Larchmont Temple News

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1 MAY 2016 Larchmont Temple News ISRAEL Ancient, Modern, Magical, Meshuganneh Where every stone tells a story and every person will tell you what s wrong A state whose politics can infuriate yet whose daily miracles continue to inspire. ISRAEL A Family of families, somehow connected, our homeland, no matter where we live. Yet a land we share with people we hope someday to call neighbors, settled, in peace ISRAEL Where Defense is the daily reality & Democracy is not at all as pervasive as we d prefer. ISRAEL Growing Reaching Struggling Arguing Envisioning Searching Sustaining ISRAEL Our test and our testament a Dream far from finished HOLY, so long as we never lose hope. Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman SHABBAT YISRAEL, Friday, May 13 6:15 PM Celebrating Israel with Music, Dance & Israeli-Style Nosh 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service With Reflections & Special Readings by LT Israel Adventure Families 2016 Israel s Co-educational Experiment: The Hagar School Sponsored by LT Interfaith Connection Thursday, May 18, 7 PM Directors of this amazing school will share their secret for success! Begun by parents, it is the only Jewish-Arab school in the Negev. See more on page 3. Ari Shavit, My Promised Land Tuesday, May 24, 8 PM Shavit is an Israeli reporter, writer and senior correspondent for Haaretz. Widely sought, he will be at LT to discuss his thoughtprovoking best seller. See more on page 3 Outspoken, critically acclaimed author here at LT! For updated information on Temple events, visit us at

2 Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont, NY ; FAX: a member of the Union for Reform Judaism JEFFREY J. SIRKMAN Rabbi BETHIE MILLER Assistant Rabbi TRACEY SCHER Cantor RABBI EVE RUDIN Director of Education, Youth & Families LISA GERSHON Director 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 HARRI TARANTO President RON HAUBEN Honorary President JULI KARSON Executive Vice President STACEY CHERVIN-SIGDA 1st Vice President ROBERT ROTHMAN 2nd Vice President DAVID SZABO Financial Vice President MARTHA STEINMAN Administrative Secretary MICHAEL NATHAN Treasurer DAVID BECKER SHEILA CHERVIN STACEY CREEM MICHAEL FINEBERG YVETTE GOOREVITCH KEN GORDON BARBARA LEWIS KAPLAN STEVE LEHMAN BETH METZENDORF TOBY SKLAREW AMY SOMMER RANDI SPATZ KAREN ZIMMERMAN Trustees STEWART ROSS Brotherhood President ROSEANNE AMOILS Sisterhood Representative JEFFREY WANG KAREN EPSTEIN Youth Education Committee Chairs NICOLE FIFTAL LTNS Parent Association Chair Thank you for submitting by the 1st of each month to ltsubmissions@larchmonttemple.org 2 Cynthia Weissman, Editor/Designer Carol Scharff, Proofreader Printed on recycled paper FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Fellow Congregants, With so much happening at Larchmont Temple in May, I have been relegated to this small space for this month s Newsletter. Let me use it to remind you that on May 24 th, Ari Shavit, the author of My Promised Land and an internationally-renowned Haaretz journalist will be at Larchmont Temple. Book groups are being formed to discuss the book ahead of his visit. Please contact library@larchmonttemple.org to sign up for a group or organize one. Enjoy the wonderful spring weather. All the best, Harri Taranto, President Join us as we remember Yom HaShoah Commemoration Thursday, May 5, 7 PM Guest Speaker: Kathy Zaltas Kathy Zaltas s parents were both Holocaust survivors. She will be sharing her mother's story with us: from the early years in Czechoslovakia, to the war years in Budapest and Auschwitz. Kathy serves on the Speakers Bureau of HHREC (Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center), honoring her parents and keeping the Survivors' stories alive for future generations. Jill Sarkozi is the founder of Safekeeping Stories, leading workshop sessions with members of the Second Generation so they may share their legacy. Her father-in-law, Dr. Laszlo Sarkozi, has spoken about his experiences in the Holocaust at Larchmont Temple. SUMMER SERVICE-LEADING OPPORTUNITY! SERVICE LEADER PREP SESSION, Thurs., June 2, 6 PM Have you ever thought about leading a Summer Shabbat Service? Are you interested in learning how to chant from the Torah, deliver a drash, teach an iyyun (an introductory perspective to liturgy or Torah), or lead part of the service? We can help you become the service leader that you always wanted to be!! Please contact Cantor Scher at tscher@larchmonttemple.org if you would like more information. Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there! SUMMER CHEVRAH TORAH LEADERS The Temple is looking for volunteers to lead the Chevrah Torah study sessions this summer. If you would like to volunteer please contact Ze ev Aviezer at library@larchmonttemple.org Or by phone at X 129. The summer schedule of chevrah sessions is provided below. Shelech Lecha Num /2 Mattot Num /6 Korach Num /9 Massei Num /6 Chukat Num /16 D varim Deu 1.1-3:22 8/13 Balak Num /23 V etchanan Deu :11 8/20 Pinchas Num /30 Ekev Deu /27 Re eh Deu /3

3 Israel s Co-Educational Experiment: The Hagar School Sponsored by Interfaith Connection Wednesday, May 18, 7:30 PM. Garden Room In March, the 2016 LT Israel Family Adventure participants celebrated Purim with The Hagar School, in Be'er Sheva, Israel - an experience that inspired us all! We are so happy to reciprocate and host The Hagar School's Directors; Adam Steinberg, Afnan Abu-Taha and Orit Freiberg as they join our Larchmont Temple family for an evening of inspired socializing and learning. The Hagar School's mission of Jewish/Arab Education for Equality is a springboard for social change, dedicated to building an egalitarian civil society in the Negev desert and in Israel as a whole. Please join us for a Spring evening in the Garden Room as we welcome them to Larchmont Temple and discuss our shared hope of Interfaith peace, mutual understanding and friendship. Drinks and small bites will be served. RSVP to interfaithconnection@larchmonttemple.org. YOM HAZIKRON/YOM HAATZMAUT CELEBRATION Wednesday, May 11, 7-9PM All are invited to participate in the community-wide celebration taking place at the JCC Midwestchester in Scarsdale. Free Admission ARI SHAVIT: SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Tuesday, May 24, 8 pm Many press pundits, certainly many in the mainstream media, approach Israel as a problem. YES, Israel has pervasive political problems managing to disengage from the territories and establish viable boundaries while establishing a two-state solution Israel likewise has great points of pride, in part, framed by the Zionist dream. Yet that dream has been deferred Israel s reality presents us with the great challenge: How to understand our relationship with a Jewish State that is very much in process, and far from perfect a place that calls for our connection, our questions, and our response There is no person to better empower us in our Israel-relationship than this special LT Israel Scholar and teacher, as Leon Wieseltier, former Literary Editor of New Republic, wrote in the NY Times about his transformative newest book: It is one of the achievements of Ari Shavit s important and powerful book to recover the feeling of Israel s facticity and to revel in it, to restore the grandeur of the simple fact in full view of the complicated facts. My Promised Land startles in many ways, not least in its relative lack of interest in providing its readers with a handy politics. Shavit, a columnist who serves on the editorial board of Haaretz, has an undoctrinaire mind. He comes not to praise or to blame, though along the way he does both, with erudition and with eloquence; he comes instead to observe and to reflect. This is the least tendentious book about Israel I have ever read. It is a Zionist book unblinkered by Zionism. It is about the entirety of the Israeli experience. Do not miss our Evening with Ari Shavit, a conversation that will challenge our assumptions and affirm our yearnings for all Israel is, can be, and must become.so looking forward. Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman SHABBAT YISRAEL, Friday, May 13 6:15 PM Celebrate with Music, Dance & an Israeli- Style Nosh in the Mermey Garden 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service Fresh from their journey, our LT Israel Adventure Families will share reflections and readings.

4 We asked our Israel adventurers What do you miss most about Israel?... Standing in a circle at the Ramon Crater after Natalie s Bat Mitzvah, holding hands sharing such a special moment The love and support from the LT community... We will always remember being together with everyone Alyssa, Michael, Natalie & Spencer Goldberg We miss the excitement of having each day bring a new experience to share together as a family of 5 and a family of 63! Beth, Chris, David, Lindsey & Jack Belisle All of our friends and fellow travelers; the amazing buffet breakfasts; our guide, Tsvika, and his calm, reassuring voice telling us about the amazing places and adventures we would encounter on the road ahead." Waking up and getting ready to see more of Israel, not only with my family but with the family of Larchmont Temple Seeing our wonderful LT Family everyday! Sarah Lieberman, Daniel, Hannah & Noah Sodickson Carrot picking -- our LT community doing community service. Everyone being together. Amy Holzman and Asher & Grace Holzman-Hansen I miss all of the dance parties we had on the streets at night. I miss Israel because I miss all of my friends and our guide, Tzvika. I miss the music, flickering candlelight and smells of spices during our Havdalah services on the terrace of the Inbal overlooking Jerusalem or on the small bridge entering the Tel Aviv port. Andrea, Vivi & Georgia Loigman expectation we had. Our fabulous tour guide Tsvika and his wry sense of humor; the breakfast buffets; the hike up Masada, the swim in the Dead Sea, the camel rides; the visit to Ayalon to see where the bullets were made for the War for Independence; planting the trees; pulling carrots from the field; the amazing speaker from The Jaffa Institute; the impromptu dancing in Jerusalem; the falafel and shawarma; the Purim fun in Be'er Sheva; walking through the Old City in Jerusalem; the jeep ride to the Ramon Crater; the incredibly special Bat Mitzvah for Natalie Goldberg; celebrating Shabbat services at three very different reform Temples; having Rabbi Sirkman and Cantor Scher as our fearless and fun leaders; never worrying about where we needed to be or what we were going to do next or what weather we should prepare for. But the thing that each Shapiro says that they miss more than anything is the friends we made and the time we spent with them. It was truly so special and the trip as a whole exceeded every Jon, Laurie, Ella, Max & Julia Shapiro 4

5 What I miss most about Israel is learning about its long history and seeing the actual artifacts related to the biblical stories that we all know. Ellen & Mark Oster I miss being greeted every morning by Tsvika saying Boker Tov Guys! I miss seeing the sun rise over the Ramon Crater. I miss my camel! I miss dancing and doing the hora in the streets of Jerusalem on Shabbat. I miss seeing my friends every day! We miss Rabbi and Cantor! Steve, Jo, Henry, Madelyn & Leah Brody Kool Bus! Kate misses The Dead Sea and friends; Julia misses riding camels, working at The Jaffa Institute and not knowing what will happen next. Beth and Ed miss days filled with fun, exploration and wonderful connections and the Rugelach from Marzipan Bakery. Ed, Beth, Kate & Julia Metzendorf We miss David, Nissan and getting to spend every day with our LT Family. The feeling of community every day as we travelled and ate and experienced tremendous history and natural beauty together...the feeling of belonging to a land we had never seen before, and is now a part of us. Michael, Melanie, Elana, Jordan & Gabriel Kraut Not just one thing was memorable about the LT Israel Trip, it all was. Around every corner and through every arch something new, old, sad, glad and tasty too can be experienced. The fact that our steps could be documented as the same written in the Torah is just amazing. What I miss most about Israel is spending every moment with my new LT friends from the trip. Knowing I would see them every day made this wonderful experience even more meaningful. Indeed, they all transcend the name "friends" and are now our family. Jim & Leslie Cowen Israel itself, our LT community, the people, the food, the emotions, the pride, and the feelings evoked at Natalie s Bat Mitzvah. Amy Lieberman & Dori Jacobson The sense of historic Israel was palpable throughout the trip. Mauri Tamarin, Ron and Abe Eligator Connections. I made so many connections with my fellow travelers, making new friends I feel I will be connected with forever, connections to Israel, connected to being a dual citizen to Israel, and most importantly a connection to where my father spent his last days... I miss the new adventure each day. Seeing everyone at breakfast and knowing that the day ahead was going to be filled with new experiences. That each of us would have our own individual moments and yet being able to share them as a congregation, community and covenant. Matt Vig & Karen Gross

6 Rabbi Simla i taught: Torah begins and ends with acts of chesed loving-kindness [Talmud, Sotah 14a] The CAREGIVER CHESED Corps Series Monday, May 16, 7:30 PM Whether you have been there by the bedside, attending a loved one with care, or if you are there now, you know well how hard it is to extend your heart and hand HOW can we be fully present, tuning in to the needs of another, without losing ourselves in the process?...as we offer our hearts, what happens if/when they break?... JOIN us for a dialogue of support; a conversation of mutual consolation and care. Voice frustration, share discoveries, pose questions Know, as a caregiver, you are not alone IF you have questions, need more info, or want to join us, contact Rabbi Sirkman [jsirkman@larchmonttemple.org.or LT Study line: (914) ] To SHARE in our CHESED Corps An ever-growing group of LT members ready to share their hearts and spirits with others IF you want to be part of our LT Community of CARE: Visiting the Sick or Elderly Providing Rides or Meals for Families/Individuals in need Supporting Shivah or Making Condolence Calls OR IF you are in need of a circle of support and care Dealing with a recent death in processing your mourning Seeking perspective on a loss in your life-experience Please contact Carolyn Kamlet at Carolyn.Kamlet@gmail.com Or one of our clergy-team: Rabbi Sirkman jsirkman@larchmonttemple.org Rabbi Miller bmiller@larchmonttemple.org Cantor Scher tscher@larchmonttemple.org LIBRARY CORNER by Ze ev Aviezer Larchmont Temple s Library catalog is now on line. You can find the link on the Friday and on the Temple s webpage. Below are reviews of three new additions to our collection. Doomed to Succeed by Dennis Ross Dennis Ross brings us up to date, covering the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations and looking at U.S.-Israel relations from Truman on It s hard to think of a college course on the subject without this book. Elliot Abrams, The Wall Street Journal Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning by Timothy Snyder Snyder identifies the conditions that allowed the Holocaust conditions our society today shares... He certainly couldn t be more right about our world. The New Republic Let There Be Water by Seth M. Siegel With global water shortages generating political, military and humanitarian crises across the globe, Israel's astonishing ingenuity for wresting abundance from drought is an inspiring and instructive blueprint. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. LT On The GO Enjoys Monroe College Dining Lab by Ellen Oster About 20 people gathered (split between two evenings) for a delicious dinner at the Dining Lab which is run by the students enrolled in the School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts at Monroe. Diners engaged with students, learned about their career plans and what led to their interest in hospitality and cooking. More importantly, was the chance to literally break bread with other Temple members in a relaxed, small group. Conversation flowed easily over wine and the three course dinner. LT on the Go is organizing a number of social and cultural events to foster this fun casual interaction among Temple members. The next event planned is a June visit to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. FAMILY NEWS Holloway Cromer father of Karen Isaac Sherrie Nagin Mother of Ben Nagin Robert Tauber father of Robin Plonsker 6

7 SOCIAL ACTION MEETING Sunday, May 15, 10 AM, Library Meet and exchange ideas for projects. COOKING FOR HOPE-ALL AGES Sunday, May 15, 11:30 AM LT Kitchen Prepare and donate on May 15th for an Italian feast of meatballs and spaghetti, asparagus, salad and fruit crisp at 11:30 am in the LT kitchen for Hope Soup kitchen in New Rochelle. You can also prepare or donate food if you are unable to join us on Sunday. A spreadsheet and reminder will be sent out. To receive this information, please contact debschleien@gmail.com. The dinner will be served Monday night. FOOD COLLECTION AT RELAY FOR LIFE In support of LT's Mitzvah Day on May 22nd, the SAC will be collecting canned foods at the Relay for Life of Mamaroneck- Larchmont on May 21 at Harbor Island Park. If you are interested in creating a Larchmont Temple Team or joining one contact Randi Spatz at Randik2002@yahoo.com VOLUNTEER GARDENING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, Sunday, May 22, from 1-5 PM We are organizing volunteers to help SHORE (Sheltering the Homeless Is Our Responsibility, Inc.,) with gardening and light exterior painting at two local low-income family homes in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Please join us on Sunday, May 22, from 1-5 (or whatever time you can commit) at Woodland Ave. (adjacent to Larchmont train station parking lot), and Prospect Ave. (adjacent to Westchester Jewish Center). No prior experience is needed. Anyone over 12 years old or children under 12 with supervision are welcome to help. SHORE is an all-volunteer, interfaith, not-for-profit housing organization in Westchester, providing primarily permanent, affordable rental homes for homeless families since If you can join us, please contact pkatzenste@aol.com. CLOSING SUNDAY OF RELIGIOUS SCHOOL/LTRS GIVES BACK! Sunday, May 22, 11:00 AM Closing Ceremony & Service AND 11:30 AM Activities & BBQ See below how you can help us give back!... If you have any questions, please contact Ted Dreier at Tdreier@larchmonttemple.org. Clothing and Backpack Drive (& Sorting) Donate children s clothing, boys and girls sizes 4-14, at the Willow Ave lobby from 5/8-5/22. All clothing will benefit Sharing Shelf, an affiliate of Family Services of Westchester. Lighter weight clothing, spring coats, backpacks, and shoes are especially appreciated. Books Through Bars Donation Drive! We are collecting paperback books 5/8-5/22 to donate to an incredible organization which donates books to incarcerated people across the nation and believe literacy and access to reading material is a human right. They do not accept hardcover books, encyclopedias or religious texts. Contact sariwinter@gmail.com. Change for Change Do you have change in your car or house collecting dust? Want to turn that change into a mitzvah? Help LT collect and sort change on May 22nd! The tzedakah we raise will go to an organization selected by our K 6th graders. Letter Writing to Soldiers We enjoy many freedoms in this country, and we want to support the people who fight for us across the globe. Sit down with your children and help write letters of encouragement and gratitude to our soldiers. The letters will be sent through Operation Gratitude to soldiers stationed all around the world. Canned Goods for a Good Cause Donate canned goods in the Willow Ave. lobby from 5/8-5/22. The food will go to the Larchmont Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force, a local food pantry helping those who suffer from food insecurity. Canned vegetables, meats/fish, fruits, canned beans, and peanut butter are especially appreciated. THANK YOU Rabbi Sirkman s Mitzvah Fund In gratitude for officiating at the wedding of Sarah and Andrew by Susan & David Berger In honor of Sydney Berg becoming Bat Mitzvah by Fred & Ruth Fahrbach In gratitude by Susan Deutsch Rabbi Miller s Mitzvah Fund In memory of Dr. Benjamin Stein by Pamela Tanenbaum 7 Cantor Mendelson s Mitzvah Fund In appreciation for participating in Stephanie s funeral by Marty Randall Cultural & Educational Programs In memory of Alice Levine by Harry & Eve First Memorial Fund In memory of Bob Immerman by Frances Miglio by David Chase In memory of Fred Hamburger by Pauline & Lawrence Ungar Nursery School Enrichment In honor of The naming of our four children by Jason Ment and Wendy Sayles Susan Sirkman Fund In honor of Pam Bolton's Conversion by Pearl Radcliffe In memory of Alice Levine by Priscilla Poller Tzedaka Social Action Fund In memory of Bob Immerman and Norman Friedman by David & Elaine Chapnick

8 MAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Thursday, May 5 7:00 PM Yom HaShoah Commemoration Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue Larchmont, NY NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLAINS, NY PERMIT NO Friday, May 6 ACHAREI MOT (Lev. 18:1-30) 5:00 PM Young Family Shabbat 6:30 PM Pre-Oneg 7:00 PM 1st Friday Kabbalat Shabbat 3rd Gr. Moving Up Ceremony 12th Grade Blessing 8:00 PM Special Oneg for 12th Grade Families Saturday, May 7 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 PM B nei Mitzvah of Isaac Elias & Jack Perkins 10:30 am Downstairs Minyan Friday, May 13 KEDOSHIM (Lev. 19:1-20:27) 6:15 PM Israel Day Celebration 7:00 PM Shabbat Yisrael LTRS CLOSING SUNDAY/LTRS GIVES BACK SUNDAY, MAY 22 See page 7 for how you can help! Saturday, May 14 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Bar Mitzvah of Jonah Levine 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Friday, May 20 EMOR (Lev. 21:1-24:23) 8:00 PM Shabbat Worship Saturday, May 21 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Bar Mitzvah of Ben Boren 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Friday, May 27 BEHAR (Lev. 25:1-26:2) 6:30 PM Pre-Oneg 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, May 28 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Bat Mitzvah of Maya Lewis All Are Invited Save the Date: Camp Shabbat, Friday, June 3 We ll also honor Seth & Sarah Marion our Youth Director and Rabbinic Intern with a Special Farewell Blessing.