JCC community bulletin - The Jewish Center

FALL 2007/5768 

the jewish center 

community bulletin 

M ESSAGE FROM THE R ABBI 

Rabbi Ari Berman 

New Year Connections 

Each year, we begin the 

Jewish calendar anew 

with the High Holiday 

season, and each year 

we think about the new 

opportunities for growth 

and development that 

await us. We approach a 

new year with hope and 

promise for the new 

possibilities that it naturally 

affords. This is the 

case for my family as we 

begin our year in Israel, 

and this is also true for 

our communal family as 

we begin a new year at 

The Jewish Center that 

promises to be one 

filled with much excitement and growth. 

In Avot d’rebbi Natan, the mishnah tells the following 

story: 

Once, when Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai was 

leaving Yerushalayim, Rabbi Yehoshua was 

walking behind him. When Rabbi Yehoshua 

saw the Beit Hamikdash in ruins, he said: “Woe is 

I NSIDE THIS ISSUE: 

Message from the Rabbi 1 

Tochnit Elul 2 

A Vision for the Future: Implementing our Strategic Plan 4 

Message from the President 5 

Jewish Center Dinner Review 6 

Giving Opportunities at The Jewish Center 8 

A Message from our Youth Director 9 

A Message from our Sisterhood 10 

Jewish Center Directory 10 

to us, that the place 

that the Jewish people 

were able to atone for 

their sins is destroyed.” 

Rabban Yochanan ben 

Zakai said to Rabbi 

Yehoshua, “Don’t be so 

upset, my son. We still 

have a form of atonement 

that is just as effective. 

What is it? Acts of 

kindness.” 

The Mishnah teaches us 

a very important lesson 

as we head into the 

Yamim Noraim season. 

Even though we do not 

have the Beit Hamikdash 

today and there is no Avodah (Temple service) 

that ensures forgiveness and atonement, there is 

another vehicle that is equally effective and powerful—chesed. 

As such, when we approach the 

High Holidays seeking atonement, we should utilize 

this vehicle and focus on acts of chesed. But 

while this is a very important lesson, it begs some 

obvious questions. What is it about chesed that 

gives it such strength? What is its purpose and 

how can we best harness this power? The answers 

to these questions relate to both the fundamental 

underpinnings of the concept of chesed and the 

essential nature of humanity. 

(continued on page 3) 

The Jewish Center Welcomes 11 

Community Partners 12 

Get Involved at The JC 13 

Upcoming Events at The JC 15 

September-October Calendars 16 

Stop and Go: Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky 20 

Interview with Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky 21 

Announcements 21 

Sukkot Information 23

T OCHNIT E LUL 

A Teshuvah and Tefillah Education Series for the High Holy Days 

In Memory of Moshe Green, z’l 

Moshe Green was a prominent leader and long time member 

of our community. He was an officer of the Center and served 

as our Chairman of the Board for decades. As a Jewish leader 

and philanthropist, he had a major impact on advancing 

Jewish education, both in Israel and in the Diaspora. Involved 

in a number of different Religious Zionist institutions and 

Torah U’Mada projects, Moshe Green was and continues to 

be a role model for our entire community. This annual series 

is sponsored by the Green family, and we are honored to perpetuate 

his name and legacy in the Center that was graced 

by his presence and leadership throughout his life. 

An Armchair Conversation 

With 

LEON WIESELTIER AND RABBI NORMAN LAMM 

Moderated by Rabbi Adam Mintz 

Wednesday Evening, September 5, 2007 - 8:00pm 

Seating is limited. Registration required. 

Register at www.jewishcenter.org 

Selichot at The JC: 

SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 8: 

Seudah Shlishit 

Lishmoa el haRina v’el hatefillah: A Moment in Prayer 

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky 

MOTZEI SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 8 

10:00 PM 

Pre-Selichot Lecture 

The Secret of the Doorway: The Key to Teshuvah 

Rabbi Meir Goldwicht 

11:00 PM 

Selichot with Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky 

Daily: Selichot preceding Shacharit 

Elul Classes at The JC: 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10: 

7:30PM 

High Holidays Reflections with JC Faculty 

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky, Mrs. Elana Stein Hain and 

Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg 

8:30PM 

Birkat Kohanim: A Practical and Theological Guide to the 

Priestly Blessing 

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky and Rabbi Yosie Levine 

This special class, co-taught by our Cantor and Associate 

Rabbi, will serve as both a how-to course for kohanim as 

well as a means by which to spiritually prepare for the 

High Holidays. Non-kohanim welcome. 

SHABBAT SHUVAH, SEPTEMBER 15: 

Shabbat Shuvah Drashah by Rabbi Yosie Levine 

Boker Iyun: 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, TZOM GEDALIA: 

9:30AM 

A New Attitude: Teshuva and the Power of Change 

Rabbi Yehuda Willig, Sanford Lurie Fellow 

10:30AM 

Getting Your Goat:Winning the Yom Kippur Lottery 

Malka Adatto, Sanford Lurie Fellow 

Seating is limited. Registration required. 

Register at www.jewishcenter.org 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: 

8:00PM 

A Good Person, A Good Jew: Is there a Difference? 

Thoughts on Morality and Religion 

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain, Resident Scholar 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18: 

8:00PM 

Pious Practices in Aseret Yemei Teshuvah 

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky, Assistant Rabbi 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: 

8:00PM 

Eat, Drink, and be Merry for Tomorrow is Yom Kippur 

Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg, William Fischman 

Rabbinic Intern 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21: 

Kol Nidrei Night Lecture 

Confession: A Psychological Perspective 

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain, Resident Scholar 

SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 22: 

Yom Kippur Afternoon 

The Final Hours of Yom Kippur: A Singular Experience 

Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg, William Fischman 

Rabbinic Intern 

Coming soon in our fall brochure - 

complete JCU course listings 

and descriptions. 

Pre-register online at 

www.jewishcenter.org 

Page 2 COMMUNITY BULLETIN FALL 2007/5768

MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI (continued from page 1) 

When man and woman were created, 

the Torah says they were like one. But 

then they ate from the etz hadaat and 

something happened to them. They 

realized they were naked and they 

were ashamed. Why were they 

ashamed? 

Erich Fromm, the famed psychiatrist in 

the 20th century, explained that their 

shame was not due to a Victorian sense 

of morality and embarrassment, but 

was rooted in their newfound existential 

awareness. After they ate from the 

etz hadaat, they gained self awareness 

and for the first time they realized that 

they were different from one another. 

For the first time they realized they 

were not one; for the first time they 

realized that they were fundamentally 

and existentially alone. It was not 

shame, but anxiety that caused them to 

quickly try to find something to cover 

up their differences. For if they covered 

up what made them different, they 

might imagine that they were not, in 

fact, alone. 

Since that moment in time, humanity 

has struggled with some of its greatest 

foes: loneliness, isolation, insecurity, 

anxiety and sadness. This is true for 

everyone as it is part of the human condition. 

Our social institutions—marriage, 

family, community—try to alleviate 

the malady of loneliness. There are 

some people whose life situations 

exacerbate this feeling. Orphans, widows, 

converts and strangers are mentioned 

repeatedly in the Torah as people 

to whom we should be especially 

sensitive. But deep down, regardless of 

one’s status or stature, this affliction of 

the human condition is inherent. 

Rabbi Soloveitchik begins his famous 

work “The Lonely Man of Faith” with the 

following words: 

The nature of the dilemma can 

be stated in a three-word 

sentence. I am lonely. Let me 

emphasize, however, that by 

stating “I am lonely” I do not 

intend to convey to you the 

impression that I am alone. I, 

thank G-d, do enjoy the love 

and friendship of many. I meet 

people, talk, preach, argue, 

reason; I am surrounded by 

comrades and acquaintances. 

Rabbi Soloveitchik distinguishes 

between being alone and loneliness. 

Oftentimes one can feel even more isolated 

in a crowded room if one is not 

connected to the others present. The 

comfort we have in life is when we feel 

that we are a part of something larger 

than ourselves. 

It is in this sense that chesed plays a 

significant role. Chesed is when we 

connect with another. When in some 

way we express to another that he or 

she is not alone. Or to formulate it differently, 

that while it is true that both of 

us are fundamentally alone, at least we 

are alone together. Tzedakah, charity, 

and hachnasat orchim, inviting guests 

to your home, are examples of a 

greater concept of reaching out to 

another and trying to return in some 

small way to the Eden-like state of unity 

and togetherness. In this sense, chesed 

is not just when we perform kind acts of 

ben adam lachaveiro, but also includes 

acts of helping another Jew connect 

further with his or her people, tradition 

and G-d. Anything we do to help another 

person form meaningful connections 

is an expression and manifestation 

of chesed. 

This theme of chesed and connections 

is the focus of our community.We strive 

to create portals of entry so that all 

Jews feel comfortable in our Center.We 

work to understand and communicate 

with our membership so that each individual 

feels that he or she has a warm 

and caring home at the Center. Our 

calendar (p. 16) is filled with programs 

including Torah lectures, prayer services, 

events, classes, social meetings, culture 

and recreational activities. We 

focus on each of our constituencies, 

from our children to our seniors, from 

Jews who are new to their heritage to 

those who have an advanced Jewish 

education, from new members to seasoned 

veterans. We have some venues 

that target specific groups and interests 

and others that bring together our 

entire community. All of our programs 

are designed to help further and 

enhance the connections that fill our 

lives with meaning and significance. 

During the past few months we have 

been hard at work to further expand 

and enrich our program. In these 

pages, you will read about some of the 

exciting new developments in our 

community. We are pleased to introduce 

you to the new members of our 

professional team (p. 11): Rabbi Ariel 

Rackovsky, Assistant Rabbi; Shira Rose, 

Director of Programming and 

Communications; and Rabbi Yehuda 

Willig, Sanford Lurie Fellow. We are 

also proud to introduce Mrs. Rivi Katz, 

who will assume a new position at our 

Center, as our community social worker. 

She will work with our membership, 

providing individual counseling, targeted 

programming and facilitated 

support groups. These new faces will 

join our existing team and will greatly 

help us achieve our goal of reaching 

out to each individual member. Inside 

these pages you will also find our 

Tochnit Elul schedule (p. 2), which 

will help you prepare yourself for the 

High Holiday season. Our complete 

schedule for the fall will be delivered 

to you in our Fall Brochure after Sukkot. 

In the brochure, you will find a packed 

schedule of classes, events and programs 

that will be sure to interest you. 

We have expanded our JCU course list- 


FALL 2007/5768 COMMUNITY BULLETIN Page 3

A VISION FOR THE F UTURE: 

I MPLEMENTING OUR S TRATEGIC P LAN 

Virginia Bayer Hirt & Radine Spier 

Implementation Committee Co-Chairs 

The Strategic Plan is the conceptualized roadmap for the 

future of The Jewish Center as a Modern Orthodox Center for 

Jewish Life and Learning on the Upper West Side of 

Manhattan.We strive to be the religious, intellectual and spiritual 

home of each of our members while being welcoming to 

all. Phase 1 of the planning process ended when the Plan was 

approved and adopted at the annual meeting in September 

2005. The Plan now serves as a guide to the Board and 

Administrative Committees and the various other membership 

committees. 

Phase 2, the implementation of The Strategic Plan, has been 

in effect this past year. The Implementation Committee has 

met regularly during the course of the year.Working in close 

coordination with existing committees and governing bodies, 

it has endeavored to enrich, enhance and even expand 

the services provided to our members. The Implementation 

Committee membership consists both of individuals who 

served in Phase 1 as well as additional members who have 

brought new insights and skills. The Rabbis, some officers, 

and the Executive Director also played very active roles. 

The formal work of the Implementation Committee has now 

concluded. Many of the goals of the Strategic Plan have been 

met or are in the process of being met. Some highlights 

include: 

• The development of the 6th and 7th floor space which 

will include a café and screening room with new classrooms, 

meeting and celebration space as well as air 

conditioning for the 5th floor gym so that we can utilize 

it all throughout the year 

• Enhanced programming for youth and programs for 

teens 

• The creation of Advanced Leadership to focus on older 

members 

• Expanded personnel, particularly the addition of a 

Director of Programming and Communications 

• An improved and expanded educational program 

including Sanford Lurie Scholars and Fellows and Living 

Room Learning 

• Shabbat Mevarchim hot Kiddush 

• Efforts to improve the safety and security in the building 

• All of these and so much more were either developed 

or energized through the follow-up of the ideas of the 

Plan 



M ESSAGE FROM THE P RESIDENT 

Dear Fellow Members and Friends, 

I want to give you an update on what has been a busy summer 

season. I am pleased to report that we are making steady 

progress in our project to renovate the sixth and seventh 

floors. We have completed a comprehensive set of plans 

which include a screening room, classrooms, meeting rooms, 

catering facilities, café and youth lounge. We have recently 

awarded a contract to perform this work which will begin in 

earnest immediately after the High Holiday season. As you 

will also note, we are in the process of making improvements 

to the front entry of the synagogue and to our administrative 

and rabbinical offices on the eighth floor. 

I am also pleased to report the launch of our planned giving 

program for The Jewish Center. Under the chairmanship of 

Rabbi Robert Hirt and Michelle Cass, we are now beginning 

a concerted effort to educate our membership on the advan- 

UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTATION (continued from page 4) 

The Implementation process also highlighted areas within 

our committee structure that needed to be regularized and 

coordinated more effectively. As such, the Implementation 

Committee, in consultation with the standing JC committees, 

has spent the last few months working on a set of guidelines 

and mission statements for each of the committees.We hope 

that when these are completed and accepted by the Board 

and Administrative Committee they will enable committees 

to function more smoothly and will help to increase membership 

participation and leadership. In addition, the rabbinic 

and administrative personnel are assuming a more active 

tages and benefits, both personally and institutionally, of this 

program. I urge each of you to review the letter from the committee 

contained in this bulletin as well as the materials and 

brochures which will be distributed to you. Planned giving 

will ensure the viability and success of our Center in the 

future. The committee and I are happy to discuss any aspect 

of this with you or your professional advisors. 

Finally, I urge each of you to become involved in the Center. 

We have a myriad of committees, activities and classes. 

Please pick the activity best suited to you and become 

involved. 

Best wishes for a happy and a healthy New Year. 

Warmly, 

Steve R. Graber 

role in committee involvement and oversight. Each committee 

will have a staff liaison who will help facilitate its efforts. 

It is an exciting time to be involved in the life of The Jewish 

Center. As we continue working together, we have the opportunity 

to add our personal ideas and energies.We encourage 

everyone to volunteer for service on our various committees 

or chesed opportunities so that together we can ensure an 

ever brighter future for our congregation and community. 


J EWISH C ENTER D INNER R EVIEW 

Andrew Borodach 

Journal Chairman 

On Monday, June 18, The Jewish Center community joined 

together for its Gala Dinner at The Pierre. This year’s Dinner 

was, by all accounts, an elegant affair and a resounding success. 

As a result of the generous support of friends and members 

of The Center, more than 415 people attended the 

Dinner and about $1.1 million was raised. 

The Dinner provided our community an opportunity to show 

our appreciation to outstanding members of our congregation 

who have significantly contributed to it through their 

exemplary leadership and level of dedication. At the Dinner, 

we paid tribute to our guests of honor, Rabbi Ari and Anita 

Berman, for their thirteen years of committed service to The 

Center. In addition, Rona and Andrew Steinerman were 

awarded the Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung Memorial Award and Hindy 

Poupko received the Community Service Award. 

While the guests ate a sumptuous dinner, they were entertained 

by the a capella group “613.” The Dinner’s attendees 

also enjoyed a testimonial video honoring Rabbi Berman, 

which was produced by Chazzan Benny Rogosnitzky. 

Special thanks go to Paulette and Sammy Papilsky, Dinner 

Chairmen, and Susan and Arthur Degen for their hard work 

in making this year’s Gala Dinner the most successful in the 

history of The Center. 

In his remarks, Rabbi Berman closed by citing Rabbi Jung’s 

1923 annual address to the membership of the Center, in 

which he said that “It is upon the personal efforts of every 

one of you that we count; upon the time and the energy you 

are going to give us depends the success of our great effort.” 

Those words ring as true today as they did 84 years ago- and 

they are a reminder of what makes The Center such a special 

place. 

T HE D INNER 

IN P ICTURES 


THE DINNER IN PICTURES (continued from page 6) 


G IVING O PPORTUNITIES 

AT 

T HE J EWISH C ENTER 

The Jewish Center strives to create an environment where 

multi-generational, meaningful interaction with one another 

takes place. Our congregation has an illustrious history and a 

dynamic present and many of our current members have 

helped to bring us where we are today. As did generations 

before us, we have accepted responsibility one for another. 

To ensure the congregation’s secure financial future, we are 

embarking on a comprehensive Planned Giving Program. 

Our members may be particularly interested in learning how 

they can make a sustaining gift to The Jewish Center while at 

the same time maximize the value of their financial resources 

through The Center’s Planned Giving Program. 

There are many creative ways for our members and friends 

to make gifts to The Jewish Center. Your gift options fall into 

four broad categories: 

OUTRIGHT GIFTS 

• Gifts of Cash—entitles you to the most generous federal 

income tax charitable deduction, up to 50 percent of 

your adjusted gross income. 

• Gifts of Appreciated Securities—allows you to take a 

deduction for the full market value of the gift and also 

avoid paying capital gains tax on any growth that your 

stocks may have accumulated, and is deductible up to 30 

percent of your adjusted gross income. 

GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE 

• Gifts of Real Estate such as your principal home, vacation 

home or investment property, can be made outright 

or retaining a life interest, and can be made in whole or 

a fractional interest, or can be gifted to fund a charitable 

remainder trust, thereby converting your home into an 

income producing asset. 

TESTAMENTARY GIFTS 

• Testamentary gifts, whether made by bequest in a Will 

or Trust, or by designating part or all of life insurance 

policy or retirement asset (IRA, 401(k), 403(b)) not only 

provide long-lasting support to The Jewish Center, but 

also provide tax savings to your estate. 

• Given how heavily retirement plans are taxed when left to 

a child, friend, or relative after the owner’s death (in some 

instances, heirs receive as little as 30% of the retirement 

plan after taxes), designating a portion of your retirement 

assets to The Jewish Center can be a particularly attractive 

way to create your legacy. 

USING YOUR IRA TO MAKE A GIFT 

• The Pension Protection Act of 2006 currently allows individuals 

to distribute up to $100,000 directly from their 

IRA to charities, without including that amount in their 

gross income for tax purposes. This gift opportunity is 

available to individuals who are at least age 70 at the 

time of the distribution and counts towards your 

required minimum distribution. This is a short term provision, 

and is only available for distributions made 

before the end of the calendar year 2007. 

For more information about any of these options, please call 

Michelle Cass or Rabbi Robert Hirt, co-Chairs of the Gift 

Planning Committee at (212) 724-2700 Ext 120 or email 

plannedgiving@jewishcenter.org. 

Raise money for the The Jewish Center every time you perform an internet search 

by using GoodSearch as your primary search engine. Go to www.goodsearch.com and enter 

THE JEWISH CENTER as the charity you wish to support in the “WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR?” box. 

Scroll down and select “Jewish Center (New York, NY)”. It is that easy! 

Every time you perform an internet search a donation will be made to our Center. 


M ESSAGE FROM OUR 

Y OUTH D IRECTOR 

Dalia Gefen 

Welcome back to another exciting year with The Jewish 

Center Youth Department. This past December, The Jewish 

Center was proud to officially dedicate the Martin and Lauren 

Geller Youth Center, home to The Jewish Center Youth 

Department and Gan Eden Preschool. 

This year, we are excited to announce the expansion of our 

youth programming. Our popular Open Gym Nights and 

Movie Nights will take place more frequently and will be customized 

for children of different age groups. Our teens will 

plan and implement chesed events in collaboration with 

other committees including Bikkur Cholim and Young 

Couples. Our programs will also attract the broader West 

Side youth community, making The Jewish Center the home 

for our neighborhood youth. 

Shabbat morning youth groups for children ages 2-12 will 

resume on September 8th. Children will partake in ageappropriate 

tefillah, singing, stories and games followed by 

our popular kiddush. Our creative group leaders ensure that 

your children have a meaningful and fun Shabbat experience 

at our groups. Check out our new books, toys and newlymade 

colorful siddurim and machzorim. Also, stay tuned for 

more information about the year’s upcoming fall and winter 

events including our youth kickoff event in September, apple 

picking, laser tag and a very special Chanukkah program. 



The Sisterhood’s mission is to provide cultural, educational 

and social programs for Jewish Center members. In keeping 

with this mission, this past year’s events included a broad 

range of activities. In the spring’s first outing, attendees 

enjoyed the New York City Opera’s production of Gilbert and 

Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. Our challah baking class with 

Katja Goldman drew dozens of participants – spanning from 

women in their teens to members of all generations. In addition, 

our annual spring brunch addressed the very timely and 

important topic of Agunot in the Jewish community. The 

event, hosted by Nancy Savage, featured a panel discussion 

on a host of issues relevant to this topic. The Sisterhood is 

pleased to use the proceeds from these events and from 

annual dues to enhance and improve the aesthetics of the 

Jewish Center’s appearance. 

MESSAGE FROM OUR YOUTH DIRECTOR (continued from page 9) 

It is truly a pleasure to work with your children and it is very 

gratifying to see them so happy. Please contact me with any 

questions or comments. If you have a child with special 

needs, please let me know so that we can better accommodate 

him or her. Please be sure to register for our youth email 

JEWISH CENTER DIRECTORY 

Rabbi ..................................Ari Berman ......................1 

Associate Rabbi ....................Yosie Levine .....................2 

Assistant Rabbi .....................Ariel Rackovsky.............119 

Chazzan ..............................Benny Rogosnitzky.........113 

Resident Scholar ..................Elana Stein Hain ............115 

Rabbinic Intern ....................Ari Schwarzberg ............116 

Executive Director ................Zev Steinberg ................107 

Director of Programming and 

Communications ................Shira Rose.....................110 

Youth Director ......................Dalia Gefen...................114 

Controller ...........................Polina Berdich...............101 

Administrative Assistant ........Iris Grattan ...................100 

Rabbi’s Assistant...................Jessica Soria..................112 

Community Social Worker ......Rivi Katz.......................117 

Daily Schedule.............................................................5 

Shabbat and Holiday Services ........................................7 

Shiva ..........................................................................9 

M ESSAGE 

FROM 

OUR S ISTERHOOD 

We hope you will join us this fall and throughout the year. 

Upcoming programs include a private tour of the American 

Folk Art Museum in November, and its exhibit,“Gilded Lions 

and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel.” This 

unique exhibit features art work – both secular and religious 

– by self-taught, Jewish wood carvers. It also includes rare 

documentary photographs of Eastern European synagogue 

arks and carved gravestones, sacred carvings, paper-cuts 

and carousel animals. A cooking class is also in the works. 

We look forward to seeing you, 

Gilda Chodosh, Rachel Lurie and Angela Sacks 

list to receive the latest updates on all of our youth activities 

by emailing dalia@jewishcenter.org. 

I look forward to another exciting and fun-filled year with you 

and your families! 

SAVE THE 

DATE 

Community 

Dinner 

on 

Shabbat 

Chanukkah 

December 7th 


T HE J EWISH C ENTER W ELCOMES 

ARIEL RACKOVSKY – Assistant Rabbi 

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky received a BA in Biology from Yeshiva 

College in 2002. A native of Rochester, New York, he studied 

for two years in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh prior to attending 

Yeshiva College. In March 2006, he received his Rabbinic 

ordination from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan 

Theological Seminary while serving as Rabbinic Intern at the 

Riverdale Jewish Center and on the Chaplaincy Staff of the 

UJA/Zicklin Residence of the Metropolitan Jewish Hospice of 

New York. In the fall of 2006, he became Senior Rabbinic 

Intern at the RJC, and joined the Rabbinical Staff of the Beth 

Din of America. Rabbi Rackovsky has participated in a number 

of Yeshiva University programs in cities across the US and 

Canada, and served as the director of the 2006 YU Atlanta 

Summer Kollel. 

ARI SCHWARZBERG – Rabbinic Intern 

Ari Schwarzberg is a third year student at the Rabbi Isaac 

Elchanan Theological Seminary. In conjunction with his rabbinical 

studies, Ari is pursuing a graduate degree in administrative 

education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish 

Education as well as a degree in Jewish history from the 

Bernard Revel Graduate School. Last year, Ari served as an 

inaugural Sanford Lurie Fellow, contributing to the Jewish 

Center’s Shabbat programming while also participating in 

the Jewish Center’s afternoon kollel. Upon graduation from 

Yeshiva College in May 2006, Ari received the Max and 

Sophie Manicoff Memorial Award for excellence in Talmud 

and the Chaya and Hershel Schneider Memorial Award for 

Excellence in Hebrew. 

YEHUDA WILLIG – Sanford Lurie Fellow 

Rabbi Yehuda Willig is an instructor of Talmud at Yeshiva 

University. Rabbi Willig is an alumnus of Yeshivat Kerem 

B’Yavneh in Israel and Yeshiva College. He received his 

Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac 

Elchanan Theological Seminary where he was a member of 

the Wexner Semicha Honors Program. Subsequently he was a 

fellow at the Beren Institute for Higher Talmudic Studies. He 

is a frequent lecturer in communities in the United States and 

Canada. 

SHIRA ROSE – Director of Programming 

and Communications 

Shira Rose joined our staff this past summer as the Director of 

Programming and Communications. A native of Long Island, 

she received her BA in Psychology from Queens College and 

her Masters degree from Hunter College School of Social 

Work with a specialization in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 

Shira comes to us after three years as a programmer and 

facilitator for various Jewish social networking organizations. 

Outside of her professional career, Shira devotes a significant 

amount of time to her passion for community volunteer work, 

including work with Chai Lifeline, Livnot U’Lehibanot, and the 

Jewish Outdoors Club. 

Jewish Center 

Adds Social Worker 

to Staff 

The Jewish Center is pleased to announce the 

addition of Ms. Rivi Katz, MSW, to our staff. 

As part of a new strategic alliance with the 

Jewish Board of Family and Children’s 

Services, the Rita J. Kaplan Jewish 

Connections Programs has hired an 

experienced, New York State Licensed Social 

Worker to provide on-site consultation and 

social work services at The Jewish Center. In 

addition to individual counseling, Ms. Katz will 

work with JC committees to enhance their 

capacity to identify and respond to needs of 

Jewish Center members. 

We invite you to introduce yourself to Ms. Katz 

and avail yourself of the many new services our 

Center will be able to provide. 

ABOUT MS. KATZ 

RIVI KATZ – Community Social Worker 

Rivi Katz holds a BA in History from Barnard 

College, a JD from Cardozo Law School and 

an MSW from Columbia University’s School of 

Social Work. She has numerous years of experience 

working as a counselor, leading support 

groups and using her social work background 

to provide programming to members of the 

Jewish community. Rivi is also fluent in both 

French and Hebrew. Currently, she resides 

with her family in Teaneck, New Jersey. 


MJE at The JC 

Manhattan Jewish Experience 

www.jewishexperience.org / 212-787-9533 

C OMMUNITY P ARTNERS 

Manhattan Jewish Experience, founded and directed by 

Rabbi Mark Wildes, is dedicated to spreading Jewish 

knowledge and observance by inspiring Jews to integrate 

Judaism into their professional lives. For members of The JC, 

MJE offers numerous beginner and intermediate level 

classes on a wide range of subjects including Jewish Law, 

Hebrew Reading and One-on-One Learning, as well as 

Shabbat morning beginners’ services. 

JC members are critical partners in the outreach efforts of 

MJE by serving as hosts for Shabbat meals and volunteering 

as Chavrutot, thereby providing MJE participants with a 

Jewish community which embraces them. For more 

information or to volunteer, contact the MJE office. 

• Shabbat Meal Hospitality— 

Hosts Needed! 

For those curious or interested in experiencing the warmth 

and hospitality of a Jewish home on Shabbat, MJE offers 

beginners a chance to join a family for Friday dinner or 

Shabbat lunch. Please contact the MJE office to find out how 

to become a host family for MJE beginners. 

• The Next Level 

Join Rabbi Mark Wildes on Wednesday nights for a textual, indepth 

class on all the ins and outs of Shabbat, Kashrut, 

Brachot (blessings) and Tefillah (prayer). Learn the very 

practical issues of warming food on Shabbat, non-Jewish help 

on Shabbat and other relevant Shabbat issues. Study some of 

the pertinent laws of milk and meat and how to maintain a 

kosher kitchen. Familiarize yourself with the different kinds 

of blessings recited on the various foods and occasions. 

Finally, as each holiday approaches, we will study the festivals, 

both in terms of their underlying concepts and ideas, as 

well as the particular observances relevant to the holiday. 

Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00 PM. 

• One-on-One Learning 

Sponsored by The Kagan Foundation 

in Memory of David Kagan, z’l 

Get involved. Share your knowledge. 

One-on-One Learning will pair up a Jewish Center partner 

with an MJE participant to answer questions, explore and 

discover new insights about life, Judaism and anything 

in between. Join other young, enthusiastic people for 

a night of learning, growth and communal involvement. 

Wednesdays, 7:00-9:30PM, 10th Floor. Contact 

chavruta@jewishexperience.org for more information or to 

register. 

Gan Eden 

The American-Israeli Preschool at The Jewish Center 

Preschool Program for Ages 2-6 

Opening Windows to the World 

• Parents Workshop 

• “Baby Gan Eden” Program 

• Afternoon Enrichment Program Hebrew School 

• Israeli Culture and Contemporary Hebrew 

• Preparation for Parenthood 

Discounts offered to Jewish Center Members 

For more information contact Gan Eden at 212-579-3096 

Yeshiva University: 

Center for The Jewish Future 

The Sanford Lurie Community Scholars and Fellows program 

is part of a valued relationship between Yeshiva University’s 

Center for the Jewish Future and The Jewish Center. This program 

is made possible through support from family and 

friends of Sanford Lurie and a generous grant from Yeshiva 

University. The Sanford Lurie Scholars and Fellows study in 

The Jewish Center Beit Midrash and are involved in many 

aspects of synagogue life, including study opportunities with 

our members. Under the leadership of Sanford Lurie Fellow 

Rabbi Yehuda Willig, the program serves to foster Torah 

scholarship and encourage communal leadership. For more 

information about Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish 

Future, please visit www.yu.edu. 

Jewish Board of Family and 

Children’s Services 

The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Inc. 

(JBFCS), Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs 

Synagogue Consultation Service assigns an experienced, 

New York State Licensed Social Worker to provide on-site 

consultation and social work services to local synagogues. 

The Jewish Center welcomes our new social worker, Ms. Rivi 

Katz.Through this partnership between JBFCS and The Jewish 

Center, Ms. Katz will be available for both individual and family 

counseling, leading support groups, and coordinating 

other mental health initiatives at The Jewish Center. 

For more information contact Pinchas Berger, LCSW 212-399- 

2685 x210. 


JC Connections 

Initiated to support the meeting of singles from The 

Jewish Center and the broader New York City community, 

JC Connections hosts creative programs to facilitate 

introductions and to maximize interaction of participants 

with one another. Committee members follow up with 

participants soon after events and assist in further relationship 

building between individuals who express interest in 

each other. Contacts: Peri Grabin and Arlene Freedberg, 

jcconnectionsinfo@jewishcenter.org 

JCommunity 

G ET I NVOLVED AT T HE JC 

JCommunity is a place to hang out, meet, eat or learn: it’s 

your place, your Shabbat, your home away from home. 

Open to the entire young professional community, 

JCommunity is a one stop meeting place for young professionals 

in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s somethings. Contact: 

David Littauer, jcommunity@jewishcenter.org 

Advanced Leadership 

The Advanced Leadership committee creates a wide 

variety of programming for our 50+ member base at The 

Jewish Center. Upcoming programs include a Hot Kiddush 

Luncheon, lectures, and social events. Contacts: Rose Lynn 

Sherr and Jesse Salsberg, al@jewishcenter.org 

Become a 

Jewish Center Volunteer – 

Get Involved Today. 

The Jewish Center community is full of talented, 

creative people, all of whom have areas of expertise 

and something special to offer. We welcome volunteers 

to share their talents, interests, hobbies and 

professional experiences with our community. We 

encourage and depend upon volunteers to help with 

event planning, writing, graphic design, marketing, 

fundraising, technology/website and other projects. 

Please contact us at shira@jewishcenter.org to tell 

us about your talents and interests and get involved 

today. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Bikkur Cholim 

The Jewish Center’s Bikkur Cholim committee invites you 

to participate in one or all of our programs. We have 

Shabbat visits to Mt. Sinai Hospital twice a month, 

programming at the Atria Senior Residents Facility on West 

86th Street once a month and Bikkur Cholim By Phone where 

we connect with homebound JC members once a week. 

Please see The Jewish Center weekly bulletin for Mt. Sinai 

and Atria programming dates and/or email our co-chairs for 

more information. Contacts: Dana Siegal and Johnny Glaser, 

bikkurcholim@jewishcenter.org 

Community Events 

The Community Events committee was established to schedule 

programs intended to bring the JC community and the 

larger metropolitan Jewish community together to experience 

religiously and spiritually enlightening and inspiring 

events. Contact: communityevents@jewishcenter.org 

Hospitality 

The Hospitality committee works to foster a warm and 

welcoming environment at The Jewish Center through 

offering members and visitors Shabbat meal hospitality. 

If you would like to invite guests to your home for Shabbat 

meals, if you would like an invitation, or if you like to be 

a part of this committee, please contact one of our committee 

co-chairs. Contacts: Amy Gitlitz and Josh Lookstein, 

hospitality@jewishcenter.org 

Israel Activism 

The Israel Activism committee organizes events and projects 

to advance our members’ participation in local and national 

civic life to promote consciousness and awareness about 

Jewish issues by communicating with our elected official and 

disseminating information to the community. Contact: Seth 

Jonas, israelcommittee@jewishcenter.org 

Oneg Shabbat 

Oneg Shabbat distributes Shabbat food to those within our 

community who are unable to provide for themselves. Meals 

are prepared and delivered in a manner which preserves the 

dignity and privacy of those served. Volunteers for distributions 

or donations are greatly appreciated. Contact: Sherry 

Fessel, fess5@aol.com 



GET INVOLVED AT THE JC (continued from page 13) 

Sisterhood 

The Jewish Center Sisterhood’s programs support and enrich 

the lives of The Jewish Center members while promoting the 

ongoing interests of women. The Sisterhood provides high 

quality social, educational and cultural activities for all 

members. These have included everything from evenings at 

the Philharmonic and theater to offering members the 

opportunity to purchase Rosh Hashanah-themed gift packages 

as a means of wishing fellow members a happy New 

Year. Contacts: Gilda Chodosh, Rachel Lurie and Angela 

Sacks, sisterhood@jewishcenter.org 

Social Action 

Social Action aims to put the Jewish value of tikkun olam into 

action. The committee coordinates annual food drives with 

the kosher division of City Harvest, clothing drives for various 

charities, and blood drives in conjunction and cooperation 

with other community synagogues, schools and Jewish 

institutions. Social action participates in public demonstrations 

against social injustice. Contacts: Audri Durchslag-Litt 

and Marlene Pressner, socialaction@jewishcenter.org 

Young Couples & Families 

Young Couples & Families (YCF) schedules a wide range of 

exciting programs to facilitate Jewish Center young couples 

and families meeting one another and to develop relationships 

with other members and with the clergy. Be a part of 

this wonderful network of couples and families. Contact: Mrs. 

Elana Stein Hain, ycf@jewishcenter.org 

Young Leadership 

The Young Leadership Committee is a dynamic group that 

services the young adult population of our community 

through an ambitious calendar of social and religious events. 

The nucleus of YL’s programming is the weekly Shabbat minyan, 

a spiritual service in a warm atmosphere, including 

words of Torah by a member of The JC clergy or the Resident 

Scholar. The YL minyan sponsors a monthly hot Kiddush and 

Join Sanford Lurie 

Scholars and Fellows 

for 

Living Room Learning 

For more information contact Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky 

at arackovsky@jewishcenter.org 

Friday night dinners to please the pallet as well as the soul, 

and Friday night onegs in casual venues to meet other 

members as well as the rabbis. Contact: Mrs. Elana Stein 

Hain, yl@jewishcenter.org 

Youth Department 

The Jewish Center Youth Department is one of the most successfully-run 

youth programs on the Upper West Side and 

remains a wonderful draw for young families in our community. 

With professionally-run Shabbat programs in our beautifully 

renovated Youth Center and Beit Midrash and a plethora 

of exciting and educational year-round events, parents of 

children in preschool through 6th grade can participate fully 

in Synagogue and Holiday services while their children are 

exposed to introductory tefillah education, Parsha study and 

some wonderful peer fun as well. The Jewish Center is the 

center for the entire family, including your tots and teens. 

Contact: Dalia Gefen, dalia@jewishcenter.org 

Membership 

The Membership committee attracts new members and facilitates 

their integration into the Jewish Center community.The 

2007 Membership Drive runs from November 3 to December 

1. Contacts: Aliza Herzberg Brodie and Michelle Lebowits, 

membership@jewishcenter.org 

Book Club 

The Book Club provides an opportunity for Jewish Center 

members of any age, to socialize and discuss books with 

Jewish themes or that are of Jewish interest in JC members’ 

homes. Contact: Dinah Mendes, bookclub@jewishcenter.org 

Education 

The Education committee works to make the study of Torah 

and the pursuit of wisdom accessible to our members and 

the broader Jewish community.The committee strives to challenge, 

empower and inspire our members through engaging 

and relevant courses on a wide variety of Jewish topics. 

Contact: Bernard Falk, education@jewishcenter.org 

Kiddush/Seudah Shlishit 

The Kiddush/ Seudah Shlishit committee works with The 

Jewish Center office to solicit and coordinate sponsorship for 

The JC’s weekly kiddush and seudah shlishit. Contact: Zev 

Steinberg, zev@jewishcenter.org 



GET INVOLVED AT THE JC (continued from page 13) 

Ushers 

Ushers create a warm and welcoming environment for Jewish 

Center members and guests by greeting them and welcoming 

them to our services on Shabbat and on holidays. 

Contact: Zev Steinberg, zev@jewishcenter.org 

Technology 

The Technology committee liaises with The Jewish Center 

office on issues of technology and data management including 

web development and constituent tracking software. 


Annual Fundraising Campaign 

The Annual Fundraising Campaign committee coordinates 

fundraising efforts to maintain The Jewish Center’s annual 

budget. Contact: Zev Steinberg, zev@jewishcenter.org 

Capital Fundraising Campaign 

The Capital Fundraising Campaign committee coordinates 

fundraising efforts to enhance and improve The Jewish 

Center’s infrastructure. Contact, Zev Steinberg, 

zev@jewishcenter.org 

Facilities 

U PCOMING E VENTS AT T HE JC 

The Facilities committee oversees the entire physical facility 

and has direct responsibility for any renovation, construction, 

Welcome to the West Side BBQ for college grads – 

Thursday, September 6 on The JC rooftop at 7:30PM. – 

To find out about these and other Young 

Leadership events, send a blank email to 

jcyoungleadershipsubscribe@list.jewishcenter.org 

Young Leadership Friday Night Dinner – September 

7 at 8:30PM - Featuring Rabbi Cary Friedman, Spirituality 

Consultant to the FBI’s Behaviorial Science Unit and former 

chaplain to Jonathan Pollard 

Shabbat morning groups for children ages 2-12 begin – 

September 8th 

or refurbishment of The Jewish Center building. Contact: Avi 

Schwartz, aviconsultant@yahoo.com 

House 

The House committee oversees the ongoing maintenance of 

The Jewish Center building’s operating systems and ensures 

the general appearance and cleanliness of the entire facility. 


Safety 


The Safety committee ensures compliance with all governmental 

safety regulations. It outlines safety procedures and 

educates both staff and membership about these procedures. 

It provides training in appropriate life saving techniques 

to staff, officers and JC members. Contact: Eddie 

Lowenthal, nicorp@mindspring.com 

Join us – Plan next year’s activities, programs and social 

events. For more information or to sign up, visit our website at 

www.jewishcenter.org 

Thank you to Mark Levinson for his 

tireless service as Gabbai of The Jewish 

Center. We welcome Andrew Borodach 

as our new Gabbai and wish him much 

success in this important work. 


September 2007 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 

2 19 Elul 

Israel Friedman 

Daf Yomi 7:45AM 

Shach 8:30AM 

Minchah 7:10PM 

9 26 Elul 



Shach 8:30AM 


16 4 Tishrei 

Fast begins: 5:15AM 



Shach 8:30AM 

Boker Iyun 9:30AM 


Fast ends: 7:32PM 

FAST OF GEDALIAH 

23 11 Tishrei 



Shach 8:30AM 


____________________ 

30 18 Tishrei 



Shach 8:30AM 


CHOL HAMOED II 

3 20 Elul 



Shach 8:30AM 


LABOR DAY 

10 27 Elul 

Shach 6:40 & 7:40AM 

Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 


High Holiday Reflections 

with JC Faculty 7:30PM 

Birkat Kohanim: A Practical 

and Theological Guide to 

the Priestly Blessing 

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky 

and Rabbi Yosie Levine 

8:30PM 

17 5 Tishrei 

Shach 6:30 & 7:30AM 



AGoodPerson, A 

Good Jew: Istherea 

Difference? 

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain 

8:00PM 

24 12 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



♦ Candlelighting § Shabbat / Yom Tov Ends 

4 21 Elul 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



11 28 Elul 

Shach 6:40 & 7:40AM 



18 6 Tishrei 

Shach 6:30 & 7:30AM 



Pious Practices in 

Aseret Yemei Teshuvah 

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky 

8:00PM 

25 13 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



5 22 Elul 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



The Akeidah: Faith, Doubt 

& Repentance 

An Armchair Conversation 

with Rabbi Norman Lamm 

and Leon Wieseltier 

8:00PM 

12 29 Elul 

Shach 6 & 7AM 


Eruv Tavshilin 

♦6:53PM 


EREV ROSH HASHANAH 

19 7 Tishrei 

Shach 6:30 & 7:30AM 



Eat, Drink and be Merry: 

Tomorrow is Yom Kippur 

Rabbi AriSchwarzberg 

8:00PM 

26 14 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



♦6:30PM 


EREV SUKKOT 

6 23 Elul 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



13 1 Tishrei 

Shach 8AM 

Shofar 10:30AM 

Daf Yomi 6:00PM 


♦7:51PM 

ROSH HASHANAH 

20 8 Tishrei 

Shach 6:30 & 7:30AM 



27 15 Tishrei 

Shach 9AM 

Daf Yomi 5:45 


♦7:27PM 

7 24 Elul 

Shach 7 & 8 AM 



♦7:02PM 

14 2 Tishrei 

Shach 8AM 

Shofar 10:30AM 


Tashlich 


♦6:50PM 

ROSH HASHANAH 

21 9 Tishrei 

Shach 6:45 & 7:45AM 


Minchah 2:00 PM 

Kol Nidrei 6:30PM 

♦6:38PM 

Kol Nidrei Lecture 

Confession: A Psychological 

Perspective 

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain 

EREV YOM KIPPUR 

1 18 Elul 

Parshat Ki Tavo 

Shach 9AM 

Beginners’ Service 9:30AM 



§8:12PM 

8 25 Elul 

Parshiot Nitzavim/Vayelech 

Hashkama 7:45 AM 

Shach 9AM 

Young Leadership 9:30AM 




§8:00PM 

Pre-selichot lecture with R’ 

Goldwicht 10:00PM 

Selichot with Cantor 

Benny Rogosnitzky 11PM 

SELICHOT 

15 3 Tishrei 

Parshat Haazinu 

Shach 9AM 

Shuvah Drashah by 

Rabbi Yosie Levine 




§7:47PM 

SHABBAT SHUVAH 

22 10 Tishrei 

Shach 8:30AM 

Yizkor 12:00PM 


Neilah 6:00PM 

§7:35PM 

YOM KIPPUR 

Page 16 COMMUNITY BULLETIN FALL 2007/5768 

SUKKOT 

28 16 Tishrei 

Shach 9AM 

Daf Yomi 5:45 

♦6:26PM 

Minchah 6:30 PM 

SUKKOT 

29 17 Tishrei 

Shach 8:45AM 

Kohelet 

Daf Yomi 5:35 


§7:23PM 

CHOL HAMOED I

October 2007 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 

7 25 Tishrei 


7:45AM 

Shach 8:30AM 


14 2 Cheshvan 


7:45AM 

Shach 8:30AM 


21 9 Cheshvan 


7:45AM 

Shach 8:30AM 


28 16 Cheshvan 


7:45AM 

Shach 8:30AM 


1 19 Tishrei 

Shach 6:45 & 7:45AM 



CHOL HAMOED III 

8 26 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



COLUMBUS DAY 

15 3 Cheshvan 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



FALL CLASSES BEGIN 


Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 



♦ Candlelighting § Shabbat / Yom Tov Ends 

2 20 Tishrei 

Shach 6:45 & 7:45AM 



CHOL HAMOED IV 

9 27 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



16 4 Cheshvan 

Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 



3 21 Tishrei 

Shach 6:15 & 7:15 AM 



♦6:18PM 


HOSHANAH RABBAH 

10 28 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



17 5 Cheshvan 

Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 



4 22 Tishrei 

Shach 8:45AM 


Yizkor 11AM 

Daf Yomi: 5:35 PM 


Maariv and Hakafot 7PM 

♦7:15PM 

SHEMINI ATZERET 

11 29 Tishrei 

Shach 7 & 8AM 



18 6 Cheshvan 

Shach 7 & 8AM 




Shach 7 & 8AM 



5 23 Tishrei 

Shach 8:45AM 

Daf Yomi: 5:35PM 

♦6:15PM 


SIMCHAT TORAH 

12 30 Tishrei 

Shach 6:45 & 8 AM 


♦6:03PM 


ROSH CHODESH 

19 7 Cheshvan 

Shach 7 & 8AM 


♦5:53PM 



Shach 7 & 8AM 


♦5:43PM 


6 24 Tishrei 

Parshat Bereshit 

Hashkama 7:45AM 

Shach 9AM 



Daf Yomi: 5:15PM 


§7:11PM 

13 1 Cheshvan 

Parshat Noach 


Shach 9AM 





§7:00PM 

ROSH CHODESH 

20 8 Cheshvan 

Parshat Lech-Lecha 


Shach 9AM 






§6:50PM 


Parshat Vayera 


Shach 9AM 






§6:41PM 


UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE JC (continued from page 15) 

JC Connections Downtown Walking Tour for young 

professionals ages 32-44 – Sunday, September 9 at 5:15PM 

Youth Kickoff Event Rooftop BBQ – Sunday 

September 9th 1:00-3:00PM 

JC Bikkur Cholim with Dorot – Sunday, September 9, 

10AM-12 PM – Meet at Dorot 171 West 85 Street - Rosh 

Hashana package delivery and visit with seniors 

Young Leadership Shemini Atzeret Luncheon – 

Thursday, October 4 

Pre-Hakafot for Preschoolers – Shemini Atzeret, 

Thursday, October 4 

Family Apple Picking Trip – Sunday, October 21 

Sisterhood Private Tour of the American Folk Art 

Museum and its exhibit,“Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: 

The Synagogue to the Carousel.” – Date TBA 

Advanced Leadership Kiddush in November – Date 

TBA. 

Clothing Drive at The Jewish Center – Sunday, 

November 11 – 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM - To benefit: Dress for 

Success, Met Council on Jewish Poverty, Jews of Ukraine. 

Sunday Funday (K-5th grade) – Sunday, November 18 

Family Thanksgiving Firehouse Visit – Thursday, 

November 22 

Shabbat Channukah – December 7-8 - Friday Night 

Community Dinner. 

Shabbat Morning drashah by Rabbi Ari Berman 

Scholar in Residence weekend with Rabbi Moshe 

Taragin - December 14 and 15 

SAVE THE DATE 

Shabbat, May 10 - Scholar in Residence Weekend with 

Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter 


MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI (continued from page 3) 

ings and added a number of new study 

venues, social opportunities and cultural 

activities. We are also in the 

process of working on a new Health 

and Wellness program for our members. 

These initiatives, along with our 

new personnel, will expand our scope 

and add new dimensions to the Center. 

You can stay updated on each new 

development by checking our website. 

But perhaps the most exciting development 

for this fall is the renovations that 

are taking place on the 6th and 7th 

floors.The coming renovations will create 

new spaces and new opportunities 

to further enrich our community. Our 

plans include a new café, classrooms, 

game room and screening room. These 

spaces open up new opportunities to 

create even more portals of entry into 

our Center, from film festivals to Israeli 

dance; from poetry readings to singles 

night, at the café. Just as the founders of 

The Jewish Center shaped each floor to 

fit the community’s needs, so too we 

have carefully crafted our current 

spaces for the needs of The Jewish 

Center in the 21st Century. We have 

configured and designed our spaces to 

help foster an environment that will 

enable personal growth and communal 

connections. Together with our strategic 

partners (p. 12), Manhattan Jewish 

Experience, Gan Eden and Yeshiva 

University’s Center for the Jewish 

Future, we are turning our building into 

a vibrant and dynamic center that is full 

of activities on Shabbat, holidays and 

during the week. The concept of a 

Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish 

Life and Learning will be felt in ways 

that we have not experienced in 

decades. This year will prove to be an 

incredible year of much continued 

growth for our community, as we 

expand our ability to help foster the 

connections that make life most meaningful 

and significant. 

In this sense, Anita and I approach this 

coming year with some mixed feelings. 

On the one hand, we are certainly 

excited to be in Israel and feel that it 

will be an important educational experience 

for our family.We want our children 

to experience what it is like to live 

in Israel. We want them to be fluent in 

Hebrew, make new friends and spend 

time with their Israeli first cousins, 

uncles and aunts. Personally, I will use 

the time to read, learn and study, to further 

some of the scholarly projects that 

I have worked on in sermons, classes 

and public lectures. We anticipate that 

this time that we are devoting to our 

own individual growth and family 

togetherness will prove to be memorable 

and constructive. But at the same 

time, we are aware that it will be difficult 

for us to be away from our extended 

family at The Jewish Center. Over 

the past 13 years, Anita and I have 

developed life-long relationships with 

the members of our community. It is 

very hard for us to contemplate not 

being here and being separated from 

the people about whom we care so 

much. These are the connections that 

have given our lives more meaning, 

and these are the relationships we 

cherish and will deeply miss.While we 

hope that our year in Israel will be one 

of personal development, we also know 

that our extended family at The Jewish 

Center will never be far from our 

minds and will remain close to our 

hearts. 

In thinking about the coming year, 

however, I am comforted in knowing 

that The Jewish Center will continue to 

have a stellar leadership team at her 

helm. Our President, Steve Graber, 

together with his fellow officers, has 

done a magnificent job in overseeing 

and directing our tremendous success. 

Our administrative team, led by our 

Executive Director, Zev Steinberg, continues 

to develop the critical systems 

necessary to support, sustain and elevate 

our growth. Polina Berdich, our 

Financial Comptroller, along with Iris 

Grattan and Jessica Soria, our new 

Administrative Assistants, will help our 

members interface with our office in a 

warm and professional manner. Our 

educational and programming arm, 

with Mrs. Elana Stein Hain, Resident 

Scholar; Rabbi Ari Schwarzberg, 

William Fischman Rabbinic Intern; 

Dalia Gefen,Youth Director; and Malka 

Adatto, Sanford Lurie fellow, along with 

the new additions to our staff, will continue 

to work diligently to care for our 

members spiritual, educational and 

social needs. Our Chazzan, Benny 

Rogosnitzky, will bring us closer to 

Hashem through his exceptional voice 

and earnest prayers. And the promotion 

of Rabbi Yosie Levine to Associate 

Rabbi, will give us an excellent professional, 

with deep personal piety and 

dignity, to manage the day-to-day 

responsibilities in my absence. I have 

great confidence in Rabbi Levine as a 

teacher and leader, and I know that the 

Center will continue to flourish during 

this year. Our community has a promising 

year ahead. I will continue to be in 

close contact with the Center, with 

Rabbi Levine and Steve, the office and 

the officers, and I look forward to seeing 

each of you when I return during 

the year. 

If the secret to our having a successful 

year is rooted in chesed, in each of us 

reaching out and forming new and 

more profound connections, then we 

should feel confident that by being 

involved in our community, we will be 

properly prepared for the year ahead. 

May each of you enjoy a year of good 

health and happiness, meaning and 

significance, togetherness and joy. May 

Hashem bless each of us with a shanah 

tovah u’metukah, a sweet and successful 

new year. 


The emotional roller coaster that characterizes the High 

Holiday season really begins much earlier. The mourning of 

Tisha B’Av yields to the sudden elation in the period afterward, 

which yields to the introspection of Elul, Rosh Hashana 

and Yom Kippur, and that leads straight into the joyous period 

of Sukkot. Furthermore, this period in the secular calendar 

is also one of change, with summer vacations turning into 

new school years or jobs. How can we follow the flow of the 

calendar yet properly prepare for each period, not just in our 

schedules but in our minds and hearts as well? 

Rav Moshe Avigdor Amiel (1883-1946), the Rabbi of Antwerp 

and later Tel Aviv (and father of Jewish Center pillar Ghity 

Stern) offered an insight from the very names of the Parshiyot 

we read in the period leading up to Rosh Hashana- Ki Tetze, 

Ki Tavo, Nitzavim (which is always read on the Shabbat before 

Rosh Hashana) and Vayelech. Ki Tetze, when you leave, and Ki 

Tavo, when you return, represent the frenetic pace of daily 

life- people are often traveling or taking care of career and 

family obligations. This creates a sense of impermanence 

and lack of perspective. In order to maintain the proper 

frame of mind, there needs to be a period of reflection, when 

regular activities cease or, at the very least, slow down- a 

period of Nitzavim, standing still. Engaging in this period of 

S TOP AND G O 



reflection, which always comes before Rosh Hashana, gives a 

direction to our lives, and we can then proceed- Vayelech, 

“and he went”-on the course of our lives. 

As we enter the period leading up to Rosh Hashana, the 

names of the Parshiyot guide us. Now is the time for us to 

begin a transition from the Ki Tetze and Ki Tavo phase of the 

year to the Nitzavim phase, where we pause to take stock of 

those things that we felt were lacking this past year, and 

develop a plan to improve them. If our interpersonal relationships 

with family and friends weren’t all they could, or should 

be, perhaps now is the time to rectify them proactively. If our 

relationship with G-d, as manifest in prayer and Torah study, 

wasn’t maintained on a consistent basis, now is a good time to 

chart a course to renew it. The Jewish Center provides an 

excellent context for renewing dormant relationships, 

whether with man or G-d, through the many social programs 

and Torah study opportunities we have in store this coming 

fall season. 

If we are able to engage in Nitzavim — in this pause for introspection, 

we will be able to start the new year with a renewed 

sense of Vayelech, a sense of purpose and direction. 

When Shabbat occurs immediately following a festival — as it does this year — an “eruv tavshilin” (i.e., 

food for at least one “meal” that is set aside in advance for Shabbat) must be prepared prior to the festival, 

so that it will be permitted to prepare food for Shabbat during the festival. Eruv Tavshilin is performed 

this year on Wednesday, Sept 12, 2007;Wednesday, Sept 26, 2007 and Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. 

Take a plate with one whole matzah or one whole challah and either a piece of cooked fish, cooked 

meat or a hard-boiled egg on it (it is a good idea to wrap the matzah/challah and fish, meat or egg in 

aluminum foil to easily keep them apart from the rest of the foods in your home). Recite the following 

blessing: 

curg ,umn kg ubuhmu uh,umnc ubase rat okugv lkn ubhekt ws v,t lurc 

(Baruch atah Hashem Elokainu melech Haolam asher kidishanu bimitzvotav vitzevanu al mitzvat eruv). 

“By virtue of this Eruv, we (the members of this household), shall be permitted to cook, bake, 

keep food warm, carry, light candles and do all preparations on Yom Tov for Shabbat.” 

Put the foods you used for the Eruv away, and eat them on Shabbat. NOTE:The Eruv Tavshilin allows you 

to cook on Friday only for Shabbat; it does not allow you to cook from one day of the holiday to the next 

(ie:Thursday for Friday). It is permissible to cook only from a pre-existent flame, one that was lit before 

the onset of the Holiday on Wednesday before sunset. 


Q: What is your background? Did you always know you were 

going to become a rabbi? 

I grew up in Rochester, New York, the oldest of three boys. My 

grandfather was a pulpit rabbi, so becoming a rabbi was not 

a foreign idea to me. After completing three years of semicha, 

I attended dental school in Buffalo for a semester before 

realizing that my talents were better suited touching people’s 

souls, not their gums. 

Q:What was it like growing up in Rochester? 

My earliest childhood memories include running around in 

my small, close-knit shul in Rochester. I feel privileged to 

have grown up there and to have developed a warm sense of 

community. I hope to bring that personal touch I grew up with 

here to the West Side. 

Q: What are some of your most ambitious goals in the coming 

year? 

MAZEL TOVS 

Jacob Stahl on his marriage to Lauren Israel. 

Naomi & Abe Colton on the marriage of their daughter, 

Lea Colton, to Yosi Maruvka. 

Yitzie and Ami Sommer on the birth of a girl. 

Daniel and Bari Erber on the birth of a son. 

Simcha & Tiki Lyons on the marriage of their daughter, 

Jenny to Moshe Buchman. 

Sanford S. Lurie Fellow Ari Schwarzberg on his marriage 

to Naomi Weiss. 

Rabbi Shmuel & Shari Hain on the birth of a boy. 

Shimon and Rose Baum on the birth of a girl. 

Sanford Lurie Scholar Daniel Rosenfeld and Shira 

Rosenfeld on the birth of a boy. 

Amanda & Daniel Laifer on the birth of a girl. 

David & Chantel Ulmer on the birth of a boy and to the 

proud grandparents, Tobi & Meira Tugendhaft. 

I NTERVIEW WITH 


Assistant Rabbi 

In such a dynamic community, where people are constantly 

moving in and out, developing meaningful relationships with 

as many congregants as possible is one of my most ambitious 

goals. In particular, I hope to foster a close relationship with 

the Young Leadership minyan. 

Q:What excites you about your new role as Assistant Rabbi? 

I am very excited to be a part of the wonderful educational 

and spiritual energy of The Jewish Center and to have the 

opportunity to work alongside many extraordinarily talented 

and dynamic individuals. 

Q:What do you do for fun? 

A NNOUNCEMENTS 

In my free time, I enjoy swimming and playing classical violin. 

I love to travel and so far have been to 29 states and over 

a dozen foreign countries (perhaps not much by Jewish 

Center standards). I am also an avid reader, particularly of 

historical non-fiction. 

Resident Scholar Elana Stein & Sanford S. Lurie Scholar 

Yonah Hain on their marriage. 

Dr. Henry & Joan Papier-Lieberman on the birth of a 

grandson, born to Gytta and Alan Papier. 

Yaron Kinar on his marriage to Bosi Cohen. 

Monica & Chaim Avitsur on the birth of a boy. 

Rose Sokol on the birth of a granddaughter, Ora Simcha 

Chaya born to Shmuel & Chava Sokol in Jerusalem. 

Drs. Ira & Carol Morrow on the marriage of their 

daughter Jessica to Adam Packard, son of Cathi and 

Jeffery Packard of Fair Lawn, NJ. 

Suzanne & Allen Smith on the marriage of their son 

Mark to Jennifer Shapell of Los Angeles. Mazel tov also 

to the brothers and sister-in-law Steven, Sharon and 

Jeffrey Smith. 

Cindy & Jacob Worenklein on the birth of a grandson 

born to Lora & Jonathan Heller. 

Richard Rabinowitz on his marriage to Dr. Lisa 

Simmonds. 



ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued from page 21) 

David and Rachel Vorchheimer on the birth of a boy. 

Moshe Golkin on his marriage to Susan Blech. 

Hindy Poupko on her marriage to Seth Galena. 

Annie & Nat Trauring on the birth of a great grandson, 

Bentzion, born to their grandchildren, Jordana and Benji 

Staiman. 

Megan Fisher & Jacob Kluger on the birth of a girl. 

Tzipora & Daniel Cohen on the birth of a girl. 

Daniel & Amy Gibber on the birth of a girl and to the 

proud grandparents, Elliot & Debby Gibber and 

Herschel and Frances Rosenberg. 

Millie Hellerstein, honored as AMIT’s Woman of the Year 

at AMIT’s Annual Luncheon on May 15. 

Lily & Joe Kaplan on the birth of a grandson to Michelle 

and David Kaplan of Modiin, Israel; Chaviva & Andrew 

Kaplan, the baby’s aunt and uncle; Barak,Vered & Einav, 

the baby’s proud cousins. 

Malka & Moshe Joshua on the birth of a girl. 

Tiki & Simcha Lyons on the birth of a grandson to Yakov 

and Ruchie Lyons of Boca Raton, Florida. 

Francine & Jesse Salsberg on the Bar Mitzvah of their 

grandson Jacob, son of Laura and Eric Green. 

Eva Romer on the marriage of her grandson Rubin 

Silberman, son of Kathy and George Silberman of Silver 

Spring Maryland, to Laura Brem. 

Arielle & Adam Parkoff who were honored at the 

OTSAR dinner. 

Rabbi Yosie & Rachel Levine on the birth of Akiva. 

Judy & Rodney Greenwald who were honored at the 

Chabad of the West Side & Chabad Early Learning 

Center Annual Gala Dinner on June 4. 

Gladys & Robert Richter on the graduation of their 

daughter, Miriam, cum laude from the University of 

Miami School of Law. 

Rabbi Ari & Anita Berman on the Bar Mitzvah of their 

son, Shlomo. 

Anne & Saul Finkelstein on the bar mitzvah of their son 

Ethan. 

Lily & Joseph Kaplan and Charlotte Green on the marriage 

of their grandson Daniel Green to Michael Rotman 

in Netanya, Israel. Mazel tov also to the aunt and uncle, 

Chaviva & Andrew Kaplan. 

Ruth Kastner on the birth of a grandson to her children 

Asaf Kastner and Alana Stevens. Mazel tov also to grandparents 

Dr. Howard & Joan Stevens of Toronto. 

Rachel Salpeter on her marriage to Isaac Lebwohl of 

Scarsdale. Mazel tov to Robert Salpeter, Paula Gantz, and 

Dr. Oscar & Vida Lebwohl. 

Judy & Allen Fagin on the birth of a granddaughter, 

Ariella Rus born to Miriam & Robert Fagin. 

Riki and Zvi Gewirtz on the birth of a boy and to the 

grandparents Barbara and Shlomo Gewirtz. 

Molly Moed on the marriage of her grandson, Joshua 

Fischler to Samantha Eisenberg. 

Ruth & Lawrence Kobrin on the birth of a granddaughter, 

born to their children Rabbi Jeffrey & Michelle 

Kobrin. 

Mordechai Okolica on his marriage to Shana Coplowitz. 

Roberta & Michael Sigall on the engagement of their 

son Jeremy to Shayndi Raice, daughter of Dr. Deborah 

Raice Fox and Mr. Pinchus Raice. 

Meryl Degen on her marriage to Albert Louzoun and to 

her parents Susan & Arthur Degen. 

Abe & Abigail Dauber Sterne on the birth of a girl. 

Russie Siegel on her engagement to Dr. Jeffrey Berger. 

CONDOLENCES 

Louis & Mary Helen Rowen on the loss of their mother, 

Ruth Halle Rowen. 

We regret to inform you of the passing of our member, 

Gertrude Cohen. 

Mrs. Gail Propp on the loss of her mother, Mrs. Goody 

Dane. 

Dr. Ira Leviton on the loss of his father, Mr. Harold 

Leviton. 

Howard Rieger on the loss of his wife, Tina Rieger. 

Mrs. Eileen Lauer on the loss of her mother, Mrs. Martha 

Schneier. 

David Meyer on the loss of his father, Mr. Manfred 

Meyer. 

Alan Nussbaum and Jeremy Nussbaum on the loss of their 

parents, our board member Mr. Max and Mrs. Ruth 

Nussbaum. 

Dr. James Cleeman on the loss of his father, Mr. Abe 

Cleeman. 


NAME: ________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________ TEL.: (Day) __________________ 

2007 SUKKOT MEAL RESERVATION FORM 

THE JEWISH CENTER 

131 West 86th Street • New York, New York 10024 

Telephone: (212) 724-2700 Fax: 212- 724-5629 

Reservations are requested no later than Tuesday, September 18. 

Please include the names of those for whom you are making reservations. 

Use back of form for additional writing space. 

Please Indicate any seating ____________________________ 

preference that you may have __________________________________________________________________________________ 

to the right. Although we will __________________________________________________________________________________ 

make effort to accommodate your __________________________________________________________________________________ 

request, we cannot guarantee it. __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Cost per meal: $48.00 $32.00 $55.00 $35.00 

Day Member 

(ages 8 & up) 

Wed. Night (1st night) 9/26 Table Service 

Thurs. Lunch (1st day) 9/27 Table Service 

Thurs. Night (2nd night) 9/27 Table Service 

Friday Lunch (2nd day) 9/28 Buffet 

Shabbat Dinner 9/28 Table Service 

Shabbat Lunch 9/29 Buffet 

Member Child 

(ages 2-7) 

non-Member 

(ages 8 & up) 

non-Member Child 

(ages 2-7) 

*We/I have enclosed my check payable to THE JEWISH CENTER in the amount of $_______ to cover the entire cost of the reservation(s) 

indicated above. Please mark you check payable to The Jewish Center, with “Sukkah Meals” in the memo line. 

*Please charge my Visa Mastercard in the amount of $________ to cover the entire cost of the reservation(s) indicated above. 

_______________________________________________ _________________________________ ____ ________ 

Name as it appears on card Card number Exp. date 

________________________________________________ _______________________________ 

Billing Address Telephone 

Please make sure to write your name on the form, otherwise we will not be able to process your request. 

*To process your reservation, all meals must be paid for in advance of Sukkot. 

The Jewish Center is now taking orders for 

Lulavim & Esrogim 

Place your order by returning 

the bottom portion of this 

Purchase Form to The JC 

office . by Tuesday, Sept. 18. 

Cost: Complete Set 

Category 1 $65 

Category 2 $85 

SETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT THE JEWISH CENTER: 

AT THESE TIMES ONLY 

Monday and Tuesday (September 24, 25) 7:45AM - 6:00 PM 

Wednesday (September 26th) 7:45AM-2:30 PM 

******************************************************************* 

PURCHASE FORM 

NAME __________________________ TELEPHONE _____________ 

I would like to order _______ LULAV(IM) ______ ESROG(IM) 

Set for $65 _____ Set for $85 _____ 

Enclose please find my check for $__________ 

Please note that orders will not be processed 

unless accompanied by payment. 

Purchase(s) cannot be billed to your account. 


Fall JCU Course Highlights 

THE JEWISH CENTER 

131 West 86th Street 

New York, NY 10024 

Phone 212-724-2700 

Fax 212-724-5629 

The Modern Orthodox Center 

for Jewish Life and Learning 

Visit us online www.jewishcenter.org 

Printing and Design: R. Elson.Atelier - 212.629.4900 

Franz Kafka for the Twenty-First Century 

PROFESSOR DAVID KLEINBERG-LEVIN, PH.D. 

Philosophical and Theological Challenges in Sefer Bereishit 

MRS. ELANA STEIN HAIN 

Judaism’s Response to Modernity 

PROFESSOR JEROME CHANES 

The World of Rashi: His Life, Times and Exegetical Adventures 

RABBI YOSIE LEVINE 

Coming soon in our fall brochure - complete JCU course listings and descriptions. 

Pre-register online at www.jewishcenter.org

JCC community bulletin - The Jewish Center

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