WRT

Bulletin

Westchester Reform Temple 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583

www.wrtemple.org

Winter 2016-2017 / 5777

Adult Education: Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat Service and Gospel Music Featuring guest speaker Reverend Dr. Stephen W. Pogue

King David The “Other” Israelis Women’s Commentaries Rosh Chodesh:5777

Shabbat Shirah

Annual Community Outdoor Chanukah Candle Lighting

Ron Lieber Author Chanukah Shabbat

Seth M. Siegel JNF Water & Wine Speaker

Aaron David Miller AIPAC speaker

December January February

CLERGY

Vol. __62 No. 2

Jonathan E. Blake, Senior Rabbi [email protected] Jill Abramson, Senior Cantor [email protected]

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Shabbat Events

Chanukah Celebration Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat Shabbat Shirah

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Talmud Torah: Adult Education

King David Rosh Chodesh Hebrew Café The “Other” Israelis Women’s Commentaries on the Bible Introduction to MIshnah

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Clal Israel

JNF Speaker Seth M. Siegel The Opposite of Spoiled Author Ron Lieber Post-Election Analysis with Noam Neusner AIPAC Speaker Aaron David Miller

Contents Rabbi Blake’s

Daniel Reiser, Assistant Rabbi [email protected]

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Mia Fram Davidson, Adjunct Associate Cantor [email protected]

Avodah: Worship and Spirituality

Eliana Fischel, Rabbinic Intern [email protected]

WRT President’s

8 Message

Rena Singer, Judaic Specialist Omer Nisanov, Shlicha Richard J. Jacobs, Rabbi Emeritus

of 8 Women Reform Judaism

PROFESSIONAL / ADMIN. STAFF Eli Kornreich, Executive Director [email protected]

8 Men’s Club

Timothy Wagner, Facilities Manager [email protected]

8 Baby Boomers 10

Karen Arnone, Accounting Supervisor 468-0521 / [email protected]

Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World

Linda Zarra, Bookkeeper 723-2391 / [email protected]

10 Living with Divorce 10 Healing Service 11 Religious School 12

Early Childhood Center (ECC)

13 Mazal Tov! 14 Condolences 15 Contributions

Calendars

Holidays, Events and Shabbat

Westchester Reform Temple is committed to the value of inclusion, and strives to make worship and programming fully accessible. Our building and bima are wheelchair accessible, and the sanctuary is equipped with assistive listening devices and large-print prayer books. ASL interpretation is available for any worship service upon request, and remote viewing of most services is available via webcasting from our website. If you need any additional accommodations to participate in a temple program, please contact Cantor Amanda Kleinman.

WRT Bulletin (USPS #359350), Winter, 2016, volume 62 number 2. Published quarterly by Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, New York, 10583. Periodicals postage paid at Scarsdale, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to WRT, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.

Bulletin • Winter 2016-2017 • www.wrtemple.org

Amanda Kleinman, Assistant Cantor [email protected]

3 Message

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David E. Levy, Associate Rabbi / Acting Educator [email protected]



Amy Rossberg, Exec. Assistant to Rabbi Blake and Pastoral Care Coordinator 468-0522 / [email protected] Suzanne Saperstein, Exec. Assistant to Clergy and B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator 468-0524 / [email protected] Hillary Fontana, Communications Manager 468-0523 / [email protected] Lee Furman, Receptionist 723-7727 / [email protected] Nattalie Rodriguez, Receptionist 723-7727 / [email protected]

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Phone: 914-723-5224 / [email protected] Sarah Paikin, Assistant Educator [email protected] Rachel Crouch, Teen and Informal Education Administrator / [email protected] Jaime Gluska, RS Database/Financial Administrator [email protected] Nancy Abraham, Educational Associate and Learning Differences / [email protected]

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

Phone: 914-723-5493 / [email protected] Susan Tolchin, Director of Early Childhood Center [email protected] Ellen Rosenberg, Administrative Assistant [email protected]

OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES Helene Gray, President Joan Frankle, Vice President Marcy Harris, Vice President Nancy Michaels, Vice President Erika Rublin, Vice President Scott Silberfein, Vice President Franklin Speiser, Treasurer Jocelyn Sontag, Secretary

Howard Berk Barry Citrin Beth Cukier Lisa Eisenstein Marcy Engel Gil Fishman Sharon Forman

Trustees: Darren Friedman Kristin Friedman Debra Glassman Adam Gross Dara Gruenberg Warren Haber Barbara Josselsohn

Sara Levine Michael Ostow Elaine Rosenstein Michael Rosenthal David Shuster Vivian Sklar Ben Zipursky

Carole Princer Levy and Elizabeth Speiser WRJ Co-Presidents Jeffrey Underweiser, Men’s Club President

Rabbi Blake’s Message Dear friends, Every year, I publish an excerpt of my High Holiday remarks in the Temple Bulletin. Here, I share the last part of my Yom Kippur sermon. As I noted from the bimah, WRT is proud to join the Westchester Refugee Task Force, joining faith-based and other institutions from around the Hudson Valley to assist in a pressing and time-sensitive social justice initiative, resettling Syrian refugees safely in America.

This work will continue in the coming year. Our first WRT Refugee Task Force meeting in October drew well over 100 members of the community who want to get involved! Stay tuned to our website and weekly e-mail to inform you of forthcoming opportunities. Here is an excerpt of my remarks: I believe that both “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall” and “Good fences make good neighbors” contain elements of truth. The key, I think, is to pay special attention to our doors and gates, and to differentiate with acute sensitivity between “neighbor” and “enemy.” This is nowhere more applicable than in our response to the refugee crisis, which has become the largest in history, surpassing the mass global displacement following World War II. More than 65 million human beings have been forced to flee their homes, a majority of them women and children. Syria leads the affected countries. Let us state unequivocally: Refugees are not our enemies. How we treat them will reflect our commitment to the values that define us as Jewish Americans. We believe that families should stick together. We believe in education. We believe in mutual responsibility. We believe that hard work should be rewarded. We believe in self-determination. We believe that our choices, our actions here and now, define us more than our ethnicity, our past circumstances. We believe that all are created equal. We believe in the freedom of religion. Refugees who pass rigorous screening protocols in order to come here—on average, a two-year process—embody these Jewish-American values. They have defied the odds to leave behind discrimination, threats, emotional trauma and violence surpassing our worst nightmares. We can help them to establish a new home here, the same way we Jewish Americans received assistance generations ago. We know it will not be easy. We too endured all manner of hostility to our arrival on these shores, including the utter failure of the United States government to pursue an organized rescue policy for Jewish victims of Nazi Germany until 1944. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl recently drew my attention to a Gallup poll that asked whether or not America should open its doors to 10,000 refugee children caught in the crossfire of war. More than two-thirds of Americans surveyed said “No.”

This Gallup poll was taken in 1939, after the highly publicized events of Kristallnacht, the infamous Nazi program against Jewish businesses and synagogues. Those 10,000 children seeking refuge on our shores? Most were Jews. Make no mistake: They said the same things about us back then that many Americans are saying about refugees and immigrants today. They said we would foment anarchy and violence. They said we would pledge fealty to a dangerous ideology (in our case, Communism). They said our devotion to Judaism or Zionism would eclipse our loyalty to America. They said we would harm American economic and business interests. Through it all, one organization stood out in its efforts to surmount the obstacles to Jewish immigration to America: the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Association, or HIAS. Originally established to assist Jewish emigrants from Russia, for 125 years, HIAS has helped to relocate 4.5 million Jews and at-risk groups from all over the world. I am proud to announce that, this summer, WRT officially joined the Westchester Refugee Task Force. Working with HIAS, the State Department, and faith communities throughout the Hudson Valley, we will do our part over the course of this new Jewish year to resettle, in Westchester County, ten families displaced by the Syrian refugee crisis—about fifty men, women, and children. Because, in the end, it comes down to this: “We used to take refugees because they were Jewish. Now we take them because we’re Jewish.” This is the new byword of HIAS. Among the last words we will recite on Yom Kippur, at the Ne’ilah service, are these: Pitchu li sha’arei tzedek, avo vam, odeh Yah. “Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them and give thanks to God.” How dare we ask God to open gates for us if we won’t open gates for some of God’s most vulnerable children? For them, we can open a gate that separates life from death. For them, Emma Lazarus’ words are not a poem but a promise: Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand. A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! Open the gates, this new year, and she will lift her lamp beside the golden door once more. WRT

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Avodah: Worship and Spirituality Kabbalat Shabbat

Our Shabbat evening service is held each Friday in the Temple’s main sanctuary and features the rituals, melodies, and warmth of our congregation. The service often includes a reading from the weekly Torah portion and a sermon or presentation by one of our rabbis, cantors or special guests. At the conclusion of prayer, our Oneg Shabbat provides worshippers with a wonderful setting for sharing stories and greetings in the joy of Shabbat. The first Friday Service of each month will begin at 6:15 pm. Services on all other weeks (2nd, 3rd and 4th week) will begin at 7:45 pm. Please check the calendar and website for changes in times due to Shabbat services with special programming or holiday weekends. During the summer our Friday Services take place at 6:15 pm in our CJL Summer Sanctuary.

Tot Shabbat

Friday, December 9 at 5:30 pm - Chanukah Friday, January 20 at 5:30 pm - Blessing of New Babies

Experience the joy of Shabbat with your children, parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. Tot Shabbat, designed for families with children ages six and younger, starts with a short service followed by an arts and crafts activity and child-friendly dinner. Children must be accompanied by an adult for this program. Please no drop-offs. RSVP by the Tuesday before the program to [email protected]. Mark your calendars for future Tot Shabbat dates: March 3, April 7 and May 12.

iSing Shabbat - K-4th graders and their families Friday, December 16 at 6:00 pm

Join us for 30 minutes of soulful music led by clergy and live instrumentalists, projected lyrics so you can sing along, and candle lighting. Delicious catered Israeli-style food for the adults and kid-friendly foods will be offered. RSVP to [email protected], and please let her know how many adults and children are attending, so that we can plan appropriately. Mark you calendar for future iSing Shabbat dates: March 24 and April 28.

Torah Study

Saturdays in the Sifriyah (Library) from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Each Shabbat morning we gather informally to read and discuss the week’s Torah portion. The group is led by volunteers, with clergy participation. The morning begins with a brief Shabbat service at which mourners who wish to say Kaddish are warmly welcomed. No prior experience with Torah is necessary; just come as you are, with an open mind!

Sharing Shabbat Saturdays at 9:00 am

Our engaging, musical family service for children in grades K-6 and their families is open to the congregation and community! This weekly service is followed by bagels, coffee, cookies, and conversation for children, parents and teachers. Consult the Shabbat Services calendar for Sharing Shabbat dates.

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Bulletin • Winter 2016-2017 • www.wrtemple.org

Shabbat Events Annual Community Outdoor Chanukah Candle Lighting (Seventh Candle) Friday, December 30 at 5:45 pm Join us as we light our outdoor 10-foot tall Chanukah menorah! Open to the entire community. We will continue the evening at 6:15 pm with an early Shabbat Service, to be followed by a festive Chanukah oneg. We invite members of the community to bring their own Chanukah menorahs so that we can fill our hearts and halls with the light and warmth of Chanukah.

Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Shabbat Service and Gospel Music Featuring guest speaker Reverend Dr. Stephen W. Pogue Friday, January 13 at 7:45 pm Join us for our annual Shabbat service honoring the legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with our guest speaker Reverend Dr. Stephen W. Pogue, Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, Mt. Vernon. Reverend Dr. Pogue will be joined by choir members from Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, leading us in spirituals, gospel and freedom songs. If you’ve never heard this 80-voice gospel choir, come prepared for your heart to soar, as you clap your hands and move your feet with joy. Two other youth choirs will also participate in the service. Our own WRT youth choir, “Chabibeat,” and The Amazing Afternoons Youth Choir from Mt. Vernon will add to the energy and music of our worship. It will be an incredible evening! Reverend Dr. Stephen W. Pogue was appointed Pastor of The Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, in Mt. Vernon, in 2012 after serving churches in Harlem and Oakland, California. Rev. Dr. Pogue has served his communities in many ways, including co-founding the Hip Hop Church in Harlem.

Shabbat Shirah Service Featuring Tizmoret, the a capella ensemble of the Queens College Hillel, and WRT’s teen choir Friday, February 10 at 7:45 pm Join us for what has become a favorite WRT tradition: our annual Shabbat Shirah, or Sabbath of Song service, featuring some of our country’s preeminent collegiate a capella groups. This year, we will be welcoming Tizmoret, the award-winning professional a capella group of the Queens College Hillel. Composed of some of the most talented musicians from colleges throughout New York City, Tizmoret is a three-time winner of Kol HaOlam, the National Collegiate Jewish A Capella Championship. Their diverse repertoire runs the gamut, from traditional Jewish melodies to American Billboard hits to contemporary Israeli songs. Our service will also feature WRT’s own teen choir, a talented group of high school vocalists who regularly enhance our community’s musical programming at the High Holy Days and special events. Don’t miss one of our year’s most joyous and dynamic musical celebrations!

WRT

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Talmud Torah: Adult Education King David

Led by Rabbi Jonathan Blake and Rabbi Daniel Reiser Tuesdays, December 6 and February 28 at 7:15 pm

Rabbi Jonathan Blake

David, melech Yisrael, chai, chai, v’kayam. David, king of Israel, lives and endures. The words of the popular Hebrew children’s song ring true: King David’s legacy as the quintessential poet and musician, the chosen one of God, and even a Messianic figure, endures to this day. David has inspired countless generations of artists, musicians, and authors, who seek to give new expression to this beloved Biblical figure. But there have been many great Jewish leaders; what makes David unique? Join us in a year-long study of one of our tradition’s most intriguing and complex personalities. This course, taught by our clergy, will explore the many facets of King David, from triumphant military hero, to inspired musician, to monarch, to flawed father and husband. We will study portrayals of David from the Biblical era to the modern day, using diverse media ranging from sacred texts to art, music, and contemporary literature. Additional class dates are: March 7, 14, 28, April 4 and May 9.

Rabbi Daniel Reiser

Rosh Chodesh 5777 Holy Envy: Own Faith & Other Faiths

Led by Cantor Jill Abramson and Cantor Amanda Kleinman

Tuesdays, December 6, January 31 and February 28 at 11:30 am Cantor Jill Abramson

Bring your lunch and join together with a diverse group of women to investigate being Jewish while affirming the faith of others. Key questions include: How can I be part of my own tribe/group/religion and STILL be part of a larger culture? How does a minority religion become influenced by greater Christian culture? And finally, what are the threads that connect different religious groups, particularly for women? We will continue to explore The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew—Three Women Search for Understanding, the provocative and well-written book by Rayna Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Additional articles will be distributed to bolster the conversation. Each participant is asked to procure her own copy of the book. Additional class dates are March 28, April 25, May 23 and June 13.

Cantor Amanda Kleinman

Hebrew Café

Led by Omer Nisanov

Mondays, December 5, 19, January 16, 30, February 13 and 27 at 2:00 pm Always wanted to learn conversational Hebrew? Join our new Sh’licha (Israeli emissary), Omer Nisanov, for conversational Hebrew and coffee. Come add your voice to the conversation! No registration required. Omer Nisanov

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Bulletin • Winter 2016-2017 • www.wrtemple.org

The “Other” Israelis Led by Dr. Yoel Magid Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 pm

A screening of the Israeli TV documentary “Last Stop” that looks at the tensions and conflicts among various non-Jewish and Jewish-African communities–including Ethiopians–and the Jewish community they come into contact with in the neighborhood of Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station. If time permits, we will also screen a short documentary about the job of an Ethiopian policeman in a neighborhood of Ethiopian immigrants.

Yoel Magid

Sunday, January 8 at 2:00 pm

After an introduction about Israeli-Arab author Sayed Kashua, who writes in Hebrew and introduced Israelis to Arab families and culture in a very popular TV series called “Arab Labor,” we will screen and discuss his semi-autobiographical “A Borrowed Identity”— a film about a bright Arab boy who wins a scholarship to an exclusive Jewish school in Jerusalem...and all the complications that ensue. Additional dates scheduled are March 19, April 23 and May 21. This adult education program is made possible with support from the Vivienne Sulds Memorial Fund.

And She Said: Women’s Commentaries on the Bible

Eliana Fischel

Led by Eliana Fischel, WRT Rabbinic Intern

Wednesdays, December 14 and January 18 at 11:00 am

This class will use The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, Nehama Leibowitz’s interpretations, and Judith Plaskow’s philosophy to understand important Biblical passages from the feminine and feminist perspectives. This class is for everyone—those new to Torah study and those more experienced with it. Additional class dates are March 15, April 19 and May 17.

Introduction to Mishnah: The Core of the Talmud Mishnah B’rachot: Chapters 4-5, led by Rabbi David Levy Tuesdays, January 10, 17, and 24 at 11:30 am

Rabbi David Levy

Mishnah B’rachot: Chapters 6-7, led by Rabbi Jonathan Blake Tuesdays, February 7, 14, and March 7 at 11:30 am

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the first Rabbis compiled the building blocks of Jewish law and practice in a volume called Mishnah (“Teaching”). This year at WRT, we will undertake a comprehensive study of a tractate of the Mishnah, the early rabbinic legal text that serves as the core of the Talmud. We will study the entirety of the Mishnah’s first tractate, B’rachot (meaning “blessings”), which deals primarily with the laws of prayer. This section of the Mishnah serves as the basis for many of our central prayers and practices, such as the daily recitation of the Sh’ma and the ritual of Havdalah that concludes Shabbat. Join us as we explore the earliest roots of Jewish liturgy and ritual and consider how this ancient text has shaped thousands of years of Jewish scholarship and practice. Upcoming classes: Cantor Kleinman: Chapters 8, 9 - Mar. 14, 21, Apr. 4.

Rabbi Jonathan Blake

Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month Speaker Pamela Schuller, Stand-Up Inclusion Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 pm

Pamela Schuller sees the world from a different point of view: one where eye-level is four-foot-seven and barking without provocation is a completely normal and entertaining part of her day. Join us as Pamela, a stand-up comedian and internationally-known inclusion advocate, shares her extraordinary personal story of growing up with America’s most severe known case of Tourette Syndrome. Now the director of a youth and teen mental health program at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Pamela uses her comedic talents and unique life story to help communities reframe their understanding of inclusion.

WRT

Pamela Schuller

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Chavurah Women of Reform Judaism

Message from WRT President Helene Gray

Tuesdays, December 6, January 31 and February 28 at 11:30 am Rosh Chodesh: “Holy Envy: Own Faith & Other Faiths” (see page 6) Monday, December 5 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Annual Holiday Boutique

Timed for Chanukah shopping, our Holiday Boutique includes dozens of specialty vendors – old favorites and new faces – offering irresistible items for sale at all price points. Trendy clothing, beautiful accessories, designer handbags, sunglasses, scarves, gloves, children’s wear, jewelry, Judaica items, gifts for the home – great gifts for everyone on your list. Stop by the Judaica Shop, now carrying Michael Aram, for items from Israel, including jewelry and religious artifacts at appealing discounts. Shop to give – a portion of the vendors’ proceeds will be donated to charities, especially those dedicated to benefiting women and children. Profits from the boutique benefit WRJ-designated charities in Westchester and Israel. There is no admission fee for this event.

Thursday, December 8 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm WRJ Winter Luncheon - guest speaker Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger

Our guest speaker will be Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, author of A German Life: Against All Odds Change Is Possible. Born in Germany in 1958, Dr. Wollschlaeger was the Christian son of a highly decorated WWII tank commander and a Nazi war hero who had been presented with the Iron Cross by Adolf Hitler. A German Life is the story of his quest to find answers about the past – a past which his father had hidden from him. Dismayed by the legacy of the Holocaust, he began a spiritual journey leading to his conversion to Judaism and emigration to Israel. RSVP to Susan Grosz, 65 Carthage Rd., Scarsdale 10583 or email to [email protected].

Save the Date! Thursday, March 30 17th Annual Women’s Seder

Men’s Club

Thursday, December 8 at 7:00 pm Men’s Club Meeting Save the Date! Thursday, April 6 Men’s Club Seder

Evening Book Group

Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 pm Nutshell by Ian McEwan

Additional meeting dates to be announced. Please RSVP to Lenore Rosenbaum at [email protected].

Baby Boomers

Are you a Baby Boomer/Empty Nester? WRT has events designed for people looking for new connections with other members. This ongoing series of events offers tours, cooking workshops, music and other programs. Look for updated information on the Baby Boomer page (in the Community section) on the temple website at www.wrtemple.org. Please send an email to [email protected] if you would like to sign-up for emails.

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Bulletin • Winter 2016-2017 • www.wrtemple.org

Helene Gray

Excerpts from 5777 Rosh HaShanah Message

In a mountain village in Europe many centuries ago, there was a nobleman who wondered what legacy he might be able to leave for his townspeople. At last, he decided to build a synagogue. None of the local folk saw the plans for the building until it was finished. When the people entered for the first time they marveled at its beauty and detail. Then someone asked, “Where are the lamps? How will it be lighted?” The nobleman pointed to brackets, which were on every wall of the synagogue. Then he gave each family a lamp to bring with them every time they came to the synagogue. “Each time you are not here,” he said, “your place within the synagogue will be unlit. This will be a reminder that, whenever you fail to attend, especially when the community needs you, some part of God’s house will be dark.” Why do I share this particular story with you tonight? Because, if there is one message that I’ve tried to impart over these past three years, it is that your WRT community needs your participation to help fortify our congregation. Yet when we join together as part of a community, we become part of something bigger than ourselves. To be sure, this takes time, energy, patience and maybe even a new way of thinking. Sometimes it involves making sacrifices. But the network of support and relationships—the connections—that you gain as part of the dynamic that make up most communities, makes it worthwhile. Some people work at strengthening those connections; so if you are one of those who have been enriched by one of our adult education classes, become an adult b’nei mitzvah, participated in Torah study, cooked for a good cause on our kitchen, travelled to Israel or the deep south with our clergy, sipped spirits in the WRT sukkah, or watched your kids get blessed at the ark–or by all of those things and more –keep coming and lighting up WRT. If you are not there yet, perhaps this is the year that you decide to strengthen the bonds that unite us. Your WRT family welcomes you with open and enthusiastic arms. We need you to help us carry on the fine traditions that have been established by those who came before us, and to imagine and reach new and greater heights. As the story teaches us, each and every one of us has the power to make our light matter.

Clal Israel 4th Annual Water and Wine

sponsored by JNF (Jewish National Fund) Welcome Remarks by Rabbi Jonathan Blake Guest Speaker Seth M. Siegel Thursday, December 1 at 7:45 pm

Explore Israel’s wine revolution and enjoy tastings with an Israeli wine expert. Learn how Israel is sharing its water solutions with the world. The evening will feature guest speaker Seth M. Siegel, the author of Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. He is a writer, activist, social entrepreneur, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. A dessert reception is open to the community. Tickets are $25 per person. RSVP by 11/22. For more information and to pay online, visit jnf.org/waterandwine.

Seth Siegel

The Opposite of Spoiled

Guest Speaker Ron Lieber, author and New York Times columnist Sunday, December 4 at 1:30 pm

Ron Lieber, author of The Opposite of Spoiled (Harper Collins 2015) and the weekly New York Times “Your Money” column, will be speaking about how, when and why to talk to kids about money. He’ll cover the basics—allowance, chores, phones, cars and college. But his overarching focus is on values. What we spend, how we save and where we give Tzedakah says a lot about who we are. And every question that our kids ask— from how much money we make to why we live where we live—is an opportunity to impress our values upon our children. His talk will walk parents through all of those conversations and explain when to have them and what to say.

Ron Lieber

The Politics of the American Jewish Community A Post-Election Analysis with Noam Neusner Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 pm

The 2016 election was unusually emotional and not surprisingly, the US Jewish community was divided over its preferences. But with the outcome now clear, what’s the future of each side of our political divide? Is there a home for Jewish Republicans given the rise of the alt-right? Will pro-Israel Jewish Democrats continue to feel comfortable in the party of Truman, JFK and Lieberman even though the campus left is turning strongly against Israel? A veteran political analyst who worked in the White House as a speechwriter and Jewish liaison takes a close look at the election results and what’s next for our community.

Noam Neusner

Speaker Aaron David Miller

Sponsored by AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 pm

WRT welcomes Aaron David Miller, noted author and Middle East analyst and negotiator. For more than two decades, Mr. Miller served as an advisor on Arab-Israeli affairs to six secretaries of state, including as the Senior Advisor on Arab-Israeli negotiations to Secretary of State Colin Powell. In the 1990’s, as Deputy Special Middle East Coordinator, he played a key role in structuring and facilitating some our nation’s most significant negotiations, perhaps most notably the Oslo Accords. He has published five acclaimed books, including national bestseller The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Search for the Elusive ArabIsraeli Peace and, more recently, The End of Greatness: Why America Can’t Have (and Doesn’t Want) Another Great President. Mr. Miller currently serves as Vice President for New Initiatives at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Join us as our distinguished guest engages us in conversation about Israel and its role in the confusing political landscape of the Middle East today.

WRT

Aaron David Miller

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Cantor Abramson to Receive Fellowship from AJWS

Monthly Mitzvah Calendar for 2016-2017

Please open your closet and heart–to see what you might be able to donate this year. December: Toys Talk with your children about sharing one or more gifts they receive with children who will not get any holiday presents because their families are too poor. Encourage your children to bring the gifts to WRT and place it them in the Monthly Mitzvah drawer. January: Coats, hats, gloves, scarves and sweaters Homeless people have no place to store warm clothes. Many need these items when the weather turns cold. February: Baby Month at WRT Kids Kloset in White Plains is looking for layette items – clothing 0 – 12 months, towels/receiving blankets, diaper bags, diapers, infant books, toys (1 year and under) strollers, pack n play (please no car seats). AFYA Foundation is also looking for baby blankets, baby hats and rain ponchos and rain boots for midwives. Henry Simon 478-1342 [email protected] Lee Maude 725-3115 [email protected] Ronny Hersch 472-1659 [email protected] Co-Chairs, Monthly Mitzvah Program This need is greater than ever for every WRT Member to step up and perform acts of Tzedakah (justice), to fulfill our obligation as Jews to do Mitzvot (Commandments) for Tikkun Olam (mend a broken world). “Tzedakah is as important as all the commandments together.” - Babylonian Talmud

Cantor Jill Abramson

Cantor Abramson was recently selected to receive a Global Justice Fellowship from the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). This fellowship will take her to the Dominican Republic for one week in January. Cantor Abramson is the only cantor to be included in the fellowship, alongside many prominent rabbis.

The AJWS Global Justice Fellowship is a selective program designed to inspire, educate and train American rabbis to become activist leaders in support of global justice. The fellowship includes a seven-day educational trip to a developing country and the opportunity to advocate for laws and policies in Washington, D.C., that will promote human rights around the globe. Participants experience the power of grassroots efforts to overcome injustice and then use their moral authority to influence national decision makers and mobilize their own communities to take action. Please join in wishing her Mazal Tov!

DOROT

Sunday, January 29 at 10:00 am

Make a difference in an older person’s day by volunteering with DOROT (Hebrew for generations) for our winter package delivery hosted at WRT. Pack a package and get matched to visit a senior who spends most of his or her time at home and has requested someone to come and visit. Registration information will be announced in the WRT email blasts in January. For more information about DOROT, contact Westchester Director, Cippi Harte at [email protected] or 914-573-8906.

Cooking4HOPE

January 30 and February 27

Once a month, WRT members gather in our kitchen to cook a multicourse, delicious hot dinner for 125 hungry clients of HOPE Community Services, an ecumenical soup kitchen and food pantry in New Rochelle. Please join us to make lasagna, cookies, salad, hot vegetables, and bagged lunches. We meet from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on the last Monday of the month. If you can help us shop on Fridays once a month, or if you can help deliver the food, that would be a big help, too! If you’d like to join the rotating cast of big-hearted WRT members to perform a mitzvah, email one of us: Susan Ross ([email protected]), Kristin Friedman ([email protected]) or Debbie Radov ([email protected]).

Living with Divorce

Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30 pm

Please join us for our final monthly support/discussion group with Jane Slevin, LMFT, our skilled and kind partner from Westchester Jewish Community Services. Participate in a conversation and connect with others facing similar challenges. For those at all stages of the divorce process. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Healing Service

Led by Cantor Jill Abramson, Nancy Abraham and WRT Clergy Sunday, February 12 from 4:00 pm to 4:50 pm in the CJL

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What is healing? A return to well-being, to peace and equanimity, to wholeness? Perhaps all of these -and more. Prayer has a powerful healing quality in itself. We invite you to join for a service dedicated to the concept of healing. Through song, silent prayer, meditation, poetry, and texts on the subject of healing, we will send prayers outward and delve inward, exploring what healing can mean. During this brief service, meeting in the intimate space provided by the Center for Jewish Life (CJL), we will convene in a circle to support and honor one another’s supplications and silence. Additional service date is April 2.

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Religious School 723-5224 / [email protected] December

2 - K-2 Consecration 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm 7 - Packing for College with Noam Neusner 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm 9 - Pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah Dinner 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm 11 - 11th and 12th Grade Brunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 16 - 4th Grade Hebrew Aleph-Bet Siyyum 5:30 - 6:00 pm 16 - iSing Shabbat 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm 20 - WInter Break begins (No Religious School 12/20 to 1/2)

January

3 - Classes resume.

7th Grade Parent-Student-Clergy Meeting 5:45 pm - 7:00 pm 4 - Packing for College 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm 8 - 2/Gather Parent Sessions Alef 9:00 am - 11:00 am / Bet 10:30 am - 12:30 pm 13 - MLK Shabbat - J-Lective opportunity. RS families are encouraged to attend. 14-16 No classes. Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend 22 - 11th and 12th Grade Brunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 28 - Sharing Shabbat Alumni Shabbat 29 - No Religious School Classes/Professional Development Day

February

1 - Packing for College with Anti-Defamation League 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm 3-4 - 6th Grade Shabbaton 4 - Sharing Shabbat Social Action Day (off-site) 5 - 2/Gather Parent Sessions (5th Grade only) Alef 9:00 am - 11:00 am / Bet 10:30 am - 12:30 pm 11 - Sharing Shabbat Havdallah Night 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm 12 - 11th and 12th Grade Brunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 15 - Jewish Disabilities Awareness Speaker 7th-12th Grade Families invited 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 16 - No Religious School Classes/Professional Development Day 18-26 - Mid-WInter Break/ No Religious School Classes

Sixth Grade Family Shabbaton

Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4

The annual Sixth Grade Family Shabbaton is an enthusiastically attended event and a highlight of the Sixth Grade year at WRT. This preview of the B’nei Mitzvah year introduces students and parents to the coming-of-age ceremony and all that it entails. On Friday late afternoon through dinner, you will experience: warm community, great food and conversation, and sacred service. On Saturday—no, you do not sleep over at WRT!—attend a model B’nei Mitzvah service, receive your Torah portion, make a personalized silver Torah Yad (Torah pointer) to use at your service, and learn with and from Confirmation students. Parents will converse with clergy on the meaning of the B’nei Mitzvah experience. All will enjoy a festive lunch and much more. Look for information coming your way soon.

8th-12th Grade Mid-Year Enrollment

As we look forward to the year ahead, we hope you and your children will consider Mercaz for the rest of the year. This year we have split our program into three terms organized around the sports schedule, and we begin our second term in January. We know that your sons and daughters are dipping their toes into the turbulent sea of high School. However, WRT can serve as a refuge, and a night to relax. In an effort to be open to anyone who wants to be here, even for half of the year, we are offering reduced tuition to join for our winter and spring terms. If you are interested, contact the Religious School office 914-723-5224 or [email protected]

Chabibeat – WRT’s Children’s Choir

Do you love to sing? Want to learn great music with great friends? Join WRT’s youth choir, Chabibeat, for students in second through sixth grades. After a fabulous inaugural season, we’re thrilled to announce our performance program for 2017. We have three exciting performance planned for this year: January 13, 2017 – MLK Shabbat service with our friends from Greater Centennial AME Zion Church March 12, 2017 - Purim Service and Spiel at WRT April 21, 2017 - WRT’s annual Service of Responsibility We welcome you to join for some or all of these performances. We will be holding two to three rehearsals in advance of each performance. Check the Religious School Weekly Announcements in the coming weeks for a rehearsal schedule. If your child is interested in joining the choir, or if you have any questions, please contact Cantor Amanda Kleinman at [email protected].



Interested in WRT Teen’s Choir? (see back cover) WRT

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Early Childhood Center (ECC) 723-5493 / [email protected]

Westchester Reform Temple is also a Center for Families with Young Children. We are a warm, caring, nurturing place where families can plant roots, find community and build friendships that last a lifetime. We welcome families to participate in enriching celebrations and events along with developing Jewish connections. Some of the events/activities are open to the entire community, others are offered to families enrolled in our Early Childhood Center (ECC) and/or Religious School. As many of you know, Westchester Reform Temple is becoming a “zero waste” facility, and the ECC is proud to be a part of this program. A zero-waste facility is one that produces little to no waste by making sure that what is used by our facility is reusable, recyclable or compostable. WRT has embraced this initiative to support the health of our congregants and our earth and to be a positive role model to our families. So what can you do as a parent to support zero waste at the ECC? Lots! Please think about waste reduction when you are packing lunch for your child to bring to WRT. Send drinks and food in reusable containers. Pack them reusable utensils. Maybe even send a cloth napkin instead of paper! And explain to your children why you are doing all this: They will be proud of you and proud of themselves! And if you do need to send drinks or food in a disposable carton—please make it a recyclable one, and remind your child to put it in the recycling container at the ECC! The staff is always finding ways to help the children learn what we can all do, and partnering with parents is a first step. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sue Tolchin or the WRT Zero Waste Committee at [email protected]. Some events that take place during the year and offered to our ECC families: Friday, December 9, 5:30 pm Friday, January 20, 5:30 pm Tot Shabbat

Led by WRT Clergy, Tot Shabbat Services are offered on a monthly basis for infants through 5-year-olds. A short service, craft project and supper are offered. These services are both special and meaningful for parents and children as well as grandparents and their grandchildren. Children must be accompanied by an adult for this program. (No drop-offs.) RSVP to [email protected]. (No charge and open to the community.)

Weekly, Fridays, 9:00 am to 10:15 am Babies and Bagels drop-in playgroup

Offered each Friday when ECC is in session. Come make new friends and celebrate Shabbat with ECC Director Sue Tolchin. Challah is provided. No RSVP needed. (No charge and open to the community.)

Tuesday, December 6 Dishin’ In the Kitchen

Offered several times during the year. After morning class drop-off of children, ECC moms or dads are welcome to come to the WRT kitchen to cook and learn creative new recipes with helpful hints on how to create healthy and child-friendly meals. These events are organized and led by ECC moms. (No charge. Open to all ECC parents.) Additional date: February 7.

Wednesday, December 7 - Thursday, December 8 ECC Book Fair

A wide range of books will be on display to purchase for Chanukah and/or any gift.

Wednesday, December 7, 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm Milk and Cookies

Join us for a Chanukah celebration led by Cantor Amanda Kleinman. There will be an author on hand to read. (No charge and open to the community.)

Sunday, December 11, 9:30 am Dad’s Club

Geared to ECC dads and their children who want to make new friends and re-connect with existing ones. Give mom a break on Sunday morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Enjoy bagels and socializing. (No charge.) Additional dates: March 26 and May 21.

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Israel Virtual Trip - Tuesday, May 2 Families are invited to partake in a virtual trip to Israel with their children. Food, arts and crafts as well as a “plane ride” are a great way to visit Israel. (ECC families and their children) ECC Cocktail Party - Saturday, May 6 An evening event held at WRT for parents. Cocktails and hors d’heuvres. This social gathering offers new families the opportunity to come and meet existing ECC families in a fun and festive setting. (ECC Parents) Truck Day - Wednesday, May 17 (morning) All children in the ECC have an opportunity to view and explore a fire engine, police car, garbage trucks, backhoes, ambulance, mail truck and the ever popular ice cream truck! (ECC children only) New Family Welcome - Tuesday, May 23 Families that are new to our school are invited to meet one another over pizza and dessert. A tour of the ECC is given and children get a first glimpse of their new school. Registration for the 2017-2018 school year is on-going. Feel free to contact us for more information and a tour. 914- 723-5493. For further information contact Sue Tolchin ECC Director at [email protected] or Ellen Rosenberg Administrative Assistant at Ellen.Rosenberg@ wrtemple.org

WRT Holidays and Events Calendar



2016-2017

December - 2016

January - 2017

February - 2017

Thursday, December 1 7:45 pm JNF Water to Wine Program Speaker Seth M. Siegel

Sunday, January 1 - New Year’s Day Building closed

Friday, February 3 - Saturday, February 4 6th Grade Shabbaton Weekend

Friday, December 2 5:00 pm K-2 Consecration

Monday, January 2 - New Year’s Day (observed) Office and Building closed

Sunday, February 5 3:00 pm Baby Boomers Chocolate Making Class

Sunday, December 4 1:30 pm Author Ron Lieber Presentation

Sunday, January 8 2:00 pm Israel Film and Novel Series

Monday, December 5 9:00 am WRJ Holiday Boutique 2:00 pm Hebrew Cafe

Tuesday, January 10 11:30 am Mishnah B’rachot

Tuesday, February 7 11:30 am Mishnah B’rachot 7:30 pm Aaron David Miller, AIPAC Speaker

Tuesday, December 6 11:30 am Rosh Chodesh 7:15 pm King David 7:30 pm Living with Divorce

Wednesday, January 11 7:00 pm Baby Boomers Music Series Thursday, January 12 12:30 pm WRJ Board Meeting

Wedesday, December 7 - ECC Book Fair Monday, January 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 4:00 pm ECC Milk & Cookies with Cantor Kleinman Office and Building closed 7:00 pm Noam Neusner, Political Speaker Thursday, December 8 - ECC Book Fair 12:00 pm WRJ Winter Luncheon 7:00 pm Men’s Club Meeting

Tuesday, January 17 11:30 am Mishnah B’rachot

Sunday, December 11 2:00 pm Israel Film and Novel Series

Wednesday, Jaunary 18 11:00 am Women’s Commentaries on the Bible 7:00 pm Baby Boomers Music Series

Wednesday, December 14 11:00 am Women’s Commentaries on the Bible

Thursday, January 19 7:30 pm Baby Boomers Cooking Class

Monday, December 19 2:00 pm Hebrew Cafe

Tuesday, January 24 11:30 am Mishnah B’rachot

Tuesday, December 20 7:00 pm Evening Book Club

Wednesday, January 25 7:00 pm Baby Boomers Music Series

Sunday, February 12 4:00 pm Healing Service Monday, February 13 2:00 pm Hebrew Cafe Tuesday, February 14 11:30 am Mishnah B’rachot Wednesday, February 15 7:00 pm Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month Speaker Pam Schuller Monday, February 20 - President’s Day Office and Building closed Monday, February 27 10:00 am Cooking4HOPE 2:00 pm Hebrew Cafe Tuesday, February 28 11:30 am Rosh Chodesh 7:15 pm King David

Saturday, December 24 - Erev Chanukah - First Candle Sunday, January 29 10:00 am DOROT Package Delivery Sunday, December 25 - Chanukah - Second Candle Building closed Monday, January 30 10:00 am Cooking4HOPE Monday, December 26 - Chanukah - Third Candle 2:00 pm Hebrew Cafe Office and Building closed Tuesday, December 27 - Chanukah - Fourth Candle Wednesday, December 28 - Chanukah - Fifth Candle

Tuesday, January 31 11:30 am Rosh Chodesh

Thursday, December 29 - Chanukah - Sixth Candle Friday, December 30 - Chanukah - Seventh Candle 5:40 pm Outdoor Community Menorah Lighting 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service 7:30 pm Festival Chanuka Oneg Saturday, December 31- Chanukah - Eighth Candle

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WRT is proudly a zero-waste community!

As part of our commitment to Shmirat Adamah (safeguarding the earth) we reduce our waste through reusing, recycling and composting. To learn more contact [email protected]



Shabbat Schedule of Services December - 2016

January - 2017

February - 2017

Friday, December 2 5:00 pm K-2 Consecration 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service

Friday, January 6 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service

Friday, February 3 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service

Saturday, January 7 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service Bar Mitzvah of Josh Becher 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service Bat Mitzvah of Haley Brettschneider

Saturday, February 4 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat (offsite)

Friday, January 13 7:45 pm Shabbat Service Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Service

Saturday, February 11 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service Bar Mitzvah of Alex Edelstein 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service Bat Mitzvah of Brianna Subin

Saturday, December 3 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service B’nei Mitzvah of Lindsey Lindman and Matthew Nadler 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service B’nei Mitzvah of Jane Gerson and Ryan Gerson Friday, December 9 5:30 pm Tot Shabbat 7:45 pm Shabbat Service Saturday, December 10 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service B’nei Mitzvah of Emma Hochberg and Jeremy Suzman 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service B’nei Mitzvah of Charlotte Braun and Shauny Spivack-Braun Friday, December 16 6:00 pm iSing Shabbat 7:45 pm Shabbat Service Saturday, December 17 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service Bat Mitzvah of Samantha Medvinsky

Saturday, January 14 9:00 am Torah Study 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service B’not Mitzvah of Abigail Fine and Elizabeth Fine 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service Bar Mitzvah of Alec Rosen Friday, January 20 5:30 pm Tot Shabbat 7:45 pm Shabbat Service Saturday, January 21 9:00 am Torah Study 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 10:00 am Shabbat Morning Service Bar Mitzvah of Jeremy Sobel 5:00 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service Bat Mitzvah of Remi Fischer

Friday, February 10 7:45 pm Shabbat Service Shabbat Shirah Service

Friday, February 17 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service Saturday, February 18 9:00 am Torah Study Friday, February 24 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service Saturday, February 25 9:00 am Torah Study

Friday, January 27 7:45 pm Shabbat Evening Service

Friday, December 23 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service

Saturday, January 28 9:00 am Torah Study Saturday, December 24 (Erev Chanukah - First Candle) 9:00 am Sharing Shabbat 5:00 pm Afternoon Shabbat Service 9:00 am Torah Study B’nei Mitzvah of Nicole Cohn Friday, December 30 (Chanukah - Seventh Candle) and Trevor Cohn 5:45 pm Outdoor Menorah Lighting 6:15 pm Early Shabbat Service 7:30 pm Festival Chanukah Oneg Saturday, December 31 (Chanukah - Eighth Candle) 9:00 am Torah Study

WRT

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WRT

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PERIODICAL

Westchester Reform Temple 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Volunteering for a Social Action committee: Welcoming Our Neighbors: Providing food and entertainment to the elderly, underserved and emotionally and physically challenged at WRT and other locations. Contact: [email protected] Educating Our Youths: One-to-one support through mentoring and tutoring programs for elementary and high school students from an underserved area. Contact: [email protected] Donating for Others: Gathering of seasonal or specialty goods from WRT community. Contact: [email protected] Feeding the Hungry: Collecting, shopping, cooking and/or packaging food for distribution to soup kitchens and social service agencies. Contact: [email protected] Sheltering and Helping the Homeless: Feeding and providing temporary housing at WRT for local homeless population. Contact: [email protected] Responding to Emergencies: Mobilizing effort for emergency relief to address local and global crises as they arise. Contact: [email protected] Advocating for Change: Working with decision makers and other communities to influence programming and policy. Contact: [email protected] Teen Advocacy: [email protected] Zero Waste: Recycling, reusing and composting to reduce WRT’s environmental imprint. Contact: [email protected]

WRT Teen Choir

Join the a capella craze! This year, WRT’s own teen choir will be adding their voices to our annual Shabbat Shirah, or Sabbath of Song. In addition to our own talented teen vocalists, we will also be welcoming Tizmoret, the a capella ensemble of the Queens College Hillel. Join our teen choir to participate in this fun and dynamic evening of song. We will rehearse during Mercaz, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., on the following dates: January 4, 11, 18, 25 and February 1, 8 We will perform at our Shabbat Shirah service on Friday night, February 11. We welcome all teens in eighth through twelfth grades to join us, including those who are not currently enrolled in Mercaz. For more information, or if you are interested in joining the choir, contact Cantor Amanda Kleinman.