Dear Friends,

Parashat Mishpatim, which we read this past Shabbat, marks an important stylistic shift for the Torah. Up until now–from Bereshit through the beginning of Shemot–the focus has mostly been on narrative, on the stories of the matriarchs and patriarchs and on the dramatic tale of slavery and redemption. From Mishpatim onward, however, the focus is mainly on law–on torts, on capital cases, on tax law and the laws of agriculture, and on ritual and moral conduct. For a reader encountering the text for the first time it would likely be a very notable departure. 

One way of thinking about this shift is to consider the scope and direction of the Torah’s attention. Whereas the myths of our ancestors and the majestic drama of cosmic creation tell us where we’ve been, the revelation of divine law–which will form the basis of the society that people will create once they enter the land–let us know where we’re going. The Torah’s stories are about preserving our past; the Torah’s laws are about imagining our future. 

Both, of course, are core aspects of Jewish thought and Jewish experience. After all, law and lore are intermingled freely throughout Jewish sacred literature. Not to be missed, however, is the fact that in a final reckoning the legal passages in Humash do outnumber the narrative ones, which means that the Torah spends more time encouraging the Israelites to think prospectively about how they will one day make God’s laws manifest in the land, and less time meditating on the adventures of bygone heroes.  

And yet in every Jewish community I have ever been a part of–and in almost every Jewish institution that I can name–there is a prevailing sense that we are stewards of an ancient treasure and that central among our tasks is preserving that treasure, an artifact of hoary antiquity, for future generations. In some sense we are. But this cultural impulse (which is itself not so new) flies in the face of what the Torah seems to suggest. Because the Torah most certainly imagines that our best and most important days are ahead of us, which is why, on balance, it speaks more about future governance than it does about ancient stories. 

Borrowing an idea from David Tzvi Kalman–a wonderful contemporary Jewish thinker and a fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute–in honor of Parashat Mishpatim I would invite us, for a moment, to flip the normal script. Let’s imagine, for the sake of argument, that human beings will endure on earth for at least as long as other vertebrate species. If so then we have about 700,000 years in the tank. Let’s also imagine–and I really do believe it is true–that as long as humans walk the earth some of them will walk the earth as Jews. That means that those of us living as Jews today have experienced something like half a percent of Jewish history, which also means we are much closer to the start-up phase in the history of our people than we are to the maintenance phase let alone to the end. We are not librarians preserving archives; we are street artists throwing paint against the wall to see what will stick. We are not guardians, but adventurers.

It is certainly a striking visual. And I believe it is something that the Torah wants us to keep in mind, at least for several thousand years. 

With brachot for the future,

R. Benjamin Resnick

Ben

Mishe’nichnas Adar, marbim b’simchah

When the month of Adar begins, we increase our joy.

On Wednesday, February 18, the Jewish calendar turns to the joyful month of Adar - the month of Purim. Our tradition teaches that with the arrival of Adar, we do not wait for happiness to find us; we actively expand it. Joy, in Judaism, is not naïve optimism. It is a spiritual practice. It is a choice.



The very name Adar is linked to the Hebrew word Adir, meaning mighty or powerful. Our sages teach that this is an auspicious month for the Jewish people - a time when what seemed fragile became strong, and what appeared destined for destruction was transformed into blessing. The story of Purim is the story of reversal: pur - fate or lot - turned upside down. From sorrow to celebration. From fear to courage. From exile to renewed dignity. Purim reminds us that history is not fixed, and that despair is never the final word.

It is no coincidence that Purim is one of the most joyful days in our tradition. We are commanded to celebrate, to feast, to laugh, and to rejoice together. But beneath the costumes and merriment lies a profound spiritual message: even when G-d’s presence feels hidden, redemption is quietly unfolding.

This hiddenness is central to the Book of Esther - the Megillah we will read together at the Pelham Jewish Center on Monday night, March 2. Remarkably, G-d’s name does not appear in the text even once. And yet, the rabbis chose to include this book in our sacred canon. Why? Because the story teaches us to look more deeply. The Hebrew name Esther is related to hester, meaning “hidden.” G-d may not be named - but G-d is present in the courage of Esther, in the integrity of Mordechai, and in the moral awakening of a community that refuses to surrender to fear.

The Jews of ancient Persia were living in exile, vulnerable and uncertain. Yet through a series of seemingly ordinary human choices - bravery, solidarity, prayer, moral clarity - their destiny changed. Where was G-d? Perhaps in the very fabric of those choices. In what our tradition calls areyvut hadadit - mutual responsibility. In Esther’s willingness to risk herself for her people. In Mordechai’s refusal to bow to injustice. In a community that fasted, hoped, and stood together.

This message speaks not only to children in costume, but to all of us - especially in times when the world feels unstable, when antisemitism resurfaces openly, and when we may wonder where strength will come from. Purim teaches that we do not wait for miracles; we become part of them. We become the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

How do we bring that message into our lives today?

Through action. Through generosity. Through community.

One of the central mitzvot of Purim is mishloach manot - sending gifts of food to one another. This simple act creates connection and joy. Our rabbis encourage us to reach beyond our closest circles - to include someone new, someone lonely, someone whose spirit needs lifting. Alongside this mitzvah, we are commanded to give matanot la’evyonim - gifts of tzedakah - reminding us that celebration is incomplete if others are left behind. In many communities, three half-dollar coins are given before the Megillah reading, recalling the ancient half-shekel donated to the Temple. The half-shekel symbolizes a timeless truth: none of us is whole alone. Community is built when every person contributes, and every person counts.

Our tradition also teaches that women are equally obligated to hear the Megillah, because they, too, were part of the miracle (Talmud, Arachin 2b). For me, as a Jewish educator and as a woman, the presence of strong female leadership in this story is deeply meaningful. Esther’s courage, wisdom, and initiative continue to inspire generations. As Debbie Friedman of blessed memory wrote, “Not by might and not by power, but by spirit alone…” - words that echo the enduring message of Purim: true strength is moral and spiritual.

At the Learning Center, we strive to cultivate that spirit every day. Moving from class to class, one hears singing, laughter, spirited debate, and the joy of discovery. In many ways, Adar simply magnifies what we already believe: that Jewish learning and Jewish community are sources of resilience and hope.

In the coming weeks, our students will explore the Purim story from many angles - uncovering layers of meaning in a narrative that, though ancient, feels strikingly current. It is a story of a minority community in a foreign land, facing hostility, yet rising with courage and unity. It is our story.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, from 4:00–5:30 PM (including our Nitzanim students), we will celebrate Purim at the Learning Center. At 5:30 PM, parents and students will gather for a Purim Spiel performed by our teachers, raising our ra’ashanim (graggers) at the sound of Haman’s name- transforming noise into joyful defiance. Together, we will experience the extraordinary power of Jewish communal life. Thank you so much to Emily Pauley and Laura Temes for helping us organize this celebration, which is also open to non- LC students and families.

As we enter Adar, may we choose joy - not as an escape from reality, but as an act of faith in it. May we strengthen one another. May we notice the hidden sparks of holiness in our lives. And may we continue to build a community where courage, generosity, and hope are not seasonal, but enduring.

I wish our students, parents, teachers, and all members of the PJC a truly joyful Purim.

May this month of Adar increase our happiness - and may that happiness ripple outward, bringing light to us all.

With much love,

Ana Turkienicz

Ana

Dear Friends,

I had the pleasure of attending Shabbat services at the PJC last Shabbat. It's been a while, since I live an hour and a half away in New Paltz. Every time I return it feels like a homecoming. I got a big hug from Ana. I sat between Marjut and Eleanor, Rabbi Resnick nodded a greeting to me. And, Roger gave me the third aliyah. I felt honored and proud to chant on the bima and shake hands with fellow congregants.

I met the author, Iddo Gefen, at Kiddush. He was amazed to learn that the PJC Book Group read and discussed both his books, the short story collection, Jerusalem Beach and his recent novel, Mrs. Lilienblum's Cloud Factory.

Iddo is friendly, interested in the dynamics of the PJC - there aren't many Masorti (Conservative) synagogues in Israel - and eager to discuss his books and research in cognitive psychology for his doctorate at Columbia.

After Kiddush, there was an intimate discussion between Rabbi Resnick and Iddo Gefen in the sanctuary. Mrs. Lilienblum's Cloud Factory, which began as a sardonic take on the "start up nation," became a quirky family saga taking place in Mizpe Ramon, a desert town in southern Israel. Sarai Lilienblum, mother of two adult children, loves to create new gadgets and think out of the box. It is hard for her family to keep up with her whims and experiments. Written before October 7th, the book did not address the current situation or "matsav," but represents a slice of Israeli life.

Gefen noted that his next book will not address the matsav since there needs to be more time to reflect on what the October 7th attack represents for Israelis. However, there will be a next book and Iddo is looking forward to joining our PJC Book Group for the Zoom discussion.

Although Iddo Gefen was the last author in our Textline series, we have been blessed to host former congregant, Naomi Kahati Bronner on February 28th to discuss her upcoming memoir, On The Wings of Eagles: The Forgotten Story of the Jews of Yemen. It should prove to be an interesting talk.

Barbara

Awake in the Dark

by Shira Nayman

Shira Nayman's deeply haunting short story collection, Awake in the Dark, illustrates how the experiences of holocaust survivors and their perpetrators, even if untold, affect the contemporary lives of their children. In her first story, The House on Kronenstrauss, Christiane senses forbidding echoes as "the past presses its shoulders to the present."

Nayman's stories are tightly constructed, beautifully written and offer surprise O'Henry-style endings. The reader becomes emotionally involved with the Holocaust victims, their perpetrators and the children they are desperately, but unsuccessfully, trying to protect.

Nayman's characters struggle with the legacy of their parents - their questions of identity, family and faith. In "The House on Kronenstrauss", a woman returns to Germany to find her childhood home. In "The Porcelain Monkey," the shocking origins of an Orthodox Jewish woman's faith are revealed. In "The Lamp," the harrowing experiences of a young woman leave her with the perfect daughter and a strange light; and in "Dark Urgings of the Blood," a patient is convinced that she shares a disturbing history with her psychiatrist.

Rendered in powerful, unaffected prose, Awake in the Dark is an illuminating and startling book about the disguises we don, the secrets we keep and the consequences of our silences.

Shira Nayman will join the PJC Book Group discussion of Awake in the Dark on Monday February 23 at 8:00 pm on Zoom.

Barbara

Proverbs 27.17

"Just like iron sharpens iron, a man sharpens the wit of his friend."

In the Talmud (Taanit 7a) Rabbi Hanina cites this line from Proverbs to explain why Torah is best learned in pairs. Having a partner or chevruta allows the learner to pose questions, consider other interpretations and master the subject at hand.

Find yourself a partner at the PJC and learn.

"Share a Simcha" allows congregants to share their news with our PJC community. Please submit news about family members -- engagements, births, job updates, kid achievements, community acknowledgements and any other milestones -- to the HaKol Editor, Barbara Saunders-Adams.

*Mazal Tov to our February Birthday Celebrants: Ethan Rothberg, Jeanne Radvany, Gary Trachten, Nate Bazeli, Andrea Rothberg, Margot Bazeli, Loren Cecil, Jacqueline Stein, Alexandra (Sasha) Herzog, Jed Klebanow, Amy Hersh, Robert Jacobson, Naomi Schwartz, Spencer Barback, Barbara Saunders-Adams, Sam Temes, Matthew Marcus, Liam Cepler, Scarlett Cepler, Marc Prager, David Ploski, Laura Temes, Doris-Patt Smith, Robert Kasten, JacquelineSchachter, Jason Cohen, Gary Schwartz, Daniel Cohen, Jacob Cecil, Mary Holtzman

*Mazal Tov to Rabbi Benjamin Resnick for winning the 2025 Edward Lewis Wallant Award for his debut novel, Next Stop. The Wallant Award is an annual literary award to a writer whose fiction is considered to have significance for American Jews

Share a Simcha is a regular HaKol feature, so keep your news and updates coming!

Tributes

Donations to General Fund



• Mitch & Julie Cepler

Donations to Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

• Andrea & Haig Hovaness

Billing statements are emailed monthly. 

Checks made out to the Pelham Jewish Center can be mailed to Pelham Jewish Center, P.O. Box 418, Montvale, NJ 07645. Credit card payment instructions are on your monthly emailed billing statement, or go to https://thepjc.shulcloud.com/payment.php. 

If you are interested in paying via appreciated securities or IRA distributions, please email Mitch Cepler.

It is the policy of the Pelham Jewish Center to make every effort to assist members experiencing financial challenges. Financial challenges should never be a barrier to being an active member of the PJC community. You can reach out to President, Lisa Neubardt, Treasurer, Mitchell Cepler or Rabbi Benjamin Resnick to speak confidentially concerning your ability to pay PJC dues and Learning Center tuition.