The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N

SEPTEMBER 11-12, 2015 • PARSHAT NITZAVIM • 28 ELUL 5775

EREV SHABBAT 6:55PM Candle Lighting 7:00PM Minchah

SHABBAT 7:45AM Hashkama Minyan (The Max & Marion Grill Beit Midrash) 9:00AM Shacharit (3rd floor) and Public Lecture by Rabbi Mark Dratch, Annus Horribilis: Lessons in Teshuvah from the Year that Was 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, Akeidat Yitzchak and the Mitzvah of Shofar (5th floor) 9:15AM Young Leadership Minyan 9:30AM Teen Minyan (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) and Kiddush (9th floor) 9:43AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:00AM Youth Groups, 2-year-olds, 3-4-year-olds and 5-6-year-olds: Geller Youth Center; 2nd-3rd graders, 4th-6th graders: 7th floor Community Hot Kiddush (5th floor)

WITH THANKS TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Hashkama Kiddush, Hanno Mott to commemorate the yahrzeit of his father, Fred S. Mott/Shlomo ben Moshe Eliezer on the 26 of Elul Community Kiddush, Rachel Lurie in memory of her father, Rabbi Eugene Markovitz Teen Kiddush, Abigail & Marc Posner Teen Kiddush, Lori Zeltser & Len Berman

4:00PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Ave.) 4:30PM Welcome Back Seudah Shlishit 5:45PM Shabbat Afternoon Shiur with Rabbi Mark Dratch, "We Forgive You": Halachic Reflections on Charleston, SC 6:15PM Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 6:45PM Minchah Seudah Shlishit speaker: Rabbi Mark Dratch, Avinu Malkeinu

7:53PM Shabbat concludes

SHABBAT MORNING PUBLIC LECTURE Annus Horribilis: Lessons in Teshuvah from the Year that Was

SHABBAT AFTERNOON SHIUR "We Forgive You": Halachic Reflections on Charleston, SC

SEUDAH SHLISHIT Avinu Malkeinu • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Rabbi Dratch is the Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America. Prior to assuming that position in 2012, Rabbi Dratch founded JSafe: The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment, an organization addressing issues of domestic violence, child abuse and institutional and professional impro-prieties in the Jewish community. He also served as Instructor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at the Isaac Breuer College of Yeshiva University from 2002-2012. Rabbi Dratch served as a pulpit rabbi for 22 years at Congregation Agudath Sholom, Stamford, CT; Shaarei Shomayim, Toronto; Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York, NY, and other pulpits.

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE - RABBI MARK DRATCH SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 12

Sunday, Sept. 13 Erev Rosh Hashanah Daf Yomi 7:15AM Shach 7:00/8:00AM Candle Lighting 6:52PM Minchah 7:00PM

Monday, Sept. 14 Rosh Hashanah I Shach 8:00AM Shofar 10:30AM Tashlich Daf Yomi 6:05PM Minchah 6:50PM Candle Lighting after 7:51PM

Tues., Sept. 15 Rosh Hashanah II Shach 8:00AM Shofar 10:30AM Daf Yomi 6:05PM Minchah 6:50PM Shiur with Rabbi Zirkind Rosh Hashanah concludes 7:49PM

DAILY SERVICES

Wed., Sept. 16 Tzom Gedaliah Fast Begins 5:14AM Shach 6:30/7:30AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 6:40PM Fast Ends 7:35PM

Thurs., Sept. 17 Shach 6:30/7:30AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 6:55PM

Fri., Sept. 18 Shach 6:30/7:30AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Candle Lighting 6:43PM Minchah 6:50PM WOMEN'S TEHILLIM GROUP • Monday,

September 21 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more information at 212-877-1176.

The high holidays are quickly approaching!

Don’t forget to:

• Order your lulav and etrog

• Reserve Sukkah meals in our Sukkah

• Contribute to our Yom Kippur Appeal

Visit our website or contact Saba at saba@jewishcenter.org for more information.

PREPARING FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

The Kapparot Controversy: Heresy, Atonement and the Pursuit of Imperfection

SHABBAT SHUVAH DRASHA BY RABBI YOSIE LEVINE

SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 19 AT 11:00AM

To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at astrum@jewishcenter.org

SHOFAR BLOWING We would like to provide everyone with the opportunity to hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. If someone you know will not be in shul and would like to have the shofar blown at home, or if you would like to volunteer to blow shofar, please contact Rabbi Dovid Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org.

YOM KIPPUR CHESED OPPORTUNITY Each year on Yom Kippur, following Mussaf a group heads out to visit the home-bound in our community. It is a wonderful opportunity to en-hance the spirit of the day for those who cannot be with us in shul. If you know of anyone who would appreciate a visit or if you are able to make a visit, please contact Rabbi Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org.

CHESED OPPORTUNIES DURING THE CHAGIM

Download the New Jewish Center App!

Visit our website

for more information.

Rebecca & David Herman Amanda Nussbaum & Daniel Laifer Deena Blanchard & Akiva Novetsky

Beth & Joshua Schwartz Jennifer & Mark Smith

WITH THANKS TO OUR YOUTH DEPARTMENT WELCOME BACK

SEUDAH SHLISHIT SPONSORS

Ladies and Gentlemen, What you have just experienced was a once-in-a-lifetime, his-toric event. Never in the history of Chazzanut have there been three young chazzanim, of such talent, serving as full-time chazzanim in one community, who have gotten together to present a program for that community in achdut and not in competition. I can only think of one other similar community that had three beloved and respected chazzanim with reputations that extended far beyond their city. That was in the late 1920s, when Kwartin, Hershman and Yossele Rosenblatt officiated in Boro Park all at the same time. Having read about their competitive personalities, I doubt that they got along that well with each other. And even if they did, they certainly never collaborated on a similar pro-gram. Most important of all, none of them was as young and vibrant as these three young chazzanim, with their wonderful ability to appeal to the younger generation, a power and precious quality that – even in those heady days of the “Golden Age of Chazzanut”- was rarely if ever seen. Chazzanut today in the Orthodox world in America may be on the wane, but those of you who are here tonight have witnessed the seed of its revival. These three young men will someday oversee a new demand for excellence in davening that will revive our sacred profes-sion in the Orthodox world. We have all been blessed to experience this presentation. Do not dismiss it as one more event in the community calendar. On the contrary, this was a seminal event that gives us all hope for the future. V’chayn Yehi Ratzon! Ketiva Vachatima Tovah!” From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all continued hatzlacha and bracha. May The Kadosh Baruch Hu bless you all with Kol Mishalot Libchem L’tovah and a Shana Tova to you and to all of Klal Yisrael.

B’yedidut, Cantor Sherwood Goffin

LETTER FROM CANTOR SHERWOOD GOFFIN ABOUT SHEMA KOLENU: CHAZZANUT MASTER CLASS

Photo by Genna Singer

Thank you to all those who joined us this past Motzei Shabbat. For more pictures, please check out our Facebook photo album.

PRE-SELICHOT CONCERT AND SELICHOT

Sunday, Sept. 13, Erev Rosh Hashanah 7:15AM Daf Yomi 7:00/8:00AM Shacharit 6:52PM Candle Lighting 7:00PM Minchah Shiur with Rabbi Yosie Levine

Monday, Sept. 14, Rosh Hashanah I 8:00AM Shacharit 10:00AM Youth Groups 10:30AM Shofar Tashlich 6:05PM Daf Yomi 6:50PM Minchah Shiur with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Candle Lighting after 7:51PM

Tues., Sept. 15, Rosh Hashanah II 8:00AM Shacharit 10:00AM Youth Groups 10:30AM Shofar 6:05PM Daf Yomi 6:50PM Minchah 7:49PM Rosh Hashanah concludes

ROSH HASHANAH SCHEDULE

While our minds often think of the past and the future during this holiday season; it is a constant challenge to live in the present. This past Wednesday, the Rabbinical Council of America together with the Orthodox Union led a Rabbinic mission to Washington as Congress pre-pares to vote on the nuclear agreement with Iran. More than 200 Rabbis from around the country participated in the mission, sending a strong message of disappoint-ment in those Senators who have committed to support the bill and an expression of thanks to those who have chosen to oppose it. By most accounts the deal is likely to pass, yet we recognize that we cannot simply move on to thinking forward, without speaking loudly in the pre-sent. In that regard, it was an honor to represent our shul, on this most powerful trip. It is our hope and prayer that our aspiration for security and peace will be real-ized in the immediate future. Rabbi Dovid Zirkind

RABBINIC MISSION TO WASHINGTON

To advertise or list an announcement in The Jewish Center Shabbat Bulletin, please contact us at eliane@jewishcenter.org

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME BACK SEUDAH SHLISHIT SEPTEMBER 12 FROM 4:30PM-6:30PM (AGES 6 AND UNDER: THE GELLER YOUTH CENTER, YOUTH AGES 6 AND UP: 5TH FLOOR, ADULTS: ROOF) The Youth Department is looking forward to an afternoon of schmoozing and delicious food while your children play games and are entertained by our excellent youth leaders. You will also have the opportunity to get to know our new Youth Directors - Jenn and Gaby - along with Youth Chairs - Deena, Neil and Rona. This event is sold out.

SUKKAH DECORATING WITH "THE ART STUDIO" SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 FROM 10:00AM TO 12:00PM In this engaging, fun and creative art class, your child will create a mixed-media art project that will hang in The Jewish Center com-munity Sukkah. There will be different crafts for various age groups. Cost is $18 for JC members and $22 for non-members. Sponsorship opportunities available. Visit our website for more in-formation. Co-sponsored by The JC Sisterhood.

PIZZA IN THE HUT WITH ARTS & CRAFTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 AT 4:30PM Enjoy family fun in The Jewish Center sukkah! Listen to music with our fabulous chazzan, learn Torah, enjoy fun and games for all ages and eat delicious pizza! Visit our website to register.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES

ROSH HASHANAH PACKAGE DELIVERY WITH DOROT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT 9:30AM AT DOROT (171 W. 85TH STREET) Brighten the day of a senior! Deliver a package and visit for about an hour. There will be an orientation upon arrival for all partici-pants. All ages are welcome to participate. There will be a Family Circle Program for volunteers with children ages 4–12. Visit our website for more information and to register.

SUKKOT MEALS AT THE JEWISH CENTER SUKKAH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 AND SHABBAT, OCTOBER 2-3 The Jewish Center Sukkah is once again open to the community. We will serve both dinner and lunch. Catered by Weiss Brothers Catering & Event Planning. For more information, and to register, please visit our website or see the insert.

SEUDAH SHLISHIT IN HONOR OF OUR CHATTANIM SHABBAT, OCTOBER 17 Join us for a festive and entertaining Seudah Shlishit honoring members dedicated to the core values of the Shul. Come and show your support for our Center and the honorees at this program, which is not to be missed!

YOUNG COUPLES AND FAMILIES ROUND ROBIN SHABBAT DINNER SHABBAT, OCTOBER 23 YCF welcomes all those who are interested to join for a round robin Shabbat dinner! Please let us know if you would like to host guests or be hosted. To register, please visit our website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAZAL TOV Esther & Steve Graber on the engagement of their daughter Laura to Alberto Masliah

COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Congratulations to Yossi Siegel on the release of his new book, Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution for a Water-Starved World

THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our dedicated CSS members for providing the security for our synagogue this week.

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to our ushers Barbara Paris and Mark Segall.

LAWS OF THE PRUZBOL At the end of the seventh year of the Sh’mitah cycle (such as this year), all loans are nullified, including credit agreements, wage agreements that have been converted to loan agreements and rental agreements. One who wishes to collect his loans after the Sh’mitah year must make a Pruzbul before the time that the loans are nullified (i.e. the end of the Sh’mitah year). Typically, this is done during the month of Elul. For a copy of the Pruzbul document (Hebrew and English) as well as instructions for how best to complete it, please visit our website. For further questions please contact Rabbi Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org.

WELCOME KIDDUSH IN HONOR OF MAYYAN LAMM SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 26 Join us for kiddush in honor of Rabbi Ari & Shlomit Lamm’s daughter, Maayan Leora (Maya) - born on August 25. To sponsor this kiddush, please visit our website.

Yosie Levine

Rabbi

Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi

Chaim David Berson Cantor

Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar

Ari Lamm Resident Scholar

Erica Brown Community Scholar

Noach Goldstein William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Aaron Strum Executive Director

Eliane Dreyfuss Glassman Director of

Programming and Communications

Jenn & Gaby Minsky Youth Directors

OFFICERS Avi Schwartz President

Andrew Borodach First Vice President

Andrew Kaplan Vice President

Mark Segall Vice President

Rose Lynn Sherr Vice President

Michael Jacobs Assistant

Vice President

Yaron Kinar Treasurer

Len Berman Assistant Treasurer

Miri Lipsky Secretary

Lisa Septimus

Yoetzet Halacha 917-382-9008

Jewish Center Chevra Kadisha

212-724-2700 x555

UWS Mikvah 212-579-2011

Hatzalah 212-230-1000

Eruv Status 212-724-2700 x4

Clergy & Staff

Phone Numbers

This season we believe that even when the gates of prayer are closing, the gate of tears is always open. On Rosh Hashana we re-coronate God as the King of Kings and see ourselves as peons in the vast, won-drous landscape of the world. Humility creates vul-nerability. On Yom Kippur, we face God with a mountain of personal and collective transgressions. We allow our inner demons to surface so that we can make a personal reckoning and commit to change. Repentance creates vulnerability. On Sukkot, we build small, impermanent houses and dwell there, casting aside our material comforts to live in the shadow of God’s protection. Impermanence creates vulnerability. If you are having trouble getting to a vulnerable state this season, you need turn no further than Psalm 27, the one we are mandated to read in the morning and evening from Elul to Shmini Atzeret. King David models for us what it means to live in a state of con-stant vulnerability: “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in an-ger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me” (27:8-10). Nothing can make a person more vulnerable than being abandoned by one’s parents and yet, only from this place of complete loss and existential angst can King David achieve the intimacy with God he is seeking. Our vulnerabilities bring us to faith because they wipe away the veneer of independence, self-

reliance and confidence that we use to walk comfort-ably in a world that demands them. In a verse we read this season in the Torah cycle, we are reminded that we will only truly come to live intimately with God and others when we articulate our vulnerability: “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Devarim 30:6). To circumcise the heart is to make a small hole in it, a hole big enough to let in the pain. We reiterate this in a teaching of a Hasidic master: “After the shofar blowing was completed, the Baal Shem Tov said ‘In a king's palace there are hundreds of rooms, and on the door of each room there is a different lock that requires a special key to open it. But there is a master key which can open all the locks. That is a broken heart. When a person sin-cerely breaks his heart before God, his prayers can enter through all the gates and into all the rooms of God's celestial palace’" [Or Yesharim]. Native American writer and theologian Vine Deloria, Jr. once wrote, “Religion is for people who are afraid of hell; spirituality is for people who have been there.” This season, don’t move away from your pain. Move through it. Use it to achieve close-ness with God and others. Make a hole in your heart because that is where true blessing lies. And if you can’t get yourself to a place of vulnera-bility now, don’t worry. The gate of tears never closes.

The Blessings of a Broken Heart Dr. Erica Brown, Community Scholar

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE, RABBI MARK DRATCH SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 12 SHABBAT MORNING See front page for more information. SHIUR ON TZOM GEDALIA BY RABBI ARI LAMM, WHEN IS YOM HA-DIN? WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 FOLLOWING 6:40PM SERVICES

SHABBAT SHUVAH DRASHA BY RABBI YOSIE LEVINE SHABBAT, SEPTEMBER 19 AT 11:00AM The Kapparot Controversy: Heresy, Atonement and the Pursuit of Imperfection

MOSHE GREEN TOCHNIT ELUL A Teshuvah and Tefillah Education Series for the High Holy Days in memory of Moshe Green, z"l.

Ellen Bayer Norbert Berger Lori Zeltser & Leonard Berman* Roslyn Besdine Marnie & Scott Black Harriet & George Blank Rabbi Benjamin & Elaine Blech Marly Herscovici & Jeff Bogursky Rachel Wolf & Andrew Borodach* Michael Braten Bernard Broome Susan Canter Vivian & Daniel Chill Gilda & Irving Chodosh Michelle Chrein Chanah Cohen Susan & Arthur Degen Beverly & Andrew Druck Lillian Dulken Rochelle & Chaim Eliav Craig Englander Vivian & Bernard Falk Susan & Edward Falk Seymour Fang Sherry & Mark Fessel* Anne & Saul Finkelstein Jeannie & Scott Fisher Brauna & Marvin Fortgang Rabbi Daniel & Chaya Fridman Howard Friedman Judith & Walter Gadlin Brenda & Joel Garboos Hillary Gardenswartz Debbie & Elliot Gibber Grace Gribetz & Israel Leo Glasser Ruby & Joseph Gottlieb Janine Behrman & Alan Gover* Judith & Robert Grauman

Harriet & Irwin Gribetz Evelyn & Manny Gross Ayelet Gruenspecht Eleanor Merczynski & David Hait* Jonathan Hanus Miriam Hausman Mildred & Alvin Hellerstein Leah Herzfeld Rabbi Robert & Virginia Bayer Hirt* Esther Hollander Esther & Michael Jacobs* Sarah & Isaac Jonas Margie Kahn Elisheva Rothstein & Ira Kalfus Lily Kaplan Paul Kaufmann Bosi & Yaron Kinar Ruth & Lawrence Kobrin Fran & Jonah Kupietzky Amy & Jed Latkin Marion Lauber Rachelle & Alan Laytner Arlene & Zvi Lefkovitz Dana & Neil Leibowitz Lynn Montz & John Leubsdorf Rabbi Yosie & Rachel Levine Russell Light Darrin Litsky Rebecca Pine & Saul Lubetski Rachel Lurie* Gloria Mehler Dinah & Andy Mendes Barbara & David Messer* Paulette and David Meyer Carol & Ira Morrow Hanno Mott* Roslyn & Norton Nesis Esther Nussbaum Zeesie Pertain

Rhea Plottel Leyla Fortgang & Daniel Posner* Reva Rapps Ilona & Bruce Rashkow Barbara & Guy Reiss Sondra & Arnold Rosen Golda & Henry Rothman Lyat Salomon Frankie & Jesse Salsberg Miri Lipsky & Josh Schainker Alanna & Jeff Schwartz Avi Schwartz* Rabbi Joseph & Ruth Schwarz Chani & Mark Segall Menashe Shapiro Nahama Shudofsky Nancy & Yossie Sklarin Cecile & Irving Skydell Jennifer & Mark Smith Ruth Solmonoff Radine & William Spier* Jessica & Harvey Spira Rona & Andrew Steinerman Carrie Stieglitz Eleanor Strauss Sally Sultan Deborah De Winter & Philip Sussman Harold Turobiner Dorothy & Jacques Van Amerongen Rachel & David Vorchheimer Harriet Wagman Adina & Phil Wagman Sylvia & Raphael Zeevi Howard Zeisel Chaya Rivka & Shmuel Zhubrak Lynda Zycherman Propp Foundation

List in Formation:

THE JEWISH CENTER

Yom Kippur Appeal 5776

*One Gift Donors

As of Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 5:00PM. We apologize for any omissions. To make your pledge, please call The JC office at 212-724-2700 x100

or visit www.jewishcenter.org

Thank you to those who have already generously contributed

to the Yom Kippur Appeal.

THE JEWISH

CENTER SUKKOT M

EALS

Th

e Jew

ish C

enter S

uk

kah

is on

ce ag

ain

op

en to

the co

mm

un

ity for S

uk

ko

t. C

atered

by W

eiss Bro

thers C

aterin

g &

Even

t Pla

nn

ing

.

MEAL D

ATES

SUNDAY, S

EPTEMBER 27 - TUESDAY, S

EPTEMBER 29 AND S

HABBAT, OCTOBER 2-3

PRICES

PRICES TH

ROUGH W

EDNESDAY, S

EPTEM

BER 16

TH Night Meals Mem

ber - $62 adult; $25 child Night Meal Non Mem

ber - $67 adult; $25 child Day Meals Mem

ber - $52 adult; $25 child Day Meal Non Mem

ber - $57 adult; $25 child

PRICES A

FTER WEDNESDAY, S

EPTEM

BER 16

TH Night Meals Mem

ber - $67 adult; $29 child Night Meal Non Mem

ber - $72 adult; $29 child Day Meals Mem

ber - $57 adult; $29 child Day Meal Non Mem

ber - $62 adult; $29 child SPECIAL F

AMILY M

EAL • TUESDAY L

UNCH

PRICES TH

ROUGH W

EDNESDAY, S

EPTEM

BER 16

TH Mem

ber - $32 adult; $18 child Non Mem

ber - $35 adult, $20 child

PRICES A

FTER WEDNESDAY, S

EPTEM

BER 16

TH

Member - $36 adult; $23 child

Non Member - $40 adult, $25 child

REGISTRATIO

N RESERVE ONLINE AT W

WW.JEW

ISHCENTER.ORG OR CALL THE JC OFFICE AT 212-724-2700

QUESTIO

NS

CONTACT A

ARON STRUM AT ASTRUM@

JEWISHCENTER.ORG

131 W. 86

TH STREET, N

EW YORK, NY 10024

A su

mp

tuo

us

men

u c

ate

red

by: