Larchmont Temple News

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1 MARCH 2016 Larchmont Temple News 00 More details on p, 7 In this Issue From Rabbi Sirkman 2 From Cantor Scher 4 Family News 6 Brotherhood Events 3 Drop In Lunch 4 Contributions 6 Sisterhood Events 3 Social Action Committee 5 Women s Seder 7 Worship Schedule 8 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 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 Cynthia Weissman, Editor/Designer Carol Scharff, Proofreader Printed on recycled paper FROM RABBI SIRKMAN THIRTY-NINE BOOKS--Our One Volume Guide to the Galaxy BOOK REVIEW.The Scroll of Esther The REST of the Story LIVING as ISRAEL Today Here s the unsettling ending of ESTHER we seldom read, and tend often to overlook On the 13 th day of the month On the day the enemies of the Jews expected to rule over them, the situation was reversed, and it was the Jews themselves who came to rule over those who hated them. The Jews organized against all who sought to do them harm And no one could stand before them And all the princes of the provinces and the governors supported the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them. For great was the fear of Mordecai in the King s House, and his reputation had gone out in all the land So that day the Jews struck down their enemies by the sword, killing five hundred in Shushan alone, hanging the ten sons of Haman The Jews in all the King s provinces organized and defended themselves against their enemies killing those who hated them, but the spoils they did not touch. [Book of Esther, 9:1-16] The irony stings in a way so biting we dare not, cannot ignore it. Even Esther s eventual self-revelation as the scroll unfolds is not enough to save her, nor her people. When push comes to shove, the Purim tale calls our heroine to come to terms with who she truly is, and to acknowledge that because of it, others will hate her for it Thus, she must out Haman for the evil, egotistical, maniacal oppressor that he is But even after her identity is revealed and he is deposed, even after his hanging, sadly, his plan to destroy the Jews remains in place. Seems that, once a royal decree is issued, no matter how ill-intended, even the King cannot rescind it. Which is why many gloss over the politically incorrect if highly-uncomfortable finish to the scroll. As author and President of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, Yoram Hazony put it succinctly, Purity requires that man renounce power; but morality requires that man have power in order to pursue right The saint makes a token effort towards power and leaves the rest to God, while the hero leaves nothing to God Power is a matter of beating them at their own game, and using the results for good. [The Dawn, Political Teachings of the Book of Esther, Hazony, pgs ] The parallels to our lives as a People Israel today ring loud and true. The politics of power require an empowered State of Israel to live balancing the daily threat of destruction with the inevitable need for self-defense. The former cannot help but diminish its saintliness, while the latter leaves Israel an all-too-human, tarnished hero. Yet the lesson of the end of Esther s Scroll resounds. Standing up as Jews; never hiding who we are fighting for the freedom we share with all people; aspiring to fight for right, we become more and so, become ourselves. JS 2

Larchmont Temple New Member Families Friday, March 4 at 6:30 PM Please join us in the sanctuary lobby for a pre-oneg featuring family style finger food, wine, cheese and

Help Wanted: Matzo Brei Chefs! We need chefs for our Matzo Brei Brunch. on Saturday, April 23. Interested? We supply the eggs, matzo, milk and butter.

org Or call the main office at 914-834-6120 if you would like to whip up your Bubbe s recipe, a modern favorite or create your own!

nutrition, Ilyse is sought after time and again to offer perspective on nutrition trends and healthy living.

Prior to pursuing her graduate degree in clinical nutrition and dietetics from New York University, Ilyse served on the publishing team at Men s Health magazine.

SAVE THE DATE (S) BROTHERHOOD BREAKFAST--BASEBALL & BAGELS!

3 Larchmont Temple New Member Families Friday, March 4 at 6:30 PM Please join us in the sanctuary lobby for a pre-oneg featuring family style finger food, wine, cheese and other snacks. This will be followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat service at 7PM in the sanctuary where we will welcome and honor our New Member families. Help Wanted: Matzo Brei Chefs! We need chefs for our Matzo Brei Brunch. on Saturday, April 23. Interested? We supply the eggs, matzo, milk and butter. You ll supply your special secret ingredients. Pesach Festival Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Matzo Brei Brunch begins at 11:45 a.m. Contact: jsfriedman@larchmonttemple.org Or call the main office at if you would like to whip up your Bubbe s recipe, a modern favorite or create your own! Brotherhood Breakfast ILYSE SCHAPIRO, MS, RD, CDN Founder & President Ilyse Schapiro Nutrition Sunday, March 13, 10 AM As a nationally recognized expert in the field of nutrition, Ilyse is sought after time and again to offer perspective on nutrition trends and healthy living. Before launching her own private practice, she was a dietitian at Joy Bauer Nutrition and served as a clinical dietitian at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Prior to pursuing her graduate degree in clinical nutrition and dietetics from New York University, Ilyse served on the publishing team at Men s Health magazine. Ilyse's work at the award-winning publication inspired her to pursue her personal passion for health and wellness. SAVE THE DATE (S) BROTHERHOOD BREAKFAST--BASEBALL & BAGELS! Come meet Kostya Kennedy, Award-winning author of "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma" Sunday, April 10, 10 AM Kostya Kennedy is the New York Times bestselling author of 56: Joe DiMaggio and The Last Magic Number in Sports, winner of the 2011 Casey Award and runner-up for the 2012 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. LT & WJC Joint Sisterhood Evening on the Town GALLERY & WINE NIGHT Thursday April 14, 7-9 PM Mamaroneck Artists Guild For more information, Kyle Greenberg, kgreenberg@gmail.com 3

A Purim Message from Cantor Scher When most of us think about Purim, we think about dressing up in costumes, attending or taking part in a Purim shpiel (Purim play), eating hamentaschen, waving

Though all of these fun components are integral to Purim, there is another crucial component of the celebration. We are supposed to remember the less fortunate.

How can we do that in a meaningful way that can involve our entire family and give us an even stronger sense of connection to LT?

4 A Purim Message from Cantor Scher When most of us think about Purim, we think about dressing up in costumes, attending or taking part in a Purim shpiel (Purim play), eating hamentaschen, waving groggers at the sound of Haman s name, and being given the excuse to be as loud as we want! Though all of these fun components are integral to Purim, there is another crucial component of the celebration. We are supposed to remember the less fortunate. We are commanded to give matanot l evyonim, which means gifts to the poor. How can we do that in a meaningful way that can involve our entire family and give us an even stronger sense of connection to LT? Join our vibrant and diverse Social Action group for one or more of their ongoing mitzvah projects committed to helping those in need. Please visit the Social Action page on the Larchmont Temple website to see all of their ongoing opportunities and dates. For other great ideas, you can visit the URJ website at There you can find ways to incorporate the actual holiday with giving. One example is to use Macaroni Groggers. This Purim, when the wicked Haman's name is called out during the m gillah reading, use a box of macaroni and cheese or any other uncooked pasta as a grogger (noisemaker). After the service, donate the boxes of pasta to food banks. Another suggestion on their website is to give your old cell phones to victims of Domestic Violence - as you remember the stories of Vashti and Esther, commit to helping women in similar situations. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence collects deactivated cell phones, which still allow for 911 calls, to distribute to victims of domestic violence so that they can call for emergency help. Visit their website for more information. If you will be in town during Purim this year (for many, it is Spring Break), consider spending a day with your family or friends, finding something to do that will help the less fortunate. Let this year be the year that we remind ourselves that as we celebrate Purim, we cannot forget about the needs of the less fortunate in our area. INVITATION TO CIRCLE OF HEALING Friday, March 11, 7:15 PM Together we ll confront brokenness in our lives perhaps in ourselves or in the lives of those we love. Our Circle of Healing gives people the opportunity to offer up their own prayers. DROP IN LUNCH Attention all senior members of Larchmont Temple (Non-seniors are welcome too!) Tuesday, March 15 at 12:00 Grant Conference Center Let My People Go and other Protest Poetry, From William Blake to Maya Angelou Presented by LT member, Marvin Wexler 4 Bring your lunch and we will provide dessert and coffee. Questions? Call Juli Need a ride? Call Jane to learn about the Shul Shuttle

MIDNIGHT RUN Saturday, March 5, 4 PM Partnering with Larchmont Avenue Church we serve about 100 homeless men and women in NYC.

com SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE SOCIAL ACTION MEETING Sunday, March 6, 10 AM, Library Meet and exchange ideas for projects.

with emotional or learning disabilities ages 7-16. This is a great opportunity for the whole family. Meet at 12:15 pm at Larchmont Temple and drive together. Stay for about 2 hours.

They are the recipients of the first ever grant from Engage Jewish Service Corps of Westchester, a UJA initiative that gets baby boomers and beyond involved in meaningful opportunities that meet

5 MIDNIGHT RUN Saturday, March 5, 4 PM Partnering with Larchmont Avenue Church we serve about 100 homeless men and women in NYC. We meet at 4 pm at LAC to sort clothes and toiletries and return at 8:30 pm to load cars and drive into the city. Contact Linda Riefberg -linda.riefberg@gmail.com SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE SOCIAL ACTION MEETING Sunday, March 6, 10 AM, Library Meet and exchange ideas for projects. Pleasantville Cottages Sunday, March 6, 12:15 PM Share in a pizza party, play games and run activities with the children at the Pleasantville Cottage School in Pleasantville, a school for children with emotional or learning disabilities ages This is a great opportunity for the whole family. Meet at 12:15 pm at Larchmont Temple and drive together. Stay for about 2 hours. Contact Jennifer Perkins at Jennifer.Perkins@lw.com or Lisashu50@gmail.com. MAZEL TOV TO LT s SOCIAL ACTION 1 st RECIPIENT OF UJA S ENGAGE JEWISH SERVICE CORPS OF WESTCHESTER Mazel Tov to our Social Action Committee! They are the recipients of the first ever grant from Engage Jewish Service Corps of Westchester, a UJA initiative that gets baby boomers and beyond involved in meaningful opportunities that meet community needs. The grant is for $1800 and will help fund three Sunday afternoon events with the children that live at the Coachmen Family Center, a temporary homeless center for families in White Plains. The events involve bringing the arts and other activities to these children and are perfect for volunteers of all ages, including our children! We are so excited that our social action committee received this recognition and look forward to spreading the word at Larchmont Temple and continuing to involve more and more of our congregants in our social action work. Please contact drvickiehrlich@aol.com; Jennifer.perkins@lw.com; linda.riefberg@gmail.com to get involved with the Coachman events or any other social action activities. 5 BAR/BAT MITZVAH COMMITTEE Are you organized and diligent and do you have a desire to run one of LT's committees? The bar/bar-mitzvah committee is looking for two new members to work with us over the next months, learning the ins & outs of bar/batmitzvah assignments and changes. Please Melissa Kotlen at melissakotlen@gmail.com & Shari Levine at sblev8@gmail.com for a full description of what this committee entails.

6 FAMILY NEWS Condolences to the family of Edward Tapper father of Sharon Tapper Kay Karmel mother of Jane and Mary Florence Ganis grandmother of Mandy Zoffness Mickey Rogow mother of Laura Reinlib Robert Immerman husband of Minna, father of Gaby and Suzanne Arnold Ganz uncle of Adrienne Weiss Harrison Paula Fleischer mother of Yvette Goorevitc Sondra Garfield mother of Brad Garfield Constance Lieber, wife of Stephen, mother of Sam and Janice 2 Mount Hope Gravesite Plots Contact: Peter Jellinek Please indicate you saw this announcement in the Temple News THANK YOU RABBI SIRKMAN S MITZVAH FUND In memory of Bob Immerman by Andy & Toby Levine In memory of Bob Immerman by Emily Laitmon & Steve Marcus In memory of Bob Immerman and Paula Fleischer by Hillary Volper In memory of Paula Fleischer by Barbara Schiff In memory of Toby s parents Mae & Sam Willner by Toby & Bob Sklarew In gratitude for everything you do by Steve & Pam Tanenbaum In memory of my husband Walter Haas by Phyllis Haas In appreciation of Saraine Corn by Irene & Eric Seff In memory of Kay Karmel by Saraine Corn CANTOR TRACEY SCHER S MITZVAH FUND In gratitude and with appreciation by Steve Cohen In memory of their parents, John J. Delehanty and Adelaide W. Prince and for the inspiring service with the Strait Gate Choir by John and Judy Delehanty In memory of Bernard Allan Silver and Marvin Gertzog by Jonathan and Ellen Silver In memory of Bob Immerman by Gail & Jerry Robinson In memory of Bob Immerman by Wendy Robbins CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS In memory of Bob Immerman by Rabbi Charles Rabinowitz and Wendy Weiner GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS In memory of Paula Fleischer by Barry & Judi Dichter In memory of Paula Fleischer by Rabbi Charles Rabinowitz and Wendy Weiner SOCIAL ACTION TZEDAKAH FUND In memory of Bob Immerman by Barry & Judi Dichter In memory of Bob Immerman by Jeffrey Goldstein & Bonnie Markey YOUTH PROGRAMS In honor of Jeff Wang by Charles Cutler In memory of Paula Fleischer by Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Aliberti In memory of Paula Fleischer by Jeffrey Goldstein and Bonnie Markey GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS In memory of Paula Fleischer by Lauren Gutstein-Cohen MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Bob Immerman and Paula Fleischer by Carol & Matthew Scharff In memory of Paula Fleischer by Lori Pisano In memory of Bob Immerman by Bob & Marion Geller In memory of Genia Schwartzberg by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Teich In memory of Bob Immerman by Mr. and Mrs. Theodor Brown In memory of Bob Immerman by Jane Turk In memory of Paula Fleischer by Diana Wessel Susan Sirkman Fund In appreciation of Rabbi Sirkman for his blessings for Jillian and Michael Rosen's new home in New Rochelle by Mark & Yvette Goorevitch In honor of Steve & Pam Tanenbaum by Ron & Vicki Hauben In memory of Susan Sirkman by Debbie Kenyon & Peter Hess by Priscilla Poller by Ilene & William Rome In memory of Susan Sirkman and Alan Frankel by Bob & Karen Frankel 6

LARCHMONT TEMPLE S ANNUAL WOMEN S SEDER Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 6 PM in the Social Hall I didn't know what to expect from the Women's Seder, and what I left with was a feeling of warmth and

We use our self-created Haggadah, which emphasizes the important roles that women played in this historical saga, and without whom there would be no Passover.

7 LARCHMONT TEMPLE S ANNUAL WOMEN S SEDER Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 6 PM in the Social Hall I didn't know what to expect from the Women's Seder, and what I left with was a feeling of warmth and togetherness Martha Friedland Sharing the Women's Seder with about 100 women from our congregation is an extraordinary experience. We use our self-created Haggadah, which emphasizes the important roles that women played in this historical saga, and without whom there would be no Passover. Rabbi Bethie and Cantor Tracey lead the service and the full participation of the group is joyful. Please join us for a revelatory evening. Carol Scharff The Seder is a special opportunity for women to gather and celebrate Passover without the usual stresses of planning, cooking, serving and cleaning up after a big holiday meal. It's a time to reflect on the exodus from Egypt and draw parallels to our lives as modern Jewish women living in the Diaspora. Rebecca Mansell Join us for a wonderful evening where mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmothers and friends come together in celebration of how inspiring women are!!! To buy tickets please go to or you can drop off a check for $40/pp at the Temple office. For more information please contact Randi randik2002@yahoo.com 7 Film Festival, Sunday, March 27, 4 PM The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (rescheduled from January) Richard Dreyfuss put himself on the map with his performance of an 18-year-old Duddy Kravitz, a Jewish kid from Montreal whose ambition and greed drives him at the expense of his own happiness. Please join us for wine, cheese and lively post screening conversation led by Ze ev Aviezer.

8 MARCH WORSHIP SCHEDULE Friday, March 4 VAYAKHEL (Exod. 35:1-38:20) 5:00 PM Young Family Shabbat 6:30 PM Pre-Oneg and New Member Welcome 7:00 PM 1st Friday Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, March 5 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Congregational Worship Bat Mitzvah of Sydney Girvin Bar Mitzvah of Andrew Raso 10:30 am Downstairs Minyan 4:30 PM LTRS Family Shabbat Friday, March 11 PEKUDEI (Exod. 38:21-40:38) 7:15 PM Circle of Healing 8:00 pm Service for the Soul- Shir Hanefesh Saturday, March 12 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Congregational Worship Bat Mitzvah of Sofia Bolger 10:30 am Downstairs Minyan Friday, March 18 VAYIKRA (Lev. 1:1-5:26) 6:30 PM Pre-Oneg 7:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Shir Chadash Saturday, March 19 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan PURIM Wednesday, March 23 6:30 PM Esther s Feast 7:15 PM Megillah Reading/Shpiel Friday, March 25 TZAV (Lev. 6:1-8:36) 8:00 PM Congregational Worship Saturday, March 26 9:00 AM Chevrah Torah 10:30 AM Downstairs Minyan Larchmont Temple 75 Larchmont Avenue Larchmont, NY NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLAINS, NY PERMIT NO

Larchmont Temple News

OCTOBER 2014 Larchmont Temple News In this issue: FALL FESTIVALS AT LARCHMONT TEMPLE Congregational News... 1 Announcements... 2 From the Rabbi... 3 Upcoming Events... 4 Upcoming Events...5 Our Congregational