YouTube meets the Talmud

Our 7th Grade B'nai Mitzvah Academy class is studying ancient and modern texts in dialogue with Youth Rabbi Zach Fredman - YouTube meets the Talmud.

This week we did Sukkot - a week-long meditation on impermanence. Here are the two "texts." What is each text supposed to teach us? What would one text say to the other? How are they similar? Different? Join us in the discussion by leaving a comment at the end of the post.

Talmud Masechet Sukkah (2a) - The Torah tells us, for all seven days of the festival of Sukkot, leave your fixed/permanent dwelling place, and dwell in an impermanent/temporary dwelling.

Talmud Masechet Sukkah (23a) - Who said you could build a Succah on a boat? It was Rabbi Akiva. For it was taught - If one makes a Succah on a boat, Rabban Gamliel invalidates it, but Akiva says it is ok. It once happened, that Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Akiva were traveling on a ship during Sukkot. Rabbi Akiva decided to build a Sukkah on the boat. The following day, a wind blew and toppled the Sukkah. Rabban Gamliel said to him, “Akiva! Where is your Sukkah now?”

A Sukkah L'Chaiim

Member Karen Loew created these Sukkot inspired cocktail recipes, which are featured on The Jew and the Carrot blog:

Sparkling cantaloupe rye

Chill infused, strained cantaloupe rye.
Fill coupe champagne glass halfway.
Add generous splash of good champagne.

This also can be made with ginger rye instead of cantaloupe.

Cardamom milk punch

Chill infused, strained cardamom rye.
Pour two parts rye into a coupe champagne glass.
Add one to two parts cold milk.
Stir.
Add one maraschino cherry.

Ginger Rickey

Chill infused, strained ginger rye.
Pour two parts rye into a highball glass over small ice cubes.
Add one to two parts club soda.
Add lime peel twist.

Read the full article, which explains why rye as the base for the Sukkot cocktails here.

Mazel Tov to Member David Lang!

From member David Lang:

I have some cool things with dance coming up in town -

Works and Process at the Guggenheim is presenting two different versions of the same music by me - up and coming choreographers Jessica Lang and Pontus Lidberg have each made dances to my pieces 'forced march' and 'the so-called laws of nature,' for the amazing dancers of the company Morphoses. I went to the rehearsals this week and I have to say how surprised I was at how differently I heard the music - it feels as if each choreographer shines a light on some aspect of the music that only he or she noticed. There are 3 shows coming up - 2 this Sunday and 1 on Monday, but the Sunday night show is their gala so it costs more - and the choreographers and I will be yakking onstage at each show. Click here for more info.

I also wrote music for the New York City Ballet, for ultra-hot choreographer Benjamin Millepied, which premieres October 7 on their gala and then again the next week. Click here for more info.

And something completely not dance-related. I wrote music for the very funny film '(Untitled)" starring Adam Goldberg as a composer (shown in the film living in my building - how is that for realism?). The soundtrack includes many of my favorite musicians - the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Steve Schick, Evan Ziporyn, members of ICE, So Percussion, etc. - and even has some of them on screen. There is a priceless shot of Lisa Moore giving Adam Goldberg the hairy eyeball, for example. The film is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray - you don't need me to give you the link on Amazon, do you? But the soundtrack CD is available on Cantaloupe, and it includes all sorts of rarities, like the jaw-dropping-and-long-out-of-print Sony recording of Steve Schick playing 'the anvil chorus.' Click here of the link.

Thanks for reading!

xo

David

Kabbalat Shabbat. Simchat Torah. Club Shabbat.

Click to enlarge. See you Friday, October1 at 6:30pm. Everyone welcome!

Sukkah City Field Trip

Do you know the rules for building a Sukkah? For example, the Talmud states is it okay to have an elephant count as one of the walls! Our B'nai Mitzvah class learned the rules and then went on a field trip to Sukkah City.

The class had a tough time picking their favorite. To learn more about Sukkah City, click here.

October Happenings!

Please print and post. See you soon!

Club Shabbat

Join us for 1 or all 4 of these Club Shabbats. The first one is Friday, October 1 starting at 6:30pm. After pizza, we will join the rest of the community at 7:15pm for a Simchat Torah celebration. We will be unrolling the entire Torah! Come celebrate with us. All are invited.

Rosh Chodesh Dates!

Click to enlarge! Sign up this week to reserve your spot. We will be meeting at members' home in the Village.

Lulav. Etrog. Hot Dog.

Click to enlarge! See you Friday, September 24th for our Sukkot BBQ catered by Cowgirl.

What is Your Special "Offering" for 5771?

As Rabbi Niles highlighted in his Rosh Hashanah sermon, no creative community is possible without the fill-hearted, free-will "offerings: of its members. Niles charged us with a "homework: assignment, to be shared with the community on Yom Kippur morning. What is your special gift? What can and will you offer to The New Shul this season in order to help it become the community of your dreams? You have just a few more days to go decide, in dialogue and partnership with at least on other member or friend, what it is that you will give to our dynamic, ever-evolving shul in the weeks and months ahead.

Don't Miss This Unique New Shul Experience

In the Ancient Temple during Yom Kippur the High Priest was the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies and make his petition to God for forgiveness and the blessing of another year of life.

Two years ago The New Shul took the liturgical urging that we are to be 'a nation of priests' and created a ritual that allowed each of us into the Holy of Holies - a personal moment in front of the open ark during a musical meditation led by New Shul's musical director, Ellen Gould and violinist, Craig Judelman.

Come and be lifted in preparation for Ni'ilah on Saturday, September 18. It will be a journey of the spirit that will carry you into the New Year with joy!

The schedule for Yom Kippur afternoon is as follows:
4pm - Afternoon Service
5:30pm - Musical Meditation before the open ark
6pm - Ni'ilah and final Shofar blast - please bring your shofar!
Havdalah and Break Fast.

From Barron's Online

Thanks to Blake Golding for sending this to us!

Edward McDermott, a reader with a Fey sense of humor, sent along the following and we thought you might get a kick our of it. it's titled, "If God texted the Ten Commandments to Moses."

1. Not b4 me, srsly.
2. dnt worship pix/idols.
3. no omg's.
4. no wrk on w/ed (sat 4 now, sun l8r).
5. pos ok-ur m&d r cool.
6. don't kill ppl.
7. dnt steel.
9. dnt lie re:bf.
10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8, or orx, or dnkey. myob.

And it's signed Jamie Quatro.

Vigil for Religious Freedom

From member Brian Browdie:

A few members attended Friday night's candlelight vigil for religious freedom. The gathering in Lower Manhattan attracted about 2,000 people, according to news reports. People held candles and sang. The Twin Towers of Light rose to the South.

"You couldn't invent Ruth Gruber, not even in a movie."

"You couldn't invent Ruth Gruber, not even in a movie."

- Richard Holbrooke, Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan

The youngest person to earn a PhD, at age 20 in 1931. The first journalist to explore the Soviet Arctic region at age 24. A participant in a secret war-time mission to escort Holocaust refugees for President Roosevelt and on the scene to report on the infamous Exodus ship's attempt to reach Palestine with Jewish refugees. Her photos informed the world. Born in 1911, Jewish American author, photojournalist, humanitarian and adventurer Ruth Gruber was always ahead of her time.

AHEAD OF TIME, the directorial debut of award-winning cinematographer Bob Richman (September Issue, My Architect) relates the remarkable real-life journey of Ruth Gruber, a spirited woman who rejected the gender boundaries of her generation – leaving Brooklyn for studies in Berlin, where she witnessed the rise of Nazism and began documenting her observations. An impassioned foreign correspondent, she began her illustrious career with the New York Herald Tribune, is the award-winning author of 19 books and even had tea with Virginia Woolf!

Celebrating her 99th birthday on September 30, 2010, Ruth Gruber was not content to simply witness the most defining events of the 20th century, she participated in making that history!

Meet Ruth Gruber, Director Bob Richman, Producer Zeva Oelbaum in person at select shows. Check our website or your local newspaper or movie ticketing website for showtimes and appearances.

View the Trailer

Narrated by: Eli Wallach
Executive Produced by: Denise Benmosche, Patti Kenner, Doris Schechter

Play 2 min. Trailer Play Extended Trailer

View on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/14461883

In Theatres in New York on September 10

New York City Angelika Film Center* 18 West Houston St. NY, NY 10012 212.995.2000 Click here for Advance Tickets Buy Tickets for NYC

On Saturday and Sunday, the director Bob Richman and the producer Zeva Oelbaum will be at all shows. Ruth Gruber, who turns 99 this month, is scheduled to be at the 5:15 show each day.

*AHEAD OF TIME is scheduled to run 9/10 – 16 at this theatre. If the film is in theatres longer in NYC, details will be on our website or in your local paper or theatre listing website.

Lulav. Etrog. Hot Dog.

Spirituality Sizzles at The New Shul's Shabbat/Sukkot BBQ!

Help us build and decorate The New Shul's Sukkah, then join us for a community-wide Shabbat/Sukkot celebration featuring Zach Fredman on guitar and a delicious BBQ dinner (provided by Cowgirl Hall of Fame) under the stars.

Where 272 West 10th Street

When Friday, September 24

Sukkah building starts @5pm

Dinner starts at 6pm

Dinner: $10/adult members; $18/adult non-member; $5/kids

Project ORE Volunteers needed!

Help serve Rosh Hashanah dinner (the night before Erev Rosh Hashanah). Make a difference in the lives of homeless, impoverished, and mentally ill Jews of Project ORE.

Our Rosh Hashanah dinner welcomes the New Year and celebrates Project ORE's special sense of community and belonging, which many of our clients experience nowhere else. We invite you, your friends and family to serve dinner to our clients and join in our celebration.


Date: Tuesday, September 7
Arrive: 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Sirovich Senior Center 331 East 12th Street, New York, NY
(Please note, this dinner will not be located at the 14th Street Y)


The New Shul is seeking 5-7 volunteers to staff this dinner. Please contact Maia Wechsler if you are able to volunteer: maiawechsleratgmail.com

Back to Shul Means Spiritual Homework

At The New Shul, where we interweaves old and new, the Days of Awe mark a time for spiritual homework that Rabbi Niles will assign on Rosh Hashanah morning.

The assignment, which will be due and shared 10 days later, by Yom Kippur, will challenge congregants to think anew about how such High Holy Day themes as return to one’s intrinsically good self, attachment to the divine within, or justice can have relevance for our 21st-century lives. The exercise, which in years past has inspired one of our members to walk around New York City without money in his pockets for a day and another to convene her family to create art together, aims to connect people with their spiritual selves.

We are looking forward to this year’s community-wide assignment. If you haven't yet reserved your tickets, visit our website for reservations and information.