FEBRUARY From the Rabbi. For updated information on Temple events, visit us at

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1 FEBRUARY 2018 From the Rabbi For most of us, what does Presidents Week really mean? With the advertising blitz on blockbuster sales and the hope for fresh snow at our favorite ski resorts, the B-Days of our Foundational Presidents should really remind us of the Republic for which we stand. The Rev. Dr. Carlyle Fielding Stewart III, Prof. of Theology, Minister of the historic African Methodist Episcopal People s Community Church in Detroit, which his grandfather founded, helps us refocus: The meaning of American Representative Democracy essentially says that politicians are in Covenant with the people of this nation sharing a sacred pact which undergirds and informs the system Inherent in this Covenant is the notion of mutual respect forged by binding oaths and mutual promises designed to bring about the common good There is something sacred about this privilege and the responsibilities that come with the ultimate concern of being a citizen of this nation. We are covenanted citizens of a potentially sacred social order, bound by our commitment to carry out the core documents of our Union, linked through these timeless written words to one another through the ideals of justice and human dignity for all. Sounds like the purpose statement of the People Israel to me, if not what congregational life is, at its core, all about. Over 40 years ago, the new President of Larchmont Temple, Gerry Daniel, Challenged the membership to get beyond the special sale on Bar Mitzvahs, and the annual Fall Clearance we call coming for the High Holy Days. There is a magic in being a participating player in temple life a magic that comes through involvement.it may be the nature of many members that they are perfectly satisfied to simply remain a spectator. But it would give them such a greater sense of fulfillment, through active participation and assuming greater responsibility, to become a player [LT News, Oct. 1976] Standing on the sidelines as citizens of this nation, or as congregants of this congregation, we miss a compelling opportunity: To respond to the call of Covenant by working together with other concerned, committed sacred citizens, aspiring to make real the ideals for which we stand. As Abraham Lincoln powerfully put it: You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. With Hope. Rabbi Jeffrey J. Sirkman For updated information on Temple events, visit us at

Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538 914-834-6120; FAX: 914-834-6503 www.larchmonttemple.org a member of the Union for Reform Judaism JEFFREY J.

2 Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont, NY ; FAX: a member of the Union for Reform Judaism JEFFREY J. SIRKMAN Rabbi BETHIE MILLER Associate Rabbi TRACEY SCHER Cantor RABBI EVE RUDIN Director of Education, Youth & Families LISA GERSHON MIA KARGEN Co-Directors of Early Childhood JANE SABLE-FRIEDMAN Executive Director FREDDA MENDELSON Cantor Emerita H. LEONARD POLLER z l Rabbi Emeritus EDWARD GRAHAM z l Cantor Emeritus BOARD OF TRUSTEES STACEY CHERVIN SIGDA President HARRI TARANTO Honorary President ROBERT ROTHMAN Executive Vice President MARTHA STEINMAN 1st Vice President JEFFREY WANG 2nd Vice President MICHAEL NATHAN Financial Vice President STEVE LEHMAN Administrative Secretary KAREN ZIMMERMAN Treasurer JON BIRGER STACEY CREEM MICHAEL FINEBERG MARTHA FRIEDLAND YVETTE GOOREVITCH KEN GORDON BARBARA LEWIS KAPLAN JENNIFER PERKINS STEWART ROSS TOBY SKLAREW RANDI SPATZ DAVID SZABO Trustees DAVID KAHN Brotherhood President NICOLE FIFTAL MICHELE METSCH Limud Noar/Youth Ed. Committee Chairs LEAH LEICHT WENDY SAYLES LTNS Parent Association Co- Chairs Thank you for submitting by the 1st of each month to ltsubmissions@larchmonttemple.org Cynthia Weissman, Editor/Designer Linda Price, Proofreader IT S A PARTY! SAVE THE DATE April 21st From the President By now, you hopefully have seen that we are having a birthday party blowout bash here at LT on APRIL 21st and you are going to want to be there. Wait why go to synagogue on a Saturday night? It s not a Jewish holiday. There is no honoree, and there will not be any speechesj The reason for this over-the-top celebration is because this place, this community that we love so much has reached a very amazing milestone. We are 70 years old. I will leave it to the clergy to explain why that is an important number in Jewish theology. What you need to know is that that is a very important birthday for all of us and for Israel as well (we have a common birthday). And that is why we are marking this milestone with a purely social, open bar, bar mitzvah-type party. There will be a DJ, fun food and lots of friends getting together in a magically transformed social hall to dance, laugh and celebrate this place (our home), this wonderful group of people (our extended family) and enjoy. Like every time a bunch of Jews gets together, there has been debate. Will this be a fundraiser? Will we honor anyone? Will there be a Havdalah service? In the end, it was clear. We want this event to be as open and inclusive as possible. We want you to want to be there simply to have fun and enjoy. Martha Friedland and Ken Gordon started the plans using their party-planner expertise back last year. The birthday party will have hors d oeuvres, buffet dinner, drinks, dessert, music/dancing, and audio/visual presentations celebrating our past and present. Costs had been minimized through a combination of measures including concessions or other discounts from beloved local merchants and careful attention to detail. Like many organizations, we often come together in disparate groups. Committee meetings, observing holidays, a social action event, a group trip to Israel, a group going to the Women s March or the Consultation on Conscience, activities with our small groups, an adult education session, an extraordinary event such as biennial But when do we have a chance to enjoy each other s company all together, let our hair down, and enjoy what we have accomplished by being together and having a great party. In the past, we have had some very wonderful parties. We have celebrated members whose contributions to our community and synagogue have been beyond imagination. We have celebrated Rabbi Sirkman s 18th year. We have celebrated our jubilee year. Now it is time once again to mark a milestone with a party. During these bitterly cold days of winter, it can sometimes feel lonely and isolating as we stay in our homes to keep warm from the dropping temperatures outside. But Spring is just around the corner, and our birthday bash in April will be warm and welcoming to all. Please set aside April 21. Line up a sitter (just ask one of the many madrachim) and get your small group, your temple committee, your cornerstone cohorts, the friendly faces you see at a preneg or an oneg following our special Shabbat services, the chevrah study group, the nursery school parents to do a night out together at temple. For less than the cost of a meal at many local restaurants, you can join us for a party that will not just celebrate all we are but also remind us of how far we have come, who we are and all we can be when we are together. See you there (and hopefully at the many other wonderful events we have planned before then). Special thanks to our 70th committee listed on page 4! Stacey Chervin Sigda, President

Brotherhood Breakfast Prison, Reinvention & the Importance of Perception February 11, 10 a.m. Brotherhood Fellow Temple member Michael Kimelman, author of Confessions of a Wall Street Insider and Editor-in- Chief of Crypto.

Convicted of insider trading in a controversial case during the 2008 Financial Crisis, Michael served 15 months in federal prison before being released.

Faced with the daunting prospect of starting over at the age of 42 with little more than the clothes on his back, Michael talks about our innate ability to adapt and prosper under severe

Formerly an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, he was the Managing Partner of Incremental Capital, a New York based hedge fund. He is the founding partner of Crypto.

CUBA, JANUARY 7 14, 2019 Join me and the American Conference of Cantors on a humanitarian people-to-people mission to Cuba.

Vigia, Hemingway s home for 21 years, and much more. For more information, itinerary, cost and registration, visit secure.ayelet.com/acccuba2019.aspx.

3 Brotherhood Breakfast Prison, Reinvention & the Importance of Perception February 11, 10 a.m. Brotherhood Fellow Temple member Michael Kimelman, author of Confessions of a Wall Street Insider and Editor-in- Chief of Crypto.IQ, discusses the criminal justice system, reinvention and the importance of perception. Convicted of insider trading in a controversial case during the 2008 Financial Crisis, Michael served 15 months in federal prison before being released. He candidly speaks about what it was like to lose his firm, money, degrees, reputation and ultimately his liberty. Faced with the daunting prospect of starting over at the age of 42 with little more than the clothes on his back, Michael talks about our innate ability to adapt and prosper under severe circumstances, and how setbacks can often be a set-up for something greater. Formerly an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, he was the Managing Partner of Incremental Capital, a New York based hedge fund. He is the founding partner of Crypto.IQ, a strategic investment, advisory and educational firm, with focus on digital assets. BLOOD DRIVE Sunday morning, March 18 Every drop counts! CUBA, JANUARY 7 14, 2019 Join me and the American Conference of Cantors on a humanitarian people-to-people mission to Cuba. This amazing tour includes a Gala ACC Concert for the Jewish community of Havana, interacting with members of the Jewish communities, enjoying the culture through food, art and music, visiting Finca Vigia, Hemingway s home for 21 years, and much more. For more information, itinerary, cost and registration, visit secure.ayelet.com/acccuba2019.aspx. Rabbi Eve Rudin, Director of Education, Youth & Families A few years ago, I went to visit the URJ s newest specialty camp, URJ Sci Tech, where campers entering Grades 5 10 explore robotics, video game design, environmental science, digital media, and a host of other fun activities in a friendly setting with those who share similar interests. Directed by Greg Kellner (who has song led many a High Holiday service at Larchmont Temple over the years), the camp started small with perhaps 65 campers its first summer and now not only has over 400 campers, but they have added a Sci-Tech NFTY in Israel trip and an additional site on the West Coast! I expected that the science stuff would be in one part of the day and the Jewish stuff would be in the other; I couldn t have been more wrong. They had created a blessing in Hebrew about intellectual curiosity. When I went into the gaming class, they had decided as a group that the games they made would be about building civilizations instead of violence. And perhaps, most famously, they begin each morning with the Boker (morning) Big Bang where they explode something each morning. Every camper I met was engaged and felt that Judaism was RELEVANT because the program merged both their passions. The camp gave Jewish language and punctuation to activities and interests that they already love. Sci Tech is just one example of the magic of Jewish summer camp. On Sunday February 11, we are delighted to host Louis Bordman, the Director of the URJ Northeast Camps (Crane Lake, Eisner and Sci Tech) here at LT. In addition to doing a presentation at 11 am, he is happy to set up a time to meet you and your family one on one! I hope to see you there!

Dear Members and Friends, Celebrating Our 70 th birthday In this special 70 th Anniversary year of Larchmont Temple, we hope you will join us in celebrating our special spiritual home on Saturday,

4 Dear Members and Friends, Celebrating Our 70 th birthday In this special 70 th Anniversary year of Larchmont Temple, we hope you will join us in celebrating our special spiritual home on Saturday, April 21 st. There will be food and drink all through the evening at the cocktail reception, buffet dinner, and birthday dessert table. As our DJ plays the hits from past to present, we ll dance our way through the decades from lindy-hopping to hip hopping, twisting to twerking and everything in between. It s an evening to revel in community and continuity and it will be a blast of a birthday bash. To RSVP go to: and watch for your on-line invitation. Reserve your tickets early for an evening that is not to be missed. We look forward to seeing you there going all out to celebrate LT! Sincerely, The 70 th Birthday Bash Committee Ken Gordon and Martha Friedland Co-Chairs Ronit Alma Karen Zimmerman and Paul Bindler Ellen Brooks and Marshall Cohen Adam Deutsch Nicole and Ryan Fiftal Virginia and Michael Fineberg Jane Sable-Friedman Robin Gensburg Jayne Lipman and Bob Goodman Yvette and Mark Goorevitch Martha Steinman and Gil Herzberg Barbara Lewis Kaplan Wendy Weinstein Karp Michele and Seth Metsch Rabbi Bethie Miller Joanna Nadler Becky and Bruce Robinson Alicia Lowery Rosenbaum Stewart Ross Amy and Rob Rothman Carol Scharff Cantor Tracey Scher Stacey Chervin Sigda Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman Amy and Rob Stavis Harri Taranto Amy Lief and Jeff Wang Franne Weinberg Andrew Zucker 4

The 1980 s Friday, February 23 7:00 PM Shabbat Service

Please join us for a memorable evening as we gather together at

LET'S sing together, eat together and go through an incredible

5 The 1980 s Friday, February 23 7:00 PM Shabbat Service Retrospective followed by 80 s theme oneg! Annual Women's Seder Monday, March 19, 6 p.m. Please join us for a memorable evening as we gather together at Larchmont Temple for our annual Women's Seder. LET'S sing together, eat together and go through an incredible Haggadah that celebrates the importance of our role during Passover. This is an amazing experience to share with your mother, daughter, aunt and friends. Please come and join us on 3/19/2018 at 6pm! Please contact Martha Friedland marthalfriedland@gmail.com or Randi Spatz randik2002@yahoo.com with any questions.

Reading Volunteers for Literacy Program at the Coachman Family Shelter SOCIAL ACTION Social Action seeks reading volunteers!

to read one on one with the volunteer. It's a combination Lending Library and weekly engagement with a reading volunteer.

All are welcome! Pleasantville Cottages, Sunday, February 11, 1:15 Meet at LT Share in snacks, play games, run activities with the children at the Pleasantville Cottage School.

You can also adopt a bunk and provide birthday gifts or other items for residents. Contact: Linda.Riefberg@gmail.com.

6 Reading Volunteers for Literacy Program at the Coachman Family Shelter SOCIAL ACTION Social Action seeks reading volunteers! This literacy program will provide kids at the Coachman Family Shelter with canvas bags full of books that they can keep for the week and then meet with a volunteer reader every Saturday from to read one on one with the volunteer. It's a combination Lending Library and weekly engagement with a reading volunteer. If you d like to learn more about becoming a reading volunteer, please contact elissabard@yahoo.com. Social Action Committee Meeting, Sunday, February 11, 9:30 a.m. Please join us to discuss our projects, events and charitable causes. All are welcome! Pleasantville Cottages, Sunday, February 11, 1:15 Meet at LT Share in snacks, play games, run activities with the children at the Pleasantville Cottage School. This is a great opportunity for kids 12 and up and adults. Meet at 1:15 p.m. at Larchmont Temple and drive together. We ll stay about 2 hours. You can also adopt a bunk and provide birthday gifts or other items for residents. Contact: Linda.Riefberg@gmail.com. Midnight Run, March 10 Midnight Run is a consortium of synagogues, churches and schools. Volunteers make lunches and soup that we bring in a caravan to the city to distribute to the homeless. We meet at 4:00 p.m. at Larchmont Avenue Church to sort clothes and toiletries. We return to the church at 8:30 p.m. to load the cars and drive to the city to go to pre-determined spots where we hand out the goods. We usually are back in Larchmont between 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Children of all ages can help make lunches at home and sort. Children 12 and older can go on the run with their parents. Teens 15 and older may go on the run without their parents as long as parents give their consent. Contact Linda.Riefberg@gmail.com. Coachman Visits LT, Sunday, March 18 from 1-3 p.m. Join LT in welcoming kids from the Coachman Family Center for a fun-filled afternoon. Volunteers of all ages are welcome! Organize and lead activities for kids games, arts & crafts, etc. Contact drvickiehrlich@aol.com or sariwinter@gmail.com Hope Soup Kitchen on Sunday, March 25, 11-2 p.m. You do not have to know how to cook for this event. We will meet at Larchmont Temple to donate, prepare and cook food for about 250 folks who come to Hope Soup Kitchen on a regular basis to receive a wholesome meal. We will be preparing a complete meal from beginning to end. Please be on time, since we set up stations on arrival. Children always enjoy the cook-in, especially baking, accompanied by an adult. If you cannot cook with us, you can bring your donation- cooked or raw - to the LT kitchen refrigerator with a HOPE LABEL on the package before 11:00 a.m. Sunday. For more information on our menu, please contact Deb Schleien at debschleien@gmail.com.

7 FAMILY NEWS Condolences to the family of Louis Wexler, father of Marvin Wexler Alan Rothman, father of Lee Rothman Carl Makower, uncle of Laura Davidson THANK YOU Rabbi Sirkman s Mitzvah Fund wedding of Sam and Shara by Andrea & Jamie Selonick wedding of Robbie & Elissa by The Davidowitz Family, Doreen & Neil, Aaron, Claire, Elissa, Robbie & Shanni wedding of Alex and Rena by Michelle & Fred Daum funeral of Bob Sklarew by Toby, Gary & Dave Sklarew by Mark & Sheila Willner by John & Judith Delehanty In memory of our Uncle Robert Sklarew by Cindy & Jiaming Li In gratitude for our birthday aliyahs by Maryann & Pinky Leitner In memory of Karen s father Sol Goldstein by Karen & Bob Frankel funeral of Linda s father Perrry Ury by Ned & Linda Ury Greenberg In honor of Sy Bernstein s 2nd birthday by Edgar Bernstein funeral for Stella by Edward & Casey Novotny In memory of Jacques Landau by Laura Landau In memory of William Harrison and Bob Sklarew by Gil Herzberg & Martha Steinman In gratitude by Noel Dorf In memory of Anne Mintz by Marion & Judah Maze Rabbi Miller s Mitzvah Fund In appreciation of this year s High Holy Day tent experiences by Jeffrey Miller In appreciation by Michelle Daum Cantor Scher s Mitzvah Fund funeral of Bob Sklarew by Toby, Gary & Dave Sklarew by The Baking Group Amy Rothman, Silvia Lederman, Robin Golden, Kathryn Parter, Ann Goode Chodosh, Roseanne Amoils, Carol Scheffler, Leslie Cowen In appreciation of the wonderful 60 s service and in memory of Robert (Bob) Sklarew by Anne Goode-Chodosh by Eve and Harry First by Janet Eisenstein by Judy and Steve Gutmann In memory of our Uncle Robert Sklarew by Cindy & Jiaming Li With gratitude for the gift of the High Holy Days music by Laura Landau In gratitude for a lovely baby naming for Gray Bradley DeDomenico by Craig & Jessica DeDomenico For presiding at the yahrzeits of John J. Delehanty and Adelaide W. Prince by John & Judy Delehanty Mt. Eden Gravesite w/2 Plots One gravesite with two plots For Sale at a Discount. If you would like to purchase this plot, please contact Hillary Volper--Hgvolper@aol.com Cantor Mendelson s Mitzvah Fund by Toby, Gary & Dave Sklarew by Fred Frankel & Lynne Lederman Lois Braun/Cantor Graham Adult Ed In honor of Carole, Kenneth, Elise and Aaron Shutzer by Mark Sweeney & Leslie Walsh Sweeney Cultural & Education Programs for the choir by Dr. Leon & Roberta Kaplan by Myra Kaplan Memorial Fund In memory of Eugene Ungar by Pauline & Lawrence Ungar, Perry Ury and Walter Harrison by Marshall Cohen & Ellen Brooks Tzedaka Social Action Fund In memory of Sarah Demsky by Sy & Hilda Demsky Susan Sirkman Fund In honor of Carol Scharff for officiating at the shiva service for Linda s father Perry Ury by Ned & Linda Ury Greenberg

8 FEBRUARY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Friday, February 2 YITRO (Exod. 18:1-20:23) 5:00 PM Young Family Shabbat NS 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat 4 th Graders Honored Saturday, February 3 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 9:00 AM Shabbat Yoga 10:30 AM Congregational Worship Bat Mitzvah of Michele Reynoso Bat Mitzvah of Emma Sage 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Friday, February 9 MISHPATIM (Exod. 21:1-24:18) 5:30 PM Young Family Shabbat K-3 7:00 PM Shabbat Worship Saturday, February 10 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Congregational Worship Bar Mitzvah of Eli Birger 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Friday, February 16 TERUMAH (Exod. 25:1-27:19) 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, February 17 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Friday, February 23 TETZAVEH (Exod. 27:20-30:10) 7:00 PM Shabbat Worship, Evolution of Reform Jewish Prayer, 1980 s Saturday, February 24 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Purim Wednesday, February 28 6:30 PM Feast 7:30 PM Shpiel Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue Larchmont, NY NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLAINS, NY PERMIT NO. 1123

New Member Aliyah JUNE Celebrating your first year as members of Larchmont Temple Friday, June 15 th

New Member Aliyah JUNE Celebrating your first year as members of Larchmont Temple Friday, June 15 th JUNE 2018 Garden Room Thursday, June 7 th, 7:00 PM Wine & Cheese Join us for an evening to celebrate small groups, reflect on our experiences, and connect with one another. RSVP to bmiller@larchmonttemple.org