The Bulletin Union Temple of Brooklyn Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism MARCH 2015 ADAR - NISAN 5775 Vol. 166, No. 7 SHABBAT SERVICES FOR MARCH SHABBAT KI TISA 6 Friday Evening First Friday Family Shabbat and Purim Celebration 4:00 PM - Fridays @ 4 6:00 PM - Snacks 6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 PM - Potluck Dinner with Megillah Reading to follow 7 Saturday Morning 9:00 AM - Shabbat Study Hevre 9:30 AM - Out of the Shabbox / PJ Library Purim Costume Party 10:30 AM - Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Exodus 30:11 - 34:35 Haftarah: I Kings 18:1 - 18:39 SHABBAT PARAH / VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI 13 Friday Evening 4:00 PM - Fridays @ 4 6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat - pizza and a movie: Chariots of Fire 14 Saturday Morning 9:00 AM - Shabbat Study Hevre 9:30 AM - Out of the Shabbox 10:30 AM - Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:22-36 SHABBAT VAYIKRA 20 Friday Evening 4:00 PM - Fridays @ 4 6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat and Music of Passover 21 Saturday Morning 9:00 AM - Shabbat Study Hevre 9:30 AM - Out of the Shabbox 10:30 AM - Shabbat Morning Service Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23 SHABBAT HAGADOL / TZAV 27 Friday Evening Fourth Friday Shabbat 4:00 PM - Fridays @ 4 7:00 PM - Dinner 8:00 PM - Shabbat Service 9:00 PM - Oneg and Discussion with Henry Ehrlich 28 Saturday Morning 9:00 AM - Shabbat Study Hevre 10:30 AM - Shabbat Morning Service - Brotherhood Service and Luncheon Torah: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36 Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24 Celebrate Purim! The fun begins at Union Temple on March 1 and continues all week. Play games at the Temple Purim Carnival Sunday, March 8! See page 6 for details The Rabbi A. Stanley Dreyfus Memorial Lecture: From Pope Francis to Paris: Interfaith Relations in the 21st Century Lecture by Rabbi Dr. David Fox Sandmel Saturday March 14 See page 4 for details
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The Bulletin
Union Temple of Brooklyn Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism
MARCH 2015 ADAR - NISAN 5775 Vol. 166, No. 7
SHABBAT SERVICES FOR MARCH
SHABBAT KI TISA 6 Friday Evening First Friday Family Shabbat and Purim Celebration
4:00 PM - Fridays @ 4
6:00 PM - Snacks
6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat
7:30 PM - Potluck Dinner with Megillah Reading to follow
7 Saturday Morning 9:00 AM - Shabbat Study Hevre
9:30 AM - Out of the Shabbox / PJ Library Purim Costume Party
March 11: SYNAGOGUE AND STATE: THE ISRAELI EXPERIENCE examines the current core principles that shape Israeli jurisprudence on issues of religion and State in order to discern an emerging Israeli model for rebalancing the relationship between synagogue and State and creating a public space in which both tribal and national concerns can be met. [Dr. Hartman, and interviews with Ruth Gavison and Danny Statman]
March 25: SHARING THE PUBLIC SPHERE: NEW FOUNDATIONS FOR A JEWISH DEMOCRACY looks at cases taken from headlines to examine the way in which the challenge of sharing the public sphere is being ad-dressed in the current reality of modern Israel. [Dr. Hartman]
April 22: THE ARAB PALESTINIAN ISRAELI TRIBES explores the complex identity of Arab Palestinian Israelis and opportunities for redefining the relationship of these tribes with the modern State of Israel. [Dr. Hartman and Interviews with Amal Jabareen and Mohammad Darawshe]
April 29: TRIBES AND PEOPLEHOOD: REFLECTIONS ON LIVING IN A TRIBAL FAMILY concludes the series with a set of conversations that explore the lived experience of the Jewish people as a tribal family. [Interviews with Yossi Klein Halevi, Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Dr.Yehuda Kurtzer, Melila Hellner-Eshed, Gil Troy]
Officer’s Column
Happy Purim
What sort of people would parody a book of the Bible? Well – our sort, if we are talking about the Book of
Esther and the Festival of Purim. Purim plays have been performed for hundreds of years.
Sometimes the Purimspiel is a straightforward dramatization of the Book of Esther. But more often it simultane-
ously parodies both the Book of Esther and a popular play or musical, with the actors costumed as the latter’s
characters. That is appropriate in a special way, as it reflects the hidden identities and purposes of the people in
the Book of Esther. Esther’s Jewish identity is kept secret from the King until the crisis arises; Haman has no
idea that Mordecai is the man the King wants to honor; and of course Haman’s plot is a dirty little secret until it
all comes out. God also is hidden, never mentioned in the whole Megillah, even at the miraculous turn of events.
Purim satires complete with music and dance became the popular form of Purimspiel in Eastern Europe in the
18th and 19th centuries. Some took the form of puppet shows for children. The productions for adults (which
on occasion were a little too adult) were among the inspirations for the development of Yiddish theater. Then
and even now, the Purimspiel often reflected contemporary social and political developments, as well as the
popular music and drama and comedy of the times.
And why do we do this? As Tevye would say, “Tradition!” One of several traditions of the Festival of Purim
is to eat (and not just hamentashen), drink wine, and be merry. More important are listening to the reading of
the Book of Esther, giving to the needy and sending food portions to others. Have a festive Purim, and don’t
forget the Mazon box!
-Steven Segall, Secretary
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Union Temple of Brooklyn
cordially invites you to attend
The Rabbi Dr. A. Stanley Dreyfus Memorial Lecture
Saturday, March 14
Dinner at 6:00 PM Lecture at 7:30 PM
RSVP by March 9: RSVP by March 9: http://tinyurl.com/Dreyfus2015 (or) 718-638-7600
No charge for dinner, but voluntary contributions would be most appreciated!
Rabbi Dr. David Fox Sandmel
Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League
will address the topic
From Pope Francis to Paris: Interfaith Relations in the 21st Century
Prior to joining the ADL staff, he held the Crown Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies at the Catholic Theological Union, in
Chicago, and served as Senior Advisor on Interreligious Affairs to the Religious Action Center and Adjunct Faculty at
the Union for Reform Judaism. From 1998-2001, he was the Jewish Scholar at the Institute for Christian & Jewish
Studies in Baltimore. There, he directed the National Jewish Scholars Project, a major initiative to promote a new
discussion within the Jewish community and between Jews and Christians about the differences and similarities be-
tween the two traditions. As part of the project, Rabbi Sandmel coordinated the publication of “Dabru Emet: A Jew-
ish Statement on Christians and Christianity,” a groundbreaking event that generated international attention in the
interfaith community and wide media coverage.
Rabbi Sandmel lectures and publishes widely on contemporary issues in Jewish-Christian relations, Jewish-Muslim relations, religion in contempo-
rary society, and the foundations of Judaism and Christianity in antiquity. He contributed the commentary on First Thessalonians to the Jewish
Annotated New Testament (Oxford University Press, 2011). He is the co-editor of Christianity in Jewish Terms (Westview, 2000), to which he has
also contributed an essay. In addition, he is the lead editor of Irreconcilable Differences? A Learning Resource for Jews and Christians (Westview Press,
2001), a study and discussion guide that focuses on core theological issues on the boundary between Judaism and Christianity. He is also involved
in Jewish-Muslim dialogue and in the tri-lateral dialogue between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Has has team-taught a course at Catholic Theo-
logical Union with a Roman Catholic and an Imam on the Abrahamic faiths, and led interfaith study trips to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
He also served on the steering committee of In Good Faith, a CTU sponsored tri-lateral community dialogue. From 2002-2014, he participated in
the Catholic-Jewish Scholars Dialogue co-sponsored by the Jewish United Fund, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Archdiocese of Chicago,
and served as its chair from 2011-2014.
Rabbi Sandmel is the founding rabbi of Congregation Bet Ha’am in Portland, Maine, and also has served congregations in Cleveland and Chicago.
He graduated with honors from Ohio State University, and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincin-
nati. He completed his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied the history and literature of Judaism and Christianity in the
Greco-Roman world. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Association for Jewish Studies, and the Central Conference of
American Rabbis (CCAR).
This annual lecture honors the memory of Union Temple's beloved
Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Dr. A. Stanley Dreyfus, z"l,
who also served on the Rabbinics Faculty of Hebrew Union College
and chaired the Liturgy Committee and served as Placement Director of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
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Sisterhood
Marking Women’s History Month
After a long, frigid and snowy winter, at last it’s March. There may still be some wintry winds in store for us,
but Sisterhood doesn’t mind. March is special to us—and not just for its vernal equinox. March is Women’s
History Month, and it also brings us the beginning of the Jewish month of Nisan, in which we celebrate Pass-
over and honor our matriarch Miriam.
Join us Sunday, March 22, at 10:00 AM, for a joyous Rosh Chodesh Nisan. We’ll also be observing Women’s
History Month with a vital program on A WOMAN’S BILL OF RIGHTS IN NEW YORK CITY, presented
by our own Sheila Katzman. Sheila will discuss the campaign that is underway for a New York City ordinance
based on the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW). She is the Chair of the Cities for CEDAW/NYC, and she will tell us how such an
ordinance can lead to laws that will eliminate discrimination against women and mandate equal pay for equal
work, access to health services that respond to the special needs of women and girls, access to affordable and
safe housing, improvement in educational curricula for girls, and an end to violence against women and girls.
This is an issue of enormous importance to all of us, and no one will want to miss it. Come with your friends—
and with your appetite, for, as always, there will be delicious treats as well as food for thought.
While you’re marking your calendar for March 22, keep your pen in hand and make a big circle around April
26. We have a treat in store for you on that day. Remember the Red Apple Rest on Route 17 on the way up to
the Catskills? Elaine Freed Lindenblatt, the daughter of its owner, will be with us that day to tell us all about it
and discuss her memoir, Stop at the Red Apple. Be sure to save the date!
We look forward to seeing you on March 22. Till then, remember that the plight of women all over our nation
and the world is an essential part of Sisterhood’s mission, and your dues and contributions to Sisterhood’s
Memorial Fund, Hattie Newman Happy Day Fund, and Rose Keit Flower Fund help us fulfill our pursuit of
tikkun olam. Together, we truly can work to make the world a better place for women and girls in need of
help and inspiration. Thank you for your participation.
-Barbara Brett, Secretary
Fourth Friday Shabbat!- March 27
Are Chinese herbs the answer to the modern epidemic of
immune disease? Henry Ehrlich will discuss his book, Food
Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science,
and the Search for a Cure, which documents the research
of Dr. Xiu-Min Li of the Icahn School of Medicine at
Mount Sinai.
Join us for dinner at 7:00 PM ($10 pp.)
Shabbat service at 8:00 PM
The discussion begins after the service.
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Sunday, March 1 - 1:00-4:00 PM
Union Temple Social Hall: 17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
Accessible by elevator, though nearby 2/3 train to Grand Army
Plaza and Q to 7th Avenue are not wheelchair accessible. Children of all ages! Join us to learn about Purim, build,
paint, and practice running carnival games for the youth-
built, youth-run Purim Carnival.
Tuesday, March 3 - HAMENTASHEN BAKE AND
CARNIVAL BUILD! - starting at 4:00 PM
Union Temple Social Hall: 17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
Accessible by elevator, though nearby 2/3 trains to Grand
Army Plaza and Q train to 7th Avenue are not wheelchair
accessible. Children of all ages! Help bake hamentashen and put final
touches on Carnival games for the Sunday, March 8 Purim
Carnival.
Sunday, March 8 – CARNIVAL FOR ALL AGES -
1:00-4:00 PM Union Temple: 17 Eastern Parkway at Grand Army Plaza,
Brooklyn. 2/3 trains to Brooklyn Museum, Q to 7th Ave, S to
Botanic Garden.
A sumptuous, topsy-turvy, social justice-themed Purim
carnival with handmade carnival games designed and
built by kids and youth. Featuring an excerpt from the
Aftselakhis Spectacle Committee's Purimshpiel! Fun for
all ages! Wear a costume of your own, or dress up from
our costume chest and strike a pose in our photo booth.
To learn more about Purim programming and how to get
involved, follow us on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SpectacleCommittee
-Mindy Sherry,
Director of Youth and Family Engagement
Education Corner
Make Some Noise! It’s Purim!
Purim is one of my favorite Jewish holidays. We get to dress up, be silly and celebrate. This year we have a lot
of ways to enjoy getting ready for Purim and celebrating Purim. Union Temple, along with other organizations,
are working together with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) to put on a Purim extravaganza. Check
out all out the exciting activities to participate in.
First Friday Family Shabbat - Friday March 6, 2015
Come and Celebrate Purim with us!!
Food requests for this month's potluck dinner:
Please bring enough for 10 people in a 9x12 size pan and remember, take-out is just fine.
A - F: Salad G - P: Side Dish Q - S: Dessert Side T - Z: Main Dish
*We are looking for 3 families to sponsor pizza for dinner. If you are interested in sponsoring pizza, please contact Mindy Sherry. The first three families to respond will sponsor pizza. If no families respond, then we will not have pizza.
We are looking forward to celebrating Shabbat with you! Please RSVP to Mindy Sherry at [email protected].
On Sunday morning, April 19 at 10 AM, Jeff Stein will lead a book discussion about Thirteen Days in Septem-
ber by Lawrence Wright. It tells the story of the 1978 Camp David Conference – the historical background,
the three leaders, and the complex negotiations that resulted in the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. And
we’ll have bagels and coffee, too, of course.
-Steven Segall, Brotherhood President
Our deepest thanks to members who made a donation for the High Holy Days
Jerome Bunke and Jane Bassewitz Arnold and Ellen Kolikoff
Rebecca Reich Adam Sarkozy
Susan Sukenik and David Rapheal
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Tzedakah
UNION TEMPLE MEMORIAL FUND Donated by ..............................................................in memory of Abe Barnett ..................................................................... Irving Barnett Emily Campbell .............................................................. James A. Campbell Emily Campbell .............................................................. Jerry M. Lebowitz Arlene Greendlinger ....................................................... Dorothy Ebner Dr. Gail Levine-Fried ..................................................... Bonnie Levine Doris Klueger ................................................................. Leon Klueger Alan Henkin .................................................................... Dorothy Henkin Sheila Solow ................................................................... Saul and Anna Solow Anne Maltz ..................................................................... Richard Maltz Sherry Rosenberg ........................................................... Louis Rosenberg
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Donated by Beverly Rotter ................................................................. in memory of her son, Randall Dean
DR. A. STANLEY DREYFUS LECTURE FUND Donated by ..............................................................in honor of Hortense Hurwitz ................................................................... Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman
SISTERHOOD HATTIE NEWMAN HAPPY DAY FUND Donated by ..............................................................in honor of Susanne and Henry Singer ........................................................ Daniel Halioua and Rebecca Gross-Cohen on their recent marriage
FRIDAY, MARCH 13: Services at 6:30 PM
followed by pizza and movie “Chariots of Fire”
“Chariots of Fire” won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1981. The stirring movie, told in flashback, is of two young British sprinters competing in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish missionary, runs because he knows it must please God. Harold Abrahams, an English Jew, runs to over-
come prejudice and prove his place in Cambridge society. Eric refuses to run in the qualifying heat which is scheduled for a Sunday. The rest is history.
The film is also known for its instrumental theme and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.