The New Shul Blog

Words from Our Members: My Daughter's Shul

2012-02-07T11:37:00.002-05:00

The New Shul is a special place to all of us for different reasons. It is our community, our spiritual home, our family, and countless other things. We recently heard from one member about her experience and were so moved, we wanted to share it with all of you!

Thank you to Annie and the entire Yanovsky family for sharing....

My Daughter’s Shul

Becoming parents creates an entire new checklist: Buy healthier groceries. Check. Join a playgroup. Check. Put away sharp objects. Check. Join a shul. Check. After the Bat Mitzvah, un-join the shul. Umm... Not so fast.

Like so many families with young children, we went “shul shopping” 11 years ago to ensure that our daughter become educated about Judaism. We suffered through Hebrew school and so should she. Right? Boy were we wrong. Flash forward 11 years: She loves the New Shul. Our exuberant executive director and tuned in Rabbis get the thumbs up. But most impressive of all is her deep affinity for the friends that have grown over the years into a community of teenagers. Pretty cool, right? You bet.

I was amazed how often a bad day at school would be magically erased by an afternoon at Rishonim or B’nai Mitzvah group. A safe oasis of friendly faces and supportive adults, The New Shul creatively connects the young members to each other. They have grown up together singing and dancing, making art projects, going on field trips and volunteering. They learn about their differences and similarities. They hear what they like and sometimes what they don’t. They are encouraged to ask questions both of themselves and their Rabbi. Laughter permitted.

Our daughter showed us that Shul and fun are not an oxymoron. Just two months shy of her Bat Mitzvah, she is already making plans for next year’s new wave of teen projects. Five years until Birthright Israel!

From Adam Zucker, a Film You Don't Want to Miss: CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE

2012-02-02T09:37:00.002-05:00

Friends,

A film I edited and co-wrote for my friend and frequent collaborator Dori Berinstein is opening in New York this Friday. CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE is funny, touching, poignant....as everyone seems to be saying. Playing at the AMC 25, 42nd and 8th. Check it out!

"One of the most touching love stories the screen has seen in a long time" ... "A love letter to a born star and living legend that will make you laugh, cry, and be thankful that the great Channing is still here among us." - Backstage

"A terrifically entertaining, smartly constructed trip down memory lane with one of the American stage's most legendary troupers" - LA Times

"Charming and seductive." - Toronto Star

"Totally captivating and surprising!" - Film Journal

"A loving look at the saucer-eyed Broadway star’s legend." - The Village Voice

"Splendid!"... "Masterful!"... "Intoxicating!" - NY Press

"A celebration!"... "A bonbon for buffs of all things Broadway!"... "A class act!" – Variety

Find this wonderful project here on the web: http://www.carolchanningmovie.com/

Check Out New Shul Member Oren Moverman's New Film: RAMPART

2012-02-02T09:27:00.002-05:00

We are proud to say one of our amazing New Shul members, Oren Moverman, has directed and c0-written yet another fantastic film. Read his note below to learn more about it, and don't forget to go see RAMPART opening weekend!

Friends,

As you may know, a movie I directed and co-wrote, RAMPART, opens February 10th in New York and Los Angeles. We plan on the movie spreading from there around the country like wildfire in the following weeks.

I am writing to you to express my hopes that you will see RAMPART in the theater, like it, and tell others about it. To be honest, I actually hope you will tell people about RAMPART first, then like it and only then see it, in that order.

Opening weekend is critical for a life of a picture in theaters and RAMPART will not be available on Video On Demand or any kind of streaming; it is a good old fashion independent theatrical release and we need your help and support.

So, please get in touch with someone you love, or someone you plan on loving, or someone you used to love who is still talking to you, and arrange to see RAMPART Friday, February 10th, or Saturday, February 11th, or maybe Sunday February 12th is more your speed.

I guarantee you the movie will spark interesting conversations and what's better than human interaction with someone you love, past, present or future?

Where?

In NYC:

THE SUNSHINE CINEMAS

LINCOLN PLAZA

EMPIRE, 42nd STREET

There's lots of information about the movie at

www.rampartmovie.com

I'm very grateful for the time you spent reading this and I hope this movie speaks to you.

And if it doesn't, that's ok, just keep on doing what you're doing, stay healthy and happy and have some fun for god's sake.

Many thanks,

Oren Moverman

Our February Rebbe's Table: Reuse, Rekindle, Rejoice

2012-01-23T09:50:00.002-05:00

We hope you can join us for our first Rebbe's Table of 2012!

On Sunday, February 5th, join weaver, textile designer, salvager and New Shul member Suzanne Tick and Rabbi Dan Ain for a conversation about reinvention, re-appropriation and re-energizing our lives and the discarded items in our world. Tick's fiber-optic yarn weavings are in the collections of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the Museum of Arts & Design and her work "Refuse DC," which incorporates 3,470 hangers in a warp of sheath core vinyl, a metallic polyester thread, was recently commissioned for an installation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more info, including a great video and the flyer, check out our website.

From One of our Brilliant BMA Students: Envisioning the First Temple

2012-01-10T12:27:00.006-05:00

In the Fall 2011 semester, our BMA 6th graders had the opportunity to study Jewish History. Through a variety of different channels, the students learned about the great span of our people's history, from the Biblical times of Abraham and Moses to the Spanish Inquisition, the differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi, Kabbalah, the Holocaust, and everything in between.

At the end of the course, the student were asked to choose the lesson they found most interesting or intriguing and prepare a creative project or presentation. One of the students, Lev, decided to create a Google Sketch computer model of his vision of the First Temple, built by King Solomon in Jerusalem. It was an interactive piece, with the ability to adjust the view, zoom on the details, and show scale. We wanted to share a glimpse of it with all of you! Thank you to Lev for sharing all of his hard work with the community and congrats to the entire class on a great first semester.

Some Jewish New Year's Resolutions...

2012-01-03T12:08:00.003-05:00

2012 has begun, and with it many people have created their lists of resolutions to kick old habits and start fresh. On the top of almost everyone's lists: Be healthy, eat better, move more. But, is there a Jewish way of approaching these goals??

Over at The Jew and The Carrot, The Forward's blog on contemporary Jewish food issues, one blogger has offered a few deeper, spiritual resolutions to start of the new year not just eating healthy, but eating mindfully and carefully. Check it out!

Deep Kashrut Resolutions for New Year's

By Noah Farkas

With the New Year comes the New Year’s Resolution. Polls say 45% of all Americans make at least one resolution, the most popular of which is to lose weight. But according to Opinion Research Corporation, one out of every four people never follow through on their resolution because they set a goal they can’t achieve. I believe the whole process of goal-oriented resolutions is a bit dangerous. Goal-type resolutions set behavioral patterns that are often out of character for who we fundamentally are, and they risk our self-esteem when we miss our mark or give up. Think of it this way: If you resolve to lose 100 pounds but only lose 50, did you achieve your resolution? If you are too goal oriented, then your achievement (50 pounds!) is for naught. Resolutions based on goals are too flat. We need something deeper.

Elsewhere I wrote that the core problem of our food system is that our food has become flattened into mere objects or commodities to be consumed. The solution to this flattening is the reclamation of the depth our food represents. More than a mixture of ingredients, our food is freighted with values, memories, and political processes. When we place a morsel in our mouth we immerse ourselves into these depths. I called this process Deep Kashrut. When it comes to making resolutions for the New Year, instead of thinking of resolutions as flat goals, let’s think of them as life-adjustments to deepen ourselves.

In that spirit, here are five Deep Kashrut Food Resolutions for the New Year that are achievable today:

Eat More Sustainably– The Midrash speaks of the great balance between humanity, land, and rain. Without all three, say the rabbis, prosperity could not exist (Genesis Rabba 8:3). Ask yourself how this food sustains the balance between you (the consumer), the land (the producer), and rain (that is, the greater environmental web). By resolving to make sustainable choices we can be a counter-weight to the overwrought nature of our food system. Choose local, organic produce that has limited or no impact on the environment.

Eat More Spiritually– I remember once eating a fresh peach right off the tree. The yellow flesh, warm from the sun, melted in my mouth like a sun-kissed pudding. The second emotion I felt when eating that peach (the first was total bliss) was gratitude. Thanks for putting me in this place at this time to eat a wonderful fruit. In rabbinic tradition, the connection to food and to its depths through giving thanks is blessing. By reciting blessings, you bring the spiritual dimension into your food life and embed yourself in the natural world by connection to the Life Force that undergirds all of creation.

Eat More Communally– When you share your food with others, you share your life with others. Most people I know have a family member with a signature dish, something that they are known for. That’s part of the depth of food. Resolve this year to share your signature dish with others and ask them to share their creations with you. When you open your kitchen and table to families, friends, and strangers alike you build more community. As a Jewish Food Movement, it is not merely our recipes but our relationships that will change the way we eat.

Eat More Justly– We cannot understand our food if we do not understand how food empowers of impoverishes those who produce it and those who eat it. From international hunger to the farm worker who lives in Steinbeck-like conditions to those who live in areas without access to fresh produce, the food choices we make everyday effect their lives. Resolve this year to support Jewish campaigns that seek to change the political system that uses food as a social weapon. Organizations like (AJWS)[http://www.ajws.org], (Mazon)[http://www.mazon.org], (Rabbis for Human Rights)[http://www.rhrna.org], and my organization, (Netiya)[http://www.facebook.com/NetiyaLA], are all looking at different aspects of the same problem.

Eat More Joyously– Celebrate the New Year by taking joy in your food. Relish the tastes, textures, and smells of each and every bite. By savoring the food on your plate, you can find one of the few keys to real happiness— what you have already is a wonderful thing. “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.” (Psalm 128:2)

This year rather than making flat goals, resolve to make these simple life-adjustments, and you will grow deeper spiritually and help create a more restorative, just and environmentally-friendly food system.

Rabbi Noah Zvi Farkas of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino is the founder of Netiya, an L.A.-based network of Jewish organizations focused on food education for environmental and social justice. He can be reached at nfarkas@vbs.org.

For the Third Night of Chanukah: A Humorous Take on the Meaning of Latkes

2011-12-22T12:03:00.004-05:00

Are you still excited to bite into a crunchy potato latke for five more days, or have the charms worn off? We found this on The Huffington Post and we decided to repost it here--discusses the December Dilemma (Christmas v. Chanukah) and one man's making peace with his holiday season.

Happy 3rd Night of Chanukah to everyone!

How I Learned to Love the Latke

by Dan Zevin

As one of two Jewish boys in my neighborhood (the other one was my brother), December was always the cruelest month. Let's just say it became very clear, very early on, that my friends -- Frank McDonough, Pete Tierney, Scott Christianson, I think you're getting the picture here -- had a way better gig going, holiday-wise, than the Zevin boys did. They got Santa Claus, we got Rabbi Schmekler; they got Rudolph, we got a band of Macabee slaves fleeing the oppressor; they woke up Christmas morning and tore open a sledload of toys that had magically appeared under their tree; we received one gift item for each night of Hanukkah, which sounded kind of cool considering there were eight nights, at least until we unwrapped the boxes to discover an umbrella, or some equally practical present. My parents, unfortunately, didn't want us getting sucked into the crass materialism brought on by the holidays. If we wanted fun, we were supposed to play with a dreidel. Do you know what a dreidel is? It's a top. You spin it. Is that fun? Why don't you try it some time while your chums are all playing with their new Donkey Kong video games, and then you tell me.

As if all of this wasn't enough, my friends not only got Christmas, they got Christmas Eve. From the way they described it, it sounded like some kind of fantastic eating orgy: ham, pork chops, suckling pig wrapped in bacon. As time went on, I'd come to call it the Forbidden Meal. I envisioned the McDonoughs sitting around the tree, singing their McDonough carols, eating their McDonough figgy pudding, washing it down with their McDonough eggnog. Still, while I was certainly curious about their strange and gentile feast, I wasn't exactly jealous of it in the same way I was of the Donkey Kong bonanza that ensued the next day. See, we Zevins had our own way of celebrating Christmas Eve. We went out for Chinese.

I know what you're thinking. Why would anyone spend Christmas Eve going out for Chinese food? And to you, I say: Because we're Jewish, that's why. Jews from Massachusetts to Montana go out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve (Assuming there are Jews in Montana.) (And Chinese food.). I've never really understood why Jews go out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve, but I'm thinking it's because so many Chinese restaurants have the word "temple" in their names. For us, it's like going to temple, but the food is better. And believe me, when all the other kids on the block get to stay up all night gorging on candy canes, sugar-plums and fruitcake, it's a welcome distraction to go out and nosh on some nice General Gau's chicken with fellow tribespeople from neighboring towns. What can I tell you? December was always a bit easier to bear when I realized I wasn't the only idiot toting around a new umbrella and spinning around a friggin' dreidle.

Now that I've evolved into a mature adult (OK, at least into an adult) I am pleased to report that December is no longer the cruelest month. And that is because I've concluded that there's one thing our holiday has over their holiday any day of the year. It is known as the latke, which translates from Yiddish into "delicious greasy fried round thing." If you are a gentile individual, you probably call the latke a "potato pancake," but I urge you not to treat it as you would an ordinary pancake, by putting blueberries or chocolate chips in it, as you have done to our other culinary contribution, the bagel. Please just take it easy with the latke. It's all we have this time of year. Just add a little dollop of sour cream or apple sauce on top of it, and that's that. (My wife mixes both together, and I've got to admit she's on to something. Not bad for a shiksa.)

For some reason, my older brother, Barry, has become the designated latke maker in our family. I myself have always been the designated latke eater. It wasn't until I had my own kids that I finally asked him for a little latke lesson. If you are Jewish, you probably already know a lot of this, so you might want to spend the next few paragraphs doing something else, like making a reservation at Hunan Temple for the night of the 24th. But if you're gentile, listen to what I'm telling you: Enough already with the Christmas cookies. This year, make a nice plate of Christmas latkes instead.

Brother Barry's Latkes (serves 6)

Light a menorah. "If you light some candles, maybe someone will bring you presents," Barry explained. "Yeah," I responded. "But you should pray they won't be umbrellas."
Peel and grate 2 lbs of potatoes and mix with some chopped onions, two lightly beaten eggs, a little salt, and four tablespoons of matzo meal. Don't bother with the Cusinart. It's just more to wash.
Heat some oil on a skillet until it's good and sizzling. Chicken fat (schmaltz) is a tastier option, but you didn't hear it from me. I have enough guilt without giving you a heart attack from Barry's recipe. Use peanut oil. Oil plays a crucial role in the Hanukkah story. Why? Go read a book. Who am I, Rabbi Schmekler?
Spoon some pancake-size servings into the oil, smush them a little and get the hell out of the way, unless you're trying to get third degree burns from splattering peanut oil. When one side is brown, flip them over with a metal spatula. (Barry says plastic will melt. Trust him, he knows from cooking.)
Serve over one million layers of absorbent paper towels and...
Eat already! You want they should get soggy?

This post was originally published at Dan Zevin's website.

Happy Chanukah

2011-12-20T11:57:00.002-05:00

See you tonight for Occupy Chanukah starting at 5:30pm in Washington Square Park (near the arch)!

Click video to see in full screen.

Getting Ready for Chanukah: Recipe Edition

2011-12-01T12:56:00.002-05:00

It's December 1st! That means only 19 days till the Festival of Lights, Chanukah, starts. So we will periodically be posting some fun ideas and stories related to the holiday over the next few weeks to get us ready.
Our first helps answer the age old question: How many things can we fry in oil for this holiday? Well, check out this recipe for Samosa Latkes, which combines the Indian fried treat with a traditional potato latke. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
3 baking potatoes, peeled and shredded
1 medium yellow onion, diced medium
10 oz. frozen peas (usually 1 small box)
1/4 cup matzo meal
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp curry powder
1 tsp kosher salt
Cooking spray OR olive/grapeseed oil

-Mix all of the ingredients together well in a large bowl.
-FOR BAKING: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking spray in a non-stick sautee pan. Shape the latkes using about 1/4 cup of batter for each and brown on both sides. To finish them up, bake them in the oven for 15-20 minutes
-FOR FRYING: Same as above except once the latkes are shaped, toss them in the oil and fry until they are golden brown and cooked through.
-Serve with a yogurt sauce or even sour cream!

(Makes 6 servings)

Do The Light Thing: A Chanukah Celebration in Washington Square Park

2011-11-22T13:05:00.008-05:00

The year has really flown by! We can't believe it is almost Chanukah. We are already in the process of planning our annual New Shul event, Do the Light Thing! The light sculpture will be in Washington Square Park again this year on Tuesday night December 20th at 5:30pm, and our community will bring it to "light" with our songs, blessings, and celebration.

Many of us know that this is the festival of lights, lights that glow to remember a miracle in the darkness of winter. Chanukah also means "rededication," but what does that really mean to us today? I hope we can all take the time this year to rededicate ourselves at this season to The New Shul as a source of nourishment, joy, support, and community. If you are interested in helping out with anything from fliers to flashlights, let's talk about how you can be involved!

Warmly,
Lori Levine
Assistant Director of Education and Chanukah Coordinator
lori@newshul.org

Rabbi Zach Does Rishonim!

2011-11-22T10:18:00.005-05:00

We at Rishonim have the special privilige and honor to study and learn from Rabbi Zach many times throughout the year at Tefillah. Recently, Rabbi Zach came and brought out the Torah, chanted and translated the parsha for us, and discussed with our students the story of Abraham and the three angels/messengers. Here are some great shots of our kids learning Torah--enjoy!

L'shalom,
Lori and Amy

Shabbat on Tap is BACK!

2011-11-03T11:36:00.004-04:00

One of The New Shul's monthly Shabbat programs is back with a bang--Shabbat on Tap!

Friday, 11/18 @ 7pm

Honey , 243 W 14th St. between 7th & 8th Aves.

It's Friday night and the weekend has begun. So has Shabbat, the original way to "kiss the week goodbye!" If discussing the big questions over a cold one sounds like your kind of spiritual experience (pun intended), join The New Shul's Rabbi Darby Leigh as we search for the Sabbath at a downtown bar in Manhattan. And the beer's on us!

This Month at the Rebbe's Table: Does the Arab Spring mean an Autumn Chill for Israel??

2011-11-03T10:20:00.005-04:00

Hey New Shulers,

This month's Rebbe's Table at City Winery promises to be full of spirited debate and learning. Join Rabbi Dan Ain and journalist and global affairs expert, Richard Z. Chesnoff, for a frank discussion about the rapid changes happening in the politics of the Middle East on Sunday morning, November 13 at 9:45 am.

See the flier below for all the details! (click image twice)

The High Throne

2011-10-10T08:04:00.003-04:00

I believe in god and that he is within me. I know myself to be lazy, reactive, and willing to do the easy thing... even when it may not be the right thing. Given that, then where is this god that is within me.

God as the better self; who is constant & moral, the ever solid rock of boundless love, the all seeing & wise care giver. That profound piece of myself that is shared by every other being on this planet, cannot occupy the same space as my daily self.

Rabbi Darby requested that we not react to that show stopping phrase "God sitting on a high throne" in our prayer on Rosh Hashanah; that we simply see what it might mean in our lives. Pondering this provided a meditation I have found rich and rewarding. It became easy to see where the god in me resided. Above it all, detached from the considerations that so often run our moments, being in the space that offers the quietude and opportunity for reflection that we so often bemoan the absence of when looking back on our actions… -> "sitting on a high throne".

It is easy to understand that metaphor when you imagine a world devoid of our modern language of psychology.

Shanah Tovah,
Robb McDougle

Services in LA

2011-10-10T07:44:00.005-04:00

I was in LA over Rosh Hashanah to look at colleges for our son Max. Attended services at Royce Hall, which is a magnificent music hall on the UCLA campus. There were about 800 to 1000 people attending that night. There were three rabbis, a canton, musical director and 20 person choir. The next day, we joined the congregation for Tashlic to throw our sins into the Pacific Ocean. Though it was fun to experience another synagogue and the novelty of sea gulls flying away with our sins, I was home sick for the intimacy of the New Shul.

Fortunately, I got to be with the community for Yom Kippur. There is so much to say about the service but the one image that keeps rolling around in my head is seeing Zach, Ellen and Darby standing next to each other, all in white- Zach playing the mandolin and chanting a prayer in hebrew, Ellen staying in tune and singing the prayer in english and the Darby singing using sign language. That defined the New Shul for me. Anyone else feel that way?

Gratefully,
Andy Cohen

Did You Do Your Homework?

2011-10-05T15:58:00.003-04:00

On Rosh Hashanah, Rabby Darby gave us the following assignment:

Listen to/or rediscover your "inner longing" and find a text that speaks to that longing, something that you connect to/with on a deep level. By "text" we mean, a piece of music, story, film, photograph, or written text, poetry, theater, song lyrics etc. Then after finding the text, and connecting with it, you need to communicate it, and your connection to it to someone else. We also encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to explore a Jewish "text" and to perhaps use this opportunity to discover a piece of Jewish music, art, theater, text, etc.. something in Judaism that speaks to your own true longing...

It's not too late to do your homework. We will be discussing this at shul on Saturday. Kol Nidre starts this Friady night at 7pm. A reminder to wear white to our Friday night service.

Rosh Hashanah Tish - this Friday

2011-09-27T13:53:00.003-04:00

For transgressions between one person and another, Yom Kippur does not procure atonement.

This statement, taken from the Talmud, reminds us that one day, even Yom Kippur, can not ‘magically’ heal our relationships and erase what we’ve done to each other. The work of teshuvah during this season includes the very physical and concrete act of requesting forgiveness from each other.

Who are we supposed to seek forgiveness from? For what acts must we seek forgiveness? How are we supposed to request forgiveness? What if the other person/people don’t forgive us?

These questions and more will be explored during our Tish on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 30 at 10:30am in the VCS lunchroom. We will be looking at a variety of traditional texts as well as some Calvin and Hobbes cartoons!

Lunch will be served, and then we will head over to Pier 45 for Tashlich (the traditional ceremony of throwing bread into the river).

I look forward to seeing you there.

Shanah Tovah U’metukah,

Rabbi Darby J. Leigh

New Shul High Holy Days in the News!

2011-09-27T12:11:00.002-04:00

It is official: we are too cool for shul! In an amazing start to the new year, our very own Rabbi Darby was featured as one of the hippest rabbis in the city! Get the full scoop here from our friends MetroFocus: click here .

Plus, you can and should still join us for services and see Rabbi Darby, Rabbi Zach, and Ellen in action! Check out our website for the full schedule.

EXCLUSIVE Preview from Andy Cohen, Rebbe's Table Guest This Sunday

2011-09-14T10:52:00.003-04:00

This Sunday at The Rebbe's Table, Rabbi Dan Ain and New Shul member Andy Cohen explore the power of the Assumpt! in shaping our personal, business and religious beliefs.

This is an interactive session using magic as metaphor to help us think differently. Below is a link that will give you a live taste of what is to come.

Please Join Us On 9.11.11

2011-09-10T20:08:00.003-04:00

Dear all our New Shul friends -

After last night's lovely Kabbalat Shabbat we were talking about how 10 years ago, our synagogue sustained us through those difficult times.To commemorate all we have lived through and celebrate who we are as a community, we hope you will join us this Sunday 9.11.11 from 2-4pm. We will be meeting at the waters end of the Christopher Street Pier. Please share a story of your experience if you like, and bring a flower. Join us when you can, but we hope to all be together at 3pm to toss our flowers into the Hudson and have a moment of reflection.

Shabbat Shalom,

Marty Umans, Pam Levine, Amie Gross

Member Judy Levine sent us this link to the poem: When the Towers Fell by Galway Kinnell.

Follow the Other Hand at the Rebbe's Table This Month

2011-09-09T15:43:00.005-04:00

(Click image twice to enlarge)

Hey New Shul,

Your favorite brunch spot is back with a bang!

Join at The Rebbe's Table, an event dedicated to the belief that there should be more to Sunday Brunch than Bagels and Lox.

Our guest this month is The New Shul's very own businessman, speaker, and magician Andy Cohen. Join Andy and Rabbi Dan Ain for a discussion that explores the role of assumption in influencing both our business and personal lives as well as our religious viewpoints. Andy will be performing magic, as well as teaching a slight of hand illusion, to help us examine the
effects of treating our assumptions as truths rather than as beliefs.

Check out the flier above for more details!

Fall Calendar is Now Available!

2011-09-07T10:16:00.002-04:00

Hey New Shulers,

Confused about Kabbalat Shabbat? Want to mark your calendar for Chanukah in Washington Square Park? Check out our amazing programming calendar page for Fall 2011, now live on the web. As a new feature, you can save, print, and share our calendar as many times as you want!

To peruse the programs for this fall/winter, check it out here:
http://www.newshul.org/calendar.html

Club Shabbat starts this Friday, September 9

2011-09-06T09:54:00.002-04:00

At Club Shabbat your kids will love getting into the Shabbat groove.

The younger members of The New Shul community get down with Shabbat at Club Shabbat.

Boogie, sing and drum with guitarist Liz Bossov, and maybe hear a story or two! Then gather under the tallit for a blessing and secret message, light the holiday candles, drink sweet grape juice, eat challah, and end with a pizza dinner. Yum!

All are welcome (there’s no velvet rope) so please bring your friends!

For more info, call 212-284-6773 or visit us at www.newshul.org

When: Friday, September 9 @ 5:30pm

Friday, November 11 @ 5:30pm

Friday, December 9 @ 5:30pm

Friday, January 13 @ 5:30pm

Friday, April 13 @ 5:30pm

Friday, May 11 @ 5:30pm

Where: Club Shabbat meets at 272 West 10th Street

(between Greenwich & Washington Streets)

The Shabbat Project is The New Shul’s ongoing quest to discover and reclaim Judaism’s “stress-free zone.”

On the Practice of Elul

2011-08-30T12:17:00.004-04:00

Today marks the first day of the month of Elul, the thirty days of ascent and preparation for the New Year and Yom Kippur. During the month of Elul we begin to sound the Shofar, once a day, to awaken our spirits from the deep slumbers they have resigned themselves to. Through one cycle of the moon, we create foundations in body, mind, and spirit that will become the altars from which our High Holy Day prayers are offered - the greater our practice of Elul, the swifter the ascent of our song. The practices …

Shofar - If you cannot hear a real Shofar once a day, here is the virtual version -

.

Sound it daily.

Food - Change the way you eat. Eat vegetarian for the month. Three meals (or more) a day, each present the opportunity for reflection. The spiritual mirrors the physical - by changing our physical bodies and what goes in to them, we allow for the transformation of spirit. At each meal offer a blessing; the differentiation itself will be your cue.

Meditation - Sit for three minutes each day in silence, before you lie down or before you rise up. Focus on your breathing, and when your attention drifts away, return the focus to your breath. Conclude with the Shema.

Do not practice alone; share this journey with those around you. I will be in touch throughout the month, and I look forward to praying with you at the light of the next new moon.

Rabbi Zach

High Holy Day member reservation forms are available here and guest reservation forms here.

10Q: Reflect. React. Renew. Life's Biggest Questions. Answered By You.

2011-08-30T10:47:00.004-04:00

An amazing High Holy Days online experience brought to us by our friends at Reboot:

10 Days. 10 Questions.

Answer one question per day in your own secret online 10Q space. Make your answers serious. Silly. Salacious. However you like. It's your 10Q. When you're finished, hit the magic button and your answers get sent to the secure online 10Q vault for safekeeping. One year later, the vault will open and your answers will land back in your email inbox for private reflection. Want to keep them secret? Perfect. Want to share them, either anonymously or with attribution, with the wider 10Q community? You can do that too.

Next year the whole process begins again. And the year after that, and the year after that. Do you 10Q? You should.

Click here to get your 10Q on.

10Q begins Sept 28th, 2011.

Selichot: Spiritually Preparing for the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe)

2011-08-30T10:16:00.004-04:00

Throughout the month of Elul, it is our task to be engaged in a process of deep, serious introspection and reflection on who we have been over the past year, and who we want to become during the upcoming year. For many of us, our relationship to many elements of the High Holy Day season and of the holidays themselves may be varied and complicated. For example, how do we reconcile our personal worldly, lives and journeys with the themes of sin, repentance, and salvation?

This Selichot experience will give us an opportunity to engage in some deep thought about how we can make real sense out of the complex themes of the Yamim Noraim. We will also take advantage of the opportunity to actually do a piece of the challenging work of teshuvah (repentance) by engaging in a deep guided meditation that will push us to acknowledge the gap between who we are/have been and our highest ideals of who we strive to become, and will help us to reorient ourselves into the direction we wish to head as we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

I look forward to sharing this space together.

When: Saturday, September 24 at VCS (272 W 10th St)
Time: 7pm

Shalom,
Rabbi Darby J. Leigh

From those who brought you the highly acclaimed United Tastes of Passover

2011-08-15T20:00:00.004-04:00

The New Shul Presents:

United Tastes for the Jewish New Year

At this intimate gathering hosted by New Shul member Wendy Kantor you’ll have an opportunity to share ideas, concerns, hopes and dreams of how to make the holiday experience be all it can be for your family and friends. Usher in the New Year with traditions and creative expression in food, ambiance and rituals that best suits who you are, your home environment and those in your gathering.

Bring recipes and ideas to swap, or just come to be inspired!

A light supper and wine will be served.

When: Thursday, September 15th, 7-9PM

RSVP: The New Shul office - 212-284-6773 or email us

Where: Wendy's apartment, TriBeCa (details upon RSVP)

Summer Shul - Hanging on the Piers

2011-07-26T16:49:00.007-04:00

Havdalah on Pier 64

Come experience Havdalah with The New Shul - we will mark the passings from day to night, from Shabbat to the week, from summer to everything to come. Join us in song, blessings, and pot-luck.

When: Saturday, August 27 at 7pm

Where: End of Pier 64 (enter at 24th St. and West Side Highway) - in between Chelsea Piers and the Frying Pan.

Morning Yoga Prayer on Pier 45

Join member Sasha Malamud for stretching, breathing, body tapping, movement, and singing and prayer, to awaken our body and soul to a beautiful new day! Please wear comfortable clothing.

When: Every Wednesday morning in August, from 7:30-8:30pm

Where: Entrance of Pier 45 (across West St. from West 10th St.)

-----

And don't forget about our weekly Torah Schmooze. At this table there's more than one way to unroll the Torah. Whether you've studied Torah all your life or have never read a word, you'll find plenty to talk about. Each week we send out an email with a broad variety of suggested readings and/or videos relating to the coming week's Torah portion, as well as a link to the Torah portion itself. If you'd like to receive these materials, email us at torahschmoozeatnewshuldotorg.

When: Every Thursday at 6pm

Where: Le Pain Quotidian's Communal Table, 550 Hudson Street @ Perry

Great Office Space Available with a New Shul Member

2011-07-12T12:13:00.005-04:00

Marty Umans, New Shul member and photographer extraordinaire, has a fantastic office space available to rent/sublet. Check out the listing and pictures below for more informtaion:

Sun filled 2500 sq. ft commercial loft space, great for architects, designers, artists
and photographers. Currently photo studio and design business. Looking for a
compatible business to share whole space or sublet office. Office furnished with
Dalek furniture with 4 workstations and shelving units. Separate conference
room, kitchen and storage room. High speed cable Internet and utilities included.
Quiet six story building in West Soho. $2500 / month.

Call Marty or Pam @ 212-995-0100

Looking for a Way to Honor Your Loved One

2011-07-05T10:58:00.002-04:00

Dedicate a New Shul prayerbook to

•Honor the memory of a loved one
•Celebrate a Bat or Bar Mitzvah
•Celebrate a new baby's arrival
•Celebrate a wedding or partnership
•Commemorate a milestone -- graduation, promotion, birthday, special achievement

Your gift will be acknowledged on a special bookplate inside our siddur and The New Shul will also send a letter of acknowledgement to your loved one. To purchase a New Shul siddur bookplate, for a minimum dona ion fo $36, download the form from our website here (look for the words Bookplate Form) or email info@newshul.org and request a siddur purchase form.

TNS Torah Schmooze - Parshat Chukat, for DiscussionTONIGHT - Thursday, June 30

2011-06-30T11:13:00.004-04:00

Friends,

The Torah Schmooze has celebrated its share of shehecheyanus – for our beginning, for reaching the end of Deuteronomy and beginning Genesis at Simchat Torah, and for having reached the conclusion of each of the five books. When we started at the start of last summer, it was perhaps fitting that we dove into the middle – with Balak and his talking she-donkey. I had no idea really what the Schmooze would be like, who would come, where it would go, and what I would learn from it all. Next week’s meeting calls for yet one more shehecheyanu, for we will truly have come full circle: Chukat is the last portion of the Torah yet to be discussed – the week after we begin again, with Balak.

For those who have not been able to attend, it is difficult – perhaps impossible – to describe the richness of studying the Torah every week for year. I could tell you about the perspectives I have gained on our history, beliefs and practices; the questions we have asked, the issues we debated, the personal stories we have shared; that we read not only the Torah portions but also brought into the fray the maddening, inscrutable and fascinating commentaries of Rashi, Ramban, Midrash and the Talmud; that I had no idea how all of this would enrich my views and perspectives on Judaism, the Jewish people, community, The New Shul, and the world. For those who have not been able to attend, I hate to break it to you, you’ve missed out!

And to all those who have come – once, twice, as often as you could, or every week – how else can I put it? I am so deeply, utterly and sincerely grateful for your participation that there are no words to express how truly thankful I am. Without you there would be no Schmooze – just myself sitting in a café alone. Because of you, my life has been enriched in ways I could never have contemplated. I hope that the Schmooze has been meaningful for you as well.

It is fitting that we come full circle with Chukat, for it is such a strange, wonderful and terrible portion. It tells of the inscrutable ritual of the red heifer (what could it mean?); of Moses’s striking of the rock in anger to bring forth water, which seals his fate to never enter the Land of Israel (was his punishment fair?); and of the plague of snakes sent by God against the still-complaining Israelites (why snakes?!).

What does it all mean, to you, to us; here, now?

Come and we’ll puzzle it out together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Aaron

********************************************************************

Where: The communal table at Le Pain Quotidien (550 Hudson Street at Perry Street)

When: Thursday, June 30, at 6:00 pm

What: Schmooze about this week’s portion, Chukat

Who: Any and all comers!

Parshat Chukat from G-dcast.com

More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com

See Romeo and Juliet-- Yiddish style!

2011-06-27T11:22:00.003-04:00

Check out this engaging, inventive new film, brought to our attention by member Deborah Elkind. It takes the story of Romeo and Juliet and integrates it into the story of two struggling ultra-Orthodox Jews in modern-day Williamsburg. For more information, read below and click on the link!

Dear All,

I hope you are having a lovely start to your summer.

I wanted to touch base and let you know about a uniquely enchanting film, " Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish," that is being screened at the new Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center at Lincoln Center from July 8th thru July 14th. My wonderful and talented friend Eve Annenberg wrote, directed and acted in this film; it is her labour of Yiddish love, yet it is a universal story as well. Please see the link below, and go and enjoy this exceptional film: http://www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/romeo-juliet-in-yiddish

Also, please put the word out in your Shtetl!

Peace, love and latkes,

Deborah Elkind

Shavuot Recap: Revelation, Willy Wonka, and Cheesecake Galore!

2011-06-13T10:25:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday night, June 7th, The New Shul community gathered to celebrate Shavuot, the holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah to the people of Israel. With delicious homemade refreshments and drinks, Rabbi Zach led a group of 30 or so in a beit midrash (house of study) style evening of discussion. After reading pieces of Jewish teachings on revelation, understanding, God, and wisdom, we watched modern film clips that commented on the same themes. In small groups, everyone discussed and debated the connections between the clips and the texts, and as a larger group we related it to our own lives. It made for an evening of thoughtful sharing and new ideas, and everyone in attendance had a great time.

If you couldn't be with us, here were some of the favorites for you to do at home on your own, or share them with friends and family!

Guiding Questions

-What does this text say about revelation?

-Is this true of revelation in my life?

1. Come and see how the Voice went forth – coming to each Israelite according to his individual strength – to the old, according to their strength; to the young according to their strength; to the children according to their strength; to the infants according to their strength, and even to Moses according to his strength, as it is said, “Moses spoke and the, God answered him by a voice” (Exodus 19:19, that is, with a voice which he could endure. Exodus Rabbah 5:9)

2. R. Levi said: The Holy One appeared to them as though He were a statue with faces on every side. A thousand people might be looking at the statue, but it would appear to be looking at each one of them. So, too, when the Holy One spoke, each and every person in Israel could say, “The Divine Word is addressing me.” Note that Scripture does not say, “I am the Lord your God,” [in the plural] but “I am the Lord your God (Exodus 20:2), [in the singular.] (Pesikta de Rav Kahana 12:25)

4. The Holy One said: If I reveal Myself to him in a thunderous voice, I will terrify him; if in a whisper, he will take little note of prophecy. What did God do? He revealed Himself in the voice of Moses’ father, whereupon Moses answered, “Here am I.” (Exodus Rabbah 3:1)

Schlep to Cure Cancer!!

2011-06-02T13:26:00.003-04:00

We have heard a lot of buzz around an upcoming walk/run for charity this summer, and wanted to share the information about with you. This year will be the first annual NYC Schelp: Jewish Breast Cancer 5K Run/Walk! We know a lot of New Shul members are looking for community service opportunities, and many of you might be runners or enjoy the occasional stroll, so this event could be a great opportunity for you! Plus, it has an AWESOME name. Check it out:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer afflicting Jewish women in the United States and Israel. Throughout their lifetimes, one in eight Jewish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Genetic mutations in the BRCA genes cause breast cancer and are known to be more prevalent among Jewish women. Join us to help eradicate a deadly disease that touches countless families every year.

The event takes place on Sunday, July 17th beginning at 9am in Battery Park, where hundreds will gather to support people living with breast cancer, their family and caregivers, while raising money to cure this deadly disease. They have already raised over $8,000, and its not even a month away yet!

Proceeds from this event benefit the Davidoff Cancer Center at Israel's Rabin Medical Center to fund fellows from Israel and the United States who are researching breast cancer cures and treatments.

Happy schlepping!

New Shul Social Action Day

2011-05-16T13:49:00.010-04:00

This year's day of community service was a great success! We had over 20 people helping out the great people at Trinity Soup Kitchen and a fabulous group at Randall's Island who worked with determination and sweat to beautify the area. Our delicious lunch, provided by Liz Newman and family, was eaten over a discussion about the connections between Judaism, community, and tzedakah.

The day inspired everyone involved, and some of us plan on trying to increase The New Shul's social action programming and provide more service opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact info@newshul.org with any of your personal questions and ideas. If you have more pics from the soup kitchen or Randall's Island, please send them in!

Mitzvah Accomplished!

2011-05-09T09:58:00.002-04:00

One of our very own Bar Mitzvah students, Noah Levy, has been working tirelessly for the past few weeks to raise money for his Social Action project in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah which took place on April 30th. Noah rode his unicycle and also asked for monetary donations instead of gifts, and he reached his goal of building a water treatment plant in the Amazon. We aren't surprised that he did it, but we are extremely proud of him. Mazel tov Noah!!

Please read below to find the note he sent out to his contributors, including many New Shul members and friends:

Dear Friends and Family,

W E D I D I T ! ! ! ! !

Thanks to your generosity, I have collected the amount of money I needed to purchase a water treatment plant for an Amazon village!

Thanks to your cooperation, an entire Amazon village of 350-400 people will soon enjoy clean drinking water!
I couldn't have done this without your help.

This is a real-life example of one of the verses I read from the Torah at my Bar Mitzvah: "When YOU (plural) reap your harvest, YOU (singular) shall leave the four corners of your field for the needy." The rabbis interpreted this to mean that EACH of us must do our small part and if we do, TOGETHER we can solve problems that none of us could solve on our own.

I am so excited about our accomplishment, that I may even travel to Peru to see the water treatment plant installed. If I do, I will let you know.

Thanks again for helping me turn my Mitzvah Project into a real-life Mitzvah.

Love,
Noah

Read the Great Story Behind Rebbe's Table This Month....

2011-05-05T13:35:00.003-04:00

From member Anita Sher---learn why she and her family will be attending this month's Rebbe's Table at City Winery on Sunday, May 22nd starting at 9:45 a.m. to discuss the topic "Here Today? How Tomorrow?"

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to share with you the announcement for the next Rebbe’s Table....

The topic is actually one my kids and I came up with and focuses on the question of evolution vs. creation – the role of God and the role of science.

Last summer the kids and I went to Montana and while we were there, visited a creationist dinosaur museum. The tour guide at the museum presented everything from a creationist perspective and showed evidence to prove that only God could have created the dinosaurs and there is no evidence of an evolutionary process. The guide demonstrated evidence that dinosaurs even lived amongst us and that dinosaur and human bones can be found side by side. The guide also claimed that the embryo theory is wrong (the theory that all embryos start out looking alike) so therefore the evolution theorists are wrong. The kids and I knew this did not make sense but were not in a position to counter the arguments. So I thought it might be helpful to explore the topic further with the help of folks who can address the religion and science involved.

With the help of Rabbi Dan and Mark Siegel (a Biology Professor from NYU), we will be exploring this topic at the City Winery on May 22nd.

I really hope you can join us for this interesting and fun event. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

Warm regards,
Anita

Help Lady Gaga Help Those in Need!

2011-05-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

This opportunity was brought to us by member Amy Mereson through her work at the University Settlement. Please consider casting your vote---it's for a great cause. Voting ends this Friday. Good luck Amy and The Door!

Lady Gaga is giving away a million bucks to 5 NYC non-profits, and one of those groups is The Door, which is a part of University Settlement. The organization that gets the most votes on Facebook will get $500,000; the other 4 will get awards ranging from $200,000 down to $50,000. Needless to say we want the half million. If you don’t know about it, The Door is a really amazing organization serving thousands of the most underserved 12 to 21-year-olds from all over NYC. Lady Gaga chose the groups (with the help of the Robin Hood Foundation) because of their work with disconnected LGBTQ youth, and/but the money will support the organization as a whole.

We’re a week into the competition and what was a solid lead has dwindled to 1%. Your help is needed! So if you’re on Facebook, please VOTE as often as you can (no limits on individual voters.) And whether or not you’re on Facebook, please share as widely as you can with your networks, and ask them to share as well; help us go viral. Here’s how it works:

1.) Log onto Lady Gaga’s Facebook Page

2.) “Like” Lady Gaga by clicking “Like” next to her name at the top of the page. (OK I know you don’t want to have to like Lady Gaga, but what can I do? You can un-like her a minute later.)

3.) Click on the "Gaga + Robin Hood" tab

4.) Cast your vote for The Door!

Voting ends this Friday May 6 at 6 a.m. Thank you!! I’ll keep you posted

Two Free Evenings of Science Theater at the CUNY Graduate Center

2011-04-14T10:09:00.007-04:00

Member Susan Kanev forwarded us this opportunity and we wanted to share it with the community. Feel free to check out these two, totally free evenings of original contemporary theater pieces that explore the intersections between humans, science, and art. Enjoy!

Two Exciting Evenings of
Science Theatre

CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Ave (at 34th St), NYC

Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 PM
INTELLIGENCE-SLAVE
Based on a true story. A concentration camp prisoner is kept alive by the Nazis because he has invented the world's first hand-held four function calculator. What will happen when he completes the invention and he becomes expendable? This riveting new play by Kenneth Lin will be read by the acting company Break A Leg Productions.
Elebash Recital Hall, free
Co-sponsored by Science & the Arts and the Center for Jewish Studies

Friday, April 22, 6:30 PM
EARTH DAY: THE CIVILIANS' THE GREAT IMMENSITY (Excerpts)
The Civilians, a NY theatre company, perform excerpts from their new play-with-music, The Great Immensity, which explores the themes of climate change, deforestation and extinction. A discussion will follow on the project and the issues it addresses.
Elebash Recital Hall, free
Co-sponsored by Science & the Arts, the Martin E Segal Theatre Center and Positive Feedback

Science & the Arts
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/sciart

No Dinos in Heaven?

2011-04-11T14:07:00.002-04:00

"No Dinosaurs in Heaven" is a film essay that examines the hijacking of science education by religious fundamentalists, threatening the separation of church and state and dangerously undermining scientific literacy. Emmy Award-winning director (Before Stonewall, Paris Was a Woman) and science educator Greta Schiller uses her own experience -- with a graduate school biology professor who refused to teach evolution -- to expose the insidious effect that so-called "creationist science" has had on science education.

Click here to watch the trailer and learn more!

NO DINOS TRAILER from Andrea Weiss/Jezebel Productio on Vimeo.

Get Ready to Roll Up Your Sleeves and Pitch In- It's This Year's Community Service Day!

2011-04-07T12:56:00.006-04:00

The New Shul Community Service Day

Saturday, May 14, 2011
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Choose your project: Trinity Church or Randall’s Island
Please join us for lunch and a tish at 1 p.m.
(Hosted by Elizabeth Newman)

PROJECT #1 TRINITY LOWER EAST SIDE LUTHERAN PARISH
Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Corner of Avenue B and 9th Street in Manhattan
Age group: Great for all ages, including young children
PLEASE RSVP: Elise Hurley- elisehurley22@yahoo.com

The Project:
Trinity serves more than 200 hot meals daily to the homeless and supplies groceries to needy families. We return to Trinity this year to clean the soup kitchen and dining room, prepare food bags and chop vegetables.

PROJECT #2 RANDALL’S ISLAND PARK – 15-20 volunteers needed!
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Where: Randall’s Island
Age group: Great for adults, teens and tweens
PLEASE RSVP: Sheryl Eisenberg- se@mixitproductions.com

The Project:
In 2008, Randall's Island Sports Foundation successfully restored a salt marsh and freshwater wetland at Randall's Island Park. We return this year to plant tiny trees and shrubs and weed the invasive plant mugwort. The project will provide an invaluable service by keeping the wetlands ecosystem in balance.

Clothing and supplies: Wear old clothing and weather appropriate shoes and
outerwear. Bring water and snacks (or lunch if you want to picnic).

Directions
We will meet at the East Entrance of Icahn Stadium prior to the start of the event.
Please arrive on time so the group can proceed to the site.
Subway: Take the 4, 5, or 6 Lexington Ave. trains to 125th St. Then, transfer on the NW
corner of 125th St. and Lexington Ave. to the M35 bus to Randall's Island.
Car: All automobile access is via the RFK Bridge. From Manhattan: Stay left for the exit to Randall's Island, immediately after the toll plaza.
By Foot:
You can walk across the RFK Bridge from Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx.

Thinking about Sending Your Kid to Camp This Summer? Read This!

2011-04-04T12:02:00.001-04:00

Jewish summer camp is a unique and incredible experience, and it has been shown to have a significant positive influence on Jewish identity in young people. Consider applying for these incentives and help give a child you know the summer of their lives!

The UJA-Federation of New York has a new Camping Incentive program for this upcoming summer to send kids to their three UJA-Federation network camps: Camp Surprise Lake, Camp Poyntelle-Lewis Village, and Berkshire Hills Emanuel. UJA-Federation will be providing first-time camping incentives for new families, and you can contact the camp directly to find out if you are eligible.

If your child is registering for a Jewish sleep-away camp not in the
UJA-Federation network, don't fret! They may still eligible for a $1,000 first-time camping incentive. Many camps throughout the Northeast co-sponsor their own One Happy Camper program, in collaboration with the Foundation for Jewish Camp. These financial incentives are need-blind. View the full list of camps that offer the One Happy Camper incentive program now.

This Month at Rebbe's Table: Everything is Everything

2011-03-29T12:02:00.003-04:00

(click image twice to enlarge)

Ever wonder who was responsible for those great illustrated blogs and essays on NYTimes.com (for example...)? Well on April 10th at 9:45am, you can come meet her yourself! Maira Kalman is our Rebbe's Table guest and along with Rabbi Dan Ain, and she will help lead a conversation entitled "Everything is Everything"--a discussion of life, art, and the universe. See you there!

Parshat Shemini with Rabbi Zach

2011-03-27T21:25:00.003-04:00

Another great Torah chanting from Rabbi Zach. This time, instead of the oud, we get a special treat with his new musical toy--the harmonium. We hope this won't be the last time we see it!

Most Decadent Golden Schmaltz Winner - Chocolate Chunk Pecan Brownies by Elyssa Ackerman

2011-03-17T12:09:00.002-04:00

Ingredients:

1 cup margarine or butter

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 oz. semi sweet chocolate chunks

1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350. Grease 13x9-inch pan. In medium saucepan over low heat, melt margarine. Add sugar, vanilla and eggs; blend well.

Stir in flour, cocoa and salt; mix well. Add chocolate and pecans. Pour into greased pan.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until set.

Cool completely.

Cut into bars.

Yield: 36 bars

Calories 160; Protein 2g; Carbohydrate 19g; Fat 10g; Sodium 105 mg

Most Delicious Golden Schmaltz Winner - Rhubarb Pie Recipe by Zach Fredman

2011-03-17T12:03:00.004-04:00

Crust:
1 and 1/3 cups of flour
1/2 cup of vegetable shortening
1/4 cup of butter
pinch of salt
three pinches of lemon zest

(The secret: keep everything cold; the butter, the flour, the bowl - everything cold. Work the butter in well, with an excellent tool. Mix in 3 tbsp. of ice water, and make a crust. Refrigerate overnight.)

Filling:
strawberries
rhubarb
1 tsp vanilla
7 pinches of sugar
1/3 cup of flour

Crumble:
2 sticks (yes, sorry) butter
1 cup sugar
1.5 cups of flour

(Bake at 325 or so, for an hour, or so ... until golden brown and bubbling. Be with the pie while it's in the over. Serve with vanilla ice cream).

United Tastes of Passover

2011-03-17T11:58:00.004-04:00

Join us for a unique Passover experience!

Monday, April 4

A fun and casual exchange to benefit Seder Hosts to enhance and
engage our holiday guests led by member Wendy Kantor.

Bring a holiday related question to the group - from decor
to desserts, Haggadahs to traditions - anything goes.

Hosted by member Dusty Berke from 7-9pm. Contact the office for address.

Hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served.

RSVP to the office.

Tony Kushner On His New Play, Unions, Forgiveness and Mark Ruffalo

2011-03-17T10:59:00.003-04:00

If you love the theater, politics, Communism, art, advocacy, film, or great New Yorkers, you won't want to miss this interview between Tony Kushner and New York Public Radio's Andrea Bernstein. Kushner's sensational new play opens next week and this interview is an important vehicle for understanding his art and motivations.

Kushner and Bernstein have had a series of conversations over the years about art and politics. They recently sat down in an Upper West Side café to talk about "Angels in America," Kushner’s new play, "The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures," dubbed “iHo,” writing the screenplay for Stephen Spielberg’s Munich and why the sex in The Kids are Alright between Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo is hotter than the lesbian sex in that move--and what that has to do with his new play.

Click on this link for the entire interview: http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/features/2011/mar/11/wnycs-andrea-bernstein-interviews-playwright-tony-kushner/

Happy listening/reading!

NAMIWalks!

2011-03-17T10:55:00.002-04:00

From our very own Diane Temkin, an opportunity to support an organization doing amazing work in the field of mental health!

Dear Family & Friends,

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting. NAMIWalks, the signature walkathon event of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is being held in New York, NY at South Street Seaport on May 7, 2011.

This is the 4th year that I and my family, friends, and fellow MHLS (Mental Hygiene Legal Service) lawyers are walking to support our loved ones, friends, and clients who struggle every day with mental illness.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. If you would like to register to walk with me, visit my team's page at http://www.nami.org/namiwalks11/NYC/mhls. Or if you just want to make a donation to sponsor me, visithttp://www.nami.org/walkdonation.cfm?id=152370. 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 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. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Diane

Urgent! Platelet Donors Needed!

2011-03-15T22:25:00.003-04:00

To The New Shul Community,

A wonderful six year old girl from Riverdale named Neshama Ryman is undergoing 15 months of treatment for a very serious cancer. You can literally help to save her life by donating platelets at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Any blood type can do this -- it takes approximately two hours, doesn't hurt (!), and makes all the difference in the world.

We need approximately 75 donors in the next two months, so please don't think, "I'll let someone else do it." You should know they make a difference in both the short-term and long-term. As her father wrote about a day this past week in the hospital: "Yesterday, Neshama needed more blood and platelets, and after the transfusions took effect, her afternoon and evening were filled with energy and spunk!"

Remember, blood type does not matter for platelet donation.

Details:

Patient: Neshama Ryman (parents Rob and Lamelle Ryman)

Donations can be scheduled by calling Joe Licata, donations coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering

You must mention that your donation is for Nashema Ryman if that is your intention.

Phone: 212-639-8177. Appointments required!

There are evening and Sunday appointments.

There is a parking garage with FIVE hours of free validated parking (free parking in Manhattan?!)

Location: 1250 First Avenue, between 67^th and 68^th Street

(note: this address is NOT the main hospital address).

If you have access to another email group, please post. Thank you!

What happens in Shushan, Stays in Shushan

2011-03-13T09:12:00.000-04:00

It just keeps on getting better! Celebrate Purim at The New Shul's annual "Folies Esthere," an extravaganza unlike any other: Food! Wine & Beer! dancing Girls! Please come in costume.

New Shul Members: Free
Non-Members: $10

Where: 272 W. 10th St (b/w Greenwich and Washington Sts)
When: This Saturday, March 19 at 7pm

Naomi's Recipe - Best Tasting Golden Schmaltz Winner

2011-03-13T08:33:00.007-04:00

‘wichcraft’s Chocolate Cream’wich

Makes 1 dozen sandwich cookies.

Ingredients:

For the Cookie:

•1/3 cup cocoa nibs
•3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
•2/3 cup brown sugar
•2/3 cup granulated sugar
•6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (64% cocoa), melted in a double boiler
•1 tablespoon vanilla extract
•1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

For the Filling:

•4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (64% cocoa), finely chopped
•2 tablespoons unsalted butter
•1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/4 cup heavy cream

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

To make the cookies, grind the cocoa nibs in a coffee grinder or food processor until a fine powder. In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, ground cocoa nibs, and the sugars on medium speed until well mixed. Add the melted chocolate and the vanilla. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the bowl. Mix into a smooth dough and chill in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Transfer the dough to a large surface covered with a layer of parchment paper. Top with another layer of parchment and gently roll the dough into a 1/4-inch-thick sheet. To prevent the cookies from sticking as you cut them, carefully remove the top layer of parchment and sprinkle some flour over the sheet of dough. Replace the parchment, flip the dough, and release the parchment on the other side. Cut the dough into 2 ½ inch round cookies and space 1/2 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Gather any leftover scraps of dough and roll and cut as described above. Repeat until you have no dough left. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes, turning the pan 90 degrees halfway through baking, until you can smell the toasted chocolate. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Cool completely. Once cool, the cookies should be crisp.

To make the filling, place the chocolate, butter, and salt into a medium mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil and pour one-third of the cream over the chopped chocolate to melt the chocolate. Add the rest of the cream and stir until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

Place half of the cookies with the top side (the most attractive) down. Using a piping bag or a spoon, evenly distribute the filling among those cookies, and close into sandwiches with the remaining cookies. Gently press down. Serve immediately or store the cookies in a cool place.

Recipe reprinted from the book ’wichcraft by Tom Colicchio with Sisha Ortuzar. Copyright © 2009.

Naomi paired these cookies with almond sables. The recipe can be found in Chewy Gooey Crispy Melt in Your Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich.

The Maccabeats - Purim Song

2011-03-13T07:58:00.001-04:00

From the folks that bought you the Chanukah song...

Help Japan Now

2011-03-11T18:28:00.003-05:00

From Repair the World:

This morning, the island nation of Japan was hit by a series of severe earthquakes — including its largest in over 100 years (8.9 magnitude) — which was subsequently followed by a devastating tsunami that has wreaked untold havoc upon Japan's coastal cities. While the full scale of the destruction is still uknown, over a thousand people have already been pronounced dead, hundreds more are missing, and thousands are now left without homes, schools and jobs. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones.

While, with any disaster, it is far too early to assess what opportunities may exist for both skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist in recovery efforts, one can take immediate action by giving charitably to organizations that are providing assistance to agencies on the ground in Japan.

Our partners at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee are now "conducting an up-to-the-minute assessment of the situation in Japan and the Pacific Rim and [JDC] has activated its network of partners to determine critical, immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas." You can give to JDC's relief efforts online by clicking here.

Likewise, the Jewish Federations of North America have opened an emergency relief fund to which you can donate online as well.

To learn more about the Jewish community's disaster response efforts in Japan and the Pacific Rim, click here for an article from today's JTA News.

We will do our best to keep readers informed about ways they can assist in the coming days and weeks ahead.

One way to get involved right now: If you have tech skills, Crisis Commons is seeking volunteers to monitor the situation in the Pacific Rim, gather data and identify needs stipulated by local agencies and humanitarian aid organizations that can be addressed through collaborative online software development.

----
Repair the World seeks to inspire Jews of all backgrounds to dedicate time and effort to the causes they're passionate about. What do you repair? weRepair.

Costume Time!

2011-03-10T16:43:00.003-05:00

Do you know what you are dressing up as for Purim this year? Don't wait until the last minute. See you at Folies Esthere in costume. Deets on the soiree here.

Joanne's Chocolate Caramel Salted Cookies - Recipe!

2011-03-09T16:03:00.003-05:00

This blog post also appears on Joanne's blog, Gotham Gal.

Every year our temple, the New Shul, puts on a food contest. Great for community and raising money. I can tell you that food is always good and available when it comes to the Jews. There was some serious competition.

I entered my chocolate chip caramel salted cookies.

To my right was ruggelah.

To my left was these decadent chocolate brownies with dulce de leche.

The judges took it all very seriously.

In the end, I won for most sophisticated dessert. Glad to have come with a trophy. Lots of buzz around my cookies which made me happy. I wish I had a small video camera to watch peoples reaction when they took a bite, particularly the kids, just funny.

There was also a junior competition. The winner was a teenage kid who made three nut toffee like crunch with just a hint of cayenne pepper. Pretty damn good.

---

And now for the recipe:

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 tsps. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. kosher salt

2 1/2 flour

1 egg

1 egg yolk

12 ounces chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

16 ounces caramel chips

medium coarse fleur de sel (or any other salt that you like)

In a mixer beat the butter until smooth. Add in the sugars and beat until really incorporated. I let this go for a couple of minutes. Add in the vanilla and egg yolk and egg and beat. I like to sift together the dry ingredients before adding them in for the next step. Add the mixture of dry ingredients over three times beating each amount in between. Add in all the chips and beat until incorporated. This should happen quickly.

Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The oven should be pre-set to 370. After the cookies are on the sheet sprinkle salt over the top of each cookie.

Bake about 7-9 minutes or until browned. When you take the cookies out of the oven, let them cool a bit before taking off the sheet otherwise they completely fall apart.

These cookies are seriously decadent!

From One of Our BMA Students: I'm Pedaling (and Peddling) for Clean Water in the Amazon

2011-03-09T13:44:00.006-05:00

Dear friends,

For My Mitzvah Project, I have decided to piggyback onto a New Shul effort to raise money for a water treatment plant that residents of an Amazon River village will install, run and maintain on their own. From now until my Bar Mitzvah on April 30th, I will take my unicycle act “on the road” and donate any contributions I receive to this clean water project. In addition, instead of asking for presents, I am asking my guests to help me give the gift of clean water to these children by making a donation to this project.

Almost all children in Amazon River villages consume water directly from rivers, streams and ponds. Since these water sources contain many parasites, children who drink from them are likely to become ill and malnourished. CONAPAC is a Peruvian non-profit organization that promotes conservation of the rainforest by educating its stewards, the people of the Amazon. CONAPAC has designed a simple system to build small water treatment plants in Amazon villages. Overseen by CONAPAC, villagers build the water plants in their communities and attend a 2-day workshop where they learn about the importance of clean water for good health and community prosperity.

At the end of the workshop, each family receives a large container with a spigot to bring and serve clean water in their homes, and each child receives his or her own cup with the message that clean water equals good health.

To learn more about CONAPAC and this project, visit www.conapac.org.

To donate by check, make checks payable to "The New Shul - Water Project" and mail to: The New Shul, 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1212, New York, NY 10018.

Thanks!

Noah Levy

From BBQ to Latkes, Jews Cook-Off at Shuls Across the Country

2011-03-08T22:38:00.003-05:00

This blog entry originally appeared on The Jew and The Carrot blog (a Forward and Hazon partnership)

By Renee Ghert-Zand

Winner of this year’s junior category at The New Shul’s Golden Schmaltz Award. It’s not uncommon, while hanging out by the food table at a synagogue Kiddush, to overhear one member boasting to another about the superiority of a particular family recipe — brisket, apple cake, or other. But at some congregations, this culinary kvelling is taken to a whole other level in the form of competitive cook-offs and bake-offs, in which shul-goers cum amateur chefs vie for the top prize (and recipe bragging rights).

In the case of Manhattan’s The New Shul, that prize is the Golden Schmaltz Award. The independent congregation held the fourth round of its annual cook-off this past weekend. This year’s theme, “Sweets to the Sweetest,” focused on desserts, but the cook-off tradition began with the “Battle of the Briskets” in 2007, after one member got tired of hearing another constantly lauding his brisket recipe and was confident that his own was tastier. “Basically, he told him — in a good natured way — to ‘put your money where your mouth is,’” executive director Amy Eichenwald Golding recounted humorously.

The New Shul has traditionally held its competitions (usually judged by a panel of local celebrity chefs and restaurateurs) at a venue and time suited to its themes. The “Battle of the Briskets” took place at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, a restaurant in the West Village, not far from where the congregation meets for services. In 2009, the Golden Schmaltz Award went to the best soup entered in the “Souper Bowl” (held one week prior to its NFL namesake).

Culinarily competitive Jews, however, are not limited to New York. A Web search of the shul cook-off landscape reveals synagogue members trying to best one another all over the country. In Orthodox circles, cholent seems to be the dish of choice. Cooks are adding unexpected ingredients like Pepsi, beer and even fried salmon to the traditional stew in an attempt to gain the attention of the judges.

Chicken soup and kugel cook-offs are popular with all types of synagogues from Cincinnati to Santa Clarita, Calif. The New Shul is not alone in its interest in beef. Har Sinai Temple in Pennington, NJ holds its own “Brisket Bake-Off,” begging the question whether one more accurately cooks a brisket or bakes it.

Around Hanukkah time, latke making competitions abound, with even young, hip communities like San Francisco’s the Mission Minyan entering the fray. The cool Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C. takes it far beyond greasy pancakes to a more expansive and imaginative potato cook-off, where offerings like handmade potato-stuffed gnocchi are as — if not more — welcome than traditional holiday fare.

In the south, where people take their down home regional cooking extremely seriously, some shul cook-offs have morphed into major, community-wide events. In Memphis, Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth’s kosher barbeque cook-off attracts huge crowds. Tiferet Israel in Dallas, has been hosting the mother of all kosher chili cook-offs for the past 18 years, drawing teams from as far away as St. Louis, Michigan and Wisconsin. Last year the event attracted 3000 people and involved 1,400 pounds of kosher ground beef. This year there are already 42 teams registered with five weeks to go before the competition scheduled for April 3, according to Scott Janco, the cook-off’s co-chair.

Other chili cook-offs at synagogues and JCC’s in Houston, Rhode Island, Austin and St. Louis, all look to Tiferet Israel for inspiration. Janco especially likes that the event draws “Jews from across the spectrum” together. A new vegetarian chili category added for this spring’s cook-off is opening up the competition even further.

Although a team fielded by Chabad of Plano, Texas has won the cook-off for the past couple of years, the event attracts teams of all sorts. The Dallas Fire Department even has a competitive kosher chili-cooking crew, which has won the people’s choice award two years running.
As cutthroat as the cooking competition may be at these events, they are ultimately about more than just the food. “It’s about community,” reflected Eichenwald Golding at The New Shul. “There is a real connection between food and Judaism, and it is a great way to pass on the tradition to the next generation,” she said as she reviewed the list of teenage “junior cheftestants” participating in this year’s Golden Schmaltz Awards.

Passover Volunteer Opportunity

2011-03-08T11:05:00.003-05:00

We are joining forces again this year with Project Ezra to help deliver Passover food boxes to the Jewish elderly on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The food boxes will contain all the ingredients the seniors will need for a kosher Passover. In addition to just dropping off the food, you have a chance to bring a smile to the door as you greet (and hug) this homebound population.

When: Sunday, April 10 beginning at 9:30 AM

Where: Project Ezra, 465 Grand Street

Only volunteers with cars are needed. It is easiest when there is at least two volunteers, a driver and one more. You will pick up the boxes of food at Project Ezra and then go deliver them to the seniors. If possible and appropriate, we encourage volunteers to visit with the senior as well. It will take about 90 minutes.

Interested? Please call Dalia Abott at 212-982-4124.

The Power of Food/The Power of Community

2011-03-07T11:28:00.003-05:00

This blog post, written by member Judy Levine, also appears on Cause Effective's blog. Cause Effective provides management consulting services to nonprofits. They teach their clients how to build effective boards, manage successful events, and maximize their fundraising potential. In addition, they house our New Shul offices!

I went to a tasting today – or, rather, I went to an outpouring of love.

It was a dessert cook-off. People prepared their standout recipes, and competed for various prizes. They paid to get in – a sliding scale that started low and rose pretty high, with the only differential being someone’s capacity to write checks – and the rest of the community, the non-chefs, paid to come in as well.

What did we get?

A chance to peak inside the kitchens of our fellow community members; a chance to appreciate good cooking in the company of our peers; and a chance to laugh together as we attempted the absurd task of trying 50 or so desserts in an hour’s time.

And the ability to cheer each other on (especially the kids – there was a special Junior Chefs division with about 10 contestants).

Food = Love. An age-old theme.

But even more than that, this showed me, once again, the power of special events if they’re really well-designed for the community at hand. We all went home with a glow – and the organization raised some dollars, increased awareness, and created an even tighter bond between participants.

Chefs Alex and Judah pose with their Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now I have to come clean – my 12-year-old son and his friend won second prize for their delicious chocolate chip cookies, so the event had a very satisfying end for them. But even before that dénouement, they basked in the appreciation of the 100+ participants, supported each other’s creations, and marveled at the variety of chocolate cakes in the world…while having no idea they were involved in a nonprofit fundraising venture.

They were simply having fun.

Grand Prize Junior Cheftestant Recipe

2011-03-07T11:16:00.004-05:00

We'll be blogging pics, recipes, and more from this past Saturday's 4th Annual Golden Schmaltz Awards honoring Amy Eichenwald Golding all week. Thanks again for coming out and making it an incredible day!

Triple Nut Brittle

Ingredients:
3 cups of Sugar
1 1/2 cups of Water
2 cups of Lightly Salted Nuts (any nuts you would like to use)
1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves
Medium Sauce-Pan
Canola Oil
Candy Thermometer
2 Baking Sheets with Edges
Silicone Baking Mat
Wooden Spoon
Small Rubber Spatula

Instructions:
Lightly grease the sides of a Medium Sauce-Pan with Canola Oil. Pour
the sugar and water into the sauce-pan, and cook over High heat
stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon, for three minutes, until
sugar is dissolved completely. Clip a candy thermometer to the side
of the sauce-pan, turn heat down to medium, and wait until the
temperature on the thermometer reads 350 degrees. DO NOT STIR OR
SHAKE THE SUGAR-WATER IN ANY WAY WHILE IT IS HEATING!

While you wait for the sugar-water to heat up, move on to the nuts.
Dump the nuts of your choice into a small bowl with the cinnamon,
cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and cloves and toss them all together.

Take two baking sheets and invert one. Liberally lubricate the
underside of the baking sheet with Canola oil. Place the silicone
baking mat inside the other baking sheet.

When the sugar-water reaches 350 degrees, dump in all of the nuts and
stir briskly with the rubber spatula. Quickly pour the mixture onto
the silicone baking mat folding over the sugar-water back onto the
nuts. It will set very quickly so put the lubricated underside over
the brittle and press down with a towel to distribute the nuts
evenly. Be very careful because the sugar can easily burn your skin.
Let the brittle cool for about twenty minutes, break into pieces and
enjoy!

Wow, The Sweetest Day Ever

2011-03-05T21:46:00.005-05:00

We're still recovering from what was an incredible (and decadent) day. The crowd was impressive, the tributes moving, the band rhythmic, the chefs' tastings delicious, and the judges superb!

There is so much to post, but first and foremost a huge thank you to everyone who made it possible and all those that donated to the day.

Now, the winners (recipes and photos to follow):

Best Tasting: Naomi Cutner's Cookies

Most Delicious: Zach Fredman's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Most Sophisticates: Joanne Wilson's Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookies

People's Choice: Martine Smidt's Ice Cream

And the Junior Cheftestant Winners are:

Grand Prize - Julian Baldwin's Triple Nut Brittle

2nd Prize - Judah Lang and Alexander Komanoff's Chocolate Chip Cookies

3rd Place - Thea Lang's Chocolate Rice Pudding

Honorable Mentions:
Megan Sher - Meringue
Max Shatan - Rugelach
Aja Baldwin - Cookie Double Cookie
Alex Judelson - Boston Cream Cupcake
Ethan Davison - Buddy's Vanilla Cake
Charlie Kanev - Marzipan Fantasy

Yum! What a day. Check back for more on the event soon....

Answering to a Higher Authority - Rebbe's Table on Sunday, March 13

2011-03-03T14:47:00.001-05:00

Click twice to enlarge for details.

What is and What Should Never Be....An Update from our whY Israel? Teens

2011-03-01T12:12:00.004-05:00

This month, our group has explored Israel's political landscape and learned about everything from elections to political parties to politicians, all using the medium of political cartoons.

After a visit from New Shul member and The Forward staffer Karen Loew, we had the opportunity to create our own political cartoons using what we've learned so far. Here's what we came up with---enjoy this seriously symbolic cartoon created by our own Julian Baldwin. (click on the image to make it a little bigger)

Here's how he explains it:
"I was inspired by the classic Led Zeppling song 'What Is and What Should Never Be' and decided to apply that idea to show my point of view about Israel. The first panel shows WHAT IS, the current situation in the country. The next couple panels show conflict and Israel and Palestine breaking down from the inside, illustrated by the cracked flags. The final panels show WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE, the destruction of these countries and of hope and peace. There is also a question mark on the map of Israel and a blank panel, asking the viewer to think about the future and what COULD be."

Thanks Julian! Feel free to comment and give your feedback.

First Friday of Every Month Kabbalat Shabbat - March 4

2011-02-22T17:53:00.002-05:00

Our regular Kabbalat Shabbat services are held the first Friday of every month. Our next service is on Friday, March 4th and will be led by the wonderful Rabbi Zach and Ellen Gould at VCS starting at 6:30pm. We hope you can join us for this restful community Shabbat experience.

The Purim Party Continues!

2011-02-22T10:39:00.005-05:00

Purim is on it's way! Since it's a holiday where we are commanded to be happy and celebrate, we want to help you keep the party going. In addition to coming out for The New Shul's Folies Esthere, Saturday, March 19 at 7pm, don't miss this quirky, crazy Purim show (with discounted tickets!).

Little Lord's

JEWQUEEN

Created and performed by Julia Arazi*, Sarah Bishop-Stone, Das Elkin, Diana Konopka, Michael Levinton*, Rodney Pallanck*, and Laura von Holt. (*Appearing courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association.)

Little Lord’s chavurah of shiksas, queers, and misinformed Jews stages a slap-dash celebration of the biblical Book of Esther. Combining the sincere but awkward rawness of faith-based community happenings with Little Lord’s signature “cheap ’n cheerful” style, JEWQUEEN is an eccentric take on the classic Purim spiel.

The production, presented by Little Lord as residents of Horse Trade Theater Group will play a three week engagement at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A), March 17-April 2, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm with a special Purim Eve performance on Saturday, March 19 at 5pm.

Tickets ($18/$15 students) are available online here or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

For synagogues: Use code "HAGGLE" for discounted $15 individual tickets

Rishonimers at Work

2011-02-17T16:19:00.008-05:00

We end each day with a special prayer time called Tefillah. This week, Rabbi Zach unrolled the Torah and read us the section of Moses and the making the Golden Calf.

Don't forget to check out Torah Schmooze tonight, Thursday, which will be discussing this very section as well. This weekly group, led by Aaron Seeskin meets at Le Pain Quotidian's communal table every Thursday starting at 6pm.

The New Shul Presents: The Folies Esthere, Our Annual Purim Extravaganza

2011-02-17T13:07:00.006-05:00

WHAT HAPPENS IN SHUSHAN,
STAYS IN SHUSHAN.

King Ahasuerus and Queen Vashti invite you to spend a

delicious and decadent evening at the Royal Palace . . . here,
anything can happen!

Celebrate Purim at The New Shul’s annual “Folies Esthere,” an extravaganza unlike
any other—Food ! Wine & Beer ! Dancing Girls ! Please come in costume!

Featuring Candy Samples and The Vashti Vixens

Catering by the fabulous Creative Cuisine Etc.

New Shul Members: Free
Non-Members: $10

Where
272 West 10th Street (between Greenwich and Washington Streets)

When
Saturday, March 19

The doors to the Palace open at 7pm. See you there!

Jewromatherapy Shabbat

2011-02-15T12:03:00.005-05:00

Join us on Friday, February 25th at 6:30PM at VCS for this special Shabbat expereince.

Aromatherapy expert Cathy Gins (pictured on the left) and Musical Director Ellen Gould will combine the traditional liturgy and kavanot (intentions) associated with Shabbat with an experiential journey through a range of natural aromas that can renew, replenish and help heal our souls. There will be a light healthy oneg Shabbat served following our aromatic Kabbalat Shabbat experience. Jewromatherapy will take place the VCS, 272 W. 10th St. All are invited.

Valentines Day a la Meredith Ganzman and The Jewish Daily Forward

2011-02-15T11:22:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Meredith, our former Admin Assistant, on this great podcast!

JDating — Without Losing Your Mind
Podcast
By Meredith Ganzman
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Forward interviewed Michelle Cove, the editor of the online Jewish women’s magazine 614, the author of the new book “Seeking Happily Ever After: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Being Single Without Losing Your Mind (and Finding Lasting Love Along the Way),” and the director of a documentary of the same name. In this podcast, Cove weighs in on why she thinks Jewish women are staying single longer than ever before. She also provides tips for making the most of online dating and how to avoid “dater’s burnout.”

Read more.

Presenting: Our Golden Schmaltz Celebrity Judges!

2011-02-10T12:09:00.019-05:00

The invitations have been sent, the recipes are being prepped, and we are all psyched for Golden Schmaltz to get here on March 5th. Now, we even have judges! We have gathered a team of tastemakers, innovators, foodies, and great New Yorkers to help us find the winner of the coveted Golden Schmaltz Award. You WON'T wanna miss this!

KEN GOTO

Ken Goto is a world-renowned chocolatier. After working with Jacques Torres at the famous Le Cirque restaurant in New York, the two men branched out on their own to open what is now a budding empire of Jacques Torres Chocolate stores, offering their signature high-quality chocolates and dessert treats. Ken runs Jacques Torres Chocolates in Brooklyn as well as Jacques Torres Ice Cream, their ice cream store which opened in DUMBO, Brooklyn in 2009. This year, they just opened their newest location at Rockefeller Center. Ken is in charge of all research and development for all of the chocolate, bob-bons, and ice cream. Ken is quite famous for his heightened palate. He is able to taste anything and list what ingredients are in it (as his wife says, it make cooking for him impossible!).

STEPHEN FRIED

Stephen is a past Cheftestant and winner of the coveted Golden Schmaltz Awards. In addition to being a member of The New Shul, Stephen is the host of "Behind the Scenes", a cooking program that brings viewers behind of scenes of each chef’s favorite dish. As the Associate Publisher of Great Places, an upscale private dining/event venue directory and website, he has fostered relationships with countless chefs and restaurateurs. Stephen is also the exclusive broker of some of the best baby octopus in the world. He also loves to play guitar, sing, has a band, and is a lover of live music. Stephen has lived in Greenwich Village, NYC for the past 26 years. He is married and has a son, both of whom are part of his built in tasting team.

MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Michael Schneider is the president, publisher and editor-in-chief of two magazines: Chocolatier, inaugurated in 1984, and Pastry Art & Design undertaken in 1995 in response to the enormous boom in the professional dessert market. Both magazines are the foremost resource for news and information for the nation's pastry industry. He is also the organizer and founder of the World Pastry Team Championship, the National Pastry Team Championship and the World Pastry Forum. An acknowledged expert on chocolate and desserts he has appeared on many radio and television shows and has been a guest lecturer at New York University and The Smithsonian Institution. He is also on the Board of Directors of the United States Pastry Alliance. Michael is the consummate family man whose hobbies, shared with his wife, Andrea, are centered on their two children. They live in Greenwich Village in New York City.

JASON ACKERMAN

Jason Ackerman began his career on Wall Street and in 1999 he became an entrepreneur and co-founded of FreshDirect. He and his partners revolutionized the way New Yorkers get their groceries, making high-quality food items available via internet order. As the CFO, he has seen the well-known grocery company grow, and its recognizable white trucks now deliver groceries to over 15% of Manhattan residents, and they have even expanded into New Jersey and Westchester County. Jason is also a proud member of The New Shul, and he lives with his wife Elyssa and their children Ayden, Owen and Jacob in SoHo.

LISA TEIGER

Lisa Teiger, a native New Yorker is the Food Event Stylist and owner of CuisinEtc Catering + Special Events , a boutique NYC catering source and the in-house caterer for The New Shul. Lisa is a Culinary Fashionista and Founder of caterBuzz, the global social media group for event professionals, as well the roving caterBuzz blogger. Lisa began her professional culinary journey 28 years ago catering her own wedding with her chef husband Andrew, and from there has cooked and catered around the globe, including the UK, France, Israel, Turkey, Greece and South East Asia. Lisa continues to work with her husband, Chef Andrew Crossan, and these days their business is focused on Special Events from 2 - 2,000 guests.

Wanna Bang on a Jewish Can?? Don't Miss the Next Rebbe's Table at City Winery.

2011-02-07T14:18:00.003-05:00

Click twice on the invitation to enlarge and get all the details. See you there!

Frist Friday - Kabbalat Shabbat

2011-02-01T14:33:00.002-05:00

Join us for an intimate Kabbalat Shabbat this Friday, February 4th at 6:30pm. The get-together and service will be led by member Sheryl Eisenberg at the Mereson/Zucker home (contact the office or log on to the membership directory for address). There will be lots of singing and discussion -- with your help! The topic:Might God be a verb rather than a noun? And if so, what would that mean in a Jewish context? A light oneg will follow. Hope you can join us for this intimate Shabbat experience!

Sheryl gave the lay-led d'var torah at Yom Kippur's Nielah service this year. To read what she spoke about, click here.

The Golden Schmaltz Cheftestants Are...

2011-01-25T14:53:00.009-05:00

Winners of the coveted Golden Schmaltz Awards will be chosen by popular vote as well as a panel of celebrity judges. All are competing by baking dessert at home and bringing it on the big day.

And the Cheftestants are:

Elyssa Ackerman
Naomi Cutner
Robert Feldberg
Rabbi Zach Fredman
Alison Gerson
Holly Gewandter
Nicole Golden/Aaron Seeskin
Elise Hurley
Kathi Jacob
Natalie Judelson
Lori Levine
Elizabeth Marcon
Janice Moses
Andrea Osnow/Carly Levin
Li Ross
Anita Sher
Martine Smidt
Shonna Valeska
Joanne Wilson

Our Junior Division Cheftestants:

Aja Baldwin
Max Shatan
Ethan Davison
Megan Sher
Aja Wessely
Nia Judelson
Julian Baldwin

There is still room for more Cheftestants. If you are interested in competing, please email Natalie Judelson, co-chair.

Come to eat, come to compete - either way, you'll have a very sweet time!

Date: Saturday, March 5
Time: 3-5pm
Location: Village Community School (272 W 10th St, b/w Greenwich and Washington Sts)

Golden Schmaltz - What's it All About?

2011-01-25T12:28:00.006-05:00

Run to your mailbox! Your invitation is on its way to the 4^th annual Golden Schmaltz awards on Saturday, March 5^th from 3-5pm for a sweet filled afternoon honoring the sweetest, Amy Eichenwald Golding!

What the heck is the Golden Schmaltz anyway? It is The New Shul’s unique and super fun annual food competition – this year's theme is all things sweet. Any member is invited to be a “Cheftestant”! Cheftestants enter the contest, bring their prepared dessert for all to sample and share their recipe. If you are interested in being a cheftestant, contact Natalie Judelson at natalie.stella@nyc.rr.com. If baking isn’t your thing, no problem, buy tickets, bring your friends and your pants with elastic waistbands because the afternoon will be one full of great desserts, light food, wine/prosecco, music, schmoozing and fun family and kid’s activities!

What else can you do to help, you ask? LOTS! We need raffle prizes, help securing celebrity judges and running activities. If you can help, please contact co-chairs Mikal Finkelstein at mikalrf@gmail.com or Natalie Judelson at natalie.stella@nyc.rr.com.

Help a Graduate of Our Rishonim/BMA Program Do Tikkun Olam

2011-01-24T14:37:00.004-05:00

From Michele Moses

Join me in my efforts to support communities in need around the world.

I was recently chosen to participate in Northwestern Hillel’s Alternative Spring Break program, with which I will be traveling to Cuba to provide aid to its Jewish community as well as the general Cuban community. Last year, the Northwestern group brought over $250,000 worth of medicine to help supply the only free private pharmacy in Cuba, which is run by the Jewish community in Havana. Although Cuba has very well-trained doctors, modern medicine is often hard to find on the island. Through this free pharmacy, any Cuban in need is able to access vital medications. For last year's trip, the group also raised close to $10,000 to help fund Jewish community projects on the island as well as pay for transporting over 1000 pounds of aid from the U.S. to Cuba.

Hillel’s International Alternative Break program began 9 years ago and since then has seen over 8,000 students rebuilding communities in Israel, the Gulf Coast, and Central and South America, former Soviet Union, Cuba, among other places. This year I am incredibly excited to be one of these students and and I would greatly appreciate any help you can provide.

Please take a moment now and make a gift, which will sponsor me and support this worthwhile program. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you would like to get involved by donating medicine (any unopened prescription samples or over-the-counter medications), toiletries, new clothing, kitchen supplies, or any other useful items, please send them to:

Northwestern Hillel
c/o Andrea Jacobs
629 Foster Street
Evanston, IL 60201

Or, follow this link to make an online donation and to see where I am in my fundraising goal.

Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
Michele

Congrats to Member Suzanne Tick

2011-01-20T12:17:00.001-05:00

Check out this article featuring member Suzanne Tick in today's New York Times Home Section.

Jewish Haikus (or as call them Chaikus)

2011-01-19T12:54:00.004-05:00

These were forwarded to us by member Jillian Neiberg.

Beyond Valium,
peace is knowing one's child
is an internist.

On Passover we
opened the door for Elijah.
Now our dog is gone.

After the warm rain
the sweet smell of camellias.
Did you wipe your feet?

Her lips near my ear,
Aunt Sadie whispers the name
of her friend's disease.

Today I am a man
Tomorrow I will return
to the seventh grade.

Testing the warm milk
on her wrist, she sighs softly
But her son is forty.

Like a bonsai tree
is your terrible posture
at my dinner table.

Mom, please! There is no
need to put that dinner roll
in your pocketbook.

Sorry I'm not home
to take your call. At the tone
please state your bad news.

Is one Nobel Prize
so much to ask from a child
after all I've done?

Yenta. Shmeer. Gevalt.
Shlemiel. Shlimazl. Meshuganah
Oy! To be fluent!

Quietly murmured
at Saturday Synagogue services,
Phillies 5, Red Sox 3.

Hard to tell under the lights.
White Yarmulke or
male-pattern baldness.

Be here now.
Be someplace else later.
Is that so complicated?

Wherever you go, there you are.
Your luggage is another story.

Accept misfortune as a blessing.
Do not wish for perfect health, or a life
without problems.
What would you talk about?

The journey of a thousand miles begins with
a single Oy.
There is no escaping karma.
In a previous life,
you never called,
you never wrote,
you never visited.
And whose fault was that?

Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkis.

The Tao does not speak
The Tao does not blame.
The Tao does not take sides.
The Tao has no expectations.
The Tao demands nothing of others
The Tao is not Jewish.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out
Forget this and attaining Enlightenment will
be the
least of your problems.

The Torah says,
Love your neighbor as yourself.
The Buddha says,
There is no self.
So, maybe we're off the hook.

Leaves from The New Shul Tu B'shevat Wishing Tree

2011-01-18T14:59:00.003-05:00

At The New Shul's Tu B'shevat Celebration this past Saturday night, revelers were invited to create a leaf and make a wish -- for themselves, their family, The New Shul and/or the World -- for the year ahead and attach it to the Wishing Tree. By the end of the evening, the tree was resplendent with colorful leaves and these beautiful wishes...

Wishes for Myself
I wish…

…to get 100% on all of my quizzes.
…to keep my prayers open for all.
…I was in England.
…to keep listening.
…to get an iPhone
…for gainful employment.
…for chocolate chip cookies everyday.
…to be myself.
…that my Bar Mitzvah goes well and that I don’t mess up.
…I kan have scool forevr (great wish by a 6 year old!)
…my turtle lives to be an old, majestic turtle.
…I do good in school.
…peace for my child.
…for lots of ice cream.

Wishes for My Family
I wish…

…for my family to be healthy this year.
…health for my friends and family.
…health to my dear mother.
…health for my father.
…the life or our son be filled with strength, courage, joy, and children and to reach his highest potential.

Wishes for The New Shul
I wish…

…that The New Shul may be our village.
…that my (far in the future) grandkids are B’nai Mitzvahed at The New Shul.

Wishes for The World
I wish…

…for rationality in all things.
…that 2011 brings a happy resolution to all of 2010.
…for the end of Reality TV.
…that people who have health, would learn to be thrifty and not waste it.
…health.
…love.
…health.
…peace in Israel.
…health, love, happiness.
…laugh, love, live.
…health, harmony, hilarity.
…for the end of superstition.
…world peace and the Jets win the Super Bowl.
…that the NRA lost it’s power.
…that war be overcome by peace.
…that we may give and receive generosity, friendship, ease, grace, health, success, joy, love and mitzvot.
…that we appreciate life.
…that there was no waste.
…for color.
…that every wish comes true.

Keep the Party Going for the Birthday of the Trees!

2011-01-18T10:57:00.005-05:00

If you want to continue your celebration of Tu B'shevat, check out this family-friendly event down at the Museum of Jewish Heritage!

Bring the Family to Celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees (Tu B’Shevat) with Stories, Music, and Crafts

The Hatseller and the Monkeys

SUNDAY | JANUARY 23 | 2:30 P.M.

Following the show, children are invited to create eco-themed crafts.

Celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees (Tu B'Shevat) with Play Me a Story, the musical storytelling duo, who performs an interactive story with delightful props and costumes, magical sounds from the forest, and original Klezmer-style music. For ages 3 to 10

$10, $7 children 10 and under | Museum members: $7, $5 children 10 and under

Click here to order tickets!

Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

36 Battery Place New York, NY 10280 646.437.4202 www.mjhny.org

A Table for Two Steves

2011-01-11T09:23:00.003-05:00

Member and host of Beyond the Dish, Stephen Fried, will be a guest judge at our Golden Schmaltz Awards on Saturday, March 5th at VCS (272 W 10th Streets). The event is from 3-5pm and the theme is dessert. We will be honoring the sweetest one of them all, Amy Eichenwald Golding, so mark your calendars and join in the fun!

Stay Up To Date On All Things Schmaltzy

2011-01-10T11:45:00.002-05:00

We have created a facebook event page for the Golden Schmaltz Awards in honor of Amy E. Golding on Saturday, March 5th from 3-5pm at VCS. Please join it so you can stay up to date on cheftestants, judges, kids activities, and more. Plus, it's a great way to find out how you can get involved in pulling off one of the sweetest events of the year!

Things Are About to Get Sweeter for The New Shul

2011-01-08T00:46:00.001-05:00

Rebbe's Table - January 16

2011-01-04T13:25:00.001-05:00

Click to enlarge.

You won't want to miss this conversation!

Only In Brooklyn

2011-01-04T12:02:00.004-05:00

From member and caterer extraordinaire Lisa Teiger:

As you drive out of Brooklyn on the Williamsburg Bridge, you'll see a traffic sign above you reading: Leaving Brooklyn. Oy Vey! No, the sign isn't the work of a prankster. It's a real sign, placed by the Department of Transportation at the request of Marty Markowitz, Borough President of Brooklyn.

Don't Miss the Tu B'shevat Celebration

2011-01-03T13:53:00.004-05:00

The Tu B'shevat Celebration

Celebrate The New Year of the Trees at The New Shul in ways as old as the Sequoias and as new as a first bud.

Experience the holiday through crafts, song, poetry, prayer and food. As we travel through the four worlds of the mystical Seder we will join Ellen Gould for Havdalah, make wishes for the future, and enjoy cabaret performances by members.

All the while we will be making our way through the foods of the Seder: from winter to fall, formation to creation and light to dark.

DATE: Saturday, January 15th, 2011
TIME: Doors open at 7 PM
LOCATION: 272 West 10th St. (between Greenwich and Washington Streets)

Dinner, by Creative CuisinEtc., will follow the festivities and top off our celebration.
COST: Members- $10, Guests-$12. Children are FREE.

The Religious Case Against Belief

2010-12-21T16:04:00.002-05:00

Join Rabbi Dan Ain and author Jim Carse at our next Rebbe's Table on Sunday, January 16th at 10am at City Winery.