CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL is the Jewish home we share. We are a community creating positive experiences with individuals of every age. CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL is our spiritual center, where together, our family of families celebrates, commemorates, worships, learns, nurtures, gives, and grows. We constantly strive to achieve the beauty that comes from experiencing the world through Jewish eyes.

CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL

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2 Banksville Road • Box 7 • Armonk, NY 10504 • Spring 2015 Quarterly Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover-6 CommunityQ&A with Rabbi Joshua StromCBY Hires New JID DirectorCBY Brotherhood Event: 5/7Seeking Peyser Award NominationsEat Clean this Summer: Roxbury Farm Gala honoring Cantor Kobilinsky and Barby K. Siegel and Frederic J. Siegel: 4/18CBY Cultural Connections Art Tour: 4/29

10-11 Commitment to OthersAmazing Grace: Rehabilitation through the Arts Documentary: 4/16Zero Waste Day: 4/25Annual Blood Drive: 5/14

12 LeadershipGiving to the Temple: Giving to the World

COMMUNITY

Q&A with Rabbi Joshua StromWe know a little bit about you from the email that was sent. What would you like CBY to know about you?

I care deeply about people and being there to support them, celebrate with them, comfort them and guide them through moments of challenge, pain, sadness, and loss. While it is probably clear from what has been shared that I enjoy being shaliach tzibbur for worship and ritual moments, as well as the occasional performance in musical and theatrical opportunities, I pride myself on being a good listener, always there for my congregants and friends no matter what they may be going through and no matter what time of day or night it may be. And while I am a person who strives to make Judaism fun and enjoyable, I also take seriously my role as a Jewish educator. Lastly, I want CBY to know how much I love music: from the Beatles and classic rock, to old school rap and hip-hop to jam bands like my favorite group, Phish.

6-8 LearningConfirmation Class 2015The Four Children of the Seder and Education

9 TraditionThis Article is Not About Festivus. Yada Yada...Annual Cantor's Concert: 5/3

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about connecting with people, in moments and relationships, and helping to create opportunities for people to connect with each other. I’m of course deeply passionate about Judaism. I feel so deeply and strongly that there is at least one thing in our wonderfully rich tradition for every single Jewish person to feel drawn towards and engaged by. I’m also passionate about teaching and learning, music, politics, and sports. On a related note, I’m also grateful that the leadership of the congregation was still interested in meeting with me despite my being a Philadelphia sports fan!

How will you bring these passions to CBY?I want to spend as much time as possible, especially in our first years together, getting to know as many of you as I possibly can, so that I can begin to establish relationships across the many members and families of our community. I want to know what keeps people up at night and what gets them going in the morning, to see how and where Jewish tradition ties in, and bolster those energies and harness them so that we can begin the sacred work of building community together.

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CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL

2 Banksville Road, Armonk, NY 10504 (914) 273-2220 • fax (914) 273-2285 cbyarmonk.org • temple@cbyarmonk.orgfacebook.com/cbyarmonk • @cbyarmonk

Rabbi David Katz, Interim rabbikatz@cbyarmonk.orgCantor Hayley Kobilinsky cantorkobilinsky@cbyarmonk.orgRabbi Douglas E. Krantz Founding Rabbi, Retired

Ava Saperstein Administrator ava@cbyarmonk.orgDavid Pribish Bookkeeper david@cbyarmonk.orgFrank Vetere Facilities Managerfrank@cbyarmonk.orgAlicia Allison Communications Director alicia@cbyarmonk.orgJessica Gollin B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator jessica@cbyarmonk.org Rabbi Joan Farber Interim Director of Education rabbifarber@cbyarmonk.orgNancy Tejada-Ward Administrative Assistant to the Religious School nancy@cbyarmonk.org

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Executive CommitteeLisa Broomer President Brian Kaminer Vice President, Finance Communications Co-chair Samantha Schwam Vice President, Programs; Caring/Social Action Co-chair; Transitions ChairDebra Ezratty Treasurer, Fundraising ChairBonni Stanley Secretary, Human Resources ChairPaul Skurman Member-At-Large, High Holy Day Honors Chair Members of the Board Susan Bloom CBY Cultural Connections Chair Sari Deutsch Membership Co-chairMichelle Eickelbeck Membership Co-chairDiane Freedman Jewish Identity Development Chair Sheldon GanisWilliam Katz Kara Klein Aaron Kwittken Communications Co-chairCookie Markhoff Religious Practices ChairBrian Socolow Rich Waksman Budget and Finance ChairAmy YallofFelicia Zacks

PAST PRESIDENTS

Lewis Schaffer John Stern Michael J. Gross ז״לMike Jacobs Lyle Halperin ז״ל Ann Leber Ellen Bernstein Charles Shapiro

Our Cornerstones

TraditionCongregation B’nai Yisrael connects individuals to our Jewish heritage and weaves our traditions into our individual and family identities. Our religious traditions form a framework for meaningful Jewish lives, and help us to to celebrate moments of wonder in life’s cycle and to find comfort in times of tragedy and sorrow. Our spiritual home connects our members to that which is Divine, to the rich variety of Jewish living, and to others in our community.

CommunityCongregation B'nai Yisrael is the center of Jewish life in Armonk. As a neighborhood synagogue, we form a bond among our member families. The synagogue serves as a spiritual and a social center where individuals fulfill their religious needs and find meaning in Judaism at every stage of life.

LearningLearning the lessons of our Jewish heritage is a primary focus at Congregation B'nai Yisrael. Together we discover the building blocks of Jewish life, expand our sense of self in a Jewish context, and apply Jewish wisdom to every stage of our journey.

Commitment to OthersThe Jewish impulse to repair the world [Tikkun Olam] plays a central role in the life of our community. We care for other human beings and strive to make a difference in people’s lives through individual and communal acts of tzedakah here in Armonk, in our wider Westchester community, and throughout our world.

InvestmentWe are deeply committed to maintaining our vibrant community. We demonstrate our dedication by sharing our time and our resources to insure a healthy future for our synagogue.

LeadershipOur clergy and leadership are accessible and responsive. It is our responsibility to be deeply connected to one another, in order to hear what every individual and family needs, and learn how to strengthen our community.

RelevanceFrom ancient times, Judaism has thrived by maintaining its traditions in an evolving world. Our synagogue helps our families build contemporary Jewish lives. Through celebration and study, by taking care of our own and reaching out to help others, by respecting every individual and embodying a spirit of diversity, we are able to be authentic Jews in a modern world.

Robert RegalMarilyn HeimerdingerShelly JacobDavid BrodyBarby K. Siegel Joel DworetzkyFrederic J. SiegelLawrence C. Fox

Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Read this issue of our Bulletin, as well as past issues, online at cbyarmonk.org under Calendar and Events.

COMMUNITY

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I hope to learn from you what your hopes are for our work together, and how I can best be of service to you in teaching, crafting meaningful worship with Cantor Kobilinsky, creating opportunities for our youth to connect, leading congregational trips to Israel, and so on.

How will you and your family be preparing for your July 1st start with CBY?At the moment, we have begun to look at houses in the Northern Westchester community. We are excited to live in such a beautiful part of the country, a terrific place to raise a family, and where my boys and I can enjoy a lawn, even though we had to explain the concept to Jonah, our almost-5-year-old. We’re hopeful we’ll be able to join the community as soon as possible.

What would you like to do to get to know our congregation and make the transition as smooth as possible?As I said earlier, I would like to spend as much time as possible getting to know you on as deep a personal level as possible, certainly for its own sake, but also to learn about what you are most proud of about CBY, so that we can preserve and build upon it and learn what you would like to see us do and try differently. That will require several months, at least, of getting to know the rhythm and flow of what already makes CBY the strong community it is. I ask your patience in this regard, as I feel it is tremendously important to get to know the congregation and her history as well as possible before beginning conversations about any changes and looking forward.

Can you think back to the key moment in your life when you knew that being a rabbi was what you wanted to do? Please describe that moment.

On my first Shabbat on campus at Colgate, excited to attend where I would meet other Jews like me, who didn’t feel obligated to go, with whom I was excited to connect, I attended services and felt…nothing. I was underwhelmed, to say the least. As I looked around at a tiny group, barely a minyan, and only a few of them actual students, I remember being so disappointed and thinking, “If I were the rabbi, I’d….” And the light bulb of an idea that had long been percolating on a subconscious level suddenly came to the foreground.

Did your father, who recently retired from being a congregational rabbi, play any role in you deciding to become a rabbi? What, if any, advice did he give you?

My father played a hugely important role in my wanting to become a rabbi. I saw from the earliest age the enormously positive impact he had on people’s lives, in so many different ways and situations. Even as a child at the onegs, people would come up to me and say, “We love your father. He was with us every step of the way for…”, filling in the blank with every kind of personal challenge or triumph you could think of.

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Prior to that, she served as director at Greenwich Reform and Riverdale Temple as well as other positions at neighboring synagogues.

Melissa is a warm, engaging and intelligent woman who is both a seasoned educator and a licensed social worker. She brings both experience and exciting new ideas to our JID program.

Melissa will be joining us on July 1, 2015. Learn more about Melissa online at cbyarmonk.org or in our Summer Bulletin.

I also learned how centrally important it is to have your family at the core and foundation of everything; his ability to be the tremendously successful rabbi he has been was directly tied to his making time every day to be with his family. That is the advice he gave me, both by his word and by example.

Why did you think that accepting this new position would be a good fit for your family?

I felt that the time was right for me to seek an opportunity to lead a congregation of my own, based on my experience at Shaaray Tefila, and my family has supported that from the beginning. We felt that moving to such a wonderful community not unlike the ones in which Tali and I grew up and setting down roots here is a blessing of an opportunity. We are also personally very excited to have a house of our own, room to live and play, and to be free from alternate-side parking restrictions. :)

We are very pleased to welcome our new Jewish Identity Development director, Melissa Silverman Cohavi, to the CBY family. Melissa has been employed as the Director of Education at Temple Sinai of Stamford since 2005.

CBY Hires New JID Director

Keep an eye on your inboxes and mailboxes for information on our special Congregational Meeting and Vote, during which you can meet Rabbi Strom and vote for him to become our new Rabbi.

Special Congregational Vote for Rabbi Strom

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We are seeking nominations for our Howard J. Peyser Service Award that is presented annually to a member(s) of our temple whose efforts on behalf of CBY reflect the selflessness, commitment and long-term service we remember in the late Howard Peyser. Howard was a man who participated fully in every aspect of our congregation's life. From the time he and his family joined our temple in 1987, until his tragic passing in 2001, Howard was involved. He served on and chaired a broad range of temple committees, including Program, Membership, Special Events, Fundraising and Budget & Finance. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1991 and was on the Executive Committee for five years. Howard was completing his second term on the Board when he was suddenly taken from us.

Seeking Peyser Award NominationsPaul Skurman and Frederic J. Siegel

He will be remembered not only for the breadth and depth of his service, but also for the humility with which he undertook each task. Howard never sought the limelight, and when we needed him, he never said no.

The award committee welcomes recommendations from our congregation. Please e-mail your nominations to Paul Skurman at skurman@sankel.com by May 18 and put "Peyser Service Award" in the subject line. Past Recipients include Bob Goldberg, Michael Gross, Marilyn Heimerdinger, Shelly Jacob, Michael Jacobs, Cookie Markhoff, Steven Ruskin, Carolyn Salon, Frederic J. and Barby K. Siegel, Paul Skurman and Debra Ezratty.

Eat Clean this Summer 2015 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership shares are now available for organic vegetables, fruit, chicken, beef and lamb. Weekly delivery directly from Roxbury Farm in Kinderhook, NY occurs mid June - mid November, with pick up at CBY on Wednesdays 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

TO FIND THE ENROLLMENT INFORMATION go to roxburyfarm.com and under "CSA Membership" click on your location.

There is also a small one-time, one to two hours, volunteer commitment with membership (manage and greet members at the pickup site or deliver excess food to the food pantry in Mt Kisco). If you have any questions that the website doesn't answer, please feel free to contact Tessa@kwittkenfamily.com.

COMMUNITY

Next CBY Brotherhood Event: May 7Thank you to everyone who came to our Brotherhood's Hike & Lunch & Hang in December. Save the date of the evening of Thursday, May 7 for our next Brotherhood event which will include live music, food and drinks.

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COMMUNITY

CBY Gala in honor of Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky 10 years of cantorial devotion

Barby K. and Frederic J. Siegel20 years of dedicated service

Saturday, April 18, 7:00 p.m.at Trump National Golf Club, Briarcliff Manor, NY

Even if you cannot join us, you can support CBY by purchasing a journal ad.

Journal ad deadline extended to Monday, March 30.RSVP to attend by Friday, April 3.

Purchase benefactor levels, journal ad contributions, and tickets online at cbyarmonk.org/gala or contact Ava in the temple office: (914) 273-2220, ava@cbyarmonk.org.

American ChristmasEdward and Shari ApplebaumArmonk Country KitchenBeascakes BakeryRobert and Ellen BelsonJill BlombergSteven and Susan BloomRobert Bresler and Joanne PeyserDavid Brody and Barbara MendelsonSteven and Lisa BroomerCastle Cab Corp.Cantor Marnie CamhiCamp WestmontCherylyn SalonCantor Bette CohenMitchell CohenDavid Cziner and Leslie BlumWilliam and Kathleen DichterMark and Gail DonskyBarry and Karen DriksEco CleanersSteven and Michelle EickelbeckJohn F. Erdmann IIIRandall and Pam EisenbergBrian and Debra EzrattyDavid and Mindy FalkPerry and Diane FreedmanDavid and Elizabeth FreundSheldon and Susan GanisMichael and Melanie Garfinkle

Thank you to everyone who has so generously supported our Gala so far, including our entire Board of Trustees. List as of March 20, 2015

Alan and Stephanie GlazerRobert Goldberg and Janice Yass GoldbergEric Goodison and Lisa MazureElaine GordonMary and Raymond R. GordonRobert and Debra GottliebAlex and Lori GreeneSteven and Jill GreenspanJeffrey and Caryl HahnHall of ScoopsJohn and Marilyn HeimerdingerBill and Betsy HermanScott, Cindy, Robert and Jacob HoffmanRoss and Michelle HonigRobert and Lori HorowitzBernard and Shelly JacobEric Kahn and Lauren BurackBrian and Alka KaminerWilliam and Penny KatzKenny and Kara KleinLawrence and Estelle KobilinskyJeff and Joan KonigsbergAaron and Tessa KwittkenStanley and Ina LaneDavid and Elissa LefkowitzAndrew and Judith LermanDavid and Debra LernerMark and Suzanne LiptonLara LoverroRalph and Susan Mack

Meryl S. Mann and Helen SpringHarris and Cookie MarkhoffAdam and Michelle MillerModerne Barn RestaurantModerne Barn Wine and SpiritsConnie MorettiKenneth and Amy MorrisonRabbi Robin and Cantor Shira NafshiMark and Lisa NeporentBruce and Susan PollackBenjamin Poserow and Hayley KobilinskyRick and Susan RakowAllan and Margo RatafiaMitchell and Deborah RoschelleFrederic and Samantha SchwamDavid SegelmanMonique Shire SlapFrederic J. and Barby K. SiegelSteve Silpe and Jessica EwingPaul and Cathy SkurmanBrian and Pamela SocolowTodd and Andrea SolowayWilliam and Bonni StanleyRonald and Deborah TobiasVillage Prime MeatsRichard and Susan WaksmanAndrew and Cynthia WeinfeldToby and Felicia ZacksJeffrey and Michelle ZelekowitzMatthew and Amy Yallof

COMMUNITY

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Join us for a tour of the art work of The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation on Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. in Westchester, NY. Free for CBY members. $10 for non-members.

Sign up online at cbyarmonk.org or contact Alicia at (914) 273-2220, alicia@cbyarmonk.org.

The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Inc. has been established to promote public awareness of the works of contemporary and self-taught artists. It also intends to benefit other specific educational purposes when it sells its artwork, in particular the educational programs of the Harlem Children’s Zone. The Foundation’s art collection is made up of works donated by William Louis-Dreyfus, including 100 masterpieces by the self-taught artist Bill Traylor and James Castle, and additional works, presently numbering in excess of one thousand, on loan from the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection. The Foundation’s permanent collection is expected to grow over coming years through additional donations of artwork by Mr. Louis-Dreyfus, as well as Foundation purchases.

CBY Cultural Connections: The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation Art Tour

On March 2 we had great tour of the Helena Rubenstein exhibit at The Jewish Museum in NYC followed by lunch.

Andrew Schiller, brother of Pam SocolowSherry Berman, mother of Linda RothBeatrice Yasgur, grandmother of Bonni StanleyRobert S. Brody, father of David BrodyTheda Kogon, mother of Barby SiegelJulia Hershaft, grandmother of Andrew Hershft

Confirmation Class 2015

Lauren Berman Rachel BroomerSarah GashJason KatzSamantha Mayer

Congratulations to our confirmands and their families.

Join us for Confirmation Services on Friday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m.

In MemoriamAnn Matles, mother of Donna MarkellLouis Kellner, friend of Frederic SiegelLester Mayers, father of Matthew MayersRose Shuffman, aunt of Rori GoldinJoseph Shechtman, father of Frank Shechtman

Susy Glasgall, sister of Judy PerlineIrwin Newman, brother of Joanne PeyserRobert Nishman, father of Lisa KnoopFred March, father of Jerold MarchJames Widder, stepfather of Bonni StanleyGoldie Greenberg, mother of Lisa Rosenberg

LEARNING

TOT SHABBAT | Fridays, 5:30-6:15 p.m. 4/10, 5/8Tot Shabbat is a time for our children to experience Shabbat through storytelling and music with their parents. Our program is shared with our clergy and features the music, fun and excitement of Kenny Green.

KINDERGARTEN | Sundays, 9:30-11:00 a.m. 4/19, 5/3Our Kindergarten program is an experience for the whole family to learn about the Jewish holidays, Jewish food, and Jewish living.

1st AND 2nd GRADE PROGRAM | Sundays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. (weekly), following our pancake breakfast at 9:00 a.m. for the whole family. Family Days: 4/19, 5/3

For Our Young Families

Our programs for young families are free and open to the community.

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LEARNING

Soon we will be celebrating Pesach. In many of our homes, we will cook and clean and prepare to read the story of the Exodus from Egypt. We will share stories and memories of seders past and perhaps dream of seders to come. The reading of the Haggadah teaches more than the story of the Exodus; it teaches us about who we are as a people and how resilient we are. It also provides an entry into the world of education through the story of the Four Children.

The Torah alludes to four children: one wise, one wicked, one simple and one who doesn’t know how to ask.What does the wise child ask? “What are the precepts, statutes and laws the Adonai our God commanded you?” You should respond by answering that according to Halakhah it is forbidden to conclude the afikoman after the Passover offering.What does the wicked child ask? “What is this service to you?”—“you” and not himself. By removing himself from the group, he misses the whole point. You should respond by chastising him and telling him, “This is what Adonai did for me when I left Egypt”—“for me” and not “for him,” for had he been there he would not have been redeemed.What does the simple child ask? “What is this?” Answer him, “With a strong hand Adonai brought is out of the house of slaves.”And the one who doesn’t know how to ask. You should start, for it says, “Tell your child on that very day: This is what Adonai did for me when I left Egypt.” 1

Each of these children is represented in our Religious School. They bring their knowledge, attitudes and learning styles with them when they walk through our doors. Some enter curious and excited to learn. Others let us know that either they do not want to be here or that they think what we have to offer is meaningless to them. Some wonder why they are here. Finally, others haven’t formed the questions yet.

For the two hours the students are here, our faculty works hard to reach them and to teach them. The teachers use their understanding of educational techniques and their love of Judaism in order to guide our students along their journey to Jewish knowledge and understanding. They teach through role playing and games. They challenge the students with open-ended questions. The faculty encourages creative thinking and repetition (of Hebrew). Over the year, they have gotten to know each of their students as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

1 Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, My People’s Passover Haggadah, page 170.

The Four Children of the Seder and EducationRabbi Joan Farber, Interim Director of Education

Throughout this year, I have been privileged to participate in The Matan Institute’s Educator Training. Matan advocates for Jewish students with special needs, empowers their families, and educates Jewish leaders, teachers and communities so that all Jewish children have access to a rich and meaningful Jewish education. Through the in-person sessions, webinars and conference calls, Matan has provided me and CBY with tools for helping every student to succeed in our program. As a result of this training, we have made fidgets (small manipulative toys) available for the student who needs to be doing something with their hands in order to stay focused. The religious school iPads are being used in Hebrew tutoring for the auditory learners so they can record and listen to the prayers they are working on. When appropriate, I have shared Matan’s blogs and suggestions with the teachers to consider when they are preparing their lessons. There is still more to be done to make CBY totally inclusive of all students no matter what how they learn, but we are moving in the right direction.

As the Haggadah teaches there are four kinds of children who each learn differently. As a community, we have to respond to their questions in ways that each student will understand and help them to grow. In short, it is up to the community and the school to set each and every student up for success on their Jewish journey and to feel a positive sense of accomplishment.

As you read the Haggadah with your families, I hope you will see the four children as more than just a reading in the Haggadah but as charge to continue to build an inclusive and supportive learning environment at CBY.

May you and your family have a joyous Pesach.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration

Join Cantor Kobilinsky for a Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration on Thursday, April 16 at 12:00 p.m.at the Garden of RemembranceMartine Ave. White Plains, NY

Contact: Elliot Forchheimer, elliot@wjcouncil.org

LEARNING

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TORAH STUDY | Saturdays, 9:00- 9:45 a.m. A weekly opportunity every Shabbat morning in our library to discuss the week’s Torah portion with our clergy. Come every week or once in a while; all you need to bring is an open mind.

ROSH CHODESH LUNCHEON & STUDY GROUP Fridays at noon once a month, 4/17, 5/22Rosh Chodesh is a special holiday where we find peace, enrichment, and sisterhood. At CBY we are a grassroots gathering of women who meet each Hebrew month to celebrate the new moon. We serve lunch and share in informal programs focusing on Jewish and/or women’s issues.

TEXT IN THE CITY | Wednesdays at noon, 4/8, 5/13 12:00 p.m. at Pryor Cashman LLP, Times Square, NYC

STUDY IN THE SUBURBS | Wednesdays at noon, 4/15, 5/20 at CBY

Holiday Celebrations

Rabbi Katz teaching a session of Study of the Suburbs in our library.

Adult Education

Chanukah Craft Projects, Tu B'Shevat Seder, and Purim Latke vs. Hamantaschen Debate.

Holiday Celebrations

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TRADITION

We begin this installment of the Cantor’s Notes with a scene from Seinfeld:

Jerry Seinfeld enters a confessional booth…Priest: “Tell me your sins, my son.”Jerry Seinfeld: “Well I should mention that I’m Jewish.”Priest: “Oh, that’s no sin.”Jerry Seinfeld: “Oh, good. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley. I have a suspicion that he’s converted to Judaism purely for the jokes!”Priest: “And this offends you as a Jewish person?”Jerry Seinfeld: “No, it offends me as a comedian!”

I admit it freely: I am a Seinfeld addict. I find it funny no matter how many times I’ve watched an episode. I might pull up a bloopers reel on YouTube if I’m feeling down and need a quick laugh, and I often unwind from a long day by watching a re-run on TBS or WPIX 11. Here is my theory of why I am still such a devoted fan, so many years after the series wrapped: Seinfeld is one of the best modern Jewish comedies of all time. Sure, it had near-universal appeal, and was never plugged as “Jewish,” but there is no doubt its comedy was heavily influenced by the history of Jewish humor. (A side-note to my fellow Yiddish-o-philes: some genius re-dubbed Seinfeld segments in Yiddish and added English translations as subtitles. Even if you understand only some of the words, they’re brilliant. Go to YouTube, search “Yiddish & Seinfeld,” and you will see the top three videos are the ones to which I refer.)

Perhaps I feel a connection or kinship with the world of Jewish comedy because of the tradition of the cantor in the Jewish world; attending a worship service led by a renowned cantor was the primary source of entertainment for Jews for many years. So was comedy (think Borscht Belt hotels). And although I always try to focus on the prayerful aspect of worship services, there is no way to completely separate out the “performative” aspect of it. Face it: Jews in any sanctuary, Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox, are not participating in prayer 100% of the time. At least part of the time, they are listening, taking in, observing… Some of the time we may be prayerful, lost in the moment, thinking about deeper meanings and ways to improve our lives, and other times we are thinking about that nice musical moment, or wondering what other people are thinking about. This is not the point in my article when I pressure you to spend a greater percentage of your time devoted to prayer. To the contrary, I posit that we need the swing of the pendulum. We need that other time to step back from prayer and clear our minds. That need is universal, just as we need the opportunity to unwind from the work- or school-day. In my opinion, that need is why Jewish comedy is so unique; Jews needed (historically speaking) a respite from the everyday struggle.

The outlet of comedy began with the Purim spiel, when troupes of actors would tour around giving performances of the story of Esther in people’s homes in exchange for food or a bit of money. Yiddish theater grew out of that tradition, which often incorporated humor. Many social issues were tackled on the stages of the Yiddish theater, from poor working conditions to abusive relationships, with lessons taught and learned through light mockery. The Jewish comedy ubiquitous in the hotels of the Borscht Belt continued that tradition. But let me take a moment to go backward in our history: perhaps part of the custom of reading the Torah aloud to the community was the foundation of the comedic outlet. Living conditions 1,000-2,000 years ago were certainly not ritzy, nor did Jews often enjoy peaceful political relations with rulers of the land. The lessons in Torah, however, reminded them of the big picture. The ancestors in those stories had struggles too and overcame them, sometimes in quite humorous ways! Yes, humor in the Torah did exist! In one story, Balak, the King of Moab, wants to destroy the Israelites, whom he perceives as powerful. He instructs Balaam, a sorcerer, to curse the Israelites. Balaam insists he can’t go against God, but agrees to take a trip down to visit the Israelites. On the way, his donkey doesn’t obey his commands and keeps stopping in the path, leading Balaam to treat the donkey harshly. Finally the donkey begins to SPEAK to Balaam, showing Balaam he hadn’t obeyed because there was a threatening angel of God standing in their path. To review: the donkey spoke. A talking ass. (And you thought Hebrew School was boring?!?) In any case, perhaps hearing about the struggles of our forebears, with occasional humor, and a positive outcome, helped the Jews cope with their own struggles.

We are so blessed to be living in relative peace and comfort. We have many sources of entertainment to give us respite from our woes. We rise above it all with heads held high, comedy in our wake. We rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Or, to use a more Jewish-sounding bird, we’re like a chol, or avarshinah that was allowed to live 1,000 years and then become renewed because it didn’t eat of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden…oh, never mind. Just call it a Festivus miracle. (See what I did there?)

This Article is Not About Festivus. Yada Yada...Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky

Annual Cantor's ConcertSunday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. in the CBY Sanctuary

Free and open to everyone

Emergency Shelter PartnershipFrom March 2-8, CBY provided about 25 people with a warm place to sleep and three meals a day through the Emergency Shelter Partnership, a local coalition of religious and community organizations, who provide short term housing for local homeless during the winter. Many thanks to the volunteers who donated supplies, cooked food, stayed overnight and spent time with our guests, including our High School Students (pictured right).

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On December 13 through the Midnight Run we sent 5 full cars to NYC carrying over 100 lunches, hot food for 75 people and tons of clothing, shoes and toiletries to hand out to the homeless. During our Chanukah Gift Giving Party on December 14 we wrapped over 100 gifts for the young people at The Cottage School and Hope's Door. Thank you to everyone who made donations and volunteered their time to make these programs possible.

Mitzvot Weekend: Midnight Run & Chanukah Gift Giving Drive

COMMITMENT TO OTHERS

COMMITMENT TO OTHERS

Upcoming ProgramsKLEZMER CONCERT May 7Every year we host a Klezmer Concert for the Havorah Program of Westchester Jewish Community Services. The concert is a unique opportunity for people with developmental disabilities to experience Jewish life. Our families greet our guests and serve snacks, offering us an opportunity to interact and share a special evening with the disabled community in Westchester.

BLOOD DRIVE May 14CBY hosts an annual Blood Drive with the New York Blood Center.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE June-SeptemberWhile you are shopping for back to school, pick up a few extra items to donate to students ages 3 to 18 so they can have a great start to the new school year. Co-sponsored by the Community Center of Northern Westchester.

300 MacaroonsA big thank you to everyone who baked macaroons for the Seder for the developmentally disabled on March 18.

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Every Friday afternoon congregants from CBY lead Shabbat services at The Bristal Assisted Living in Armonk. With help from Rabbi Katz and Cantor Kobilinsky we created a short relevant service that the residents really enjoy. After services we have challah and grape juice and sing Shabbat songs. During the holidays we had a great time with the residents celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah. It has been a wonderful partnership that is enjoyed by all. If you're interested in getting involved contact Samantha Schwam or Lisa Mazure at socialaction@cbyarmonk.com.

CBY at The Bristal

Join us on Thursday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. at CBY for a special viewing of the documentary Amazing Grace, A Rehabilitation through the Arts documentary filmed at New York State's Maximum-Security Prison for Women. This film about the making of the first and only musical ever staged inside Bedford Hills Correctional Facility will be followed by a Q&A with Katherine Vockins, Founder/Executive Director of RTA. There is no admission fee, but donations to the RTA are gratefully accepted.

This program is co-sponsored by CBY and Rehabilitation Through The Arts, a non-profit organization that uses the arts to teach life skills to men and women behind prison walls.

Amazing Grace: A Rehabilitation through the Arts Documentary

Zero Waste DayHelp to reduce and reuse through North Castle's Zero Waste Day on Saturday, April 25 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at North Castle Town Hall. Rain or Shine.

Drop off a variety of items for recycling behind the Town Hall including:

• Household furniture• Bikes• Supplies for cats & dogs• Spring & summer clothing• Paper shredding• E-waste (computers, TVs, etc)• Scrap metal, bulk & oil

Volunteers will assist with unloading the items from your car. For more information, visit northcastleny.com.

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LEADERSHIP

Giving to the Temple: Giving to the WorldRabbi David Katz, Interim

Our tradition calls upon us to be generous but for many this is difficult-even when we have the means. Why so?

First, we are bombarded by requests for charity. Every week our mail box is filled with envelopes from one cause or another. After every natural disaster we hear the pleas of those in need. The destitute depend upon us; all the time it seems they depend upon the kindness of strangers. How much can we afford? How much can we give?

We come up with rationales not to give. “The beggar will use the money for drugs. He should find a job like the rest of us. She probably started drinking when she was in school when she should have been studying! His case-is hopeless. You know, I gave last year to Federation and I was pretty generous! Maybe that could count for this year, too. If the Temple were running a business they'd be broke. Why should I pay for the light bills? I'll give but I’ll do it tomorrow."

Probably the main reason we are less generous than we ought to be comes from our very real fear that we will not have enough to sustain us in the future. Look what happened in ’08. It could happen again.

We are human and we know that the resources on this earth are limited and we must survive. Were we living in the garden of Eden, there would be no need to worry about who gives or who takes because everyone would be provided for. In the real world however, we have our physical needs and our fear runs deep that we will not have enough.

Not only that, we must figure out our long-range plans. Do we want to secure the financial future of our children and their children, too? At what level do we want to live in our retirement?

Most of us do not have actual figures in mind when we consider these matters. It is all vague and because we never know what our goals are exactly we never know how much would be too much to give specifically. Add to this that we want to enjoy ourselves too, and not miss out on life so our thoughts become more confused. Does taking a vacation in a far away place make us more likely to give or less likely? Obviously, there are criteria for how much we will decide to give that we have developed, either consciously or subconsciously.

It’s complicated. How can we harmonize the reality of "the bottom line" with the dictates of the One on High? Who can teach us how to give comfortably? Here our theology can help.

The idea of one God who created the world can help us become more generous. If God is the Creator of the world then God must be its owner-as we read in Psalms, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." And if God is the owner, then we human beings are mere tenants on this earth. So God says to us, "The land must not be sold beyond reclaim; you are but strangers resident with me." (Lev. 25:23) Jewish economic law always took for granted an economy based on private property and in the Jewish tradition no one was ever condemned for being rich, (If I were a rich man was and is an OK dream to have if one understand that with wealth comes a greater responsibility to be charitable.) But the responsibility for everyone giving tzedakah was always based on the assumption that in the end, nothing is really ours. Said the Rabbis, "Whoever enjoys the goods of this world without reciting a blessing is like a thief." (Ber. 35a) The blessing acknowledges that everything belongs to God. When we give we are merely redistributing God's property. In Hebrew there isn't even a word for 'having!' The term 'yesh li,' literally means "there is to me," which is a much more tentative relationship to one's property than "I have" or "I own."

It would be much easier for us to give tzedakah if we acknowledged the fact that everything we have is but lent to us, that it really wasn't ours in the first place, that when our time comes, we are not taking anything with us into the next world, not even in traveler's checks. We may articulate this faith in many ways: "What comes around goes around," "one good turn deserves another." And we may smile as we put that penny into the cup at the store counter and take it out the next time we are there-but however we express our thoughts, by whatever little acts we perform, it is all the same-we are acknowledging that, despite the economic cycles of life, our future is secure.

So when we put our hands into our pockets to give money to a good cause, we must have faith that we are not risking our future, that ultimately we will not be hurt by our own self-sacrifice... that in the end we will be all right.

Just imagine what our world would be like and how financially secure our Temple would be if we had faith that self sacrifice would not harm us... that in the end, God would provide for our needs. What would our world be like if no one were stopped by his or her fears, if each one of us likened our self to a candle that could give light to 1000 other candles without ourselves being diminished? With faith in God, we would be more giving and our world would be transformed.

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INVESTMENT

Contributors ContinuedHoward and Denise EnglePeter and Marsha LiebowitzJeff and Melissa FishmanToby and Felicia Zacks

Rabbi Katz's Discretionary FundFred and Marlene Cohen, in memory of Annette CohenJoseph and Linda Goldstein, in memory of Susan GoldsteinEd and Shari Applebaum: Your wisdom, insight and support during our difficult journey has been a tremendous help to our family.  In memory of Miles, with appreciation, we thank you.  

Cantor Kobilinsky's Discretionary FundFred and Marlene Cohen, in memory of Annette CohenJoseph and Linda Goldstein, in memory of Susan GoldsteinFrederic and Barby Siegel, in loving memory of Theda KogonDonna Markell, in memory of Ann MatlesEd and Shari Applebaum: You've gone above and beyond-always there for our family with love, compassion and comfort.  In memory of Miles, with gratitude, we thank you.

Rabbi Krantz's Discretionary FundFrederic and Barby Siegel, in loving memory of Theda Kogon

Tree of LifeLeaves have been placed on our Tree of Life in honor of

Kate Klein • Bat Mitzvah • March 21, 2015

Donations

Amazon SmileA new way our congregants can contribute to the CBY community in an ongoing manner is through the Amazon Smile program. Amazon Smile allows you to direct a portion of your eligible Amazon.com purchases to non-profits like CBY. Just click on the Amazon Smile link on the Amazon homepage and select Congregation B'nai Yisrael as your charity partner. Once you do this, 0.5% of every one of your eligible Amazon purchases will be donated to CBY.

Make Your Contribution Online Making a contribution to CBY is a wonderful way to acknowledge those we love by honoring their memory or honoring a special occasion, including a birth, b'nai mitzvah, wedding or anniversary.

Contributions can be made online at cbyarmonk.org/donate.

General FundStanley and Ina Lane, in appreciationBernard and Shelly Jacob, in honor of Rabbi Strom and new beginningsJerome Pickholz, in memory of Phyllis R. PickholzPeter and Margareta LimburgRobert Bresler and Joanne Peyser, in memory of Irwin NewmanMark and Ann Lieberman Charles and Marya Shapiro, in memory of Irwin NewmanJoanne, Alison and Ross Peyser, in memory of Howard PeyserWilliam and Bonni Stanley , in memory of Jim WidderBrian and Debra Ezratty, in memory of Jim WidderFrank and Amy Spadafino David and Mindy FalkJoseph and Beth Rosenberg Robert and Barbara Regal Stanley and Ina Lane, in memory of Robert S. BrodyRonald and Deborah Tobias Leonard and Saundra Honig, in memory of Joseph HonigCarole Friedler, in memory of John FriedlerDavid and Elizabeth Zimmerman Richard and Lindsay Anfang Todd and Andrea SolowayLawrence and Laura FoxLewis and Denise Henkind Bruce and Susan Pollack Joel and Amy Dworetzky, in memory of Robert S. Brody Laura Lustbader Mark and Pearl Vogel, in memory of loved onesThomas and Michelle Coleman Marc and Susan FailingMartin and Elisa Rube, in memory of Ned RubePaul and Cathy SkurmanJoel and Amy Dworetzky, in memory of Theda Kogon Jeffrey and Michelle Zelekowitz Marc and Susan FailingJustin and Zelda Newman, in memory of Howard PeyserPhyllis Widder, in memory of Jim WidderSimon and Hope ZiffRobert and Anita Morrison, in honor of the bar mitzvah of Seth Walter MorrisonAlexandra GladstoneAndrew and Mychal Ertel

High Holy DaysBenefactorsMark and Arlene ComoraDavid and Ellen Lestz

ContributorsRobert and Ellen GrimesDavid and Felisse StarkerMartin and Elisa RubeWalter and Claire SchwartzFrank Shechtman and Marla SukoffPeter and Margareta Limburg

Memorial WallMiriam Roschelle, mother of Mitchell Roschelle

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These recipes are from Congregation B'nai Yisrael's Family Cookbook, Delicious Dishes. To buy a copy, contact the temple office.

TRADITION

Passover Recipes

E g y p t i a n C h a r o s e t M a r y a S h a p i r o

Ingredients1 lb. dried raisins8 oz. pitted dates 2 c. water¼ c. chopped walnuts or pecans

These recipes are from Congregation B'nai Yisrael's Family Cookbook, Delicious Dishes. To buy a copy, contact the temple office.

DirectionsPut the raisins and dates in a bowl with enough water to cover. Let stand for 1 hour. Drain, but reserve the liquid. Transfer the fruit to a blender or food processor and process a little at a time, until the mixture is well blended and finely chopped. Put the chopped fruits in a heavy saucepan; add some of the soaking liquid and simmer over low heat until the fruit is cooked and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Spoon into a serving dish and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Makes 4 cups. (This delicious charoset is adapted from The Jewish Holiday Kitchen by Joan Nathan.)

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the matzah in a bowl and cover with cold water for a couple of minutes; drain and squeeze dry. Reserve 1 tablespoon sugar. Combine the matzahs, egg yolks, vanilla, remaining sugar, and melted butter. Stir in the apples, walnuts, and raisins. Beat the egg whites in a seperate bowl and fold them into the matzah mixture. Turn into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix the cinnamon and the reserved sugar and sprinkle on top. Bake about 30 minutes, until golden brown. Serves 12. This recipe brings back memories of Slow family seders.

G r a n d m a I r e n e ' s S p i n a c h P i e S h a r i A p p l e b a u m

Ingredients3 boxes frozen chopped spinach1 medium onion, peeled and chopped1 tsp. finely chopped garlic1 to 2 Tbsp. olive oil2 medium-sized containers Feta cheese2 large eggs, beaten1 c. matzah farfel½ c. chopped fresh dill or 1 ½ Tbsp. driedSalt (optional)1 tsp. pepper

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, cook the frozen spinach until it is just wilted and soft, approximately 3 minutes. Drain well and put in a large bowl. Saute the onion and garlic in olive oil and add to the spinach. Stir in the Feta cheese, beaten eggs, matzah farfel, and dill; season to taste and mix well. Pour into a rectangular baking dish and bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve hot or at room temperature. Makes about 12 servings. Our family always enjoys this recipe!

P l e a s e P a s s t h e P a s s o v e r P u d d i n g R u t h S l o w

Ingredients2 matzahs, crumbled into small pieces3 eggs, seperated½ tsp. vanilla¼ c. butter, melted¼ c. sugar3 apples, peeled and sliced¼ c. chopped walnuts¼ c. raisins½ tsp. cinnamon

To advertise in our quarterly Bulletin,

contact Alicia in the temple office at

(914) 273-2220, alicia@cbyarmonk.org.

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Selling a Car, Truck or 4x4?Help CBY by donating a vehicle you no longer need.

Donating your vehicle is safe, fast, and tax deductible.Some restrictions apply.

This service is provided free to the temple.

For more information, please callAuto-Line Enterprises at (914) 681-1757

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CONGREGATION B’NAI YISRAEL2 Banksville Road, Box 7, Armonk, New York 10504

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLAINS, NY PERMIT NO. 4438

or current resident

Text in the City | Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. in NYC, April 8, May 13

TOT Shabbat | Fridays, 5:30 p.m., April 10, May 8

Study in the Suburbs | Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. at CBY, April 15, May 20

Amazing Grace: Rehabilitation through the Arts Documentary | Thursday, April 16, 7:00 p.m.

Rosh Chodesh Luncheon and Study Group | Fridays, 12:00 p.m., April 17, May 22

Gala honoring Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky and Barby K. and Frederic J. Siegel | Saturday, April 18, 7:00 p.m. at Trump National Golf Club

Kindergarten | Sundays, 9:30 a.m., April 19, May 3

Zero Waste Day | Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., North Castle Town Hall

Annual Cantor's Concert | Sunday, May 3, 4:00 p.m.

Brotherhood Event | Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.

Klezmer Concert | Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.

Blood Drive | Thursday, May 14

Confirmation Service | Friday, May 22, 8:00 p.m.

Visit our website at cbyarmonk.org for a full calendar of programs and events.

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