The Passover Seder, the oldest continuously observed religious ceremony in the world, tells the story of the Jews' Exodus from Egypt. Jewish tradition says that people of each generation must imagine that they personally had departed from Egypt, and the sages say that each generation must tell the story in its own terms.
The sages probably did not intend this:
Moses is Departing Egypt: A Facebook Haggadah
If you are looking for a local group to celebrate with:
Join Hazon on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 – 6:30am
JCC in Manhattan - on the roof - (Amsterdam Ave. @ 76th Street)
Every 28 years, Jews around the world celebrate the moment when, according to ancient tradition, the sun returns to the position in the heavens where it stood at the precise time and day of the world’s creation.
We hope you’ll find meaningful ways to celebrate throughout the day, including at your seder, be inspired to learn about the positive role the sun plays in our lives as well as its negative role in global scorching, and take action to reduce your carbon footprint.
For local celebrations click here
Check out Birkat HaChamah resource pages!
For more resources check our blessthesun.org
Please join us this Saturday, March 28th from 9:45-10:30am for a Tish led by Rabbi Dan Ain where we will discuss this week's Torah portion Vayikra. It's a very interesting one that instructs us on tangible ways to show our dedication and mark our spiritual growth. All this and we're providing coffee!
If you want more after the Tish, join us in the auditorium for Shabbat services.
By new member Aaron Seeskin
March's installment of Shabbat on Tap at Dublin6 featured a four-round intellectual(and culinary!) "speed-dating" extravaganza, which explored the liturgical, historical, ethical and nutritional aspects of kashrut…and of healthy eating in general. The turnout was really fantastic – even though Nicole and I hadn't been to a SoT gathering in several months, it was reassuring to see lots of old and new faces. (Clearly shabbos at a pub resonates with the TNS community!)
We started with Rabbi Dan, who found the time to lead us through the Torah's take on dietary laws at (impressively) breakneck speed and hold a discussion on the possible meanings and reasons behind the laws (why do you think fish need fins and scales to be kosher?). Next up was Rabbi Niles and an introduction to "Ecokashrut" – a modern, multifaceted approach to food that takes into account not only its "fitness" according to halachah (Jewish law) but also whether animals are treated humanely, the labor used to harvest crops are treated fairly, and whether certain food-related practices in general are good for the planet. An important question was raised: Is there more to Jewishly ethical eating that "keeping kosher"? Amy rang the bell (not really, but it fits the speed dating vibe!), and we moved to dietician Mary Gocke's hard-hitting presentation on what healthful eating should really be. A lot of strong ideas and food for thought in there, especially coming off the two great discussions of what kosher "is." Mary steered us in the direction of thinking about right/wrong food as being good/bad for us, as opposed to conforming to some external set of criteria divorced from our physical health. Finally, Sheryl Eisenberg walked us through the minefield of ethical eating – how to know what "organic" and "humane" really mean and how to find them. What struck me most in this final "date" was how the process of figuring out how to eat healthfully is so tough! It requires a lot of information and personal thought, whether or not (and to whatever extent) one observes kashrut.
A great evening, with thought-provoking presentations, discussion and information!
Rabbi Niles was quoted in the article Tattooed Jews
Rabbi Goldstein...admits he thought about getting a tattoo a few times in the past. But because of its history with idolatry, he is now on the side opposing Jews getting tattoos.
As Israelites moved among idolatrous nations, Goldstein explained, they were prohibited from following the pagan custom of tattoos that symbolized idolatry. Maimonides, one of the greatest Torah scholars of all time, ties the Leviticus prohibition to this issue but says regardless of intent, the act of tattooing is prohibited. (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Idolatry 12:11) Many Jews — religious or not — still follow this prohibition because it is ingrained in Jewish custom. And although Goldstein says many Jews are getting tattooed as a form of self-expression, not idolatry, if asked, he would still recommend a Jew not get a tattoo because of this history.
Read the full story on how the younger generation expresses their Jewishness in controversial ways here.
From Students in our B'inai Mitzvah Academy
1. Who am I?
a. I almost sacrificed my son.
b. My wife's name is Sarah
c. The son of my wife Sarah's midwife is believed to have started the nation of Islam.
d.One of my son's name is Isaac.
e. I am the first Jew
2. Who am I?
a. I am Sarah's midwife.
b. I had a son before Sarah did with her husband because she thought she was baron.
c. I am Ishmael's mommy.
d. Sarah banished me after she had a kid because she got jealous of my son Ishmael.
e. Ishmael and I got stranded in the desert, and an angel came down to me and said, "A great nation will come from your son.."
3. Who am I?
a. I have 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.
b. I am married to Jacob.
c. I was his first wife but he loved my sister more.
d. Jacob worked for 7 long years to marry my sister but my dad convinced me to trick him into marrying me because I am older than my sister Rachel.
e. Someone with my name lives in a galaxy far far away.
4. Who am I?
a. I have hairy arms.
b. I did not get the blessing I should have gotten as the oldest son and my brother tricked my dad into giving him the blessing.
c. My mom was Rebecca.
d. My dad was Isaac and he loved me best.
e. I like to hunt.
5. Who am I?
a. I have two names.
b. I have two wives, and I have children with also two of their midwives.
c. I have 13 children.
d. I am the grandson of the founder of Judaism.
e. One of my sons was sold into slavery in Egypt, but I thought he was killed.
Do you think you figured out all five biblical characters? Check the commentary to see if all are correct!
From member Karen Loew, Editor, CityLimits.org
I'm proud to announce that for the second year in a row, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency has recognized City Limits with its PASS ("Prevention for a Safer Society") Awards, which are national in scope.
We took two out of three prizes in the Web category, for:
Curtis Stephen's story "A Ballot's Breadth Away From Rejoining Society" and
Tram Whitehurst's roundtable, "Debating How to Police A Challenging Population"
You can see the full list of winners here!
Congratulations to Curtis and Tram!
And congratulations to Rosie McCobb, who shot the photos in Curtis' story.
Last year, a Weekly story won, along with Jarrett's superb CLI issue on bail.
by member Martha Spector (recipe can be found in our original New Shul cookbook)
Editor's note: If you have a fantastic Passover recipe that you would like to share with our members, please email it to the office.
At the last Shabbat on Tap, we talked food, including old and new ideas about kashrut.
To find and learn more about healthy, ethical (though not necessarily kosher) food, see the newly-posted...FOOD RESOURCES section on our resource page of our website.
Editor's note: Congrats to all of us - this is our 300th post on our blog!
That's right, ladies and gents. Join us for Shabbat on Tap where you will have the chance to move from table to table to chat it up. We chose the topic - Food Fight! You bring your thoughts and get ready to share. You never know who you'll meet, what ideas you'll hear, or who you'll
(dis)agree with. Plus, we're serving pizza and beer. Since we're talking about what you put in your body, we'll make sure the beer is lite and will serve some veggies and hummus too.
Passover is around the corner!
Check out this innovative site Behrman House Passover page. Here you can log in and:
* Practice reading and singing the Four Questions
* Practice reading the blessings we say at the seder table
* Find fun seder activities for children
* Sing Eliyahu HaNavee (Elijah the Prophet)
Another great idea for kids is to create your own Chocolate Seder!
The New Shul's Rishonim is holding their very own Chocolate Seder at VCS in the cafeteria on Thursday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 7 at 5:30pm!
From Rabbi Niles
Why is there so much excitement and buzz in the Jewish world, even in some of the less traditional communities, about Wednesday, April 8 of this year?
On that day, which corresponds with the Hebrew date of 14 Nisan 5769, we will be given the opportunity to observe an ancient and somewhat arcane ritual that is only possible once every 28 years—the recitation of Birchat Hachammah, “the Blessing of the Sun.” It is a Jewish rite that I’d never even heard of until a colleague of mine, who serves a progressive community in the Pacific Northwest, informed me about it relatively recently. And he would never have heard about the ritual, either, had he not been schmoozing with an Orthodox friend who shared his deep love of nature—and, fortunately for them, a very close proximity to it.
The Talmud tells us that once every 28 years, the sun returns to the same place, at the same time of day, and on the same day of the week as the moment of its own creation. According to various calculations based on the little known—or used—solar calendar, this event will always fall on a Wednesday because, as the Torah states, the sun was made on the fourth day of Creation. This confluence of events—a realignment of the heavens as they were at the very beginning of time—was not a moment to be overlooked in the rabbinic imagination, and so they instruct us to celebrate this reenactment of the sun’s creation every 28 years.
At the first rays of dawn on this extraordinary day of blessing, it is a practice to go outside, face east, and recite the following words: “Blessed are you Adonai, our God and sovereign of the universe, who makes the works of creation.” The same blessing is supposed to be recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, such as lightning, meteor showers, and the northern lights, as well as when we bear witness to wondrous natural topography, such as great mountains, wild rivers, and lush forests. I have recited this blessing myself during the course of my own travels through places like Alaska, the Amazon, Africa, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
On this secular calendar year, 2009, the date of this rite happens to fall on Erev Pesach, the day prior to the start of Passover. Nearly everyone I know is always searching for new ways to enliven their annual Seders, to make them more creative, meaningful, and engaging. Why not precede the event and communal gathering with a beautiful and exotic practice like the Blessing of the Sun? And if, as some have, we want to go deeper, the juxtaposition of this season’s two dates provides Jews with a unique and powerful theological link between the classic, mythic ideas of Creation (the observance of the sun blessing ritual) and Redemption (a fundamental theme of Passover that is tightly interwoven throughout the Haggadah itself).
The Blessing of the Sun also affords us with a (seemingly more and more) rare opportunity to connect with the environment—and with our place in nature—in a direct and specifically Jewish way. We are more aware than ever before about the troubling effects of climate change, and that has led many of us to greater thoughtfulness about and sensitivity to the world around us. What more wonderful and spiritual way to honor and express gratitude to nature and her gifts than through a Jewish blessing?
So this year, before you start your Seder, go outside while it is still light and say the blessing above. Let us know how it works!
Editor's Note: This is part of a longer article which will appear in an upcoming issue of the Jewish Week.
Moishe, from Moishe's Bakery on the LES just called to wish us a Happy Passover (and to remind us to pay for the Hamantashen that were served at Folies Esthere). He then informed us that his wife has already started cooking for the Passover seders which are still weeks away (the first seder is on Wednesday, April 8th). He made us guess how many grandchildren they have - all but three (who live in London) will be attending the seders. We guessed 10, but boy oh boy were we wrong. Moishe has over 40 grandchildren! Before we hung up, he begged us to see his recent television appearance on Fox 5 News. Check it out - it is worth watching!
We are pleased to announce the completion of the Kunyuk Girls’ School in the village of Akon! At our first Social Action Shabbat weekend last year, Pastor Gloria White-Hammond spoke to us about My Sister's Keeper (MSK) and their wonderful work helping women in the Sudan. With our financial donations we helped MSK build a school for girls, overcome legal hurdles, impassable roads, flooding, and political instability to deliver on a promise made to the Akon community three years ago. To get the job done, MSK’s Field Coordinator, Kaidi Rial, spent countless hours traveling long distances, negotiating for building supplies and ensuring their safe delivery to our contractors.
There is still work needed to be done in this war-torn community in Southern Sudan. If you wish to donate to this amazing cause you can go to their website at www.mskeeper.org/donate.html.
The New Shul has joined LinkedIn!
Be a part of The New Shul group by joining this site that helps professionals exchange ideas and information at www.linkedin.com.
At this year's Seder, fill your cup with wines that offer the “bouquet” of ritual mixed with a “hint” of tradition.
Join Rabbis Niles Goldstein and Dan Ain, and Jean-Luc Le Du (former Chief Sommelier of Restaurant Daniel) for a pre-Passover wine tasting that explores the ancient connections between the “nectar of the gods” and faith.
Information & Reservations: 212-284-6773
Where: Le Du’s Wines (600 Washington Street b/w Morton and Leroy Sts).
When: Friday, April 3, 7-8:30pm
Fee: New Shul Members $15/Non-Members $18
Please note: The wines at the event are not K for P.
If you're interested in this event, check out this one as well.
Posted by Ellen Gould, The New Shul's Musical Director
I wanted to let you know about my new cabaret show "The Last Checker," on Wednesday, April 22nd at The Players (16 Gramercy Park South). For now, one night only. It's quite different from...well, it's quite different and I am very excited about it.
$25, or $18 for Seniors and Students (with I.D.)
Hope you can come. RSVP to reserve your ticket at 212-475-6116.
Posted by Raziel Mossafi, Rishonim and BMA teacher
The New Shul's 10th Anniversary Gala
Please join us for a magical evening when The New Shul honors co-founders Holly Gewandter and Ellen Gould with a gala event featuring a special performance of Ellen’s Emmy Award-winning one woman show, Bubbe Meises, Bubbe Stores, followed by cocktails, dinner, raffle, and revelry.
Wednesday, June, 3rd at 7pm
The Museum for Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
To find out more call the office at 212-284-6773.
Enjoy a page from The New Shul's "Jew Life Teen Guide"...
The Purim story has a deeper layer that many people don’t learn about in Hebrew school. We can look at Esther and Vashti’s actions through the lens of modern Feminism. How did each of these women use the power of being female to their advantage? Vashti refused to appear at the King’s party as his trophy wife. Esther used her beauty to convince the King to save her people. In class, we discussed whether Vashti or Esther were more feminist in their actions in the Purim story. We also talked about how the Purim story may have gone differently in modern times.
On Purim, we are supposed to fulfill three commandments: read the Megillah, eat Hamentaschen, and give Mishloach Manot. These practices can be fun, but we came up with some other things to do on Purim that are more meaningful to us:
1. Honor Vashti and Esther’s feminist actions & read a book by a female author
2. Stand up for what you believe in
3. Donate to a cause, or exchange gifts with friends; turn “Secret Santa” into “Secret Esther”
The Spiel
It is tradition to put on a small play, or “spiel” to tell the story of Purim. Why not take it to the next level and make it something that teens will find funny?
- Base it off of a popular TV show (ex: “Real World: Shushan”)
- Play charades or improv games with the characters from the story
- Make up a song or skit about Purim and post it on You
From member Beth Weiner
From: “The Jewish American Kitchen” Raymond Sokolov
Cookie Dough
2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup sugar
8 TBSP (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 TBSP grated lemon peel
• Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl.
• Work in the butter using a pastry blender or two forks, one held in each hand.
• Add the eggs, mixing in with the pastry blender.
• Add the lemon peel.
• Form the dough into a ball and wrap in wax paper
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight is even better)
Assembly
1 recipe dough
1 recipe filling
1 egg, beaten with 1 TBSP water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Divide dough inot portions you can easily roll out.
• On a floured board, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 inc.
• (It rolls out best if placed between 2 sheets of waxed paper, or just heavily flour the board and rolling pin.
• Cut the dough into 3- to 4- inch circles, using the top of a glass or a cookie cutter.
• Fill each circle with a heaping sp of filling and pinch the dough around it into a triangular shape.
• Brush the dough with the egg wash and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 20 to 30 minutes (20 minutes in my oven)
• When the cookies are done, they will look done – appealingly brown.
Makes about 30 Hamantaschen
FILLINGS
Apricot Filling
1/2 lb dried apricots
1 1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar (less)
• In a small sauce pan, over medium-low heat, cook apricots in wate until very soft.
• Mash or process in food processor.
• Add sugar to taste.
• Simmer over low heat until thick – about 10 minutes.
• Cool before using.
Apple Filling
1 cup(+) applesauce
(less than) 1/2 cup raisins (plumbed and drained)
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped and toasted)
1/8 tsp cinnamon
• Combine all ingredients.
• Blend well.
• Cover and refrigerate.
Chocolate Filling
1/2 cup coco
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk, cream or coffee
1 cup toasted chopped walnuts
• Combine all ingredients.
• Blend thoroughly.
Caramel Pecan Filling
3/4 sugar
1/4 cup water
2 cup toasted chopped pecans
7 TBSP unsalted butter or margarine
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup honey
TO TOAST NUTS
• Bake a single layer of nuts at 350 degrees
• Turn or shake frequently until evenly browned – 5 to 10 m
As part of one of our B'nai Mitzvah Academy presentations yesterday, the journalism elective presented questions and answers from their interview with God. Here is a sampling.
This is a very common question that needs to be answered: are you male or female?
Well, I am whatever you want me to be - whether it be male or female.
Why did you give humans freewill?
Because I believe the only way people can learn is from mistakes, and then they can make things better.
Are you happy with the world in its present state?
Yes and no. People have come quite a long way but they are wasting their time with things like electronics.
Do you believe that gay and lesbian marriage should be legal?
Absolutely, I created all people equal for a reason. They should be allowed to love whomever they want, male or female.
Is the Jewish religion doing anything wrong?
No, but I think people should accept different types of Judaism.
Are you superstitious?
Superstitions were made up by humans to try to explain my meanings.
Do you only answer prayers said in Hebrew?
No, because everyone should be able to pray and not everyone can speak Hebrew.
Who do you appear to?
Babies can see me. They forget as they grow.
Is Jesus really your son?
He is. All people are my children.
What do you do with your spare time?
I watch the world grow and struggle.
What do you do when we struggle?
I give people the wisdom they need to resolve the problems themselves.
We'd love to hear your questions! Leave them in the comment section.
From member Diane Temkin
There is an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMIÆs signature walkathon event that is being held in New York, NY at South Street Seaport on May 9, 2009.
I am walking with our team called Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS) Friends and Family. I work for MHLS, which is a state agency that protects the civil rights of mental patients and other mentally disabled people. I am walking for all people who suffer from mental illness and especially for those people committed to mental hospitals and are therefore not free to walk with us.
I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks09/NYC/dtemkin. It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those whose lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.
The goals of the NAMIWalks program are:
to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.
NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sponsor a holiday oneg, purchase supplies for an after school program, or underwrite wine for Shabbat dinner with The New Shul Registry and On-line Auction. It's not too late to help sponsor this Sunday's Purim extravaganza!
Thank you to The Kosher Hostess for listing The New Shul's "Follies Esther" a Purim celebration unlike any other. The Kosher Hostess is a communal kitchen where people across the world share unique ideas, recipes and stories.
As part of the Social Action Shabbat, several members gathered together to play games, do arts and crafts, and share stories with children ages 3 to 14 living in public housing in Chelsea. We created a fun-filled afternoon based on our theme One Person Can Make a Difference. We wrote letters to President Obama asking for cleaner homeless shelters, soap in public school bathrooms, requests to bring our troops home, and even a suggestion of a Kid Bank so the youth can learn how to save money. After working jointly in team relay races, we sat down to do some arts and crafts. 
From member Janice Moses:
What a rewarding experience! Working with kids is amazing because their honesty is so refreshing; sometimes painful, but always enriching. I could feel that we made a real contribution to these kids lives and their sense of the world. We helped them experience something new, a kind of personal success that helps build self esteem and an optimistic outlook. The boy I worked with turned to me after we built the beautiful box of popsicle sticks for his mom and said, "I could do this all day!" and then he looked at me and added, "Now, let's make one for you!" I felt like I had done something wonderful. I learned the meaning of tikun olam (reparining the world). Thank you New Shul for enrolling me in something so wonderful as Social Action.
It is a real honor to be able to share an academic article of mine that was recently published in the journal Conservative Judaism:
In this article, I discuss the possible consequences that our 21st century technology will have on our belief in a life after death.
Click here to download the full article as a pdf.Optimism and Pessimism
Throughout the history of Jewish intellectual thought, there have been two intertwining eschatological impulses, one optimistic and one pessimistic. Whereas, the first impulse “speaks of a gradually emerging, ever more perfect society” that humanity is able to achieve, the second “despairs that human beings of their own accord” are capable of bringing about that world. One or the other of these impulses became predominant at different times and in different societies.
Of the two eschatological impulses, Gillman wrote that “clearly, today we are in the midst of a period where the pessimistic impulse is dominant.” An impulse that is fueled, in part by “a persistent and pervasive despair about what human beings can accomplish on their own.”
This is still the case today. However, the twenty-first century has seen a different type of myth – a technological one – begin to take hold of our human imagination. One such myth is referred to as the “Singularity,” a technological vision that concerns the rapidly accelerating speed of our technological achievements and the potential consequences of those advancements. It imagines a point in the future when the intelligence of our technology far exceeds human intellect, an achievement that, once reached, has the potential to transform our universe in ways that are not possible for the unaided human mind to comprehend.
These technological visions will challenge us to rethink how we understand ourselves and our role in the universe. They will necessitate, if they hasn’t already, a drastic rethinking of what it means to be human. And, eventually, what it means to die.
Monday, March 9 - Purim eve
5:15-6:15pm at 272 West 10th Street, Auditorium
Join il'il Paz-el and Yula Bee'ri, two incredible Israeli singers, musicians, and actresses who dove into the text of Megillat Esther and created a marvelous blend of drumming, song, megillah-chanting, and a play! Best of all - you get to join in the fun by drumming, call and response, and participatory songs which blend all kinds of music.
Bring your drums or any noise makers! This event is open to members and non-members of all ages.
From member Erica Sigmon
Kids Café Festival 2009: Window on the Mid East: A Celebration of Arab and Israeli Cultures
The festival features performances by Dancewave's Kids Company, Kids Company II, and Young Movers Ensemble as well as city youth performing ensembles (over 250 kids and teens). This year's festival, Embracing Arab and Israeli cultures through Music and Dance is hosted by acclaimed beatbox artist Yuri Lane with guest performances by Yasser Darwish (Sat), and members of the Parparim Ensemble of the Israeli Dance Institute (Sun). Performance tickets: $20 Adults, $12 Kids (12 & under), Workshop
Fee: $14, Mid Combo Special (includes workshop & performance ticket): $26 Adults, $18 Kids (12 & under)
WHEN: March 7 & 8, 3pm Performance, Workshops 1 - 2:30pm
WHERE: The Kumble Theater of the Performing Arts, 1 University Plaza (Intersection of Flatbush & DeKalb), Q, R to DeKalb; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins Street; N, D to Pacific/Atlantic
CONTACT: For tickets contact: Kumble Theater Box Office: 718-488-1624; www.kumbletheater.org
To read more about porgrams like this, read Cyrus' post here.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve developed a list of issues that
mean something to me, and that I’d like to work with. One of the
issues that I feel is most important is equal rights. Last year, I
read a book called Warriors Don’t Cry. It’s the story of the 8
African Americans from Little Rock, Arkansas (set in 1954), who tried
to attend a high school in their town. Sounds simple enough, right?
But there were some people, (in fact, most people), who didn’t want
the children to go to the same school as them, and receive a good
education. They thought that African Americans should not have the
same rights as white people, and that they should not be allowed to
attend a school with white kids. The 8 kids stood strong and
continued going to that school despite all the hatred thrown at them.
There is discrimination in learning evident these days also. I
recently read an article in the NY Times about Afghani female students
who were attacked when they attempted to go to school. The fact that
this is still happening in the world today is crazy and unacceptable.
This means a lot to me, because I am currently in 9th grade. I have
been receiving a great education for the past 9 years, while those
kids have been struggling to even enter the doors of their schools. I
have been able to go to school and learn without fear of having acid
thrown in my eyes, of being beaten up, taunted, and even receiving
death threats. Kids all over the world should have equal
opportunities to learn. But this doesn’t just apply to kids. Every
person should have an equal right to do whatever he/she wants.
To learn more, click here.
The youngest members of The New Shul community (birth to seven) get down with Shabbat at Club Shabbateeny on Friday, March 27th at 6pm. We gather under the tallit for a blessing and secret message from Rabbi Dan, light the holiday candles, drink sweet grape juice and eat challah. Yum! Then it's time to boogie, sing and drum with musician Josh Beraha, and maybe hear a story or two! All are welcome (no velvet rope) so please bring your friends! For more info and to be added to the evite list, call 212-284-6773 or email the office.
You are then invited to join us for a musical member-sung Kabbalat Shabbat service beginning at 6:30 pm. Rabbi Niles will lead our usual warm and welcoming service with the "tag-team" accompaniment of founding member Amy Mereson and new member Moshe Rothenberg, who marks his one-year anniversary with The New Shul. Both Amy and Moshe are experienced, talented, and accomplished singers, and we are thrilled and grateful to have their voices help to lift ours in prayer and song. Come show your support, and leave refreshed and renewed. You will want to be a part of this celebration, not just of the Sabbath, but of our decade of communal worship and collective fellowship.
Last Friday, six teens participated in our Social action Kabbalat Shabbat Service. They each stood up and spoke about a cause that is important to them. In addition, they submitted an article for further study, which we will link to at the end of each post. We know that there is so much out there that needs help - one of the first steps is to pick a cause important to us, and then begin doing what we can to understand the issue and start taking action.
By Michele Moses:
Throughout the world, children are suffering from numerous atrocities
unimaginable to most. HIV/AIDS, poverty, war… the lost goes on. The
numbers are horrifying, stating things like half a million children
died of AIDS in 2003 alone, one in five children in developing
countries didn’t have access to safe water, and 1.2 million were
sexually trafficked.
These facts are appalling, but they are distant. This allows people to
turn away and say to themselves “It’s awful, but there is nothing I
can do for children who suffer”. This is not the case. Children are
strongly impacted by hunger and poverty in our country as well. In May
2003, 16,000 children were reported to sleep in the New York City
homeless shelter system on any given night. I had an exceptional
experience with one of these children a few years ago through work I
did with this temple. His name was Desmond, he was 7 years old, and he
lived at the I-Cahn homeless shelter. One moment that stood out to me
was when he spilled his snack on the floor. We’d brought food for all
the children and had plenty to spare. I went to gather it up, throw it
away and replace it with another but he stopped me and said “No, I
still have to eat my food at home if I spill it on the floor”. To see
this sweet little boy’s earnest face looking up at me and hear these
unfamiliar words and ideas was an extremely poignant moment for me. It
caused me to reevaluate my own life and introduced me to the joy that
it brings to help children who have been forced to endure hardship.
To learn more, click here.
By Julian Baldwin:
Education is very important. Most people and children around the
world can’t afford education or can’t find a suitable education. I
myself am searching for a suitable High School education that is right
for my having Asperger’s Syndrome.
I think that people should be able to find a suitable education for
themselves. Be it a public school, a private school, or even home
schooling. Everyone deserves a good education, regardless of academic
ability.
Now, I would like you to imagine going to school or college without
pen or paper. Kids in Malawi (40% of them) drop out of school in 4th
grade. Twenty-eight percent of those kids do it because they lack the
necessary supplies such as pens or paper. I am currently getting
pens, paperclips, and glue sticks for these kids in Malawi through
Goods for Good.
To learn more, click here.
By Maya Moverman:
After the Holocaust, the world said, “Never again.” Yet as we speak,
there is a genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Over 400,000 civilians have been
killed since the genocide started in February 2003, and 2.5 million
have been displaced.
But we don’t hear much about it; it’s not usually on the front page of
the newspaper. The world has turned its head, even though it vowed
never to do so again. As I have family members who lost their lives in
the Holocaust, it is especially important to me to be aware of what’s
going on “behind-the-scenes,” and to help inform others of what’s
happening. If enough people take action by participating in rallies
and writing letters to the government, perhaps we can persuade them to
take serious action against this horrible slaughter.
To learn more, click here.
By member Cyrus Hernstadt:
As I am sure everyone here is aware, there has been an ongoing
struggle between Israel and many neighboring countries. Since the
minute Israel was founded midnight May 14, 1948, it has been engaged
in continual struggles with its hostile neighbors. But no matter what
your opinion is on the matter, I hope we can all agree that peace and
diplomacy is a far better option for dealing with the struggle than
the violent policies and reactions currently in use. My hope is that
all peoples in the region will eventually learn to accept one another,
so that all can live with respect and dignity. There is an Israeli
organization that I find inspirational in its herculean effort to
forge bonds of peace throughout the Palestinian and Israeli
communities. It is called Shalom Achshav, which means Peace Now. Need
I say more?
To learn more, click here.
We know it's a pic of Safta's chicken soup, but we don't have one handy of Safta's Hamantashen.
Jeanette Eichenwald shows you how to make old school hamantashen. Everyone will be coming back for seconds, thirds, fourths - okay, you may want to double the recipe!
1/2 cup margarine
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Beat margarine at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg, orange juice, and vanilla.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to margarine mixture; stir into a uniform dough.
Shape dough into a flat disk. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 15 minutes.
Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 3-inch circles with a cookie cutter or drinking glass.
Place chocolate chips in the center of each circle. Shape into a triangle by folding 2 sides of the circle to the center and pinch together at the sides. Fold remaining side up to the center and pinch.
Place hamantashen 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet.
Bake for 20 to 35 minutes.
Yield: about 4 dozen (there are never too many)
Text and pics by Alison Gerson:
Last Saturday morning, approximately twenty New Shul members gathered at the 14th Street Y (on the east side) to serve a kosher meal and mingle with over 50 community members as part of the Educational Alliance's Shabbat Ore Program. After the meal, our members, under the leadership of Ellen Gould, and the diners joined together for a very up-lifting singing session. 
The Educational Alliance is a Jewish organization founded in 1889 by German Jewish community leaders. Originally founded to help Eastern European Jews assimilate into American society, The Educational Alliance currently has 80 programs at 32 sites. One of those programs, Project ORE, is not a soup kitchen. It is an extraordinary model of caring and compassion; a comprehensive program that sees a homeless person not as just a cup to fill, but as a member of our human family, deserving of opportunity and dignity.
An extravaganza doesn't come cheap. Help cover the cost of the key party ingredient you can't do without -- be it wine, hamantashen, live music or the Purim feast. Just $18 and up, and easy as pie with The New Shul Registry.
The New Shul registry is an online tool to help you help us!
Yesterday, we returned to Tinity Church and got right down to basics. We helped paint the soup kitchen, chop vegetables and organized food in the pantry. Over thirty families came out to help Trinity, which was one of three social action events taking place around the city.
Rabbi Niles, who joined the families, said "We spent our Shabbat morning trying to do tzedakah, and in our own small way, through social action, to make this world a better place for those in need. In the context of our Social Action Shabbat it was a wonderful success, and it left all of us with the feeling that we had done the right thing. We'd moved beyond merely talking the talk--we'd walked the walk, and we emerged together from the experience a tighter, re-invigorated, and re-committed Jewish community."
Read more about volunteering at Trinity Church year-round here.
