Temple BBQ and the High Holidays
09/12/11 07:51
Sadly the Summer is over. :-(
But that means everything else is back at full volume. Rabbi Darnov is back on the bema and School is starting up (RTPV on 9/10). The Holidays are coming soon. As I write this we are a mere 3 weeks away. The Choir has been practicing. They will do their deed as usual, to fill the sanctuary with song and sounds of the holiday, to be a background or foundation for your voice to join in. As in much that we do here, it is your voice that we truly seek.
We ended the summer this year with a great temple BBQ. About one third of our member families were represented. The weathermen who had predicted 70% chance of precipitation got it wrong. Even the RTPV Bicycle Club managed to enjoy a morning ride, in spite of the forecast. Special thanks to Man-ching Tom for organizing this, for Sisterhood for sponsoring it (sisterhood always comes through, perhaps they could change their moto to “when there’s a bill there’s a way”), special thanks to James Keogh who manned the grill, to Ashlyn Levinson for leading the kids in crafts, to Phil Hurowitz, Bonnie Lord and Tia Levinson, to the temple board and all those who came. A very special thanks to Emile Menasche’ who once again very graciously gave of his time to play his guitar and fill our house with music and song.
Free food, music and shelter with temple friends, how could you go wrong.
This year, the Holidays will be observed at The Temple. Our house. Yes, we are breaking the tradition of the past dozen years or more years. We will be holding our high holiday services in our own house. Our sanctuary may be smaller, but at this time so are we. I will miss the team work of past years when a dozen of us, young and old, gathered to move our “tabernacle” as in the days of old, then to set up GMC’s sanctuary with our books, religious articles and adornments and our arc, keyboard, microphones and sound system. While I will miss the teamwork, I won’t miss the work (move, set up for RH, restore, pack, set up for YK, restore, move back--OY) . This year with a little adjustment as we get accustomed to hosting our own holiday services we might just find ‘how nice it is to be home for the holidays’.
I hope to see you there (I mean ‘here’).
Ed Rodman
Summer Services
07/19/11 18:48
Friends,
Summer is here and with it comes one of the things I have always enjoyed about RTPV: how we, the members, step up to the bima and lead services on those Friday evenings when the rabbi is on vacation. So I thought I would share the list of who will be leading services in the coming weeks.
7/22 - RTPV Sisterhood with Tony Mecca
7/29 - Shimon Bendavid
8/5 - Man-ching Tom & Ian
8/12 - Ed & Roni Rodman with Tony Mecca
8/19 - RTPV Men's Club
I look forward to seeing you there.
A friendly reminder to Hebrew School families: Shabbat attendance during the summer does count toward Hebrew School requirement. Why not use the opportunity to make up any shortfall or get a head start for the next school year?
I'd also like to thank those who have stepped up including Faith and Ruth Oland who got us started by leading services this past week.
Also, please mark your calendar for our exciting end-of-summer event -- August 28th @ 4:30 PM for our Temple's Open House/BBQ.
Regards,
Ed Rodman
President, RTPV
Summer is here and with it comes one of the things I have always enjoyed about RTPV: how we, the members, step up to the bima and lead services on those Friday evenings when the rabbi is on vacation. So I thought I would share the list of who will be leading services in the coming weeks.
7/22 - RTPV Sisterhood with Tony Mecca
7/29 - Shimon Bendavid
8/5 - Man-ching Tom & Ian
8/12 - Ed & Roni Rodman with Tony Mecca
8/19 - RTPV Men's Club
I look forward to seeing you there.
A friendly reminder to Hebrew School families: Shabbat attendance during the summer does count toward Hebrew School requirement. Why not use the opportunity to make up any shortfall or get a head start for the next school year?
I'd also like to thank those who have stepped up including Faith and Ruth Oland who got us started by leading services this past week.
Also, please mark your calendar for our exciting end-of-summer event -- August 28th @ 4:30 PM for our Temple's Open House/BBQ.
Regards,
Ed Rodman
President, RTPV
Yom HaShoah, May 1
05/04/11 22:46
It has been over 60 years since the Holocaust. To survivors, the Holocaust remains real and ever-present, but for some others, sixty years makes the Holocaust seem part of ancient history. Year-round we try to teach and inform others about the horrors of the Holocaust. We confront the questions of what happened? How did it happen? How could it happen? Could it happen again? We attempt to fight against ignorance with education and against disbelief with proof.
But there is one day in the year when we make a special effort to remember (Zachor). Upon this one day, we remember those that suffered, those that fought, and those that died. Yom HaShoah is officially known as Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. Shoah, which means catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah. As the name suggests, it is a day dedicated to memorial and somber reflection in recognition of the millions of lives lost under Nazi persecution. In addition to the six million Jews who died -- two-thirds of the European Jewish population – the Nazis also killed millions of others, including Roma (Gypsies) and Slavs, political and religious dissidents, the handicapped, and gays and lesbians.
Yom HaShoah also reminds us to reflect on the acts of resistance that took place throughout the war. Having just completed Passover, the timing of Yom HaShoah is a constant reminder about the importance of maintaining resistance despite circumstances which make it nearly impossible to do so.
There are various beliefs about what is and is not appropriate on this day. Many commemorate Yom HaShoah by lighting yellow candles in order to keep the memories of the victims alive. Some ceremonies have people read from the Book of Names for certain lengths of time in an effort to remember those that died and to give an understanding of the huge number of victims. In Israel, at ten in the morning, a siren is sounded where everyone stops what they are doing, pull over in their cars, and stand in remembrance.
In whatever form you observe Yom Hashoah, the memory of the Jewish victims will live on.
On a personal note, my parents were both first generation Americans. My mother’s family was from Austria-Hungary. My father’s family was from Russia. Both families were decimated in the Holocaust.
When I was growing up in Co-op City in the Bronx, the father of one of my good friends was a Holocaust survivor. I remember him as a short, powerful man, with a great sense of humor and a very heavy accent. He often had his sleeves rolled up, with his tattooed number clearly visible. One of his favorite songs was a country song called “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. I recall going over to my friend’s house late one night after ending the fast on Yom Kippur . He and his two brothers and his father were still sitting around the table and his father sang the song, with his heavy accent -- “sixteen tons and vat do you get, another year older and deeper in debt.” He had a big grin on his face as he belted out this song, with his three sons joining in. On that night, after remembering another year and looking forward to the next, he was happy to be here, happy to be with his family, happy to be alive.
On this day I marvel at his survival and I mourn those who did not survive. And I remember -- I remember because as Jews, and as citizens of the world, we must always remember. We must never forget so that the past, that horrible past, is never again repeated.
Scott Levinson
But there is one day in the year when we make a special effort to remember (Zachor). Upon this one day, we remember those that suffered, those that fought, and those that died. Yom HaShoah is officially known as Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. Shoah, which means catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah. As the name suggests, it is a day dedicated to memorial and somber reflection in recognition of the millions of lives lost under Nazi persecution. In addition to the six million Jews who died -- two-thirds of the European Jewish population – the Nazis also killed millions of others, including Roma (Gypsies) and Slavs, political and religious dissidents, the handicapped, and gays and lesbians.
Yom HaShoah also reminds us to reflect on the acts of resistance that took place throughout the war. Having just completed Passover, the timing of Yom HaShoah is a constant reminder about the importance of maintaining resistance despite circumstances which make it nearly impossible to do so.
There are various beliefs about what is and is not appropriate on this day. Many commemorate Yom HaShoah by lighting yellow candles in order to keep the memories of the victims alive. Some ceremonies have people read from the Book of Names for certain lengths of time in an effort to remember those that died and to give an understanding of the huge number of victims. In Israel, at ten in the morning, a siren is sounded where everyone stops what they are doing, pull over in their cars, and stand in remembrance.
In whatever form you observe Yom Hashoah, the memory of the Jewish victims will live on.
On a personal note, my parents were both first generation Americans. My mother’s family was from Austria-Hungary. My father’s family was from Russia. Both families were decimated in the Holocaust.
When I was growing up in Co-op City in the Bronx, the father of one of my good friends was a Holocaust survivor. I remember him as a short, powerful man, with a great sense of humor and a very heavy accent. He often had his sleeves rolled up, with his tattooed number clearly visible. One of his favorite songs was a country song called “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. I recall going over to my friend’s house late one night after ending the fast on Yom Kippur . He and his two brothers and his father were still sitting around the table and his father sang the song, with his heavy accent -- “sixteen tons and vat do you get, another year older and deeper in debt.” He had a big grin on his face as he belted out this song, with his three sons joining in. On that night, after remembering another year and looking forward to the next, he was happy to be here, happy to be with his family, happy to be alive.
On this day I marvel at his survival and I mourn those who did not survive. And I remember -- I remember because as Jews, and as citizens of the world, we must always remember. We must never forget so that the past, that horrible past, is never again repeated.
Scott Levinson
Summer 2010
07/10/10 14:36
It is the dog days of July as I write this. The temperature has been scorching, reaching triple digits. The humidity has been unbearable and the sun unyielding. In short, it’s been pretty darn hot. But hey, that’s all right -- summer’s here.
At the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley we’ve had an eventful 2010/11 Fall, Winter and Spring. We gathered for the High Holidays, celebrated in the Sukkah, danced on Simchat Torah, had our annual “Hanukkah Hootenanny” and enjoyed a communal Passover Seder. We’ve had numerous congregational dinners, had a Temple BBQ, helped run the food pantry, presented Wellness Seminars to the community, held a gold buying party and had a yard sale. We’ve joined together for Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut, joined in sympathy for the loss of loved ones, assisted our congregants and community through illness and times of need and shared in the nachus of joyous occasions, whether it was the naming of a child, a bar or bat mitzvah, or the commemoration of a happy event.
Yes, we’ve been busy here at RTPV and we won’t let a little heat stop us. We are working hard to make the coming year an exciting, fun, inspirational and spiritual one for all of our members. Coming soon to a mailbox near you will be a completely updated member questionnaire. It is an effort not only to learn more about who our members are, but also to hear from each one of you about what you want out of this Temple. It is a way of fostering a stronger bond between the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley and our members; a way of allowing the RTPV community to be an integral part of your lives and a place that you can rely on for community, inspiration, spirituality and friendship.
You will also soon be receiving requests for High Holiday tickets. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur arrive very early this year, so it is important that you look out for that mailing and return your ticket requests as soon as possible.
We continue to strive to serve the needs of all of our members. I want to personally encourage each one of you to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions about our Temple.
On behalf of everyone here at the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley, we want to wish you all a safe, happy, healthy, fun and cool summer.
Finally, don’t forget that we are open for business all summer long. Services are still being held each Friday evening at 8:00 pm. Please join us. Bring family. Bring a friend. Besides, we have really good air conditioning.
Shalom,
Scott Levinson
At the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley we’ve had an eventful 2010/11 Fall, Winter and Spring. We gathered for the High Holidays, celebrated in the Sukkah, danced on Simchat Torah, had our annual “Hanukkah Hootenanny” and enjoyed a communal Passover Seder. We’ve had numerous congregational dinners, had a Temple BBQ, helped run the food pantry, presented Wellness Seminars to the community, held a gold buying party and had a yard sale. We’ve joined together for Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut, joined in sympathy for the loss of loved ones, assisted our congregants and community through illness and times of need and shared in the nachus of joyous occasions, whether it was the naming of a child, a bar or bat mitzvah, or the commemoration of a happy event.
Yes, we’ve been busy here at RTPV and we won’t let a little heat stop us. We are working hard to make the coming year an exciting, fun, inspirational and spiritual one for all of our members. Coming soon to a mailbox near you will be a completely updated member questionnaire. It is an effort not only to learn more about who our members are, but also to hear from each one of you about what you want out of this Temple. It is a way of fostering a stronger bond between the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley and our members; a way of allowing the RTPV community to be an integral part of your lives and a place that you can rely on for community, inspiration, spirituality and friendship.
You will also soon be receiving requests for High Holiday tickets. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur arrive very early this year, so it is important that you look out for that mailing and return your ticket requests as soon as possible.
We continue to strive to serve the needs of all of our members. I want to personally encourage each one of you to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions about our Temple.
On behalf of everyone here at the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley, we want to wish you all a safe, happy, healthy, fun and cool summer.
Finally, don’t forget that we are open for business all summer long. Services are still being held each Friday evening at 8:00 pm. Please join us. Bring family. Bring a friend. Besides, we have really good air conditioning.
Shalom,
Scott Levinson
Passover Thoughts & Wishes
03/23/10 10:07
Spring is here, and our thoughts turn to... matzoh?
My thoughts and memories of matzoh and, of course, Passover, bring me back to my childhood, sitting at the end of a long table by the side of my father as he read the Passover Haggadah. When I was young and we were orthodox, it was all in Hebrew, reflecting my father’s upbringing. But as the years passed and we moved to conservatism, English became a large part of the Passover service (as well taking some shortcuts to speed things along).
I fondly recall the pride I felt watching my father lead this service in our home. All eyes were on him, all words were uttered at his direction. When he said “shhh,” conversations stopped. When he told the same background stories, the same jokes, the same historical references year after year after year, we all nodded in appreciation and wonder, as if it were the first time we heard these words (although there was, admittedly, some rolling of the eyes). And we all laughed at those old jokes like we did the year before and the year before that.
Passover for me has always been a time of family. And family for me has always included relatives as well as close friends. Over sweet wine and juice and brisket and turkey and potatoes and lots and lots of food, we sit together and laugh and sing and remember and share, bonded by a common history and strength.
I remember the first Passover after my father died. I was 29 and single and still finding my way in the world as I prepared to lead the Passover service in my mother’s apartment in the Bronx. I sat down in my father’s chair at the head of the long table, all eyes and ears on me. An hour before that I had looked through our Haggadah and wrote notes in the margins -- “wash hands,” “leave table,” “hide Afikomen,” “sing,” “skip this part.”
We all sat down, the same faces from the year before, minus one, as I began to read from the Haggadah: “ We are about to begin the recitation of the ancient story of Israel’s redemption from bondage in Egypt...” But it was all wrong. I was not the leader; my father was. Yet I felt his presence as I began the Kiddush, and I felt him stronger still as I finished. My words were his words and my stories were his stories. Even my jokes mirrored the ones I had heard throughout my life. And while it was sad, so terribly sad not to have my dad there, it was at the same time uplifting to know that everyone at that table was pulling for me, prompting me and supporting me as I carried on our Passover traditions.
As the years have passed since that seder I developed my own stories and jokes, no doubt causing new rolling of the eyes. We still gather each year with family and friends to tell the story of Pesach. I have carried on the traditions of my father and his father, even as I have embraced the reform movement, while developing new traditions with my wife that our children will carry on.
As you enjoy the warmth of Spring and tradition of Passover, I hope that you also enjoy the strength of family and friends and companionship, the power of faith and the magic of renewal and hope.
Shalom.
Scott Levinson
My thoughts and memories of matzoh and, of course, Passover, bring me back to my childhood, sitting at the end of a long table by the side of my father as he read the Passover Haggadah. When I was young and we were orthodox, it was all in Hebrew, reflecting my father’s upbringing. But as the years passed and we moved to conservatism, English became a large part of the Passover service (as well taking some shortcuts to speed things along).
I fondly recall the pride I felt watching my father lead this service in our home. All eyes were on him, all words were uttered at his direction. When he said “shhh,” conversations stopped. When he told the same background stories, the same jokes, the same historical references year after year after year, we all nodded in appreciation and wonder, as if it were the first time we heard these words (although there was, admittedly, some rolling of the eyes). And we all laughed at those old jokes like we did the year before and the year before that.
Passover for me has always been a time of family. And family for me has always included relatives as well as close friends. Over sweet wine and juice and brisket and turkey and potatoes and lots and lots of food, we sit together and laugh and sing and remember and share, bonded by a common history and strength.
I remember the first Passover after my father died. I was 29 and single and still finding my way in the world as I prepared to lead the Passover service in my mother’s apartment in the Bronx. I sat down in my father’s chair at the head of the long table, all eyes and ears on me. An hour before that I had looked through our Haggadah and wrote notes in the margins -- “wash hands,” “leave table,” “hide Afikomen,” “sing,” “skip this part.”
We all sat down, the same faces from the year before, minus one, as I began to read from the Haggadah: “ We are about to begin the recitation of the ancient story of Israel’s redemption from bondage in Egypt...” But it was all wrong. I was not the leader; my father was. Yet I felt his presence as I began the Kiddush, and I felt him stronger still as I finished. My words were his words and my stories were his stories. Even my jokes mirrored the ones I had heard throughout my life. And while it was sad, so terribly sad not to have my dad there, it was at the same time uplifting to know that everyone at that table was pulling for me, prompting me and supporting me as I carried on our Passover traditions.
As the years have passed since that seder I developed my own stories and jokes, no doubt causing new rolling of the eyes. We still gather each year with family and friends to tell the story of Pesach. I have carried on the traditions of my father and his father, even as I have embraced the reform movement, while developing new traditions with my wife that our children will carry on.
As you enjoy the warmth of Spring and tradition of Passover, I hope that you also enjoy the strength of family and friends and companionship, the power of faith and the magic of renewal and hope.
Shalom.
Scott Levinson
