Courage and Faith · 2008. 9. 19. · gates oF rePentanCe—Rabbi Bellino will con-tinue his focus of the work of Rabbi Jonah of Gerona by studying his most famous work, Shaarei Teshuvah

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16THE ST SYNAGOGUE

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V o l u m e 4 6 , N u m b e r 1 • e l u l / T I S H r e I 5 7 6 9 • S e p T e m b e r / o C T o b e r 2 0 0 8

BULLETIN

INS IDE: SEptEmbEr/OctObEr calENDarS • rabbI ’S mESSagE • HIgH HOly DayS

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With Rosh Hashana just a few weeks away, we look forward to a beautiful and meaningful holiday sea-son. This will be facilitated—in part—by our talent-ed baalei tefillah, Elchanon Wasserman and Rabbi Gavriel Bellino.

Born in Boro Park, Elchanon grew up in Edison, New Jersey, and is today married with four children, living in Bergenfield, New Jersey. Elchanon is a prod-uct of a strong yeshiva education both here and in Israel, is a graduate of Yeshiva University, and was trained in voice and nusach at the Belz School of Jewish Music. Elchanon also trained under the tute-lage of a chazzan in Newark. He has led High Holy Day services since 1983.

Elchanon looks forward to returning to our con-gregation and is especially excited to join us this year, in our renovated sanctuary. His wish again this year is for us to raise our voices and join him as much as pos-sible in the davening and to be uplifted by his cantorial solos during the most solemn moments of prayer.

We warmly welcome back Elchanon Wasserman of Bergenfield to the Sixteenth Street Synagogue for a second season. If you joined us last year, you will remember Elchanon’s confident and competent dav-ening style and well as his trained and sweet voice. His strong understanding of the tefillot, punctilious pronunciation, and command of Hebrew gram-mar encouraged us to listen more attentively and understand the nusach that much better.

Courage and Faith

As I contemplated (and worked feverously towards) our return to 3 West 16th Street four months ago, I could only think of one word that summed up my emotions: courage. That is the foundation upon which my vision for our home was based. And that vision is equally rooted in something else we can all share; faith that this home we are building is God’s will.

Courage, like faith, is an essential quality to allow one to forge ahead when there is uncer-tainty and doubt as to the outcome of one’s efforts. How do I know that we will legally pre-vail over our adversary in our struggle to occupy and stay in our sanctuary at 3 West 16th Street. I don’t know. How do I know we will be able to raise the money necessary to complete the ren-ovation of our sanctuary? Who will pay for the new bimah, mechitzah, yahrtzeit board, succah and a dozen other things we need? I don’t know. How do I know we will be able to attract the new members so necessary for the long term success of our community. I don’t know. Nonetheless I have the courage to work as hard as possible and to encourage all of you to join in the effort to make our little shul viable again.

But then that has been what the last five years have been all about. Working together

BaaLei teFiLLah For the high hoLY daYs

2 • THe SIXTeeNTH STreeT SYNAGoGue

s Y n a g o g u e o F F i C e r s President Richard McBee Vice President Victor Bellino Vice President Arthur Klaus Vice President Barnet Liberman Treasurer Garry Roemer Secretary Jeff Katz Gabbai Amir Koren Gabbai Jonathan Nachmani Gabbai Morris Shoretz Shammes Don Weiss e x e C u t i v e C o m m i t t e e

Honorary Chairman - Arnold HordishSteve AnconaSaul F. Baily

Alan FormanPeter GreenspanMiriam Kaplan

Vivian KlausCathy Koren

Joan NachmaniDr. Elazar RabbaniDr. Theobald ReichDr. Bennett Strudler

B o a r d o F t r u s t e e s

Norma Bellino Susan Mehr Marvin Bienenfeld Dr. Leon Pachter Reuben Blumenthal Dr. Robert Podell William Feinerman Howard Rich Gerald Feldhamer Dr. James Schmeidler Mitchel Herstic Dr. William Silver Dr. Morton Leibowitz Susanna Smulowitz Ruth Leibowitz Max Wagner Phyllis Liberman Jay Zucker

The SixTeenTh STreeT Synagogue3 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011Tel: (212) 255-4826 • Fax: (212) 206-3678

Mailing addreSS:421 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

on The Web:http://www.SixteenthStreetSynagogue.org

[email protected] WohlgelernTer, rabbi eMeriTuS

gavriel Z. bellino, inTeriM rabbiCell: (917) 626-4573 • Fax: (718) 504-7992

[email protected]

gerTy engh, office adMiniSTraTorHours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday to Friday

[email protected]

The SixTeenTh STreeT Synagogue [email protected]

rosh hashana AND Yom KiPPur S E AT I N G

With Rosh Hashana less than one month away many people are already calling the office to reserve their seats for the holidays. The shul has purchased additional con-toured chairs in anticipation of the larger number of people expected to join us for the holidays. The New Year begins on Monday evening, September 29 and continues on Tues-day and Wednesday. Eight days later the Yom Kippur fast begins on Wednesday evening, October 8 and continues until after sunset on Thursday, October 9.

Call the shul office today (212-255-4826) to make your res-ervations for seats. Members may purchase each seat for $100 and non-members for $150. Make your seating preferences known to Gerty Engh, our office administrator, and we will try to accommodate your request. No one unable to afford a ticket will be turned away from praying with us this holiday season. We appeal to those who can be generous to purchase several seat scholarships enabling others to partake in our services. A seating chart will be printed and posted on the first evening of Rosh Hashana to assist you in finding your seats.

H A p p y N E w y E A r T o A l l !

t h a n K Y o uGarry Roemer, Jeff Katz, and Richard for overseeing the purchasing

and installation of chairs and carpet.• Ellen Cherrick for designing

the office. • Vivian Klaus and Joan Nachmani for their work on

the kitchen. • Magen David of Union Square for installing the

flooring on the 2nd floor. • Don Weiss for serving as Shammes.

• Peter Greenspan for his continued presence as legal watchdog.

• Barbara Weinstein for her contributions to the Kiddush fund. •

Gerty Engh for her endless work in our office. • Craig Massoth and

Henry Watkin for running the midday minyan. • Victor Bellino

for his Scotch contributions.

SepTember/oCTober 2008 • 3

now that we have returned to our renovated sanctuary there is much being planned for this upcoming High Holy Day season. On the first day of Elul we begin a month’s long preparation leading to Rosh Hashana by listening to the blast of the shofar and by reciting Psalm 27.

The week before Rosh Hashana we begin to more seriously prepare for the New Year. Beginning on Saturday evening, September 20 at 10:00 PM, Selichot (penitential prayers) are recited. It has been our custom of late to prepare for the recitation of Selichot with music and song. Throughout the week of September 22 we begin to say Selichot one half hour earlier than our regular morning minyan start time (see the shul calendar for exact times).

Rosh Hashana begins Monday evening September 29 and will be celebrated on Tuesday and Wednesday. Davening on those mornings begin at 8:00 AM. This year our baal tokeah will be Rabbi Bellino. Rabbi Bellino and Elchanon Wasserman, who davened for us last year, will share the High Holy Day davening. Tickets for reserved seating for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur need to be arranged in advance of the holidays. Please call the shul office (212) 255-4826 and speak with Gerty. Tickets are $100 for members and $150 for non-members. We are very proud of our dignified and spiritual High Holy Day services and invite all our members and friends to join us.

On the first day of Rosh Hashana we will meet at 5:00 PM at 20th Street and the East River for a community recitation of Tashlich and then return as a group to the shul for Mincha at 6:20 PM.

Rabbi Bellino will deliver his Shabbat Shuva Drasha on October 4. at 5:45. This year’s drasha is entitled “The Closing Gates”. The drasha will be preceded by Mincha and followed by Maariv and a musical havdalah.

Yom Kippur is on Wednesday night and Thursday, October 9-10. Mincha on Wednesday is at 3:00 PM and Kol Nidre is at 6:30 PM. Morning services begin at 8:00 AM. Consult the shul calendar for the exact times for Yizkor and Neilah.

During the Yom Kippur afternoon break, Rabbi Bellino will conduct a class similar to his class last year. If you recall, many of us participated in a lively and informative discussion of Pirqei d’Rabbi Eliezer’s take on Jonah. This year, Rabbi Bellino will present Pirqei d’Rabbi Eliezer on Teshuvah.

We would be pleased if a generous contributor would come forward and sponsor the break fast Motzaei Yom Kippur. For many years the break fast was sponsored and prepared by Judith Berman, of blessed memory. Please call the office if you would like to sponsor this year’s break fast.

Five days after Yom Kippur is Sukkot and this year we are privileged to inaugurate two new sukkahs in our renovated shul. On Sunday, October 12 we plan to hold a Sukkah Decorating Party for both kids and adults led by Cori Robinson.

One small sukkah adjoining the main sanctuary, as well as a larger sukkah on the second floor will be made available. The Sukkot holiday ends with Simchat Torah and this year we expect a large contingent of dancing and singing enthusiasts. If you have not received an aliyah in a while, remember every male will receive at least one aliyah on the day of Simchat Torah. We are also seeking a kiddush sponsor for the morning Kiddush on this festive day.

Rabbi Bellino, President McBee and the Board of Officers of the Sixteenth Street Synagogue wish our members and friends and the Jewish world a Ketiva V’Chatima Tova, a blessed New Year filled with peace, prosperity, wisdom and forgiveness.

H I G H H o l y D A y S o N S I x T E E N T H S T r E E T


F a L L 2 0 0 8 C L a s s s C h e d u L egates oF rePentanCe—Rabbi Bellino will con-tinue his focus of the work of Rabbi Jonah of Gerona by studying his most famous work, Shaarei Teshuvah (Gates of Repentance). This masterpiece on repentance and religious conduct is mandatory for anyone seek-ing the true path to repentance and reconnection with God. Rabbi Jonah’s approach will be compared with other calls for return, from both earlier (e.g., Maimo-nides and Bahya ibn Paquda) as well as later (e.g., Safed Pietism, the Musar movement, and Rav Kook’s Lights of Repentance) periods of Jewish thought. sunday morn-ings, 9:15 – 10:00 am in synagogue. (Copies of the text will be made available for purchase).

PhiLosoPhY oF PraYer—What is prayer? What is Kavanah? Who benefits from prayer? Rabbi Bellino will present a survey of classical perspectives to these fascinating Jewish enigmas. He will begin with the Talmuds and then proceed to the medieval exoteric perspectives of Maimonides, Halevi, and ibn Paquda. He will then introduce the more esoteric and mys-tical traditions of Heikhalot, German Pietism, and Kabbalah. He will conclude with the more modern approaches of Hasidism, Hirsch, Heschel, Soloveit-chik, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 8:00 Pm in synagogue.

introduCtion to LiturgY—What are we saying? Why are we saying it? Where does it come from? What is it doing here? Rabbi Bellino intends to slowly read through the prayer book and discuss these sorts of questions for each and every prayer. He will pay close attention to both the micro, i.e., grammar, transla-tion, alternative texts, as well as to more macro issues concerning the differing histories and theologies of the various prayers. He will also devote some time to halachic and musical issues as they arise. tuesday evenings, 8:00 – 9:00 Pm in synagogue.

raBBi wohLgeLernter’s Chumash with rashi—An in-depth look at the Torah with the renowned commentary of Rashi. Rabbi Wohlgelernter began this class some 45 years ago, and continues to dis-cover nuanced insights to this essential commentary. wednesday evenings, 8:00–9:30 Pm in synagogue. (Rabbi Wohlgelernter is often out of town, so please call the office to confirm). toPiCs in naChmanides—A third year devoted to the thought and methodology of Moses Nachmanides, the Ramban. Rabbi Bellino presents themes of the Ramban, allowing for more discussion and a more global perspective. He presents topics that will utilize the very many writings of Nachmanides. shabbat after-noons, at seudah shelishit, in synagogue. All classes (with the exception of the Book Club) use primarily Hebrew texts with English transla-tions provided. These classes are accessible to all levels of Jewish learning and beginners are always welcome. For more information e-mail: [email protected]

FaLL sCheduLe Begins saturdaY oCtoBer 25.

shaBBat shuvah drasha

T H E C l o S I N G G AT E S

oCtoBer 4 , 5 :45 Pm,

F o l l o w I N G M I N C H AP lease make eve r y e f fo r t

to a t t end.


the sixteenth street sYnagogue’s 2008 annuaL dinner was a smashing success. The dinner was held in honor of Cori Robinson and Rabbi Gavriel Bellino. More than one hundred and forty people attended this year’s dinner in appreciation of their dynamic leadership and service to our community. Held on June 16, 2008, the dinner was one of the best-attended and financially successful dinners in our shul’s history. The enthusiastic showing reflected our community’s gratitude to our Rabbi and Reb-betzin and to their many accomplishments. They bring inspiration and youthful leadership and posi-tive thinking to our shul at a moment in our history when we have recently returned to our renovated sanctuary after a long hiatus and at a time when we are actively seeking to grow our membership. They are a model couple that have attracted new people to our shul and have endeared themselves to our longtime members. Giving of themselves without limit, we are the beneficiaries of their skills and generosity of spirit.

That evening we also celebrated the next genera-tion of lay leaders of our shul by gratefully honoring Leah and Peter Greenspan with the Community Service Award. Peter has assiduously given his time to help wage our legal battles and to offer his pro-fessional guidance. Rabbi Bellino aptly described the Greenspans as “wonderful parents, devoted students, and serious daveners; model congregants who are involved in all that our shul offers.”

As is the case each year, many people contrib-uted to this memorable dinner that was held at the stylish Midtown Loft and Terrace at 267 Fifth Avenue. A dedicated dinner committee, one that organized many dinners over the years, excelled this year. We thank Vivian Klaus, Joan Nachmani, Norma Bellino, Fern and Leslie Penn for their exceptional work. Kudos to Jeff Katz for standing in as emcee, to Richard McBee for his words, and to Joel Cohen for his closing remarks.

The highlight of the evening was Rabbi Bell-ino’s address. He expressed his thanks to the dinner committee and paid honor to the dis-tinguished rabbis present at the dinner and to Rabbis Wohlgelernter and Goldsmith who could not be with us that evening. Always witty and learned, Rabbi Bellino expressed his dreams for the shul and the direction he hopes it will take in the future. More than one hundred forty attendees were riveted to his words. He clearly impressed us with his dedication to our commu-nity, his acerbic love for his profession and his devotion to tradition. We are proud to call him our rabbi.

We thank Leah and Peter Greenspan, so deserving of recognition, for working so hard to make this dinner so successful. And of course, we thank Cori Robinson and Rabbi Gavriel Bellino for setting a new standard of excellence for our annual dinners in the years to come.

annuaL dinner 2008


The term “High Holidays,” or “High Holy Days,” which refers to the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, reflects the transcendent nature of these days (high holy) as well as the communal celebrations (holiday) they engender. Truth be told, the term is one that never much resonated for me —feeling more like a relic of German, and now American, Jewish secularism.

I’ve always preferred, the Hebrew term for this season; specifically, the Yamim Noraim, Days of Awe. The term reflects a similar religious magni-tude, but adds that these are not only days of dra-matic and festive communal celebration, but also the high points of both national and individual fear, introspection, and reflection.

I need not defend my preference. Indeed, it is the more traditional term, though not an ancient one. (In truth, it is only about six hundred years old; a baby, relative to our ancient tradition.) I do, however, need to explain it. What is so awesome about these days? What prompts the feeling of fear and/or awe?

There are many answers. For one, these are days of Judgment. We feel as though our fates are very much in jeopardy, and so we are naturally in fear. What’s more, we fear because so many of our behaviors and attitudes are repugnant and incon-sistent with that which we aspire to. Inconsistent with all that we’ve dreamed for ourselves, and all that has been dreamed for us.

Additionally, we fear as we acknowledge God’s Kingship. We reaffirm that we are the faithful servants of the King of Kings, the One who is responsible for our laws, our safety, and all of our functioning.

Personally, I am always awestruck as I contem-plate Hayom Harat Olam, Rosh Hashanah as the Birthday of the World [sic] Man. This is the awe of renewal, catharsis, second chances, and starting afresh.

Perhaps the most important theme of these days, the one most deserving of awe, is that of re-

pentance and forgiveness. Every year we are obli-gated to contemplate the direction of our lives, to cogitate over how we can improve our relations not only with God, but with the people with whom we share our lives. We are afraid not to return.

But there’s another common fear, one that is inappropriate for our Days of Awe. As much as we long a return, we also fear it. We are afraid to real-ize our potential. We are afraid to right our wrongs, to be egosyntonic, to be that which we can be, that which we ought to be. This idea has best been ca-pitulated by Marianne Williamson in her poem “Our Deepest Fear.” (The poem is often erroneous-ly attributed to Nelson Mandela who “borrowed” it for his1994 inauguration speech as president of South Africa.)

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be bril-liant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God. (Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s noth-ing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.) We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

On these Days of Awe we must focus on fear and awe, and simultaneously liberate ourselves of our fears of our higher selves. We who manifest God within us, share in infinite potential, and should only fear of not reaching that potential, of not suf-ficiently reflecting God’s light. In short, there is ev-erything to fear, except fear of our selves.

I wish you a joyous, meaningful, and awesome Yamim Noraim.

Love and blessings, GZB

From our rAbbI: DAYS oF Awe


PeKudeiRichard Bell in honor of all his friends at the Sixteenth Street Synagogue.

tzavFanny and Alan Forman in memory of Fanny’s father, Eliyahu Turgeman.

shemini (Parah)Jeff Katz in anticipation of our imminent return to our beloved home.

KedoshimThe Robinson/Bellino Family in celebration of our return home.

emorMother’s Day Kiddush: Cori Robinson, Gavriel, and Choni Bellino in honor of Accursia Bellino, Norma Bellino, Peggy Robinson, and Randi Robinson. • Victor Bellino in honor of Norma Bellino, Accursia Bellino, and Cori Robinson. • Ellen Cherrick in honor of Udy K. Cherrick. • Alan Forman in honor of Fanny Forman, Talia Forman, Rachel Forman, and Jane Silverman, and in memory of Pearl Forman and Zehava Turgeman. • Peter and Etti Tziporah Greenspan in honor of Leah Greenspan. • Carol and Arnold Hordish in memory of Anita Wiener and Ann Hordish. • Jeff Katz in honor of Iris Gold Katz, Laure Katz, and Ariana Garfinkel, and in memory of Evelyn Katz, Sylvia Katz, Shlema Barsky, Sarah Gitel Katz, Sheva Srulewitz, Lena Glatzer, and Silka Beller Katz. • Cathy and Amir Koren in honor of Helene Fields. • Barbara and Bernie Kraisman in memory of Mrs. Dorothy Stormwind and Mrs. Denise Kraisman Ziff. • Barnet, Ava, Zoe, Stella, Leah, and Aaron Liberman in honor of Phyllis Liberman. • Emily and Jason Liebrman in honor of Phyllis Katzen, Eileen Lieberman, Janet Gilston, Fay Novit Grabin, Bess Lieberman, Bess Schwartz, Andrea Feldman, and Deborah Fink. • Vivian, Arthur, Ryan, and Sean Klaus in honor of Mrs. Gertrude Levy, Mrs. Paula Perski, Mrs. Elka Cohen, and Mrs. Esther Klaus, and in memory of Mrs. Bessie Klaus and Mrs. Rosalie Klaus Sohn. • Susan and Howard Mehr in memory of Rhoda Epstein Weiss and Eva Mehr. • Phoebe and Richard McBee in memory of Ruth McBee and Adele Zablow. • Joan and Eli Nachmani and Family in honor of Mrs. Paula Perski and Mrs. Gertrude Levy. • Fern, Leslie and Joshua Penn in honor of Ruthe Unger and in memory of Estelle Penn.

BeharRichard Bell, in honor of all those who worked so diligently to get us back to our home.

BeChuKotaiCathy and Amir Koren in memory of his father, Shmuel Koren.

nasoDon Weiss in memory of his father, Kalman ben Label and his mother, Hinda bas Avraham.

BehaaLoteChaFather’s Day Kiddush: Cori Robinson, Gavriel, and Choni Bellino in honor Victor Bellino and Sigmund Robinson. • Norma Bellino in honor of Gavriel Z. Bellino and Victor Bellino. • Leah and Etti Tziporah Greenspan in honor of Peter Greenspan, Leonard Grossman, Milton Grossman, and Myron Greenspan. • Fanny, Talia and Rachel Forman in honor of Alan Forman and in memory of Eliyahu Turgeman, Jacob Forman, and Monroe Silverman. • Jeff Katz in memory of Reuben Aaron Katz, Yaakov Dov Katz, Sinai Meir Katz, Yosef Srulewitz, and Aaron Barsky. • Fern, Leslie and Joshua Penn in memory of Joseph Unger and Murray Penn. • Phyllis, Ava, Zoe, Stella, Leah, and Aaron Liberman in honor of Barnet Liberman. • Susan and Howard Mehr in memory of Lionel Epstein and Samuel Mehr. • Joan and Eli Nachmani and Family in memory of Simcha Perski, Rabbi Benjamin Levy, and Jacob Attias. • Carol Ann, Morris, Michael and Lily Shoretz in memory of Osher Shoretz. • Ida Tice in memory of George Tice and Gregory Nozhnitsky. • Jacob Sasson and Joseph Sasson in honor of their father and the fathers of the Sixteenth Street Synagogue and Magen David Union Square.

sheLaCh LeChaMs. Udy K. Cherrick and Ellen Cherrick, in memory of Ellen’s aunt, Estelle Goldman,z’l, and her father William Cherrick, z’l whose Yahrzeits will be observed on the 19th day of Sivan and the 21st day of Sivan, respectively. & Michael Ritz in honor of his children and their recent graduations Jesse graduated from Ramaz Middle School and will continue at Ramaz Upper School. Anabelle and Elizabeth will be following in his footsteps at the Middle School, having graduated from the Ramaz Lower School.

BaLaKAlberto Avigdor in memory of Fortuna Avigdor.

PinChasStanley Aizenstark in celebration of his nephew, Bernard Cohen’s, first Bar Mitzvah anniversary.

matotStanley Sherman in honor of the memory of his father, Irving Sherman.

maasaiFanny and Alan Foreman in celebration of their birthdays.& Alberto Avigdor in memory of his sister, Fortuna Avigdor.

devarim (Chazon)Phyllis and Barnet Liberman in honor of their children who are all returning to various schools.

vaetChanan (naChamu)Choni Bellino in honor of his parents’ sixth wedding anniversary.

eiKevBernie Zysberg in memory of his father Sheldon Zysberg.

K i d d u s h s P o n s o r s


reehBack to School Kiddush: Cori Robinson and Rabbi Gavriel Bellino in honor of Choni Bellino returning to Nursery School and Norma Bellino returning to just ONE school as Spanish Teacher extraordinaire and the Director of High School Placement for the City and Country School. • Norma and Victor Bellino in honor of Choni Bellino returning to Nursery School. • Fanny and Alan Forman in honor of Talia Forman who is starting Yachad’s Day Hab Without Walls program and Rachel Forman who returns to Binghamton University. • Carol and Arnold Hordish in honor of their grandchildren, Justin Jake Hordish, Raena Leiber Hordish, Zachary Aron Hordish, Ethan Elchanan Hordish, and Akiva Elon Hordish. • Jeff Katz in honor of Vivian Klaus, one of his best students at Manhattan College and Max Wagner, one of his best professors at Manhattan College. • Susan and Howard Mehr in honor of Ari Kantrowitz attending the McDonough Business School at Georgetown University, Lauren Mehr entering the Third Grade; Eva Mehr entering Kindergarten; and Max Mehr entering Kindergarten. • Fern and Leslie Penn in honor of Joshua Penn, returning to Northeastern University and Choni Bellino, returning to Nursery School. • Michael Ritz in honor of his children Jesse Ritz, entering the Ninth Grade at the Ramaz Upper School, Elizabeth Ritz, entering the Fifth Grade at the Ramaz Middle School; and Anabelle Ritz, entering the Fifth Grade at the Ramaz Middle School. • Rhonda and Gerard Rose in honor of their nieces and nephews, Max Milstein, entering the Seventh Grade at The Moriah School, Englewood, New Jersey, Jake Milstein, entering the Fifth Grade at The Moriah School, Ally Milstein, entering Kindergarten at The Moriah School, Marli Dinovitzer, entering the Fifth Grade, at Shalhevet of Los Angeles, and Julia Dinovitzer, entering Third Grade at Shalhevet of Los Angeles.

K i d d u s h s P o n s o r s

s e u d a h s h e L i s h i tPinChas

Cathy and Amir Koren in memory of Nuna bat David,

Yoram Ovadia ben Varda Masuda, and Varda Masuda bat Nuna.

nasoThe Bellino Family in observance of Rabbi Bellino’s

great-grandmother’s 50th Yahrzeit

devarim (Chazon)Anonymous

eKevGarry Roemer in memory of his parents,

Lena and Solomon Roemer.

m a z a L t o vCori roBinson and raBBi gavrieL BeLLino

on the upsherin of their son, Choni.

zeLda and raBBi sheLdon goLdsmith on the birth of their granddaughter, shoshana roCheL,

to YaeL and raFi treiteL.

miChaeL heLLer on his engagement to heLi aPeLBaum.

CathY and amir Koren on the birth of their grandson, to miChaL and Yossie Koren

renee mosKowitz and stuart Krause upon the birth of a grandson, Eliezer,

to their children sarah and aLex Krause.

miChaeL ritz on his engagement to Joanne Borts.

BarrY and sheLLeY soLomon, and to their daughter and son-in-law, iLana and shLomo

Perrin, on the birth of a boy, eLiYahu.

raBBi wohLgeLernter, and the entire Wohlgelernter family, on the upsherin of his grandson meir simCha,

son of devarYa and etan Katz.

raBBi wohLgeLernter on the academic success of his daughter, temima FruChter, who received a Masters Degree in English from Bar Ilan University

and a BA honors in Publishing Studies from the University of Witwaterscrand.

raBBi wohLgeLernter on the Semicha of his son, shaLom menaChem wohLgeLernter.

raBBi wohLgeLernter on the birth of his granddaughter, shira, to miriam and YaaKov

wohLgeLernter.

raBBi wohLgeLernter on the Bar Mitzva of his grandson, meir, son of miriam and YaaKov

wohLgeLernter.

raBBi wohLgeLernter on the birth of his grandson, shLomo manis itieL, to temima and

raBBi Chanan FruChter.


B L e s s i n g s o F C o n s o L a t i o n

Laura demarCo on the death of her husband, stanLeY Lewis Cohen.

deBBie Kamioner, and the entire Kamioner family, on the death of her husband henrY Kamioner

of Riverdale, NY.

Cori roBinson, and the entire Robinson family, on the death of her mother, PeggY roBinson.

ida tiCe, and the entire Tice family, on the death of her husband, george tiCe.

To PauL waChteL, and to the entire Wachtel family, on the loss of his mother, dora waChteL.

Brenda waLKer on the death of her sister, renee wiLLiams.

henrY watKin on the death of his father, avraham Ben Chaim.

w A L K F O R T h e C u R eOn September 14, the Sixteenth Street

Synagigue joined forces with Sharsheret, the

non profit organization devoted to breast

cancer awareness and support services. A

sponsor of Team Sharsheret in the New York

City Susan G. Komen Race/Walk For the Cure,

our Shul participated with great eagerness. The

SSS team members included rabbi gavriel

bellino and eva Saltzman who ran the race

neck and neck, and Talia forman, fanny

forman, richard Mcbee, fern Penn,

vivian Klaus, Susan Mehr, Morris, carol

ann, and lily Shoretz, norma bellino and

cori robinson who walked the beautiful 5K

route through Central Park.

Sharsheret, which for the third year in

row was the largest team (and doubled in

size from last year), was founded by Morris

Shoretz’s daughter, rochie Shoretz after

her own diagnosis of breast cancer at age 28,

and has become a preeminent organization

in providing education and support for breast

cancer in the Jewish community, specifically

as it relates to young Jewish women.

Donning our green Shasheret shirts and

black SSS hats (courtesy of Victor and Norma

Bellino) our team truly shone throughout the

uptown course.

We hope to partner with Sharsheret

and double our Shul’s contingent next

year.


F r o m o u r P r e s i d e n t :

with amazing courage and determination, we have managed to keep our community together, even while we were displaced and forced to pray our week-day and Shabbos services in three different locations each and every week for two long years. We did it; even when on national holidays no one would host us. Our courage has paid off.

The courage of our community working and pray-ing together, has been easily matched by the courage of many individuals continuing to make contribu-tions, paying their dues and otherwise supporting us financially. But surely the courage of a handful of individuals who have loaned the shul over $1.6 mil-lion is awesome. Perhaps as awesome is the courage and creativity of the shul’s officers, Board and Rabbi Bellino in continuing the leadership, programming and events that make us a real Jewish community.

Courage is what we must have in ourselves to redouble our efforts, fine tune our plans and make even more commitments to a project whose out-come is far from certain. But it is clear that our courage could not exist unless we all equally had a deep and abiding faith. The faith we have is not a faith in us, in our efforts and ability. Rather the faith is a faith in God and in His Providence. Our faith is rooted in the belief that God wants our synagogue to survive and prosper.

God wants a shul for us at 3 West 16th Street. This I believe. And this faith was vindicated on May 3, 2008, Shabbat Kedoshim, when we returned home.

It was for the Sixteenth Street Synagogue com-munity perhaps one of the most meaningful Sabbaths ever. On Friday night we re-inaugurated our home at 3 West 16th Street with Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. We were filled close to capacity with over 90 congregants. Needless to say singing and dancing dominated the evening as we thanked God for bring-ing us back to our home after two years of exile.

Shabbat morning was equally inspiring as each portion of the service seemed to be especially new and eye-opening as it was said in our beautiful new sanctuary, the location of our home for the last 45 years. The poignancy of returning home was con-stantly mixed with the excitement and joyousness of

davening in an exciting new space. The Sephardic minyan upstairs at Magen David of Union Square boasted at least 30 congregants while the downstairs minyan of 60 sang with joy.

Rabbi Bellino inspired us with his drasha on Kedoshim Teheyu; exhorting us to fulfill our holi-ness as Jews by rededicating our community to the highest ethical standards, exemplified by concern for our fellow man, concern for the world around us and sensitivity for everyone in our community.

And so we continued our communal life, finally now at home. The kiddush was appropriately grand, sponsored by the Robinson-Bellino families, allow-ing the congregation a well deserved time to reorient themselves in our home and Shabbat afternoon was dominated by Pirkei Avot on One Foot and learning the Ramban with Rabbi Bellino after Mincha.

That Shabbos was followed by weekday services followed by Shabbos after Shabbos through the Spring and Summer. The life-saving carpet finally went in around the beginning of June and as the Summer draws to a close most of the construction is winding down. And so we are settling into some-what normal life in our home.

Except that much still needs to be done. As every-one can see just about everything in the sanctuary is temporary: the front door, the mechitzah, the bimah, the chairs, the Kiddush area, the arrangement of the books and bookshelves are just a few of the things we still need to complete. Aside from the walls, ceiling and floor the only things that are clearly permanent is the courage and faith that we all must have to forge ahead.

The old and the new; our home of 45 years that has been transformed into a new and beauti-ful sanctuary; a place to learn, worship and create community. This is our challenge, this is our task to fulfill.

We welcome all of you to join us in our new /old sanctuary.

We thank God for returning us to our home.We thank God for this opportunity to have cour-

age and faith.

Richard McBee, President

(con’t from page 1)


SEpT Elul 1 1 Cila Kanter 2 2 lillian G. Finkelstein 5 5 yetti Schapira 7 7 Ferdinand louis Danziger 8 8 Eva Lebowitz lena Scheiner Solomon Senensieb Anna Silk rosalyn weiss 9 9 Frieda Kufeld 10 10 Meyer Baily Matthew Besdine leah rothberg 11 11 Charles Schlomowitz Evelyn B. Katz 13 13 Blima Silver Ida Sponder 14 14 Meir Lipke 16 16 Pauline Baily Beatrice Margulies yehuda Arye rothberg Nechama Taub 17 17 Simche Kanrek 22 22 Joseph Markel 26 26 Bas Sheva Feinerman Bella Greenberg Ada Kasden Ethel Rauch

SEpT Elul 27 27 Samuel Glass 28 28 Abraham Shyman 29 29 Harry Sponder SEpT TISHrEI 30 1 Menashe Elie 1 Helen Messer Ida Geller Weidenfeld oCT TISHrEI 1 2 Jerome Weinstein 3 4 Anna Hurwitz 5 6 Joseph Feinerman Rabbi Elliott M. Finkel Samuel Klaus Harry Pitlick 6 7 Abraham Siderowitz 7 8 Fannie Cohn Pauline Feldhamer Max Meiselman 8 9 Saul Guttenmacher 9 10 Helen leventhal Hauptman Harriet Strudler 10 11 Beatrice Ellison Meyer Licht 12 13 Charles Alpert Andrew Katz 13 14 Jennie Guralnick

oCT TISHrEI 13 14 Freda Rosten 15 16 Pola Gefen 16 Serena Scop Aaron Fink Max Klein Mildred Malach 18 19 Bertha levin 19 20 Helen Brandstadter Barnett Davis 20 21 Jacob Berger Dr. Solomon Colodner rachel Hantman Hyman Rosenstein 21 22 Israel Brot Chana Tajc Menucha Tajc Eliyahu Yosef Tajc 22 23 Jacob Schapira 24 25 Morris Adesnik 26 27 robert I. wassner 27 28 Clara Danziger Salek Gefen Isaac Kulik Sadie Krellenstein Zinman 28 29 Conrad Strudler oCT CHESHvAN 30 1 George Lambert

Ya h r z e i t s

Rabbi Bellino requires less of an introduction. He has led High Holy Day services–every year—since 1996, in what he considers a synthesis of the Carlebach and Wohlgelernter traditions. He for-malized his davening during his four years at the Belz School of Music, where he studied primarily under Cantor Sherwood Goffin. This year, in addi-tion to serving as rabbi and chazzan, he will be our Baal Tokeah.

Please join us for these most meaningful of days.

BaaLei teFiLLah For the high hoLY daYs(con’t from page 1)

STCare to sPonsor a Kiddush?

plEASE CoNTACT THE oFF ICE!

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reFuah sheLaimahTo rABB I woHlGElErNTEr wHo IS

rECupErAT ING FroM KNEE SurGEry.

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FALL 2008 EDUCATIONAL CALENDARsundaY mondaY tuesdaY wednesdaY thursdaY FridaY saturdaY

GATeS OF RepeNTANCe

9:15 – 10:00 AM in Synagogue

phiLOSOphY OF pRAYeR7:00 – 8:00 pM in Synagogue

iNTRODuCTiON TO LiTuRGY

8:00 – 9:00 pM in Synagogue

RABBi wOhLGeLeRNTeR’S

ChuMASh wiTh RAShi

8:00–9:30 pM in Synagogue

TOpiCS iN NAChMANiDeS

Shabbat afternoons, Seudah

Shelishit, in Synagogue

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Annual Dues: Single/$450 Family/$800 Student/$100 Non-Resident/$200 First Year Free (Any Category)

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Documents

Courage and Faith · 2008. 9. 19. · gates oF rePentanCe—Rabbi Bellino will con-tinue his focus of the work of Rabbi Jonah of Gerona by studying his most famous work, Shaarei Teshuvah