
CHAVURAH
BETH SHALOM
A Temple
for Our Time
We are living in extraordinary times
and as such,
Jewish Communities today need
extraordinary leaders.
1 Old Dock Road
Alpine, New Jersey 07620
Phone: (201) 567-7806
Fax: (201) 567-5551
ChavBethShalom@aol.com
www.mychavurah.org
Founding Rabbi & Cantor:
Rabbi Nathaniel Benjamin
Senior Rabbinical Scholar:
Rabbi Jack Bemporad
Rabbinical Associate:
Rabbi Dennis Shulman
President: Richard Viders
Assistant Cantor:
Janine Schwarz
Director of Education:
Debra Kronberg
Youth Activities:
Rabbi Steven J. Meltz
Editorial Staff:
Beth Benjamin
Hillary Viders
Rabbi Nat Benjamin
Contributors:
Janine Schwarz
Sidney Goldberg
Mailing: Jill Benjamin
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Temple Talk - The Chavurah Newsletter
February 2009 – Shevat/Adar 5769
MESSAGE
February
, 2009FROM RABBI NAT BENJAMIN
As we look back at our many achievements over the
past 18 years, we can be proud of the active support which
February,
2009to several Jewish organizations.
our congregation
has given
Most of you are not aware of the American Society For
Music,”
Jewish Music which is an integral part of the Jewish American
2008
Historical
Historical Society located at 14 West 16th Street, NYC.
C. Chavurah B
Chavurah Beth Shalom sponsors twp concerts each year, a
Chanukah
Chanukah concert in December and the “Contemporary
“
Composers Concert” in June.
The American Society for Jewish Music (ASJM) serves as
a broad canopy for all who are interested in Jewish music. Its members include cantors,
composers, educators, musicologists, ethnologists, historians, performers and interested
lay members - as well as libraries, universities, synagogues and other institutions. Each
season the Society presents a series of varied musical programs for the general public,
often working with its host at the Center, the American Jewish Historical Society. The
concerts cover a No
wide range of Jewish music: sacred, secular, folk, concert and theater.
The Society also arranges and presents lectures on Jewish music by experts in their field.
In addition to the programs presented by the Society, to which the general public is ininvited, the ASJM encourages seminars, workshops and master classes at which
students benefit from the musical
expertise of the
Society's members. (Cont. on P. 7)
November,
2008
past
regation ha
Temple Talk - The Chavurah Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM RABBI JACK BEMPORAD
TOWARD HOPE
Of the
many things in the Chavurah that we can be proud of, the gamut of
educational programs for every age stands out. Beginning with our
religious school, we have asked and answered the question, “What
are the aims of our religious school and what concepts and values
do we hope to impart to the next generation?” Our religious school
teaches high ideals in a form that is particularly accessible to
young children. In addition, the education is concerned with the
special values Judaism teaches, among them the love of learning,
which is emphasized in Saturday Bible classes, Torah study and
Torah class. These values and ideals will enable students to face the
issues of the world today from a Jewish perspective, and teach how these values can help one in
the living of one’s life. I think that these values are reflected in the Chavurah as a whole. There are
no external trappings; there is no building, no sisterhood nor a brotherhood. This enables us to
focus on the Chavurah as a community, learning the ways we can help one another and learning to
help the Jewish people.
In our Chavurah, we want to recapture the idealism of Judaism, to discover what has made the
Jewish people survive for 4,000 years. We want to uncover what has made us able to contribute
so much to the societies of which we formed a past. At the Chavurah, we are interested in what is
truly Jewish in Judaism, and why the Hebrew prophets had something to say then, that is still
relevant now, and not only to us but to the world.
Over my many years, I’ve served very large congregations and also small ones. I prefer the small
ones – not simply because the vast majority of my closest friends are members,
but because a
mber,
small community affords me the opportunity to meet the Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, and to
2008
help
them understand the weekly Parsha. In many cases, I am able to officiate at their marriages.
The link is forged that gives me a sense that my life has meaning and purpose. I believe my
personal task is to make sure people leave my classes and sermons knowing some thing they didn’t
know when they walked in, and find that information useful in their lives.
No
NovNovember mb
MESSSAGE FROM RABBI JACK BEMPORAD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
I often say that the best part of being a Rabbi is that I am constantly aware of the possibility in human beings, and in some small
way, I can help them implement these possibilities.
Worship and Adult Education SCHEDULE
Chavruah Beth Shalom ~ A Temple For Our Time
Please consult our weekly e-mail announcements for any changes in the class schedules
Fri. Evening, Feb. 6
Sat. Morning, Feb. 7
Sat. Morning, Feb. 7
Fri. Evening, Feb. 13
Sat. Morning, Feb. 14
Sat. Morning, Feb. 14
Fri. Evening, Feb. 21
Sat. Morning, Feb. 22
Sat. Morning, Feb. 22
Fri. Evening. Feb. 28
Sat. Morning, Mar. 1
Family Shabbat Services
Woolman Judaic Study Class
Meditation and Minyan
Shabbat Services
Meditation and Minyan
Woolman Judaic Study Class
Shabbat Services
Meditation and Minyan
Woolman Judaic Study Class
Shabbat Services
Meditation and Minyan
Note: The Woolman Judaic Study Class will resume on April 4th.
Shabbat Services
Shabbat Services are held
every Friday night at 8 p.m.
except when there are Family
Services which begin at 7:30
p.m. at the Alpine Community
House. Please note that
religious school students are
required to attend Family
Shabbat Evening Services as
part of the curriculum.
Ephraim Woolman
Judaic Study Class
Saturday morning class led
by Rabbi Bemporad includes
stimulating discussions
about Jewish philosophy,
history, scripture and
commentary on current
events. Join us every
Shabbat morning at 10:30
a.m. at the Alpine
Community House.
Shabbat Morning
Meditation & Minyan
Minyan led by Rabbi Dennis
Shulman includes an active
discussion of some aspect of
this week's Torah portion, and an
explanation of a prayer or two
included in the service. Dress is
casual and informal. Join us every
Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Alpine
Community House.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
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7:30 PM
9:00 AM
10:15 AM
8:00 PM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
8:00 PM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
8:00 PM
10:00 AM
At Chavurah Beth Shalom, we embrace the values of a contemporary Reform Judaism that integrates reason,
experience, intellectual curiosity, and spirituality into our modern religious practice. Firmly rooted within the
prophetic tradition, we believe that:
Jews in every generation have a responsibility to preserve Judaism for the future.
Jews in every generation must respond creatively to the challenges of contemporary society.
Jewish tradition and ritual are a vital part of our religious practice and must comport with the highest standards
of ethics. Old and new rituals alike must stand the test of reason and experience, and our rituals must enable
us to lead an ethical life and to better understand the divine.
Jews must embrace openness to truth from all sources including philosophy, science, art and literature.
Jews must be willing to respect and acknowledge the value of other religious traditions and work with other
religions to find common ground and strive for the betterment of all.
Meaning in our lives comes from the pursuit of justice, a sense of humility, the idea of mercy and an obligation
to make peace with ourselves as Jews and with other peoples of the world.
LOCAL AND WORLD NEWS
SYBIL MOSES, CHAVURAH BETH SHALOM FOUNDING MEMBER
AND RENOWNED JUDGE, HAS PASSED AWAY
Chavurah Beth Shalom Founding Member, Sybil Moses, the first woman to serve as an assignment
judge in New Jersey, died January 16th at her home in Englewood. Moses, 69, had retired from the Bergen
County bench in October after 21 years. Ill with breast cancer, she stepped down eight months short of the
mandatory retirement age of 70.
"Today New Jersey lost a giant in the modern era of the judiciary," Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the
state Supreme Court said in a statement. "Moses was a trailblazer for women in the courts," he said. "She
was a strong and visionary leader of the Bergen County justice system. At the same time, she was a
thoughtful and compassionate jurist; her concerns for the well-being of judges, lawyers, staff and the
public were legendary."
"Sybil was one of the giants of the legal profession," said former chief justice Peter Verniero, now a
law partner of Moses' husband, Stephen, at Sills, Cummis & Gross. "She held lawyers to high standards,
but reserved the highest standard for herself. She will be greatly missed."
Superior Court Judge Peter Coyne, who succeeded Moses as assignment judge, remembered her as
someone who was "spirited, dedicated and empathetic."
"Her humorous and salty side," he said, "was only seen by those who knew her well."
Moses began her legal career as an assistant prosecutor in Bergen County, winning most of the nearly
four dozen cases she tried. One notable exception was the headline-grabbing "Dr. X" murder trial of Mario
Jascalevich, the Argentinian-born chief surgeon at Riverdell Hospital in Oradell in the 1960s when 13
patients died under mysterious circumstances. The eight-month murder trial - then the second-longest in
U.S. history - attracted nationwide attention. Just four years out of law school, the odds were against Moses
from the outset. She was pitted against a veteran defense lawyer, there was no clear motive and the deaths
were a decade old. Jacalevich was acquitted in 1978, but Newsweek magazine's coverage of the trial said it
"matched a Perry Mason-style defense attorney against a dogged woman prosecutor."
Moses was appointed a Superior Court judge in 1987 after a stint as a state administrative
judge. She became the state's first female assignment judge in 1997 when she was appointed by then-Chief
Justice Deborah Poritz.
"She had a variety of experience in her background that suggested she could take on any task and do
it well," Poritz said Friday. "And she did."
Moses earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland and a master's degree in
International relations at the University of Pennsylvania. After her two children were born, she returned to
school and earned her law degree at Rutgers School of Law-Newark.
Besides her husband of 48 years, Moses is survived by a son, Jonathan, an attorney in New York; a
daughter, Jennifer, who lives in London and serves as a special advisor to British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown, and five grandchildren.
To honor Sybil Moses and her extraordinary importance in New Jersey, in an almost unprecedented
move, the Bergen County Supreme Court shut down for several hours on Monday, Jan. 19, so that the
myriad legal professionals could attend Moses’s funeral service which was held at Gutterman-Musicant
Funeral Home, 402 Park St. in Hackensack.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the Judge Sybil R. Moses Scholarship
Fund at Rutgers School of Law-Newark, 123 Washington St., Newark, N.J. 07102.
“WE STAND WITH ISRAEL” SOLIDARITY RALLY AT THE KAPLEN JCC
ON THE PALISADES DRAWS 1,000 ATTENDEES
On Jan. 11, 1,000 Bergen County residents gathered at the Kaplan JCC on the Palisades for a rally affirming
support for Israel's military operations in Gaza, a conflict that marked its 16th day with Israeli troops pushing
into southern neighborhoods of Gaza City. Congressmen and state legislators sat alongside North Jersey rabbis,
law enforcement officials, and Israelis, including Israeli Consul General Asaf Shariv. The rally was sponsored by
the UJA-Federation of Northern New Jersey. peaceful solution that's going to be enforceable," Assaf said.
Several Chavurah Beth Shalom Members attended, including Hillary and Richard Viders and Phil and Susan
Permut, whose daughter, Rachel sang with the Ha’ Zamir choir.
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Earlier in the day, UJA's New York chapter sponsored a large rally in Manhattan. Elsewhere in the U.S. and
in foreign cities from Beirut to Karachi, demonstrators protested against Israel's actions. The speakers were
unanimous in calling Israel's show of force an act of self-defense justified by years of rocket attacks into Israel
from Gaza. Audience members and speakers also said they wanted peace and are upset by the Palestinian
civilian casualties. "Our message to Hamas is very clear: No more rockets, no more red alerts, no more terror
against our citizens," Shariv said. "We will continue to fight on our values and on our belief and on the right of
our children to live their lives, and we will win."
Officials echoed Israel's call for rocket attacks to stop and for actions to ensure that Hamas does not re-arm
after the conflict ends as conditions for a truce. "We are standing up for the principle that a sovereign nation
has the right to defend itself against a terrorist organization," said Rep. Steven Rothman, D-Fair Lawn. Rep.
Scott Garrett, R–Wantage, and several state and local lawmakers also attended. Aref Assaf, president of the
American Arab Forum in Paterson, sees the conflict differently. The economic restrictions Israel has enforced on
the Gaza border since withdrawing in 2005 has effectively continued an occupation that Palestinians have the
right to protest, he said.
What is a proper response for a state whose safety and security is not in any danger?" Assaf said of Israel.
"For the last two years, Palestinians have been subjugated to an economic blockade unmatched by any in the
world. The issue is not rocket-launching. The issue that underlies that is the occupation." Health officials in Gaza
estimate that the conflict has taken nearly 900 Palestinian lives, according to reports in Bloomberg News and
other media outlets. Israel has confirmed 13 military deaths to The Associated Press. But for many of those who
attended the rally, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Many accused Hamas, the Islamic militant group that
controls Gaza, of putting civilians in danger. "I certainly find the death of civilians unfortunate, but if the U.S.
were put in a similar position in Iraq or Afghanistan, where militants were taking citizens and using them as
shields or launching rockets from nursing homes and schools, I think we would do the same thing," said Eric
Shapiro, a 17-year-old from Tenafly who wore an Israeli flag tied around his shoulders.
Speakers at Sunday evening's event underscored the daily terror from rocket attacks that Israelis endure in
cities like Sderot, a few miles from the Gaza border. Sael Abecassis, a Sderot resident, talked about his 5-yearold brother's response to rocket warnings. "When he hears the red alert siren … he knows exactly where to run,"
Abecassis said. "He runs to the safe place, and he starts to count from 10 to 1. When he gets to 1 he starts to
sing songs very loud. He doesn't want to hear the explosion." Attendees said that even though the conflict is
thousands of miles away, standing up for a nation created to ensure the safety of the Jewish people is an
important cause for any Jew to champion.
"Israel has to exist in order for the rest of the world's Jews to feel secure," said Raquel Karp, of Paramus.
"It's important to support Israel. The country has to defend itself." Assaf, of the American Arab Forum, said he
understood the way local Jews feel, and hopes that Jews and Arabs in North Jersey soon can begin working
together on possible solutions. "We need to have a strong commitment from both Jewish and Arab leaders to
work toward a peaceful solution that's going to be enforceable," Assaf said.
CHAVURAH MEMBERS ATTEND OBAMA INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES AT THE
BERGEN PAC
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, as newly elected President Barak Obama took the presidential oath in Washington DC,
thousands of people gathered at the Bergen PAC theater in Englewood to watch on a giant screen. Chavurah
Beth Shalom President, Richard Viders, and other members of Chavurah Beth Shalom were given VIP seating
along side Assembly Woman Valerie Huttle and other special guests. In addition to the excitement of the
inaugural proceedings, Bergen PAC provided its own live entertainment, free samples of Ben and Jerry’s ice
cream and coupons for discounted lunches at local restaurants.
ESTHER GOODHART TO STAGE COMEDY AND CABARET SHOWS AT BERGEN
PAC TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHAVURAH BETH SHALOM
Chavurah Beth Shalom’s multi-talented Esther Goodhart doesn’t just teach at the Chavurah
religious school. She is a national spokesperson for Asian American women, a stand up comic and
a advocate for inter-cultural understanding. Goodhart has agreed to generously donate her time
and talent by staging a series of cabaret-style shows this spring at the Bergen PAC Theater in
Englewood. All profits of these shows will go to Chavurah Beth Shalom!! The first comedy show
will take place on Friday evening, April 17 (at 7:00 and 9:30 Pm). It is a hilarious Asian-Jewish
comedy revue entitled “3 Chop Schticks and a Jew,” starring famed Asian comics, Shecky Wong,
Helen Hong, Vidur Kapur. And Goodhart. This show will also be performed on May 1. On May 15,
Goodhart’s cabaret will feature female impersonators singing the tunes of Peggy Lee, Liza Minelli
and other vocal divas. The show on May 29 is a special evening with international singing
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sensation KT Sullivan. All shows will be set up cabaret style in the 80 seat facility in Bergen PAC.
Drinks and finger food will be available.
We are urging ALL Chavurah members and friends, families and neighbors to attend
these events. Prices will be very affordable so bring the mishbucha too! (exact ticket fees and
other exciting details such as famous invited guests will be announced in upcoming Chavurah Beth
Shalom mailings and in major PR venues throughout Bergen County. Seating is limited to 80
people per show, so you must order tickets early!!!! REMEMBER…THANKS TO ESTHER
GOODHART, ALL PROFITS FROM THESE CABARET SHOWS WILL BE DONATED TO OUR
CHAVARUH, SO YOUR ATTENDANCE IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION! For more info, please
contact Esther Goodhart: Orientalbeautyob@aol.com.
SUSAN PENN TO CO-CHAIR 2009 JCPA PLENUM IN WASHINGTON D.C. FEB. 28MARCH 3rd
There’s still time to register for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs 2009 Plenum in Washington DC entitled
“New Faces, New Challenges: Jewish Activism during Change, Conflict and Crisis.” This important event will
take place at the Capitol Hill Hilton and will have world renowned speakers with whom attendees will have the
chance to debate and explore issues such as: Priorities for the 111th Congress, Charting the Best Course to Energy
Independence, Israel’s Security and Middle East Peace, Confronting Poverty in America, Religious Liberties and
Civil Rights and Interfaith Relations. For information, contact: plenum@thejcpa.org.
CHAVURAH FOUNDING MEMBER WENDY FEDERMAN PRODUCING TWO NEW
PLAYS
Chavurah Beth Shalom Member, Wendy Federman is a producer of two new Broadway plays this
spring. A revival of Noel Coward’s comedy, Blithe Spirit, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael
Blakemore, will star Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding, An Ideal Husband), Christine Ebersole (Grey
Gardens, 42nd Street), Jayne Atkinson (“24”, “Recount” Enchanted April) and Angela Lansbury (Sweeney
Todd, Gypsy, Dear World, Mame) Simon Jones (Waiting in the Wings, The Real Thing) and Deborah Rush
(Noises Off!) are also in the cast. The lead producer, Jeffrey Richards is a four-time Tony award winner
(Spring Awakening, August:Osage County…). The first performance will be on Thursday, February 26, 2009
at The Shubert Theatre with the official opening night on March 15,2009. Wendy and her husband Bob
and their children, Heather and Max. are longstanding and very active members of Chavurah
Beth Shalom.
Federman’s is also a producer of “Impressionism”, a beautiful new American play by Michael Jacobs
starring Broadway Tony Award winners Jeremy Irons and Joan Allen. The production will be directed by
three- time Tony Award-winner Jack O’Brien, (The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray…) The first preview
performance is Saturday, February 28th at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) with
official opening night on March 12,2009. This production will mark Ms. Allen's first return to Broadway since
The Heidi Chronicles in 1989, and Mr. Irons' first time on Broadway since The Real Thing in 1984. The lead
producer, Bill Haber, has produced over 36 Broadway plays and has numerous Tony and Drama Desk
awards. Impressionism is the story of a world traveling photojournalist and a New York City gallery
owner who discover each other and also that there might be an art to repairing broken lives.
Both of Federman’s productions promise to be the hottest shows on Broadway this season. Tickets for
both shows are available thru Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com. Wendy has asked
Chavurah Members to contact her directly to purchase producer house seats (if available on your selected
date) or if you are interested in “group “sales: Wendeliz@aol.com.
RABBI JACK BEMPORAD ON GLOBAL LECTURE TOUR
Chavurah Beth Shalom Rabbi Jack Bemporad has a busy speaking schedule this winter. On January
27, Rabbi Bemporad will be lecturing at the Primo Levi Society in New York on the racial laws in Italy
in 1938, as well as his personal experiences with fascism there. On February 4 and 5h, he will be
speaking at Providence College (Providence, RI) on the topic “Challenges facing Christian-Jewish
Understanding,” and helping establish a program for Christian Jewish studies. On February 24 Rabbi
Bemporad will deliver a speech in Israel at the International Focolare Society on “The Self and the
Other – A Jewish Perspective.” Then, on March 26th, he will be lecturing in Rome before the Centro
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Pro Unione (the most important Christian-Jewish dialogue center) on “The Hebrew Bible, Human
Rights and Interreligious Understanding.”
We thank the following people for their donations:
Elisa and Jeff Schwartz in memory of Carolyn Mark, sister of Hillary Viders
Elaine and Mike Adler in memory of Sybil Moses
Bergen Community College in memory of Sybil Moses
Felicia Leibman in memory of her husband Dr. Theo Leibman
Felicia Leibman in memory of her father-in-law Solly Leibman
Allen & Gertrude Goldstein in appreciation for the important work of Rabbi Jack
Bemporad
Diane & Russell Klein in appreciation of our beautiful Holy Day services
Dr. Herb & Deanna Feinberg in memory of Deanna’s father Ben Friedman
Lenore Woolman in memory of her husband Ephraim Woolman
Lenore Woolman in memory of her father Emanuel Gross
Molly Tauder in memory of her husband Milton Tauder
MESSAGE FROM RABBI NAT BENJAMIN CONTUNUED FROM PAGE 1
Among its other activities, the American Society for Jewish music publishes Musica Judaica, a scholarly journal
that is unique in it the field of Jewish music. A quarterly Newsletter is also distributed to members. To encourage a
high standard of new composition and performance in all aspects of Jewish music, The American Society for Jewish
Music has established and maintains links similar institutions in Jewish communities throughout the world, and has
developed strong ties with students and faculty members at American universities and seminaries. ASJM is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization funded through membership dues, grants and contributions.
The American Society for Jewish Music (ASJM) can trace its roots back to several earlier Jewish Music
Societies and associations, first in Europe and then in America. Among the European models were the Kinnor Zion
Society (1902-08) in St. Petersburg and the Society for Jewish Folk Music (1902-18), also in St. Petersburg and
elsewhere within the Russian Empire. After the Revolution, members of these group published their compositions
under the imprint of Juwal, Publication Society for Jewish Music (later called Jibneh) with offices in Tel Aviv and
Berlin. Predecessors of the ASJM in the United States included Mailamm (Makhon Eretz Yisraeli L'-Mada'ey haMusika) (1932-39), founded by Miriam Zunser and some emigré members of the early European groups; and the
Jewish Music Forum (1939-63), founded by Abraham Wolf Binder, which in turn became the Jewish Liturgical
Society of America (1963-74). In 1974 the latter group was reorganized as the American Society for Jewish Music,
Inc., under the direction of its first President, Albert Weisser. Membership in the ASJM is open to all. Please let us
know if you are interested. Regular Membership is $40.00 and Student Membership is $20.00.
THE CHAVURAH BETH SHALOM STORE
is now open!!
Check out Chavurah Beth Shalom Store new store on the Chavurah
website: www.mychavurah.org. The Chavurah Beth Shalom Store is
designed to raise money for Chavurah programs and projects while
offering Chavurah Members AMAZING DISCOUNTS on merchandise and
services.
If you would like to purchase an item from the Chavurah Beth Shalom
Store, contact Hillary Viders at: Hviders@aol.com. Purchases can be
picked up from the participating vendors or shipped to you for an
additional charge (prices vary by location and weight of the package).
Gift wrapping is also available at an additional charge.
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New items for sale will be added on a regular basis, so check the Chavurah
Website often www.mychavurah.org.
We also need items donated to the Chavurah Store! Chavurah Beth
Shalom is a 501C3 non profit, so donations are tax deductible as allowed
by law. To donate items – men’s and women’s clothing and accessories,
vouchers for trips, restaurants and shows, electronic and household
equipment, toys, services, etc., please contact Hilary Viders at:
Hviders@aol.com.
We encourage everyone to support Chavurah Beth Shalom by
participating in this new fundraising initiative while saving a lot of
$$$!
THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER By Debra Kronberg
We are living through trying and exciting times. The economic downturn, the war in Gaza and
the very emotional and hope filled election of President Barack Obama have all had an impact on
our children. We are so fortunate here at the Chavurah to have Esther Goodhart, who regaled us
with her stories of her experience attending the inauguration. Following on the heels of Martin
Luther King Day, it was an opportunity to teach about the role American Jews played in the fight
for equality and Civil Rights.
In our Religious School, we try to teach Jewish Values when addressing issues that concern our
young. We begin each session with prayers and songs of peace. The children have the
opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts on current events.
The children's interest in the Gaza War has given us the chance to emphasize the importance of
Israel to us as American Jews. We are learning through reading, discussion, and map study more
about Israel's history, diverse culture and geography, and contributions to the world. We use
age appropriate ways to express our solidarity with Israel as it faces the most difficult situation
in decades. We have been focusing on the following ideas:
*
*
*
*
Israel is a special place for Jews around the world.
Israel anchors the Jewish people as a spiritual, national and cultural center.
Just as we stand by a friend in times of trouble the Jewish community stands by Israel.
It is important to be "critical consumers" of media, carefully evaluating the slant of the
news about Israel.
* Hamas has never accepted Israel's right to exist, and supports terrorism . Hamas has shot
thousands of rockets into civilian targets in Israeli towns over the years.
* That we understand that not all Palestinians, Arabs or Muslims are terrorists.
The children wrote letters and prayers to Israeli soldiers to express their concern:
Dear Soldiers: I hope God keeps you safe, healthy and warm. I also hope to have peace
on earth.
Dear Soldier: I hope God can keep you safe. You have been working hard for Israel.
Israel counts on you. We hope you return safe and sound.
Dear Soldier: I wish Gaza to stop the rocket attacks, and that the war will be over
soon. I hope no lives are lost in the war and that everyone can stay safe.
Dear soldier: I hope the war will end soon and that peace will come to everyone.
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SHALOM
PEACE
Saves us from harm
Health and happiness
Amazing
Love Israel
Overthrow terrorists
Make peace
Save our soldiers
Happiness and Health
Amazing soldier
Love everyone
Order in the world
Make shalom, peace
The following thank you note was received from the residents of Bergen RegionalCongregation Ahavat Chesed for our Religious School Chanukah Mitzvah project:
Dear Boys and Girls of Chavurah Beth Shalom,
Everyone loves to get presents and of course sweets are always most welcome. But what
put a smile on the residents' faces were your beautiful cards and the good wishes they
conveyed. For your warmth and generosity, the residents of Bergen Regional send you
their thanks and love for making Hannukkah so special. The Residents and volunteers of
Bergen Regional-Congregation Ahavat Chesed
The sympathy of the religious school students and faculty goes to Esther
Goodhart on the passing of her sister, Martha and to Cantor Stan Kronberg
on the passing of his step-mother, Anne (Honey)
***** MAY THEIR MEMORY ALWAYS BE FOR BLESSING ****
FEBRUARY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday Night, February 6h - FAMILY SHABBAT - 7:30 PM
Come hear our students lead the prayers Share in a Tu'B'Shevat Celebration
Wednesday, February 11th- Parents are welcome to come hear Dennis Shulman, our guest
Speaker - ** 1st session 4:30-5:15PM ** 2nd Session 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Wednesday, February 18th - NO CLASSES - PRESIDENT'S WEEK
Wednesday, February 25th - Parents are invited to hear our guests Yoel, Student Activity
Director and principal Mr. Fred Nagler, who will be talking about the wonderful
opportunities that await your child at the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies.
A video will also be shown.
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THE CHAVURAH HISTOR CHANNEL
AFRICAN JEWS
Since Biblical times, the Jewish people have had close ties with Africa, beginning with Abraham's
Sojourn In Ancient Egypt and later the Israelite captivity under the Pharaohs. Some Jewish communities in
Africa are among the oldest in the world, dating back more than 2,700 years. African Jews have ethnic and
religious diversity and richness. African Jewish Communities include scattered African groups who have not
maintained contact with the wider Jewish community since ancient times, but who assert descent from the
ancient Israelites or other connections to Judaism. These include:
- Groups who observe Jewish rituals, or rituals bearing recognizable resemblance to Judaism. Although
there are a number of such groups, the majority of the world's Jews recognize only the Beta Israel of
Ethiopia as historically Jewish.
-Groups who do not observe Jewish rituals (such as the Lemba, who practice Christianity), but who
exhibit genetic traits regarded as linking them to the main body of the Jewish people.
- Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews living in North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt.
Many have emigrated, chiefly to Israel and France, with substantial numbers also emigrating to Brazil,
Canada, and the United States. Small communities remain in Morocco and Tunisia.
- The South African Jews, who are mostly Ashkenazi Jews, descended chiefly from pre- and postHolocaust Lithuanian Jewish immigrants.
Judaism shares some of the characteristics of a nation, an ethnicity, a religion, and a culture, making the
definition of who is a Jew vary slightly depending on whether a religious or national approach to identity is
used. While there is much debate about the details, by most definitions, Jews include those who have a
Jewish ethnic background and those without Jewish parents who have converted to Judaism. Estimates of
the number of Black Jews in the United States range from 20,000 to 200,000.
The term "Black Jews" is sometimes used by those who do not consider Jews of European descent to be
true Jews, and who claim to be the true descendants of the Israelites of the Torah. Although cordial
relationships exist between some of these groups and the mainstream Jewish community, they are generally
not considered to be members of that community, since they have not formally converted nor do they have
Jewish parents. However, The African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem is one group that was granted
permanent residency status in Israel.
Thus some Libyan Jews immigrated to Italy while some Algerian, Tunisian, and Moroccan Jews
immigrated to France. Subsequent events, such as the Algerian War for Independence, the 1956 Suez
Crisis, and the SiX Day War in 1967, led to the almost complete emigration of the Jews still remaining in
Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.
Today the only viable Jewish communities in North Africa are in the island of Djerba and in Morocco.
During the 1970s, members of the Beta Israel, a community of Ethiopian Jews, began to immigrate to Israel
after Ovadia Yosef, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, ruled that they were descendents of the Biblical
Israelites and that they should be eligible for citizenship under Israel's Law of Return. As famine gripped
Ethiopia during the 1980s, several thousand Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel, but political instability in
Ethiopia and Sudan made further immigration impossible. In 1991, when circumstances changed, more
than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were flown to Israel.
Absorption of the Ethiopian Jews into Israeli society has been difficult. During the 1980s, the Israeli Chief
Rabbinate initially required the new arrivals to undergo certain conversion procedures, which many of the
Ethiopian Jews considered an insult. In 1996, the Magen David Adom destroyed all blood that had been
donated by Ethiopian Jews.
A 2006 study found that unemployment among Ethiopian Jews in Israel is nearly twice that of the
general Israeli population. The poverty rate among Ethiopian Jewish families is 51.7%, compared with
15.8% among all Israeli families.
Two major movements started in the 1800s; the first being the Church of God and Saints of Christ, which
was started by William Saunders Crowdy in 1896. To many of these groups, claiming a Jewish identity was
a way to reject one of the most influential social institutions of their white oppressors, Christianity (similar
to the later Faradian Islam movement). Black Hebrews generally do not practice mainstream Judaism, but
rather a religion incorporating elements of different religious traditions.
The emergence of the Zionist movement in the late 19th century led growing numbers of European Jews
to make aliyah (immigrate) to the Land of Israel, the traditional homeland of the Jewish people. In the 20th
century, the rise of Nazism, the Second World War, and the Holocaust accelerated the trend.
The creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent expulsion and emigration of
Jews from the neighboring Arab states led to growing numbers of non-European Jews settling in Israel,
among them Jews from North Africa - chiefly Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. For these African Jews,
emigration to Israel was the end of the Jewish diaspora and the beginning of the African diaspora.
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THE CHAVURAH BOOK SHELF
The American Journey of Barack Obama
by The Editors of Life Magazine (2008)
This is a beautiful coffee table book which tells the life story of our 44th President, Barak
Obama. The pictures are wonderfully candid and bright, and the text is insightful and interesting. The
book begins with an inspirational foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and then presents
Obama's family tree, showing an impressive seven half-brothers and half-sisters. The photos depict
Obama’s family, his childhood, his school years, and his early career and his entry into politics. As
readers, we also get the opportunity to see him as a boy, a man, a teacher, a husband, a father, a
politician, etc.
This is a wonderful look at a fascinating life. There is no doubt that readers will learn a lot
about our 44th President, and they will get to see the many sides of Barack Obama. Regardless of
your political views, this is a excellent way to gain some insight into the life of our new President of
the United States.
WINTER WELLNESS
WINTER BLUES: HOW TO HANDLE SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)
Nearly everyone gets the winter blues at some time or another, but for some, they are
actually a serious medical disorder. It is estimated that over 6 percent of Americans suffer
from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and over 14 percent get the milder form called
Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD). Both disorders are more prevalent in the
parts of the world closest to the poles, leading researchers to think that down feelings in
the wintertime are related to the lack of daylight. Your doctor can help determine whether
or not your depression is season-related, but how do you know when your depression is
severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor?
Symptoms of depression include:
-- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and helplessness
-- Lack of energy
-- Feeling slowed down
-- Trouble falling or staying asleep
-- Changes in appetite and/or weight
-- Inability to concentrate or make decisions
-- Thoughts of death or suicide
-- Loss of interest in people and activities
-- Restlessness
If you don't have severe symptoms of depression but are simply feeling blue this season,
there are things you can do to lift your spirits, such as:
-- Make it a priority to get exercise. On the rare sunny winter days, go outside and take a brisk
walk so you get the mood benefits of sunlight as well as exercise.
-- Take a daily vitamin.
-- Stay well-hydrated by drinking water whenever you are thirsty.
-- When the sun is out, do your work by a window.
If you have severe symptoms see a doctor.
AVOIDING THE COLD AND FLU THROUGH HANDWASHING
Experts increasingly believe handwashing to be the most important element of germ control
and disease prevention. Cold and flu viruses are more likely to permeate the immune system
when the weather turns bitter. Besides getting an annual flu shot (available to anyone over 6
months of age but especially recommended for people aged six months to 18 years and from
age 50 years and over), there are precautions that everyone can take to avoid catching a
virus and/or spreading one to others. Handwashing, experts increasingly believe, is a
valuable tool at anyone's fingertips.
Do you know that there is a correct way to wash one's hands?
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If you are using soap and warm water:
-- Rub your hands together hard for at least 15 seconds sing a song such as "Happy Birthday"
twice, which will be roughly that length.
-- Make sure you wash areas that frequently get missed: the backs of the hands, between the
fingers, the thumbs and the fingernails.
-- Use a paper towel to turn off the water if you use your bare hand, it will be re-contaminated.
-- If you are using waterless soap:
-- Make sure it contains at least 70% alcohol.
-- Rub the soap solution into every area of your hands until they are completely dry.
-
Medical News Today
ON A LIGHTER NOTE – by Sidney Goldberg
OBAMA AND AHMADINEJAD
Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad calls President Obama and tells him, "Barack, I had a wonderful dream last
night. I could see America, the whole beautiful country, and on each house I saw banner."
"What did it say on the banners?" Obama asks. Mahmud replies, "UNITED STATES OF IRAN."
Obama says, "You know, Mahmud, I am really happy you called, because believe it or not, last night I had a similar
dream. I could see all of Tehran, and it was more beautiful than ever, and on each house flew an enormous banner."
"What did it say on the banners?" Mahmud asks.
Obama replies, "I don't know. I can't read Hebrew."
THREE TEXANS
Two Texans are sitting on a plane from Dallas and an old Jewish Texan is sitting between them. The
first Texan says, 'My name is Roger. I own 250,000 acres. I have 1,000 head of cattle and they call my
place The Jolly Roger.' The second Texan says, 'My name is John. I own 350,000 acres. I have 5,000
head of cattle and they call my place Big John's.' They both look down at the Jewish man who says, 'My
name is Irving and I own only 300 acres.' Roger looks down at him and say, '300 acres? What do you
raise?' 'Nothing', Irving says. 'Well then, what do you call it?' asked John. 'Downtown Dallas.'
JEWISH MOTHERS –if these people had had Jewish mothers, here’s what they would have said:
MONA LISA'S JEWISH MOTHER: "After all that money your father and I spent on braces, that's the biggest smile
you can give us?"
COLUMBUS' JEWISH MOTHER: "I don't care what you've discovered, you still could have written!"
MICHELANGELO'S JEWISH MOTHER: "Can't you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how
hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?"
NAPOLEON'S JEWISH MOTHER: "All right, if you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, take your
hand out of there and show me."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S JEWISH MOTHER: "Again with the hat? Can't you just wear a baseball cap like the
other kids?"
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S JEWISH MOTHER: "The next time I catch you throwing money across the Potomac,
you can kiss your allowance good-bye!"
THOMAS EDISON'S JEWISH MOTHER: "Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now turn
it off and get to bed!"
PAUL REVERE'S JEWISH MOTHER: "I don't care where you think you have to go, young man, midnight is past
your curfew."
And, of course, these two people, who really did have Jewish mothers:
ALBERT EINSTEIN'S JEWISH MOTHER: "But it's your senior picture. Couldn't you do something about your
hair?"
MOSES' JEWISH MOTHER: "That's a nice story. Now tell me where you've really been for the last forty years!”
THE MUSIC LOVER
An American tourist in Tel Aviv was about to enter the impressive Mann Auditorium to take in a concert by the
Israel Philharmonic. He was admiring the unique architecture, the sweeping lines of the entrance, and the modern
decor throughout the building. Finally he turned to his friend and asked if the building was named for Thomas
Mann, the world-famous author. "No," his friend said, "it's named for Fredrick Mann, from Philadelphia."
"Really? I've never heard of him. What did he write?"
"A check."
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GOING POSTAL
A Jewish grandmother goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards. She says to the clerk, "May I
have 50 Chanukah stamps?" The clerk says, "What denomination?" The grandmother says, "God help us. Has it
come to this? Give me 15 Orthodox, 15 Conservative and 20 Reformed."
LIVING GREEN QUIZ –
By Hillary Viders
By being a savvy shopper, you can help the planet and save yourself money. Your consumer
dollars wield power, so your demands influence manufacturers’ and retailers decisions. Think of
every item you buy as a vote.
Take this Quiz about “Green Shopping” to see how “Green” you are:
1)
Which item cannot currently be found find in stores?
A) Organic Fruits and Vegetables B) Organic Champagne C) Organic Cleaning
Products D) Organic Stationary & Invitations E) None of the above
ANSWER: E. Nowadays, there is an enormous range of organic products available. You can even buy
organic wedding invitations made of seed paper that your guests can plant.
2)
True or False - Fresh food is always better than frozen or canned food.
ANSWER: True. Environmentally speaking, fresh food is always better because it requires less
energy in packaging and transportation and it supports local growers. On average, supermarket
food in the US travels between 1500 to 2500 miles before it reaches consumers kitchens.
3)
Which of the following fish should be avoided because it is not caught sustainably?
A) Yellow Fin Tuna B) Yellow Tail Snapper C) Chilean Sea Bass D) Monkfish
ANSWER: C. Chilean sea bass, a popular entrée, is caught by South American trawlers using long
lines dragged along the ocean floor that sweep up and kill huge amounts of valuable unintended
species, i.e., “bycatch,” such as sharks, sea turtles and dolphins. To ensure that you are buying
sustainable fish and seafood, order a free copy of the Seafood Watch Pocket Guide at
information@projectaware.org.
4) True or False- Shopping bags account for the most plastic used in supermarkets
(the hazards of plastic were discussed in previous Living Green quizzes).
ANSWER: False. There are thousands of items packaged with plastic, some even have double
layers, such as cheese and bread. If you took the combined weight of every extra plastic wrapper
on a loaf of packaged bread and multiplied it by the number of households in the US and Canada, it
would be almost 60,000 pounds, or the total weight of all the food you will ever eat in your lifetime!
5) Which of the following shopping chains now has “green” stores?
A) Walmart
B) Kosco
C) Shop Rite
D) Food Emporium
ANSWER: A. Yes, even the giants who used to top the pollution hit list are now going green!
Walmart just opened a 206,000-square-foot store in Texas that boasts a 120-foot tall wind turbine
producing about 5% of the store's energy. Also mooted is a rainwater pond which will provide 95%
of the water needed for irrigation. Some other Walmart initiatives include waterless urinals in
customer bathrooms and recycling cooking oil from the store's deli to help heat the building.
Several other supermarket chains are also going green by recycling their packing cartons, using
florescent lighting and low flow water systems and installing retrofitted solar panels.
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Tu B'Shevat - A reminder of our Bond with our Environment
From a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Irwin A. Zeplowitz
Since the days of Moses and Jeremiah, Jews have continued to say much about the bond between the natural world and
ourselves. Indeed, in this month of Sh'vat, when we observe Tu BiSh'vat, “the new year of the trees," the importance of the
environment becomes a central theme. There are three key values our traditions teach us about caring for the environment.
One: The World Is Not Ours to Do with as We Wish—It Is God's
The Psalmist sang that the “the earth is the Eternal's and all that it holds" (Psalm 24:1). As mortals we are reminded by our
traditions that we take “possession" of the earth not as its owners, but merely as renters. To take seriously the notion that we
lease the land from God means that we are not completely free to do with it as we wish. In Genesis 2:15 humans are
commanded to “work" and to “keep" the earth (l'ovdah ul'shomrah). The Hebrew laavod really means “to serve" and also has
the implication of “to pray." Caring for the planet, therefore, is an act of worship of the Divine. And lishmor means “to guard."
Here again, the choice of words is significant. A guard does not own what he or she is watching, but only is entrusted with its
care. That is our task—to watch over a world that we bequeath to our children and grandchildren.
Two: We Do Not Control the World, We Are Part of It
Shabbat is the day of rest, a time set aside to avoid labor, and among the categories of work traditionally avoided on Shabbat
are sowing and plowing (Mishnah Shabbat 7:2). In essence, one is not allowed to garden, not even to water plants, on
Shabbat. The reason can be explained in its historical context: in the biblical world most Israelites were farmers, so caring for
the land was work. But this law has a deeper ethical intent. On this day we are not allowed to alter our environment, to do
anything that makes us think we control the world. Rather, on Shabbat we are to humbly appreciate the beauty and majesty of
the world around us.
As a Reform Jew, I feel the case can be made that the stricture against sowing or plowing ought not be applied to
recreational gardening. In fact, for non-farm dwellers, which includes the vast majority of us, to get out into the garden and see
the miracle of growing things can help us realize that we are part of, not separate from, the world. What is important is the
ethical value of Shabbat as a day to connect more deeply with the natural world and its own rhythm. Judaism's belief in one
God, the Creator of the universe, demands a sense of unity to all existence. If we accept the kabbalistic notion that sparks of
God's light are scattered in the Creation, then we are forced to the conclusion that we are one with the world around us.
Three: We Must Be Responsible in the Exercise of Our Power
Every living thing changes its environment. Humans alone, however, have the ability to exert such far-reaching changes on
the earth as a whole. But with this power comes responsibility. Judaism teaches that we are stewards of our planet.
Stewardship implies a unique role and place that we humans occupy, but it does not mean we can act at will. In the biblical
account of the Creation, after humanity is created God says, “Fill the earth and tame it" (Genesis 1:28). The word v'chivshuha
(translated in The Torah: A Modern Commentary as “tame"), generally translated as “master" or “subdue," is often
misunderstood as a sanction to do to the environment whatever we wish. The 15 th century commentator Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno
clarifies what God implies here—that we must use our intelligence to protect the world. Thus, Moses Cordovero, who wrote a
Haggadah to be used on Tu BiSh'vat, said that “the principle of wisdom is to extend acts of love toward everything, including
plants and animals" (Tomer D'vorah 3). This has particular resonance now, as we will be celebrating Tu BiSh'vat in a little
over a week on 15 Sh'vat, February 9.
We are guardians of the earth, God's gift to us. We are intimately connected to all other living beings. And we have the
power to destroy or maintain this beautiful sphere we call home—a responsibility we must use wisely. To our peril we ignore
the truth that what happens in the natural sphere is not completely “just a matter of chance."
Rabbi Irwin A. Zeplowitz is the senior rabbi at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, New York.
He has taught at Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning in Toronto, JLearn on Long Island,
and the URJ Kallah. He is immediate past president of the Alumni Association of Hebrew Union College–
Jewish Institute of Religion and was chair of the Joint Commission on Sustaining Rabbinic Education.
He can be reached at rabbiz@commsyn.org.
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February Yartzeits
Week of Feb. 6th
Frances Light - Mother of Bill Light
Robert Berkey, brother of Harvey Berkey
Dr. Peter Byron, father of Herve Byron
Molly L. Greenberg, Mother of Sheila Small
Freda Juroff, sister in law of Sheila Holtzman
Margarite Klein, mother of Robert Klein
Ethel Roberts, Aunt of Joel Siegel
Mac Schumer, father of Thelma Cohen
Stanley Samuel Baker, father of Walter Baker
Herb Schwarz, Father of Janine Schwarz
Week of Feb. 13th
Abraham Dollinger, uncle of Edmund Dollinger
Samuel Fish, father of Irving Fish
Muriel Weingarten, mother of Eve Levine
William Wrubel, father of Charles Wrubel
Week of Feb. 20th
Abraham Mindich, Father of Elaine Bieger
Gertrude Bloom, mother of Myrna Sherman
Molly Besen, grandmother of Nadine Posnansky
Samuel Fish, father of Irving Fish
Max Glick, father of Dr. Robert Glick
Week of Feb. 27th
Beatrice Bringstein, mother of Howard & Andrew Bringstein
Natalie Fabian Reisman, mother of George Reisman
Fanny Krugman, mother of Sheila Holtzman
Ceil Nelson, mother of Ronald Nelson
Solomon Rosen, father of Mark Rosen
Murray Schultz, husband of Robin Schultz
Bella Squillante, aunt of Elaine Bieger
Shirley Zeitlin, sister of Lil Breiger
Ephraim Woolman - Husband of Lenore Woolman
Emanuel Gross - Father of Lenore Woolman
Get Well Wishes To: Alex Bemporad
Condolences To:
Eileen Neuwirth on the passing of her mother Jesse Meltzer
Stan Kronberg on the passing of his step mother Anne Kronberg
Hilary Viders on the passing of her sister Carolyn Mark
Stephen Moses, Jonathan Moses and Jennifer Beller on the passing of Sybil Moses
Dr. Ron Breiger on the passing of his mother Lillian Breiger, Founder of our Religious School
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THE CHAVURAH BETH SHALOM NEWSLETTER
February 2009 – Shevat/Adar 5769
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