Volume 1, Issue 1 February 2007

Chaim N. Segal - Rabbi

Yehuda Kovacs - Assistant Rabbi

Alex Huber - Gabbai

Executive Board

Robert Hecht - President

Leonard Fishbaum - Exec. Vice Pres.

Harry Roth - 1st Vice Pres.

Steven Siegel - Treasurer

Philip Bauch - Recording Secretary

Sheldon Zapken - Corresp. Secretary

Board of Directors

Sam Altberg

Joshua Futerman

Avi Ganon

Paul Goldstein

Michael Hopkowitz

Marvin Kampel

Mark Kleiman

Abe Lederman

Moshe Ovadia

Randy Pearlman

Scott Pere

Gila Roth

Arthur Schlissel

Spencer Spielman

Ken Sprecher

Moshe Strusman

Past Presidents

Ervin Rosenfeld - 2005/2006

Jayson Fine - 2004

Barry Feiner - 2003

D. Gidalowitz / J. Rimler - 2002

David Gidalowitz - 2001

Stuart Nemesure - 2000

Joel Rimler - 1997/98/99

Bob Weinwurzel - 1995/1996

David Bender - 1994

Milty Weiss - 1993

Arnold Roth/Milty Weiss - 1993

Gerald Feldman - 1991

Saul Cohen - 1989/1990/1992

Harvey Feldman - 1984/85/86/87/88

Dovid Gabay Concert 1

From the Rabbi Study 2

From your President 2

Sisterhood News 3

Parent-Child Learning 3

Annual Dinner Party 4

Inside this issue:

New Springville Jewish Center Congregation Shaarei Simcha

120 Saxon Avenue Staten Island, New York 10314

Tel: (718) 983-8063 email: www.newspringvillejc.org

Monthly Newsletter

Dovid Gabay concert sponsored by the Sisterhood

Declared a success...

On the evening of Saturday night, Janu-

ary 13, 2007 our Shul was the site of a

memorable evening of song and ruach as

renowned singer and recording star Dovid

Gabay performed. As the big night ap-

proached rumors of Dobkin and Nemesure

performing a duet kept initial ticket sales

down, but when the word spread that Yoshi

Bender and Ellie Gross were actually going

to perform, ticket sales soared.

Rabbi Segal adroitly acted as Master of

Ceremonies with all of the skill and pa-

nache of Mel Allen at a Yankee Old Timers

Day. Actually, with Bauch and Moskowitz

in the crowd, it did feel like Old Timers

Day.

The huge crowd enthusiastically rocked and

roared to the musical extravaganza. Gobay

was sensational. Yoshi and Ellie were su-

perb, the Shul was decorated beautifully,

thanks to Rebecca Danzig (Ailin Bender’s

sister), and the atmosphere was electric.

An exhilarating time was had by all.

Thank you to Ervin Rosenfeld, Robert

Hecht and Lennie Fishbaum for donating

such beautiful gifts to the raffle. Most im-

portantly, we all thank the

Sisterhood, and specifically

Sonny Schlissel, for arrang-

ing such a beautiful eve-

ning, and we hope that

many more are in store.

Photos by: Alex Huber

Message from the president...

Rabbi Segal, friends and fel-

low members, I would like to

thank you for asking me to be

your president.

I am not one to be a public

person so if I seem nervous to

you at times I hope eventu-

ally I will get over it.

Doing a couple of Pirkei Avos

Shiurs in the last two years

sort of helped getting over the fear.

I am honored to serve as the new President of the

New Springville Jewish Center and I hope that

with everyone’s help we can do many good things

for the Shul and for the community.

Being on the Board of Directors for the last three

years I listened to many good ideas, it would be

nice if we can implement many of them this year.

As a matter of fact while this newsletter is being

produced several events are already being

planned.

I will close with my best wishes to our entire com-

munity

Yours truly,

Robert Hecht

PAGE 2 NEW SPRINGVILLE JEWISH CENTER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

From the rabbi’s study...

Ours is a cold, im-

personal world - es-

pecially in the cities,

where we all run

about our business

with little time to

spare. We devise

special mechanisms

to prevent us from

getting distracted.

For instance, we may

move ahead quickly

without caring who is in front of us, listen

with only one ear, develop superficial relation-

ships and avoid major commitments. The se-

cret to success is in lifestyle is to “stay loose”.

How different is the Torah World! The goal of

the Torah is to make us sensitive and com-

passionate human beings. It teaches us to de-

velop the traits and characteristics of warm

and caring people. In the life of our patriarch

Jacob, the Torah tells us the following narra-

tive. When Jacob arrives in the country of

Aram where he was to meet his uncle and rest

of the family, he encounters some strangers

near a well and wishes to inquire about his

relatives.

He begins the conversation with: “My broth-

ers, where are you from?” In addressing abso-

lute strangers, Jacob uses the term my broth-

ers. In his commentary, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda

Berlin deduces from this that a man should

train his tongue to speak with gentleness and

kindness.

This beautiful lesson is emphasized through-

out our tradition. In the ethics of the Fathers,

we are taught to “greet each person with a

smiling face.” Not to be moody, tough, de-

tached or disinterested on the occasion when a

stranger comes to us with a request. On the

contrary, treat strangers in a kind and friendly

manner so that we can attain higher levels of

kindness and affection towards our fellow man.

In Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust, the au-

thor tells the story of a Rabbi who would

greet a particular gentile man in his home-

town every morning. The proffered smile

and friendly exchange was their sole connec-

tion. Many years later, when the Rabbi was

in a concentration camp, the commanding

officer about to order his execution recog-

nized him as the warm and gentle man who

never failed to smile at him and greet him

with love. The Rabbi’s warmth literally

saved his life.

May the Almighty bless our new

president, Robert Hecht, the Board of Direc-

tors and our community that our synagogue

should be a place of warmth, kindness and

love. Amen.

Chaim N. Segal

PAGE 3 NEW SPRINGVILLE JEWISH CENTER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Parent - Child Learning...

On most Saturday nights, approximately 45 min-

utes after Shabbat, we have our Parent-Child

Learning program at the Shul. Any parent (male or

female) may come to the Shul with their children (male

or female), and together learn almost anything,

whether it be school related or not. Rabbi Segal is usu-

ally on hand for whatever assistance is required.

Additionally, a weekly raffle is held and four prizes are

usually given out. Refreshments are served. Every-

body learns in an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and

camaraderie (Okay, the occasional chant of “Fix!” may

be heard after the raffle, but what can you do?).

Under the auspices of David Bender, this has evolved into

a beautiful, fun program where parents bond with their

kids. It is a program that just might spark that desire in

your child to really want to learn, and some of that may

just rub off on you.

(Note: Any body wishing to sponsor a learning session

should contact David Bender.)

Sisterhood news...

For the last two years the goal

of our sisterhood has been to

bring the people in this commu-

nity closer to each other. To that

end the sisterhood bought

Phone tree. Using this program,

messages about births, engage-

ments, weddings, funerals and

events are sent out to all our

members and friends of our

Shul so that everyone stays in-

formed. We send food for peo-

ple observing Shiva, and to those people in our commu-

nity who are temporarily incapacitated. We decorate the

Shul for Shavuot and provide refreshments for holidays.

We hold lectures on interesting topics and host social

events like the concerts showcasing Sandy Shmuel and

more recently, Dovid Gabay.

To fund these projects, we have fund raising projects

throughout the year: the sisterhood membership brunch,

Mishloach Manot, calendar magnets, flower sales, and

more. The work we do is important, and we need every-

one’s help.

Through Anna Berdechevskaya of Chesed Connections

we have been and will be offering a series of lectures on

mental and physical health.

On Monday evening, February the 26th, at 7 PM, Martin

Phillips of St. Vincent’s Medical center will talk about

managing stress and preventing depression. The work-

shop will explore various techniques for stress relief.

Please join us for this terrific seminar. This is an opportu-

nity to gain some important information and to meet other

people in your community. Truly, Sonny Schlissel

Upcoming events…

Save the date March 10, 2007 Saturday night - Annual Dinner Honoring

Rabbi & Mrs. Schuster, Aline & David Bender & Sheldon Zapkin

New Springville Jewish Center is pleased to announce that the annual dinner

will be held on March 10, 2007 at 9:00 pm. The dinner is a great opportunity for

the entire community to get together, show support for our Shul, and pay tribute

to the honorees.

This year’s honorees are Mr. & Mrs.

David Bender, Rabbi and Mrs.

Yehuda Schuster, and Mr. Sheldon

Zapken.

It is through the tireless devotion and

selfless dedication of individuals like

these that our Shul has become what

it is today.

Anyone who has passed through the

doors of our Shul has in some way

benefited from their effort.

We are confident that with

everyone’s participation and support

the Dinner will be a great success.

The cost per person is $54.00. A return addressed envelope is enclosed for your

convenience.

Please do not hesitate inviting your friends and family for a beautiful night out.

PAGE 4 VOLUME 1,

Mazel Tov

Bar Mitzvah:

Daniel Binyaminov - December 30, 2006

Yaakov Rubin - January 24, 2007

Births:

Miriam Stilerman born January 3, 2007

To Rabbi & Mrs. Avi Stilerman

Granddaughter to

Rabbi & Mrs. Segal

Engagements:

Avi Alhadeff to Kelby Kaplan

Son of Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Alhadeff

Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Mark Kaplan

Dates to Remember

Annual Dinner - In Honor of 3 Special Families

March 10, 2007 9:00pm

Managing Stress - Sponsored by our Sisterhood

February 26, 2007 7:00pm

Insomnia & Sleep Disorder - Sponsored by our Sisterhood

March 5, 2007 7:00pm

Major Concert Yehoram Gaon -

Famous Israeli Personality

June 3, 2007 7:00pm

NEW SPRINGVILLE JEWISH CENTER