It's Happening at HERJC! - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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HERJC 516-599-2634 Rabbi ANDREW WARMFLASH Ext. 214 rabbiw@herjc.org Rabbi Emeritus DR. STANLEY PLATEK Hazzan DAVID SISLEN Ext. 215 cantorsislen@herjc.org Ritual Director NACHUM PLOTKIN Ext. 222 nachum@herjc.org Religious School Director DAVID WOOLFE 599-0424 or Ext. 219 rsdir@herjc.org Nursery School Director CHERYL KARP 599-1169 or Ext. 237 nurserydir@herjc.org Youth Director TODD HAUSMAN 599-1148 or Ext. 223 youthdir@herjc.org www.herjc.org and Amazon Click on the Amazon button found on the left hand side of the first page of our website, www.herjc.org, do your shopping as usual and HERJC gets a donation! Amazingly simple and wonderful. notes from the hazzan DAVID B. SISLEN More so than at any time of year, the High Holidays are a time when the nusach, the system of melodies which is used in our tradition to chant specific pieces of the liturgy, truly defines the texts of the service, lifting them off the page in a way that gives the words added meaning and depth. The changes are first evident on Selichot night, when many of the unique sounds of the service are reintroduced, only to be echoed throughout the entire Yamim Noraim period. It makes perfect sense that the music of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services is unique to these holidays; since the liturgy itself is different in both text and quality, it is fitting that the melodies should be, as well. In some cases, such as the pleading Kaddish of the Neila service, we use melodies that are only heard once a year, befitting the singularity of these texts in our annual cycle. But in many cases, the subtleties of the complex musical structure of the services rushes by, being felt by the congregation in terms of changes of mood or style, but not lasting long enough for a thorough analysis. As we head into Yamim Noraim 5772, I thought I would take a few moments to give a taste of what’s going on behind the scenes of our rich High Holiday liturgy. THE MA’ARIV (EVENING) SERVICE — Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur eves are the only time in our tradition that the Ma’ariv service is chanted in a Major key (in our familiar Lithuanian tradition). The familiar refrains of these services, introduced by the “Ay ay ay….” melody before Barchu sets a grand, celebratory, and one-of-a-kind tone for the entire Holiday period. MALCHUYOT, ZICHRONOT, AND SHOFAROT — The three sections of the Rosh Hashanah Musaf service deal with the themes of God’s Sovereignty, Memory, and the Shofar, respectively. The way each is introduced is unique to the themes of the section. Malchuyot (Sovereignty) is introduced with the Great Aleinu, a majestic melody which is shared with the beginning section of the Amida itself. After setting this mood for the Malchuyot verses, the Zichronot (Memory) section opens in a more introspective Minor, reflecting the warmth of memory, and the prayerful hope that we will be remembered for Good. Finally, Shofarot begins back in Major, and in most settings of the opening paragraph, it is not unusual to hear, appropriately, the sound of the Shofar being echoed subtly in the music. KOL NIDRE — The keynote text which introduces the Yom Kippur evening service has become an annual focal point for Yamim Noraim services, in a way which belies its actual role in the service, which is to nullify vows made carelessly or under duress which would be otherwise unbreakable. Its role in this most dramatic service has made it synonymous with the official start of the atonement process. The familiar melody that we use, while not universal (a quick web search can give you a taste of how Kol Nidre sounds in other traditions), reflects the entire process of Teshuvah, repentance. It begins in the Ahavah Rabah mode, a mode that is used to set a mood of pleading, Hazzan continued on page 6 page 2 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 www.herjc.org HAKOL
From the Rabbi’s Study RABBI ANDREW WARMFLASH The Book of Numbers is largely concerned with the 40 years our ancestors wondered in the Sinai wilderness after they received the Torah and before entering the Promised Land. It begins with a physical description of the Israelite camp. Explaining that each time the people encamped, the Levites erected the portable tabernacle in their midst and all the other tribes arrayed themselves around it. In the center of everything was the Ark containing the Torah that Moses brought down from the mountain. The symbolism is clear: The Torah is meant to be at the center of Jewish life. It is the beating heart of the Jewish people, pumping out the spiritual energy that sustains us and renews us. Yet for many contemporary Jews, the Torah is something of a closed book—an ancient text we respect, but don’t engage very much, if at all. This year, we want to change that in our Jewish community. We have declared the New Year of 5772 to be: HERJC’s Year of Torah and have planned an unprecedented number of programs, classes, and experiences which will engage our entire congregation in Torah. The centerpiece of this effort will be the writing of a new Torah scroll that we will use for generations to come. This Sefer Torah is largely being written for us by a scribe in Israel, but all of us, and our children and grandchildren will have an opportunity to actually physically participate in the writing. In this issue of Hakol, you can see just a few of the many Torah centered programs that will be coming up at HERJC in the next couple of months. They include: our Selichot program which considers the story of Cain and Abel from the perspective of law and order in contemporary America; our Scholar in Residence weekend of Torah Study with Rabbi Eliezer Diamond of JTS, our Sukkot Torah Fair for the whole family and lots more. The coming High Holidays are a time for renewal and rededication. This year may we all renew our people’s ancient historic commitment to putting the Torah in the center of our lives, and rededicate ourselves to living joyous meaningful lives guided by its teachings. From my family to yours, Shanah Tovah. Rabbi Warmflash’s Talmud and Exodus Classes Join us for an informative and enlightening hour! No pre-requisites. Open to all. TALMUD CLASS First Class: October 23 Sundays, 10:00 AM (Come at 9:30 AM for bagels) EXODUS CLASS First Class: October 24 Mondays, 11:00 AM (Come at 10:30 AM for bagels) HAKOL is published by the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre/ Congregation Etz Chaim 295 Main Street, East Rockaway, NY 11518 Telephone: 516-599-2634 Fax: 516-599-2851 E-mail: office@herjc.org Website: www.herjc.org President DAN GERSTMAN Vice Presidents MARILYN COHEN JEFFREY FEIGENBLATT DR. MARTIN LESSER AUDREY POLINSKY ROBERTA SUGARMAN Treasurer LARRY MILLER Financial Secretary JUDY HERBST Recording and Corresponding Secretary TERRI GOLD Sisterhood President LAURIE STONE BROFSKY Men’s Club President ELLIOTT POLINSKY Editor Emeritus CHARLOTTE BERCH Editorial Assistant HELAINE K. RONEN Periodical postage paid at the East Rockaway, NY Post Office (#233120). Postmaster: Send address changes to Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, 295 Main St., East Rockaway, NY 11518. Affiliated with: United Synagogue, National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, National Women’s League. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policies of HERJC or the Conservative Movement. HAKOL www.herjc.org SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 page 3
Page 1: The VOICE of Hewlett-East Rockaway
Page 5 and 6: DAN GERSTMAN From the President I h
Page 7 and 8: Scholar in Residence Weekend - Join
Page 9 and 10: What’s Happening in Israel? www.j
Page 11 and 12: schedule of services SELICHOT SATU
Page 13 and 14: Simchat Torah Kallat torah Judith N
Page 15 and 16: events Mah Jongg Tuesdays 8 TUESDA
Page 17 and 18: and october b’nai mitzvah MATTHEW
Page 19 and 20: of events WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Page 21 and 22: of events THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Page 23 and 24: IS THERE A NEW BABY IN YOUR LIFE? S
Page 25 and 26: eligious school DAVID WOOLFE Whew,
Page 27 and 28: The HERJC Mitzvah Garden is thrivin
Page 29 and 30: Harriet and Neil Meixler with wishe
Page 31 and 32: Linda Gevarter in memory of her par
Page 33 and 34: Joseph Brofsky, D.M.D. Pediatric De
Page 35 and 36: HAKOL www.herjc.org SEPTEMBER/OCTOB

It's Happening at HERJC! - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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