November/December 2014Cheshvan/Kislev/Tevet 5775

11/14 & 12/12Musical Kabbalat

Shabbat12/18TLC

HanukkahCelebration

12/19Or Olam

Hanukkah Party

From Rabbi Ephraim PelcovitsDear Friends,

On Shemini Atzeret, at the very end of our autumn festival season, our holiday Torah reading included the following text from the book of Deuteronomy:

Every seventh year you shall practice release of debts. This shall be the nature of therelease: every creditor shall release his authority over what he claims from hisneighbor.... If there is a needy person among you, one of your brothers in any of yourcities, in the land that the Lord gives you, you shall not harden your heart or closeyour hand against your needy brother. Rather, you shall open your hand to him, youshall lend him sufficiently for whatever he needs… (Deuteronomy 15).

That Torah reading had particular resonance for me this year, because 5775, theJewish new year which we began on Rosh Hashanah, is indeed the seventh year in ourpeople’s Shemita/Sabbatical cycle. This year is a Sabbatical year. And yet, because of theTorah’s very explicate instructions about when to observe this law, “When you come into theland that I give you,” (Leviticus 25:2) the laws of Shemita have ever only been applied toJews living in the Land of Israel. We in the diaspora are simply “left out.”

And, for the course of much of Jewish history, the two key laws of Shemita – lettingour land lie fallow, and pardoning all debts owed to us – have been viewed, primarily, as anonerous challenge to those living in Israel. How could farmers earn a livelihood if they wereexpected to give up, entirely, on profits every seventh year? How can borrowers hope to get aloan when debts will be regularly wiped clean? Imagine trying to obtain a mortgage to buy ahome in such a society?!? As such, the focus of our Sages has been dedicated to finding“loopholes” in the Sabbatical year’s laws. And yet, these legal loopholes have also helped usto avoid considering the meaning of Shmita – particularly for those of us living in the USwho never see the grocery signs explaining how the tomatoes we want were grown accordingto proper kosher Sabbatical standards. We never really end up asking ourselves, “What isthis seventh year of rest all about?”

And yet, this year, the tide has begun to turn. Many rabbis, Jewisheducators and innovative thinkers are encouraging our Jewish Community toexplore the values embedded in Shemita, a regular pattern of time that causesus to “let go” of property we think is fully ours. Here in New York, Hazon,the Jewish environmental rights group, has been using the ancient notion of “aSabbatical for the land,” to bring the values of that practice to life today, toencourage more sustainable Jewish communities. Read more about their work

Mishnah Study GroupJoin the Rabbi every Thursday

Morning for a Mishnah Study Group

following the 8am morning minyan11/6, 11/13, 11/20,

12/4, 12/11, 12/18Coffee & Light Breakfast Served

Rabbi’s Fall-WINTER ClassModels of Jewish Leadership:

Eight Biblical and Talmudic Teachers

Tuesday evenings from 8 pm to 9 pm. Rabbi Pelcovits uses Biblical and Talmudic textsto build a model of Jewish leadership in both times of prosperity and times of challenge.No prior knowledge of Hebrew or Jewish literature is necessary for this series; each weekis a stand-alone session. Schedule subject to change.

October 28 – Abraham December 2 - AaronNovember 4 - Rebecca December 9 - EstherNovember 11 - Joseph January 6 - HillelNovember 18 - Moses January 13 - Akiba

On call for minyanPlease let us know if you would beavailable for a morning minyan ifneeded. If you are, please let the

office know.

on the web, at www.hazon.org. And in Israel, later this month, MK Dr. Ruth Calderon,along with Israel’s new President Reuven Rivlin, will be launching an innovative, debt-reliefprogram – called the The Shmita Fund – to include financial education and combined privateand public funding, to help lift the most impoverished citizens of Israel out of the quagmireof debt. Rather than finding their way around Shmita, today’s Jewish leaders and educatorsare seeking to mine the ancient law, and find within it lessons and action that are just ascritical – and challenging – to us today, as they were thousands of years ago.

And so, I encourage all of you to explore the meaning of Shemita over the comingmonths, through Hazon, Dr. Calderon’s Shmita Project, and in study with us here at OrOlam. May we all be blessed to gain a greater understanding of the limits of our power, anduse that understanding to inform our compassion and action for those less fortunate.

With wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous Hanukkah,

Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits

President’s Message A good many of our major holidays are behind us. During the High Holidays,

we took stock of our actions in the past year, and dedicated ourselves to introspection,commitment to re-creation of ourselves and our environment, and to undertaking new projects in the coming year. While this is a process for personal development, our Board of Trustees applied the same to our synagogue spiritual home.

In an article of The Jewish Week (October 17, 2014), Paul Ohana and David Arnow refer tothe modus operandi of God in creating the universe as a model for our own undertakings--”Just doit.”

So, when unexpected problems arose with our building, we did not delay; we addressedthem immediately. However, lacking God’s omniscience and omnipotence, we explored variousbids; interviewed several companies; and made a deliberate plan to have the roof and fire escapesredone. By the time you receive this bulletin, most of the new roof will be on the building and thefire escapes will be fully repaired and safe.

Our next step is to renovate the ceiling, at the end of January, and if all goes as planned,painting of the main sanctuary should follow.

Transitioning from the self-reflection of the Days of Awe, we welcomed Sukkot and SimchatTorah, each having its own joyous celebrations: the fruit harvest and the completion of the annualreading of the Torah. We performed the mitzvah of sitting in the sukkah and of reading the lastbook of the Chumash (Pentateuch), honoring Harold Levine as our chatan torah (groom), with analiyah for the last chapter of D’varim (Deuteronomy) and Edith Claman as our kalah (bride), withthe first aliyah for B’reshit (Genesis).

November, absent of Jewish holidays, heralds the national celebration of Thanksgiving,One of our daily psalms, number 100, “Mizmor l’todah,” “A Psalm of Praise,” is most fitting for theoccasion:

Acclaim Adonai all people on earth.Worship Adonai in gladness;

come before God with joyous song.Enter God’s gates with gratitude.Adonai’s courts with adoration.

Extol Adonai and praise His name.

On November 30th, my husband Seymour and I will be departing for a warmer clime,Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where we spend the winter. Nevertheless, I shall be in contact with theExecutive Committee and other members of the Board, as well as with our Rabbi. During myabsence, vice-president David Reitner will be the go-to person for the Board and the congregationregarding all but spiritual and pastoral matters, the domain of Rabbi Pelcovits. I am confident thatDavid will maintain our schedule of planned repairs; be as diligent a minyannaire as he’s alwaysbeen; and release many endorphins for all with whom he interacts.

December will bring not only the beginning of winter, but also one of our joyous holidays,Chanukkah. As Seymour and I light our Chanukkiah, we will be thinking of all of you lighting yourfirst candle on December 16, and enjoying the Chanukkah party on December 19, also a KabbalatShabbat service, with vodka and latkes. (Continued on next page)

Kenneth Adelsberg & Laurie NewitzSamuele & Beki AzariaMartin BegunMichael BerelowitzBrian Berke & Laurie Berke-WeissMichael BerrHarold & Sandra BlockMordecai & Shiela BraunsteinLili BrenerRichard & Eleanor BrilliantEleanor BuckoIsaac CavalieroEdith ClamanAudrey CohenJoel CohenRobert & Bonnie CoopermanDavid Cummins & Anne GlauberErwin DanknerWilliam Pollack & Florence DillerKaren DineBernard & Honey DruckerIra & Myrna EpsteinMyrna FelderBurton & Brenda FineAllen & Shelley FinkelsteinArlene FlohrSheldon FriedSherry Fyman & Rossella MocerinoJudith Katz GeschwindOliver & Barbara GoldsteinMr. & Mrs. David GossStanley & Barbara GreensteinMr. Harold GriffelHeiman & Marilyn GrossMeyer & Karen Gross

Even in Puerto Vallarta, the Jewish community comes together for a seasonal Chanukkahparty. We raid the stores of potatoes. During December and January, Costco brings in kosher meatproducts, smoked salmon, white fish, and herring. Still, it’s not the same as being part of thiswonderful congregation. I’ll miss my companions of the morning minyan or of the longer Shabbatworship, with whom I exchange cultural information, political perspectives, learning opportunities,and amusing anecdotes.

I return on March 22, to welcome with you the springtime renewal.May we all go from strength to strength, having much happiness and good health in the

coming year. Barbara Gerber-Krasner

Alfred GrossmanAnita Guttman Alan & Marcy HonigDario & Anna Linda KaplanHarvey & Ellen KatzFlorence KavalerMichael Cherbini & MarciaKerr-CherbiniSeymour Krasner & Barbara

Gerber-KrasnerRobert & Sheila KreschJeffrey & Lynn LeffBarbara LevinePeter & Leslie LevineMelvin MaimanJerry ManberB. Fred & Cynthia MankoEllice MatsilSol MatsilEric MerenStephen MeringoffMadeline MohrLois MossHarvey & Linda NewmanRuth OppenheimerSandra OrtnerGlenn & Stacey OstragerRabbi Ephraim Pelcovits &

Rachel WeberCynthia PeglerStanley & Charlotte PlotnickJerald Politzer & Jamie BarryRuth PopkinMurray RehnerLeon & Elayne ReimerNorman & Barbara Reitman

David ReitnerLori Richter Pamela RischSteven & Meryl RosenEric & Sophie RossMarshal Salant & Janet GreshesEdward SandlerFern SchairIsabel ScheinMonroe & Marilyn SchulderNorman & Susan SchulmanMarvin SchwartzVivian SchwimmerMark Shapiro & Judith LewentRichard & Judith SharkenEric Simon & Lisa BaumwellDavid SokolCharlene Soltz-EtkesStuart StahlO. Bernard & Florence StarkmanGina SteinbergJanice StenzelMarc StoneIsaac & Jessica SuttonJacob SuttonMaurice TawilRobert & Ellen UffenPhillip WallAlan M. WeinsteinHenny WeissMichael WeissMichael & Mariana WeissAudrey WoolrichEva YoungMichelle Zitwer

Kol Nidre ContributionsWe wish to thank all of you for your generosity.

TODAH RABBAH We thank the following individuals for supporting our community:GENERAL FUNDEdith Claman, in memory of David Reitner’s uncle Murray FishmanMerril Feinstein, in loving memory of Isabel Schein’s mother, Dr. Olga BackerArnold & Harriet Gussin, in honor of Edith Claman on Simchat TorahNatalie Katz, to cover the cost of calendar production Florence Kavaler, in thanks for an AliyahBernadette KriftcherJeffrey LowittJeffrey Lowitt, in loving memory of Marvin LowittEd Morrow, in memory of David Reitner’s uncle, Murray FishmanMurray Rehner, in memory of David Reitner’s uncle, Murray FishmanMurray Rehner, in memory of Steven SeidmanDavid Reitner, in honor of Eva Young’s birthdayYacha Sutton, in thanks for an AliyahMark & Janet Zimmerman, in honor of their daughter, MelissaYAHRZEIT CONTRIBUTIONSKenneth Adelsberg, in loving memory of Joseph AdelsbergJudith Bach, in loving memory of Nellie BachJudith Bach, in loving memory of Jack DenkerJudith Bach, in loving memory of Hannah JohnsonErwin Danker, in loving memory of Helen DankerFlorence Diller, in loving memory of Adam DillerLouis Dirnfeld, in loving memory of Doris DirnfeldHoney Drucker, in loving memory of Louis BornsteinIrving Epstein, in loving memory of Selina Cuba EpsteinIrving Epstein, in loving memory of Janice Epstein PollackStanley Fein, in loving memory of Abraham FeinRochelle Friedland, in loving memory of Celia BornfriendRita Friedman, in loving memory of Bernard FriedmanBarbara Gerber-Krasner, in loving memory of Israel GerberDavid Goss, in loving memory of Isaac GossKarin Goss, in loving memory of Mina KatzRita Greenstein, in loving memory of Willie GreensteinRita Greenstein, in loving memory of Clara RappoportHarold Griffel, in loving memory of Zena GriffelMarilyn Gross, in loving memory of Ludwig WishikDoris Hertz, in loving memory of Naomi MillerMarcy Honig, in loving memory of Samuel GoldmanMarcia Kerr, in loving memory of Bradley Spencer ParloJon Kramer, in loving memory of Ann KramerJon Kramer, in loving memory of Samuel KramerJerry Manber, in loving memory of Abraham ManberJerry Manber, in loving memory of Helen ManberEllice Matsil, in loving memory of Hermione MatsilFlorence Mink, in loving memory of Bess BrownSteve Orlikoff, in loving memory of Myer OrlikoffRuth Popkin, in loving memory of Morris PopkinRuth Popkin, in loving memory of Vickie PopkinElayne Reimer, in loving memory of Arthur SchapiraAlan Resnick, in loving memory or Sarah ResnickRachel Resnick, in loving memory of Ina Altman

Yizkor Contributions

Burton & Brenda FineMiriam AnzolutSydney BergerBunny BleiMiguel BrzostovskiHerbert & Cheryl ChavesAlbert CohenKalmed EinbinderMarjorie EllenbogenMelanie FordinJudith GardinerJames & Jacqueline HeftRoselyne InsdorfRichard JanowitzMartin & Barbara KleinBunny KolodnerJoseph & Rochelle KornreichBarbara Gerber-Krasner &Seymour KrasnerRhena LippsRobert & Nina MarksSol MatsilFrederick & Irene MolodRabbi Ephraim Pelcovits &Rachel Weber Rachel Resnick & Lillian SharkeyMario & Arlette RottenbergJoan SegalMichael & Roslyn SoberLeila WeinburgBarry Zalaznick

YAHRZEIT CONTRIBUTIONS (continued)Rachel Resnick, in loving memory of Sophie ResnickSteven Rosen, in loving memory of Helen RosenEdward Sandler, in loving memory of Marilyne Sandler Fara Satin, in loving memory of Andrew ThallRichard Satin, in loving memory of Jack SatinMonroe Schulder, in loving memory of Bertie SchulderSusan Schulman, in loving memory of Kurt RamsfelderElizabeth Shwal, in loving memory of Adolph ShwalHelene Singer, in loving memory of Marie KalischHelene Singer, in loving memory of Adrienne LiepoldRose Singer, in loving memory of her sister, Karin Joan SingerHarriet Solo, in loving memory of Lillian KrollHarriet Solo, in loving memory of Milton Kroll Jacob Sutton, in loving memory of Sara SuttonPamela Weiss, in loving memory of Burton K. WeissAnna Wolinsky, in loving memory of Rivka BernsteinEva Young, in loving memory of Israel MiodeckaEva Young, in loving memory of Zelda MiodeckaEva Young, in loving memory of Julius YoungFLOWER FUNDEdith Claman, in honor of her three wonderful granddaughters: Emily, Karen & AmandaEdith Claman, flowers for Sukkot dinnerSeymour Krasner, in loving memory of his brother, Herbert KrasnerKIDDUSH FUNDSeymour Krasner, in loving memory of his brother, Herbert KrasnerStuart StahlJacob Sutton, Raki for KiddushimEva YoungRABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDDavid Reitner, in loving memory of his uncle, Murray FishmanCAPITAL CAMPAIGNBarbara Gerber-Krasner & Seymour KrasnerIN MEMORY of Joel GussinBrian Berke & Laurie Berke-WeissEdith ClamanFlorence Diller & William PollackMurray FishmanArlene FlohrMartin Goldman & Adele ShoulsonNatalie KatzFlorence KavalerMarcia Kerr Cherbini & Michael CherbiniBarbara Gerber-Krasner & Seymour KrasnerBarbara LevinePeter & Leslie LevineMurray RehnerDavid ReitnerStuart Stahl

PROGRAM FUNDArnold & Harriet Gussin, in honor of Barbara

Gerber-Krasner’s BirthdayBarbara Gerber-Krasner & Seymour Krasner, a

refuah Shlemah for Bruce KrasnerBarbara Gerber-Krasner & Seymour Krasner, in

memory of David Reitner’s uncle Murray Fishman

Barbara Gerber-Krasner & Seymour Krasner, in honor of Libby Rhee

David Reitner, in honor of Barbara Gerber-Krasner’s birthday

Charlene Soltz-Etkes, in honor of Barbara Gerber- Krasner for her dedication to Or Olam

Robert & Ellen UffenLarry Levine Celebration FundBarbara Levine, for wine for the Sukkot dinner

In Memoriam

Joel Gussin

Steven Seidman

Women’s League Corner - We had a wonderful beginning for 5775. We have celebrated all month.

This past week we concluded our month of holidays as we celebrated Rosh Chodesh with Hallel, which our Hazzan chanted so beautifully. Now that we are in Heshvan we have time to catch our breath in this month with no holidays. It is a quiet time to reflect on all the promises we made for the New Year and translate them into action.

Six days after our Supper in the Sukkah (see opposite), we participated in the Making Strideswalk with Sharsheret. We had eight people walking with MetroNorth, including Marcia Kerr, SuePress, our area director Lisa Siegel and me. We made the five mile walk. Best picture for me, was atthe finish line. It was an excellent start for a new project. The numbers aren’t complete yet, but wewere certainly able to raise needed funds for Sharsheret.

Our book group met at Sara Markel Altman’s home, for a very lively discussion of Amos Ozbook, “Between Friends.” Next book discussion will be December 2, details elsewhere in thisbulletin.

Sutton Place Synagogue hosted a MetroNorth event with Paul Glaser, who spoke here lastyear. The success we had last year encouraged MetroNorth to ask him back and there was a hugeturnout.

Now we will get ready to plan for our next major event, which will be our Shalach Manotproject.

We have extended a complimentary membership to all the new women who joined ourcongregation this year and were happy to welcome new members at our Supper in the Sukkah. Ifyou have been a member of our congregation and have not yet joined Women’s League we wouldlove to have you join us this year. Dues of $25.00 can be left in the Synagogue office.

B’Shalom, Sandy Koppell

JOIN OUR SYNAGOGUE BOOK GROUP – BOTH MEN & WOMEN INVITED

December 11-Thursday: Dona Gracia of the House of Naxos by Cecil RothHere is the story of Dona Gracia, one of the most remarkable women in Jewish history. The pride of

sixteenth century Jewry, she is acknowledged today for her courageous defense of her people and thepromotion of their culture.

This book is not available at the New York Public Library. A few of us have purchased the book onAmazon, and are willing to share. For information on copies available contact Edith Claman,

emclaman@verizon.net, 212-838-2588 or Sandy Koppell safta18@aol.com, 212-758-7445. 

February 2 – Monday: An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris Florence Diller will be leading the discussion. This is the story of the infamous Dreyfus affair told as a

novel edged with conspiracy and espionage.

Or Olam - The East 55th Street SynagogueFounded October 30, 1906

as Chevra B’nai Leive

Clergy and OfficersEphraim Pelcovits RabbiBonnie Streigold HazzanSherry Fyman Torah ReaderBarbara Gerber-Krasner PresidentDavid Reitner Vice-PresidentArlene Flohr Vice-PresidentDavid Sokol TreasurerRichard Kaufman Secretary

SHABBATOT for December

December 5-6 VayishlahCandlelighting: 4:10 p.m. Torah: Genesis 32:4-36:43Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21

December 12-13 VayeshevCandlelighting: 4:10 p.m. Torah: Genesis 37:1-40:23Haftarah: Amos 2:6-3:8

December 19-20 MikketsCandlelighting: 4:12 p.m. Torah: Genesis 41:1-44:17Maftir: Numbers 7:30-35Haftarah: Zecherias 2:14-4:7

December 26-27 VayiggashCandlelighting: 4:16 p.m. Torah: Genesis 44:18-47:27Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28

SHABBAT AND DAILY SERVICE TIMESSHABBAT SERVICE TIMESKabbalat Shabbat 6:00 p.m.Morning Service 9:30 a.m.WEEKDAY SERVICESMorning Service (Monday-Friday) 8:00 a.m.Evening Service (Monday-Thursday) 5:30p.m.

Please note:November 27 & December 25

Morning Service at 9:00am Office Closed

SHABBATOT - November

November 1 Lekh lekhaCandlelighting: 5:35pm Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

November 7-8 VayeraCandlelighting: 4:27pm Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24Haftarah: II Kings 4:1-37

November 14-15 Hayyei sarahCandlelighting: 4:21pm Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18Haftarah: I Kings 1:1-31

November 21-22 ToldotCandlelighting: 4:15pm Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9Haftarah: I Samuel 20:18-42

November 28-29 VayetseCandlelighting: 4:12pm Torah: Genesis 28:10-32:3Haftarah: Hosea 12:13-14:10

OR OLAM THE EAST 55TH STREET SYNAGOGUE

308 East 55th Street • New York, NY 10022 •212-752-1200

office@east55.org www.east55.org