a voice of darkness with his hand still losing
its way in my hair, my father told me in the
early hours of November 30, 1947, ‘Bullies
may well bother you in the street or school
someday. They may do it precisely because
you are a bit like me. But from now on,
from the moment we have our own state,
you will never be bullied just because you
are a Jew and because Jews are so-and-so.
Not that. Never again. From tonight that’s
finished here.’ I reached out sleepily to touch
his face, just below his high forehead, and all
of a sudden instead of his glasses my fingers
met tears. Never in my life, before or after
that night, not even when my mother died,
did I see my father cry. And in fact, I didn’t
see him cry that night either; it was too dark.
Only my left hand saw.”
Even with a state of Israel, tears of sorrow
remain on Jewish faces. The cry of a Jew
being murdered simply because he or she
is a Jew, can still be heard. “Never again.”
How we wish it to be the case. The world’s
most ancient hatred of anti-Semitism exists
in new forms today. We must be vigilant, we
must know our history, we must pray and
work for peace even as we protect that which
is dearest to us, our lives, our freedoms, our
Jewishness and the gift of what it is to be
born into this time. l
Shabbat Services
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, november 1, 9:30 am
Bat Mitzvah of Josie Ingall
FRIDAY, november 7, 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, november 8, 9:30 am
Bar Mitzvah of Michael Prizant
FRIDAY, november 14, 6:30 pm
Veterans’ Shabbat
SATURDAY, november 15, 9:30 am
Bat Mitzvah of Gabrielle Miles
SATURDAY, november 15, 4:15 pm
Bat Mitzvah of Hanna Lipkis
FRIDAY, november 21, 6:30 pm
Congregational Dinner Following
Speaker: Gerard Edery
SATURDAY, november 22, 9:30 am
B’nai Mitzvah of Anna and Leo Greenleaf
FRIDAY, november 28, 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, november 29, 9:30 am
Rabbi Irving J. Blockz’’l
Memorial Lecture
Thursday, November 13
7:00 pm
Guest Speaker: Dr. Georgette Bennett,
President of the Tanenbaum Center for
Interreligious Understanding
Dr. Bennett will deliver a talk entitled
The New Landscape for Jews, Christians, Muslims: Landmines and Ploughshares. In addition to being founder of
the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious
Understanding, most recently Dr. Bennett founded the Multifaith Coalition for
Syrian Refugees in Jordan. This will be a
most timely, pertinent program and it is
not to be missed.
Community Notes
by Myra Hushansky
M
y first memory of Jewish music was
of the many cantors my mother used
to play on her LP record player when I was
growing up in Brooklyn. Richard Tucker,
Jan Peerce, Josef Rosenblatt, Moishe
Oysher and others were her rock stars. She
played them often. Many years later, I was
thrilled to find them on CD, which I
showed her how to play on her new CD
player. “Mom, think of them as very, very,
small LP records.” I didn’t think of them as
‘music’ or ‘prayers’ or even only Jewish;
they just filled my home and I knew they
made my mother happy.
Music, I realize, also makes me happy.
It fills me with a sensation that allows
me to stop thinking, solving, planning,
worrying and just be. At my current age,
and as a gift to myself after I retired from
the Board of Education, I began studying
cello. Admittedly, I am terrible at it, but I
love it. Despite how difficult it is, once in
a while I hit the note just right…and I am
happy.
I come to Friday night services as often
as I can. At the end of the week, especially
before I retired, I knew the music would
relax and energize me. To this day, I find
myself looking forward to the conclusion
of the Amidah, when our cantor’s soft
humming of Oseh Shalom fills the
Sanctuary. I never fail to be awed by this
moment. And after the humming, when all
the voices join in…I am happy.
Recently I have been visiting a very ill
friend who is not Jewish. One day as I sat
by her hospital bed and she dozed quietly,
Tov L’Hodot la-do-Shem just came out. I
don’t know why, but it just felt right. My
friend relaxed, and every once in a while, I
even hit a proper note or two.
* * * *
Twenty years ago, Brotherhood started
the Tikvah Program, our Hebrew school
program for children with special needs. It
felt like a natural fit to have music as part
of our curriculum. Not music as part of
prayers, but music for its own sake. We’ve
had wonderful music teachers who brought
in special instruments and taught exciting
rhythms. When our new music teacher
started this year, he asked the students what
2
This year the theme at Brotherhood is
“MUSIC” and we invite one and all to share
here in our “Community Notes” their thoughts
and feelings relative to any aspect of music
in Jewish life. Please send all submissions to
[email protected]. (Word
limit: 750 words!)
Shabbat Club
Life Goes On
Life Goes On is a group for those of us who
have lost a spouse or life partner and want to
experience the beauty, joy, and opportunity
that New York life offers surrounded by
supportive friends who understand and
share in the loss.
Thank you very much to Luise for once
again taking such good care of us at our event
last month. It’s always fascinating to see your
insider’s perspective of the Chelsea galleries.
We all enjoyed a warm and delicious dinner
at the Park Restaurant after our long walk.
Our next event on Wednesday,
November 12, at 6 pm, will take place at the
Rubin Museum of Art located at 150 West
17th Street. This small and very beautiful
museum presents the art of the Himalayas. We
will enjoy a private tour designed specifically
for our group, followed by a “Himalayan
Happy Hour” with music and dinner in the
Rubin Museum’s restaurant, Café Serai. The
tour, which is $15 per person, is limited to
20, so if you would like to take part please
contact Agnes ASAP. The cost of the dinner is
additional, and those who plan to attend will
receive details about that later.
songs and prayers they remember and want
to sing. The list filled up the entire music
session. HaTikvah is a favorite, as well as
Bim Bam.
The students have mastered many
prayers, and last week, our class’ rendition
of Avinu Malkeinu would had made Jan
Peerce proud. Our students learn prayers,
history and languages through music.
During a music class last year, our new
assistant teacher was so impressed with the
singing, she suggested we have a concert.
There were solos, duets, and trios, plus
a performance by the whole group of
more than 20 students. We practiced and
practiced, and it was a great success, the
students were so proud.
And of course, I was so happy. l
Our next book club meeting will be
on Monday, November 3. Please read The
World to Come by Dara Horn. The prizewinning author interweaves mystery,
romance, folklore, theology, history,
scripture, and a stolen Marc Chagall
painting into a spellbinding modern
tale. The book won the National Jewish
Book Award for 2006. NYU professor
Margaret Boe Birns will expertly guide our
discussion as usual, accompanied by wine
and desserts. The cost of participating is
$20 per person; please call or e-mail Agnes
ASAP if you are planning to join. The
book and the date for the following book
club meeting will be selected during the
meeting, and details will be sent as soon
as available.
If you or someone you know would like
to be a part of Life Goes On, please come
to our meetings—we would be happy to
see you! If you have any questions, please
call Agnes Marton at 917.519.4427 or email her at [email protected] or
call Roberta in the Synagogue office at
212.674.5750. l
The Brotherhood Synagogue
Saturdays November 15 &
December 13
Congregation members and guests are
welcome each month on a Saturday,
at 1 pm, in the second floor reception
room, opposite the entrance to the
sanctuary. This “club” doesn’t ask for
dues or mandatory attendance. Come
and enjoy about an hour with old
friends and new on a relaxed Shabbat
afternoon. Hear about and discuss
various Jewish-related subjects, a
different one each month. Refreshments
are served. Deborah Newman organizes
this group and please contact her if you
have ideas for topics (newmanddale@
aol.com)
On November 15, Alan Fell, a
member of our congregation, will share
his insights and lead a discussion on
Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shamai, who led
opposing schools of Jewish thought in
the early first century, BCE.
Rabbi Daniel Alder will lead the
December 13 meeting.
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775 November 2014
Shabbaton @ Brotherhood
Friday-Saturday, November 21-22
Please join us for services on Friday
evening led by Rabbi Alder, Cantor
Weis, and Musical Scholar-inResidence, Gerard Edery. After
services we’ll share a delicious
congregational dinner followed by a
talk from Gerard Edery on The
Golden Age of Spanish Jewry. The
Sephardim of Spain come from a long
history of wanderings and empires—from
Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome to
Spain, North Africa and the Ottoman lands.
Cosmopolitan and deeply involved in all
social, political and artistic explorations of their time and place,
their real spiritual homes were found in their Judaism, often ex-
pressed through sacred stories and songs. Edery will enlighten us
about this intercultural mix that was central to the Sephardic experience.
On Saturday morning, join Phil Rothman for a Torah Talk
entitled “Does God Really Hear You?” at 9:30 am. Following kiddush lunch Rebecca Kryspin Alder will hold a session of Spiritual
Yoga at 1:30 pm and Terrific Toddler Time with Daphna Mor for
children up to age 3 will be held at 4:30 pm.
Saturday evening at 6:00 pm we’ll have a Havdallah ceremony
immediately followed by a very special concert given by
Gerard Edery. For further information, please visit www.
gerardedery.com.
Please see the enclosed flyer for further details about Shabbaton
November 21-22 and for the Dinner RSVP form.
Social Action News
Sunday, November 9, 10 am – 4 pm
The Brotherhood Synagogue’s
12th Annual Chuck Ginsburg
Memorial Blood Drive
Chuck Ginsburg was a cool, generous and loving guy. His family
and friends remember him with
love each and every day. Blood
plasma helped give him energy
and some feeling of normalcy
during his battle with cancer. In the loving spirit
of Chuck’s life, the Brotherhood Synagogue, the
Social Action Committee and Chuck’s family
are proud to sponsor the twelfth annual Chuck
Ginsburg Memorial Blood Drive.
Please call the office immediately to
schedule an appointment and remember to
eat protein rich meals the week before.
Sunday, November 9, 9:30 am – 3 pm
Annual Conference on
Healing the Sick @ UJAFederation of New York
When the Healer Needs Healing: Illness and
the Bikur Cholim Response
A full day conference with inspirational keynotes, skill building workshops and exciting
plenary presentations that will offer insight
and practical skills including: Essential Visiting Skills • Preparing an Ethical Will • Caring for the Caregiver • Using the Telephone
to Visit • Practical Jewish Spirituality: Tools
for Coping and Healing • Focus on Visiting
People with Dementia and the Cognitively
Cheshvan/Kisleve 5775 November 2014
Impaired * Visiting With Someone at the End
of Life. Light breakfast and lunch included. If
you wish to attend the Conference on behalf
of the Synagogue please contact Roberta by
Thursday November 6.
Thank you to the Chesed Committee
which has generously offered to sponsor registration costs.
information to the Brotherhood Office
marked Attention: Veterans Shabbat:
• Name
• Branch of Service
• Dates of Service
• Rank at Discharge
Friday, November 14
DOROT Thanksgiving Food
Delivery
Celebrate Veterans’
Shabbat Calling All U.S. and
IDF Veterans
On Friday, November 14 the Jewish Welfare
Board, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council,
the communal agency responsible for
providing Jewish chaplains to the military
and for servicing the needs of Jewish military
personnel, their families, and Jewish patients
in Veterans Affairs hospitals will join with
the Social Action Committee in observing
a Veterans’ Shabbat at Friday night services
beginning at 6:30.
Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky, Deputy Director
for Programming of the JWB Chaplains
Council will speak about the services that are
being provided to Jewish military personnel
and their current program of outreach to
Jewish veterans.
As part of the evening, all Brotherhood
members who are veterans, men and women
who served in the U.S. military or the IDF
will be honored by the congregation.
We would love to include all veterans and
ask that if you served to send the following
The Brotherhood Synagogue
Sunday, November 23, 10 am – 1 pm
Generations Helping Generations…
Join members of our Social Action Committee for our annual DOROT Thanksgiving
Food Delivery and Visit on Sunday, November 23. DOROT is a wonderful organization focused on helping the elderly maintain
independent lives in their own homes. The
Thanksgiving Food Delivery and Visit is a
meaningful way for generations to help generations celebrate Thanksgiving.
We will meet at Rodeph Shalom (7 West
83rd Street) at 10 am, for a brief orientation. After the orientation, we will pick up
a Thanksgiving meal, deliver the meal to a
senior, and spend about an hour visiting with
the senior. For those of you who have participated before, the visit tends to be the most
important part of the day. We will be done
before 1 pm.
DOROT asked for participants 18 years
old and older, but if you have “mature” teens
we will see if we can work something out.
Space is limited, so please contact Roberta at
[email protected] if you wish
to volunteer. l
3
Happenings in Our Kehilah
B’nai Mitzvah, Mazal Tov to:
Jonathan Steuer and Marjorie Ingall on
the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Josie
Ingall. Josie, a student at the Institute for
Collaborative Education, will celebrate her
simcha with her younger sister, Maxine.
Igor and Tammy Prizant on the Bar Mitzvah
of their son, Michael Prizant. Michael, a
student at NEST+m, will celebrate his simcha
with his younger siblings, Daniel and Rachel.
Bradley and Rachel Miles on the Bat Mitzvah
of their daughter, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, a
student at Friends Seminary, will celebrate her
simcha with her younger brother, Zachary;
and to grandparents, Ina and Edward Miles.
Harvey Lipkis and Ruth Shragowitz on the
Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Hanna Lipkis.
Hanna is a student at the Summit School.
Eric Greenleaf and Vicki Morwitz on the
B’nai Mitzvah of their children, Anna and
Leo Greenleaf. Anna and Leo are students at
Salk School of Science.
Births, Mazal Tov to:
Marcy and Scott Debson on the birth of their
daughter, Sophie Hope Debson; and to older
brother, Charlie.
Hayley Eber and Jonathan Mark on the birth
of their daughter, Noa Mark; and to older
sister, Sienna.
Melissa and David Fox on the birth of their
son, Henry Fox.
Condolences to:
Lenny Gold on the passing of his father,
Nathan Gold.
Robert Bauchner on the passing of his wife,
Renee Bauchner.
Billie Elias on the passing of her father, Ralph
Tekel.
Susan Enzer on the passing of her son, Joshua
Enzer.
Welcome to Jonathan Right and Jess Cosmus
of Chelsea. Jonathan works in private equity
at Goldman Sachs and Jess is a private wealth
advisor with Northern Trust. Jonathan and
Jess are recently engaged and are looking
forward to getting married next summer.
Welcome to Nir Hod and Stefanie Raben
of Chelsea. Nir, originally from Israel, is an
artist at the Paul Kasmin Gallery and Stefanie,
originally from the Netherlands, is a fashion
model. They have a 3-month-old son named
Shawn.
Welcome to Bella Sekons of Chelsea. Bella is in
real estate management and development at CB
Developers. Her daughter, Maya, also works in
real estate development. Her son, Etan, is a
musican and recording engineer with his own
studio and her daughter, Talia, is married to
Tym Bryce, an acupuncturist and they have
a daughter named Ceila. Talia has her own
country blue grass band (The Lost Pines) and
plays rhythm guitar and writes songs.
Welcome to Dr. Alvin Gelb and Ronda Gelb of
Peter Cooper Village. The Gelbs have two sons,
Daniel and Michael, and five grandchildren.
Daniel is an orthopedist in Baltimore,
Maryland and Michael practices psychiatry
in Portland, Oregon. The Gelbs enjoyed High
Holiday services at the Brotherhood this year
and look forward to becoming part of the
Brotherhood community.
Welcome to David and Romy Cohen. The
Cohen’s moved back to Manhattan last year
from Park City, Utah, where they had lived
for the past three years and are now living in
Tribeca. David is the founder and CEO of
The I Grace Company and Romy is a stay at
home mom. They have four children, Oliver
(14), Sylvie (13), Nathaniel (11) and Ezra (8),
who all attend the Avenues School.
Welcome to Sheila Eisenberg of the Upper
East Side. Sheila is an attorney.
Welcome to Adam Shlachter and Zimra
Panitz of the Lower East Side. Adam is the
chief investment officer at DigitasLBi and
Zimra is the head of cataloging at the School
of Visual Arts library. They have two children—
Ruby who is in kindergarten at Grace Church
School and Maddox who attends MKC II.
Ruby attends Brotherhood Hebrew School.
Welcome to Dr. Adam Dershowitz and
Hanna Dershowitz of Tudor City. Adam is
an aeronautical engineer who does expert
consulting on aircraft accidents and other
engineering matters. Hanna is a civil rights
lawyer. They have two children. Zara, 11,
plays cello and is always reading. She is a sixth
grader at East Side Middle School. Mars, 9, is
a gymnast and a fourth grader at PS 116. Both
children attend Brotherhood Hebrew School.
Welcome to Joseph and Stephanie Cogan of
Gramercy Park. Joe is a real estate salesperson
at Town Residential and Stephanie is Vice
President, Corporate Relations at The National
Kidney Foundation. They have a rescue shih tzu
named Studley McGoo.
Welcome to Tiffany Tirado and Steve
Martinek of Kips Bay. Steve is in hospitality
while Tiffany is a media coordinator for a
PR firm. They are new to the area and have
enjoyed the charming neighborhood so far.
Welcome to Alex and Lindsay Shapses of
NoMad. Alex is a partner and insurance
specialist at Heritage Strategies and Lindsay
is an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings
County District Attorney’s Office. They have
a one year old son, Jackson.
Welcome to Jennifer Langnas and Joseph
Snodgrass of the West Village. Jennifer is a
children’s wear designer with Fox + Sparrow
and Joseph is a managing director at Joelle
Frank. They have three children—Eloise, who
attends Avenues and Hanna and Violet who
attend the Preschool of the Arts.
Welcome to Joseph Weintraub and Jill Linker
of Flatiron. Joseph, who goes by Jay, is the
founder of marketing events companies Grow.
co and LeadsCon. Jill is a corporate attorney
who doubles as a full-time mom. They have
two children, twins Ryan and Madeline.
Welcome New Members:
Welcome to Jeffrey and Gabby Cohen of
Gramercy Park. Jeffrey is a sales executive
with Telogis and Gabby is a PR executive at
SoulCycle. They have two children, Cece who
attends the Preschool of the Arts, and Max.
Welcome to Daniel Ruch and Neha Leela Ruch
of NoMad. Daniel is the founder and CEO of
Rocketrip, an enterprise software startup, and
Neha runs brand strategy at Zola, a wedding
registry startup. Daniel and Neha recently got
married in Napa Valley, California.
Welcome to Brian Sampson and Jillian Straus
of Chelsea. Brian is an attorney and partner at
D’Agostino, Levine, Landesman & Lederman
LLP and Jillian is a media consultant with
Straus Strategic Communications LLC. Their
daughter, Summer, attends Friends Seminary.
Welcome to David Simon and Lisa Goodman
of Chelsea. David and Lisa both work at New
London Associates, LLC. David is a managing
director and Lisa is a controller. They have
two children—Lily and Zoe who both attend
Trevor Day School. l
The Brotherhood Synagogue
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775 November 2014
Suzanne Gold on the passing of her husband,
and our member, Jerry Gold.
4
Welcome to Derek Giddon and Carmen
Elortegui of Tribeca. Derek is a dentist and
Carmen is an accountant.
President’s Posting
H
appy 5775 to all! I hope you
enjoyed the holidays and had
a chance to spend some time in our
Sukkah or any Sukkah!
November is a busy month at
Brotherhood. We are holding our
Twelfth Annual Chuck Ginsburg
Memorial Blood Drive on November 9
from 10 am–3:30 pm. Anyone between
the ages of 17 -75 is eligible. I don’t
think I have to mention how important
this program is to all of us. Please call
the office 212.674.5750 to schedule
your appointment to donate.
On Thursday, November 13, the
Brotherhood will hold its Annual Rabbi
Irving J. Block z”l Memorial Lecture.
This year we are very privileged to have Dr.
Georgette Bennett as our guest speaker.
Dr. Bennett is President of the Tanenbaum
Center for Interreligious Understanding.
Please join us for her talk.
Calling all veterans of the U.S. Armed
Forces and the IDF. We want to honor
you and thank you for your service. We
are holding a special Veterans’ Shabbat
service on Friday, November 14. If you
have served please call the office to let us
know so we can properly honor you.
The theme for this year at
Brotherhood is music. With that in
mind, our first Shabbaton (formerly
“Synaplex”) dinner will take place
Friday, November 21. Our Musical
Scholar-in-Residence will be Gerard
Edery. Mr. Edery’s music is derived
from many cultures. He is known as a
musical “folklorist” and master singer.
Please be sure to make your reservations
to have Shabbat dinner with us using
the flyer enclosed with this bulletin and
join us on Saturday evening at 6 pm for
his amazing concert.
All of the wonderful programs
at Brotherhood are introduced or
recommended by YOU, members of
our Brotherhood Kehila. We always
want to hear from you, but even better,
we would like you to get involved with
one of our many committees. We know
you have very busy schedules but there
is always a little room to do a mitzvah
and meet new people at the same time.
Call or email me if there is a particular
activity you would like to join or would
like to suggest.
L’Shalom,
Judy Shapiro
Cheshvan/Kisleve 5775 November 2014
Yahrzeits
^Garden of Remembrance *Book of Remembrance
November 1 – 7
^Jack Bardack, ^George Birnbach, Richard Bogen,
Lillian Borkow, Murray Bossowich, Louis (Lipa) Brill,
Leon Brumberg, ^Jack Burdack, Saul Cantor, *Lizzie
Cassell, Eleanor Louise Cone, Max Cooper, *William
B. Cooper, ^Herman Douglass, Abraham Ellenzweig,
*Abraham Franklin, ^Sylvia Friedberg, Rose Friedman,
Jerome Gillman, *Bertha Goldstein, ^Louis Green,
^Harry Greenfield, ^Harry Gross, Harold Guttman,
Yisaschar Hirsch Meier, ^Max Josselson, ^Caleb Lahana,
Jerome Landsman, Stanley Lefkowitch, Betty Levy, Max
Lippman, Peter Loy, ^Louis Magram, Harold Margolis,
Harry Mayers, Abraham Miller, ^Alice Novom, Sol
Pearlstein, ^Samuel Perlman, *Jules H. Press, ^Robert M.
Richman, Jessie Rosen-Axell, Ellen Rubin, *Lea Schlager,
*Pauline Schnapp, ^Gertrude Schwartz, Anna Shalek,
^Diane Silberling, Robert Silver, ^Henry A. Silver,
Rose Singer, *Jeannette D. Solomon, *Mary Spiegel,
^Dr. Julian Stern, ^Lee Strauss Topolski, Leonard Tuft,
George Vassil, *Sophie Versh, David Wilf, Miriam Wosk,
^*Abraham Zacks, ^Herman Zeitlin
November 8 – 14
Clara Aaron, Libbie Bezief, *Louis A. Capaldo, Irving
Cohen, William Cypel, Prof. Taamrat Emmanuel, Rose
Entus, *Samuel Fassler, *Fred H. Feldman, ^Malcolm
H. Flash, Ernest Foltin, Ruth Kempner Fuss, ^Harry
Gold, ^Betty Goldin, Ethel Block Gordon, Louis
Green, Norman Halper, ^Abraham M. Hoffman,
^Samuel Kaplow, ^*Harry Katzman, Hyman Kaufman,
Irving Korman, ^Sylvia Krentzman, ^Arnold Lesser,
Benjamin Levine, *Samuel Levine, ^Brenda Alice Levy,
Sol Lichenstein, *Issay Lourie, ^Jack Low, John Malino,
Sylvia Margolis, ^*Emanuel Morgenstern, Douglas
Norwick, ^Fred Phillips, ^*Freida Novom Posner, ^Myer
Press, Theodore Rauch, ^Betty Ress, Gerald Rockower,
Samuel Schechter, ^Abraham Schonhaut, Berta Shiller,
^Shiphrah Silver, *Emma Stertzer, Eric Wagman, Milton
Warren, Ellen Wechsler, Norman Weinshel
Sasha Kughelman, George Levy, Ann Rechtschaeffer
Levy, ^Stephen Lewin , Elias Lieberman, *Louis Lipshie,
^Gussie Low, *Harris Mahler, Anna Marie Ross Maikish,
*Harry Meyer, *Sarah Meyer, Jonathan Moore, Caroline
Nachman, *Richard Naftalis, Michael Nappi, Phillip
Padva, Joseph Rogoff, *Herman L. Rosenberg, Dr. Meyer
Rosenblum, *Samuel Rossman, Sylvia Rothenberg, Rabbi
Jeshaia Schnitzer, Sophie Schwartz, *Molly Seidman,
^Pearl Sekular, Myrna Sharenow, ^Anne Silberling,
Mollie Silverstein, *Jonas Spiegel, ^*Rev. Jesse W. Stitt,
Ned Sussman, Louis Sussman, ^Lillian Teitelbaum,
Arthur Turkel, Golden Wasser, *Flora Weinstein, Esther
Wertzer, Florence Yeats
November 29 – December 5
Mark Adelsberg, Ralph Adler, Myer Agin, Nellie Beck,
Ann Bledstein, Samuel Bolotin, Murray Borden,
^Orene Moskow Fisher, Roger Flather, *Honey F.
Golby, Alexander Gordon, ^Pauline Gordon, Pauline
Gorman, Hugo Hamburger, Benjamin Hauptman,
Sheila Heller, Benjamin Hushansky, Barbara Joslyn,
Shango Kakawanna, *David Katz, George Landon,
Rose Levow, Harry Liebowitz, *Samuel L. Magerfield,
^Isabelle Mersky, ^Maurice Musiker, Abraham Novom,
Gertrude Novom, Herman Nussbaum, Isaac Oberman,
Gerard G. Orbach, ^Sidney Palew, ^Sidney Paley, Ellen
Paster, ^*Rose G. Rechtschaeffer, Louis Richkin, ^Joseph
Ripinsky, ^Joseph Rothenberg, *Reuben Rothman,
^Annie Schindel, *Matthew Solomon, ^Miriam
Statsinger, Herbert Vogel, Ida Weinstein, ^Edward
Weisman, Ida Wigdor, *Esther Wittenstein
GRAMERCY PARK
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
353 Second Avenue New York, NY 10010
(212) 477-6334
November 15 – 21
^Freida Abraham, *Goldie Appel, ^Harry Blumenthal,
Sarah Brown, Julius C. Edelstein, ^Lily Ente, Henry
Entus, Stanley K. Fass, ^Belle Feuerstein, ^Samuel A.
Fineman, ^Jack Fink, ^Samuel Friedman, Lina Frommer,
Leo Glazer, Jacob Goldberg, Sadie Goldberg, ^Rabbi
William Goldberg, Edith Goldman, ^*Dora Grossman,
^Robert Victor Hoffman, *Henry L. Hudes, Harry
Jacobs, *Dr. Herman Jacobs, ^Minnie Jedwick, ^Rose
Kaminsky, Ida Kaplan, Aaron Kars, *Minnie Katz, ^Geza
Kesternbaum, ^Ruth Rose Klonsky, Milton Kutsher,
Bernard Levy, Rose Lewis, *Helene Lind, *Abraham
Mald, *Anna Meyer, *Louis T. Meyer, Robert N. Strauss,
Louis Newman, ^Morton Raskin, Walter Rosenthal,
Rose Rottenbach, Sophia Sainer, Philip Salant, ^Louis
Schneier, ^Kate Schonhaut, ^Joseph Simon, ^Jean
Gordon Sperling, Sarah Spiegel, ^Herman Steinberg, Kay
R. Strauss, Semyon Vaidman, ^Max Joseph Wasserman,
Belle Weiswasser, ^Dr. Maurice Yarkow
November 22 – 28
Maurice Abraham, Lillian Blumberg, Allan Campbell,
^*Ida Cohen, ^Minnie Cohn, *Martin S. Drucker, *Julius
Duberstein, *Barnett Finebaum, Gary Fisher, ^Doris
C. Freedman, Shirley Friedes, *A. Herman Friedman,
^Gerald J. Friedman, Arthur Frommer, *Sylvia Gewirtz,
Abraham Glazer, ^Rose Gottlieb, Sadie Grobow,
Robert H. Harris, ^Hilda Harris, Emma Hayeem,
*Naomi Holcomb, *Solomon Hudes, Henry Iskowitz,
Florence Jacobs, ^Hannah Kaplan, Dorothy Klein, Jack
Kleinman, ^Kate Knopf, ^Edith Kowal, David Kreloff,
The Brotherhood Synagogue
The Brotherhood
Synagogue
28 Gramercy Park South
New York, N.Y. 10003
Phone: (212) 674-5750
Fax: (212) 505-6707
www.brotherhoodsynagogue.org
RABBI DANIEL ALDER,
CANTOR MIKE WEIS,
RABBI IRVING J. BLOCKZ’’L D.D.:
Founding Rabbi
HERMAN DIAMOND: Cantor Emeritus
SHIYA RIBOWSKY: Cantor Emeritus
JUDY SHAPIRO: President
PHILLIP ROTHMAN:
Executive and Education Director
Congregation founded in 1954
Historic Landmark Building
erected in 1859
5
Seeking Donations for Hand-Knit Hats for Israeli Soldiers
Last year our member, Fay Mesibov, spearheaded “Operation
Hats for Soldiers” at Brotherhood. Members and friends knitted
hats or made donations toward the materials needed to knit our
hats and these were sent to Israel and donated to soldiers of
the Israel Defense Forces through the organization “Operation
Hats for Soldiers”. We succeeded in knitting and shipping 50
hats to Israel and 25 more are almost ready
to be shipped out. We’d like, however, to
reach our goal of sending 100 hats by
year’s end and we need your help!
Here’s how you can help:
1. Please send a donation in any amount made payable to Brotherhood
Synagogue with “Hats for Israeli Soldiers” in the memo line so our
knitters can purchase yarn and postage to mail the hats.
2. Donate yarn yourself (MUST BE 100% Black WOOLWORSTED WEIGHT). Please bring to the synagogue office.
3. If you’d like to be a knitter, please contact Fay at 212.533.2744
or at [email protected].
Hebrew School News: Mishpacha, the building block of Jewish life…
by Barbara Simon
R
abbi Mordecai Kaplan, whose ideas
paved the way for 21st century Jewish
life in America, articulated the importance
of family education and family involvement
in a child’s Jewish education. He said: “To
educate the child without educating and
involving the parents and the entire family
can be compared to heating the house while
leaving the window open.”
Consistent with the wisdom of
Rabbi Kaplan, our on-going Mishpacha
programming, brings the entire family
into the learning process. This month,
November (Cheshvan/Kislev) 5775, the
Hebrew School calendar is filled with
Mishpacha (Family) programming.
This program was an initiative of longtime Brotherhood Synagogue member,
Annette Rosner, who made a generous
contribution to fund the Mishpacha
Program. The idea behind the program is
that family learning and family participation
in synagogue life builds strong families and
a strong Jewish community. So, each year,
we invite parents and grandparents, to learn
alongside their children/grandchildren.
Each grade has its own topic. This
month the 1st, 2nd 3rd, and 4th Grades
are having Mishpacha Programming. Kitah
Aleph (1st Grade) and their families will be
6
learning about the Sanctuary (11/25). Kitah
Bet (2nd Graders) and their families will
be learning about Shabbat (11/18). Kitah
Gimmel (3rd Grade) and their families will
be learning about the Ten Commandments
(11/12). Kitah Dalet (the 4th grade)
and their families will be learning about
Kashrut (11/5). This past month Kitah Hey
(the 5th Grade) and their families studied
about Tzedakah (10/29). Kitah Vav and
their families learned about the Havdalah
ceremony (10/22).
How is the Mishpacha Program set up?
We (Phil Rothman and Barbara Simon)
begin our Mishpacha programs with a
brief discussion of the topic or a story
which illustrates the central issues to be
explored. That discussion often leads to
questions that our researchers (all of the
Mishpacha participants) will explore. The
children and their parents are then divided
into three or four groups and are assigned
a question related to the Mishpacha topic
to be explored. Parents and children are
provided with study packets to help them
in their guided learning.
For example, during the Tzedakah
mishpacha, groups are provided with Moses
Maimonides (1135-1204) hierarchy of
tzedakah—without knowing how Maimonides
The Brotherhood Synagogue
ranked the levels of Tzedakah. The task of
that group would be to analyze the eight
levels of giving and decide for itself—based
upon discussion and debate—to figure out
the “correct order” (according to
Maimonides) of the types of tzedakah—
from best to worst—although it can be
argued that even the “worst level” or “lowest
ranking” of Tzedakah is better than no
participation in the mitzvah of tzedakah at
all. After lively discussion, debate and
analysis, each group reports its findings to
all of the Mishpacha participants. In this
way parents and children learn together—
making the Mishpacha Program true
intergenerational learning.
Mishpacha participants are assigned
“follow-up” activities. For example:
Participants in the havdalah session are
given travel havdalah kits and asked to
perform the havdalah ceremony over the
coming weeks—and then to write about
their experiences. We hope to share some of
these pieces with you in future articles.
Thanks to the vision and generosity of
Annette Rosner, the Mishpacha program is
alive and well! Thank you Mrs. Rosner!
Kol tuv (Best),
Barbara l
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775 November 2014
Nursery School Thoughts
by Danielle Vadai
I
recently attended my youngest child’s blue
room curriculum night. It was my third time
listening to the goings on in the class which
is, typically, the last or graduating class for
students in the Nursery School. I was amazed
how different and individualized the classroom
was. This year for Nathaniel sounds, looks, and
feels different from the other two years that my
daughters spent in the blue room, reminding
me how talented the teachers are in crafting
a curriculum that meets the specific needs of
their students.
I am keenly aware of how quickly time
is passing and how very soon, after being
a Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School
parent for so long, all of my children will be
graduates. I have vowed to make a deeper
connection with the Synagogue as I want my
children to always continue to see Brotherhood
as their second home. This has included
attending Junior Congregation services with
my older daughter and, of course, seeing them
begin their Hebrew School education. Hebrew
School has been so joyous for my children, a
complete juxtaposition to my own experience.
I dreaded Hebrew School each week whereas
the children coming into Hebrew School at
Brotherhood always seem happy and inspired
to be there. They are excited to see their
friends, many of whom they have known
since Nursery School. Hebrew School is a
continuation of the traditions they learned as
toddlers. My daughters return to Brotherhood,
see familiar faces, and learn about our beautiful
traditions. The seeds for all of this were planted
in the Nursery School. My daughters were so
excited to not only hear about my son’s meal
in the Sukkah during Sukkot but to also have
a chance to go themselves and reflect on how
they used to do this in Nursery School.
There is so much love and nurturing that
takes place at Brotherhood, so many people
who have made our lives so much happier and
who have punctuated the long days that can
be exhausting with laughter and smiles. The
building staff not only keep our classrooms
and building space meticulous, they are also
so thoughtful, considerate and giving of their
time with our children. Throughout the years
the building staff were often much better able
than me or my husband to calm my less-thanthrilled in the morning children with a high
five, a kind word or a smile.
My son is going to miss being at
Brotherhood everyday but we are committed
to finding ways to keep him involved at the
Synagogue. I remember the parents in my
oldest daughter’s blue room class who were
very emotional throughout the year, realizing
that this was their last Family Shabbat or last
class school trip, or last in-school Chanukah
celebration and the many tears that were shed
Family Shabbat
Please join us to welcome Shabbat
together with stories and song.
Friday, November 14
5:30 pm - Children up to 3 years old
with Daphna Mor and Maya Blank
5:30 pm - Children ages 3-6 years old
with Gavi Rubin
6:30 pm - Grades 2-7 with Gavi Rubin
and Phil Rothman
at graduation. I was empathic, but my time at
Brotherhood seemed endless with a younger
daughter in the red room and a baby son yet to
begin his schooling.
The time has gone so quickly and while
Nathaniel made his debut at Brotherhood in a
carrier dropping his older sister off in the red
room, soon he will leave the Nursery all the
wiser, happier and menchier!! I see now that his
time and our time do not need to end, like the
blue room curriculum we can evolve and grow
and find new ways to feel inspired at and by our
Synagogue. l
♪ Cantor’s Notes: The Soundtracks of our Lives ♪
by Cantor Mike Weis
I
love my Apple. I’ve always loved my Apple.
Long before it was fashionable to do so.
Having attended college in Silicon Valley
and being a student when the first Macintosh
computers were introduced, I clearly remember
the excitement and fascination that I and my
fellow students shared about this curiouslooking, miraculous device. Back then, though,
Apple was the domain of primarily students
and artistically inclined individuals, and would
remain that way for many years to come.
Now, however, all one needs to do is look up
from your iPhone next time you’re out on the
street or on the subway and see the multitude of
devices and earphones all around you to see the
kind of impact this company has come to have
on a wide swath of American society. What is it
that has enabled Apple’s explosive growth and
spawned so many imitators/innovators?
In a word: music.
Ironically, though I am a music professional,
I rarely use my iPhone to listen to music. Yes,
it’s great for so many other things, but music
Cheshvan/Kisleve 5775 November 2014
is what made the smartphone the ubiquitous
device it is today. Before the iPhone, there were
already smartphones, notably the Blackberry,
whose users, like Apple users, were almost
religiously devoted to the platform. But Apple
figured out something that Blackberry and other
competitors had not: people love their music.
They love it so much, in fact, that they want
to have it with them everywhere they go. And
when I say “they,” what I really mean is “we.”
WE love our music. We want to carry it with
us everywhere we go. We want to be able to
share it with the people we care about, and even
people that we don’t even know. In our iPhones
(and Androids, if you are so inclined), we aren’t
just carrying around powerful, mini computers.
We’re literally carrying around the soundtrack
of our lives.
Our music is inextricably linked to who we
are as individuals, it is a direct path to our very
own souls and the souls of those around us. It’s
no accident that Jewish tradition is infused with
music: music to celebrate with, music to pray
The Brotherhood Synagogue
with, music to read the Torah with, even music
to mourn with. Music infuses every aspect of
our religious lives, just as it infuses every aspect
of our everyday lives.
To paraphrase a very forgettable Jennifer
Beals movie from the 1980s that was so
forgettable I can’t even remember the name
of it, “You never really know a person, until
you know their dreams.” I would say that you
never really know a person until you know
their music. That is why, this coming January,
we will be staging the second incarnation of
our successful Voices of the Sacred concert,
an event, which at its very core, is all about
encountering the humanity of our religious
neighbors by sharing with each other the music
that we use to connect to the holy.
Keep your eyes open for information about
the concert, but most of all, come join us for
what will undoubtedly be another unforgettable
evening of sacred music. Save the date for
Saturday night, January 31, 2015. See you
there! l
7
Brotherhood
Synagogue
Sunday
Cheshvan/Kislev 5775
November 2014
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
✡ Saturday Morning
9:30 am: Services
Bat Mitzvah of Josie Ingall
Shabbat Corner 9:45 am: • Junior Congregation 10:30 am • Alef-Bet Club 10 am
LECH-LECHA
2
9 am: Tikvah
3 9 am: Book of Genesis 49:30 am: Toddler Class 5
4 pm: Hebrew School
10 am: English-in-Action
5 pm: Book of Exodus
10:45 am: Toddler Class
7 pm: Learn to Read
Hebrew
12:30 pm: Trope by the
Numbers
8 pm: Jewish Current
Events
5:40 pm: Minyan
10 am: Baby Class
6
9 am: Gentle Yoga
7
4:26 pm: Candles
11 am: Pre-Toddler
Class
9:30 am: Toddler Class
Nursery School Dinner
Noon: Interfaith Bible
Study (at Brotherhood)
Noon: Lunch & Learn
6:30 pm: Services
2 pm: English-In-Action
4 pm: Hebrew School
8
9:30 am: Services
Bar Mitzvah of
Michael Prizant
3 pm: Thursday Corner
4:30 pm: Hebrew
Corner
6:30 pm: Harmoni-AH!
7 pm: Apocrypha Text
Study
7 pm: Life Goes On /
Book Club
9
9 am: Tikvah
10 am: - 4 pm:
Twelfth Annual
Chuck Ginsburg
Memorial Blood Drive
10
9 am: Book of
Genesis
11
5:40 pm: Minyan
6:30 pm: Engaging
Israel
4 pm: Hebrew School
5 pm: Book of Exodus
7 pm: Learn to Read
Hebrew
VETERAN’S DAY
Office and schools
closed
8 pm: Jewish Current
Events
16
9 am: Tikvah
17
9 am: Book of
Genesis
18
9:30 am: Toddler
Class
VAYERA
12 10 am: Baby Class 13
9 am: Gentle Yoga
11 am: Pre-Toddler
Class
9:30 am: Toddler Class
Noon: Interfaith Bible
Study (at Calvary)
2 pm: English-In-Action
4 pm: Hebrew School
4 pm: Hebrew School
10 am: English-in-Action
5 pm: Book of Exodus
10:45 am: Toddler Class
4 pm: Hebrew School
7 pm: Learn to Read
Hebrew
12:30 pm: Trope by the
Numbers
6:30 pm: Harmoni-AH!
8 pm: Jewish Current
Events
4 pm: Hebrew School
7 pm: Apocrypha Text
Study
5:40 pm: Minyan
6:30 pm: Special
Veterans’ Shabbat
Services
3 pm: Thursday Corner
4:30 pm: Hebrew
Corner
15
9 am: Gentle Yoga
9:30 am: Toddler Class
1:30 pm: Hadassah
Meeting
Noon: Lunch & Learn
2 pm: English-In-Action
1 pm: Shabbat Club
4:15 pm: Bat Mitzvah of
Hanna Lipkis
CHAYEI SARA
21
4:15 pm: Candles
6:30 pm: Services
7:30 Shabbaton Dinner
Guest musical
scholar-in-residence:
Gerard Edery
22
Shabbaton Programs
and Concert:
Gerard Edery
4:30 pm: Hebrew
Corner
7 pm: Brotherhood
Book Club
9 am: Minyan
9 am: Tikvah
10 am: DOROT
Thanksgiving Deliveries
ROSH CHODESH
30
24
9 am: Book of
Genesis
4 pm: Hebrew School
25
10 am: English-inAction
5 pm: Book of Exodus
12:30 pm: Trope by the
Numbers
7 pm: Learn to Read
Hebrew
5:40 pm: Minyan
9:30 am: Services
B’nai Mitzvot of Anna &
Leo Greenleaf
3 pm: Thursday Corner
7 pm: Board Meeting
23
9:30 am: Services
Bat Mitzvah of
Gabrielle Miles
7 pm: Rabbi Irving
J. Block z”l Memorial
Lecture: Dr. Georgette
Bennett
19 10 am: Baby Class 20
11 am: Pre-Toddler
Class
4:20 pm: Candles
Family Shabbat
Services at 5:30 &
6:30 pm
Noon: Lunch & Learn
6:30 pm: Harmoni-AH!
7 pm: Apocrypha Text
Study
14
26
4 pm: Hebrew School
27
TOLDOT
28
4:11 pm: Candles
6:30 pm: Services
29
9:30 am: Services
THANKSGIVING
8 pm: Jewish Current
Events
VAYETZEI
Save the Dates
Saturday, December 6, 8:00 pm
Author and Composer Ben Sidran and his Band
explore Jews and the American Songbook
With special guest: Ivy Austin
Cost: $15 per person at the door
Don’t miss it!!
Thursday
December 18, 7:30 pm
Annual Chanukkah
Big Band • Big Latkes • Lotsa Vodkas