Fall 2014 Gateway

September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Don’t miss our first community-wide
Retreat on October 24 and 25
Shabbat B’Yachad at the Stamford Hilton
Read more about this wonderful opportunity to share
Shabbat with Shaarei Tikvah members and staff
on Page 15
1
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
SHAAREI TIKVAH
“The Scarsdale Conservative Congregation”
Affiliated With United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
http://www.shaareitikvah.org
THE GATEWAY
46 Fox Meadow Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
(914) 472-2013
Editor:
Keith Bloomfield [email protected]
When you patronize a bulletin sponsor, please tell the owner/manager that you saw their
advertisement in the GATEWAY.
If you know of anyone interested in sponsoring an ad, please call Melanie 472-2013 ext. 300.
Gateway Ad Rates for the 2014-2015 year.
Business card: $36 per issue, Quarter Page: $ 60 per issue
Half Page:
$90 per issue, Full Page:
$180 per issue
Table of Contents
Page
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
11
12
12
13
15
16
16
17
17
18
25
26
New Year greetings
From the Rabbi’s study
President’s Column
From the Cantor’s Corner
Anna and Louis Shereff Religious School
Lifelong Learning
Selichot
Social Action
Between the Bookends
News from the Brotherhood
Updates on our latest Advertisers from the Advertising Editor
More information about the Fall Retreat – why you should not miss it!
Visit to the Eden Village farm, everyone welcome
A recommendation!
Naomi Less at Shaarei Tikvah on September 19
Mazel Tov to Megan Kraut on becoming a Bat Mitzvah!
Donations
September calendar
October calendar
2
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Rabbi Daniel Schweber, Cantor Gerald Cohen,
Ronit Razinovsky, Melanie Piha, the staff and the
following members and their families wish you all
a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Ellen Baer and Einar Sigurdsson
Stephanie and Sandy Balkin
Lore and Harry Bauer
Maxine Bellus
Roz Berliner
Elissa and Scott Bookner
Anita and Randall Borkenstein
Jacqueline Bruskin
Julie Rabinowitz and Andrew Buck
Sally and Myron Bush
Janine Marlowe and David Cohen
Laura and James Cooperman
Kate and Scott Eichel
Claire Eisenstadt and Sandy Bogin
Audrey and Jeffrey Elliott
Audrey and Dan Fass
Elsa and Melvin Federbush
Ruth Fell
Eric and Michelle Frank
Rosele and Dan Frishwasser
Diana and Robert Glantz
Arthur Glauberman and Judy Spanier
Lester Goldfischer
Carol and Rob Goodman
Laura and Howard Grill
Jill and Scott Harris
Jean and Morton Hertz
Wendy Hollander
Michael Kane
Fran and Robert Kaplan
Beth Kaufman and Charlie Updike
Alison and Louis
Louise and Gerald Kerner
Elyse and Ken Kirschner
Neil Klein and Susanne Jones
Renee and Jonathan
Dorothy Kowalsky
Nancy and Gary Kreinik
Elizabeth and Dave Lampert
Sheryl and Jonathan Last
Allan and Maxine Lazarus
Alyssa Levy
Ellen and Paul Lewis
Heather May
Carol and Steve Mermey
Elyse and Jeffrey Miller
Meryl and Stuart Moser
Julie and Richard Neches
Margo and Michael Ohana
Rebecca Patt
Sharon Katz and Kenneth Pearlman
Caryn and Steven Pitchon
Ellen and James Raboy
Irving Roschelle
Leora and Ronen Rub
Judith and Joel Sachs
Alan Sacks
Peggy and Kenneth Schmelkin
Miriam and Ron Schulman
Charles Schwartz and Silvana Rosenzwaig
Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson
Anna Shereff
Leonard Sherman
Ruth Shire
Robin and Jonathan Sneider
Marlene and Lawrence Spector
Abbe and Frederic Stein
Norma and Jerry Strassler
Melinda and Michael Szechter
Laurie and Jerry Vogl
Janet and Steven Weinbaum
Marilyn Weingartner
Barbara and Jack Weiss
Ida Weiss
Carol and Jay Weissbrot
Daniel Weisz and Cindy Kaufman
Temra and Joel Wollman
Ellen and Ronald Zander
Ann and Philip Zeidberg
Heather and Daniel Zeitz
3
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
From the Rabbi’s Study
Rabbi Daniel Schweber
This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared
That is the title of a fantastic book by Rabbi Alan Lew, may his memory be a blessing. It is a
relatively brief but dense book about the High Holiday season. Rabbi Lew almost became a
Buddhist priest, but he felt internal resistance to doing so. Instead, he went to rabbinical school and served as
rabbi at Congregation Beth Sholom, a Conservative synagogue in San Francisco. At the synagogue and through
his writings, Lew brought his knowledge of meditation and the wisdom he inherited from Hasidic ancestors into
a contemporary Jewish context. The subtitle of the book is The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation. In
the book, Lew takes us on a 3-month journey from Tisha b’Av through Simchat Torah telling us that we need to
spend a quarter of the year going through spiritual transformation.
On Tisha b’Av we mourn the destruction of the Temple and sense God’s alienation from us or, really, our
distance from God and our real true selves. Just as Israel lost the Temple and became homeless, we are
spiritually homeless and need to return. This process of return is not easy. We are stubborn in our ways and
need to wake up.
Beginning on the first of Elul, the alarm clock in the form of the shofar starts to sound. At first, the shofar is soft
with only three notes a day. It is as if we press the snooze button. Then, when Rosh Hashanah arrives we really
have to wake up, so the shofar sounds 100 notes. The Biblical name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Hazikaron,
literally the day of memorial. Lew translates the name as day of mindfulness. On Rosh Hashanah we become
mindful of ourselves and of our relationship to God and one another. It is a day of judgment. We are the judges
and our inner self is the party being judged. It is time to wake up for a self examination—to decide what to keep
and what is getting in the way of being our true selves.
Ten days later we have a day of cleansing and rebirth. We ritually purge ourselves of the spiritual dirt we all
have. We strike at our hearts and, to use a phrase from the film Frozen, we break our frozen hearts. We emerge
after Yom Kippur reunited with who we truly are and who we really want ourselves to be. We have reunited
with God and our loved ones. We are no longer spiritually homeless. To celebrate our new-found homes we
move into a spiritual hut, a Sukkah, for one week. The Sukkah is open to God and to the elements. We feel
confident to rejoin the world.
The journey ends with a dance with the Torah on Simchat Torah. The Torah is going to be our guide for the rest
of the year. The Torah will help us remain true to ourselves.
Lew knows that all of the imagery of the holiday season is metaphor. The Book of Life, judgment day, the Sukkah
are all spiritual signposts for our journey. Nevertheless, the journey is very real and in many ways we are
unprepared for it. Come let us journey together as we usher in 5775.
Shanah Tova U’metukah - Sarah, Natalie, Alexandra and I wish each and every one of you a sweet and healthy
and spiritually fulfilling new year.
4
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
President’s Column
Jamie Raboy
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Some of us might remember that song in a pop culture context from an old commercial. In
the commercial there is a smiling parent dancing down the aisle filling the shopping cart with school supplies as
two forlorn children lag behind because summer is over and it’s back to school time.
But I think of this as a wonderful time of year for a different set of reasons. What a wonderful time of year in
the Jewish calendar. It’s like the summer movie blockbuster season of Judaism or maybe the equivalent of
playoff season for your favorite sport. We are entering a most wonderful time of the year. Your synagogue
leadership has been busy planning and filling the calendar with lots of activities from now through the end of
October. I hope you will take advantage of some of these.
Of course first off was the recent start of Hebrew School on September 8th. Knowing Ronit and her teachers,
your children should be unlike those in the commercial and excited to return.
On September 19th Naomi Less will be back to bring us some wonderful music for Shabbat, followed by a great
family dinner. Who needs to cook after a busy week of work and school? Let us take care of it for you while you
get to spend some time with your friends.
Then, Rosh Hashanah on September 25th and 26th will start off the holiday schedule. We will get to welcome
and celebrate a sweet New Year with family and friends and maybe reconnect with some people we have not
seen in a while. This will of course be followed by Yom Kippur on October 4th, Sukkot starting October 9th, and
end with Simchat Torah on October 17th. Along the way you could come have a meal in our Sukkah on October
10th, another Friday night where you can leave the cooking and cleaning to us.
Finally, we get to cap it all off with our first synagogue retreat on October 24th and 25th at the Hilton Hotel in
Stamford. Hopefully you saw the SAVE THE DATE postcard, and you have it in your calendar! Details and a signup form have been sent. We are busy planning lots of activities for all age groups, members with and without
kids, and any other demographic you can think of. It is an exciting way to cap off this wonderful time of the
year.
I look forward to seeing you at Shaarei Tikvah soon
Order your
Lulav and Etrog
By September 29
[email protected] 472-2013
5
Friday October 10
Services at 6pm followed by
Community Shabbat Dinner in the
Sukkah
Please RSVP to
[email protected]
by October 6! Adult $18, kids $10
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
From the Cantor’s Corner
Cantor Gerald Cohen:
Musical events, wonderful opportunity for teens, a new piano, and gratitude!
As we return from the summer holidays, I want to let you know about several important items
relating to the musical life of our congregation:
NAOMI LESS RETURNS - As most of you know we are bringing back Naomi Less this year to lead us in three more
wonderful “soul-ifying” Friday night services. The first one is very soon:
Friday, September 19, at 6 p.m. As we did in the spring, this service will focus on the community gathering
together in the round, and really enjoying the beautiful feeling of hearing us all sing and celebrate together as a
congregation. Naomi will also be leading services on November 21 (as part of the 5th, 6th, 7th grade Shabbat)
and March 13. Also, for the first time, Naomi will be coming several times during the year to our Hebrew School
to work directly with our students during the week. Thank you to a generous donor from the congregation who
has made this possible.
HAZAMIR CHOIR—A SUPERB JEWISH CHORUS FOR TEENS, RIGHT HERE IN WESTCHESTER (AND PERFORMING
AT AVERY FISHER HALL!)
I have written here before about this wonderful high school choir. HaZamir, a program of the Zamir Choral
Foundation, is an incredible choir which provides hundreds of Jewish high school-age students with the unique
opportunity to sing Jewish choral music, build community, develop leadership skills and connect to Jewish
culture. There are 28 HaZamir chapters, 23 in the United States and 5 in Israel. We have an active chapter of
HaZamir here in Westchester, and already have five of our teens in the group this coming year! The chorus
meets on Sundays from 4-6 at Temple Israel Center in White Plains. The first open rehearsal is Sunday,
September 14th. If your teen is interested in joining the choir, which I can highly recommend as a wonderful
experience, they can come to that open rehearsal and/or contact the parent advisor, Rhonda Batt:
[email protected]. One very special aspect of HaZamir is that each year all of the chapters in the US and
Israel gather together in the spring to perform a gala concert in Manhattan; last year it was at Carnegie Hall and
this year it will be at Avery Fisher Hall. I am honored and so thrilled that HaZamir has commissioned me to
compose a piece for them: L’dor Vador, which will have its premiere by the entire large group at Avery Fisher
Hall in March.
A NEW PIANO, THANKS TO THE SHENBERGS
Michael and Alisan Shenberg, hearing that our congregation was in need of an electric piano for both the
Hebrew School and services, have very generously donated a beautiful piano. We are looking forward to many
years of this piano enriching our musical life at Shaarei Tikvah. Thank you, Michael and Alisan!
THANKS TO CONCERT CHAIR ELLEN BAER
For the last few years, Ellen Baer has done a fantastic job as chair of the Concert Committee (together with our
very experienced co-chair Gloria Fields). She has been a great pleasure to work with, has planned all of the
logistics beautifully, and has brought a musician’s understanding to the role of planning our concerts. She has
taken on a new teaching job in Connecticut and has asked to take a leave, for now, as Concert Chair. We will
miss her in this role, but are filled with gratitude for all of the work she has done in this role. Thank you, Ellen!
6
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Anna and Louis Shereff Religious School
Ronit Razinovsky and Julie Rabinowitz
I was lucky enough to spend a month in Israel with my family as I usually do during the
summer. This visit was very different from past visits given the war in Israel. A few days after
arriving, I took the train to Modiin, to visit my sister and her family. Being with my niece and
nephew was so joyful and innocent. Their aunt from America was here and that was all that
mattered to them, but my sister and I worried and felt safer being together with each other.
Back at my parents, the feeling was much the same. We had our regular visits with each other, with friends, and
with extended family, but there was extra planning. Should we go out? If we go, do we know where the shelter
is? Should we take the long way around so we don’t pass through open spaces (that are not protected by Iron
Dome) in case there is a siren?
And, there were sirens. There were sirens when I was driving - get out of car, lay down, put hands over head,
wait for boom, get back in car and continue on the journey. There were sirens when cooking Shabbat dinner turn off stove, run down to shelter, wait for boom, go back upstairs and continue cooking. There were sirens
when talking on the phone - a quick goodbye and hang up, imagine the person I was talking to running to the
shelter and then sit and wait for the call back. Sometimes there was cell service in the shelter, so I got to hear
what was going on there.
I went about my days visiting friends, hanging out with my mom and dad, shopping, going to see art and listen
to music. But, there was a certain quiet around, a somberness that falls over the country in times of war—the
sadness of soldiers being killed, the grief of their parents, families and friends, the collective mourning of losing
young men - sons, fathers, husbands, brothers - well before their time to a war with ever-changing rules and no
real peace in sight.
I am glad I went back. I could not imagine a summer away from Israel and my parents and family. I could not
imagine a summer without drinking coffee overlooking the Mediterranean, without discovering a new Israeli
jewelry designer, without eating Israeli avocados and cucumbers and tomatoes, without the smell of fresh pitot.
I could not imagine a summer during a war in Israel without people offering free haircuts, clean clothes, hot
food, free babysitting and anything else one needed. I could not imagine a summer without Israel.
I am now back home at Shaarei Tikvah, strong and committed to bringing the JPS (Jewish Positioning System)
close to the heart and mind of this wonderful community. As we begin this school year, we will set aside time to
have conversations with our children about Israel and how they connect to Israel while living so far away. We
will also highlight the many programs and efforts that Shaarei Tikvah and our local communities do on behalf of
Israel.
Every year, I find myself thinking that summer is flying by and wondering how I am going to be ready for the
school year on time. This year was no different. Planning for the school year began before the last one ended. I
worked with the faculty and staff throughout the summer to make sure everything was in place so we could hit
the ground running. And, here we are!
7
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Lifelong Learning
Carol Mermey and Ellen Raboy
Announcing the Ken Schweber Memorial Lecture:
MYSTERIES OF GENESIS: Unlocking Meanings Hidden in the First Week of Creation
Taught by guest scholar, Diane M. Sharon, Ph.D.
Sunday, November 2, 2014, at 10:30 am
Sometimes it seems we know the old stories so well that there’s nothing new to find in
them. The creation of the universe is a story that kindergartners can recite. But embedded
in the biblical account of the creation of the universe are sacred mysteries and elegant theological ideas that are
as relevant today as they were 4000 years ago. Read the biblical text with adult eyes and discover these
mysteries for yourself. New insights are guaranteed!
Dr. Diane M. Sharon is a member of the faculty at the Skirball Center for Jewish Life and Learning. She taught for
ten years as Assistant Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she was the first woman ever
appointed full time to the department of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages. She has also taught courses in
Hebrew Bible for many years at the Academy for Jewish Religion, as well as comparative religion and Hebrew
Bible at Fordham University, The General Theological Seminary (Episcopal), the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
College, and other institutions of higher learning. She has published on the Hebrew Bible in its ancient Near
Eastern context, comparative religion, literary analysis, and women’s studies.
The breakfast is sponsored by Ellie Schweber in memory of her husband and Rabbi Dan’s father, Ken Schweber,
whose love of Jewish learning was an inspiration to all those who knew him.
Learn to read Hebrew
Shaarei Tikvah is offering a beginning Hebrew reading class following the curriculum of the National Jewish
Outreach Program. The 5-session class will be taught by Ellen Lewis, a wonderful teacher and member of our
congregation.
Please let us know if you are interested! We are fairly flexible on scheduling, so we can work out a good time
for those who want to participate.
Email [email protected] or [email protected] or call the office if you are interested.
8
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Lifelong Learning - Start your Journey
Take a step on the lifelong learning (adult education) path this year. Below are some of the programs that we
are planning; stay tuned for more details on dates and times.

Noah’s Ark Cruise: (Oct 24-25). Get started on our Shabbat B’Yachad Retreat as you experience Shabbat and learn
with others in our community. (See article on first page).

MYSTERIES OF GENESIS: Unlocking Meanings Hidden in the First Week of Creation, the Ken Schweber Memorial
Lecture by guest scholar Diane Sharon. Sunday morning, November 2, at 10:30 am. Breakfast served. (see article
on previous page)

Delivering a D’var Torah: Your kids prepare a D’var Torah for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. So can you. We’ll learn
together how to look at a Torah portion with the option to present a D’var Torah at Shabbat services during the
year. Join the conversation over Torah that Jews have had for hundreds of years. Led by Alison Kellner. Classes
are Nov. 9, Dec. 7, and Jan. 11

Partially Parsha: Wednesday morning discussion of the weekly Torah portion, led by Rabbi Dan. First class is
October 22. Meets weekly. Join anytime.

You’re Jewish (and from where????): Hear what it’s like to be a Jew in various countries around the globe (and
maybe Mississippi too). We’ll gather over lunch after abridged Shabbat services and hear from members of our
community who hail from different lands. (Dates TBD)

Sunday Morning JED Talks: Community members enjoy each other’s expertise, brains and humor on a myriad of
topics. Hobbies. Sports. The Arts. Technology. Law. Finance…..and more on Sunday mornings over bagels and
cream cheese. Let us know if you are interested in speaking. (Dates TBD)

Praying with Our Feet – Two classes on the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: Heschel would be in
the rabbis hall of fame if one existed. A descendent of Hasidic rabbis, he came to America just before World War
II and ‘Americanized’ the poetry and kindness of his Hasidic background. Many of his writings concern keeping the
spirit alive in a modern world. Also known for his Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War activism, Rabbi Heschel was
close with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heschel’s yahrzeit and King’s birthday holiday are both in January.
Classes, Jan. 3 and 10.

Making Morning Minyan Meaningful: Several times a year you get a notice asking you to do a mitzvah and attend
morning minyan. But when you go, can you follow the service? Do you feel lost? This group will meet several times
to study the morning service and what it means. Led by Sally Wittenberg. Sunday morning classes will begin in
early 2015.

Learn to Read Hebrew: Ellen Lewis will lead this beginning Hebrew 5-part class following the curriculum of the
National Jewish Outreach Program. Dates and time TBD.
9
September, October 2014

Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Tikkun Leil Shavuot: It’s always a special evening as we sit around the table and learn from each other on topics
ranging from Jewish history, Torah, art, music and more. You never know what the topics will be but it’s always
fun and informative (with cheesecake too!).
For more information, please get in touch with Rabbi Dan or Lifelong Learning Co-Chairs Ellen Raboy and Carol
Mermey.
Selichot Film & Service
Join us as we begin the High Holy Day season with a film and discussion.
Afterward we will recite the selichot (penitential service) a short service
introducing us to the music and themes of the High Holidays preparing us for
the days ahead.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
8:00pm – Mothers of Bedford
Mothers of Bedford is a documentary by Jennifer McShane exploring the effects of a long-term prison sentence
on the mother-child relationship. The film follows five imprisoned mothers showing their struggles and joys. It
shows the normal frustrations of parenting as well as the surreal experiences of a child's first birthday party inside
prison, the cell that child lives in with her mother, and the biggest celebration of the year, Mother's Day in prison!
As we usher in the High Holiday season of repentance and change we will explore how prison both help and
hinder true repentance and change.
9:30 – Short Discussion
10:00 – 10:45 – Selichot Service
Refreshments will be served.
10
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Social Action
High Holiday Food Drive Kicks Off : Donate Food for the Hungry
Start the New Year with a mitzvah by taking part in the High Holiday Food Drive. Shaarei Tikvah’s goal is
to collect 200 bags of non-perishable food to be donated to the hungry in the Bronx through the United
Interfaith Food Bank so we need everyone to help.
Pick up a special bag – or two - on Rosh Hashanah or whenever you are at Shaarei Tikvah. Each has a
specific list of items needed:
 Pasta
 Canned meat or stew
 Tuna
 Sauce
 Macaroni & cheese
 Cereal
 Rice
 Peanut butter
 Canned vegetables
 Beans
 Soup
 Canned fruit
Check off the items on the list and return your bag(s) when you come for Kol Nidre services or any time during
the holidays. This is a great way to involve your family members in a mitzvah. Let’s see how many bags we can
collect! To learn more, contact Melanie in the office.
Cooking Day! Sunday, October 19 at 10:30 am
The first of the New Year, 5775
Come help prepare food for the hungry.
Meals donated to the soup kitchen of Community Services Associates in Mt. Vernon.
Everyone welcome young and old. No cooking talent required.
Sponsored by the Samuel Katz Fund.
The United Interfaith Food Bank - Feeding the Hungry in the Bronx
What is the United Interfaith Food Bank ?
About one in three families in the Bronx experience food insecurity and food pantries help to fill the gap. The
United Interfaith Food Bank – an alliance of five synagogues and churches in Southern Westchester – was
formed in 2004 to supply Bronx pantries with food. The partners are Shaarei Tikvah, Scarsdale Synagogue
(STTEE), St. James the Less Episcopal Church, Scarsdale Congregational Church and Christ Church in Bronxville.
Who receives the food?
The food bank serves three Bronx organizations that provide crucial services to children, families and seniors:



The Bronx Jewish Community Council, which primarily serves older adults and runs the largest food pantry in the
East Bronx.
St. Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church, in the Norwood section of the Bronx.
The Thorpe Family Residence, which operates two facilities for the homeless.
Each organization distributes the food to people in need.
How does it work?
Each congregation collects food and money from its members through special food drives and ongoing
collections. Twice each month volunteers gather at SSTTE to sort and pack 210 shopping bags with the donated
11
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
food. Each bag consists of pasta, sauce, rice, beans, canned meat or stew, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter,
soup, tuna, cereal vegetables and fruit. If not enough food has been donated, it is purchased. The bags of food
are then delivered by volunteers to the three organizations in the Bronx. The food bank has not missed a twicemonthly delivery since its inception in 2004.
How can I help?




Donate food: Participate in the High Holiday Drive and bring in cans of tuna or other items whenever you come to
Shaarei Tikvah throughout the year. Shaarei Tikvah is responsible for providing 210 cans of tuna each month!
Help Pack and Sort: Packing and sorting takes place twice a month on Tuesday mornings or evenings at SSTTE.
Packing dates are listed in Shaarei Tikvah’s weekly announcements or call the office. Packing takes less than two
hours and everyone is welcome.
Deliver food: Several times each year, Shaarei Tikvah is responsible for delivering the food from SSTTE to the
Bronx. Each volunteer delivers the food to one of the 3 organizations any day after Tuesday of the week it is
packed. It takes a little more than an hour. Please let Susanne Jones know if you’d like to help.
Donate Money: Food that isn’t collected must be purchased so donations are welcomed! All monetary donations
go directly to purchasing food; the food bank incurs no administrative costs.
For more information, please contact Susanne Jones [email protected] .
BETWEEN THE BOOKENDS
The Shaarei Tikvah Book Club
Join us at the following discussions! Everyone is welcome.
October 22, 2014, 1-3 p.m., The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel
Reclaiming a Life through the Pages of a Lost Journal
November 19, 2014, 1-3 p.m., Free Spirit by Joshua Safran
Growing off the road and off the grid
December 10, 2014, 1-3 p.m., The Fortune Teller's Kiss by Brenda Serotte
Memoir of growing up in a Turkish Sephardic family
For Information: Ruth Shire # 668-058, Ann Zeidberg # 428-9667
News from Brotherhood
Jonathan Lesser
Help Welcomed: No Prior Building Experience Necessary!!
Another annual tradition is arriving shortly!
The building of our Sukkah takes place on the day after Yom Kippur. Burn off the calories of you break-fast meal
with this great opportunity and join us on Sunday morning, October 5, after the 9 a.m. Minyan.
12
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Updates on our Gateway advertisers
Arthur Glauberman
Let Me Introduce You to Nature’s Cradle, Our Newest Advertiser!
As the Advertising Editor of The Gateway, I am always looking for new businesses that our
members might benefit from and who are generously helping to support our community.
Nature’s Cradle (914-779-8723, 55 Mill Road Eastchester, www.naturescradlenursery.com) is our NEWEST
ADVERTISER! I never knew this place existed until early this spring when I went looking for some mulch and
met the staff, all of whom were very helpful. You’d be surprised what you might need to know about mulch! A
few weeks later, Judy and I went to look at perennials since we were thinking of putting in some new plants and
we ended up hiring their landscaper, Mikenzie Norwood, who created an almost entirely new front yard for us.
They also have fresh local produce on the weekends during the spring, summer and fall. In late July we signed
up for their own CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Now, every Friday we are picking up
pounds of organic fruits and vegetables grown by farmers in Pennsylvania. If you are interested, you can still
join their CSA and have fresh vegetables and produce through the fall months! And if you don’t want to commit
to buying pounds of vegetables, you can just wander into their store and buy local produce and exceptional
heirloom tomatoes by the pound. Even Lulu’s has become a fan of Nature’s Cradle! Most importantly, since
they are helping to cover the costs of printing The Gateway, it would be great if you could drive by and thank
them for supporting us!
Welcome Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning to Shaarei Tikvah’s Gateway!
By the time you are reading this edition of the September Gateway, the Scarsdale Pool will be closing up for the
season and, while we may not like it, my guess is that many of us will be preparing for what could be another
brutal winter.
Here is the good news. If you aren’t thrilled with your heating and air conditioning company, or feel that you
would like to get a second opinion on your furnace and AC system, I’m happy to welcome back Cottam Heating
and Air Conditioning, Inc. as an advertiser in our Gateway. Gary Cottam has been our family’s heating and AC
rabbi for close to 20 years and we are grateful for the advice and guidance he has given us over the years. While
I have many Cottam stories I could share, here is one I think you’ll appreciate.
One cold night in late November, shortly after we had left the fine apartment living in New York City, we
returned to find that our house seemed to be shaking. Although never mechanically inclined, I quickly realized
the noise was coming from our furnace room, so I turned off the emergency switch and called Gary Cottam. It
was after 10 p.m., but Gary showed up!
After checking out the furnace, Gary told us the good news. A small part had broken in our water pump. The
actual part only cost about $1, but the repair would cost around $125 and it might make more sense to install a
new residential pump. Gary explained that we had a commercial pump that was designed for a much larger
apartment building. He suggested that a smaller residential pump would be much quieter and, given the cost of
the repair, more practical.
continued on next page….
13
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
What was remarkable (and the reason I remember this so clearly 20 years later) was that Gary Cottam called me
a few days later and explained that the broken water pump his men removed was actually worth a lot of money,
possibly as much as $1500! Gary’s problem was that he felt he owed me that money since he might be able to
use the pump for another one of his customer’s buildings. And while I couldn’t believe my ears, Gary insisted
on coming back and doing work for free to pay for the pump. To my knowledge, he never did sell that pump,
but he demonstrated the kind of person he was, and that was much more important.
That’s why Gary is my heating and air conditioning rabbi!
College Committee keeps Students connected!
We send packages for Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Purim to our college
students! Wewant them to stay connected to their Jewish roots and Shaarei
Tikvah. Email [email protected] with your child's name, mailing address and
email as soon as they are available. If your child moves, please let us know so that we send
packages to the correct address. If your child is studying out of the country, we will prepare
the package and leave it in the office for you to mail to your child.
Would you like to receive brief reminders or notices as text
messages on your mobile device? Send us your mobile
number and provider to [email protected] and
we’ll add you to the list. You’ll continue to receive
information via email/mail as you do now as well!
Thank you from Anna Shereff
Thank you to all my friends at Shaarei Tikvah for all the good wishes and
contributions made in honor of my birthday.
With love from Anna
14
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Why you should join us at Shaarei Tikvah’s Shabbat B’Yachad Retreat this fall!
We’re excited about our first community-wide Shabbat retreat.
Friday evening Oct. 24 through Saturday evening Oct. 25
at the Stamford Hilton
No matter your age and whether you come by yourself or with your family, it promises to be a very special weekend.
Here are some reasons to come:
Experience Shabbat: We talk about the beauty of Shabbat, but so many of us have never really experienced it
fully from candle lighting Friday night through Havdalah. Here is our opportunity.
Connect with Each Other: Disconnect from the busyness in our lives and be truly present for family and friends.
Get to know some new people across generations.
Cruise on Noah’s Ark: Well, not exactly, but in keeping with the week’s
Torah portion - Noah - we will offer an array of activities and options to
suit different interests and ages. Meals together, singing, games,
discussions, family activities, time for naps and more. You choose to do
what you want on this cruise - and also enjoy the hotel’s pool, fitness and
tennis facilities.
Get Spiritual: Services will be musical and creative with special services
for kids and teens. Relax with yoga before services. Sing along with the
beautiful music of Cantor Cohen and music teacher Amichai Margolis. Do
some play acting to feel what it was really like on Noah’s ark. Read a line
or two of Torah - or follow along as your friends do.
Learn Something: We’re planning interesting discussions and learning sessions for adults.
Special Teen Track: We anticipate a number of teens joining us at the retreat. Teens will have an option to
share rooms with each other. There will be ‘teen only’ activities. There will also be opportunities for teens to
assist in the programming whether it be running their own activities, leading activities for younger children or
doing things with the ‘grownups!’
Children Too: There will be fun and games for the kids. They can hang out with their friends and take part in
activities with their parents or child-only activities supervised by our synagogue staff.
The Shabbat B’Yachad Retreat is reasonably priced at $100 per room and an additional $50 per adult and $35
per child (under age 13) for a full weekend of fun and all meals included. Sign up now before October 1st.
15
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
A recommendation from Helen and Charlie Schildkraut!
On August 10, 2014, we had a brunch catered by Meryl Moser at Shaarei Tikvah! It was
outstanding!! Meryl did an excellent job with the food, the presentation and the overall
atmosphere!
We were pleased and all our guests enjoyed themselves, especially the food! Meryl, Leon and the
staff all did an excellent job.
Thank you
Helen and Charlie
16
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Naomi Less is back
with more soul-ifying music
worship
Friday Sep 19 at 6pm
As the sun prepares to sink below
the horizon, set the tone for Shabbat
and welcome her in with a musical vibe
and spirit fit for a spiritual queen. We
invite everyone to join Naomi Less and
musicians for an experiential worship
journey through music, meditation,
tefilah and community.
Community Shabbat dinner will follow the service: Cost of Dinner: $18 per adult $10 per child
Mazel Tov to our Bat Mitzvah
Megan Kraut – October 11
Megan Kraut is in 7th grade at Scarsdale Middle School. Megan
loves art, diving (think flips and twists, not scuba!), traveling
and hanging out with her friends and family. Being a middle
child (she has an older sister Jordan, age 14, and a younger
sister, Jade, age 7), Megan has refined the art of standing up
for herself, getting along with others and negotiation, which
will come in handy later in life as well!
Megan would like to thank the Rabbi, Cantor Cohen and Bill
Magaliff for preparing her for her Bat Mitzvah.
17
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Donations July and August 2014
General Fund
 In memory of Ron Berger, from Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson, Jamie and Ellen Raboy
 Best wishes for good health to Allan Lazarus, from Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson
 In appreciation of their aliyah to the Torah, from Len and Adele Lewis
 In honor of Yad l'yad group - Heather May, Ida Weiss, and Ellen Zander, from Jamie and Ellen Raboy
 In honor of the marriage of her granddaughter Jill, from Fern Diamond
 In honor of Anita and Randy Borkenstein for their many years of service, from Ida Weiss
 In honor of Ben Tanen’s birthday, from Scott and Jill Harris
 In honor of Randy Borkenstein swimming 3 lengths underwater at the Party auction event at the Eichels’ pool party, from
Scott and Jill Harris
 In memory of Dee Francetic’s uncle, from Dorothy Kowalsky
 Get well wishes to Bob Arnow, from Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
 Get well wishes to Jack Weiss from Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
 Get well wishes to Anne Alben from Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
 In honor of Sheryl Last reading Haftarah, from Anita and Randy Borkenstein
 Mazel Tov to Sheryl Last, from Roz Berliner
 In memory of Ilse Weingartner, from Roz Berliner
 With gratitude to Gary Kreinik, from Randy Borkenstein
 Happy Birthday greetings to Ellen Lewis, from Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson
th
 Happy 104 Birthday greetings to Anna Shereff, from Roz Berliner, Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson
 In honor of Scott Berliner’s aliyah on Shabbat, from Roz Berliner
 Happy Birthday wishes to Bob Arnow, from Roz Berliner
 In honor of Anita Borkenstein for the wonderful job she does with the supermarket cards, from Anna Shereff
Yahrzeit




In memory of his mother Gertrude, from Arthur Elkind
In memory of his brother Erwin, from Marvin Zolt
In memory of Stephen A. Moser, from Meryl and Stu Moser
In memory of her mother Bessie Siegel, from Roz Berliner
Reverend Solomon Kaplan Fund
 In memory of Ron Berger, from Meryl and Stu Moser; Samuel and Trudy Adwar; Joseph and Irene Perl; Ellen and Paul
Lewis; Michael Kane; Irving and Marlene Roschelle; Martin and Evelyn Mayblum; Anna Shereff; Scott and Jill Harris;
Randy and Anita Borkenstein; Wendy Hollander and family; Ida Weiss; Marian and Steven Cohen; Dorothy Kowalsky;
Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman; Rhona and Richard Liptzin; Sharon and Ken Pearlman; Sally and Myron Bush;
Joyce Polay; Ted and Joyce Styne; Bill and Anne Friedman; Daniel and Mara Baror; Roz Berliner; Sandra Kammerman;
Harriet and Barry Goldenberg; Howard and Andrea Dubow; Richard and Gilda Podber;Sheryl and Richard Bluestine;
Sandra and Robert Dobkin; Mort and Jean Hertz; Leslie and Howard Oshinsky; Beth, Dina, Ariel, and Rachel Kaufman and
Charlie Updike; Marion Crespi
 In memory of Fred Friedman, from Sally and Myron Bush; Roz Berliner; Anna Shereff; Gloria Berger; Arlene and Leon
Eisenson; Beth, Dina, Ariel, and Rachel Kaufman and Charlie Updike
 In memory of Ilse Weingartner, from Gloria Berger
th
 In honor of Anna Shereff’s 104 birthday, from Adam Hollander, Wendy Hollander
 Happy Birthday wishes to Adam Hollander, from Anna Shereff
th
 Happy 90 Birthday to Robert Arnow, from Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
 Mazel Tov to Michael Hollander and Leah Hillman on their engagement, from Wendy Hollander
18
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Religious School
 Mazel Tov to Julia Glauberman on her graduation, from Anna Shereff
 Wishes for a very happy birthday to Elizabeth Lampert, from Anna Shereff
 Wishes for a very happy birthday to Ilana Bookner, from Anna Shereff
th
 Happy 104 birthday to Anna Shereff, from Dorothy Kowalsky, Laura and Howard Grill, Rochelle and Jesse Shereff
 In memory of Fred Friedman, from Dorothy Kowalsky
 Happy Birthday wishes to Andy Seligson, from Anna Shereff
 Happy Birthday wishes to Barbara Weiss, from Anna Shereff
 Happy Birthday wishes to Howard Grill, from Anna Shereff
 In honor of Ronit Razinovsky receiving her Master’s degree, from Carol and Jay Weissbrot
 Happy Birthday wishes to Summer Eichel, from Anna Shereff
 Happy Birthday wishes to Marni Frishwasser, from Anna Shereff
 Happy Birthday wishes to Ronit Razinovsky, from Anna Shereff
 Happy Birthday wishes to Paul Lewis, from Anna Shereff
Weingartner Adult Education Fund
th
 Mazel Tov to Sally and Myron Bush on their 55 wedding anniversary, from Ellen and Paul Lewis
 In memory of Ron Berger, from Howard and Laura Grill
 Get well wishes to Allan Lazarus, from Howard and Laura Grill
th
 Happy anniversary to Sally and Myron Bush on their 55 wedding anniversary, from Howard and Laura Grill
 Happy anniversary to Meryl and Stuart Moser, from Howard and Laura Grill
 In memory of Fred Friedman, from Howard and Laura Grill, Ellen and Paul Lewis
 Get well wishes to Bob Arnow, from Ellen and Paul Lewis
 Get well wishes to Jack Weiss, from Ellen and Paul Lewis
 In memory of Ilse Weingartner, from Ellen and Paul Lewis, Irving and Marlene Roschelle, Laura and Howard Grill, Dorothy
Kowalsky, Jacqueline Bruskin, Marie and Anthony Mangone
 Happy Birthday wishes to Ellen Lewis, from Anna Shereff
 In memory of Henry and Ilse Weingartner, from Marilyn Weingartner
Kaufman Updike Library Fund
 Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Michael Hollander, from Beth, Dina, and Ariel Kaufman, and Charlie Updike
Kiddush Fund
 In memory of Fred Friedman, from Meryl and Stu Moser
 In memory of Ilse Weingartner, from Meryl and Stu Moser
 Happy Birthday wishes to Bob Arnow, from Meryl and Stu Moser
 In honor of Allan reading Haftarah, from Allan and Maxine Lazarus
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
th
 Mazel Tov to Sally and Myron Bush on their 55 wedding anniversary, from Irving and Marlene Roschelle
 In memory of Jonny Kessner, from Neil Klein, Susanne Jones, Joshua and Jeremy
 In memory of Fred Friedman, from Wendy Hollander
 In appreciation, from Jane Sovern and Ronald Meister
 In appreciation, from Joy and Michael Sadowski
 In memory of her husband Ron, from Gloria Berger
Cantor’s Discretionary Fund
 In honor of Jamie’s Bat Mitzvah, from Jacquie, Kenny, Daniel, and Jamie Cohen
 In memory of a great and courageous lady Ida Polak, from Dorothy Kowalsky
 In memory of Jonny Kessner, from Neil Klein, Susanne Jones, Joshua and Jeremy
 In memory of her husband Ron, from Gloria Berger
19
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Service and Ritual Fund
 Happy Birthday greetings to Elizabeth Lampert, from Dorothy Kowalsky
Shiva Fund







In memory of Fred Friedman, from Judy, Arthur, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
Happy Birthday greetings to Andy Seligson, from Irving and Marlene Roschelle
Happy Birthday greetings to Jack Weiss, from Irving and Marlene Roschelle
Happy Birthday greetings to Barbara Weiss, from Irving and Marlene Roschelle
In appreciation of Gloria Fields and Andy Seligson, from Arthur, Judy, Molly, and Julia Glauberman
Happy Birthday wishes to Anna Shereff, from Marlene and Irving Roschelle
Happy Birthday wishes to Ellen Lewis, from Marlene and Irving Roschelle
Louis Shereff Fund

Happy Birthday greetings to Anna Shereff, from Ellen and Paul Lewis; Michael Kane; Beth, Dina and Rachel Kaufman,
Charlie Updike and Ariel, Michael and Jocelyn Lucente;
Chesed Fund

Happy Birthday greetings to Andy Seligson, from Ellen and Paul Lewis
20
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Eastchester Fish Gourmet
52 Garth Road, Scarsdale, phone 725-0090
Monday to Sunday 6:30am – 2:00pm
Restaurant and Fish Market
Rated Best of Westchester 2014
Rated Excellent by NY Times 2013
We carry Rye and Whole Wheat Bagels.
Hot Bagels Rolled by Hand and Baked on Premises
OUR BAGELS ARE KOSHER
Serving dinner every night and lunch
on Thursdays and Fridays
837 White Plains Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
NO FAT, NO CHOLESTROL,
NO SUGAR (in cinn raisin only)
914-725-3450
www.eastchesterfish.com
EDEN Kosher
(formerly Syon Kosher Meats now
under new ownership!)
Free Home Delivery
2558 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers,
New York, 10710
914-268-0800
Notary Public
Hartsdale Pharmacy & Surgical
211 East Hartsdale Avenue
Hartsdale, NY 10530
Joseph Archina
Pharmacist
21
Tel. (914) 723-2847
Fax (914) 723-0712
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Thank you to
JIFFY CLEANERS
for donating their services
to clean our tallitot
Please support them with your patronage
259 South Central Avenue
(Mid Central Shopping Plaza)
Hartsdale, NY, 948-4080
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-7; Sat 8-6
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
COTTAM
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING INC.
492 City Island Avenue, City Island, N.Y. 10464
www.cottamhvac.comTel: (718) 885-3328 Fax: (718) 885-0219
State of Connecticut HIC # 0571319 State of Connecticut DI- 392082
Westchester County: WC-05403-H94 New York City Lic. #: 0923504
With over 30+ years' experience, we are proud to serve
thousands of satisfied residential and commercial
customers in Westchester Counties, Lower Connecticut
and the NY City Metro Area.
Call up today to have your air conditioning system serviced for energy
saving performance "You can trust Cottam Heating and Air Cond Inc
even if you can’t trust the weather
22
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Beth Torah Glatt Kosher Caterers
Proudly serving the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas.
Specializing in weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and morning kiddush
as well as kosher Iraqi and Jewish food.
Please feel free to browse our wide selection of menus for any occasion
www.bethtorahcaterers.com
All cooking and baking is done in our commissary using our own
unique recipes.
With our excellent staff of waiters and bartenders, we can cater any
size affair in the New York metropolitan area. Contact us for more
information
Tel.(718)261-4775
[email protected]
23
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
WEINSTEIN
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Privately owned and operated by the Weinstein Family since 1930
Day after day,
Season after season, year after year,
People come to us
Because they know we will
Be there for them
1625 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10710 (one block north of Tuckahoe Road)
P. 914-793-3800 ~ F. 914.793.2300
[email protected] ~
www.weinsteinchapels.com
24
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
25
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
26
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST
BREAST CANCER
SUPPORT NAN
as she runs her first marathon to raise money for cancer
research at Memorial Sloan Kettering
To donate
Go to her New York City Marathon
Naomi’s Gang Page
http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/NaomisGang
or contact
[email protected]
[email protected]
SHE’S RUNNING FOR OUR LIVES!*
--Naomi Avrahami, pictured above with Nan
*1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer in their lives.
27
September, October 2014
Elul 5774, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5775
Riverside Memorial Chapel
21 W Broad Street Mount Vernon NY 10552
914-664-6800
www.riversidememorialmountvernon.com
Charles S. Salomon Joel E. Simon
Continuing to maintain the high service standards of the
Rosenthal, Grossberg and Alpert families.
28