SHABBAT SHALOM, GESHER SHALOM!


 
January 11th, 2020
 
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Shabbat Times: 
Candle Lighting
Evening service at CBIOTP
Morning Service at CBIOTP
M inha at CBIOTP 
4:29  pm
7:00 pm 
9:30 am
4:00 pm
 
  Forecast:  64/rainy

IN THIS ISSUE...
Birthdays and Anniversaries 
Ana Erlichman
Janet Chertkoff
Allan Ginsburg
Lore Benario
Anne Hall
 Yakov Kishinevsky
Karen Halpern
Beth Schefflan
Hilde Straus

Suzette & Marvin Josif
 


   UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Saturday 1/11
Morning Service at CBIOTP 9:30 am 
Minha , S'uda Shlishit (3rd Shabbat Meal), timely topic, Maariv and Havdalah 4:00 pm at CBIOTP
Wednesday 1/15
On the road with the Rabbi 10:30 am 
Thursday 1/16 Rabbi's Class 
10:30 am
Friday 1/17
Evening Service 7:00 pm
 
And a BIG thank you to all who made it possible for me to go away with all aspects of our services in good hands.

A REMINDER:
Our daily minyanim are all held in our Office Chapel: 
Sunday - Thursday evenings at 7:45 p.m. 
Monday - Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m.  Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.

All our Shabbat services are held in the CBIOTP building:  
 Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.
 Shabbat morning at 9:30 a.m.
 Shabbat afternoon/evening (mincha, s'uda sh'lishit, ma'ariv, havdalah) currently at 4:00 p.m.(but the time will change/vary with sunset)




Did you know...
  • that Adam and Eve were created, ate the forbidden fruit, and were expelled from the Garden of Eden, all on the 6th day of creation?
  • that the forbidden fruit was not an apple??? Maybe it was an Etrog.... but most likely it was a fig!
  • that the 6th day of creation corresponds to the 1st of Tishrei (Rosh HaShannah) to teach that just as Adam and Eve were judged and forgiven on this day, all subsequent generations will be judged and absolved? (and when, after the 3-fold blowing of the shofar, we affirm that Rosh Hashannah is the "birthday of the world", we really are referring to the 6th day of creation).                      
  • that on the 6th day, just before the first Shabbat, God created a number of events and objects that defied the principles creation and the laws of nature/physics? These would be stored until later in history, like the sun standing still at Gibeon, the rainbow, the spring of water (Miriam's well) that would accompany Israel on its journeys in the wilderness, the miraculous suspended carved lettering on the stones of the 10 commandments, as well as stylus used to engrave them.      
 
This is just some of the fun and fascinating stuff you will learn on Thursday mornings at 10:30 in the Rabbi's class. Why not check it out?




Re-Inventing the Bible
Thursdays at 10:30 am
Join Rabbi Stern as we discover the amazingly creative juices of  the classical rabbis! They were masters at spinning yarns, embellishing narrative, and inventing out of whole cloth to really make the Bible come alive through what they called Midrash Aggadah.
Using Louis Ginzberg's one-volume The Legends of the Bible (you can buy a used copy online for less than $10), we will contrast the biblical text with these rabbinically enhanced narratives.
 
Next class then January 16







Zionist Congress Elections
 
It is critically important that the Masorti/Conservative Movement garner as many delegates as possible by casting our ballots for the MERCAZ Slate (Slate #6)- the official voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism.
 
Your vote for the MERCAZ Slate will also ensure that we will get our fair share of the $1 billion dollars in funding for programs, both in Israel and around the world, as well as help determine key decision makers.
 
This election could not come at a more important time. There will be another round of elections in Israel in the beginning of March and a strong showing for the Conservative/Masorti movement is our best and most direct way to send a message to leaders in Israel that pluralism, democracy and equality are critical to creating a strong and vibrant Israel.
 
Please view this video message from United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's President, Ned Gladstein: 
Ned shares a personal story about why he's voting for Mercaz
Ned shares a personal story about why he's voting for Mercaz

Text 917-336-1162 and enter VOTE
Or visit here



Torah Rea ding 293    Haftarah 313
 VA-Y'HI

On his deathbed, Jacob summons Joseph to his side and makes him promise that his body will be returned to Canaan for burial in the Cave of Machpelah. He blesses Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and claims them as his own.
 
Shortly thereafter, all of Jacob's sons assemble at his bedside and Jacob blesses them, summarizes their individual characteristics and predicts their destinies. Jacob dies at the age of one hundred forty-seven. After a seventy-day mourning period, Jacob's family and Egyptian dignitaries escort his body back to Canaan for burial.
 
Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph's brothers beg his forgiveness for their earlier misdeeds. They reason that while their father was alive Joseph was merely biding his time, and now he will avenge himself. Joseph assures them that they have nothing to fear.
 
Joseph dies at the age of one hundred ten. His remains are placed in the casket that will be returned to Canaan only when the Israelites leave Egypt during the Exodus.
 

Tonight: Evening service at 7:00 p.m. at CBIOTP
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. at CBIOTP
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah at 4:00 p.m. at CBIOTP
During Seudah Shlishit we will continue reading...
Finding Terrorist Needles in the Internet Haystack  
An Interview with Arik Barbing, former head of the Shin Bet security agency's cyber department
 

    
This Week's Yahrzeit Observances
We hope that our weekly listing of yahrzeit observances will serve 2 purposes:
1)     To remind those who have the yahrzeit for a second time, much closer to the date of the actual observance
2)     To alert friends and acquaintances that someone they know is observing a yahrzeit. We hope that you will show them your support by joining them at our minyanim, and helping to assure that Kaddish can be recited with a minyan 
Phyllis Lowe will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Mark Kaplan on Sunday evening, January 12th
Ann Oster will be observing yahrzeit for her brother in law, Daniel Oster on Sunday evening, January 12th
Jonathan Fox will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Helen Fox on Tuesday evening, January 14th 
Anne Hall will be observing yahrzeit for her husband, Joseph Hall on Tuesday evening, January 14th
Alvin Sussman will be observing yahrzeit for his father, Harry Sussman on Tuesday evening, January 14th
Jean Burnick will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Dina Burnick on Wednesday evening, January 15th
Audrey Greenberg will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Milton Breindel on Thursday evening, January 16th
Alan Fromkin will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Rhoda Fromkin on Thursday evening, January 16th
Leon Perkal will be observing yahrzeit for his father, Ben Perkal on Thursday evening, January 16th
        
              


Important/Interesting Reads      
'Afterward' Review: Asking for Opinions of Jews and Israel      A documentary seeks to find out what people think of Jews, the Holocaust and history                                
 
Purchase Tickets for "Afterward": 

The Meadowlands Siyyum haShas and a Traffic Violation Averted             
NJ Trooper, Inspired by Massive Talmud Event, Lets Jewish Driver Off the Hook: ""Have you done your page yet today?", he asks driver.                           
                                                           
Kosher Food Court at the American Dream Mall, Secaucus, New Jersey
The American Dream Mall, located in Secaucus, New Jersey, is an enormous entertainment enterprise years and years in the making. When it is fully completed, the 90-acre mall will feature a football field-sized ice rink, a Nickelodeon-themed amusement park with rides, the second largest water park in the world, an actual shopping mall, and yes, a food court filled with kosher restaurants. While the specific vendors and restaurants have yet to be announced, this will be the first food court of its kind in the U.S. Once open, visitors can expect kosher Chinese food, fried chicken, Mediterranean fare, and pizza.
 

The President and American Jews
President Trump expects returns for his Middle East actions from the Jewish community. That came through in a New York Times report of a call Trump had with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder just hours after an assailant armed with a machete wounded five Jews celebrating Hanukkah in a rabbi's home in Monsey, New York.
Trump's call wasn't exactly about conveying sympathies, Maggie Haberman reported. Instead, he yelled "that Mr. Lauder should be doing more to 'support' him," she said, citing three sources. "Mr. Trump ticked off a litany of administration actions. Mr. Trump said that he had done more for Jews than any other president and that he could still lose the Jewish vote."

Video: Jewish Astronaut Jessica Meir                                                                                                             
You Should Know: Jessica Meir
You Should Know: Jessica Meir
   
 

The United States and Israel Call Themselves Allies, but They Don't Have a Formal Defense Treaty. Here's Why   
Right-Wing Views for Generation Z, Five Minutes at a Time              
 After a Deadly Plot, a Church Is Learning How to Fight Back            
Netflix Airs Series on Murdered Argentine Prosecutor Alberto Nisman                                                   
                                          



Israel
500 College Students Come to Israel for "Christian Birthright"   They plan to bring 10,00 per year                                                                              
Israelis Win Gold at World Debate Championship  
Jewish Fertility Rate in Israel Surpasses that of Arabs  
2,000-Year-Old Hasmonean Coins Unearthed in Shiloh   
1,200-Year-Old Gold Coins Found in Excavations in Yavneh                                                                  

Meet the IDF's Newest Female Pilot   
Following Lawsuit, the Israeli Army Says It Will Work to Integrate Women into Its Tank Unit                                
 
Israel's Population in 2020: 9,136,000                                                                               
Israeli Exports Soared 68% over Past Decade                                                                  
Israel Welcomed Record 4.55 Million Tourists in 2019                                                              
Israel's Economy Grew 3.3 Percent in 2019                          
$3 Billion Israel Bond Offering Hugely Oversubscribed                                                    
Israeli Startups Raised Record $8.19 Billion in 2019                                                                      
Jordan Begins Receiving Natural Gas from Israel                                                                    
Obstacles Still Facing Israel's Leviathan Gas Field                                                                      
                                                                              



 BDS / Anti-Semitism / anti-Zionism
American Historical Association Rejects Anti-Israel Resolutions                                                           
Ukraine Pulls Out of Anti-Israel UN Committee on Palestinians  
Jews Are Going Underground - Deborah Lipstadt They are not abandoning their Jewish identity; they are hiding it.                                                    
Why Is Anti-Semitism Making a Comeback? - Nita Lowey and David Harris
We Thought Anti-Semitism Was No Threat to U.S. Jews. We Were Wrong - Eric H. Yoffie      
Thousands Rally in New York at Solidarity March Against Anti-Semitism    
There is a report that...
Elan Carr, the State Department's envoy to monitor anti-Semitism, is tracking a convergence of white and black supremacist anti-Semitism. "There are far-right neo-Nazi groups [that] are undertaking internet campaigns to turn African Americans against Jews."
Anti-Semitic Trolls Impersonate Rabbis, Stoking Hate after Hasidic Attacks     
Reform and Modern Orthodox Leaders at the No Hate-No Fear March  
Rabbi Ari Berman (Pres Yeshiva University) and Rabbi Rick Jacobs (URJ President)




Iran / Syria / Hezbollah
Syrians Rejoice at Death of Qasem Soleimani                                                                            
U.S. Allies in Mideast Fear They May Pay Price for Suleimani Killing   
The Justice of Killing Soleimani                                                                                        
 
Iran's Deadly Puppet Master - Gen. (ret.) Stanley McChrystal   

The group's leader has promised bloody retribution for Suleimani's death. In reality, he'll probably have to focus on rebuilding Hezbollah's standing.                                                                           



The Palestinians

Gaza Nurses Train in Israel  Palestinians in Gaza Mourn Iran's Soleimani   Hamas, PIJ Face Criticism for Mourning 'Murderer' Soleimani                     
"Soleimani was a murderer," Hils said on Facebook. "Those who are mourning him don't represent us. The Palestinians stand with their Muslim brothers. The enemy of the Muslims is our enemy."                            

Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Reactionary, Totalitarian Palestine 
Moves for Women's Equality in the PA Stir Backlash                                                                  
Palestinian NGOs Reject EU Funds after Being Told Not to Fund Terror                                          




Hi-Tech
Israel Unveils Breakthrough Laser to Intercept Missiles, Aerial Threats  
Technology expected to take down a variety of aerial threats including rockets, drones, anti-tank missiles                                                                                                                                                  

Watch the Video: 
Israel unveils laser-based missile interception system
Israel unveils laser-based missile interception system




Pop Culture
 

The Role of a Career in "Fiddler," and He Might Even Keep the Beard
Golden Globes 2020: Quentin Tarantino's Hebrew and the Other Jewish Moments  

Tiffany Haddish, the Comedy Star and New Bat Mitzvah, Wore a Star of David Necklace                                
 

"Oh, My Gawd!" Rachel Bloom and Fran Drescher Are Making a "The Nanny" Musical                                       
 Rachel Chavkin: Re-inventor Of The Broadway Musical                                                                    
The Minds Behind "˜The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" on How They Aim to Represent Jews on Screen                 
 

18 Things to Know About Daveed Diggs 
One of the Greatest Rock and Roll Songs of All Time was Inspired by a Jewish Bookseller                                       






For weeks, AIPAC has been asking its members to get senators to sponsor legislation that would extend sanctions to entities dealing with already sanctioned Palestinian groups, called the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2019. So far, they have 20 sponsors, but just one Democrat, Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., who initiated the bill with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
Bi-partisanship, which is the hallmark of AIPAC, is becoming more difficult...And that isn why your presence at AIPAC is even more important!












Year-Round Offerings for Families, Teens, & Adults
November 2019 / Cheshvan 5780

There are many ways to enjoy Ramah experiences year-round, whether it's with your own Ramah camp or with the Ramah mishpacha at programs throughout North America, Israel, and the world. Use these links or scroll down to learn more!
No prior Ramah affiliation is needed to participate in these programs, so please invite friends and family to join you, or forward this email to anyone who might be interested in these terrific program offerings!
Travel with Ramah Israel Institute (RII) and Reshet Ramah
Poland Journey for Adults (two trips)  |  July 13-19, 2020 & Oct. 19-25, 2020
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Adventure in Israel  (two trips)| August 10-20, 2020 & Dec. 21-30, 2020
Ramah Morocco Experience  | Oct. 19-29, 2020 
Ramah Israel Bike Ride & Hiking Trip  | April 20-27, 2021
Custom  Family  and  Synagogue  Trips
Family Camps & Retreats
Ramah Darom Winter Break Family Camp   |  Dec. 27, 2019  -  Jan. 1, 2020
Camp Ramah at Limmud NY  (Ramah Nyack/Berkshires partnership) | Feb. 14-17, 2020
Ramah Darom "Book It to Shabbat with PJ Library"  (in partnership with with Jewish Federation of Atlanta PJ Library) | March 13-15, 2020
Ramah Darom Passover Retreat  | April 7-17, 2020
Ramah California Passover Camp  | April 8-17, 2020
Ramah New England Family Camp   | May 22-25, 2020
Ramah Darom Summer Family Camp  | June 24-28, 2020 and July 15-19, 2020
Ramah Wisconsin Family Camp | Aug. 12-16, 2020
Ramah Berkshires Outdoor Adventure Family Camp  | Summer 2020 dates to be announced
LimmudFest at Ramah Darom  (partnership with Limmud Atlanta and Southeast)  |  Sept. 4-7, 2020
Ramah Poconos - Sukkot | Oct. 2-5, 2020 (registration opens soon)
Adult Camps & Retreats
Ramah Shabbaton at Songleader Boot Camp (St. Louis, MO) | Feb. 14-16, 2020
Experiential Educator Course at BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy | March 8-15, 2020 and May 17-24, 2020
Singles Weekend at Ramah Berkshires (for singles in their 40s, 50s, and up) | May 22-25, 2020 (registration opens soon)
Ramah Darom/Pardes Shavuot Beit Midrash  | May 28-31, 2020 (partnership with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies)
Ramah Poconos - Shabbat Plus | July 24-26, 2020 (registration opens soon)
Families with Children with Disabilities
Ramah New England Tikvah Family Shabbaton  | May 1-3, 2020 (registration opens soon)
Ramah Darom Camp Yofi   | Aug. 5-9, 2020
Ramah California Camp Ohr Lanu   | Aug. 13-17, 2020
Ramah Poconos Tikvah Family Camp   |  Aug. 19-23, 2020
Programs for Teens & Young Adults
Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY) | Jan. 27 - June 1, 2020
TRY, the Ramah Jerusalem High School, is a transformative program that offers 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students a fully accredited academic program within a Ramah setting based in Jerusalem. Students from day schools and public schools continue their required and elective courses, participate in an outstanding program in Jewish history and thought, and immerse themselves in Israeli life and culture.
MITF is Ramah's first-ever immersive Israel experience for college graduates ages 21-35. MITF fellows spend an exciting year teaching English in Israeli schools, making a meaningful impact on the lives of their students, learning Hebrew, and living in Jerusalem. This highly subsidized program provides extensive opportunities for personal and professional growth and enrichment. Ramah MITF is a partnership between Masa and the Israeli Ministry of Education.
BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy |  Dec. 22, 2019 - Jan. 12, 2020 (A program of Ramah in the Rockies)
BaMidbar's therapeutic expeditions  are immersive experiences that help Jewish young adults ages 18-28 overcome personal hurdles and get on their feet as confident and adjusted adults. Using wilderness and adventure-based experiences as a vehicle to promote self-reflection and community connection, students build a toolkit to face life's challenges. BaMidbar's program serves emerging adults who may or may not have a history of mental health challenges, but who are struggling to find their way forward as they transition from adolescence into adulthood.

Israeli Culture in North America
Tsibi Geva: SUBTRATA
January 9 | 6 PM
Albert Benda Gallery
The exhibition features a new body of work created over the past two years, defined by the artist's focus on deconstruction and abstraction to convey the emotional and cultural tenor of his surroundings. Motifs of terrazzo tiles, stone walls, and latticework, which have been prevalent in Geva's paintings since the nineteen-nineties, are now pushed to the forefront. Through February 15.

Music
Benjamin Hochman, piano & Friends
January 24 | 8 PM
Buttenwieser Hall, 92nd Street Y
The "elegant, polished, and heartfelt" (The Boston Globe) pianist Benjamin Hochman begins a two-concert exploration of the influence of words on music with purely instrumental works which take their inspiration from, by turns, a folk ballad, a poem, and a novel.

Film
Advocate
Ongoing
Quad Cinema
Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaïche's film, which has recently been shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, is an original, provocative piece that both exposes the human fallout of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provides hope for a peaceful resolution.

Music
Tamir Hendelman and the Spirit of Israel Ensemble
January 9 | 7 PM
Yamaha Artist Services Piano Salon
Pianist/composer/arranger and Yamaha artist Tamir Hendelman leads a quintet of top Israeli-American jazz musicians from Los Angeles and New York in an evening of dynamic and lyrical jazz interpretations of traditional and modern Israeli songs, music by fellow Israeli jazz artists and their own original compositions.

Music
Bach to the Future: Tali Roth, Classical Guitar
January 12 | 3 PM
Saint John's In the Village
Hailed by Classical Guitar magazine as "an extraordinary solo and chamber musician" and by The New York Times as a "marvelous classical guitarist", Tali Roth's past engagements include performing on the soundtrack for Woody Allen's 2010 film, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Since her Carnegie Hall debut, Ms. Roth has performed in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Alvin Ailey Theatre and many more.

Film
Unkept Secrets
January 14 | 7 PM
JCC Marlene Meyerson Manhattan
Dalit Kimor's film about an Orthodox Jewish mother of eight, who finds out that the admired rabbi, teacher of her sons, has been sexually abusing her children since their Bar Mitzvah. Ornit, a 42 year-old ultra-Orthodox woman, will have to face this question and, against her will, become a hero overnight.

Art
Growing a Garden for an Unknown Lover by Boaz Aharonovitch
Opening night:
January 23 | 6 PM
ZAZ10TS
Friends of Bezalel present Israeli artist Boaz Aharonovitch's photo-diary, artfully documenting a gardening project that took place in his studio. The outcome of the process is a meditation on the fleeting nature of the garden as a metaphor for the passage of time and longing. Curated by Aya Goshen. Through February 28.

Film
New York Jewish Film Festival
January 15-28
Film at Lincoln Center
The Jewish Museum and Film at Lincoln Center present the 29th annual New York Jewish Film Festival, presenting films from around the world that explore the Jewish experience. This year's program includes more than ten new Israeli films.

Music
Hemi Rudner
January 16 | 7:30 PM
City Vineyard
One of the finest musicians in the Israeli scene, as leader of prominent rock band "Eifo Hayeled?", and with a solo career spanning six albums - Rudner's live performance is often described as fine and touching, yet energetic and kicking. Integrating hits from all albums with covers for beloved songs, one thing is sure - his show will excite you to the core of your heart.

Art
Materialness
Opening Night:
January 28 | 6 PM
Parasol Projects Gallery
Friends of Bezalel present an exhibit exploring the complex relationship between material, process, and environment, featuring nine projects created by lecturers, graduates, and students of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Curator: Ariel Lavian.

Music
Roni Gal-Ed at Jupiter
January 20 | 2 PM & 7:30 PM
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Described as "one of the finest oboe players in the country" by The Jerusalem Post and "Outstanding...the star soloist of the evening" by The New York Times - Roni Gal-Ed will be playing two concerts with Jupiter - a chamber music series to acknowledge and perpetuate the legacy of conductor Jens Nygaard.




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