NEWSLETTER / VOLUME 17:4 ADAR I / ADAR II / NISAN 5765 ... · 2 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA MARCH / APRIL 2005 COONGREGATION ZARUA R ACONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE FOUNDED 1989 127 EAST 82ND STREET

ORZARUAN E W S L E T T E R / V O L U M E 1 7 : 4 A D A R I / A D A R I I / N I S A N 5 7 6 5 M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

Congregation

When my father passed away on November 30, 2003, Imade the commitment to say kaddish for him. During the

week of Shiva, I realized that I would be learning a lot in the yearahead. I was not aware of just how much I was going to learn.

Attending OZ services has always provided me an opportu-nity to learn and exchange ideas. At the Shabbat morning serv-ices, Rabbi Wechsler always speaks about the Torah reading ofthe week and welcomes attendees to share their ideas as well.What I did not know was that morning and often Friday nightservices also include discussions about seasonal topics such asthe holidays or about things of general interest such as the bluethread of the tzitzis to remind us of the mitzvot of God.

Since I began my regular attendance during the shortest days ofthe year, I became more aware of the cosmos. I had forgotten howbeautiful the sunrises were. Now each morning I enjoy them on theway to services. Each evening on my way home, I become attunedto the phases of the moon. We are all a part of the continual flow ofthe seasons and each of their special holiday markers.

I have felt a need to give back what I received from the Or Zarua community, which proved to be a wonderful supportgroup during a difficult time for me. Each one of us has specialtalents that we are able to give to our community. Having gonethrough my loss, I was saddened each time other members

joined us in saying kaddish because it meant that they, too, hadlost a loved one. My own experience enabled me to share whatI could to comfort those who joined our group.

Now that the year has passed, I realize that my thirst formore knowledge has increased. There is always something moreto learn. I have found that attending services has better groundedme to deal with whatever happens during the day. What began asa commitment of respect has turned into a wonderful gift.

ATTENDING MORNING MINYAN: A GIFTBy Marilyn Shapiro

OZ Tzedakah Helps Tsunami Victims

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We were all shocked by the magni-tude of the disaster and suffering

caused by the tsunami that struck Asia on December 26. Many Congregants con-tributed generously to UJA-Federation,the American Jewish World Service, andthe American Jewish Joint DistributionCommittee, whose funds were directed tohelp the survivors.

The Or Zarua minyan’s tzedakah was disbursed to help the people of

Mamallapuram in southern India. Ourrelationship with this village is very personal. We were in direct contact withsomeone who was on the beach of thisvillage when the tsunami struck.

We were told that most of the 60families in the village lost their fishingboats and equipment, which were theironly means of livelihood. Our contact is helping families in this village rebuildtheir lives by purchasing fishing boats

and equipment for them, so that theymay feed their children once again.About 20 new boats are needed, sincethree fisherman share each boat. OrZarua’s minyan tzedakah is being used to help achieve this goal.

We were told of the Indian families’reaction to our generosity: “Their faceschanged from sadness and desperation torelief and hope, and their smiles returnedto their faces.”

Aaron Shelden and Sheldon Adler accepted awards for CongregationOr Zarua’s morning minyan and for its website redesign at TheUnited Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s Biennial Conventionof the Metropolitan Region on November 21, 2004.

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C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

CONGREGATION

ORZARUAA CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE

FOUNDED 1989

127 EAST 82ND STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10028

phone:212-452-2310 fax:212-452-2103

www.orzarua.org

DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, Rabbi

DANIEL J. BELLER, President

BARBARA J. BOLSHON, Executive Director

ILANA BURGESS, Youth Education Director

PAULETTE SCHNEIDER, Newsletter Editor

OZ Committee ChairsAESTHETICS Aaron Shelden

BOOK DISCUSSION Reed SchneiderGROUP

BUILDING Anne Schneider

CATERING Diane OkrentSara Stone

HESED Lesley Palmer

HEVRA KADISHA Vera SilverGerry Solomon

ISRAEL Bret CohenAliza Kaplan

LIBRARY Barry Feldman

MEMBERSHIP Debbie BreznayPamela Gold

MINYAN Sheldon Adler

NEWSLETTER Paulette Schneider

PROGRAMMING Pat Davidson

PUBLIC RELATIONS Aaron Shelden

PURIM SPIEL Arthur RosenbloomBonnie MaslinTibor FeldmanBarbara Sassoon

SCHOOL Aliza Kaplan

SHABBAT USHERS Phyllis SolomonGerry Solomon

TORAH/HAFTARAH Yaakov ShechterREADING

If you would like to serve on a synagogue committee,please contact the office for the committee chair’s email address.

YOUTH EDUCATION DEPARTMENTBy Ilana Burgess

Let me tell you about two wonderful and heartwarming programs we had when

we returned from winter vacation. The firstwas our experience with OZ’s beautiful,creative, and touching “Precious Legacies”exhibition. We integratedthe exhibition into our curriculum by inviting thepresenters to come and telltheir stories to theHebrew Schoolstudents in fourth,fifth and sixthgrades. The pre-senters’ responsewas amazing and very generous—even with their busy schedules, they spent timeteaching about their family stories. It wasgreat to see the interaction between thegenerations. My special thanks to SusanKopelowitz; Barry Feldman; HerbertLukashok; Diane Okrent; Bobbi Coller;Mona Dreier; Terry Ann Krulwich; MarilynShapiro; Cathy Zises and her father, Dr. Weiss; and Shelley Binder. The historythat these students learned first-hand willstay in their memories for a very long time.

The second event involved all the stu-dents from kindergarten to sixth grade.During the winter break, everyone heardabout the horrible tragedy in Asia. All of usbecame very familiar with the word tsuna-

mi. When we returned from vaca-tion, the students asked theirteachers how they could help the

victims. We decided tocollect money for twoweeks and then sendthe donations to aJewish organization.The response was amaz-ing. Some studentsbaked cookies and soldthem in their apartmentbuildings, some wentfrom apartment toapartment asking fordonations, and someemptied their piggybanks. In two weeks wecollected almost $500.

I am very grateful to be working with such a generous group of children, parentsand teachers.

MARCH 2005

Saturday, March 5 Hebrew School Shabbat Class, 10:00 a.m.Friday, March 11 Second and Third Grade Dinner

(following Kabbalat Shabbat)Friday, March 11 Shabbaton for Fourth, Fifth and Sixth GradesFriday, March 18 Kindergarten and First Grade Dinner

(following Kabbalat Shabbat)Monday, March 21 Spring Break (no classes)

APRIL 2005

Monday, April 4 Classes resumeSaturday, April 9 Hebrew School Shabbat Class, 10:00 a.m.Wednesday, April 20 Model Seder, 4:45 p.m.Thursday, April 21 Model Seder, 4:45 p.m.Monday, April 25 Pesah Vacation (no classes)

Hebrew School Events

Diane Okrent(top right) andMona Dreier(center) tell theirfamily stories toHarris Feldman,Ortal Isaac (top),and Taire Rubin,Jeremy Klapperand Daniel Weiss(left and above).

W W W . O R Z A R U A . O R G M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

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Each morning, people attending theminyan give tzedakah, and from time

to time Rabbi Wechsler distributes someof the funds to needy individuals. On hisrecent trip to Israel the Rabbi was happyto report that two tzedakah recipientswere able to change their lives. Oneyoung man was able to have a kidneytransplant, and now he is on his way tofull health. The kidney donor, who was

able to go to Israel to give his kidney as a result of funds provided through ourtzedakah, is recovering as well and is ingood health. A second young man wasable to have a coclear transplant, partiallyfunded by our tzedakah. Now, for the firsttime since childhood, the man is able tohear. One of the results of his regainedhearing is that he is now engaged to bemarried!

IN THIS ISSUETsunami Help ..............................1Attending Morning Minyan .......1Trip to Israel................................3Tzedakah Gets Results ...............3Habitat for Humanity .................4Oral Law Class ............................4Purim Spiel ..................................5Annual Meeting & Picnic ..........5Jewish Museum Exhibition.........6Shabbat Learner’s Service...........6Talk on “Jewes in America” ......7Congregational Seder ..................7PassoverGuidelines................................10Services ....................................12Meal Match/Hametz Forms ....13

“Precious Legacies” Photos .....16

FEATURESYouth Education..........................2OZY Services...............................3Hesed Committee Events ...........4Book Discussions ........................5Holiday Inspiration .....................5New OZ Library Books .............7Monthly Calendars........................8OZ Community .........................14

Celebrate Yom Yerushalayim2005 in Jerusalem

Or Zarua is planning a ten-dayCongregational trip to Israel in the

spring. We plan to depart on Saturdayevening, May 28 and to return onTuesday morning, June 7. Under theleadership of Rabbi Wechsler, partici-pants will have a chance to enjoy thebeauty of Tel Dan in the north and thespirituality of a Shabbat in Jerusalem.

During the course of our visit we will study texts and explore archeological

excavations related to Jerusalem duringthe times of King David and the SecondTemple era. On Yom Yerushalayim, weexpect to tour sites that were significantin the battle for reunification of Jerusalemin 1967.

If you are interested in joining us on this special adventure, please save the dates and email Debbie Breznay [email protected] or call her at 212-772-0975.

Morning Minyan You can now make a commitment to attend our morning minyan—even for just a single day! Go to http://www.orzarua.org/signup_Minyan.html.

Tzedakah Gets Results

Each Shabbat, we have three different grade-level services:

Infant through Kindergarten 11:00 a.m. to noon

Alef Bet CornerFirst through Third Grades 10:00 a.m. to noon

Junior Congregation Fourth through Sixth Grades 10:00 a.m. to noon

Each month during the school year, we have a special Hebrew SchoolShabbat service, which all HebrewSchool students in the third throughsixth grades are encouraged to attend. Students from other schools are welcome as well.

The next Hebrew School ShabbatClasses will take place on Saturday, March 5 and Saturday, April 9.

OZY SERVICES Our award-winning website is a great resource both for

current and prospective members.

Use www.orzarua.org to:

� View our calendar and checkservice times

� Sign up for events

� Make donations on-line

� Learn about educational programsfor adults and for children

� Keep informed about ourCongregation

WWW.ORZARUA.ORG

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ANNUAL PURIM FOOD DRIVE IN MARCHEvery year OZ members gather for the reading of the Megillahand an extraordinary Purim spiel production. But don’t forgetour other tradition at Purim time: the Annual Purim FoodDrive for the hungry.

Please participate by observing the Purim mitzvot ofMatanot LaEvyonim (gifts to the needy) and Mishloah Manot(giving of food and drink) by donating at least two differenttypes of non-perishable food items to OZ’s collection for ourcommunity’s hungry. Leave your food donations in the boxesplaced on the synagogue’s first and sixth floors from March 7through March 25. Food donations will also be collected atPurim services on March 24 at Florence Gould Hall.

Donated food will be distributed through the YorkvilleCommon Pantry, one of the city’s largest providers of emergencyfood. Recommended items include dry milk, pasta, cereal, cannedfood of all kinds, peanut butter, rice and beans. Don’t just cleanout your cabinets—add these items to your shopping list! Involveyour children by taking them shopping for the drive.

BOOK DRIVE BENEFITS ISRAELI SCHOOLS AND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSELast September OZ members donated seven boxes full of Englishlanguage books for our second annual Books for Israel Drive forthe High School for Environmental Studies, located in MidreshetBen-Gurion in the Negev. We sent a mix of classic and popularliterature, science resource books, back issues of NationalGeographic magazine, and other useful reading materials.

Some books that were not a good match for the school’sspecific needs were donated instead to the Ronald McDonaldHouse, a wonderful residence (located at 405 E. 73rd Street)for children in treatment for serious illnesses at local hospitals.The House, which holds a regular used book sale, was veryappreciative of our donation of eight boxes of books. Manythanks to Ran Eisenbruch for arranging the shipment of booksto Israel; to Gerry Solomon, Richard Stadin and Ran Eisenbruchfor delivering the books to Ronald McDonald House; and toour generous donors who covered the cost of the drive.

HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED HESED-STYLEOZ members made the lives of some elderly Upper East Sideresidents a bit more freilach with friendly visits and holidaypackages in September for Rosh Hashanah and in Decemberfor Hanukkah. Thank you to Aaron Shelden for arrangingboth events. In December, our second annual Hanukkah ToyDrive resulted in the donation of several boxes full of toys forchildren served by the Metropolitan Council for Jewish Poverty.Thank you to Susan Sussman for coordinating the toy drive.

HESED FUNDYour generous donations to the Hesed Fund sustain our weeklymeal serving for the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter andmany other projects throughout the year in our community.Please continue to support the Hesed Fund! Contact LesleyPalmer, chair of the Hesed Committee, with project suggestionsat [email protected] or 212-772-9673.

HESED COMMITTEE

Food, Books and Toys for Those in Need

Volunteer with Habitat forHumanity on Sunday, March 20

We need ten volunteers who are at least sixteen years oldto work on a Habitat for Humanity affordable housing

project site at 143 West 128th Street on Sunday, March 20,from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No construction experience isnecessary—just come ready to work hard and get your handsdirty! We will assist with metal framing or sheetrock installa-tion. Habitat has a full-time, knowledgeable construction staffon site to provide instruction. Habitat for Humanity-NewYork City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the provi-sion of affordable housing for all New Yorkers. To sign up,contact Lesley Palmer at [email protected] or 212-772-9673.

Marc Ashley will again be offering a course on the revelation and development of the Oral Law

in Judaism. Classes will meet in the library at 10:30 a.m. on the following Sunday mornings: May 15, May 22, andJune 5.

The discussions will deal with theological and historicalissues that are pivotal in Jewish law and thought. All Congregants are welcome to participate—no priorknowledge is required. To register, please access the website or call ext. 39.

ORAL LAW CLASS

Three Sunday Mornings Between Pesah and ShavuotMay 15, May 22, and June 5


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Please join us on April 10 at 7:30 PM in the OrZarua library for a discussion of Michael Oren’s

Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the ModernMiddle East. Oren, a Princeton-trained senior fellow atJerusalem’s Shalem Center, has served as director ofIsrael’s Department of Inter-Religious Affairs and as anadviser to Israel’s U.N. delegation. Using newly declas-sified archival sources and interviews with participants,Oren details the diplomatic activity that failed to staveoff war and the six tense days of battle that followed inthe Sinai, Golan, and Jerusalem. The most complete history ofthe Six Day War to date, the book corrects popular misconcep-tions, shows how what transpired then deeply affects what is

happening now in the Middle East, and comments onpost-Zionist claims about Israeli intentions to precludethe formation of an Arab Palestinian state.

Mark Somerstein, who was studying in Jerusalemin 1967, will be our discussion leader. All Congregantsand their guests are welcome. Light refreshments areserved. Call Reed Schneider at 212-860-8611 if youhave questions or would like to be added to our e-mailroster for updates on future book discussions.

Our next book discussion on March 6 features anengaging guest speaker, Michael Terry, head of the Jewish DorotDivision of the New York Public Library. For further details aboutour exciting program March 6, please see the article on page 7.

Or Zarua Book Discussions

Of all our many prescribed rituals ofremembering, none is more central

than remembering the Exodus fromEgypt. While we focus entirely on theExodus experience on Pesah, awareness ofthe Exodus looms before us throughoutour ritual lives. In our weekly Shabbatkiddush, remembrance of the Exodus(zecher litziat mitzrayim) is coupled withits only peer in history, the rememberanceof the Creation itself (zikaron l’ma-asiebereishit). The beginning of our history asa nation is placed on the same level asthe beginning of all history.

We recall the creation at RoshHashanah, which is nominally the newyear, but which in fact comes in the seventh month. It is with Pesah, in the

first month of Nisan, that the calendaractually begins—even if we have toadjust the calendar to make it so. Ourlunar calendar takes an additional month periodically to stay in synch with thesolar year, as it does this year with theaddition of a second month of Adar inMarch-April. It is the observance ofPesah in conjunction with the vernalequinox that dictates these leap-yearadjustments. By linking Pesah with thearrival of spring, we marshal the newbeginnings in nature to evoke our peo-ple’s new beginning in history. We oftendescribe monumental experiences asmoments when time stops. Pesah is evenmore than that: It is the moment whentime begins.

PESAH: WHEN TIME BEGINSBy Ron Meyers

The OZ Players joyfully beganrehearsals for Purim Spiel 2005

on Sunday, January 30 in the socialhall from 4 to 7 p.m. Subsequentrehearsals will be held in the socialhall every Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m.,and every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m.

Minhah, the first Megillahreading and the spiel will take placeon Thursday, March 24, 2005 at thebeautiful 375-seat Florence GouldHall at the French InstituteAlliance Française, 59th Streetbetween Park and MadisonAvenues, followed by a sumptuousreception. We welcome the returnof Al Warner, our pianist extraordi-naire and musical director.

The OZ Players need singers,dancers, costumers, prop builders,Megillah schleppers and peoplewho want to have the time of theirlives providing fun—and a socialmessage— to others.

For more information, contactBarbara Sassoon at [email protected].

MAKE LAUGHTERAND FRIENDS AT

PURIM SPIEL

The 16th Annual Meeting of Congregation Or Zarua on Tuesday, May 24 willonce again be preceded by our Annual Tar Beach Picnic. The meeting

will include the President’s Report, Budget Presentation and Business Meeting.Reservations for the picnic are essential. Please call 212-452-2310 x39.

ROOFTOP PICNIC AND ANNUAL MEETING

Tuesday, May 24 • 7:15 p.m. Picnic • 8:15 p.m. Meeting

The Power of Conversation: JewishWomen and Their Salons opens at

the Jewish Museum on March 7 and runsthrough July 10. Three OZ Congregantsplayed a central role in the developmentof this exhibition: Emily Braun, co-curator;Eve Wolf, musical consultant; and JudySiegel, interpretive consultant.

The show examines the extraordi-nary history of Jewish women’s salons inEurope and America from the late 18thcentury to the 1940s. It highlights boththe role of salons in the intellectual,political, and artistic history of Europeand the role of the women who ranthem. Twelve salons will be featured.Works in each gallery will include por-traits of the salonières and other paint-ings, letters composed by salon guests,political treatises, and literary works thatderived from the salons. Included are thelate 18th-century salons of HenrietteHerz and Rahel Varnhagen in Berlin; the19th-century salons of Fanny Mendelssohnand Amalie Beer in Berlin, GenevièveStraus in Paris, Berta Zuckerkandl inVienna, Ada Leverson in London, andMargherita Sarfatti and Anna Kuliscioffin Milan; and the 20th-century salons of

Gertrude Stein in Paris, FlorineStettheimer in New York, and SalkaViertel in Los Angeles.

Emily Braun, professor of art historyat Hunter College and at the CUNYGraduate Center, co-curated the exhibitwith Emily Bilski, former Jewish Museumcurator and now an independent scholarin Jerusalem. Dr. Braun previously spokeabout the show, now five years in themaking, to the Congregation at aShabbat luncheon. The book-length catalogue, published by Yale UniversityPress, includes contributions by LeonBotstein, Lucia Re and Barbara Hahn.Judy Siegel, former Jewish Museum headof education and now an independentconsultant, served as advisor on the exhibition’s didactic approach and on its audio program. She also contributed substantial research to the section onSalka Viertel and her 1930s Hollywoodsalon.

Pianist Eve Wolf, founder and co-artistic director of the Ensemble for theRomantic Century, served as musicalconsultant to the exhibition. The FannyMendelssohn salon will feature an audioinstallation in which various figures of

the salon will speak and converse. Thescript and its musical selections were prepared by Ms. Wolf.

The Ensemble for the RomanticCentury will also perform a theatricalconcert entitled Fanny Mendelssohn: Out of Her Brother’s Shadow at the JewishMuseum on March 23 at 8 p.m. Thecombination of music and theater typicalof the 19th-century salon is a hallmark of the ensemble, now in its fourth season.Scripts are written by ensemble members.The script for this concert, written byMs. Wolf, portrays the complex relation-ship between Felix Mendelssohn and hissister Fanny Mendelssohn, a gifted composer and pianist in her own right. Music for the evening includes move-ments from both Felix’s and Fanny’spiano trios; piano, cello, and violin musicby the two composers; and songs byFanny. Musicians include Arash Amini,cello; Max Barros, piano; Vesselin Geliev, violin; April-Joy Gutierrez, soprano; andEve Wolf, piano. Ariel Bock and MichaelMilligan of Shakespeare and Companywill portray the two Mendelssohns.Tickets for the March 23rd concert areavailable through the Jewish Museum.

JEWISH MUSEUM EXHIBITION:Three OZ Members Play a Central Role

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C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 4C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

On Saturday morning, January 22, 2005, Congregation OrZarua held its first Shabbat Learner’s Service, an out-

growth of our very successful High Holy Day Learner’s Services.The Shabbat service was led by our members, Rabbi IsidoroAizenberg and Mark Somerstein.

Almost 50 people, mostly Shabbat regulars, gathered in our beautiful library for what became an engaging interactivestudy session. Participants ranged from the very learned to novice daveners. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to

“take it slow” and study each part of the Shabbat liturgy.Questions were asked, answered, and discussed freely through-out the service.

Some of the discussions that morning dealt with the meaning of the preliminary blessings and why they are recitedeach day, the choreography of the Barkhu, and the history ofcodifying tropes for Torah reading.

It was a wonderful, refreshing learning experience for all who participated.

First Or Zarua Shabbat Learner’s ServiceBy Diane Okrent


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The OZ library is a welcoming placeto spend some free time. It contains

a good collection of books including his-tories, biographies, novels, encyclopedias,biblical commentaries, and more. Hereare some recent acquisitions:

Mindful Jewish Living:Compassionate Practiceby Jonathan P. Slater

In the Interest of Justice:Great Opening andClosing Arguments of the Last 100 Yearsby Joel J. Seidemann

The Ineffable Name of God: Manby Abraham JoshuaHeschel

Holy Men and Hunger Artists:Fasting and Asceticism inRabbinic Cultureby Eliezer Diamond

After Emancipation:Jewish ReligiousResponses to Modernityby David Ellenson

Congregation Or Zarua continues tocelebrate the 350th anniversary of

the first Jewish settlers’ arrival inAmerica. On Sunday evening, March 6at 7:30 p.m., we welcome Michael Terry,chief librarian of the New York PublicLibrary’s Dorot Jewish Division, who willoffer a visual presentation describing theLibrary’s recent exhibition, Jewes inAmerica: Conquistadors, Knickerbockers,Pilgrims, and the Hope of Israel, which hecurated. With a wide range of materialsdrawn primarily from the Library’s collec-tions, the exhibition told not only of theearliest arrival of Jews in New York butalso of the history of interactions withSpanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Englishcolonial powers in the Western hemi-sphere that led Jews to reach America.

The exhibition takes its title fromJewes in America, or, Probabilities That theAmericans are of That Race, a 1650 com-pendium of evidence that NativeAmericans were the lost tribes of Israel.

Mr. Terry was praised in The NewYork Times for doing what a consummate

collector does: gather unusual materialsfrom disparate places and juxtaposethem, revealing hidden resonances, creat-ing connections and, finally, informingthose less learned about what is beingshown, with finely detailed, often playfulcommentary. As reported in the Times,Mr. Terry was able to gather documentsshowing that Jews, despite their minis-cule numbers in America during theColonial and Federal periods, occupied asizeable place in the American mind dur-ing its formative years. According toTerry, the preoccupation during thoseeras with the identity and status of Jewsmay seem remote today, but it “raisesissues of civil rights, multiculturalism,secularism, capitalism, and identificationwith Israel that are familiar and evenintegral to the liberal and conservativelines alike along which contemporaryAmerican identities bifurcate.”

Please join us in the OZ library onSunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. for a fasci-nating look at the issues raised by thisgroundbreaking exhibition.

JEWES IN AMERICA:Conquistadors, Knickerbockers,Pilgrims, and the Hope of Israel

New Books in the OZ Library

WE INVITE YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

TO SHARE THE SECOND SEDER WITH US.

Services will start at 7:35 p.m.

Our Congregational seder, led by Rabbi Wechsler, will begin at 8:30 p.m., immediately after services.

Watch your mail for an invitation.

CONGREGATIONAL SEDER

Sunday, April 24

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This guide was prepared for the RabbinicalAssembly Committee on Jewish Law andStandards by Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz. Itwas accepted by the Committee on December12, 1984 and is updated annually by RabbiWechsler. Remember that the Kosher forPassover home is a unique and transcendentexperience for adults as well as children.Pesah feels different to the extent that it isdifferent, and special foods and practices arethe source of these special experiences.

The Torah prohibits the ownership ofhametz (leaven) during Pesah.

Therefore, we arrange for the sale of thehametz to a non-Jew. The transfer, mekhi-rat hametz, is accomplished by appointingan agent, usually the Rabbi, to handle thesale. It is valid and legal transfer of own-ership. At the end of the holiday, theagent arranges for the reversion of owner-ship of the now-permitted hametz. Ifownership of the hametz was not trans-ferred before the holiday, the use of thishametz is prohibited after the holiday aswell (hametz she-aver alav ha-Pesah).

Because the Torah prohibits the eating of hametz during Pesah and manycommon foods contain some admixtureof hametz, guidance is necessary whenshopping and preparing for Pesah.

During the eight days of Pesah, hametzcannot lose its identity in an admixture.Therefore, the minutest amount of hametzrenders the whole admixture hametz andits use on Pesah is prohibited. However,during the rest of the year, hametz followsthe normal rules of admixture, i.e., it losesits identity in an admixture of one parthametz and sixty parts non-hametz (batel be-shishim). This affords us theopportunity to differentiate between foodspurchased before and during Pesah.

What follows is a general guideline.However, Rabbi Wechsler should be con-sulted when any doubt arises. Productscontaining Kosher le-Pesah labels that donot bear the name of a rabbi or one of

the recognized symbols of rabbinic super-vision, or labels which are not integral tothe package, should not be used withoutconsulting Rabbi Wechsler.

Prohibited foods include the follow-ing: leavened breads, cakes, biscuits,crackers, cereals, coffees containing cere-al derivatives, wheat, barley, oats, spelt,rye and all liquids containing ingredientsor flavors made from grain alcohol.

According to Ashkenazic custom,the following foods (kitniyot) are addedto the prohibited list: rice, corn, millet,legumes (beans and peas; however, stringbeans are permitted). The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has ruledunanimously that peanuts and peanut oilare permissible. Sephardic authoritiespermit the use of all kitniyot.

PERMITTED FOODS

The following foods require noKosher le-Pesah label if purchased beforeor during Pesah: Fresh fruits, vegetables(for legumes, see above), and eggs.

The following foods require a Kosherle-Pesah label if purchased before or duringPesah: All baked products (matzah, cakes,matzah flour, farfel, matzah meal, and anyproducts containing matzah); canned orbottled fruit juice (these juices are oftenclarified with kitniyot which are not listedamong the ingredients); canned tuna (sincetuna, even when packed in water, is oftenprocessed in vegetable broth and/orhydrolyzed protein); wine; vinegar; liquor;oils; dried fruits; ice cream; yogurt and soda.

The following processed foods (canned,bottled or frozen) require a Kosher le-Pesahlabel if purchased during Pesah: milk, butter,juices, vegetables, fruit, milk products,spices, coffee, tea, fish and meat.

In recent years, the number and variety of Kosher le-Pesah products hasballooned. They are available in localmarkets as well as in special Pesah storesthat appear each year. Patronize thesespecial Pesah stores, for they provide an

important service to the Jewish community.

DETERGENTS

If permitted during the year, powderedand liquid detergents do not require aKosher le-Pesah label.

MEDICINES

Since hametz binders are used inmany pills, the following guidelines shouldbe followed: If the medicine is required forlife-sustaining therapy, it may be used onPesah. If it is not for life-sustaining therapy,some authorities permit, while others prohibit. Consult Rabbi Wechsler.

KASHERING OF UTENSILS

The process of kashering utensilsdepends on how the utensils are used.According to halakhah, leaven can bepurged from a utensil by the same processthrough which it was absorbed in theutensil (ke-voleo kakh poleto). Therefore,utensils used in cooking are kashered byboiling, those used in broiling are kash-ered by fire and heat, and those used onlyfor cold food are kashered by rinsing.

Earthenware: China, pottery, etc.may not be kashered. However, finetranslucent chinaware which has notbeen used for over a year may be used ifscoured and cleaned in hot water.

Metal: Utensils made entirely ofmetal used in fire (spit, broiler) must firstbe thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned andthen made as hot as possible. Those usedfor cooking or eating (silverware, pots)must be throughly scrubbed and cleanedand completely immersed in boiling water.Pots should not be used for a period of atleast 24 hours between the cleaning andthe immersion in boiling water. Metal bak-ing utensils cannot be kashered for Pesah.

Ovens and Ranges: Every part thatcomes into contact with food must bethoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. Then,the oven and range should be made as hotas possible for a half hour. If there is abroil setting, use it. Self-cleaning ovens

Guidelines for Passover

11


should be scrubbed and cleaned and thenput through the self-cleaning cycle.Continuous-cleaning ovens must be kash-ered in the same manner as regular ovens.

Microwave ovens, which do notcook food by means of heat, should becleaned, and then a cup of water shouldbe placed inside. Then the oven shouldbe turned on until the water disappears.A microwave oven that has a browningelement cannot be kashered for Pesah.

Glassware: Glassware requires only athorough scrubbing before Pesah, or itmay be cleaned in a dishwasher.

Glass Cookware: There is a differenceof opinion as to whether glass cookware isto be kashered. One opinion is that it mustbe kashered. After a thorough cleaning,water should be boiled in the cookware sothat it overflows the rim. The other opinionis that only a thorough cleaning is required.

Glass Bakeware: Like metal bake-ware, glass bakeware may not be kasheredfor Pesah.

Dishwashers: Clean out the foodtrap or filter, if there is one. After notusing the dishwasher for a period of 24hours, run a full cycle with detergent.

Electrical Appliances: If parts thatcome into contact with hametz are remov-able, they can be kashered in the appropri-ate way (if metal, follow the rule for metalutensils). If the parts are not removable, theappliance cannot be kashered. (All exposedparts should be thoroughly cleaned.)

Tables, Closets and Counters: If used with hametz, surfaces should bethoroughly cleaned and covered, andthen they may be used.

Kitchen Sink: A metal sink can bekashered by thorough cleaning and thenhaving boiling water poured over it. Aporcelain sink should be cleaned and asink rack used. However, if dishes are tobe soaked in a porcelain sink, a dishbasin must be used.

Hametz and Non-PassoverUtensils: Non-Passover dishes, pots andhametz whose ownership has been trans-ferred should be separated, locked up orcovered, and marked in order to preventaccidental use.

The first seder night—always onthe fifteenth of Nisan—will take

place this year on April 23, which is a Saturday. Because the day of erevPesah falls on Shabbat, the timing ofsome pre-holiday observances willneed to be adjusted.

Siyyum Bekhorim, Thursdaymorning, April 21. A firstborn(whether of the mother or the father)should fast on the day before Passoverto commemorate the sparing of thefirstborn in Jewish households on theeve of our deliverance from Egypt. Tooverride this fast, firstborns can followthe custom of joining the daily min-yan on that day to hear the rabbicomplete the reading of a tractate ofthe Talmud. The completion (siyyum)is followed by a festive celebration. Afirstborn who is present at this eventmay eat and, having eaten, need notfast that day. A fast for the firstborncannot take place on Shabbat or onFriday, so the Siyyum will be held thisyear on Thursday morning, April 21,beginning with Shaharit at 7:15 a.m.

Bedikat hametz, Thursdayevening, April 21. The search forleaven (bedikat hametz) is usuallydone on the night before Passoverimmediately after sunset. WhenPassover begins on Saturday night, the bedikat hametz, preceded by ablessing, is done on Thursday night.This is followed by the nullification ofall unseen hametz, as usual. Fridaymorning by 11 a.m., the collectedhametz is burned.

Shabbat dinner and lunch. Youcan opt to declare your home Kosherle-Pesah from this point on by notincluding any non-Passover foods onShabbat and using egg matzah at theShabbat meals. In this case, you wouldaccompany the burning of the hametzwith the final nullification of hametz,as suggested above. Or you can opt tokeep enough hametz for the Shabbatmeals, and then make the final nullifi-cation on Shabbat after the last hametzmeal has been eaten and the finalcleanup has taken place. If you intendto use halah for Shabbat lunch, keep inmind that no hametz may be eaten onSaturday, April 23, after 10:38 a.m.

Rabbi Wechsler strongly recom-mends that you use egg matzoh onShabbat, April 23 and that all mealson that Shabbat be kosher le-Pesah,even though it is not yet Passover. Youcan serve egg matzah for the Fridaynight meal and for the Saturday lunchmeal. However, after lunch is finished,no matzah (egg or otherwise) may beeaten until the specified time duringthe seder. Note that at the seder itself,egg matzah may not be eaten.

Seudah shlishit. On Saturdayafternoon, for seudah shlishit, do notconsume any matzah, including eggmatzah. The seudah shlishit shouldconsist of a light snack of fruit, fish, oreggs, and it must be completed by 5p.m. After 6 p.m., avoid all food untilthe seder so that you will have ahearty appetite for the matzah that ispart of the seder ritual.

Why is This Year Differentfrom Other Years?

PESAH BEGINS ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Special kiddush served before Torah reading on Saturday morning, April 23.

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TAKE PART IN OR ZARUA’S

Pesah Meal MatchFirst Seder Night, Saturday, April 23

It is traditional to welcome new guests into our homes on the first seder night as wejoin with family and friends to share the other Pesah traditions, both ancient and

modern. No wonder it’s been an Or Zarua tradition for members to extend invitationsto fellow Congregants who would not otherwise participate in a home seder.

If you wish to extend an invitation for the first seder, or it you would like to beincluded in a fellow Congregants home seder, please complete the form on page 13 and return it by mail or fax to the synagogue office by April 18.

Ma’ot Hittim Fund“AJew should drink four cups of wine at the seder,” the Mishnah says, “even if

they come from the public dole.” The hagaddah tells us that every Jew must experience the Exodus from Egypt. We

raise special funds each year to assist less fortunate Jews who cannot afford to preparefor Passover. We forward the funds, called ma’ot hittim (wheat money), to two communalorganizations—the Joint Passover Appeal in New York and the New York Board ofRabbis—for distribution to needy Jews. Ma’ot hittim funds also enable Or Zarua to hostat our Congregational seder a number of Jews who would not otherwise be able toattend a seder that night.

Please give generously to the fund. Many will benefit from your kindness.

Sell Your HametzBefore Passover, we are required to “sell” any hametz in the household to a non-Jew.

The transaction is normally arranged by the Rabbi, to insure compliance with therequirements of halakhah.

Please complete the form on page 13 and send it to the Or Zarua office byThursday, April 21, 2005. It is customary to enclose a contribution to Or Zarua’s Ma’ot Hittim Fund with your authorization.

SCHEDULE OFPASSOVER SERVICES

5765/2005Saturday, April 23

Erev Passover (First Seder)Shaharit 9:00 a.m.Candlelighting 8:28 p.m.

Sunday, April 24

First Day of Passover (Second Seder)Shaharit 9:00 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 7:35 p.m.Candlelighting 8:29 p.m.Congregational Seder 8:30 p.m.

Monday, April 25

Second Day of PassoverShaharit 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 26

Pesah Hol HamoedMorning Minyan 7:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 27


Thursday, April 28


Friday, April 29

Pesah Hol HamoedMorning Minyan 7:00 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 6:15 p.m.Candlelighting 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 30

Seventh Day of PassoverShaharit 8:45 a.m.Minhah-Ma’ariv 7:40 p.m.Candlelighting 8:35 p.m.

Sunday, May 1

Eighth Day of Passover / YizkorShaharit 9:00 a.m.Festival ends 8:36 p.m.

If you want to make your Seder more interesting and lively, please join us for a lec-ture and discussion with David Arnow, Ph.D., author of Creating Lively Passover

Seders. Dr. Arnow will offer suggestions for engaging themes, text study ideas, activ-ities and readings of the Passover story. Please contact Ilana Burgess([email protected] or ext. 15) if you wish to attend.

CREATING LIVELY PASSOVER SEDERSMonday, April 18 • 7:30 p.m. • Or Zarua Library

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Dear Rabbi Wechsler: In accordance with Jewish law, please sell all hametz in my possession at thelocations listed below. Enclosed is my contribution to Or Zarua’s Ma’ot Hittim Fund.

Name ____________________________________________________________________________Apt. No. _____________

Address _______________________________________________City________________________State_____ Zip________

Other Locations (vacation home, office, etc):



Signature _______________________________________________Date______________________________________________

Please complete and return this form before Thursday, April 21, 2005, to:

DR. HARLAN J. WECHSLER, RABBI

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA, 127 EAST 82ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028, FAX: 212-452-2103

I would like to participate in a first-night seder as a:(check one)

GUEST

Are you planning to bring children? ________________________If yes, how many and what ages? ______________________

Are there any food restrictions? ____________________________________________________________________________

HOST

How many people will you host?____________________________How many children will be attending? _________________

What are their ages? _____________________________________Do you welcome children as guests? ___________________

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________


Telephone _______________________________________________Best time to call ___________________________________

Please mail or fax completed form by Monday, April 18, 2005, to:

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA, 127 EAST 82ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10028, FAX: 212-452-2103

Authorization for the Sale of Hametz

Pesah Meal Match

14

C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 4C O N G R E G A T I O N O R Z A R U A M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

Joyce Album, on Sam’s Bar MitzvahAbby Altman and Peter Ezzard, on

Jonathan’s Bar MitzvahBarbara and Martin Bienenstock, on

Ali’s Bat MitzvahIlana Burgess, on the birth of her grand-

son, Noah Ethan BurgessBobbi and Barry Coller, on the birth of

their grandson, Hudson Parker ShapiroGail and Mordecai Kraushar, on Dana’s

Bat MitzvahMark Lowenthal, on the birth of his

grandchildYael and Richard Rosenfield, on Sam’s

Bar MitzvahEthel and Barry Weintraub, on Hannah’s

Bat Mitzvah

Welcome to:

Judith Buchman-Ziv

Our deepest sympathy to:

Laura Resnikoff, on the death of herfather, Israel Resnikoff

May they and their loved ones be comfortedamong the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

All contributions listed were received betweenDecember 1, 2004 and January 31, 2005.

Capital Campaign contributions are not listed.

Bobbi and Barry Coller, in honor of thebirth of their grandson; in memory ofBobbi’s father, Dr. H. Harold Gelfand;and in memory of Barry’s parents,Arthur and Ruth Coller, on theiryahrzeits

Robin Donath, in honor of her son,Alexander Shaheen, on his Bar Mitzvah

Pamela and Mark Gold, in honor ofJoshua’s 6th birthday

Lisa Lyons and Eric Schmutter, in honor

of Lisa’s welcome into the community Martha and Fred Mendelsohn, in memory

of Fred’s parents, Etta and NormanMendelsohn, on their yahrzeits

Ron Meyers, in honor of the yahrzeit ofhis grandfather, Sam Dumbroff, and inhonor of the 99th birthday of hisgrandmother, Belle Dumbroff

Ruth and Sam Perelson, in memory ofSam’s mother, Hannah Perelson, andin honor of Sam’s 70th birthday

Ellen and Alain Roizen, in memory of hismother, Esther, on her yahrzeit

Jane and Warren Rosen, in honor ofRaechel’s Bat Mitzvah

Elaine Schattner and Paul Glasserman,in honor of Mark Sommerstein’s excellent teaching

David and Rana Silver, in commemora-tion of David’s father, Maurice, on hisfirst yahrzeit

Miriam Wallerstein, in memory of herfather, Abraham Patt

Sylvia Adelman, in honor of Michaeland Holly Solender

Willi and Arthur Aeder, in honor of thebirths of Mark Lowenthal’s grandchildand Bobbi and Barry Coller’s grandson

Lynn and Daniel Beller, in honor of thebirth of Bobbi and Barry Coller’sgrandson

Robin Blumenthal, in memory of herfather, David Blumenthal, on hisyahrzeit

Bobbi and Barry Coller, in memory ofIsrael Resnikoff

Martha Cooper, in honor of attendingYom Kippur services with Rachel andLarry Norton

Helen Ferszt, in honor of BettyBernstein’s yahrzeit

Lynne Galler, in memory of the yahrzeitsof her brother, Marc; her father,William; and her grandfather, Michael

Carla and David Glasser, in honor ofJanet and Simon Katz

Beth and Jared Greisman, in memory ofWilliam Tannenbaum and IsraelResnikoff

Ellen and Said Hawa, in memory ofSaid’s father, Salim Hawa

Isadora and Jesse Hecht, in honor of thebirth of Ilana Burgess’s grandson, NoahEthan Burgess

Beverly and John JacobyMeredith and Michael KatzTerry Krulwich and Paul Posner, in

celebration of Jared Greisman andBeth Goldstein’s marriage

Judith and David Lewittes, in memory ofLaura Resnikoff ’s father, Israel Resnikoff

Lynn and Jeffrey Lowin, in honor of Dr. Samuel Klagsbrun

G E N E R A L F U N D

K I D D U S H F U N D

C O N T R I B U T I O N S

C O N D O L E N C E S

N E W M E M B E R S

M A Z A L T O V

THE OR ZARUA COMMUNITY

The Andy Statman Trio—Andy Statman(left) on mandolin and clarinet, Jim Whitneyon bass and Larry Eagle on percussion—performed klezmer-inspired jazz improvisationsfor Or Zarua Congregants on December 11.

15

W W W . O R Z A R U A . O R G S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 4W W W . O R Z A R U A . O R G M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 0 5

THE OR ZARUA COMMUNITYYafa and Alan Nadel, in memory of

Laura Resnikoff ’s father, IsraelResnikoff

Gail Propp, in honor of Larry NortonLaura Resnikoff, with mazal tov to the

Coller family for Hudson Parker’s bris,thanks to Barry Feldman for an out-standing presentation, and congratula-tions to Mark Lowenthal on the birthof his grandchild

Julie and Steven Rosefsky, in honor ofthe marriage of Jill Weinberg and LyleWilpon

Randi Schatz and Joseph Allerhand, inhonor of Bruce’s Bar Mitzvah

Charlotte Schwartz, in memory of herfather, Jacob Simon, and mother-in-law,Ida Kaplan-Schwartz, on their yahrzeits

Lorraine & Herbert Shapiro, in honor ofthe birth of Bobbi and Barry Coller’sgrandson, and in memory of LauraResnikoff ’s father, Israel Resnikoff

Ellen and Donald Simon, in memory ofDonald’s father, Milton R. Simon, and in memory of Ellen’s father, Herman B. Perlman

Vicky Stein, in memory of FredAufhauser, on his yahrzeit

Alan Mayer, in memory of his aunt,Esther Mayer

Lesley and Jay Palmer, in honor of thebirth of Ilana Burgess’s grandson

Ruth and Sam PerelsonSuzan and Daniel RosenJudy and Barry SchneiderRobin and Bruce Silverman, in apprecia-

tion for the good work that the HesedCommittee performs

Elise Strauss, in honor of Hannah Leah’smarriage and Pat and Alan Davidson’s50th anniversary

Ethel and Barry Weintraub, in memory ofEthel’s mother, Anita Bass, on heryahrzeit

Helene and Michael Wolff, in memory ofLaura Resnikoff ’s father, Israel Resnikoff

Sylvia Adelman, in honor of SamPerelson

Yafa and Alan Nadel, in memory of LauraResnikoff ’s father, Israel Resnikoff

Laura ResnikoffMiriam Wallerstein, in memory of her

father, Abraham Patt

Barbara and Martin BienenstockPhyllis BrochsteinMarilyn and Marshall ButlerGwen and Brett CohenMechele and Saunder FlaumJudith and Stephen GoodmanStuart and Joan GrossAliza KaplanMaud and Neal KozodoyMarguerite LederbergElise StraussNaomi Friedland-Wechsler and

Rabbi Harlan Wechsler

Sylvia Adelman, in honor of SamPerelson

Susan and Stanley AltBeth and Jared Greisman, with gratitude

for Rabbi Wechsler’s wonderful assis-tance with their wedding

Arlene and Arthur Lerner, in honor ofCaroline Pearl’s and Scott Lerner’swedding

The Mayer FoundationBarbara and Richard Pearl, in honor of

the aufruf of their son-in-law, ScottLerner

Lorraine and Leo PinskyEllen Bromberg Skolnick and Robert

SkolnickEfry SpectreSharon and Marc Teitelbaum, in

gratitude for Rabbi Wechsler’s supportand in memory of Sharon’s mother,Beatrice Goldstein

Alice and Thomas TischFaith Weinberg, in honor of Rabbi

Wechsler officiating at the marriage of her daughter, Jill Weinberg, and Lyle Wilpon

Eileen and Stephen CohenJacqueline and Yitzchak FrankLorraine and Herbert ShapiroSharon Seiler, Charles Spielholz and

Talia, in honor of Barry Feldman’s presentation during Shabbat Lunch

Audrey and Richard Stadin, for Me’ahbooks

Evelyn Kenvin and Arthur Rosenbloom

Bobbi and Barry CollerVivian and Fred KenvinFrancine and Samuel KlagsbrunEllen and Michael Schwartz

Deborah and James Breznay, for theSuper Bowl Party and in memory ofSheldon Adler’s parents

Barry Feldman, in memory of IsraelResnikoff

Gloria and Burton SchulmanRegina Stein

Robin Blumenthal, in honor of the birthof Ilana Burgess’s grandson

Ilana Burgess, in appreciation toCongregation Or Zarua for their support on the birth of her grandson

Susan Altman and Ivan Kreitman, inhonor of Ilana Burgess’s grandson,Noah Ethan, and in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Alex Bromberg

Meredith and Michael Katz, in honor ofthe birth of Ilana Burgess’s grandson

H E B R E W S C H O O L F U N D

M I N Y A N F U N D

P U R I M S P I E L F U N D

D E S I G N A T E D S P E C I A LP U R P O S E F U N D

L I B R A R Y F U N D

R A B B I ’ S D I S C R E T I O N A R Y F U N D

K O L N I D R E A P P E A L

H E V R A K A D I S H A F U N D

H E S E D F U N D

Shabbat Ushers Needed. Please contactPhyllis Solomon ([email protected]) orGerry Solomon ([email protected]).

CONGREGATION OR ZARUA127 East 82nd StreetNew York, NY 10028


Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDNew York, NY

Permit No. 7998

Scenes from “Our Precious Legacies”

NEWSLETTER / VOLUME 17:4 ADAR I / ADAR II / NISAN 5765 ... · 2 CONGREGATION OR ZARUA MARCH / APRIL 2005 COONGREGATION ZARUA R ACONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE FOUNDED 1989 127 EAST 82ND STREET

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